Manga Reviews: Fairy Tail Volume 4

The Story

Erza's trial turns out to be just a front, to make it look like the magic council has the situation under control. Despite Natsu's interference she is let off. In the meanwhile, Natsu and Happy rope Lucy into going on an S-Class mission, something that could get them kicked out of the guild.

They travel to the cursed island of Galuna, where they find a demon frozen in eternal ice, and a cult trying to free him, led by a familiar face from Gray's past. All the while Erza is traveling to the island to bring the truants back home.

The Review
It's been a while since I've read the begining of Fairy Tail, and rereading it for these reviews has reminded me why I love it so much. There comes a point where a series becomes stagnant, or the story slows down when read on a weekly basis. Coming back to the begining has helped me put into perspective why I consider Fairy Tail to be one of my favorite shonen series of all time.

Graphic Novel Reviews: Catwoman 011

The Story

Catwoman meets with Detective Alvarez and manages to recruit him to help her find out who has been taking people off the streets. In the meanwhile Dollhouse is behind quota supplying organs, and one of his victims has killed himself.

Catwoman, Spark, and Alvarez set up surveilance in several locations Alvarez determined were potential target areas. They each find a target, but find that Dollhouse sent out decoys, while he hit the area Alvarez was in. He (or she, it's not quite clear) uses a chain fed tranquilizer gun to knock out a heap of people, including Alvarez. She makes off with them, as well as the detective, leaving Catwoman to find the aftermath of the attack.

Graphic Novel Reviews: Nightwing 011

The Story

Nightwing's fight against Paragon ends when the latter drops a clockfron on the street below. Nightwing is able to break it apart with explosives before anyone is injured. He later confronts Detective Nie, who he thinks is framing him. After his loan with the bank is denied, he goes to the batcave to work on the Strayhorn murder. A conversation with Damian helps him realize what he was missing, at the same time Detective Nie reveals to Gordon that he and Patrolman Stark, one of the cops murdered in issue one, had been in love. The issue ends with Nie being contronted by Paragon.

The Review
I don't intend for this to be part of the marriage equality debate, or the gay rights debate. I just want to make an observation about this issue, in relation to the reveal that Alan Scott, the Earth 2 Green Lanter, is gay.

Graphic Novel Reviews: Batgirl 011

The Story

Batgirl fights off Knightfall's goons, using her limited resources. When things start to go badly for her, Detective McKenna comes in and saves her. The detective explains Knightfall, Charise Carnes's story, how her family was butchered with her the only survivor. She was sent to Arkham even though evidence hinted at her being the perpetrator. McKenna reveals to Batgirl that someone in the Bat Family was a mole, ending the chapter with a shot of Batwoman.

The Review
As something of a connoisseur of fights, I have to say I liked how the first part of this issue was handled. Fights aren't really embellished much in american comics, but for what it was I really enjoyed it. Limiting Barbara's available weapons helped give the situation a sense of danger, and Barbara's narration of what each batarang does added a sense of progression to the fight.

News: Fairy Piece

Far too many people say Fairy Tail is a carbon copy of One Piece. Other, more sensible people, recognize the prevalence of certain trends in shonen manga and don't make a big deal out of it. For those people Funimation recently announced some brand new acquisitions at Otakon.

One Piece Season 5 - I expected that we would be getting this soon, but I didn't expect to see Funimation acquire the rights before getting sales numbers for season four back. This confidence in the franchise on Funimation's part speaks well for the series' future.

But that's not all!

One Piece Film: Strong World - I asked Funimation CEO, Ken Fukunaga, about this way back at comic-con 2010. He said they were working on acquiring the rights and that it all depended on what the Japanese parent companies decided. Two years later we finally get it! I'm hoping this means we'll get to see releases for the other movies, my collection needs completing.

And for the fans of Fairy Tail we have:

Fairy Tail Season 2 - We'll be getting another 24 episodes. I'm not sure which set of episodes these are, I need to double check how many have been released so far. But it's a good sign for the franchise. Even better is...

Fairy Tail - The Movie - This one caught me off guard. After how long it took to get Strong World I would never have imagined that Funimation would have acquired the rights to a movie that hasn't even been released yet. Good thing too, this means I can avoid having to deal with wondering when the fansubbers will get around to it. We'll be able to see the movie how it was meant to be seen, legally and of much better quality. No news on when exactly it will be released, but I imagine sometime towards the end of this year.

Check here for more news! Funimation News!

News: Dead or Alive 5 Sexy Costume Trailer

Just in case anyone still thought the Dead or Alive series was a legitimate fighter, I thought I'd post this to assure you otherwise. I feel sorry for fans of the original series, before the volleyball corruption. It can't possibly feel good to see the DoA Volleyball mentality carry on over into the main series.

I've been toying with the idea of posting some more news along with reviews. Let me know what you think, if you like shorter pieces like this or just want to stick to reviews.

Graphic Novel Reviews: Batman and Robin 011

The Story

Damian attacks Jason, and the two fight while Damian taunts him about the Joker beating him. Damian ultimately wins, stealing Jason's Red Hood mask.

Meanwhile, Terminus's criminals are catching and branding cops with the symbol of the bat. They then move on to a full scale assault, where they brand anyone they can get their hands on.

Batman goes after whoever is responsible for the attacks, just as Terminus's people set off bat shaped explosions on the highrises of Gotham.

The Review
The best part of this book was, hands down, Robin's fight against Damian. It's an interesting way to address the major event in Jason's past, while revealing his feelings about how Batman failed to take the Joker down after Jason's death. Under the Red Hood has been one of my favorite Batman movies, so I appreciate seeing Jason's feelings having evolved beyond being bitter about Bruce's refusal to murder the Joker.

Graphic Novel Reviews: Batman 011

The Story
Batman and Lincoln March carry on their fight, culminating in an explosion that Batman barely escapes. Lincoln's body isn't discovered, and when Dick comes to visit Bruce explains how he once did have a brother, but said brother died in a car crash. He chooses to believe that his parents would never do such a thing as hiding the fact that his brother was still alive.

Jarvis's story finishes with Martha's misscariage, and Jarvis being targeted by the Court for defying them. Back in the present, Bruce offers to discover the truth behind Jarvis's death. Alfred refuses, having come to terms with his father's death on his own.

The Review
This review, as all other reviews have pointed out, is not for those that haven't been reading the Court of Owls storyline. There's nothing I can say, no spectacular event or action that will make you start reading the story just to get to this issue.

Movie Reviews: The Dark Knight Rises

The Story

After eight years of retiring from the world, Bruce Wayne is once again called upon to fight evil. With an underground invasion by Bane, a former member of the League of Shadows, Batman will be forced to face his greatest challenge, and his greatest failure yet. With the life and soul of Gotham on the line, it's time for the Dark Knight to rise.

The Review
This is it folks, the big one, the one we've been waiting all year for. Now that The Dark Knight Rises has hit theaters, what's the verdict?
Well, and this is hard for me to say, it's not as good as The Dark Knight. Now to be fair, I think everyone expected there was no way Rises could live up to its older brother. But I imagine that everyone, myself included, held the hope that Nolan would surprise us as much as he did with TDK. Which, when you get down to it, was probably unfair, and will color the opinion I, and others, have of TDKR.

Manga Reviews: Fairy Tail Volume 3

The Story
Natsu and team clash with the Eisenwald guild, making short work of the dark guild's members. They learn the true target isn't the citizens, but the guild masters' meeting further down the line. They are trapped inside the trainstation by Erigor's wind barrier. It isn't until Happy reveals he has Virgo's key that they are able to escape. Natsu and Happy go after Erigor and Natsu fights him.

After a tough fight, Natsu is able to defeat Erigor, but Kage escapes with the Lullab flute. He tries to play it, but is mentally defeated by Makarov, who convinces him not to go through with the plan. With Eisenwald stopped, the magic in the flute activates and reveals the true demon inside. Natsu, Erza, and Gray defeat it, crushing the meeting hall in the process.

During the match between Natsu and Erza, a messenger from the council arrives to arrest Erza.