Author Archives

I let the diversity of the subjects I cover represent myself.

• Black Magic Review: Masamune Shirow Proves That His Mind Is Only On His Machines

  By Franklin Raines on June 26, 2012 • ( 0 )

  

  Black Magic was originally a fan-made doujinshi put out in 1983, created by a mangaka and illustrator who many might recognize by name as the original creator of Ghost in the Shell, Appleseed, and Dominion. Yes, Masamune Shirow, known for creating heavy… Read More ›

• Rock & Rule Review: It Is The Biggest Thing Since World War III

  By Franklin Raines on June 21, 2012 • ( 0 )

  

  Whenever I think of early eighties’ Western Non-Disney animation, my mind goes directly to fantasy. See, starting with the 1980 adaption of The Return of the King you see a small myriad of animated features like Heavy Metal in 1981,… Read More ›

• HellCity Review: Resisting the Unholy Urge to Make Hard-Boiled Related Jokes

  By Franklin Raines on June 11, 2012 • ( 0 )

  

  Of all of the tropes and commonplaces that I have learned from Western comics, there are two that stand out the most. First is the need for depicting cityscapes filled with boardwalk ads, street lights, and panels filled with mix-matched… Read More ›

• New Venue

  By Franklin Raines on June 6, 2012 • ( 0 )

  Hey guys. Just wanted to inform you all out there that I have been drafted to write for a site run by friends of mine by the name of SciFiFx. So if you want to see specifically me cover more… Read More ›

• Broken Blade Special: Stop Calling It The “Broken Blade”, For It Works Pretty Damn Well

  By Franklin Raines on June 1, 2012 • ( 0 )

  

  If you have been watching Anime long enough, you will come to a point where you can clearly say with conviction your opinion on marathoning a series. Marathoners believe that if you watch something all at once, you keep everything… Read More ›

• Taking A Month Off

  By Franklin Raines on May 2, 2012 • ( 0 )

  So we will be taking a month long Hiatus through the rest of May considering that Finals have been placed on our plates. We have a ton of new material coming your way though starting in June, so you will… Read More ›

• Capote Review: Following In Love With Your Research

  By Franklin Raines on April 14, 2012 • ( 0 )

  

  It has come to my attention that I have been writing film reviews for this site for over a year. During that time I have demonstrated a certain tone towards what I think I can write effectively. My history is… Read More ›

• Carbon Age Review: Military Fetishism Never Looked So Beautiful

  By Franklin Raines on April 9, 2012 • ( 0 )

  

  Comic creators have taken to the financial backing site Kickstarter in such a creative collaboration peak that I thank my lucky stars I live in the twenty-first century where such a thing is possible. Each creator has their own need… Read More ›

• Jacob’s Ladder Review: Unsettled By Weird Things That Only Last A Moment

  By Franklin Raines on April 1, 2012 • ( 0 )

  

  Certain horror films live and die by the recognizability of their creatures and visuals, basing the elements in a distinct reality. Peter Jackson’s fantastic Dead Alive is known for the lively and innovated depiction of truly posing the human body… Read More ›

• Himeyuka & Rozione’s Story Review: Whimsical And Sweet Are Accents, Not Substitutes

  By Franklin Raines on March 27, 2012 • ( 0 )

  

  I have a conceptually unique subject to review tonight; a short-story collection of Shojo manga. Now, I am not talking about a collection of manga pilots called one shots, but real honest to goodness short stories. In the past, I… Read More ›

• Le Portrait De Petite Cossette Review: Like Dorian Grey But With A Ghost And Surrealism

  By Franklin Raines on March 22, 2012 • ( 0 )

  

  Anime has an interesting mixed history with the horror genre. Usually action based series that just happens to involve horror tropes like vampires in the case of Hellsing or werewolves in the case of Princess Resurrection, fit under this umbrella… Read More ›

• Crossed Special: Comparing The Then And Now Of Comic’s Favorite Human Atrocity Part 2

  By Franklin Raines on March 17, 2012 • ( 0 )

  

  Crossed: Psychopath is all together a different beast than the original. Written by David Lapham and drawn by Raulo Caceres, familiar names in the Avatar Press catalog.  The story starts several years after the happening world is infested with crossed Marauding bands… Read More ›

• Star Crash Review: Breaking New Ground By Looking Into Science Fiction Post Star Wars

  By Franklin Raines on March 12, 2012 • ( 0 )

  

  During the time between Star Wars’ initial release in 1977 through the early eighties, there have been countless movies whose creation seemed to only try to cash in on the Star Wars’ success. Every one of these films would borrow/steal… Read More ›