REVIEW: Black Jack v12
Reviewed by Charles Webb

It's been a couple of weeks since I reviewed Vol. 11 of Black Jack, the book serving as my introduction to the character. In that time, I've actively sought out the earlier volumes, building up a nice little collection on my bookshelf. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised to find this recently-released volume waiting for me given that I'm more or less (and unabashedly) in the tank for this series. Which, in turn, creates a challenge in reviewing...
MORE...

REVIEW: I'll Give It My All... Tomorrow v1
Reviewed by Zack Davisson

I am not quite sure how to classify I’ll Give It My All…Tomorrow. Is it a comedy? A slacker-drama? Autobiographical? All I really know is that it is completely brilliant. The story begins with our hero, Shizuro Oguro. Overweight, forty years old and a fifteen-year employee of a job he hates, Shizuro is in a classic mid-life crisis. Unsure of what he wants to do, but completely sure he doesn’t want to keep living like he is now, Shizuro quits his...
MORE...

Words of Truth and Wisdom: Translation Notes
Written by Alethea and Athena Nibley

The other day we were lamenting the fact that translations mainly seem to get noticed in reviews when people think there's something wrong with them. This makes sense, because most people can't really tell how good or bad a translation is, because not only would they have to know both languages involved, but they'd have to have a copy of the original plus the translation to compare them. Of course, they could probably tell how good or bad the...
MORE...

AFFD 2010 Review: The People I've Slept With
Written by Liz Reed

Title: The People I’ve Slept With Director: Quentin Lee Writer: Koji Steven Sakai Starring: Karin Anna Cheung, Archie Koa, Wilson Cruz Grade: B The first 15 minutes of The People I’ve Slept With were the most uncomfortable, in your face moments I’ve seen in a movie in a long time - and not in a good way with sub-par acting and a story too shallow to believe. But after getting over this difficult hurdle, the remaining 74 minutes are full of beyond...
MORE...

AFFD Review: Ip Man 2
Written by Liz Reed

Title: Ip Man 2 Director: Wilson Yip Writer: Edmond Wong Starring: Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung, Lynn Hung, Huang Xiaoming Grade: B+ Ip Man 2 is not about ass-kicking Sifu (Master) Ip Man showing Westerners who’s boss. It’s not even about proving oneself in the face of adversity. At its core, the film instead advocates spirit, self-cultivation, and foremost, respect among people of all races and backgrounds. But don’t let that scare you away—while the...
MORE...

AFFD Review: Summer Wars
Written by Liz Reed

Title: Summer Wars Director: Mamoru Hosoda Writer: Satoko Okudera Starring: Ryūnosuke Kamiki, Nanami Sakuraba, Sumiko Fuji Grade: A- Summer Wars isn’t your average anime movie - while we do get the familiar visuals of perverted nosebleeds, oversized sweat drops and magical worlds where almost anything can happen, the difference with this film is that it feels too real. Yes, even during the supernatural chaos. The script revolves around the...
MORE...

MangaLife: Why We're Living It
Written by Liz Reed

What makes manga so special and distinct from any other type of comic book and cartoon in the world? Why do Western audiences love that a character has blue hair, pink eyes, and a mouth half the size of his/her face? What drives people all over the world to gather at conventions dressed like their favorite characters, complete with ten-foot swords and spiked wigs? In the coming weeks, I hope to analyze why we love manga and what actually makes manga…...
MORE...

AFDD REVIEW: Au Revoir, Taipei
Written by Liz Reed

Title: Au revoir Taipei Director: Arvin Chen Writer: Arvin Chen Starring: Amber Kuo, Jack Yao, Fankie Kao Grade: B Showing: July 23 at 7:00 p.m. at the Landmark Magnolia in Dallas, as part of the Asian Film Festival of Dallas. If you could blend awkward relationships, quirky humor, and upbeat guitar-and-fiddle music with stunning shots of urban Taiwan, you’d get a taste of what Au revoir Taipei is all about. As a film without a clear-cut genre...
MORE...

REVIEW: Darker Than Black
Reviewed by Charles Webb

I'm not completely sure how to react to something like Darker Than Black. Is it like a trailer for the anime or maybe even just for animation studio Bones itself? I certainly didn't react to it as a piece of fiction with characters and a plot that I was supposed to, you know, care about in any way. It's one of those titles that has all the components of big ideas without the benefit of any actual human characters knocking around in its goofy plot....
MORE...

REVIEW: Rasetsu v4
Reviewed by Ysabet Reinhardt MacFarlane

Rasetsu Hyuga may be the title character of Rasetsu, but despite her ample amount of "screen" time in the fourth volume, this book doesn't feel like it's as focused on her as the earlier volume I read (vol. 2) was. Rather--and it's hard to say this without sounding as if I'm dismissing her role here--this time around she's mainly one factor in what seems to be a growing rivalry between two of her male coworkers, Yako and Kuryu. That doesn't mean she's...
MORE...

REVIEW: Peepo Choo v1 (of 3)
Reviewed by Charles Webb

I've been thinking a bit lately about how we give an exotic air to other cultures. I've actually been in discussions with our own Liz Reed about just that very subject in preparation for a piece she's putting together for the site. Think about it: to what degree has your interest in manga and/or anime been impacted by so-called "Japanese culture?" Is it somehow a problem? Does it matter? Felipe Smith's guns-girls-breast-blood-fest Peepo Choo seems...
MORE...

REVIEW: Raiders v1
Reviewed by Liz Reed

“If either of us was staring into the face of death, don’t you think you’d give it a try? No matter what might be in the bottle?” In the opening pages of Raiders v1, you are introduced to the first of countless ethical questions that the manga explores through the moral and physical consequences of playing God. However, don’t think too much about these overarching themes of immortality and religion, for jarring action sequences, grotesque imagery,...
MORE...