April 2005
Friday, April 29, 2005 4:24 PM
Hey guys, sorry I'm late with the update today, I've been busy all day today, so I just got around to posting it. I know most of you won't be buying the series I reviewed today (mainly because of some questionable editing), but I have went forth and reviewed "I''s" for those of you who are intereste in the title. Check back Monday for a new month of review.
Wednesday, April 27, 2005 11:05 AM
It's Wensday, time for another review. Today I have journeyed into the depths of hell, and I have for you a review of the most controversial manga release in YEARS: "Tenjho Tenge!" As always, read the review and let me know what you think of it. See you all on Friday.
Monday, April 25, 2005 1:16 AM
Note to self: If you are going to write a rant, make sure the rant isn't longer then the review. That might people very, very angry. Well, I'll keep this update short so that you can go and read my lenghty review of "Emma Frost." "Splinter Cell Chaos Theory
Friday, April 22, 2005 0:27 AM
For today's review, I have taken a look at Marvel's first serious attempt at capturing the female market, with a series called "Mary Jane." Is the new series a success or not? Read and find out. Seeing as how the last couple updates have been pretty lifeless, I guess now would be a great time to share with you my "concert nightmare" I briefly touched upon on Monday. So here's the deal: I'm a huge fan of Michael W. Smith. And I mean a HUGE fan! I have all of his CD's (one of them is even signed, which is pretty rare in itself since he no longer has time to do autograph sessions), I listen to his music once a week at least, and I have some of the books he's written. I had never seen him perform in concert before, so when I heard he was coming to my hometown, I jumped at the chance to see him in concert. So I went to the concert box office, and bought my ticket to see Michael W. Smith at the Arco Arena on Sunday April 17th, at 1:00pm. While I didn't save the ticket, on the ticket it advertises Smith playing at 1:00pm. I hear some ad's on the radio, advertising Smith at Arco Arena. I start to get excited. I get to Arco Arena at 12:30, they scan my ticket, and I get the RUDEST slap in the face I've ever gotten before! What is this rude slap? The show doesn't start till 2:00pm. No, that's not the big problem. It's annoying, but it's not the biggest problem that I am about to face. No, the big problem is that some "genius" decided that this would be a good chance to make this a music festival instead of a pure concert. So now Smith isn't playing unil 8:30pm. This is definetly disapointing, but I tell them I guess I can just go out to lunch and catch a movie and come back at 8:30 instead. Right? Wrong!
Apparently once the ticket has been scanned you can't leave the building. Nevermind the fact that the shows date and time is on the stinking ticket, once the ticket has been scanned they won't let you back in. Well not only am I mad, I am FURIOUS! Here I am paying these jerks $65 to have a good time, and instead I'm starting to feel like I'm in prison or something. Well, what else can I do? I bought the ticket, I'm here, guess I watch some of these other bands play. I've never heard of many of these bands before. I know who Toby Mac is, but I personally don't care for his music. Kutless and Skillet don't even sound like real band names, yet here they are, playing music so loud and fast, that I can't even make out any of the words they are singing. I like Audio Adrenaline, but by this point I've just listened to a couple of hours of bands that I don't even LIKE, and by now I REALLY want to just listen to Smith sing and go home!! During these acts I'm walking in and out of the concert halls. I run into several friends who are here to hear Smith sing too, but like me, they also have little idea who these other singers are, and also like me, they didn't realize they were paying for a music festival instead of a concert. We spend some time together eating Arco Arena's severly overpriced food, and then we get in line to get autographs from some of the groups. Why? Well my thinking is that you really never do know how much money someone's signature is going to be worth on eBay (and it's not like I have anything better to do). By 8:00pm I'm literally drained. The day hasn't been as much fun as I thought it would be, I'm on the verge of just leaving right then, I have a headache from all the loud music that these bands are playing, and I feel like the concert ticket was just a big waste of money (despite, ironically, getting a lot of bang for my buck).
FINALLY 8:40pm comes around (everything was running late), and Michael W. Smith FINALLY comes on stage and starts performing! He's a good performer. I'm actually quite surprised that his live singing sounds almost exactly like his singing on his CD's. This proves the mans got talent, as I've went to concerts where the singers live performances almost make the songs I'm used to hearing sound like completely different songs. It's nice to know that I recognize all the songs he's singing. He sung three songs from his new album "Healing Rain" (okay songs, but his latest CD isn't his best work), he sang a couple of worship songs (which were good, but seeing as how I hear these songs in church every week I'm kind of wishing he'd choose other songs), there is a surprise performance of "Secret Ambition" (a song he hasn't sung in years), and he sung "This Is Your Time," one of his most beautiful songs (from his weakest album...surprisingly enough). There is no performance of his signature song "Friends," nor does he sing the Grammy Award Winning "Do You Dream of Me?,"and I was a little surprised that he didn't sing the remake of "Bridge Over Troubled Water." I enjoy the performance quite a bit, but it's all too short, and I've had such a long day, that I guess the performance would have had to have been God like for me to feel like my money was well spent. This day was enough to scare me off from future concerts for life. Oh I know I'll end up going to another concert one of these days, but I'm so burnt out from this one experience, that I just can't bring myself to see another concert this year. Next time Michael's in town, I think I'll make sure that he's singing and ONLY him! And for those of you who have never heard of Michael W. Smith before (but are now curious), I have posted some links to some of my personal favorite CD's of his. He's been writing music for over 20 years now, and he has won many awards over the years (including the Grammy). A good thing to note when looking at the below listed CD's, is that the "Freedom" album is his "instrumental CD," and contains no words what-so-ever. While still a good CD in it's own right, if you want a taste of his vocal songs, then you might want to consider one of the other CD's instead:
Wednesday, April 20, 2005 1:26 AM
Following two kind reviews, I've decided to go back to being my old sarcastic, mean, self loathing self, by reviewing what is easily the worst "Shonen Jump" series to EVER to be released in America (to date)! Boys and girls, beware the cheap manga that is known as "Legendz." See you Friday.
Monday, April 18, 2005 1:32 AM
Hey everyone. I've posted my much awaited review of the very enjoyable "Gals" today. Check out the review, comment on it, and I'll see you guys Wensday (I may update again later to rant about a concert I went to yesterday, but no promises).
Friday, April 15, 2005 1:15 AM
Sorry about not updating Wensday. Like I said, I had internet problems. Anyway, my review that was supposed to go up on Wensday is now being posted today. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you my review for the hit movie "Sin City." Some of you may have been expecting a different review, but don't worry, the review that was supposed to go up today will be posted on Monday instead. I hope you guys will forgive me for delaying it. Anyway, enjoy the current review (even if it isn't one of my better reviews I've written recently).
Wednesday, April 13, 2005 10:34 PM
Due to the internet problems my cable provider has been having today, my "three updates a week" will have to begin next week. See you all on Friday.
Monday, April 11, 2005 12:44 PM
And now I have posted the second part of yesterday's editorial. You can read part 1 here and part 2 here. I don't think part 2 came out as well as part one, but since the situation got resolved by Squidi's wife today, I kind of rushed the ending of the second editorial since the writing was already outdated by the time I was finishing it all up. Just a reminder, today is the last day you can get some of my eBay manga's I'm selling. Hurry up, the clock is ticking.
Sunday, April 10, 2005 2:00 PM
Hello one and all. Yes, I'm updating on a Sunday. Can you believe it (I can't)? Well, I'm updating on Sunday for a reason. That reason is because something so unbelievably stupid started this weekend, something that was SO stupid I just HAD to write an editorial about it! Now this editorial was to go up tomarrow (with the "Sin City" review being delayed until Wensday), but the situation has taken another twist, which has actually forced me to write a second editorial on the situation. So the way things are right now, I'm going to post part one of the editorial today and I'll post part 2 tomarrow. So what happens if there is a part 3? Well then you'll get both an editorial AND a review on Wensday! Sweet deal huh?
Friday, April 8, 2005 0:28 AM
Another Friday another review. Today I've got a less-then-steller early review of Del Rey's upcoming release "Nodame Cantabile." Appart from the silly name, I don't expect the pre-order slips to rack up that high for this series. Also, if anyone who is visiting this is going to Sakura-con this year, can you please shoot me an e-mail. I need a favor to be done there, and I'll gladly pay for it. See you guys on Monday.
Wednesday, April 6, 2005 0:01 AM
Hey everyone! Like I promised, I have an update today. I have posted a new editorial for you guys to read in the Editorials section. I am also going to be taking this moment to announce that starting next week (or this week) I will be making three updates a week. This means that you'll either get three reviews a week, or two reviews and an editorial, or something along that line. Monday, Wensday, and Friday. Just like "Penny Arcade" and "Megatokyo" (when Fred updates on time). For those of you who may be interested, I am selling some more manga on eBay. I didn't like most of this manga, but I know I have different opinions then some of my readers, so you guys may find something here you like. Come back Friday for a new review.
Monday, April 4, 2005 1:30 AM
You know what I also realize? I haven't reviewed a Tokyopop series in a LONG time! Hmm...guess I better head over to Waldenbooks and check out their new releases.
Monday, April 4, 2005 0:57 AM
Ah, it's Monday. A new day, new week, and, of course, a new review. However today's review is a special review. Today I have taken an advance look at Del Rey's upcoming release of "Genshiken," which is slated to be released April 26. What, you thought Anime on DVD and Lister X were the only sites that did these? I don't know what it is with me lately, but recently I've been writing reviews left and right. I've got a set scheduel, and then something like "Sin City" comes into theaters, I write a review, only to realize that I can't actually upload it on the site until a couple months later. Well, either that, or delay another review for a couple weeks to get this one up on the site. Not only that, but I have reviewed two of CMX's shoujo titles, "Swan" and "Gals," and I keep wondering whether or not I should post the "Gals" review first in an attempt to win back some of the shoujo loving visitors I have (let's face it, I probably could have done a MUCH better job at reviewing as much shoujo as I like as I have reviewed shoujo that I didn't), despite the fact that I make a refferance to the "Swan" review that won't make sense unless "Swan" goes up first. And then there's that interview that I keep trying to get around to posting, but somehow just keep putting it off (I'm actually starting to feel bad about doing it, because now I feel as though I wasted the guy's time in asking him to do it). Then there are the webcomic and syndicated comic reviews I haven't posted yet, and...sheesh, I'm starting to wonder whether the two updates a week thing is really enough anymore.
I'm going to stick with two reviews a week at the moment, seeing as how it's nice to have extra baggage for the occasional week where I don't write anything for this site, but maybe I should go to the drawing board to figure out some sort of way to make it so that this site could be updated three times a week instead of two. All this pressure...and yet, all this is making me excited for some reason. I know, I know, doesn't make much sense, but I guess I see this juggling act as a new challenge, one that I look forward to meeting head on. In the mean time, enjoy the advance review (sorry, I just love the sound of that), and I'll see you on...hmm, check back Wensday. Just in case.
Friday, April 1, 2005 0:05 AM
A new month, new set of updates, and a new review in the form of CMX's "Land of The Blindfolded." Yes, I decided to review CMX titles. While I haven't been a big fan of almost anything CMX has released, and while what they did to "Tenjho Tenge" is horrible (regardless how much I dislike the series), I decided that it is my job, as a comic book reviewer, to review the stuff anyway. Does this mean "Tenjho Tenge" is going to be reviewed? Maybe, depends if I can score myself a copy of the American release without having to actually pay for it. Heck, if someone here wants to donate their copy (or sell it cheap, seeing as how I doubt anyone's going to get a refund from CMX), then just let me know. Also it's April Fools Day. While I'm sure there will be many sites creating false news and practical jokes, I myself won't be partaking in such an event. This is a series website, and practical jokes have no use here. Yeah, I'm one of those people. See you all Monday.