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Lupin III Part I Episode 03 Review

Episode 03, "Farewell, My Beloved Witch"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Lupin happens upon a troubled young woman named Linda, being chased by a group of criminals called the Killers-in-Killers. Teaming up with Jigen, he discovers that the syndicate wants a scientist named Dr. Heinlein’s research which converts a certain flower, the Third Sun flower, into a powerful explosive. Linda is the doctor’s assistant who was trying to leave their island laboratory, and the Killers wanted to ensure she stayed. Fujiko also wants the Third Sun flowers, but her plane is shot down by the Killers. Lupin is captured, but escapes with Jigen’s assistance. Lupin, Jigen, and the scientist burn the Third Sun flowers, but Linda also dies. The scientist is killed and Lupin infiltrates the Killers’ submarine to sabatoge their Third Sun-powered missile. In the end, the missile is disabled, but Lupin, Jigen, and Fujiko are left with nothing to show for it. read more

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Lupin III Part I Episode 02 Review

Episode 02, "The Man They Call A Magician"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Fujiko is being pursued by a mysterious and dangerous man, Pycal, who she stole something from. Lupin and Jigen struggle to protect her, but Pycal appears to have strange powers, including being immune to bullets, levitation, and shooting flames from his finger. Though Lupin discovers the secrets behind Pycal’s abilities, he appears to fall to his death. But Lupin is clever and turns the tables, using the very same techniques as Pycal to gain an advantage. Pycal is overwhelmed and his secret formula goes down in flames along with him. read more

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Lupin III Part I Episode 01 Review

Episode 01, "Is Lupin Burning…?!"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Lupin III participates in a suspicious Formula One-style race. The race is a trap from the Scorpion crime syndicate to destroy Lupin and dominate crime in Japan. Lupin’s operative, Fujiko Mine, is captured, and he has to switch places in the race with his ally Jigen so he can rescue her and confront the organization’s boss. All the while, Lupin is pursued by Inspector Zenigata, dogged chaser of Lupin. Lupin manages to destroy the Scorpion group’s headquarters and race track, but Fujiko betrays him to the law. Lupin manages to slip away, and shows Fujiko that there’s no hard feelings. read more

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Batman vs Robin Review

****SPOILER-FREE SYNOPSIS*****

Synopsis: Batman is having a little trouble with his new Robin. Namely, it’s his son, and he was raised by his assassin mother to use deadly force at any threat. Robin’s had to rein himself in, but now finds himself tempted by the arrival of a mysterious assassin garbed in the guise of an owl, who wants to take the young boy as his own partner. Batman finds that the owl man is one of many working for a secret society in Gotham who want Bruce Wayne as a member, and have a hard time saying no. Can the Dark Knight keep both his son and his city from slipping away into the darkness the owls dwell in? read more

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Batman Eternal #52 (FINALE) Review

 

Here comes the sun, doodoodoodoo,

Here comes the sun,

And I say,

It’s Dark Knight…

 

At long last, a villain from the past and our hero are cast into one final blast, to complete this black mass, and allies amass in this conclusion quite vast. It’s the final issue of DC’s weekly Batman celebration, Batman Eternal. One more villain revelation. One more race to the finish. One last bout with a rival. Last stands, surrenders, defenders, sneers, cheers, and a new status quo, all this this fifty-second, and ending chapter. As revealed last issue, as I had surmised for some time, Lincoln March steered this plan from the start, even if it didn’t originate from him. Though some of my assumptions proved slightly off, generally I was correct in my deductions, and any differences are quite amusing directions that I’m satisfied with. The issue plays off at once the conclusion of this story and a great coda for the Snyder Batman, even if the actual scripting was done by another. read more

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Cross Ange Episode 25 [FINAL] – Interdimensional Post-Birth Abortion

 

For the record, that subtitle can apply either to your feelings to the anime if it has remained negative to the end, or the events that will transpire in the episode involving Mr. Nice God.

Well, we’re finally at the end of Cross Ange and boy did this episode excite even if it didn’t explain much in lurid detail. While Embryo’s past is finally revealed, the details of something like the Whoremonic Convergence (the one involving many alternate universes with the Cross Ange cast) are barely touched upon. I guess Embryo’s plan to perfect the world is the first of possibly many, given how his inordinate focus between the World of Mana and the World of DRAGONs. Kindof disappointing really, as he could have mentioned that he is eager to apply his trade to the rest of the multiverse when he becomes able. Maybe something will come for this in a theatrical movie or extras, as per the last episode preview, but for now it is disappointing. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•
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Grids of Gotham: My Reviews of Grant Morrison’s Bat-Epic – Part I: Batman and Son

Sibling rivalry.

Look, I love Batman. I’m 31 years old and I’ve been reading Batman comics most of my life, and I’ve read a great deal of them, decades worth, just within the past few years. I have a pretty respectable collection of Batman collected editions, from trade collections to original graphic novels. I’ve seen all the movies, watched most of the TV shows, and I’ve reviewed 51 issues of Batman Eternal (with the final issue to come next week) for my blog. Aside from Japanese animation, and maybe James Bond, my big fictional preoccupation is the Caped Crusader, the Dark Knight, the World’s Greatest Detective. I know my Batman. read more

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Batman Eternal #51 Review

 

The villains are foul, Bruce loses his cowl, to Steph Harper scowls, someone’s going to need a towel, and surprise! The man who’s an owl! The penultimate issue of DC’s weekly Batman event sees a lot of revelations, an overconfident C-lister, Selina asserting her power, Jim Gordon’s return to form, and the villain anyone with two brain cells to rub together guessed it would be, turns up. With all the raw nerves exposed and Gotham crumbling and burning, can Batman and his team keep the city from becoming a mountain of ashes? Well, I’m guessing yes, but there’s bound to be even more blood spilled before the end of this story! read more

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Batman Eternal #50 Review

 

The city’s in flames, some villains are tamed, but one makes a claim, and is that C-lister to blame? DC’s weekly Batman affair is coming to a conclusion, but where is the great mastermind to this master crime? Damn it, writers, stop faking out the readers with these non-revelations so late in the game! But it’s a little easier to forgive the issue because when Batman hits his rogues again, he isn’t fucking around. But unfortunately all this action is dulling his endurance, and by the time he arrives in Beacon Tower, even a worthless loser can take advantage. But can the man with the name of the 16th US President and third month of the year appear before the audience loses interest? Well, he’d damn well better, the owl bastard. read more

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Cross Ange Episode 24 – Embryo confirmed for Interdimensional Chris-chan (Or: Supporter’s Medley Part III)

The face of a Nice Guy who just M’ladied his pantaloons.

M’ladying one’s pantaloons – The act of a Nice Guy soiling himself due to a realization that his object of affection (usually a woman) has had sex with another.

This must be a first for a Sunrise mecha show. Usually in these final battles most of the banter is about ideological divides or betrayals. Here, we have Tusk rubbing it in Embryo’s smug face that he did the nasty with Ange in wonderfully lurid detail. Oh no it is not just the fact that he had sex with her, it is how he now knows the number of moles on her body, the number of days the consummation lasted (although that may be exaggeration) and the way he describes the softest, warmest, part of Ange. It’s an awesome thing, and is so totally Cross Ange that I can’t help but want to clap my hands in delight. What a great way to rustle Embryo’s jimmies. read more

Juu-kuchiby Juu-kuchi•