Posted in

Batman & Robin Eternal #7 Review

Why does Cass look completely out of her element here? She’s a ninja girl! Throwing stars are like snowflakes to her!

While Dick’s away, Tim and Jason play, there’s a deadly ballet, and there’s a bit of LesYay, all in this tip-toeing issue that’ll make you plié. It’s the seventh issue of the globe-trotting second Batman weekly trek from DC Comics. The Prague Batcave is full of bones, the dive bar Tim and Jason visit is full of scumbags, and the Prague Ballet is full of secret asassins (and at least one Mother). I’m shipping Harper/Cass now, but let’s get to that later, there’s a story to follow! read more

Posted in

Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Episode 8 – Turbine Hitsuyo!

 

Naze Turbine ain’t no mere playa. He not only has his own harem, but instead of wacky hijinks and personal crises on who does he love, polygamy is the name of his game. We know not yet why he does it, but somehow given the very copacetic atmosphere of his vessel and having kids with many different women, it works. All I could do though is wonder if, based on this new OP addition, they’re all gonna die. That’d be cruel, and given the fact that they have kids, that’d be VERY cruel. read more

Posted in

Batman & Robin Eternal #6 Review

That awkward moment you realize you’re going to land in the wrong direction to pose on a ledge.

 

 

Dick gets tricked, Mother makes wives perfect, and the girls take a trip in this sixth issue in DC’s weekly Grayson supplmental… I mean, Batman weekly. This issue is 95 percent flashback, though maybe “flashback” isn’t exactly accurate, because Dick can’t possibly know all the things that Batman was experiencing and thinking when he wasn’t around. Whatever the case, the present mystery of Mother and the Orphan seems to point towards Prague, and after consulting Jason, Dick decides to bring Harper and Cass there with him, and that should be amusing for me and frustrating for Cass/Steph team-up fans, because Harper is Cass’ closest ally now. read more

Posted in

Lupin III (2015) Episode 05 Review

Episode 05, “The Magician’s Left Hand”

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Lupin investigates Fujiko’s relationship with a young magician from a circus, Luca, who seems to have had fallen in love with her. Lupin is incredulous, as Fujiko’s motivations always involve a swindle, and becoming a knife-throwing act seems like a cover. Sure enough, it seems like Fujiko is after the Trick Recipes, the codex of circus tricks and secrets, that could be valuable, and which only exists in Luca’s mind. What is Fujiko’s motivations for supporting the reserved young man whose burning desire is to become a great magician? It’s all about slight of hand as Lupin tries to decipher the clues to this magical mystery! read more

Posted in

Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Episode 7 – Got It By Their Hands

Cold cuts just got hot.

“Oh boy!”, in a jaded tone was the disposition of the time last week when it was found out Tekkadan would put their trip to Earth on hold a bit longer. Maruba, the previous owner of CGS is mad at their absconding of his vessel, and is utilizing another set of individuals to bring it back for him at any cost. As much as well-animated mobile suit combat is nice, plot had to start moving and they need to get to Earth tout suite.

Then the action starts to happen and then all that trepidation melts away like snow under a summer sun, because holy shit you guys, there this: read more

Posted in

Batman & Robin Eternal #5 Review

“I’ll teach you not to make me relevant!”

Cass takes a limb, Dick angers Tim, and the artwork looks grim in this fifth issue of DC’s weekly Grayson adventure, Batman & Robin: Eternal. We see where Cassandra made her bones, get more of Batman and Robin’s pursuit of Scarecrow, Harper makes a quick and clever move, and Tim Drake has a much-needed personality infusion which I hope lasts. Poppy pops up again, Tim’s parents’ house is… something else, and for Bat’s sake, why are there so many different pencilers in this issue?! There’s a cop-out, but I won’t drop out, when we get a bit more of my favorite Robin’s personal life. read more

Posted in

Lupin III (2015) Episode 04 Review

Episode 04, “Hand Me My Gun”

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Jigen’s time to shine! Suffering a toothache, our favorite wide brim-hatted gunman seeks help at a small town hospital, where he befriends a old man named Nino and a lady doctor named Livia. But the town is in the grip of “Non Lethal Eric”, a sadist who enjoys to shoot people to see them suffer, and his gang is paying a strictly uninsured visit at the end of pistols! What will Jigen do when his pistol is stolen and his mouth in pain? A Lupin episode sans Lupin, where Jigen may need intensive care! read more

Posted in

Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin Episode II

Episode 2, “Artesia’s Sorrow”

 

 

Synopsis: The year is Universal Century 0071 and the Zabi regime grows more powerful in the group of space colonies at Side 3. The children of the deceased Zeon Zum Deikun grow up on Earth, but are thrown back into danger when Jimba Ral’s plans make them a target. Now called Edward and Sayla Mass, the two find themselves enduring further tragedies and narrowly dodging death. All the while, the Zabis oversee the development of mobile suits, which a reluctant Ramba Ral participates in. What do the orphans once called Casval and Artesia have to do to position themselves out of danger? Volume 2 of this OVA sees Casval developing into the man who would become Char Aznable, the Red Comet. read more

Posted in

Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Episode 6 – The Long Transit

 

Just like that, within one episode, the impression of Orga being a Griffith-type (or Harry McDowell-type) of leader swings back into a role more akin to Kamina again. If that doesn’t raise any red flags about his inevitable demise (never mind being unaware of ANOTHER mole on the ship as far as we know), I don’t know what will. Still, like every minute character moment during downtime it helps to illustrate what kind of person he is. When he observes dear Mika and others learning from Kudelia how to read and write, he doesn’t see it as a threat to his authority, but something beneficial to them as individuals. Then there is the revealing conversation he has with Biscuit regarding why he’s moving directly towards a potential backer, Teiwaz, when they could do something less risky. read more