Manga Reviews: Fairy Tail Volume 1

Since I want to be as much, if not more, of a manga reviewer as an anime reviewer, I've had to decide to actually start reviewing manga. So, taking a leaf out of a friend's book, I'm going to start my manga reviewing career off by reviewing at least one volume a day. I swore to myself that I would not buy any new manga in the series I collect, until I've reviewed every single volume in the series I own. At first the idea was to not buy any new manga until I'd reviewed ALL the manga I own, but some of the issues I own are out of order, so I will need to buy the first few volumes to get around to reviewing them.

Since I'm a few volumes behind on Fairy Tail I decided to start it off with this series. After all, a while back the anime was my flagship review series, and it will be again once I get off my lazy butt. But for now it's time to go back to where it all start, the manga.

Volume one starts with Lucy, a young mage, who wants to join the mage guild, Fairy Tail, meeting Natsu, and his cat Happy. Lucy explains how the mage world works to Natsu, who tells her that he's looking for a dragon. Lucy later runs into the mage Salamander, a member of Fairy Tail, who tells her he can help her into the guild. Later on his ship, Salamander reveals that he has been using magic to seduce women onto his ship, with the intent of selling them into slavery. Before Lucy can be taken, Natsu bursts through the ship ceiling, having heard that Salamander of Fairy Tail was there.

Graphic Novel Reviews: Batgirl 001-007

Well, this is kind of awkward. I posted my review of issue eight, thinking that I already reviewed the first seven issues. Guess I reviewed every series but this one. My bad. Let me fix that.

One of the major topics of conversation surrounding the New 52 was the reinstating of Barbara Gordon as Batgirl. Anyone only familiar with the animated series probably wouldn't even be aware that Barbara stopped being Batgirl (though I really doubt it, I'm practically a comics virgin and I still knew there've been several Batgirls, don't ask me for the exact number I can't be bothered to look it up). But those that have more than a passing knowledge of the comics know that for the past few years Barbara was one of comics' only paraplegic characters who remained active across several different books. As Oracle she provided technological backup for several members of the Bat Family and the Birds of Prey.

Graphic Novel Reviews: Batgirl 008

We finally get some answers in this issue, namely, why did Barbara's mom leave all those years ago? She basically reveals that Barbara's brother was a sociopath, and because she was afraid the mom left. A quick search on wikipedia revealed that there is some story there I'm obviously missing. Not having this backstory I'm left at odds with what I'm supposed to be feeling. Again, there's no clear distinction of what is stil canon and what isn't, and if this reboot was meant to bring new readers in, it might help to not reference things said readers are not familiar with. Either keep all the continuity, or eschew it all. Make a choice.

Graphic Novel Reviews: Aquaman 001-007

If DC superheroes were on my backlist of characters I cared about, for many years, then Aquaman never appeared on the list at all. And apparently the same is true for many people, considering the many, many jokes about him. And it's clear that writer Geoff Johns is aware of this, as most of the first issue, and beyond, is very self conscious of the fact that most people think of Aquaman as a joke. Johns responds to this by focusing on the fact that Aquaman is in fact still a super hero, and very much a badass.

Does he succeed? Well, I never cared about Aquaman before, but after reading the first seven issues I am very much hooked. Justice League helped cement Aquaman as a badass, but it was his own book that convinced me it was very possible to have interesting stories involving the super hero that most thought powerless out of the water.

Anime Reviews: Beelzebub Episode 60 - I Won't Say Goodbye

Watch the Show Here!

Plot Summary
Aoi narrates how it's been a week since Oga and Beel disappeared. All their friends are heartbroken over the disappearance, Aoi most of all. But the tender, and funny, moment is ruined when Oga makes it back without any trouble.

Anime Reviews: Beelzebub Episode 59 - We're the Strongest!

      
Watch the Show Here!

Plot Summary
Aoi faces off against Agiel, and with Komainu's help she is able to defeat her. The Ishiyama students are surrounded by their former school mates, who are now under the control of En's servant Queztocoatl. En tells them that if they want to win back their friends and their school they will have to face his servants in a series of games that they will have to risk their lives to win.

Anime Reviews: Beelzebub Episode 58 - Akumano Academy is Open

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Plot Summary
Hilda has a nightmare about Oga's declaration back at the end of the fight against En's people, about how he wouldn't allow Beel to destroy the world. She wakes up feeling unnecessary, and angry at Oga, thinking that he wants to replace her. That Beel would love Oga more than he does her.

Anime Reviews: Beelzebub Episode 57 - Won't You Eat a Manju? Won't You Get in a Mixed Bath?

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Plot Summary
This is another two part episode, the first half focuses on Komainu's attempts to switch bodies with Aoi. After he sees Oga and Beel practicing Super Milk Time, Komainu decides that if Oga drinking Beel's milk lets them switch bodies, then if he got Aoi to eat something of his the two of them would switch bodies.

Cartoon Reviews: My Little Pony - Friendship is Magic Seasons 1 + 2

I love being a reviewer. It lets me watch anything I want, even when it's something that gets me weird looks. All I need to say is that I'm watching the show for a review. Though, I don't think anyone believes me when I say that. Or at least that's how this entire project started out several months ago.

Cartoon Reviews: The Legend of Korra Episodes 01–02 - Welcome to Republic City/A Leaf in the Wind

Plot Summary
Seventy years have passed since the end of the first series, and from the main cast only Katara survives. The new Avatar, Korra, has mastered the arts of water, earth, and fire bending, but has yet to learn air bending. When Katara's son, Tenzin, cannot move to the Southern Pole to teach Korra airbending, Korra decides to travel to Republic City to learn from the only existing airbending master.