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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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Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (UC) Reaction(s) (SOME SPOILERS)

Not necessarily a Newtype Ghost Party… because you know, most of these people aren’t dead.

 

So, who’s seen Gundam UC Episode 7 yet? I wanted to gauge some (informal) reactions to the finale of the Gundam Unicorn saga, outside of Twitter comments. Other members of OR should feel free to add their own thoughts.

 

From my own perspective, I was very satisfied by the conclusion to this OVA. The Laplace’s Box aspect was very interesting and actually recontextualized a good chunk of Universal Century history, but without truly changing the significance of the events. The Vist Foundation, Marcenas family, and Federation’s usual response, which is to kill everything with fire, seemed believable without being too cartoonishly mustache-twirling, and it was good to see Bright stick up for reason and rationality in the matter. You get the feeling that, while the overall picture of the Universal Century won’t change dramatically, the journey taken to this point and the revelations made for some compelling drama. read more

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Comic Book Resources Bullshit

 

So yeah, banned from another message board. Maybe the problem is me.

But also, maybe the problem is sycophantic Grant Morrison devotees who will do anything to stamp out even the most reasoned dissension, or even the possibility of it.

You be the judge. (And then I’ll overrule you.)

Cast out of paradise! Cursed to walk the Earth, ever marked and alone, reviled and chased!  What do you do when you’re branded and you know you’re a man(child) ?

About, oh, I don’t know, maybe four or five months ago, I joined the Comic Book Resources’ message board. CBR is a website that previews, reviews, and discusses comic books, mostly cape books, usually from the Big Two, but also independent publications and even manga from time to time. Every week they spotlight previews for that week’s new issues, and there are several blogs and sub blogs that highlight different aspects of comic books and comic book fandom. The site has won several awards, and is actually quite a good read most of the time. 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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Heaven & Hell, a MG Unicorn Project – Pyschoframe Swap
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Heaven & Hell, a MG Unicorn Project – Pyschoframe Swap

Phase one is complete of yet another project I may never actually finish. Initially titled Fire & Ice, but renamed to Heaven & Hell after I saw the two kits standing together, is a basic psychoframe swap and touch up between a MG Unicorn and a MG Phenex. Honestly, I just wanted a Unicorn with a blue psychoframe. Doesn’t hurt that the Phenex looks pretty good witha red frame as well.

Of course well after I had started this project Sunrise/Bandai released images of a silver Phenex with a blue frame from some game. I doubt they’ll release a MG kit but Bandai has been doing funky things with their Japan limited releases. If the day ever comes I’ll swap that frame out for a green one. I’m addicted to Unicorns. 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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Layman’s Gunpla Guide – What is Gunpla?

Whenever folks ask me about my hobbies I have to bring up Gunpla. They then, very predictably, ask me what Gunpla is. Most don’t have the background for a long answer and I usually I just tell them, “Gunpla are model robots based on an animated Japanese franchise.” Sometimes I make a comparison to military or car models. Short, simple and to the point.

The long answer is that Gunpla is the term used to describe plastic models from the Gundam franchise, gun + pla. Back in 1979 there was an animated series in Japan (anime) called Mobile Suit Gundam. Since then it has developed into an expansive franchise with additional series, movies, games, and toys. Not long after they released the first series Bandai started to make plastic model kits of  the show’s mobile suits. Over the years the model line has developed with the franchise. As production technologies improved Gunpla models became more and more sophisticated featuring a wide range of gimmicks and detail. The cost of a Gunpla kit can range from $10 to over $300 depending on the size and complexity. 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.
  read more

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