David RASNER

RIGHT TURN ONLY!! - Forward March
Magical forces collide as March Story, Dawn of the Arcana, Sailor Moon and others meet in this column! But which one rises to the top of the manga heap? 2012-10-23

Shelf Life - Deadman Walking
This week, everyone gets their limbs ripped off. What's up with that?
- Deadman Wonderland
- Hellsing Ultimate set 1
- King of Thorn
2012-10-22

The Mike Toole Show - Can't Fight Fate
Mike jumps into the Fate/Stay Night deep end and does a little Saber-rattling of his own. 2012-10-21

The List - 9 Split Personalities Most in Need of Therapy
Sometimes our worst traits manifest themselves in horrifying ways and the same can be said for this week's list entries when we count down which characters need an intervention, stat. 2012-10-20

ANNCast - Critical Mass II: The Seasoning
Veteran ANN critics Theron Martin and Rebecca Silverman drop by the ANNCast treehouse to chat up the fall season, anime in 2012 and take some Twitter questions! 2012-10-19

Rose of Versailles Haiku Contest
Compose a haiku for your chance to win a DVD boxset of this legendary series or an autograph from creator Riyoko Ikeda! 2012-10-17

ANNual Pumpkin Carving Contest
The pumpkin carving contest is back!!! Get those gourds out, pick up some knives, and show us your best carving skills for some sweet, sweet loot! 2012-10-12

Toriko GN 12
The ultimate manly man of the food world has returned, with his muscles bulging and his appetite whetted for ever tastier fare. This twelfth volume of Toriko's gourmet adventures isn't the most consecutive in the series to date, but it does provide plenty of action and exotic eats, both of which are part of what makes Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro's tale so entertaining.

Hellsing Ultimate BD/DVD Set 1
Pushes its action ever on to greater and greater feats of absurdity until reality lies in irretrievable tatters at its jackbooted feet. In short: totally awesome.

Venus Wars DVD
This popular late '80s movie is back in print for the first time in nine years and looks better than ever. The story may be weak, but is action elements and mechanical designs justify its relatively cheap price.

No. 6 DVD
The show has an interesting plot, good character interactions, an ominous air, and a light shounen-ai element to it, though this should not scare off those who dislike the genre. Sadly beautiful in places, hauntingly violent in others, No. 6's eleven episodes worth your time.

Fairy Tail GN 20
All in all, Fairy Tail's twentieth volume offers a mix of emotional content, humor, and a bit of action, as well as a chance for Mashima to show off his landscape skills and to defy gravity with a couple of Lucy's shirts.

Heaven's Memo Pad Blu-Ray
This 2011 series about a boy who gets involved with a NEET Detective Agency has some silly content but mostly takes its subject matter seriously, resulting in well-written, well-conceived, and sometimes compelling stories.

Resident Evil 6
Resident Evil 6 does have its hints of inspiration, but enthusiasm for these things is difficult to muster, stultified by the congo line of scripted events. Interesting segments exist, but they are in tiny bits and pieces, and the rest of the game is the part where you think "thank god that's over, I never want to do that again."

Sailor Moon GN 5 - 7
As Naoko Takeuchi's classic forges ahead, expanding its mythology and mingling magic with science, it continues to be a highly enjoyable read.

Sword Art Online eps. 8-14
The main story takes over and leads the eponymous game setting to a surprising resolution as the first story arc completes. Ultimately dramatic key events and broad story themes carry the series despite weak writing.

Space Brothers Episodes 14-26 Streaming
If the drawn-out third stage of Space Brothers' astronaut test tells us anything, it's that the verve of the series' opening shouldn't be taken for granted.

Ranma 1/2 GN 36
Sometimes all you expect from a master storyteller is to end the story well—and this is one series that does just that.