Category: Reviews

Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya #005: The Bravest Swordswoman Fights 4 Evils

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hisui_icon_4040  I’m going to start with a tangentially related intro for this post. I think that is acceptable as this episode is mostly one long fight with the corrupted King of Knights so I can ramble a bit.

I admit it. It is partially my fault. If it were not for my constant Saber talk we would probably not have Sakura Saber to add to the pile of Saber variations (That includes Saber, casual Saber, Saber Alter, casual Saber Alter, Realta Nua Extra Ending Saber, Saber Lion, Lily Saber, Fate/Zero Saber, Bathing Suit Saber, Swimsuit Saber, Bathing Suit Saber Alter, Volks Saber Alter, Saber Maid, Red Saber, Saber Bride, Emperor Saber, Santa Saber, casual Red Saber, this shamelessness, Heroine Sanctuary Red Saber, Saber of the Red, Mordred, Master Artoria, Archetype Saber, Joan of Arc, Heroine Sanctuary Joan of Arc, Saber Dress Code, Yakuta Saber, and Mysterious Heroine X among others.) And they seem to be attempting to make each of the distinct enough that they can be marketed on their own as well as in groups. They keep making them because I keep getting interested in them. My bad.

And then Mysterious Heroine X has to hunt them all down.

In a way it is almost quaint for them to go back to plain vanilla Saber Alter with no bells and whistles. It is not Prisma Illya Princess of Darkness Saber, Big Bang Punch Saber, Idol Saber, or Saber von Lohengramm. Just the classic Saber variation. It has been awhile. Enjoy it while it lasts.

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Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya #004: Watching All That Cardcaptor Sakura Finally Paid Off

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hisui_icon_4040 You know that guy. In fact you might BE that guy. The person who watches something and then continually points out major and minor errors with everything they watch. They also tend to comment either on how they would have written things if they were in charge or how things would be different if they were in the show. And they do it all the time. If that pistol in a show is actually semi automatic instead of automatic they have to point that out and give you a lecture on how the gun actually fires. If an explosion underwater works differently they will mention it complete with their version of a full Bill Nye the Science Guy episode. If CDC’s procedures during a quarantine are different they will talk over the dialog to explain to you how the show is clearly inaccurate.

We all do it from time to time. Unless your are a silent monk while you watch things with friends you will make such comments on occation. The thing is “that guy” does it all the time. It turns out Miyu Edelfelt is not so secretly “that guy.” Unfortunately for Miyu being an accuracy obsessed nitpicker might make you a good employee (depending on the job) it does not make you a good viewing companion or magical girl.

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Manga of the Month: Genshiken

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Genshiken (げんしけん) by Kio Shimoku

narutaki_icon_4040 Convention season always puts Genshiken back on my mind. This year though, Genshiken is officially back in the spotlight with a currently airing anime. Plus, here in the states we are slowly getting the new class’s story in manga form, and to top it off, Kodansha USA has also releasing omnibus editions of the original story.

Simply put, Genshiken is about the geeks that we all are and know, albeit a bit exaggerated. The story is centered around an otaku club in college where we encounter various personalities, relationships, struggles, hijinks, and, of course, geekery. From cosplay to doujinshi, from figures to eroge games; everything and more is referenced, discussed, argued over, and loved within the pages of Genshiken.

Genshiken truly begins when new student Sasahara joins the club as a freshman. It follows him over four years in the club as he gets to know its members, learns a lot about himself, and even becomes more of an otaku in the process. But Genshiken is truly an ensemble story that shines brightest when it is about the group dynamic of the club. Sadly (though not really), characters must graduate and move forward but that doesn’t mean Genshiken ends as new students are always knocking on the door of the club room looking for a friendly place to share their fandom.

In Genshiken, sometimes the stories are strange, sometimes the stories are very poignant, and these stories are always told with big dose of humor. The appeal of Genshiken is that you are part of the club. You may or may not see yourself as one of the characters, but you always see yourself within the context of their lives.

~ kate