Batman Incorporated Special #1 review

 

BATMAN INCORPORATED SPECIAL #1

by Various

Batman Japan and Canary try to stop the Russian Sleep Experiment. Mexican Batman invites Dark Ranger and Nightrunner over for tacos. Bat-Cow gets his own story. Yeah, it's a good time.

Batman Incorporated's going out with a huge bang. DC is bidding farewell to one of its best titles in grand fashion, by giving us an anthology with multiple stories that conclude the adventures of the many agents of Batman Inc. 

First up, is definitely the craziest tale in the entire issue, a story featuring Batman Japan by Chris Burnham. Now, Burnham is one hell of a writer. This is a very manga-inspired chapter of the book, and it's absolutely INSANE. Now, despite being a light hearted romp through neo-Tokyo, it's the bloodiest, and grisliest story DC has put out all year, and well, we've already gone through Swamp Thing, Animal Man, Death of the Family and I, Vampire so that's saying something. Burnham uses a more manga-like art style to go with the story, and I got to say, it looks good. This would have been my favorite story in the whole book, if it weren't for....

Not this one. The second story is a Squire story by Joe Keatinge and Emanuel Simone (something like that, correct me if I'm wrong), which I think was actually rather unnecessary. I think it could have been replaced with a story about Squire's first actual adventure as Knight, but I will admit, it's still a pretty interesting story, with some nice art.

The best story out of the whole bunch, is that of Red Raven's, in which colorist Nathan Fairbarn takes on the role of writer, and John Paul Leon cranks out some great art. It has both, high octane action and a nice little story about Red Raven's smaller acts of heroism.

My least favorite story is one that features El Gaucho, Nightrunner and Dark Ranger. It's a really boring story with meh art, and it could have been told better.

And now, the best thing Dan DiDio has ever given us: Bat-Cow. Not only is just awesome, but it's only told in 5 pages and surprisingly, it works.

Batman Incorporated Special #1 is a good time worth the price of admission. It comes with 3 great stories, 1 good story, and 1 very underwhelming story. When it comes to collections, that's actually pretty good.

STORY: 4/5

+ Good work from Burnham, Keatinge, Fairbarn and DiDio

- One unimpressive story

ART: 4/5

+ Every story looks great

- Except... one.

VERDICT: 4/5 

Avengers vs X-Men event review

AVENGERS VS X-MEN 

by Jason Aaron, Brian Michael Bendis, Matt Fraction, Johnathan Hickman, Ed Brubaker, Adam Kubert, Oliver Copiel and John Romita Jr.

So, in case you haven't noticed from my Trinity War reviews, I've compared that event to Avengers vs X-Men a lot. And you've probably noticed my opinion of it can be summed up in three words: It sucks ass. But today, I'm going back up my statement with some cold hard facts. That's right, it's actually not even an opinion. It's the truth. Avengers vs X-Men is one of the worst, if not, the worst event comic I have ever read in my existence.

OK. So, instead of my normal review format, of reviewing the story and art separately, let's take Avengers vs X-Men by act. Keep in mind, if you haven't read AVX yet, you will be spoiled 100%, but that doesn't matter because you shouldn't read this shit anyway. I will shamefully admit that I did think AVX had a promising #0, most likely due to Frank Cho's gorgeous art. However, the writing was actually very inconsistent, and you could tell that the scripters had change due to the severe tone of dialogue and mood itself. And then, we got to #1. The writing in the story had quickly devolved from inconsistent but decent enough into borderline Scott Lobdell territory. All of the Avengers were pretty much written the same, save for Tony Stark as a slightly less sarcastic version of himself. And the X-Men... Were quite possibly given the worse treatment in the event. They were made out to be the villains, when the real foe was the terrible writing. I mean, Cyclops was written as if he were Magneto, and Magneto as if he were Cyclops. My biggest gripe was how everything just felt so forced, and the fact these two teams were even fighting was already a tired concept to begin with. I mean, Mark Millar and Chris Bachalo kicked this event's ass way early in their career with Ultimate War, and even better, in 4 issues. Also, what the hell was Ed Brubaker even THINKING? I mean, I love his Captain  America run, his Batman run (Bruce Wayne: Murderer is the most underrated comic storyline in history) and Fatale, but he had no business writing any of this. And don't even get me started on the art. While Romita actually does a decent job on the first two issues, his art devolves into nothing more than lines on paper than slightly resemble the characters. If Marvel had either, A: Just released the event monthly instead of this rushed and forced biweekly shipping schedule, giving Romita more time to polish his art, or B: Simply keep the guy on one thing instead of making him do this, while at the same time getting ready for Kick-Ass 3 and Captain America, this would have looked much better. I mean, the main theme of AVX overall seemed to be showing us good comic creators at their worst level, and Romita Jr normally kicks ass (pun intended). However, the biggest "What the hell were you thinking, Marvel?!" moment in the entire first act, was the Phoenix 5. While yes, one writer does his best to make the most of these characters in Act 2 (I'll get to that later), this event would've been better if it simply was Hope, and that way, this trash would've taken less time to read. Besides the #0, the one high point of the first act,  must have been issue 4, which had some legitimately decent writing, and a pretty funny moment between Wolverine and Hope. It's actually kind of surprising considering Johnathan Hickman wrote it. And if you know me, you know he wrote another #4 that's.. Well... The less said about it the better. Despite all of the crap I'm giving Act 1, don't worry, it gets worse. But, let's move on to some positive stuff.

Act 2 was the most enjoyable bit of the event. With one issue that I can actually call... GOOD, it had some freaking beautiful art, and Adam Kubert drawing one issue, which I'll get to later. So, issue #6 of AVX is actually an interesting beast to review. Again, Hickman wrote all of the good bits of the event, and this was again, written by him. There were some great real world parallels to the work of the Phoenix Five, and the Avengers were made out to be the douchebags, though they were given a legit motive. But then issue 7 came along, and the event went to crap once more. Out of character actions and dialogues (not for the Phoenix 5, but for the Avengers themselves), a ridiculously terrible twist involving the Scarlet Witch, and worse, giving Adam Kubert one more issue to draw than he was originally supposed... Yeah Marvel, bad call. Oliver Copiel on art was the best thing to happen to the event. He only drew a few issues, (he went on to draw an extra issue for Act 3), but his art looked clean, consistent, epic, and even grandiose, but like I said, Adam Kubert took over an issue early. By issue 3, the event had lost any sort of sense of wonder, spectacle, or originality, and Act 2 was a tired mess to read. But thankfully, Copiel's renderings made this less difficult to read than it could have.

Remember when I said the event actually gets worse than Act 1? Enter, Act 3. Now, another creator I'm not a fan of: Adam Kubert. I'm much more of a fan of Andy Kubert's work, and personally consider him to be the superior Kubert bro (that's ok Adam, you have full permission to punch me in the face if we meet in real life). And it really shows why I'm not a fan of Adam Kubert in this event. But before that, I just want to point out how bad the writing gets in this act. Remember when I said the writing could go into borderline Lobdell territory? This act is the closest the creators get. Much of the dialogue makes barely any sense due to the characters being poorly written, there's some idiotic kung-fu nonsense that supposedly ties into the Phoenix that's ridiculous even for a comic book, and the absolute worst final issue of any event I've ever read just.... Just, no. If you want an idea of how bad the writing is, here's a dialogue sample from issue 12: "So Wanda said, 'No more mutants' and the mutant population was reduced to barely 5%. Then, the Phoenix said 'Screw that' and more mutants began appearing." Something about that dialogue just pisses me off to an unsettling degree. And then, the way that the event deals with dealing the Phoenix Five is just facepalm worthy, and Scott as Dark Phoenix is the most laughably pathetic yet overpowered villain I've ever seen. From there, the story devolves into nonsense, and it will make you want to punch someone. And then, there's Adam Kubert's art. Story wise, this is the worst act of AVX, and art, wise, it would be the worst as well, but Oliver Copiel draws an issue making it that much easier to read. Kubert's art just has this messy and convulted feel to it, along with a style that I can never get used to. Imagine if Andy Kubert drew something, then Walter Simonson gave it a slick finish, but then Rob Liefeld decided to mess it all up. Yeah. But the biggest sin the entire act commits, is a flaw that's been prevelant through the event: The characters. The Phoenix 5 are actually characters the writers want some of the community to like, but they're nothing more than dicks. And then, there's Black Panther being the most inconsiderate, unbelievable asshole of all time. He DIVORCES STORM AFTER WAKANDA GETS FLOODED BY THE SUB-MARINER, AND T'CHALLA DOES IT JUST BECAUSE SHE'S AN X-MAN, EVEN THOUGH SHE HAD NO ACTUAL PART IN THE EVENT! That's fucking idiotic! I mean, Marvel was just trying to shake up the MU, but instead, it just pissed on the faces of fans, and said, here, this is our excuse for an event comic, now give us money. So yeah. Act 3 was quite possibly one of the most painful things I've ever had to read. Nearly Action Comics #22 painful. Worse than Avengers #4. 

What Trinity War does right, is that it's the payoff to a story Geoff Johns has been building up for two years. Avengers vs X-Men was simply a disaster than was a cash grab, and ruined a lot of creators for me. Despite some great art from Oliver Copiel, some decent writing from Johnathan Hickman, and a promising #0 issue, AVX simply failed due to lackluster art, and unbelievably terrible writing from everyone else. I was able to read a copy of this from my local library, (the massive hardcover), and I will tell you right now, don't even THINK of buying that overpriced turd. After reading Avengers vs X-Men, I read a couple of other notorious event comics, such as Civil War (which I actually really enjoyed), Fear Itself, House of M, and even an issue of Age of Ultron, and I can tell you right now. None of them even come close to the level of pain I suffered when reading AVX. Do. Not. Read. This.

ACT 1: 1.5/5

+ Promising but inconsistent #0 issue

+ Romita's art looks good for the first few issues

- Horrible character writing

- Romita's art quickly deteriorates

ACT 2: 2.5/5

+ Issue #6 was actually not bad

+ Oliver Copiel's art is enough to bump up the score by +1

- The writing gets so much worse after issue 6

ACT 3: 0/5

+ Copiel draws an issue!..

- But it's not enough to save this act.

- The writing is cringe inducing

- Kubert's art doesn't really work

- Black Panther, you asshole

- Kung-Fu Phoenix

VERDICT: 0.5/5

Justice League Dark #23 review

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #23

by Jeff Lemire and Mikel Janin

So wait, according to Constantine, the Box can't corrupt someone's that already corrupted. So why is it that the Box turned Vandal Savage into a good guy back in Pandora #2?

Trinity War continues on, and thanks to Jeff Lemire, it's got its groove back. The dialogue feels much more natural, and Lemire proves that he's got a handle on the huge cast of the DCU. Most interestingly, are the way that Lemire delivers on the hero vs hero action the event promised, but in a way that doesn't feel gimmicky, forced or overwhelming like AVX, but instead something that's actually pushing the story forward. The best part of the issue however, is Superman's team confronting Amanda Waller which actually makes you question who's really pulling the strings. However, compared to the superfast pace  of the first 3 chapters of Trinity War, this is still a pretty slow issue, even though it sets the stage for the events conclusion. There just aren't any of those awesome reveals and bombs that were dropping left and right earlier.

I really wish JLD was where Trinity War would  conclude, so Mikel Janin could draw (hopefully) a bigger and more bombastic story. Janin proves with this issue, that he's the best artist for the event. I poured over each panel, and not a single panel feels stiff or looks awkward, as was the case with JLD #22. There are some breathtaking colors, and even better: Vincent Cifuentes isn't even touching this issue. 

Justice League Dark #22 might be a slow issue, but its the best chapter of Trinity War yet. It's nowhere near as good as Lemire's other book that came out this week, but its miles above much of what I've read lately from Marvel in terms of events. 

STORY: 4/5

+ The dialogue feels so much better

+ Constantine steals the show

+ Interesting set up for the last chapter

- A slower issue

ART: 5/5

+ NO VINCENT CIFUENTES!
+ Very energetic

+ Epic feel

VERDICT: 4.5/5

Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox movie review

JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE FLASHPOINT PARADOX

Ron Pearlman, C. Thomas Howell, and Nathan Fillion in the same movie? AND it's an adaption of one of my favorite comic stories ever? Is Christmas early this year?

So, I finally got around to seeing The Flashpoint Paradox, and as mentioned above, Flashpoint is one of my favorite comic stories ever. It's basically about how the Flash has been sent to a parallel universe where everything's pretty much gone to crap. And that was the most interesting thing about the books, seeing all the changes in this parallel universe. I was surprised at how faithful this film was to the source material, even though they did change a bit and they left out a few great moments. But some things, they changed for the better, by actually showing us why Aquaman and Wonder Woman are at war, instead of making us read the tie-ins. I was also delightfully surprised at how the film stuffed 5 issues of plot into a 90-minute film without feeling too overwhelming. However, I was also disappointed at some changes in the film, such as leaving Element Woman out, or a pointless and drawn out fight between Aquaman and Deathstroke, or even the lack of Pandora. Despite this, I loved the tone for the film, with this being just as dark as The Dark Knight Returns (seriously, the film ends with what might be the bloodiest last 10 minutes of an animated film ever). 

In terms of characters, the Flash is likable as our hero, but as with the book, Batman (who's Thomas Wayne in this universe) steals every scene he's in, though I think the book gave us a more believable motive for him helping Barry. Cyborg is a character you can't help but root for, and I liked the extra emphasis on Grifter in the film. The only character I found to be rather flat was Wonder Woman, who really just didn't seem special to me. 

The voice acting in the film is top notch, with Kevin Conory reprising his role as normal Batman (even for just a few minutes), and FREAKING NATHAN FILLION as Hal Jordan. The standout performances in my mind is C. Thomas Howell as Reverse-Flash and Joe Soliz as Grifter.

The animation in the film was actually kind of disappointing. I really think the classic Bruce Timm/Darwyn Cooke style really could have suit this film, but instead, the filmmakers went for a more anime style, and made nearly every character look like they're on Venom.

JL: TFP could have been one of DC's best films, if it wasn't for a few storytelling missteps and a lackluster animation style. But it makes up for that by being faithful to the source material, great characters, and great voice acting.

STORY: 3.5/5
+ Stays faithful to the source material

+ Plotting is great, despite slowing down for some drawn out action scenes

- Leaves out a lot of great scenes from the books

- Some drawn out and unnecessary action scenes

CHARACTERS: 4.5/5

+ Well written cast

- Wonder Woman doesn't really do much

SOUND: 5/5

+ Great performances from everyone especially Nathan Fillion, Kevin Conoroy, C. Thomas Howell and Joe Soliz

ANIMATION: 2/5

+ Looks clear

- Anime style doesn't really suit the film

- Every character looks over-muscular

VERDICT: 4/5

Batman #23 Review

BATMAN #23

by Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, James Tynion and Rafael Albuquerque

Whereas Trinity War was somewhat of a letdown this week, Zero Year kicked ass. What is this world coming to?

So yeah. An issue of Zero Year that I've fully liked. While the story REALLY slows down in this issue, Snyder delivers one of the most original takes on one of the most important moments of Bruce's past in a while. Snyder's characterization of young Bruce finally clicks, and starts making sense, while the stuff with Phillip Kane and Eddie Nygma come to a head. The one thing I've really disliked about Zero Year is very prevalent in this issue, with it being a retelling of Batman's origin, but que sera, sera. 

Greg Capullo's art goes back to the darker style he used in the Court of Owls, and Death of the Family, as this issue is set almost entirely at night, and in the shadows. And thankfully, it still looks great. While I did notice a really small flaw in the art that really ticked me off (OK, so if Bruce was beat into submission by the Red Hood Gang, and was able to stumble all the way to Wayne Manor, which is on the outskirts of Gotham, and his penthouse was deep into the downtown slums, how was he still  alive after loosing so much blood, and still bleeding when he collapsed in front of Wayne Manor?)

However, the backup story is the real star of the show. "The Pit" by Scott Snyder, James Tynion and Rafael Albuquerque is one of the best backups I've read in a while. In simply showcases Bruce at his best, and delivering the most badass Batman scene since Bruce beat up the Joker while sweet talking him in DOTF. Also, Rafael Albuquerque's art can make ANYTHING look good. 

Batman #23 came as a huge surprise for me. Probably because my expectations were greatly lowered after the last two issues. But still, I hope Snyder and crew can keep up this quality for the rest of Zero Year.

STORY: 4/5

+ Finally, Bruce is written correctly!
+ Lots of interesting developments

+ Great take on a pivotal Bat-moment

- It's still retreading old ground

ART: 4/5

+ A much darker setting and look

+ Looks great during aforementioned pivotal moment

- How much blood does Bruce have?

BACKUP: 5/5

+ The most badass Bruce Wayne moment ever

+ Rafael Albuquerque. Seriously.

VERDICT: 4.25/5

Justice League of America #7 review

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #7

by Geoff Johns, Jeff Lemire and Doug Manhke

Did anyone else laugh their ass off at Wonder Woman's dialogue on the last page?

JLA #7 is Trinity War's weakest chapter, but by no means, is it bad. This issue is mostly filler, and doesn't really progress the plot forward that much. Sometimes, the dialogue strays into cheesy territory, which is weird considering Jeff Lemire is co-writing this. But despite these flaws, this is still miles better than the crap Marvel calls Age of Ultron, AVX, and most likely Infinity. Johns and Lemire still provide an interesting as hell script, that had me engaged throughout. Packed with lots of pizzaz and action, JLA sets up a lot of Forever Evil. Also, I found it odd that the entire issue was lacking any sort of interaction with the Justice League Dark. 

Inkers ruin Doug Manhke's art. There. I said it. Manhke's art is very inconsistent, with each page having a different inker, to the point of annoyance. Manhke is the least capable artist of Trinity War so far, and  I find it hard to believe this is the same guy that drew Green Lantern. Many of his facial expressions look creepy as hell (see Element Woman's face in the opening splash page), and Wonder Woman always looks... disturbing under his pencil. However, he still draws the action scenes well.

JLA #7 is the weakest chapter of Trinity War, but it's still a couple of notches higher than most events are (Cough cough, every last one event Marvel puts out). It's filled with action and some good character beats, despite the cheesiness and the somewhat lackluster art.

STORY: 3.5/5

+ Lots of interesting elements introduced

+ It's fun!
+ Some good character beats

- Strays into cheesiness territory a little too frequently

- Not a lot happens

ART: 3/5

+ Good and energetic action scenes

- Creepy facial expressions

- What's up with Wonder Woman?

VERDICT: 3.25/5

Saga #13 review

SAGA #13

by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples

When I realized Saga was coming back this week, my first thought was (sadly), "Thank god, something to FINALLY get my mind off of Higurashi."

When each of Saga's hiatuses end each year, that day should be marked as a national holiday. Because it's truly a time for celebrating. Today is a day that people come out of depressions, life has meaning again, and balance is restored to the Force. Because Saga is still absolutely, freaking, unbelievably, AWESOME. Saga #13 actually picks up a bit before the events of Saga #12. We get to see Marko and Alana's first encounter with Oswald Heist (who's wearing the most formal of attire when they meet), the Will and Gwendolyn get closer and a pair of potential new protagonists are introduced. The thing about Saga, is that it has all these plot elements going for it, and swirling around, but it never feels convoluted or overcrowded. In fact, it helps in building the most original universe I've ever seen in comics in a while. There seems to be no end to the originality Vaughn has, it's almost scary.

Fiona Staple's art is the other side of the coin. Why she wasn't given more work before this is beyond me. I mean, this woman can DRAW. The way she draws everything, alive with color and motion is just gorgeous and beautiful. Every single panel is bursting with energy, even the static ones. 

Saga #13, no, Saga overall as a whole, is one of those rare comics that come along once in a lifetime, that break the barriers of what comics are capable of. Now, I know that's some high praise, but this really deserves every last bit of praise it's given. There's a website called Comic Book Roundup, that gathers all the comic book reviews it can gather. When you check Saga under that site, you'll notice the lowest score it's EVER received is an 8 out of 10. And considering how picky critics are, that's an absolute miracle. Just like Saga is.

STORY: 5/5

+ Huge and detailed world

+  Unpredictable

+ Great introduction for Heist

ART: 5/5

+ Everything is laid out and drawn with expertise

+ Colorful

+ Bursting with life

VERDICT: 5/5

Green Arrow #23 review

GREEN ARROW #23

by Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino

Friggin, is it weird that Emiko's mom looks just as old as Oliver, but it's weirder when you find out she was with Robert Queen...

Lemire is seriously turning Green Arrow into one of DC's best series. I really would like to compare this to Skyfall, but I don't think it would be appropriate. From his incredible characterization to the complex mystery and mythology that he's laying out. The pacing is very well done too. Lemire is taking this at a  reasonable pace, but doesn't take too quickly to the point where things seem muddled. Lemire is doing to Green Arrow what he did with Animal Man, by simply becoming focused on telling its own story, and barely delving into the rest of the DCU, but still feeling very DC-ish. 

Andrea Sorrentino is a triple threat. A, his style is consistent and colorful. B, it's realistic, but suits the tone of the book, and C, he  delivers EVERY MONTH. 

Green Arrow #23 is another win for Lemire and Sorrentino. To be honest, I think Green Arrow is better than Hawkeye (no bricks through my window yet? Good.). Green Arrow delivers a very cinematic experience, and the art is consistent every issue.

STORY: 5/5

+ Detailed mythos

+ Great characterization

+ Epic and brutal

ART: 5/5

+ Realistic

+ Very consistent

+ Kinetic, and action-packed

VERDICT: 5/5

Anime Week: School Days review (RUN WHILE YOU STILL CAN)

(WARNING: The following review contains profanity (because this show deserves everything I give to it) and spoilers (which doesn't mean crap, because it's not like you should watch it anyways))

SCHOOL DAYS

Sorry, wrong pic (or is it?),

SCHOOL DAYS

So, School Days. Let's get this over with.

School Days is worse than people say it is. Much, much, much worse. School Days is the story of Mr. Not-Good-For-Shit, or as the show labels him, Makoto. He has a crush on this girl named Kotohona, or, Ms. The-Biggest-Dumbass-On-The-Face-of-the-Planet. So, Ms. Scheming-Manipulative-Bastard-the-Show-Wants-You-To-Like-For-Some-Reason, or Sekai, finds out about Makoto's crush, and goes on to try to set the two of them up. And by the end of episode three, shit hits the fan, Makoto gets bored of Kotohana, starts dating Sekai, behind Kotohana's back, and then proceeds to start using the show's ENTIRE female cast. No, I'm not exaggerating. By episode 11, Makoto is practically just screwing every single female character on the show, and in one final of douchebaggery, Makoto decides to go with Kotohana in the end. And Sekai takes to this news by FUCKING SHANKING HIM TO DEATH. After that, Kotohana kills Sekai, and Kotohana starts dating Makoto's severed head. Yeah. And that, is School Days, the novelization. No seriously. If you enjoy any of the following: Romantic subplots, likable characters, intriguing stories, or anime in general, STEER CLEAR OF THIS SHOW. Because, if you said yes to any of the above, this show will butcher it so badly, it will make you not want to watch anime anymore. First off, the show started strong (for a high school slice-of-life show that is), and after I finished the first episode, I actually recommended to a few friends of mine. But, as soon as episode 3's ending hits, you will basically react:

Even worse, are the characters. Makoto is the biggest assdouche to ever exist in any anime, EVER. This guy is a complete prick, a tool, an asshole, whatever obscenity you have in mind, it will suit him. And yet, the show still wants you to root for him, after all of the crap he's done. Whoever wrote this seriously needs to go to writing school. And then, there's Kotohana. She's one of the most pathetic characters in any anime I've ever seen. She's also a massive dumbass. But she makes so many bad choices, and stoops so low, to the point where you don't feel sorry for her. I mean, by episode 9, I was thinking: "Holy shit, if she's this dumb, then she deserves all these things to happen to her." Sekai, is simply female Asian Blofeld in high school with relationship angst. Yeah. The show's supporting cast, which consists of mindless girls for Makoto to get together with, don't fare too well either.

The animation is average for a slice-of-life show. You can't really compliment it , but you can't really insult it either. Standard.

Ditto for the soundtrack, as the show doesn't really feature much music that sticks out.

However, the show has one thing going for it. THE ENDING. I know, right? Makoto freaking gets shanked to death, what more could you want? It's hilariously bloody, gruesome, and all kinds of effed up. And it was beautiful. Now, after Makoto's death, there's still a bit more violence to be had in a knife fight between Sekai and Kotohana (just so you don't get tempted to watch the series to find out who wins, Sekai looses), and the ending of the fight might cross the line for some viewers, but the looser definitely got their comeuppance.

School Days made me question myself. I finished all 12 episodes of the show, but I didn't enjoy any of it, and I hate myself for it. Those were 240 minutes of my life I could have spent watching Baccano, or exorcising, or going out for a run. I watched this show for you, so you didn't have to. Don't even touch School Days with a 6-yard pole.

STORY: 0/5

- It's shit.

CHARACTERS: 0/5

- They're shit.

ANIMATION: 3/5

+ Decent enough

- Nothing special

SOUND: 3/5

+ Not bad

- Not memorable

ENDING: 3/5

+ Surprisingly satisfying

- Violence might go too far for some

VERDICT: 1/5

Anime Week: Puella Magi Madoka Magica review

MAHOU SHOUJO MADOKA MAGICA

Ok, so I have a friend who HAAAAATES magical girls anime with a fiery passion. So, imagine my surprise, when one day, he recommends to me, Madoka Magica. A magical girls anime being recommended by someone who hates magical girls anime. Something was up. 

Alright, now, take a look at that poster for Madoka Magica. Looks like your average magical girl kids anime, right? It looks all cute and innocent, definitely something you would probably show a 7 year-old girl, right? WRONG. Because Madoka Magica is one of the most effed up shows I've ever seen. Madoka Magica is the story of a girl named Madoka, who saves this tiny little squirrel thingy named Kyubey, who happens to be a sort of magical creature. He offers her one wish, and in exchange she must become a magical girl. Now, the first two episodes are what you would typically expect from this kind of show. You know, a cutesy slice-of-life show with some magical girl action thrown into the mix. But the !@#$ hits the fan big time by the end of episode three with one of the most shocking and gruesome scenes I've ever witnessed. At it's core, Madoka Magica is two things. One, is a deconstruction of the magical girl genre, in which it puts a dark spin on all the elements of your generic MG show. What results, is one of the most interesting and engaging shows I've ever seen. The second thing Madoka Magica is, a Faust tragedy. The show gets much darker and darker as it progresses, and there are tons of secrets in the show's large bag of tricks, I won't spoil. Oh yeah, and the show will keep you emotionally invested in the character's plights too. Almost every character has a tragic backstory that makes them feel like they've each stepped out of a Jun Maeda script. 

Madoka Magica's characters are both, some of its biggest strengths, and one of its largest weaknesses. Madoka herself is really the show's weak point. She's your standard magical girl protagonist, and actually takes a backseat in the show until the last 4 or 3 episodes. The show's 4 (or should I say 3 and a half, muahaha) other leads are much more interesting, especially Homura and Sayaka, both of whom have some of the best character development I've seen in anime.

I know that the animation was actually unfinished during the show's original run, but I got to see the completed animation when I marathoned through the series. The animation is pretty decent during the scenes in the normal world, but in the realm of the witches, the show uses a stylistic almost stop-motion cutout look. It looks great and gives the setting an almost nightmarish feel.

The soundtrack of the show was done by Yuki Kajiura, aka, the composer that made SAO worth suffering through. The music of the show is just amazing and atmospheric, and it's also very diverse. The opening is incredibly catchy, and the ending song, (which is also used as a battle song at times) is EPIC.

(SPOILERS)

Now, I'm really not sure what to think of Madoka Magica's ending. It's akin to Clannad After Story's ending, but it doesn't completely erase the events of the series. Oddly enough, I'm still at odds with myself on what to think of it, so I'm not scoring the ending this time.

(SPOILERS END)

Madoka Magica is a brutal, intense, dark, sometimes sadistic show. And I love it.

STORY: 5/5

+ Deconstruction of the magical girl genre

+ It's like a dark fairy tale

+ It's not the cutesy girl show you think it is

+ Episode 3's ending

CHARACTERS: 3/5

+ Great supporting cast

- Weak protagonist

ANIMATION: 3.5/5

+ Imaginative, almost Dave McKean like during the witch fights

- Substandard in the normal realm

SOUND: 4.5/5

+ Epic score

+ The ending music rocks

ENDING: N/A

VERDICT: 4/5 

Anime Week: Eden of the East review

EDEN OF THE EAST

The best way to describe Eden of the East would probably be: Mirai Nikki meets Atlas Shrugged.

Eden of the East tells a very complicated story about a game being played by 12 people, in which of each of them are given a phone that they use to survive. Sound familiar? However, beyond that premise, there's a very complex and intriguing story. Eden of the East tells one of the most interesting stories I've seen in anime, but I can't give too much away without spoiling it. All I can really say, is that 12 people are given 10,000,000,000 yen, and are told to change the world. The show takes you through so many twists and turns, and sometimes keeps you emotionally engaged in the story. The pacing is perfect too. Over the 12 episodes, the pacing is kept constant, and the show never really lets up. And then, the show really starts to question its own morals towards the later episodes, and makes you think about what really going on.

While the supporting cast of the show is rather ordinary, it's the two protagonists that shine. Takeshi is a character that's hard not to like. He has amnesia, and a strong desire to just help people. And Saki is someone thrown into the middle of the show's craziness. It's the Doctor/Companion relationship between the two that make the show, and their banter is incredible to watch.

The animation was done by the ever awesome Production I.G, who are some of the best animators in anime. Their animation is very fluid and smooth, and it's incredibly vivid and clear. 

The soundtrack for the show is just awesome. Almost every track stands out in my mind, especially the opening, Falling Down by Oasis, which just might be one of my favorite openings ever.

(SPOIlERS)

Now, where the show falters, is the ending. For one thing, it's incredibly unsatisfying.  We don't find the identity of half of the Selacao, and worse, some of the surviving players don't even get a proper conclusion. There are more plot holes than Swiss cheese, and some of the end doesn't even make sense a la Evangelion. However, it does give Saki a sort of satisfying resolution.

(SPOILERS END)

Eden of the East seemed to have everything going for it until its ending. Now, even though the final episode left a bad taste in my mouth, the rest of the series was some of the best anime I've seen. This is a series worth watching despite the last episode.

STORY: 4.5/5

+ Interesting twist on the survival game premise

+ Lots of twists and turns

CHARACTERS: 4/5

+ Takeshi and Saki's relationship drives the show

- Supporting cast is slightly weak

ANIMATION: 4.5/5

+ Very clear and energetic

+ Colorful and smooth

SOUND: 5/5

+ Best. Opening. Ever.

+ Every track suits the  scene

ENDING: 1/5

+ Saki gets a somewhat satisfying resolution

- So many plot holes

- More than half of the players go unrevealed

VERDICT: 4/5

Anime Week: The Future Diary (Mirai Nikki) review

THE FUTURE DIARY

The Future Diary boasts some incredibly unlikable characters, an annoying protagonist, a sometimes confusing plot, a convoluted script, and odd pacing.... AND I !@#$ING LOVE THIS SHOW.

So, Mirai Nikki is a story about this kid named Yukiteru Amano, who finds himself thrust into the middle of a survival game, where the 12  players must kill each other, using any tool at their disposal, including their cell phones, each of which can predict the future in a different way. Now, I love these Battle Royale type shows a LOT. While Mirai Nikki has its flaws, among them, the plot being very confusing at times, and the script's dialogue feeling pretentious, and the pacing getting off at times, it's surprisingly interesting. There are some very good character moments, unbelievably, sometimes hilariously violent action scenes, and a lot of  well done tension. There were a lot of twists I didn't see coming, one of which, made my jaw drop. Behind all of violence and Hunger Games-esque plot, there's a very cleverly laid out mystery. 

Yuki is a very annoying character for the first half of the show, 

until he grows up a bit during the climax of the second half. But everyone knows, that the real stars of the show are Yuno and Minene. It's hard not to love the psychotic, and not 100% right in the mind Yuno, as she just kills her way through the show's cast. My favorite character in the show is Minene, Ninth. Her hardass attitude and obsession with explosives make her a very likable and charming character... Despite being a terrorist. The show's supporting cast is slightly generic for a Battle Royale story, but luckily, a majority of the players are a mystery, keeping you on your toes.

The animation is a mixed bag. It really looks like the show has a low budget during the quieter scenes, but it shines during the violent and gory action scenes.

The soundtrack is ordinary, and decent, though nothing really stands out, except for the catchy first opening.

The ending was something I wasn't sure what to think of at first. Part of me didn't want to like it, but the more I think about, the better it gets. Thanks to the ending, it made me want to rewatch the show, just to look for any more red herrings, clues, hints and foreshadowing. I mean, seriously, the VERY FIRST SCENE OF THE SHOW is a hint to the conclusion of the show.

Mirai Nikki is violent, brutal, unapologetic, and amazing. Beyond all the gore, there's actually a surprisingly engaging story to it. I highly recommend Mirai Nikki.

STORY: 4/5

+ A  compelling mystery

+ Tons of twists and turns

- The script can feel odd at times

CHARACTERS: 4/5

+ Yuno and Minene make the show

- Yuki and some of the supporting cast aren't as fleshed out

ANIMATION: 3/5

+ Average, but shines during the action scenes

- Meh during more quiet scenes

SOUNDTRACK: 3.5/5

+ Dat opening

- None of the songs really stand out

ENDING: 4.5/5

+ Genius when you think about

+ Makes you want to rewatch the series, 

- Not for everyone

VERDICT: 3.95/5

Anime Week: Guilty Crown review

GUILTY CROWN

Anime Week goes on! Today, we look at an anime involving mechs, fan service, and being able to pull out someone's soul and turn it into a weapon. Sounds good, right? There's no way this can go wrong...? 

Guilty Crown tells the story of a high schooler named Ouma Shu, who has the power to use voids, or people's souls in weapon form. He lives in this post apocalyptic future, where basically everything is ruled by the Guilty Crown Corporation. Shu is drafted into a war against the GC, waged by the Funeral Parlor, a group of rebels. One of the things Guilty Crown has going for it, is its premise alone. It sounds like it could be an epic anime, with a large and vast mythology, and some great character building. But then, it royally !@#$s up. First off, the story is so incredibly cliched, I was predicting the end of each episode, correctly. And then, the entire story is so incredibly slow and boring, to the point where I was tempted to fast forward through a majority of each episode. Then, there's a plot twist about halfway through the show, that started to make me think that it would start to pick up and get interesting, but it doesn't! Instead, it just becomes a Twilight-esque teenage angst fest. Hell, half of the show becomes just the characters being boring and complaining, and it just pissed me off! The show had so much potential, but it just wasted it in one of the biggest flops I've ever seen.

And then... the characters. Shu actually started to become a unique character during the second half of the show. I thought he would become something of an anime rarity, a character that would just shut up for a few minutes, and kick some ass. But instead, he basically just Shinji Ikari, but less likable, and about two times as annoying. He's a massive dumbass, who's biggest flaw is that he's too trusting, to the point where it's just unbelievable. The only character that's remotely likable is Inori, but mostly just because she's a badass. And then, my least favorite characters in the whole damn show: First off, Yahiro. This guy has got to be one of the biggest douchebags in anime history. Seriously, he betrays Shu 3 times in the entire show, and each time, it's in big life changing ways that nearly get Shu killed, but some how always manages to get back into Shu's good graces. And then, there's Gai. He's supposed to be some sort of genius, but he's one of the most inconsistent characters in the show. The show portrays him as some sort of badass, but the rest of his writing just contradicts that, turning him into another character who just complains and keeps being annoying throughout the show.

However, despite all this crap I've given the show so far, there are two places the show really stands out. First up, is the animation. Production I.G is my favorite animation company, and everything in the show looks beautiful.  The action scenes are just so kinetic and well-done, it's like looking at a unicorn prancing through a field of golden grass while a rainbow shoots over it. 

The other good trait of the show, is the soundtrack. The music. I have spent HOURS listening to both of the show's openings, "My Dearest" and "The Everlasting Guilty Crown". It's hilarious, that EGOIST, a band that was made just for the show, has ended up being an actual band in real life thanks to the show's success.

Alright, back to the bad. The ending. Jesus, it's one of the worst endings I've ever seen. It leaves so many gaping plot holes, hell, it leaves one of the biggest subplots in the show unresolved, and gives us one last terrible character moment. (SPOILERS) Seriously, a year later, Shu has dinner with like, 6 of the characters that betrayed and tried to kill him during the events of the show, and it wasn't even for a better cause. It was just because they HATED HIM. (SPOILERS end) And then, it relies on a huge amount of deus ex machina.

Guilty Crown is a pretty bad show. It was a chore to watch the show, to stand its poor story, and even poorer characters. I mean, there's always that one game changing anime that comes along once in a lifetime, and completely shakes everything up. This isn't that anime. In fact, this show turned me away from sci-fi/apocalypse  shows for a while after watching it. Even though the animation is gorgeous, and the music even better, it's not worth watching this show. Stay away from it.

STORY: 1/5

+ Interesting and unique premise

- Poorly done and cliched execution

- Predictable

- The show looks like it's going to heat up in the second half, but just gets worse

CHARACTERS: .5/5

+ Inori is interesting... A little bit

- Shu is a massive dumbass

- Yahiro is a massive douchebag

- Gai is a massive prick

- A forgettable and cardboard cutout supporting cast

ANIMATION: 4.5/5

+ Colorful and energetic

+ Excellently directed action scenes

+ Good character designs

SOUND: 5/5

+ An incredibly gorgeous soundtrack

+ The openings are great

ENDING: 0/5

+ You get to stop watching the show

- Huge plot holes

- Unresolved subplot

VERDICT: 2/5

Anime Week: Angel Beats review

Welcome to ANIME WEEK here at CAND. Now, I know I'm primarily not an anime reviewer, but hell, why can't I do this? So, each day this week, I'm going to upload one anime review. I'm still going to be doing my comic reviews when they come out, so keep an eye out for those. So, let's start with an anime that I'm very fond of, warts and all...

ANGEL BEATS

This anime just goes to show, that in Japan, there is no life beyond high school.  When you die, you just !@#$ing go back to high school, and I can't imagine a worse kind of hell.

So, Angel Beats is a supernatural action/comedy/drama show, about this kid named Otanashi. He wakes one day in a high school to find out he's dead, and the first thing he sees is this girl named Yurripe trying to kill another girl named Angel, who is apparently the overlord of the purgatory (hell) that they live in. He gets drafted into the SSS, a fighting force working day and night trying to ruin Angel's life. Now, let me just point out, that Angel Beats's premise makes it sound like it's a very action oriented anime, but it's not. It's more of a slice-of-life comedy with some action and supernatural elements. First, let's start with the good. The story of Angel Beats goes in a direction you wouldn't expect for it to go about halfway through the show. Some  people with roll with it, others won't. I was fine with it. Angel Beats's biggest strength is the genuine emotion of the series. It was written by Jun Maeda, writer of Clannad: After Story, one of my favorite anime. If you didn't know, Clannad (a show you must watch NOW) is a very tragic show, and there are some moments where it's just like After Story. On the other side of the emotional spectrum, the comedy in the show works very well. There were a few moments where I laughed out loud, and another where I had to pause it just because I couldn't stop laughing (Rocket chairs). Now, the bad. Angel Beats has a very large supporting cast, and by the end of the show, only a few members are really fleshed out. In the show's context, each character has a tragic past, and you never get to know the story of about 75% of them. The show's other flaw, is the second to last two episodes really bring the show down, with a threat that seems to come out of nowhere, but thankfully, it all leads into one of the best last episodes of any show I've ever seen (again, I'll get to that later). And, there are two episodes I want to commend for being some of the best character building I've seen in a while. You know how I mentioned that only about 25% of the show's huge cast gets fleshed out? Well, there are a few episodes dedicated entirely to a character's backstory, and episodes 3 and 10 are just amazing. If the show had made more of these episodes, then it would have been much better for it. (For those of you who haven't finished the show yet, you will start liking Yui, no matter how annoying she seems.)

Now, Angel Beats has a HUGE cast of characters. Our main character, Otonashi, is sort of generic, but he's a  character you just can't help but like. He's one of those people who wants to help everyone out, but he has memory loss, so he slowly pieces together his tragic story. Then, there's Yurripe. She's basically what you would get if you took Marvin from the Red series, made him a Japanese schoolgirl, and put her in high school. Yeah, pretty crazy. And then, there's Angel. At first glance, she seems like an anime  Kristen Stewart, but as the show goes on, she becomes a much more layered character. The show boasts a massive and colorful supporting cast, and despite mostly not being fleshed out, they're all  very likable and quirky. TK is freaking awesome, and Iwasawa is another tragic character. And then, there's Yui. She gets on your nerves very easily, but you can't help but like her. 

The show's animation is top notch.  It was very colorful and very clear. The show looks great during the action scenes, and I love that during the flashbacks, they use a much darker color palette, but in the purgatory, they use much brighter colors.

And you can't review Angel Beats without talking about the soundtrack. In the show, there's this band called GirlsDeadMonster, that basically distracts the rest of the school as the SSS tries to kill Angel. Their music makes up most of the show's score, and every song stands out. Among my favorites, is My Song (used during the climax of episode 3),  My Most Precious Treasure (which is used during the show's saddest scenes, to great effect) and of course, the opening, My Soul, Your Beats. Oh yeah, and Brave Song. ROCKET CHAIRS! (Note: On YouTube, there's a channel called leeandlie, where there are English covers of a large portion of the soundtrack, and I must admit, some of the covers eclipse the show versions)

(SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT) The ending of Angel Beats is a very mixed bag. First, you have the second to last two episodes, which I just do not like. It involves some poorly done deus ex machina, and the big enemies, just come out of nowhere. But, then, there is Episode 13. This is one of the best final episodes of any show that I've ever seen. The gradual disappearance of the show's central characters was very well done, but the real meat of the conclusion, has to be the scenes between Otanashi and Kanade. Seriously, I was on the brink of tears when Kanade left Otanashi alone. Thankfully, one of my friends told me there's something after the end credits, and I'm happy I'm waited (even though it really frustrated the !@#$ out of me).

(SPOILERS END HERE)

So, Angel Beats is a very good anime. Despite its flaws, and the score I'm going to give it, it's actually one of my favorite anime. It will always be the anime that got me back into watching, after a long hiatus. And before this review ends... Rocket chairs.

STORY: 3.5/5

+ Very emotional

+ Lots of twists and turns

+ Well done character episodes

- Lack of development of the supporting cast

- Second to last episodes really bring it down

CHARACTERS: 4.5/5

+ Otonashi is likable, despite being generic

+ Freaking Yuri

+ A quirky and likable supporting cast

ANIMATION: 4/5

+ Looks great

+ Very colorful

SOUND: 5/5

+ Incredible and effective soundtrack

+ Very powerful during the more emotional scenes

ENDING: 3.5/5
+ One of the best and most tragic last episodes ever

- Second to last episodes really bring it down

VERDICT: 4/5

Daredevil #29 Review

DAREDEVIL #29

by Mark Waid and Javier Rodriguez

Daredevil vs KKK. No, seriously.

So, this is one of the funnest issues of Daredevil thus far. It's not the best, but it's the most entertaining. As per the usual, Waid's witty characterization take center stage, along with a fun chase to find a bomb, and trying to find the corrupt jerks in the law system. There were some inconsistencies in the story, such as the characterization of Marvin, and introducing a character who plays a major role in the series in the last 10 pages or so. However, Waid makes up for it, with a very intriguing cliffhanger.

Javier Rodriguez makes for a great replacement for Chris Samnee. He comes up with a couple of very interesting JH Williams-esque layouts and effects, and very kinetic. It has a very old school look, and I love this old style of art.

Daredevil #29 is sort of like the recent Clayface arc in Batman. It's definitely not the best work from a very gifted created team, but it's still entertaining nonetheless.

STORY: 4/5

+ Witty dialogue

+ Entertaining and snappy

+ Fun diversion

- Some inconsistent writing

ART: 4/5

+ Looks just like Samnee's art

+ Interesting layouts

+ Funky effects

- One panel really just bugged me

VERDICT: 4/5

Guardians of the Galaxy #5 Review

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #5

by Brian Michael Bendis, Neil Gaiman and Sara Pichelli

I really, really just want Iron Man off of this team.

So, Guardians of the Galaxy #5 marks the debut of Angela in the Marvel U. In case you didn't know, this is a pretty big deal, because of a lawsuit involving he character, Neil Gaiman, Todd McFarlane, and other stuff. So, GOTG continues the awesome space epic, that has too much Iron Man in it. First, the good. Angela, while she is overwritten, I think I just may warm up to her, and she has tons of potential. I love the cast (except for Iron Man), especially Groot and Gamorra (Zoe Saldana is going to kill it in this role). Bendis's writing is solid, as the dialogue can be very clever, and pushes the story forward. Now, the bad. Iron Man is out of place on the team, it's ridiculous. And then, the double edged sword. Angela. Like I mentioned earlier, I like her, but she's very overwritten. Also, I didn't like the fact that it tried to tie into Infinity too much. It felt very forced.

Sara Pichelli's art looks amazing. While it can look messy in a few panels, you can overlook them easily. Many of the panels have a lot of  life in them, and the coloring is just amazing. 

Guardians of the Galaxy #5 is a fun space adventure. If the movie is even a LITTLE bit like the book, it's going to be pretty awesome. 

STORY: 3/5

+ Angela has lots of potential

+ Gamorra and Groot

+ Feels like a fun space movie

- Iron Man

- Angela can get overdramatic

ART: 4/5

+ Smooth and clean

+ Full of life and energy

+ It's actually very pretty

- Some messy panels

VERDICT: 3.5/5