TIL Seinen Manga

Today I Learned that there exists a manga category called “seinen manga” …this is the manga equivalent of the dumb boy book.  Material intended for young males ages 18-30.  Violence and exploitative to women.  I won’t say that all of seinen manga is like that, but if you’re put off because a story is particularly violent and the women seem really cool with pleasing men, then that could be seinen manga.

I was reading volume 1 of Gunsmith Cats.  When I first encountered the name Gunsmith Cats, I thought it was about alien humanoid felines with guns.  No, it’s set in the near-past Chicago.  I don’t know if there are any cats in this manga.  And there seems to be confusion regarding the protagonist’s name:  It’s either RALLY or LARRY.  Considering that it’s a girl, most people assume that it’s not Larry. Continue reading “TIL Seinen Manga”

The Joker got bored of Batman so he thought he’d go after Superman in Injustice: Gods Among Us Vol. 1

This is a review of the graphic novel:  Injustice:  Gods Among Us Volume 1.  Lois Lane is pregnant.  Jimmy Olsen is killed by the Joker who then kidnaps Lois and sets a trap for Superman.  Under the influence of Scarecrow’s fear gas, Superman ends up killing Lois and destroying Metropolis with the warhead to a nuclear missile.

And then Superman kinda goes crazy and becomes a benevolent dictator policing the world of all conflict and war.  Batman isn’t exactly on board with this new order and this is actually an elaborate back story for a video game.  They needed to come up with a situation that would explain Superman and Batman fighting each other…
Continue reading “The Joker got bored of Batman so he thought he’d go after Superman in Injustice: Gods Among Us Vol. 1”

ICYMI RT @Mike_Mullin I just learned the release date for SUNRISE! March 17. mikemullinauthor.com/Sunrise

Sunrise is the final book in the Ashfall trilogy. Sadly I haven’t finished Ashen Winter but as I recall YABC enjoyed Ashfall… the story of a boy who tries to survive after Yellowstone’s super volcano erupts. Updating my upcoming book list

Chris Colfer signed his new book at Vromans, and street pass OC madness

chriscolfer Today at long last was the day Chris Colfer had his signing at Vromans. I had been looking forward to this for a while (for an indeterminate period of time longer than a week). Much praise to the Vromans staff. I took a picture from the line. It’s an awful picture; blurry and his head is obstructed. Ah well it wasn’t important.
Continue reading “Chris Colfer signed his new book at Vromans, and street pass OC madness”

The Lost Boy: a richly illustrated fantasy tale by Greg Ruth

cover31012-medium“Some mysteries are too dangerous to leave alone…”

Nate’s not happy about his family moving to a new house in a new town.  After all, nobody asked him if he wanted to move in the first place.  But when he discoveres a tape recorder and note addressed to him under the floorboards of his bedroom, Nate is thrust into a dark mystery about a boy who went missing many, many years ago.  (from the official description)

So this is not the Dave Pelzer book. Continue reading “The Lost Boy: a richly illustrated fantasy tale by Greg Ruth”

This is not a review of Noggin by @corey_whaley

This is more of a brag post. I think I did a haul blog last night so why not?  I finished Noggin last night.  This morning.  It was after 5am that I finished and the darkness of night was easing up.  But I finished.  I feel like it’s been a while since I’ve finished a book in one day—a real book—so I want to brag about that too.  But mostly I want to sing the praises of Noggin.  I didn’t actually get any sleep today so if I wander through life in a catatonic zombie state, this is why.  And it was well worth it.

Noggin is the story of Travis.  Sixteen year old Travis had lost his battle with cancer and in a last ditch effort agreed to a medical experiment to cryogenically preserve his head.  Maybe in the future, science would be able to bring him back to a life he could live.  Five years later, his head is grafted on the body of a teenage boy who died of a brain tumor.  Travis returns, a visitor in a familiar world that looks so much like the life he lived but in those five years, a lot has changed. Continue reading “This is not a review of Noggin by @corey_whaley”

New Release Tuesday; Wise Young Fool, The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppet, and more

I did not buy a book yesterday.  I finished a book and I was at a bookstore but I didn’t buy anything.  Which is good because I knew that it was the day before New Release Tuesday and I would be buying books.  If you told me that I would be going to four different bookstores I’d tell you that sounded unlikely and foolish.  But I did.  I shall also discuss a galley or two that I assume I can disclose … I have not received instructions I can’t. Continue reading “New Release Tuesday; Wise Young Fool, The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppet, and more”

So good. The Legend of Korra Book One Art Book.

A lot of what you see on television is rubbish and nonsense.  And I’m not just talking about the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.  Sometimes there are brief moments of brilliance and joy.  The Legend of Korra was one of those brief fleetings of joy.  “Book One” (or the first season) was twelve episodes of a deeply imagined world of asian influenced wonder and alternate history fantasy that was animated with a care seldom seen on television.

Before we get to watch Book Two, an actual book, “The Legend of Korra:  The Art of the Animated Series Book One” has been released which provides a rich look into the background of the production of Book One.  I’m afraid it will really only appeal to fans of the show.  I was provided with a copy of the digital galley via Netgalley.  Due to the limitations of this copy, I was unable to read some of the captions.  However, I feel that the primary draw of the book is the art which looks gorgeous.