Episode 033 - January 28, 2013 - What Does Simultaneous Actually Mean and Bood Lad

Manga^3 Episode 033

Welcome to Manga^3, your one stop for manga news and commentary, for the week of January 28, 2013. This week we clear the air about why the latest chapters of Jump series seem to be floating around the internet, and why they are the chapters after what we get in Viz's Weekly Shonen Jump. We also take a break from Fairy Tail and talk about a series that only just came out in the States. 

Listen To Old Episode Here!

Buy Blood Lady Vol. 1 Here!

Graphic Novel Reviews: Batman 013

The Story

Joker starts his attack on the Bat Family by targeting the Gotham PD. With his presence revealed Batman orders the rest of the family to continue with their current work, that he will take Joker on alone. When Joker makes a threat against the mayor, Batman tries to stop him but is unable to save all the police officers at the scene.

Oddly enough the mayor is one of the only ones that doesn't get killed.

Batman confronts Joker at the ACE chemical plant, where Harley dressed as the Red Hood traps him inside a vat that starts to fill with chemicals.

The Review
It almost feels like a moot point to even review this book, let alone grade it. Anyone that loves batman already knows that this is the best DC has to offer at the moment. Anyone that isn't already reading batman probably isn't inclined to do so in the first place, and I doubt anything I say would convince them.

Episode 032 - January 21, 2013 - Shonen Hero Asexuality and Fairy Tail Vol. 5

Manga^3 Episode 032

Welcome to Manga^3, your one stop for manga news and commentary, for the week of January 21, 2013. This week we take a look at one of our biggest pet peeves. Teenage shonen heroes that just don't notice girls. We also continue in our discussion of Fairy Tail with volume 5. 

Listen to old episodes here!

Cartoon Reviews: My Little Pony Friendship is Magic Episode 62 - Keep Calm and Flutter On

The Story
Celestia tasks the mane six, specifically Fluttershy, with reforming Discord, so that his considerable magic powers can be used for good. The incarnation of Chaos has no plans to play by anyone else's tune, but slowly Fluttershy's sincere friendship gets to him. Discord comes to realize that if he keeps doing whatever he wants he will lose the only friend he's ever made. By the end of the episode he has decided to use his magic for good, because having a friend is more important to him than even his own unbridled chaos.

Graphic Novel Reviews: Batgirl 013

The Story

Batgirl manages to defeat Knightfall, despite being stabbed in the gut, and saves both Ricky and Trevor, the man who murdered Knightfall's family. We learn the true story behind the death of Knightfall's family, and why she went mad. After the case is resolved, Barbara is attacked by three Joker goons in her apartment.

The Review
While I find the end to the Knightfall arc satisfying, I have to say that part of me feels these big event stories are getting in the way of the stories individual books are trying to tell. This is less of an issue with Batgirl since out of all the bat family she has the deepest connection with the Joker. With her it's a matter of personal vendetta rather than a matter of duty.

It's a chance for us to examine the full effect Joker had on Barbara's life. Unfortunately I am not well enough versed in the DC universe to know how often this came up during Barbara's days as Oracle, but for a newcomer like myself this issue starts off a promising storyline.

Anime Reviews: Ishida & Asakura Episode 001 - The Introduction of Asakura

The Story
Ishida and Asakura are highschool boys. "Funny" stuff happens.

Anime Reviews: Maoyu Episode 001 - You Will Be Mine, Hero! I Refuse!

The Story
During a great war between the human and demon world, a hero arises to face the demon king. But the hero discovers the demon king is actually a young girl, who tells him the war is actually a front benefiting both sides. Thanks to the war the central human nations are benefiting from wartime commerce. The demon king convinces the hero to join with her and do...something.

Manga^3 Episode 031 - January 14, 2013 - Don't Be a Jerk Just Enjoy Your Manga and Fairy Tail Vol. 4

Manga^3 Episode 031

Welcome to Manga^3, your one stop for manga news and commentary, for the week of January 14, 2013. This week we take yet another relevant topic and talk about the penchant of manga fandom to split into argumentative factions. Or, people that look for the littlest thing to argue about with other fans. We might also mention shippers in there at one point. We also continue our look at Fairy Tail with volume 4. 

Listen to old episodes here!

Anime Reviews: Ai-Mai-Mi Episode 001

The Story
Three girls are in a manga club. They make poor attempts at being funny. Also they are poorly drawn.

Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha Recap at Mangabookshelf

In case you didn't know, I sometimes write columns over at mangabookshelf.com. By which I mean I hardly ever write them. Still. Now I'm writing about Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha. So if you like my podcast, you should go read this column.

Anime Reviews: Mangirl! Episode 001 - This is Comic Earth Star's Editorial Staff

The Story

A bunch of girls that look like they're twelve, but apparently they're actually adults this time, work together to start a new manga magazine. But it's not as easy as they first thought.

Anime Reviews: Encouragement of Climb Episode 001 - First Ascent

The Story
Aoi is afraid of heights, and bad at socializing. Then an old friend comes along and drags her along to go climb mountains. What else do you want from me?

It's got high school girls that look like they're twelve. That tells you all you need to know.

The Review
I was already not that excited for this one, just looking at it I could tell I wouldn't be interested. Sure the mountain climbing aspect seems like it could be interesting, but honestly it feels more like the producers thought to themselves, "Okay, what haven't we moeified?" And thus they came up with mountain climbing.

Now For Something New...

As you've probably noticed, I'm pretty bad at staying caught up on my reviews for shows I watch. So I'm going to try something different, something to get me back into writing these reviews. What I'm going to do is watch at least the first episode of every new anime I come across (mostly those showing up on crunchyroll since that's an easy way to keep track of them). I make no promises that I will continue on to episode two with any of these (in fact most of them look like getting through episode one will be a chore), but I'll at least be taking a quick look at every first episode I can. This way I'll write more, without any commitment for the long run. If I really like something I might go on to episode two.

Part of the reason behind this is because I haven't been watching much new anime. I hear a lot about the state of the industry, and how it's all moe crap, etc. But I haven't actually seen any of the shows, I either only watch stuff based on manga I like, or shows that I've been following for years. So this will be an interesting, possibly painful, experiment.

Enjoy!

Cartoon Reviews: My Little Pony Friendship is Magic Episode 61 - Spike at Your Service

The Story
When Applejack saves Spike from some Timberwolves, Spike plegdes a lifetime of service to her, as dictated by his Dragon Code. Unfortunately the normally competent Spike turns out to be inept at farm chores, and his help is more trouble than it's worth. Applejack and her friends try to find some way to trick Spike into giving up his Dragon Code. The mane six put together a plot involving a fake Timberwolf, to try and get Spike to believe that he saved Applejack's life.

Graphic Novel Reviews: My Little Pony Friendship is Magic 001

The Story
Chrysalis has returned! She and her changelings are going around kidnapping and replacing ponies. Once the mane six figure out what is going on, they realize that the cutie mark crusaders have been kidnapped. So it's up to Twilight and her friends to travel to Chrysalis' realm to save the fillies.

The Review
It took me a while to get my hands on one of these, since then this review may be a little behind, but I feel the need to add my voice to the praise being spoken. This really is a great comic, it's age appropriate for the intended audience, but it also keeps the unexpected fandom in mind. Actually, the entire thing comes across as a love letter to the brony community. Some of the minor background jokes don't quite make sense unless one is familiar with the ins and outs of bronydom. For example, if you only watch the show you won't get why the changelings lure a certain pegasus using muffins.

Movie Reviews: The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey

The Review

I have to confess that I've been putting this review off for a bit. This was partially because I needed some time to purge all other opinions about this movie from my head. A lot has been said about this movie, ranging from good, to bad, and to reviews just complaining about the 48 fps.

For those that have not yet seen it, there are exactly two ways you will enjoy this. Firstly, if you haven't read the book, and go into the movie expecting it to be long, you will probably enjoy it. Secondly, if you have read the book, as well as all the appendices then you will enjoy this movie. If you've just read The Hobbit then there is a lot added to this movie that will distract you.