Author Archives

I want to consume so much entertainment, but have so little time.

• Black Summer Review: Extremes and Extremities

  By Alexa C. on March 14, 2014 • ( 0 )

  

  Black Summer was written by English comic book writer Warren Ellis, known for the comics Transmetropolitan and Hellblazer, as well as novels like Crooked Little Vein. The comic was illustrated by Juan Jose Ryp, who also worked on Alan Moore’s… Read More ›

• The Book of Human Insects Review: More Like a Pesky Mosquito

  By Alexa C. on March 3, 2014 • ( 0 )

  

  Originally published in 1970, Osamu Tezuaka’s The Book of Human Insects ran in Akita Shoten’s Play Comic magazine along with other manga titles like Leiji Matsumoto’s Space Pirate Captain Harlock. Human Insects falls under Osamu Tezuka’s adult-oriented and gekiga-inspired 60’s-70’s… Read More ›

• Merantau Review: Caught Between a Rock & a Hard Place

  By Alexa C. on November 15, 2013 • ( 1 )

  

  I am a big believer that settings in fictional stories should be meaningful. Settings should complement a story, not simply add an aesthetic. A few times, I have consumed stories wherein the author has an interesting setting or time period… Read More ›

• The Dagger of Kamui Review: No, It’s Not Actually a MacGuffin

  By Alexa C. on September 15, 2013 • ( 2 )

  

  Anime based on Japan’s historical periods tend to vary wildly, not only in terms of the actual time periods and events they cover, but also in their means of execution. Some series, such as House of Five Leaves are rather reserved and… Read More ›

• No Longer Human Review: My Little Nihilist Can’t Be This Empty!

  By Alexa C. on August 10, 2013 • ( 0 )

  

  No Longer Human originally ran in Japan’s Comic Bunch magazine starting in 2009, and was written and drawn by Usamaru Furuya, whose work Lychee Light Club we’ve covered previously on our site. Furuya’s manga is an adaptation of Osamu Dazai’s semi-autobiographical novel of… Read More ›

• Everlast review: Because Nicholas Cage Isn’t Here to Save You

  By Alexa C. on July 10, 2013 • ( 0 )

  

  Originality and execution are two big elements of general entertainment media that many critics look for in any given series. Since it is difficult for most works to truly be “original” as many modern works are derivative of older ideas… Read More ›

• I Shot Andy Warhol Special: Off The Deep End

  By Alexa C. on May 1, 2013 • ( 0 )

  

  Writer’s note: I wrote this review as an extra credit assignment for an art appreciation class, hence why the format is different. The topics I focused on were the portrayal of the artists in the film as well as the… Read More ›

• Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer Review-Dead Hookers, Dead Hookers, & Deceased Sex Workers

  By Alexa C. on March 16, 2013 • ( 0 )

  

  Serial killers seem to be a popular topic in the media, whether it is in the form of Hollywood’s slasher films or prime time news specials. Audiences always seem to be fascinated by these figures to some degree, regardless of… Read More ›

• Dirty Pair Special: Affair of Nolandia – At Least We Can Breathe Down Here

  By Alexa C. on February 20, 2013 • ( 0 )

  

  Affair of Nolandia was directed by Masaharu Okuwaki, whose repertoire also includes Aishiteruze Baby, Cat’s Eye, and MÄR. Animation director is Yukari Kobayashi, who has worked on Lovely Complex and Gokujou. Notably, as this is Kobayashi first and only trek into the… Read More ›

• Sakuran Review: Silk Hiding Steel

  By Alexa C. on February 5, 2013 • ( 0 )

  

  The subject of prostitution is a growing topic in this day and age, helped by the growing problem of illegal sex trafficking in certain countries.  Modern media paints the topic of prostitution in a negative and bleak manner, whether displaying… Read More ›

• Attack the Gas Station: Because Why the Hell Not

  By Alexa C. on November 10, 2012 • ( 0 )

  

  Juvenile delinquency, in all of its forms, usually doesn’t spell good news for anyone, anywhere, any time. Putting the obvious issues aside, delinquents in different countries act differently from each other, influenced by their cultures expectations and their specific reasons… Read More ›

• Wormwood Gentleman Corpse Review: Bloody Hilarious!

  By Alexa C. on October 16, 2012 • ( 0 )

  

  Black comedy is something of a fragile glass tool for humorists and writers alike. Pour too little, and it becomes forced and unnecessary, use too much and the work becomes uncomfortable and difficult to laugh at. As the years have… Read More ›

• Vampire Princess Miyu Review: Miyu Was Here, Ai Enma’s a Loser

  By Alexa C. on September 9, 2012 • ( 0 )

  

  Vampires are certainly no strangers to anime, regardless of what genre or time period they find themselves. From Osamu Tezuka’s Don Dracula to Hideyuki Kikuchi’s Vampire Hunter D all the way up to Kouta Hirano’s Hellsing, you’d be pretty hard-pressed… Read More ›