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Batman & Robin Eternal #24 Review

Way to help the polar ice cap melt, Azrael.

While Dick attempts, Azrael preempts, and Harper’s not exempt from how Mother tempts all in this twenty-fourth episode of DC’s weekly Batman adventure (that lacks Batman and only has one person who’s legitimately a current-serving Robin). While Damian, Jason, Tim, Barbara, Kate, Jim, Duke, Helena, Selina, Dinah, and… others are busy around the world smashing kids in the face in attempt to gain control of the broadcast towers to Mother’s hypnotizing satellite (formerly Spyral’s hypnotizing satellite), Our Man Fl— I mean Dick is right in front of Mother’s hideout in the Antarctic Circle. but is waylaid by the self-styled Angel of Death (and haver of ridiculous hair under that helmet). read more

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Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Episode 24 – Zone of the Ein-ders

 

Like Carta in the last episode, we are not allowed any time to prepare for this final battle on the streets of Edmonton. As the episode opens it has already been three days since Tekkadan’s arrival, and their forces are being stretched to the brink. All they have left to them is an iron resolve to see it through, their mobile suits, and whatever last minute cunning’s available to rout a very strong defense game from Gjallarhorn.

It’s all English literature up in here. Take a dash of Tennyson with this final push like the Charge of the Light Brigade, and then pour in a bit of Kipling as well to spice it up. What part of this episode is full of Kipling? Well… All of Tekkadan are risking everything they’ve got in this game of pitch and toss, and if they fail and go back to their beginnings (or die); they won’t breathe a word about their loss. Imprudent as they seem to be given their youthful status, they’re being men about it in as best a way possible. You are both saddened and ennobled by their gumption at this final stretch. Our family has come a long way, even if the destination and objective may not end up in the most optimal of outcomes. read more

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Lupin III (2015) Episode JP 23 (Italy 25) Review

“World Dissection, Part 1”

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Leonardo da Vinci is ready to unveil his greatest masterpiece: World Harmony. Putting the population of the Italian Peninsula to sleep with an audio signal, the Renaissance Man traps each person, including Lupin’s group, in a challenge at whatever they are best at, to gauge their worthiness to live in the new world he plans to build. Is Lupin up to the challenge? Is everyone else? A mind is a terrible thing to waste on this penultimate episode of the new Lupin series! read more

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Batman & Robin Eternal #23 Review

 

Hey… hey, Tim, now, no grouping yourself with characters that do things. You hang back with Jason.

The guys flex their detailed pecs and check the specs of the enemy’s tech and begin to peck as they crack their necks, so what the heck, give it a sec and they’ll wreck Mother’s deck! Er, so basically MIdnighter and Spoiler get in on them Duke Boys’… I mean Robin Boys’ plans to rescue Harper and Cass and defeat Mother. Midnighter plays keyboard jockey and triangulates the coordination of the polarity velocitator, or something, while Steph guards Scarecrow until Jason can escort him to his new laboratory. Oh, and I guess Batgirl’s in this, too. And Katana. And Batwoman. And… Duke Thomas, I think. And Catwoman. They completely disregarded Luke Fox, however, and I am oh so glad. Time to punch some toddlers! read more

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Batman & Robin Eternal #22 Review

This issue needed more Goliath.

Damian slaps the eldes chap when he’s tired of his rap, ‘cuz he won’t take that crap and would rather scrap with Cassie’s Pap, who’s a sap and gets thrown out through a gap, and that’s the hap, so shut your yap, and prepare to clap as the story is recapped, Harp and Cass are still kidnapped, and Mother springs her trap! All this in the twenty-second movement of DC’s weekly Batman symphony. Damian gets to be the Golden Child all the Morrison fans like him as, we see the (possible) end of an antagonist, and the gal pals on the outs share a tense moment. read more

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Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Episode 23 – The one where Carta didn’t G-Chekketsu herself…

 

…Cuz she G-Wrekettsu’d herself with her actions today.

What I anticipated would be a fairly intense battle between Tekkadan and Carta’s remaining forces plus Galli-Galli and Ein turns out to be a big one-sided beatdown. Mirroring the third episode of the series, the third to last episode has a Gjallarhorn soldier seeking a fight with Tekkadan. However, whereas Crank sought them out to mitigate and/or stop any further slaughter, Carta has an honour issue. Yet due to her killing of Biscuit, nevermind the fact she is wasting Tekkadan’s time, she isn’t allowed to indulge in that battle to reclaim it. Instead she’s annihilated by Mika who cares not one whit for her feels. It’s kinda sad… but kinda deserved since she warrants no sympathy in their regard. It is only by the timely rescue by Galli-Galli in a revamped Kimaris that she lives… Maybe? Her eyes somewhat glaze over in her final scene, so it is hard to tell if she died really. It’s kinda Ein all over again. read more

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Lupin III (2015) Episode JP 22 (Italy 24) Review

“I’m Going to Get You, Lupin”

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Rebecca Rosellini is determined to steal Lupin III! Challenging Lupin, she springs trap after trap to capture and claim our sideburned stealer. Lupin is nonplussed by the matter, as he has his own mission, and is breaking into a secession of tanks to obtain a certain bill. However, Rebecca’s snares become increasingly elaborate, and Lupin may actually be caught! Will Rebecca collect the ultimate prize? Hail to the thief in this competition where even a safe isn’t very safe! read more

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Lupin III (2015) Episode JP 21 (Italy 22) Review

“From Japan With Love”

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Lupin jets off to Japan when it seems like Fujiko’s in danger, but as usual, it’s a ruse by her to get him to steal something for her. Unexpectedly, however, it turns out the ruse is on her as well, because it was all a trap by Detective Ackechi Holmes Kousuke to capture Lupin without her knowledge! While Lupin is in captivity, Fujiko scrambles to correct her mistake and prove that underestimating her is a mistake! It’s a contest of deception as the woman called Fujiko Mine shows she’s every bit as formidable as the man who loves her! read more

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Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Episode 22 – Second Pit Stop on the Road to Renewed Strength and Promise

In an episode where it could’ve been all about how everybody mourns Biscuit, the show eschews a kind of tragedy voyeurism in showcasing their emotional turmoil. This is reflected within the show through Yukinojo advising Merribit not to distract them, and let them hash it out on their own. Tis a different reality than my expectation somebody like Mika is gonna need a hugout because of last week’s death.

What is shown instead is TWICE as better as any of my predictions of Mika’s character. He isn’t the Simon or Brandon Heat I anticipated he would be, and his fealty to Orga continues its reveal of not being a thoughtless endeavour. More importantly, his confrontation with Orga at the end unveils how he KNOWS his influence on Orga as an individual, leveraging the most important promise of show to pull the guy out of his funk. In short, Mika forces Orga to be cool. Yeah, it could be said this kind of psychological play by Mika could be used negatively, but then again, this is Mika. His intervention is timely too, for I believe this is the first time since the second half began him and Orga had a meaningful moment together. With Biscuit gone, Orga might need that sturdy foundation who is Mikazuki Augus. read more

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Batman & Robin Eternal #21 Review

What a tragedy… now she can’t see Batman v Superman in theaters this March!

 

Mother, who’s hoary, has one gory back story, and how she became predatory makes Batman take inventory, all in this twenty-first installment of DC’s weekly Batman serial. The entire issue takes place in the past, whether it be Bruce following up on his encounter with Mother or the new villain’s background being told to him by some one she “helped”. And from this we see the parallel between Batman and his foe and the very different, yet similar directions they took. We also get some pretty solid art from Tony S. Daniel, making the story more palatable. read more