Reviews

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Dragon Ball Kai – Episode 106 Review

Episode 106, "Videl, Worn Ragged! Gohan’s Anger at its Limits!!"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Spopovich’s unrelenting assault on Videl continues, with her powerless to resist. Gohan seethes with anger over the merciless onslaught, transforming into a Super Saiyan. However, before he can interfere with the match, Spopovich’s companion to the tournament, Yamu, instructs him to finish the fight. Spopovich kicks Videl out of the ring and she loses. Goku retrieves some Senzu beans from Karin while Gohan takes Videl to the infirmary. Mr. Satan is dismayed that Videl is "dating" a "weak-looking boy" and doesn’t want her eating the offered Senzu. Videl eats the Senzu and recovers immediately. Gohan’s match with Kibito is next. Gohan’s classmates spot him without most of his disguise and figure Gohan simply entered the contest with Great Saiyaman’s name as a front. Kibito requests that Gohan transform again into a Super Saiyan. Kaioshin asks if Goku and the rest will allow them to use Gohan for something, with Piccolo revealing who he is. Gohan decides to go into his Super Saiyan 2 form, which astonishes the crowd, including Videl. Suddenly, Yamu and Spopovich fly into the ring and take hold of Gohan, who is doubly paralyzed by Kaioshin’s power, and steal energy from him. The pair then flee the arena and Kaioshin follows them, suggesting that Goku and his group do likewise. Goku finds the happenings interesting.
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Batman Eternal #7 Review

 

This issue sees the feathers really hit the fan in the Gotham City gang war, especially for poor Ozzie, who seems to lose everything in a matter of pages. But this Noah’s ark of an installment also includes a cat, a pig, a tiger shark, an orca, and for a short flash, a bat. Old MacDonald would be all hot and bothered by this issue, friends. This is Batman Eternal #7, and an empire crumbles into the deeps of Gotham harbor here.
 

“It was either you or Captain Stingaree. I couldn’t afford him.” read more

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Dragon Ball Kai – Episode 105 Review

Episode 105, "What’s the Matter, Piccolo?! An Unexpected Conclusion to the First Round"
 

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: The matches for the first round of the Tenkaichi Budoukai are decided. First up is Kuririn against a giant man named Punta, who he defeats in a single punch to the gut. Piccolo gets in the ring with the mysterious "Shin", but cannot bring himself to fight him. He gives up the match, much to everyone’s surprise. Videl’s match with the hulking Spopovich begins next, with Videl confident that her new skill and new ability will mean a victory. Piccolo inquires if "Shin" is really the Dai Kaio, but his attendant Kibito reveals that he is actually a being called Kaioshin, above Kaios. Kaioshin tells Piccolo not to tell anyone. Meanwhile, Spopovich proves to be inhumanely resilient and extremely brutal. Videl goes at him at full force, almost seeming to break his neck, but he recovers. It also appears he can fly, and Goku comments that he doesn’t sense any life in him. Videl is determined to continue the fight. read more

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Batman Eternal #6 Review

Gotham gets just a little bit creepier in this installment of DC’s ongoing Batman weekly, when it looks like one of the worst characters in DC history is leading some kind of limb-chopping cult and The Spectre is on the case.

"I use an Nth Metal condom when I screw Zatanna. Or, at least I tell her that."
 

Batman is a skeptical fellow. A rational mind, even if he is, at his core, driven somewhat driven by emotion. The problem with that rationality is that it’s often in conflict with some of the more bizarre things in the DC universe. However, here we can see that even though he doesn’t necessarily understand the supernatural, he at least understands that those forces indeed exist, and has planned at least as far as using Nth Metal against forces like the Gentleman Ghost. It’s the young Luke Fox, Batwing, who seems to be even more skeptical, probably due to his lack of experience, thus making his buddy-cop team up with Jim Corrigan have a bit more flavor than just having the stern Dark Knight and a supernatural entity pair for a case. It’ll give Batwing something to do now that his book has been cancelled (I know I didn’t read it). read more

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Dragon Ball Kai – Episode 104 Review

Episode 104, "A Troubling Premonition… The Appearance of a Mysterious Warrior!!"

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Mr. Satan realizes he will be humiliated if he fights Trunks in the exhibition match awarded to the Junior Division Champion. He attempts to fake an injury, then decides instead to make it look like he’s lost on purpose to look like a good sport. He invites Trunks to give him a playful "tap" to start the match, which sends Mr. Satan flying into a brick wall. However, the World Champion recovers and laughs it off, playing it up for the crowd, even though he’s genuinely in pain. The act goes over well and the crowd is convinced. The fighters eligible for the regular division gather, and Kuririn is concerned that there aren’t any worth opponents outside his group of friends. However, there are a few interesting characters in the mix, including two mysterious men clearly not from Earth, two pale men with strange marks on their heads, and a disguised Goten and Trunks, playing a fighter they knocked out so they can compete with the adults. Drawing numbers for the matches, it’s decided that Goku will fight Vegeta in the first round. read more

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Batman Eternal #5 Review

 

This issue sees our favorite burger joint-named fugitive from the clutches of Scott Lobdell investigating the strange sickness the children from the Professor Pyg take down were suffering from. One of the biggest selling points to me for this series was that it was going to feature my favorite Robin in a capacity that might redeem his thus far unappealing portrayal in the New 52 continuity. It’s a bit telling that it took the death of Damian and the removal of Dick as Nightwing before he came back into the picture, but I, for one, welcome back Timothy Drake. And here he gets more than just a short cameo. read more

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Dragon Ball Kai – Episode 103 Review

Episode 103, "Everyone is Shocked! Goten and Trunks’ Super Battle!!"
 

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Gohan and Videl are stuck behind waiting for new punching test machines while Goku and the others move ahead to watch the Junior Division of the Budoukai. Goten and Trunks easily work their way through the competition, much to the exasperation of a mother whose two sons are unlikely enough to face them in the competition. Naturally, the two young half-Saiyans make it to the final match, but have trouble keeping to the agreement made about not becoming Super Saiyans. Ultimately, Trunks manages to get a victory by ring-out. Mr. Satan frets about facing the Junior Champion Trunks in the exhibition match awarded to him.
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Batman Eternal #4 Review

My review’s a week late, but hopefully not a dollar short.

 

Well, there’s not a whole lot of capital to spend on this issue, anyway. It’s a transition issue. There’s not a lot of new revelations, twists, or plot development. As you might imagine from reading the first three issues, it takes a pretty natural course with what was already laid down: Jim Gordon is thrown to the wolves by the authorities, Barbara goes nuts over the betrayal, Stephanie Brown is in a lot of trouble, Forbes demands the police go after Batman, and Batman unsuccessfully tries to intimidate Falcone. read more

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Ghost in the Shell: Arise Episode 1 Review

Episode 1, "Ghost Pain"
 

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

Synopsis: After the murder of her superior officer and mentor, cyborg soldier Motoko Kusanagi becomes suspicious as to the events surrounding his death. Kusanagi assists the government’s Special Section 9, led by Daisuke Aramaki, in looking into the investigation of the former Unit 501 leader for bribery. During the investigation she begins to have doubts concerning her own memories, which have clearly been tampered with, and her fellow members of 501. What’s the connection between Lt. Col. Mamoru’s supposed corruption, illegal weapons sales, and Kusanagi’s superiors? And why is her body malfunctioning and her mind playing tricks on her? Motoko Kusanagi teams up with Batou, Togusa, and Paz for the very first time in this compelling action thriller.
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Dragon Ball Kai – Episode 102 Review

Episode 102, "The Dragon Team, All Assembled! Son Goku has Returned!!"
 

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Videl’s ability to fly improves drastically after some practicing. Days pass and Goku’s friends and family gather to meet him at the Tenkaichi Budoukai. When Goku appears before them, he’s surprised to finally meet his youngest son, Goten, who looks identical to him. Trunks and Goten are both disappointed that they can only enter a children’s division of the tournament. Goku and friends try to hold back when registering on the punch test machines, but have trouble. Vegeta doesn’t bother, however, entirely destroying one.
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