Fuck, what happened to Goodreads? you go out and have yourself a soul-destroying life crisis that constantly makes you either want to die or be afraidFuck, what happened to Goodreads? you go out and have yourself a soul-destroying life crisis that constantly makes you either want to die or be afraid that you'd actually die for about nine months, and then log in to rate the first book you've read in that stretch of time, and you see this? What gives?
Anyway, I'm still alive, I'm here, and I'm back reading Chainsaw Man. And it's fucking amazing. The last volume was very weak and disappointing, so I'm happy to say that in this one Fujimoto hits you with everything he's got. At first quiet, introspective and sorrowful, and then loud and horrifying, this volume hits like a ton of bricks, and it seems like the series is not going to pull any punches on its way to the big finale.
And hey, Power is back and probably at her best and most complex. Seriously, I loved this volume so much!
Tom King's big thematic sequel to Mister Miracle and Sheriff of Babylon didn't disappoint. It's yet another book about war, war crimes, misinformationTom King's big thematic sequel to Mister Miracle and Sheriff of Babylon didn't disappoint. It's yet another book about war, war crimes, misinformation and deep dark secrets of supposed heroes. It's also about how Adam Strange is a piece of shit — and while it wasn't 100% clear that this is where the story was going in the early issues, it was a bit of a tough read, but thankfully everything clicked into place soon enough. Not only is this the best Tom King book since Mister Miracle, it's also the best work by both Mitch Gerads and Doc Shaner to date, they did an absolutely outstanding job illustrating and intersecting the two 'worlds' where the story takes place. Doc's more cheery and iconic visual style is in a jarring contrast with the horrors he often has to draw, creating a dissonance that works so incredibly well for the story. Meanwhile, Mitch absolutely outdoes himself in the more 'realistic' half of the book with sublime facial expressions and acting, bringing so much raw emotion and vulnerability to the characters. I particularly loved the way he draws Mister Terrific, who, I might add, is the real star of the show here — now I really want a sequel all about him and that other character he ends up paired with at the end. Overall, Strange Adventures was a fantastic read, narratively complex and visually spectacular. And as always, I can't wait to see what's next in store for all of its creators, three of the most talented people working in comics today....more
I started reading the first volume of Wave already knowing that I really like this story. It was one of the few anime series (or any pop culture thingI started reading the first volume of Wave already knowing that I really like this story. It was one of the few anime series (or any pop culture things in general, really) I was following in spring of 2020 that somehow wasn't delayed due to the, y'know, that whole thing, so the show became one of those weekly treats that kept me sane(ish) and gave me something to look forward to at the time. I still get the opening song stuck in my head for days, and every time I remember it I inevitably think of that Sapporo scenery (god, I wish I could go to Japan...) and Minare's delightfully relatable misadventures trying to navigate employment, rent, relationships and whatever else life throws her way.
At the heart of it Wave is a slice of life story, but so much about it feels so refreshingly unusual. The modern Sapporo setting by itself is not something you see every day, and it's such an integral part of the series that you can practically feel the spirit of the city in its every aspect. But then there's Minare Koda, our protagonist. She's a 26 year old single Japanese woman, she's feisty and tough but also vulnerable, she's a bit of a mess and yet she holds herself together as much as she can. A far cry from countless stories focused on high schoolers, brooding men, superheroes or sci-fi magical entities (not that there's anything wrong with that). And there's also the whole radio aspect of it all, not really the kind of industry that gets a lot of attention, and yet it's such a fascinating one — dare I say, a bit romantic? Japanese radio in particular is so interesting to learn more about. All we get in my country are shitty modern pop songs, shitty retro pop songs and political propaganda, so I would take the kind of radio station Minare ended up working at in a heartbeat.
And it all comes from Hiroaki Samura, whose other, more famous manga Blade of the Immortal I found pretty much unreadable. Wave is not the kind of book you expect from a guy who previously wrote that. Thankfully, as I transitioned from Wave the anime to Wave the manga, I found that Samura's art and storytelling skills improved a lot since 1993, and I got through the first volume with no troubles at all. And since the anime only got 12 episodes with no sign of it getting a second season, I'm really glad there's quite a bit of manga to catch up on.
Holy shit, James Tynion. He’s grown so much as a creator and has been very good on most of his recent books, but this? It’s a damn revelation, and a bHoly shit, James Tynion. He’s grown so much as a creator and has been very good on most of his recent books, but this? It’s a damn revelation, and a book that puts him at the very top tier of modern comic writers. And Martin Simmonds, hot damn. Absolutely stunning comic in every way. It’s been a while since I’ve had a series I’ve been this eager to pick up every month....more
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