Independent Opinions, News, and Reviews of Graphic Novels, Manga, and Comic Books
No, that isn’t a typo. I’m going backwards before looking forwards to fill in a gap, and because in years to come, I will enjoy seeing a summary of what I was reading in a particular year. (I’ve just finished doing some archive maintenance, and it was interesting seeing the short rise and fall of JManga from 2011-2013, for instance. Remember them?) As I’ve said before, for the purpose of this post, I’m using a highly idiosyncratic definition of “best”, […]
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It’s nice to have a reliable shojo series to stick with for a while. It’s even more fun if the series has something to say beyond “cute kids fall in love”. That’s the case with Horimiya volume 1, which turns on the question of how much appearance matters. Hori is smart and popular, a model schoolgirl whom everyone wants to be. Miyamura is a loner, looked down on as a gloomy fanboy. But there’s a hint early on, when we […]
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Out this week is Batman Ninja, an anime-styled superhero adventure in which Batman and his enemies are sent back in time and around the world. Here’s the official plot description and trailer. Gorilla Grodd’s time displacement machine transports many of Batman’s worst enemies to feudal Japan — along with the Dark Knight and a few of his allies. The villains take over the forms of the feudal lords that rule the divided land, with the Joker taking the lead among […]
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As I suspected, Black Panther will be available on home video on May 15, with digital release a week earlier on May 8. The Blu-ray Combo Pack has been renamed the Multiscreen edition, which means it comes with a digital copy (but no DVD). It’s currently available for preorder at many retailers for $23 or so. There’s a 4K Ultra HD edition that comes with Blu-ray and digital copy for $30. (Does anyone know anyone who’s shelled out for 4K […]
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The only superhero TV show I’m actively eager to watch these days is DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, because it’s crazy fun. The “time-traveling losers” premise — the team members were selected because removing them from the timeline wouldn’t have any effect — allows for all kinds of stories in all kinds of places and times. They’ve done episodes about how important the movies of George Lucas were to inspiring people to become scientists and one where the women and people […]
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Daphne and Velma, the two women of the Scooby-Doo team, are getting their own movie! It’s a prequel, from before they met the talking dog, and it’s live action! Sarah Jeffery (Descendants: Wicked World) plays Daphne and Sarah Gilman (Last Man Standing) plays Velma. Here’s the trailer and description: State of the art robots and high-tech gadgets are common sights at Ridge Valley High, an innovative center of learning for some of the brightest minds in the country, including new […]
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Astro City is one of those high-quality, long-running comics that’s too easily ignored because it feels as though it’s always been there, and the issues are always good reads. Admittedly, the nostalgia approach it takes to the Silver Age of superhero comics may not be to everyone’s taste, but many of the stories are about a lot more than “what if Superman needed some time off?”, and for older comic readers, there’s nothing else acknowledging meaningful adult concerns within the […]
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Available digitally on February 20 is Neat: The Story of Bourbon, a documentary about America’s native spirit. (No, not attitude, the liquor.) I recommend having a cocktail in hand while watching, because you’ll want one, particularly when they start mixing up recipes. “Neat” is a liquor served plain, with no mixers, at room temperature, but it also describes this nifty, wide-ranging film. When starting, I had no idea how they were going to fill an hour and sixteen minutes, but […]
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