Don’t worry, no spoilers. But while you wait for my HP7 review (I’m at 407 words right now… so I am working on it… it’s hard to get all my thoughts on the book and the series into words), I thought I’d entertain you with today’s Ask John article from AnimeNation, on the subject of John’s opinion on the possibility of a Harry Potter anime:
This is not a review of Harry Potter, and nor will it have specific spoilers. I waited with S, Jon, and Joe for the end of a series at a bookstore. After arriving home at two am, I started to read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I was going to linger with this book. I was going to drift with it. Somewhere from lounging with the book…it became an imperative, a glass of water in the desert. I couldn’t stop. At five in the morning, I made my body and mind stop. I tried to sleeping for half an hour. It didn’t work. At median of five, I gave up. I went back to the book. I think around one thirty I finished the bildungsroman.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows comes out this Saturday. I am sure most of you not living under a rock knew this. I am sure most of you also know that there will be many book shops are opening or staying open till 12:01 am to release the book. Some book shops are having kid themed parties, while others are just trying to make some green.
I spoke with a friend, who is going to attend one of these ”magical” soirees. In fact, she may be attending with Jon from the site here. I haven’t decided what I am going to do yet. Get it on Saturday, or go early on Saturday for a book release. I gotta be honest, with you geeks out there. Go early sounds ultra “geeky” to me. Of course as my friend pointed out, you avoid all spoilers. No one can accidently ruin the book for you. So my question is: How many of you readers out there are going to a store friday night, or how many people are getting later? Please dicuss.
I don’t just read Russian Novellas, I also read comics. A small proclamation: I would rather wait for trades. I do this for the same reason why I don’t watch television and wait for the DVD’s to come out: I hate the ads. I know pretty ironic coming from an internet site, but there you go…full disclosure.
So you like Harry Potter? But you want something more grown up, and it is summer after all, so pictures would be nice. Well how about Fables created by Bill Willingham? It is primarily penciled by Mark Buckingham, and lettered by the superb Todd Klein. (Someday I will geek out on the importance of Todd Klein, and why he is the best letterer in the comics business right now.) So if those credits don’t help you, Fables is a comic. Now there is enough geeks out there that know this, but just in case: Not all comics have superheroes in them. In fact, most of the better ones do not.
Big surprise this summer, the movies suck. One could get into a debate about if summer movies have all sucked since the summer of seventy five, but that is a discussion for the forums and not “The Printed Word.” So in place of sucky movies what could we do to replace serialized storytelling? One could suggest television, but aside from some slash and burn “reality television,” it is all reruns. What is left for the story? Anyone? <insert the sound of crickets chirping.>
We’re at 3 days away from July right now, a July that means big things for fans of a certain series.
July 11th marks the release of the movie “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” and July 21st marks the release of the book “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” Both are events that many fans are looking forward to, but is the product worth the hype?
Let’s take a look at the movie first.
“Order of the Phoenix” is the fifth movie in the series, and there’s a lot of hopes and expectations on this film. Looking back at the previous 4 films will tell us why.
Hmm… methinks we need a comic book category…
Anyway, if you haven’t heard about it for the past 5 years, Free Comic Book Day is a wonderful event that happens every year. Basically, the first Saturday in May (which, un-coincidentally, has almost always ended up being the day/weekend after the release of a big Marvel blockbuster… the first one was after X-Men 1, the second after Spiderman… wait… X-Men 2, Spiderman 2… no, X-Men 3 came out later in the month…), you can go to any participating comic book store, and get free comics out of some special edition books that are available. It’s a really neat thing that happens each year, and if you didn’t already know about it, go check out the link.
NOTE: If you’re not a comic geek, run before your eyes bleed
So I was reading the first 50 or so issues of The Amazing Spider-Man, and the Webhead’s constant issues with public relations got to me. At least every other issue had him being slandered or mistakenly accused of something. The question of course being “why attack a person who’s clearly helping?” I think the only possible answer is that there’s a MASSIVE overpopulation of costumed crusaders in New York City. I mean think about it, in 1963 (spidey’s release) we have within rescue distance, Daredevil, The Avengers, The X-men, Nick Fury and his howling commandos, The Fantastic Four, and, on occasion, The Incredible Hulk. Now that’s before the Marvel roster was fully developed. Now we have all the former villains turned good to deal with. Black Cat, Venom, The Punisher, etc etc etc. Why not give one hero a bad time? There are a few hundred in the back waiting to help out. What’s the answer you ask? How can justice be delivered?
Mark of The Succubus is a Rising Stars of Manga
contest winner. Rising Stars of Manga is a contest
held by American manga publisher Tokyo Pop.
It’s easy to see why this won, fresh drawing style and
troubled romance. Who could ask for anything more?
Love is hard enough in high school. Never mind if you
are a succubus. Mauve is an adorable little succubus
who’s fallen for her mark.
Aiden is an adorable guitar playing emo boy who’s
clueless about love or Mauve’s feelings.
Devin is Aiden’s best friend, a conspiracy theorist
that The Question, of DC Comics, would find a worthy
adversary.
What happens when Devin tracks a demon and Mauve tells
Aiden her secret?
This Manga is funny and well written, with plenty of plot
twists to keep the pages turning. Very cute and sweet.
Definately a girl’s manga, but boys, you might enjoy
the demons! Fans of romantic comedies will love this
one.
Last week I was in Borders and I noticed it was
packed. So maybe that news story I read that said
noone reads was wrong. Personally I think a Friday
night in a bookstore with my date. Maybe with my
crochet, a little light yarn bondage makes for fine
first date fun.
Back again with another great book Suicide Blonde by
Darcey Steinkey of Jesus Saves fame. The Amazon.com
reviews of this book are rather lukewarm, you ethier
love this book or hate it. I one of the ones who loved
this book?
Why?
Because it’s written well and very frankly, Ms.
Steinkey tells it how it is she doesn’t write fluffy
characters whose sole goal is to fall in love. This is
the story of falling out of love and all the pain and
confusion that comes along with it. Except there’s a
big twist, 90’s style. Bell is Jesse’s boyfriend, who
happens to be bisexual, and pining for his first love
Kevin. So the question Jesse faces is : How do you
hold on to someone willfully slipping away?
The story is set in San Francisco a very gritty and
real look at how circumstances can effect even the
sanest people. This book strikes a cord with me
because I could identify with the confusion, which
throws Jesse from sitution to sitution each one
seemingly more sorrid than the last. The character
that I find most perplexing is Pig she is a secondary
character that sets the most bizzare seris of events
in action.
Madison is another enigma, just who is she? A junkie
prositute or a smart post modern business woman?
Books often can echo a person’s subconcious if this is
true, then wow I drew a lot of valuable knowledge from
this iluminating prose. This book may have it’s rough
spots, but I feel they don’t mar its beautiful yet
dirty city style writing
I fully give this book my approval and I sincerly hope
to Darcey Stienkey writes more in the future. Pick
this one up!
Somebody had too much time on their hands!
Welcome back to this column after a short hiatus,
during which I read practically everything right down
to tubes of toothpaste! Of course, when it came time
to write a review I found particularly nothing I had
read was what I would consider suitable for this space
(i.e. lots of Laurell K Hamilton) not that she’s bad,
but she gets enough reviews anyway I like to focus on
the not so blockbuster type books. Anyway, back to my
story, I found myself without something to review so,
I dashed out to Barnes and Noble to comb through their
stock. I found many books to my liking, and I wondered
as I searched “Would the books I buy to review count
as a tax write off?” and “I wonder if I could figure
out a way to get free books.” and “Where’s the
bathroom?” With at least one of my questions answered
I wandered off into women’s studies which was right
across from the bathroom.
Now, given my current full time job as house pet and
phone sex specialist and writer I always like to read
about the adult industry. Many of those are “how to”
ish in nature and much more suited for me to practice
in the field and report in my Living in Sin column. I
can promise you you’ll see a theme soon. This time
around I chose Bare, a book about you guessed it
stripping. Upon a general reading of the back I found
out it contained a story of striper based in Seattle
who worked at The Lusty Lady and then became a
reporter. It promised to be interesting, to see just
how a peep show girl lived. It also would raise some
interesting social and sexual questions. I think
everyone should fine tune their view of morality from
time to time.
This book offers a few women’s point of view not just
the author’s if you’ve ever wondered any of the
following questions this book should be on your must
read list.
-How does a girl become involved with peep
shows/stripping?
-How long can you do it for?
-Just how much can girls make in say Amsterdam vs.
America?
-Where can I find ridiculously high yet comfortable
high heels?
-Why can’t men in Washington drink alcohol in strip
clubs?
As children, when we start dreaming up possible
futures for ourselves, no kid says, “I want to be a
mortician when I grow up.” Except me, and my parents
were very worried.
I was thrilled when Embalmer by Mitsukazu Mihara, my
favorite manga-ka (manga creator), came out. Mihara is
best known for her Doll series which tells touching
and sometimes heart breaking stories about life, love,
and the struggles of being human.
The Embalmer manga deals with death and how the people
left behind deal with it. Sometimes seeing the ones
you love one last time as you want to remember them
can mean all the difference in the world.
The stories aren’t for everyone, if you’re looking for
action or comedy pass this up. If you’ve wanted manga
with depth and emotions look no further.
This beautifully drawn manga is truly a feast for the
eyes. Her drawings look more true to life than other
Manga. As you look through her books, you can see at
times the clothes seem to be the focal point and the
characters are drawn for the outfits.
I couldn’t put it down. Rather, that’s not entirely correct. I could physically put the book down, but it wouldn’t get out of my head. I kept thinking about it, the temptation to start measuring my surroundings building up in me. I’ve started closing off parts of my apartment just to make it so that I can’t see more than I have to.
