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byekuma · 2 months

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[Character Analysis] Denji's Abuse and Growth, and Coming to Understand Who Never Loved Him.

*This character analysis is a translation of this post by Q BE of the Chinese fandom, with the author's permission. (Translated by Sachithes on Reddit)

WARNING: Contains spoilers for chapter 97

The way Fujimoto discussed Denji's mental issues in his interview was brilliantly said.

Denji's "fearlessness," although very useful in battle, is not "cool" in any way, but rather a very pitiful thing. Denji does not actually lack fear or emotions. Instead, he simply never had a chance to develop a proper, healthy understanding of emotions. He cannot identify his own feelings; his own fear and sadness fail to reach his own consciousness the way they would for a normal person. This was very apparent during the gun-fiend Aki arc. Denji was scared of the reality of Aki's death, so he didn't want to open the door; Denji was sad about Aki, so despite how he normally finds everything delicious, he threw up eating ice cream.

Denji is only like this because he was never treated like a human being since his own childhood. Nobody was there to hold him as a kid and tell him that he's a human being too, that he's worth something too, that he matters too. Yet despite this, he had a strong desire to survive. He was scared of his father's continued physical abuse, so he killed him. He was scared of being killed by the debt-collectors, so he worked his ass off for them.

And so Makima actually paved the path to her own downfall by creating her own killer. When Aki and Power were still around, Denji was incapable of defeating Makima. That time period was when Denji was most like a human - he was no powerful devil hunter then. Humans are social creatures, and "purely personal" feelings do not exist. All personal feelings exist under the premise of some kind of social relationship. Even if Denji cannot become a normal, healthy person through learning, he can still form relationships with others, and he can still experience love. It can be said that, under these conditions, Denji was able to indirectly or vicariously experience human-like emotions of fear, happiness, and unease. For example, when Power first moved into the Hayakawa household, Denji immediately took Aki's side when Power didn't flush the toilet.

That was a moment of Denji being social - through Aki as a medium, he experienced second-hand anger towards a roommate being unhygienic. Aki having these emotions is because Aki was loved before - he remembers what a normal family is supposed to be like. He knows that humans have value, so he gets angry when disrespected. And so little-by-little, Denji indirectly experienced many important things. However second-hand those emotions were, they were very much real.

Humans are only able to exist in the relationships between people after all.

Then Makima tore all of this apart with her own hands, which resulted in such an effect: Denji lost the people he could experience humanity through, but he did not lose his memories of the humanity he experienced. Denji now understood that, if a person treats another person like a human being, then they look at that person in a certain way. After having this comparison, and after experiencing both the absence of and existence of emotions, he was finally able to gain the ability to analyze things, to compare and contrast, and came to the conclusion that Makima never looked at him even once. Because the Denji we know now has experienced the gaze of many different people who actually loved him, he understood from the bottom of his heart what it felt like to be really looked at. And Makima never did.

#chainsaw man #csm denji #makima #manga #anime #tatsuki fujimoto #discussion

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kaiowut99 · 10 months

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Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters GX Episodes 97 and 98 Subbed (Finalized)

(Previously: Episodes 95 and 96 Subbed [Finalized])

(Check out my Subbed!GX Stream Masterpost!)

TURN-97: He Appears! The Mysterious World Champ!

The true objective of GeneX, hosted by Principal Samejima, was to find who it is that holds the "ultimate D card." Similarly, Ed Phoenix has been dueling in order to find the criminal who killed his father and walked away with that card. At the same time, the Dueling Pro League's World Title Match was about to get underway--one involving the Champion who has ruled over the Pro League for the past decade, DD. DD is also Ed's guardian, and his duel with Doctor Collector and his IQ of 200 gets underway. But their match is over in an instant--at the hands of DD, and the ultimate D card he used.

TURN-98: Activated at Last! The Ultimate D Card

Ed learns the truth--that DD, the World Champion, killed his father and stole his card--and is challenged to a duel.* Ed battles by making full use of his D-Hero cards, but just as it seemed that he was on equal footing with the World Champion, DD at last activates the ultimate D card, Bloo-D. Faced with this predicament, Ed... *Should note the preview text I translated for this mentioned that he was challenged "for the key Saiou entrusted him with," but... this wasn't actually mentioned, and DD challenged him to a "duel to the death." Though I guess that kinda works with how the dub tried to tie him to the Society of Light, lol.

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A smidge late, but episodes 97 and 98 are finalized!

Got ourselves an interesting two-parter here, as we circle back to Ed's season-long quest to find his father's killer and the ultimate D card stolen from him, introducing us to his foster dad DD. Why is DD his foster dad? As we find out, for reasons--ones related to wanting to keep tabs on the investigation into all that. But in the years since, DD's gone on to rule the Pro League for a decade, thanks in large part to the mysterious powers of the Light of Destruction within him--which, as Pegasus tells Samejima, is behind the Phoenixes' tragedy and... several other events in history. Ed gets closure with his dad at the end of it all, as our ultimate D Bloo-D absorbed him, and he gets to finally get his life moving again.

Very much enjoyed these two episodes for what they were in completing Ed's arc; I felt it pretty believable in GX's context, with how his motivations were fueled by finding his dad's killer now that he can do something about it, and his rise through the Pro League being to find the guy at the top who'd have his dad's Bloo-D. Also a nice touch is that, when he finds out DD only took care of him as a means to keep up to speed on the investigation into it, Ed discards any sense of respect he had for him (notably, Ed initially used "anata" (a more polite-yet-casual "you") with him, but once that revelation's made, he switches to the ruder "kisama" and calls him "human trash" for what he did). Both were also screenwritten by Shin Yoshida, and 98 in particular gets helped by the animation work from Tea Sun In's team.

Edit-wise, not as many as last time; I only touched up 97 in two spots, while 98 got more of the handful of fixes I made, totaling 10 for both episodes--97 was more consistency/quality-of-watching stuff, while 98 had that plus a couple of quick card fixes. Due to Tumblr’s dumb link limit in posts yeeting them out of the tags used for them and limiting their reach, and since I still wanted a visual element to it, I’ve made a separate post here with my usual fix/edit breakdown for the interested!

Quick housekeeping: made a quick revision to 95 to fix a consistency error in my translated credits; the name "Chan Yoon Lee" under the Key Animation credits should actually be "Chan Woong Lee;" since they're a Key Animator consistently on Chi Man Park's team, and the "Yoon Lee" name only shows up this once, it's fair to say it was a typo on the JP team's part. (EDIT, 7/6: Updated 98 to correct "an unique" typo in one of DD's lines, and reword another one about Bloo-D's absorbed souls later on.)

Anywho, enjoy! Next up, I'll be working on 99-101 which work nicely to continue from where 98 leaves us as we start getting into Season 2's endgame, with Ojin coming for Judai's key and Ed confronting Saiou (in two really good episodes). I will be a bit more casual with it as my birthday's next Monday and I may or may not have plans for it, lol, but stay tuned!

#yugioh #gx #yugioh gx #ygo #ygo gx #yu-gi-oh gx #yu-gi-oh! gx #my subs #Ed Phoenix #DD #Aster Phoenix #'please avenge me... and then... allow the time you've paused to move again...'#just some Ed feels #granted this really would've benefited from slowly building up DD more during all this talk of the Pro League #but even then it's still a good two-parter #six more eps woot #[also i snapped the eyecatch for 97 just before Judai slides into it #was amusing he was still featured even though it's mostly about Collector and DD lol]

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leslieannefusco · 3 years

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The World's Finest

Superman drafts Batman into the League of Superheroes when he suspects there is a traitor among them. Batman ferrets out the traitor, and the reason for his treasonous behavior. It all comes down to a one-on-one battle between Batman and one of the greatest heroes of all time.

Batman must go up against the traitor within the JL ranks, which will have lasting repercussions on Batman, and the JL itself.

JLA The Avengers United They Stand New Line Cinema Premiere Movie Theaters Warner Bros Pictures Presents Universal Studios Bruce Timm Comic-Con International San Diego Intercompany Crossovers Comic Book Publishers In North America Film Adaptation Exploring Modern Hollywood’s Leading Genre Amalgam Comics Archie Comics Boom Studios Comics Dark Horse Comics DC Comics Dynamite Entertainment Comics IDW Publishing Comics Image Comics Marvel Comics Oni Press Comics Valiant Comics Superheroes ToonZone.Net AnimeSuperhero.Com A TimeWarner Company Collectible Ticket IMAX Super Friends (1973-1980) Justice League Action The Tender Box The Spectacular Spider-Man Animated Series

In Metropolis, tourists gawk at the Justice League Unlimited watchtower. Within, Micron, a JLU member who can shrink and grow, fights a training robot, then answers a call from an unknown source. There's a monorail out of control! Micron hurries to the scene. He rescues the driver of the monorail, then rushes to engage the brakes and turn the train from its path. That done, he goes to leap clear in the textbook last-minute escape, but a force field goes up over the door, barring him in, so he's inside when the monorail derails and crashes. Meanwhile, in Gotham City, Inque has stolen an experimental airplane and the Batmobile is in hot pursuit. Batman shorts out the plane's electronics, and it goes down in a pond, but Inque escapes. She fights Batman, gets the worst of it, and then takes a bystander hostage. However, the bystander starts spinning around at incredible speed, scattering Inque to the four winds - it's Superman! The Man of Steel sports a stark black and white costume these days and has some gray hair, but he's still pretty tough.

Superman goes with Terry to the Batcave, where he asks Bruce if Terry can join the League. Bruce says it's not up to him; it's up to Terry. But Bruce wonders if he's supposed to be a replacement for Micron. Superman says no, Terry has what the JLU needs.

At the JLU Watchtower, Barda, an amazon from Apokolips, is angry with Superman for bringing Terry in without consulting his fellow Leaguers. Warhawk, an armored guy with wings, agrees. The new Green Lantern, a hovering bald child, says they shouldn't get angry, but Aquagirl agrees with Barda -- they don't know Terry, and Superman should have treated their opinions with more respect. But Superman tells them this isn't up for discussion -- Batman is staying and that's that. Terry is a bit dismayed and suggests this might have been a mistake. But Superman says he needs someone he can trust. Micron is still clinging to life, but even with the League's high technology, it was a very close call. Superman wants Batman there to spy on the others, because he suspects one of the Leaguers had something to do with Micron's accident. Aquagirl apologizes for the others, invites Terry for a swim, and then leaves him to study. Barda and Warhawk practice in the battle room, while Green Lantern meditates in a parklike chamber. Terry watches Aquagirl dart in and out of underwater hoops, then calls Bruce to tell him he doesn't like spying on heroes. When Aquagirl's monitor goes black, he instantly leaps to find out what's wrong. The water in her tank is boiling! He tries to unlock the tank, but the door is too strong even for him, so he rushes next door, steals Barda's Mega-Rod weapon, and blasts the door. Water gushes out, just in time, as Aquagirl has already passed out. Warhawk and Barda chase him and see Aquagirl rescued, but they suspect he was behind her accident. When Aquagirl explains he wasn't at fault, they blame him for not calling for help. They just don't like him. Terry finds a vital part burned out in the tank controls. Superman confirms that there's a traitor in the League; every circuit in that part was fused solid. Later, the Leaguers send Batman out on patrol while they handle an emergency. Bombs are exploding across the city, and the League rushes to the rescue -- except Batman, of course, stuck on patrol.

Superman catches a falling cargo container off a sinking ship and pulls buildings off victims, as does Green Lantern. More bombs set a large building on fire, but Green Lantern catches the falling building with green hands. Aquagirl summons dolphins and a whale to save shipwrecked sailors. Superman sends Batman to help Warhawk rescue people from the roof of another building. Although flying ambulances are on the scene, they don't quite get everyone before the fire reaches the roof. Batman saves the last two people, but then Warhawk gets an emergency call and takes off. Batman didn't hear any such call, but takes off anyway, after him. Warhawk tells him to scram. Since Superman told Batman to stick with Warhawk, that's what he's trying to do. A missile comes arcing in from above, and Warhawk goes after it, redirecting the missile back into the air. Then, all at once, it explodes, and Warhawk's cracked helmet slams into the Batmobile's windshield. Barda lands and accuses Batman immediately -- after all, Warhawk heard a call on the JLU frequency, but nobody else did, and they only have Batman's word that there ever was such a signal. Superman tells Barda to back down, but it's obvious Terry's not real popular at the moment.

Paul Dini and Alan Burnett, the shining stars of the WB's Superman and Batman shows, have been lobbying for a JLA series for years. Each time, the suits told them no -- do more Superman and Batman. So now they've finally snuck the League in, under the umbrella of Batman Beyond!

Although two Leaguers bite the dust in this episode, it's hard to believe they're just going to throw the concept away after the current two-parter concludes. It's also hard to believe Superman is really a villain. The killer has used two fake JLU messages, a force field and a sabotaged computer -- we're clearly looking at a master technologist here. So why couldn't he fake up the image on the Batmobile's computer? That would make it a master technologist with a grudge against Superman. Hmm ... Lex Luthor, perhaps, or Brainiac? Sure hope so -- for all this show's dark, adult-oriented tone, it would still stink out loud if Superman became a bad guy.

The JLU comprises six members: Micron, who can shrink and grow; Aquagirl, daughter of Aquaman, who controls fish and can swim acrobatically; Green Lantern, with all the powers of the Green Lantern ring; Warhawk, who has an armored battle suit and wings, and a Hawkman motif; Barda, the wife of Mister Miracle, who is super-strong, can fly with jet shoes, and carries a Mega-Rod which can emit energy blasts or duplicate various tools. Superman appears to have the same powers as always. There wasn't a body when Warhawk blew up. Think he's really dead? This critic suggests that Warhawk is the most likely villain, if indeed it is a traitor in the League, although I also think it's more probably some outside villain. We'll see!

In part one, Superman asked Batman to join the Justice League Unlimited to ferret out a traitor in their midst who almost killed Micron. And then Terry and Bruce jointly discovered that the traitor was, in fact, Superman himself! This week, Batman and the rest of the League spot Superman fiddling with the controls for Micron's medical tube as he floats unconscious. Warhawk accuses Superman of being the traitor, and Superman angrily says it's not Warhawk who's the traitor, but all of them, working together! Aquagirl tries to defuse the tension, touching Superman on the chest, and something under his shirt squirms away from her touch!

Superman lashes out with heat vision, which Green Lantern blocks. Warhawk tackles Superman and gets beaten down; Barda fires her mega-rod, but Superman puts Warhawk in the beam's path, then throws him at the others. Batman is knocked sprawling, but Micron escapes from his cell and grabs Superman, giving Batman time to get a box from his belt. Barda blows Superman through the wall, and he flies off. Terry calls Bruce. He had the kryptonite (supplied by Bruce) but hesitated to use it because, well, it's Superman, the first and best superhero of them all! The League concludes that Superman probably went to his Fortress of Solitude -- fortunately, Bruce knows right where that is. So they're up in the Arctic Circle when Barda boom-tubes them in. They can't hope to surprise him (the Boom Tube is awfully loud) so they stay together and search for him. They pass though a huge space zoo of space creatures; one of the cells is open, and has been for a while. Superman attacks them, but it turns out to be a Superman robot! Then some more robots buzz them, only to be shot down by Barda and Green Lantern. The real Superman snatches Batman's swinging line out of midair and hauls him in like a fish, but Batman whips out the kryptonite. Superman sinks into unconsciousness. Warhawk wants to finish him off, but instead, they pull off his shirt, revealing a huge starfish-shaped parasite on his chest. It's bonded to his skin, and they can't get it off without risking harm to Superman. Aquagirl contacts the starfish telepathically and discovers it's a form of marine life, captured from a world of water by an alien collector who preserves species by picking up the last of any world's life forms on his big zoo-starship. Eventually Superman was captured by the collector, and escaped, as did the starfish. But the starfish saw how strong Superman was, and determined to use that strength for himself. One day, in Superman's alien zoo, the starfish jumped him and took over his nervous system.

That was years ago; Superman's been possessed for years! But the starfish wasn't done there. It planned to take over the world, breeding countless copies of itself to enslave every being on the planet! And all that remains is to release them from the water tanks under the Fortress into the Arctic Sea. The heroes discover the tanks full of starfish, and boom! The fish are all over them, possessing everyone except Batman, who electrifies his costume and shocks the fish off him. Now he has to fight the rest of the League, including Superman, whom the other possessed Leaguers revive! Barda hurls the Kryptonite shard away from Batman, and the League closes in. Batman uses a flash grenade to cover his escape, and the Batmobile arrives, sent by Bruce. Unfortunately, Superman's after him! Superman tears the wing off the Batmobile, and it crashes. Terry staggers out, gets close to Superman and electrifies the starfish on its chest. It's considerably less invulnerable than Superman, and it falls off him, restoring Superman's mind to his own control. He doesn't seem to remember much. Superman and Batman take on the rest of the possessed Justice League; they've almost opened the door to release the starfish. Superman shoots Green Lantern's fish off his face with heat vision, and Batman frees Barda with electricity. Aquagirl dives to open the door, and Batman dives after her, but crowds of starfish cover him up until he shocks them loose. Superman starts heaving big rocks into the water, hoping to block the passageway at the bottom of the pool before the starfish get to open water. That means Batman and Aquagirl will be crushed, but he knew the risks. Batman manages to lift a huge rock off Aquagirl and haul her to safety, then remove the starfish from her face.

Then Aquagirl reads the fishes' minds, discovers where they came from, and Barda uses a Boom Tube to send them back to the planet where they came from. The Leaguers all want Batman to join the League full-time. Even the old Batman, they say, never made it past part-timer. He wasn't what you'd call a joiner. Terry says that goes for him, too, and declines permanent membership.

Permanent League membership apparently means residing at the Watchtower and not doing private adventures; it would effectively transform this series from Batman Beyond into Justice League Beyond starring Batman. I have trouble seeing this as a bad thing, but WB is famously unwilling to do a JLA series, so perhaps they wouldn't let Dini and Burnett do it. Still, the League can now show up whenever they want, so this is one step closer to a real League series, and the future setting helps by removing continuity shock issues. It makes no sense at all for the starfish creature to bring Batman in to locate a traitor when it knows full well that IT is the traitor. So let's not mention that any more. Remember last week when I said it would stink for Superman to be a bad guy? Well, he was and he wasn't. We got to fight Superman without the serious reservations I'd have about Superman being genuinely evil.

The starfish creature, though never named in the episode, is Starro, the first enemy the Justice League ever fought, back in Brave and the Bold #10. Does Paul Dini love the League or what? When Superman is chasing the Batplane, there's an echo of the music from the Superman TV show, which is doubly chilling now that Supes is a bad guy. The collector of life forms is from the Superman episode "The Main Man," who captured Superman and Lobo as the last sentient forms from their respective worlds.

Madame Web and the Beyonder transport Spider-Man to an alien planet where no evil exists. As a test, the Beyonder introduces evil into the planet and tasks Spider-Man with choosing a team of super-heroes to fight alongside him against the growing evil in the once peaceful planet.

Ah, "Secret Wars." Often the subject of a love/hate relationship of the show's fans based merely upon its title. And the complaints? It's nothing like the real "Secret Wars" classic Marvel crossover! Where are all the villains? Why is Spider-Man the leader? Some questions are left for the episodes themselves to answer others are left to the apparently not-so-common common sense. It's a translation of "Secret Wars" comic arc in a Spider-Man show. Spider-Man. It's only logical they would use his villains. It's the same answer as to why he is the leader. This show did guest stars very well, because it managed to find a great balance between developing the guests' respective characters and having the story take place in Spidey's world. Take the Daredevil episodes, for example. Spidey's villain were used, but were given connections, and in turn, the guest had a connection to Spidey, as he was Peter's lawyer. I especially liked the somewhat slower pace of the episode. Whilst it's true a lot of the episodes had a lot crammed into them, taking a breather is always appreciated. I was especially impressed with The Beyonder's explanation of his fascination of good vs. evil. I loved Spider-Man selecting his team. Whilst there were a lot more people in the original "Secret Wars" line up, most of them were horribly underdeveloped, and came across as horribly two-dimensional. I can understand why he chose whom he did. Since this line up is often the subject of much controversy, I thought I'd go though each of them. The Fantastic Four - As Spider-Man himself explained, he has never faced, or even met, Dr. Doom. Knowing how dangerous Doom is, Spidey would've been foolish to ignore the FF, as he put it, they've fought him and won. These episodes did a fairly good job with the FF. The designs were pretty cool. Spider-Man: The Animated Series changed things up for their designs here, taking a more modern root with their costumes. The Thing was slightly jarring to look at, and Johnny Storm's flame was orange instead of his bright red, but overall, the Fantastic Four worked here. Iron Man - The weirdest choice, as there was no real specific reason for Iron Man to be here, other than the fact there were friends. Perhaps Spider-Man felt he needed someone he could trust, especially since he wasn't sure if the FF would help him or not. The armour design is the same as the one in "Carnage," but still looks really cool. A nice detailed design that actually looked good every single time it was used. It's also worth nothing here that the animation in this episode was on par with the first season. There was some really beautiful stuff here. Captain America - Again, he helped Spidey defeat Red Skull. It's also obvious from the previous "Six Forgotten Warriors" arc that Spidey considers Cap something of a legend. Hell, he even got him out of the vortex that held him prisoner. His design was fine, both here and in "Six Forgotten Warriors." I would've preferred the colours to be a little brighter, but well ... it could've been worse. Cap also became an interesting foil to Spider-Man and The Black Cat's relationship, I especially enjoyed their little would be romance. Storm - The hardest to justify, as Spidey's experience with her in "The Mutants Agenda" was brief, to put it bluntly. It was pretty odvious she was only used here for her powers. She was the only X-Man to be used, because her voice actress was available at the time (that's it, yup), whereas the rest of the X-Men actors were Canadian and would've had to be flown in to L.A, which proved too expensive for Fox. As you've probably gathered, I really enjoyed "Secret Wars." I love part one, but dig part three just that little bit more. On to the next episode...

Spider-Man, along with Iron Man, Captain America, the Lizard and Storm teleport the Black Cat to the alien planet where she reveals her origin. As the villains grow stronger, Spider-Man and his new allies gather the rebels of the alien planet and prepare for an all out attack against the evil forces plaguing the planet!

Whilst it's true that part two is easily the weakest part of "Secret Wars," it's still entertaining. One odd point is the beginning of the episode with The Black Cat, Blade and Morbius. I wasn't expecting to see them here (the voices must have already cost a fortune!), but thankfully the extended cameos were important to the plot, as Spider-Man used the last of the machine's power to transport The Black Cat to Battleworld in order to help him and his team. Speaking of The Black Cat, she does get a neat, small scene with Captain America while they are heading to their next battle. There's a neat discussion between the two and their connecton with the Super-Soldier Serum. That said, it was a little annoying to sit through an extended retelling of her origin. For an episode which bridged the beginning and ending of arguably the biggest story the series, I don't see the point of telling that story again, especially as time is limited. Surely the time could've used on something anything. Despite the fact there was a hell of a lot of characters to animate, this was a very nice looking episode, as were all "Secret Wars" episodes. The designs of the aliens were a little generic and tall robots built by Alister Smythe seemed as generic as they could possibly be. As much as I love this show, I don't think I could stomach more Slayer-bots. The original Spider Slayers were the best, the rest of them were dull, generic robots, most of them defeated far too easily. The guest stars were still handled pretty well, specifically Iron Man, who revealed a little about himself. Despite the fact I'd seen all of season one of his own 1990s animated series at the time, I knew relatively little about him, as none of the writers of his show bothered to develop him. I was a little disappointed we didn't see the Fantastic Four, but they were basically the stars of the next episodes, so it made for it. Spideybeing the leader is a little unnatural for the character, but it works so well here, even with Captain America's logical arguments and actually added some growth tot he character so late in his own show. Whilst this episode did waste some of its runtime, and was nowhere near as entertaining as part one or it's conclusion, it was still an entertaining endeavour.

Spider-Man and his newly formed team of heroes travel to New Latveria and find a civilization ruled by a just and fair Doctor Doom. While there, Doom offers Ben Grimm a device that allows him to switch from his Thing form to his human form and gains his trust. However, Reed is unconvinced and begins an attack against the Latverian ruler but is stopped by Doom's robots, and is held for treason along with the rest of the heroes. Left with no choice, Spider-Man and the Thing launch a campaign to free their friends only to find that Doom has gained new powers.. the Beyonder's!

The final part to "Secret Wars" ends the arc on a high-note, ending better than it began! It's not all that faithful to it's comic book counterpart, true, but it's actually more entertaining, in my opinion. As with all "Secret Wars" episodes, the animation shined. I especially like The Lizard here. It's no secret that he was a stand-in because they weren't allowed to use The Incredible Hulk, but I found that it was pretty convenient as it allowed the story to bring in more characters from Spider-Man's world and help ground Peter, even though they were fighting on an alien planet. The main villain of the piece is finally unveiled - Dr. Doom! Spider-Man: The Animated Series treats him better than most other animated series. His voice, his design, his character - all of it is simply so much better than his appearances in other animated shows at the time. It's a shame we never got something of a follow-up. I'd love to see "Spider-Man vs. Dr. Doom - Part 2!" Even though it was only a small moment, it's worth noting that this is, to my knowledge, the only time Spidey and the Human Torch have had an animated team-up. There was something odd about the FF here, they seem nothing like they are in their own cartoons, but that makes sense since John Semper has stated that he wasn't fond of their previous animated appearances. That said, Sue and Johnny have great designs, but Reed and Ben not so much. "Secret Wars, Part Three" also has some of my favorite quotes in it: Spider-Man: "Hold on Doom. We're not your pawns. Under that metal suit, you're just a very disturbed human being. You can't possibly control the God-like abilities you've stolen. You might place us all in great danger if you don't give that power up! Dr. Doom: Do you take me for a fool? Who amongst you has ever wanted to give up your superpowers? Spider-Man: I have. Because I've learned, time and time again, that with great power, there must also come great responsibility. Unfortunately, as it's the case with this show sometimes, it's followed up with a really silly scene in which the heroes are about to be crushed by a mountain. It's almost embarrassing to watch, quite frankly. Thankfully, we can push that out of our minds knowing that, all in all, the arc hits the landing here in the conclusion. Plus we get a great cliffhanger of what's to come!To know all that we've just watched was merely a test for Spidey made me wonder what was coming next when I first saw it. And it doesn't disappoint, I'm happy to say.

Create superhero characters inspired by Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Catwoman, Lois Lane and others, in the vintage comic book style of the 60's. She can be fighting for truth and justice, or on the contrary she can be a jewelry thief or a vixen! To delete an item from the accessories page, if there is no X button for it, simply click the item twice.

https://www.youtube.com/c/TheWorldsFinest/videos

#Buce Timm

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rekkingcrew · 5 years

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Rek DMs, Some Thoughts

Buckle up, it’s Edge of the Empire tabletop Roleplaying time.

Yeah, I know I don’t post here much. I’m still doing the devaron’s angels thing, which is scratching a lot of my online itches, and I’ve got a part time job and full time parenting.

I’d really planned on doing regular updates of what happened each session. Aaaaand that didn’t happen. Which is a shame, I’d love to be able to have those summaries to look back on. But here’s the short version:

The gang, who are a crew of space chancers and criminals rolling around in a stolen police ship, were doing odd jobs together for a while, including some for the empire. Their contact, a Pantoran spymaster whose cover was as a children’s entertainer, congratulated them on their most recent heist job (where the campaign started in medias res), and gave them a new job: deliver a mysterious sealed orb to the leader of the peskiest rebel cell in the general area, led by a Rodian pirate by the name of Cheng Maxeda. They said maybe, took the orb, and then checked around and picked up a delivery job for their local Hutts going the same direction for some extra cash.

They were brought in because the Hutt shipments had been interfered with by somebody. Their Hutts weren’t sure who, but were damn sure they were going to pay. The gang defeated a whole crazy mess of people who were being lead and bolstered by a falleen who had been surgically altered to boost their pheromone output. Then they picked up the package and made the poor decision of looking inside. It was the carbonite frozen but still living body of the cop who’d previously owned their ship that they were now knowingly handing over, because they couldn’t bring themselves to cross the Hutts.

Moral issues aside, it was an easy job, they got well paid, the team failed a bunch of social roles and divulged more information than they should have to the Hutt point man, and Brick, the party’s wall of meat, got signed up for a pit fight. He won his round, but imperial troops broke up the match before he could win completely. TK cornered but lost a rebel bomber, and Eshi got contacted by a rebel who recognized him from a bit of backstory. Nyla chased down one of the other gladiators, an old clone with a sword who’d entered the fight because the prize included a bacta dunk and he had a friend who was hurt and dying after being caught by the Hutts trying to bust up a slaving operation. And that’s when the bomb went off, destroying some major imperial instillation bits and projecting a 40 foot holo-image of Cheng the punk rock rodian pirate queen striding across the smoking crater proclaiming she had come to liberate the outer rim. The party was presented with three job options: 1) after Brick’s pit win, the Hutts were down some muscle for a convoy and ready to pay reliable thugs 2) the rebels were looking for a study ship to bust up the hub of a spy satellite network 3) the clone and his weequay buddy (Edge and Horm) still wanted to stop the slave convoy (which was, as the party figured out, job 1). They opted for job 2, leaving town amidst a firefight with the imperials, and brought along Edge and Horm, providing Nyla with a sword fighting trainer who’d studied under a jedi, without being a jedi himself.

The guys busted up the satellite base by hijacking a shipment truck coming in (I’d provided them information for a couple of routes, including asteroid hopping amidst giant vacuum-proof winged frog monster creatures, and they figured this best matched their skillset). Inside they found tech that looked a whole lot like our droid character TK, a completely brainwashed cyborg engineer, and the control rods that were their target. TK, who is a droid with multiple program personalities, suddenly and without warning displayed a program personality they had never seen before and destroyed the computer mainframe, remembering nothing afterward. The cyborg also had hardware a good deal like Nyla’s, and contained a message begging for help from someone held against their will and being moved between facilities. They blew up the station, retrieved valuable tech, and flew off, triumphant, to get their payment from the rebels.

The rebels welcomed the gang, who got to know the faction a little bit better. TK nearly started a gunfight, Nyla got a haircut, and Brick and Eshi developed mouse droid beer pong in order to provide historically unique droid bits to an eccentric collector for the last bit Eshi needed to build his machine from the prototype he’d stolen from the corporate sector in his backstory, which runs on two kyber crystals and provides a similar benefit to the force power “foresee”. He used this to figure out the sphere they were carrying contained an intensely virulent ship killer plague that would likely kill them as well, and they resolved to throw that in the sun. The gang foiled an assassination attempt on Cheng and got a new assignment: break her old pirate buddy out of maximum security prison (again, they were presented with several possible assignments, some of which tied in to other plots.) Nyla and Cheng also worked out mutually that they were both force sensitive.

The prison break went off well. It was a sort of siberian gulag set up on an ice planet, plus some eight foot carnivorous burrowing worms- yeah, those walls are pretty short, prisoners, but where are you gonna run? The gang picked up some extra supplies by agreeing to break out a Hutt operative while they were there anyway. After some exciting sky battles, Nyla and Eshi turns the ship’s forward shields into a battering ram. They made short work of the guards inside, but discovered that there was an unexpected other party there- a wookie bounty hunter who was looking into the disappearance of the guy they handed over to the hutts. That guy was a tough fight even for the team’s big heavies, and they set a load of prisoners free to help them- taking the risk that the maximum security violent shipjackers would not decide to jack their ship to escape. Luckily between the two heavies and the giant devaronian pirate they just released, they were able to intimidate them into just accepting a ride off planet. Nyla, meanwhile, fought the wookie’s cat beast in an enclosed tunnel and nearly died, but won a pretty hard solo battle, enabling her to pick up the Hutt contact and a delirious nautolan who she had a force feeling about. Eshi forgot he was a reptile and went out in the ice with no coat, then defeated his own personal corpsec bounty hunter’s attempts to come at him with robots. With great success, they headed back to rebel space, got paid, and received a message that their former imperial employer was officially fucking pissed at them. Also, the nautolan was force sensitive and having visions of the inquisitor who tried to murder Nyla.

Faced with mounting tension and the inability to continue lying to each other, the team pretty much spilled all their secrets to each other in the absolute most fun room mate meeting I have ever witnessed. Nyla is a force sensitive ex-imperial pilot ace, TK has an extra personality, Eshi has an I-assassinated-a-king level bounty and a machine that tells the future, Thirteen (the bothan spy) knew all this and told no one, Brick likes light beer, etc. They decided they really need to murder the children’s TV spy master as their next move. Their bothan spy provided them with a dossier on him and his six lieutenants. Nyla and Thirteen went to go meet the spymaster and try to throw him off, and had to fight the stealth assassin lieutenant, which they survived. Eshi hacked the slicer lieutenant and stole her state of the art surveillance droids. Brick checked up on the Hutt-embedded spy and learned she was a pretty awful person. He also ended up scheduling a rematch with the douwutin he beat in the pit fight, who the Hutts later dropped a word in that they wouldn’t mind if he just happened to kill in that fight. The group’s one cop friend, a red-string and corkboard conspiracy melitto, got attacked by assassins, because the spies and the governor were working against each other. Nyla and TK accidentally killed the master of disguise spy lieutenant without realizing who he was. They turned the surveillance droids on the Hutts and found out the Hutt-embedded spy was working against the spymaster as well.

The spymaster was scheduled to attend the Chancellor’s day gala on Naboo, which is fancy far outside of anything the party is probably capable of pulling off, but I wanted to give them the opportunity to try. One of the spy lieutenants there, a slimy alderaanean lesser noble, has found a packet of forbidden information that had been stolen and hidden there, and the spymaster is going in person for the hand-off. Rebuffing an offer from the planetary governor, the group made a very temporary alliance with the Hutt spy to kidnap the noble spy and use him to force a meeting with the spymaster on their terms. And that’s where we are now.

___

All in all, I’m really pleased with how this is going. I’m having a lot of fun and my players are absolutely great. I’d... assumed that would take less time to type up, and it’s leaving out a whole lot of stuff. I started this in October, so that’s about seven months worth of weekly sessions. That it breaks pretty easily into arcs, I feel, speaks pretty well for what I’d intended of it. I have SO MANY FUCKING named NPCs. It’s over 50 at last count. Factions are helping a lot. Each faction has a main plot that’s going to move along no matter what the PCs do, hitting beats whenever I need something interesting for the background.

I’d like to keep making some posts here about what I’ve learned, what’s worked and what hasn’t, and about each player and their character. I personally think it’s interesting, and it helps me collect my thoughts. But for now I think I’m going to bed.

#i dmed #rek dms #space bastards #Edge of the Empire #tabletop rp

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susandsnell · 5 years

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hello lovely, what do you think about a hypothetical GotG rock opera?

SAVED THIS ONE FOR LAST BECAUSE HOLY MOLEY

Anon, let me hug you. Let me kiss you. Let me live for you.

Or, let me regale you with what I think. In exhaustive detail. And drag @mapleymood into this mess because she might appreciate it.

First and foremost, rock opera is absolutely the way to go for a Guardians of the Galaxy theatrical adaptation. Initially, this would be the one rare, rare case where I’d actually be down for it to be a jukebox musical in that the plot point/diagetic presence of Meredith’s Awesome Mixes actually justifies the medium (and it’d be interesting to see which characters actually sing the songs, other than obvious canon moments like Come and Get Your Love, O-O-H Child, Meredith singing Brandy with Ego, the unseen choir gloriously heralding Yondu, Rocket and Groot with come a Little Bit Closer).

However, if we’re talking an original score, a rock opera that pays homage to the stylings of Meredith and Peter’s music tastes works perfectly, especially since the genre was born in about the decades where most of the songs on the Awesome Mixes were released.

Plot-wise? I can’t not incorporate elements of Vol. 2, what with its operatic themes of filial piety soured and subverted, and of course, heroic sacrifices and redemption of previous villains. If it were in multiple acts, you could condense both Guardians 1 and Vol. 2; or even in 2, I think, if you move a few things around and squeeze each film into an act. Also, Mantis. Absolutely needs to be in it, as well as the fantastically operatic villain that would be Ego.

Vocally, I want Nebula to be an alto, Gamora either a mezzo or an alto, and Mantis and Meredith as sopranos. Peter’s a great lead tenor, while Yondu’s pieces have a country/bluegrass twang leitmotif. Drax is born to be a comic baritone, as is Groot.

I need some Bowie-esque stylings for the space exploration scenes (turntable sets please!), Queen for battles, and anything and everything in between for character pieces.

In fact, here are some more ideas for songs/staging:

1. “Starlord (Take My Hand).” Meredith’s death in the prologue is done in song a la Fantine or Mimi in La Boheme; she sings a soft duet in a gentle first run with Peter. She dies just before she finishes the song, and Peter can’t bring himself to finish it either. She keeps appearing as a lost Lenore figure for more than the brief flashbacks the films give us of her; a kind of guardian angel that often lingers in songs only Peter can hear. Perhaps she’s even seen as a shadow in the ensemble of some of his dance numbers; he’s shaking it and having a good time to a wonderful song, when there’s a single voice harmonizing with him that always makes him pause; her leitmotif creeps in.

There’s only one proper reprise, of course, when she shows up as a vision as they’re fighting Ronan, and this time, Peter completes the song, just as the Guardians take his hands to disperse the power of the Infinity Stone – and they all join in the melody. Meredith holds Rocket’s hand where Groot ought to be.

2. I actually have a couple of silly ideas for Groot – the first being that “I am Groot” is all he sings and he has a solo number consisting of all of these, or, a la Quasimodo in the stage version of Hunchback, his spoken dialogue is all “I Am Groots” but he’s perfectly understandable through song lyrics. Of course, the “I am Groot” is so integral to his character we could have it that he doesn’t sing (except vocalizing) until his big climatic sacrifice in the battle over Xandar; a power soliloquy titled “We Are Groot.”

3. Ronan was born to have a booming baritone dirge about the Xandarian treaty and the vengeance he demands. Thanos can sinisterly reprise this at him at any point.

4. Nebula’s aria/soliloquy. I’m talking sick guitar riffs. I’m talking angst. I’m talking backstory. I’m talking stage pyrotechnics, just ‘cuz.

5. Drax’s Lament to flesh him out.

6. Rocket and Groot’s introductory duet needs to be killer; sideshow and comedic, but also fast-paced – there also needs to be brief solos later in the show for Rocket backstory.

7. ACTION SEQUENCES DONE THROUGH DANCE! THE KYLN ESCAPE! THE BATTLES! AAAHHH

8. Angry duets are a must, but I absolutely insist upon Rocket and Yondu’s being a medley of reprises to show the vicious circles in which the two draw themselves; particularly, the twangy, Hadestown-esque leitmotif of Yondu’s and Rocket’s melody when he reveals he was a lab project.

9.. Gamora and Peter love ballad called “Ones Who Dance.”

10. Gamora could get an “I Don’t Know How To Love Him” -esque ballad of her own, albeit about finding herself and carving her own identity and wants now that she’s free of Thanos.

11. “This Is The Sea”, a number that starts out fun and bombastic and turns deeply sinister as Ego unveils his plans/the truth about Meredith.

12. “Help You Sleep,” starts out as a sweet little ballad to introduce Mantis as a character/her powers and exist diagetically as a sort of lullaby she uses for Ego but then she gets a belting reprise when she knocks him the fuck out later on. (And Thanos.)

13. Big ensemble numbers for the Sovereign (more traditionally operatic) and the Nova Corps

14. Listen, I don’t know about you, but The Collector, aka Tanaleer Tivan, needs a “King Herod’s Song” style number yesterday.

13. “Hordes of Freedom (The Ravagers’ March)” as an unforgettable theme for the Ravager crews; we might even have an earlier montage through dance where it’s sung if we want scenes of Peter’s childhood. Solos for Yondu (in his signature style), Kraglin, and later, Aleta, Stakar and the rest at Yondu’s funeral.

14. “Family Ties,” as a multi-part counterpoint; the duet that resolves things somewhat between Gamora and Nebula, and another duet between Peter and Yondu as the latter rescues the former. There are hints of Meredith’s melody throughout – likewise, Yondu can’t finish the song, this time. Peter forces himself to. This might condense both arcs as happening concurrently, or maybe I just love dying and being dead and feel like you should have “You will always be my sister” and “He may have been your father, boy, but he wasn’t your daddy” juxtaposed directly.

14. Yondu’s funeral should be the grand finale. And as I imagine the arrow golden dust would be very hard to stage, he should ascend to some sort of catwalk/higher level of the theatre, where Meredith, and the other beloved dead (adult Groot’s giant costume?), stand.

15. Puppet groot? Giant costume? Who knows.

WHAT A QUESTION. (Everyone else, please feel free to add.) Anon, I owe you my firstborn.

#gotg #guardians of the galaxy #peter quill #starlord

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randomnotesofmyown · 4 years

Text

Urasawa’s Monster (69-70)

Episode 69 - the peaceful home (Or, nightmare started.)

Hotel owner introduced Konrad's homemade jam to his guests. And the jam maker Konrad was already dead.

Grimmer and Lunge discussed the coming massacre. Grimmer asked if they would invade this peaceful town, Lunge pointed out invasion was not the only means. "There was a case where a single destroyed an entire town. It was in 1958, in Zweifelstadt ("City of Doubts"*). A series of murders occurred in Niedersachsen. When the people began to suspect their neighbors of being the serial killer, the townspeople became paranoid about even dull, everyday activities. In a state of mass hysteria, one of the townspeople used a gun he purchased for 'protection' and shot his neighbor. No one could stop it after that. The town was set on fire, and everything within reach became a weapon. The residents killed each other and no one survived."

Grimmer said they had to prevent it before it began, Lunge replied it might have been too late already.

Wind blew.

Wim got bullied again, this time they took away his money.

A man's voice, "Boy, you hate them, don't you?"

The couple who won the lottery, still paranoid when others looked their way, decided to go talk to Konrad, the person they thought would know about their winning.

The husband found the body.

Grimmer saw the sausage girl in a happy mood. He asked if something good happened, and the girl replied that the wonderful man who would take her from this town finally showed up.

Wim's father wandered the street and came across the wheelchair couple. The man in the wheelchair got up and started, "What you want..."

"Is this, isn't it?"

Dog barking. A gunshot. Lunge turned around.

"...and the dog stopped barking."

Temma went to Prague, found Lipsky, and immediately asked for the whereabouts of his father, Franz Bonaparte. Lipsky kept quiet until Temma mentioned Nina.

The doctor then recalled the conversation he had with Nina before he came to Prague.

He put together a profile for Bonaparte.

And Nina told him where to look for Bonaparte's son.

Nina went on, "I can tell what Johan is trying to do. The perfect suicide. True solitude. His only expression of love. If we don't hurry, many innocent people will die."

In Lipsky's home, Temma talked about his father's picture books sitting on the bookshelves.

"After reading several of these, I've come to realize something. All the characters in his works have German names for some reasons. Like the God of Peace and this one."

"However, the problem is with this pen name, Klaus Poppe. The name Franz Bonaparte and all his other pen names were Czech, but only this pen name was German. Could it be that Klaus Poppe is the real name of your German-born Czechslovakian father?" Asked Temma.

"There was a detective using the same reasoning, who also discovered my father's real name. He said he was Inspector Lunge from the BKA. He left weeks ago. He also made another deduction. No, with Inspector Lunge, it was more like he became the person rather than using deduction. 'I am Klaus Poppe. I have no place to return to. In order to regain tranquility in my heart, I must return to my heart's homeland.'"

"German-born Czechoslovakians were chased out of Bohemia and lost their homeland when Germany lost the war. What part of Germany was his family from?"

"My father told me once when I was a child. Our hometown was in southern Germany, surrounded by mountains."

Lipsky said he gave Lunge a postcard he received three or four years ago.

Lipsky then asked if his father would be killed and what was going to happen.

"He's...Johan is trying to recreate it, the massacre that occurred at the Red Rose Mansion, the slaughter at Kinderheim 511...Please, no matter what happens, come back alive, Temma. You saved me. That's why you must..."

"It's starting to rain." said Lipsky, alone in his home.

Temma walked in the rain.

The lottery winner couples talked about the body of Konrad, and the damned lottery.

Grimmer waiting for a train and was told by a staffer that no train would come because the rails were flooded and road traffic stopped as the river was flooding.

"Guess we're like a deserted island. This is the worst possible situation."

Temma was talking to a man who had all of Klaus Poppe's works in his collection.

"I find the art interesting. But I just can't bring myself to like this person's works. There are tons of picture books with depressing content in the world. But his works are different from those, too. They are full of malice. "

The collector picked out a book.

From what he could tell, the author of that book and Klaus Poppe were the same person, said the collector.

"The content has completely changed. A thief escapes to a town in the mountains. The thief has a a scheme to make some money in that town but forgets how to steal after interacting with the townspeople. And then, he lives quietly, working for the people of the town. The title is 'A peaceful home'. Those bad feelings you get from his past works were completely gone. However, his art style became much worse. Strange isn't it. When his content became better, he couldn't draw anymore. It feels like he lost his goal or something..."

Temma looked at the title and something dawned on him. He asked for a map of southern Germany.

At Hotel Versteck, a police officer complained about the bad weather and the lack of men. The owner mentioned that a Mr. Kemner was attacked the night before after he left the pub. The officer loudly said those must have been done by outsiders.

The wheelchair couples entered the hotel. As they passed by Lunge, the inspector noticed something on the man's shoes.

After the police officer left, Lunge walked past the couples and started, "Your husband's shoes, they are rather dirty. It's as if he was walking in the rain." Then he said he would need to make a call.

The couples stared at him behind his back.

An officer saw a car stopped in the middle of a road, he got off his car and asked if any help was needed. The person pointed a gun at him with his right hand and fired.

"Looks like we can no longer stop it." Said Grimmer to himself.

A view of that town in the gloomy rain.

End of episode 69.

*I Googled Zweifelstadt 1958 and found this blog post, where a comment by Scriva read "I don't think the incidents mentioned in Monster are based on true accounts, even though places similar to Kinderheim 511 certainly did exist. Maybe not as a sort of experiment in Eastern Germany, but certainly in Romania. Similarly, serial murders of any kind did happen in Germany as in other places as well even though I don't think you will find a particular reference. The smaller towns, mentioned in Monster, do not exist in that form, neither Zweifelstadt or Ruhenheim exist in the attributed areas, but both could be there and they are word games."Zweifel" means "doubt" which is a major theme of Lunge's character arc." And Stadt means city, hence literally it means the city of doubts.

Episode 70 - the town massacre (Or, a way out)

Wim got beaten up by those boys again. After those boys left, Wim took out a gun.

Wim's father set foot in the pub, but was instantly asked to leave.

An officer, Laufer, found the body of Konrad. And then, when he ran to his partner Merkel, he found him lying on the ground. Laufer ran to his car and called the station. A shot fired at him.

"I'll take your gun, too," said Roberto.

Wim's father headed back to the pub, banged the door open with the gun given to him. But found everyone in there killed already.

Grimmer walking in the rain and saw dead bodies along the way. The town had become a battlefield. Walked around a corner, he saw Wim with a gun and three children on the ground.

Grimmer checked the gun, no bullet was fired from it. He then asked Wim to try to remember everything and who gave him the gun.

Laufer was spared and he went all the way to Hotel Versteck. Lunge asked about the person who shot him and was told that the gunman was some stranger. Lunge walked to the wheelchair couples and asked how many friends came to the town with them. Entered Grimmer, who said, "You did manage to spread quite a few guns around, though. You even gave one to a child like this."

The couples got up.

The man said, "He looked just like our grandson! He looked just like our grandson who passed away. He knew a lot about us."

Grimmer asked the couples who that was.

Lunge said, "you were writing a letter to your dead grandson. So you were passing on information to 'him'."

"'He' was probably after me." Said the hotel owner.

Lunge and Grimmer agreed.

An email addressed to Nina was sent to Dr. Reichwein a couple of days ago, and the counselor showed it to Nina. "I'll be waiting for you in Ruhenheim". They then discussed what Johan was trying to do, a perfect suicide, and claiming the lives of many innocent people as well.

Reichwein mentioned that a town by the name Ruhenheim existed in southern Germany, Temma might be there. Nina requested to go there.

Cut to the hotel, Lunge continued speaking. "This is a very strange feeling that I'm getting. At first, I thought you were just a character from a certain person's imagination. Yes, just like the characters that appear in your picture books. For years, I've been carrying out my investigations by collecting objective data. However, this time, I completely ignored the data and purely followed that man's imagination. As I followed the clues, partially for my own amusement, I met a young man who had entered the Red Rose Mansion many times in Czechoslovakia. He was your son. This postcard you sent him with a hand-drawn picture under your real name, Klaus Poppe, signed K.P. Even after arriving at this location and seeing you with my own eyes, I still feel strange. I feel as if a character from a storybook has escaped from its pages."

"However, this is reality." Said Grimmer. "In the list of names I had researched of people who escaped Czechoslovakia, the name 'Klaus Poppe' was indeed on it. Right before the Berlin Wall fell, you fled to this land. What were you running from? People like myself?"

"Were you trying to run away from people like me?"

"I can tell what the young man named Johan is trying to accomplish. And right now, that's exactly what's happening to this town."

Roberto in his room with the sausage girl. He said everything would have disappeared when the rain stopped.

The girl asked what would disappear, and Roberto replied, "All the memories."

Cut to Nina. Reichwein and Gillen agreed that Nina go to Rehenheim on two conditions: Gillen went with her and she must not bring a gun with her. Nina agreed and asked Reichwein to arrange everyone who knew Johan to get into hiding.

"What about your memories with Johan?"

"I must not erase them."

Temma arrived at town, saw a wounded man asking that the children be saved.

Cut to Lunge. "Johan. The first time I heard that name was in 1995. It was during the testimony of a certain neurosurgeon."

"Dr. Temma." Grimmer, "Then you're admitting that your deduction was wrong?" "No. He is still an important reference for me. Johan is just a fictional character to me. Fictional character, those are the words that captivated me during my vacation. How can a real man become a fictional character? The answer is simple. All the people who know him, all the people who know his past, everyone must be erased. And ultimately, it'll become like the ending to one of your books, Mr. Bonaparte."

"If that's what's happening in this town..." Lunge continued.

Grimmer said that was what he would do if he were Johan, he was also a fictional character. "I'm not a man named Neumaier who signed the hotel registry nor am I Wolfgang Grimmer. I am nobody. Then let's disappear together. Along with the man who stole my memories and my name."

Poppe said he was waiting for the sentence to be handed to him.

"You're waiting...? You're not afraid to die...?"

"People...people have to think of food as delicious. They have to enjoy a picnic of a holiday. They have to think a beer after work tastes great. People...people...people feel sad from the bottoms of their hearts when their children pass away. I won't let you die. I'm taking you away from this town, and I'll publicize everything. I'm going to show the world the identity of the monster that you've awoken! Until then, I'll protect you."

"Where is Johan", asked Lunge as he walked to the couples.

They said they didn't know.

"Then who is the man controlling this massacre?"

Again they said they didn't know.

Lunge pointed a gun at them.

Another gunshot.

Temma caught a glimpse of someone running. He entered a building and found a group of people hiding in it. He instructed them to run away to the forest.

The man talked, "There is a man giving orders in Hotel Bergbach"

The lottery couples showed up with their guns.

Lunge borrowed a sniper rifle and a pistol, then headed out.

Temma checked the coast was clear and told the people to run.

End of episode 70.

Comment: Episode 69: I think I would write a few lines about the wheelchair couples. They handed out guns to people who had negative feelings, to Wim's disgruntled father, to Wim, someone who got bullied time and again and resented the children who did that to him. And when they did, their facial expressions were identically strange. Their eyebrows showed sadness, and yet they were smiling at the same time. I do not understand the state of mind they were in; I do not see why, despite them having way more experience in life than Johan, they would willingly help Johan carry out his plan and act as his tools. Was it because their grandson died in a way that made them hate other people? With so much hatred that they would go as far as to egg people on killing each other?

Episode 70: This episode was grim, people either lost their lives or were afraid that they would be next. Fear. Despair. Anger. Sadness. But then when things looked most hopeless, help came. Temma arrived at the town and helped people escape; the lottery couples brought along their new weapons just when Lunge and Grimmer needed those. With those weapons, both Grimmer and Lunge expected to remain alive after everything was over.

#monster #urasawa naoki

0 notes

brokehorrorfan · 7 years

Photo

Scream Factory has revealed the details on the upcoming releases of Land of the Dead and Dawn of the Dead, which street on October 31. Both films are receiving two-disc Blu-ray collector’s editions featuring both the theatrical and uncut versions.

They have received new HD masters; Land from a 2K scan of the interpositive, and Dawn from the the digital intermediate archival negatives. CRP Group designed the new artwork for Land, while Nathanael Marsh handled Dawn. The original theatrical posters are on the reverse sides.

2005′s Land of the Dead is the fourth installment in George A. Romero’s influential zombie franchise, following Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, and Day of the Dead. Simon Baker, John Leguizamo, Dennis Hopper, Asia Argento, Robert Joy, and Eugene Clark star.

2004′s Dawn of the Dead is a remake of Romero’s zombie classic, directed by Zack Snyder (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice) and written by James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy). Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Jake Weber, Mekhi Phifer, and Ty Burrell star.

Special features for both releases are listed below.

Land of the Dead Disc 1 (Theatrical Version) special features:

Cholo’s Reckoning - Interview with actor John Leguizamo (new)

Charlie’s Story – Interview with actor Robert Joy (new)

The Pillsbury Factor – Interview with actor Pedro Miguel Arce (new)

Four of the Apocalypse – Interview with actors Eugene Clark, Jennifer Baxter, Boyd Banks and Jasmin Geljo (new)

Dream of the Dead - Director’s cut with optional commentary by director Roy Frumkes

Deleted footage from Dream of the Dead

Deleted Scenes

Theatrical Trailer

Land of the Dead Disc 2 (Unrated Version) special features:

Audio commentary with zombie performers Matt Blazi, Glena Chao, Michael Felsher and Rob Mayr (new)

Audio commentary with writer/director George A. Romero, producer Peter Grunwald and editor Michael Doherty

Undead Again: The Making of Land of the Dead

Bringing The Dead To Life

Scenes of Carnage

Zombie Effects: From Green Screen to Finished Scene

Scream Test – CGI test

Bringing the Storyboards to Life

A Day with the Living Dead hosted by John Leguizamo

When Shaun Met George

In a harrowing vision of a post-apocalyptic world, zombies have turned all but a few fortified cities into desolate wasteland. Behind city walls, pockets of humanity cling to survival in a brutal society built by a handful of enterprising, ruthless opportunists like Kaufman (Dennis Hopper), who insulate themselves in high-rise towers and employ a band of mercenaries led by Riley (Simon Baker) to scavenge the countryside for food and other necessities, while the poor fend for themselves. When the previously mindless, slow-moving zombies begin to evolve into cunning, crafty killers and organize for a final catastrophic attack, a group of hardened mercenaries is called into action to protect the living from an army of the dead, even as they battle a rogue mercenary (John Leguizamo) who threatens the existence of their safe haven.

Dawn of the Dead Disc 1 (Theatrical Version) special features:

Take a Chance on Me – Interview with actor Ty Burrell (new)

Gunn for Hire – Interview with writer James Gunn (new)

Punk, Rock & Zombie – Interview with actor Jake Weber

Killing Time at the Mall: The Special Effects of Dawn of the Dead – Interview with special makeup effects artists David Anderson and Heather Langenkamp Anderson (new)

Deleted scenes with optional commentary by director Zach Snyder and producer Eric Newman

Theatrical trailer

Still gallery

Dawn of the Dead Disc 2 (Unrated Version) special features:

Audio commentary with director Zach Snyder and producer Eric Newman

Splitting Headaches: Anatomy of Exploding Heads

Attack of the Living Dead

Raising the Dead

Andy’s Lost Tape

Special Report: Zombie Invasion

Undead and Loving It: A Mockumentary

Drawing the Dead featurette

Storyboard comparisons

Hidden Easter egg

The world is in danger when a mysterious virus turns people into mindless, flesh-eating zombies. In a mall in the heartland, a handful of survivors wage a desperate, last-stand battle to stay alive ... and human!

#land of the dead #dawn of the dead #george romero #george a romero #george a. romero #scream factory #nathanael marsh #crp group #dvd #gift

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thenerdsofcolor · 5 years

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When it was announced late last year that Mattel would be losing the master license to make DC Comics-related action figures, I wasn’t sure how to react. On the one hand, I had pretty much stopped buying Mattel’s offerings when they ended their DC Universe Classics line around 2012. On the other, I’ve been an avid collector of these figures ever since popular action figure sculptors the Four Horsemen gave us Zipline Batman in 2003. Of course, in the years since, I moved on — preferring more premium toymakers like SH Figuarts for my DC fix. But I couldn’t help coming back to Mattel one last time for an all-Batman wave to close out their 16-year run on the character.

DC Multiverse Wave 12

Before I dive in to the figures in their final Multiverse wave before turning the license over to Spin Masters and McFarlane Toys, a brief history:

Mattel took over the Batman toy license from Hasbro/Kenner — which had been consistently producing Batman product since getting the character back from Toy Biz after the Tim Burton Batman movie. Upon receiving access to the most successful action figure brand in the world, Mattel took the unprecedented step of upscaling the figures from 4-inch to 6-inch sensing the industry-wide shift Toy Biz initiated with their Marvel Legends line a year prior. Five years later, Mattel expanded from Batman to the rest of the DC Universe and introduced DC Universe Classics in 2008. DCUC would be the most expansive offering of DC characters ever offered, even surpassing Kenner’s Super Powers figures of the early ’80s. After a popular four-year run, the company shifted from mass market retail to an online subscription-based model for a while, then abandoned the 6-inch scale altogether. After experimenting with different scales, Mattel relaunched their 6-inch figure line under the “DC Multiverse” banner in 2016, which allowed for both comics- and multimedia-based likenesses.

And now, we’ve reached the end of DC Multiverse and Mattel’s involvement with the license.

It makes sense that they’d end on a wave that was exclusively Batman related since that’s how they started all the way back in 2003. (It doesn’t hurt that 2019 marks the 80th anniversary of Batman either). The Collect and Connect figure — that is, the bonus figure you can assemble by purchasing all of the figures in the wave that include various components — that the wave is identified with is none other than Killer Croc, a Batman rogue that hasn’t been available since before DC Universe Classics was a thing.

Killer Croc, assembled

Standing over 10 inches tall, this is a massive figure. In fact, he might be a little too big. I don’t recall Killer Croc being such a large character. That said, he is a fantastic figure. The sculpting is top notch, and once assembled, he stands as sturdy as any figure on your shelf. My favorite touch is the articulated jaw. That’s a nice detail!

The other rogue included in the wave is another one who has been on a lot of collector’s wish lists. KGBeast is not necessarily a top tier Bat rogue, but he’s one who hasn’t been made plastic very often. He’s one of the cooler figures in the assortment too.

DC Multiverse KGBeast

I feel like they used a Masters of the Universe sized buck for the Beast, which is appropriate. he’s also stacked with accessories, including three blades that each fit nicely into boot holsters and into his gun-arm to turn it into a musket arm, I guess.

Interestingly enough, even though this is the Batman 80th anniversary wave, Bruce Wayne is nowhere to be found in the assortment. Instead, we get Dick Grayson under the cowl.

Dick Grayson as Batman

While this isn’t my favorite figure in the wave, it’s a great representation for the (most recent) period of time Dick took over the Bat-mantle in the comics — after the Batman R.I.P. arc. The base buck used for the figure is less bulky than Batman has traditionally been depicted, but it works the former Robin and Nightwing. I also appreciate the slight smirk on the head sculpt. That’s not something you’d get in a regular Batman figure!

Speaking of head sculpts, this one comes with an alternate maskless head and a folded back cowl, which is pretty cool. The only gripes I have with the figure are the oversized feet — seriously, it’s like he’s wearing clown shoes — and the undersized cape. He’s also severely lacking in accessories. No alternate hands or batarangs. All you get is the Collect & Connect piece (Croc’s left leg) and that’s it.

This wave is actually more of a celebration of Batman’s sidekicks than of Batman himself. In addition to Dick, we get another former Robin in the assortment in Jason Todd’s Red Hood. This is the first time Jason Todd’s antihero alias has been available from Mattel, and I’m mixed on the final results.

DC Multiverse Red Hood

They don’t skimp on the alternate hands, as Todd comes with three pairs of hands, including two sets of gripping ones, though he has no weapons to grip since his guns are molded into the holsters! At least he comes with two heads (and Croc’s other leg). While it’s great to finally get a Red Hood to add to my plastic Bat Family, it would have been nice to have a more dynamic figure. It’s weird to get so many extra hands with nothing to put in them too.

Alas, Jason is not the only Robin this wave is rocking. Ladies and gentlemen, the best Robin, Tim Drake!

DC Multiverse Red Robin

Okay, technically, this is Drake’s New 52/Rebirth identity Red Robin, but he’s got the classic Tim Drake colors and bo staff so I’m happy! I also really like the overall sculpt and proportions. The head sculpt to me is actually reminiscent of Kenner’s infamous Batman Returns Robin figure — which is basically a whitewashed Marlon Wayans. In addition to the staff and extra set of hands, Robin also includes Killer Croc’s left arm.

DC Multiverse Katana

While she is technically not a Robin, Katana kind of served that purpose in the underrated animated series Beware the Batman. Here’s she sporting her revamped Rebirth costume, and while paint apps are clean, it’s a pretty spare figure. She comes with an additional hand to hold her soultaker sword, as well as Croc’s torso. Interestingly, the last time there was a Multiverse Katana figure, it was for the Suicide Squad movie and also featured a Killer Croc BAF piece.

The final “sidekick” included in the assortment is, arguably, the most important member of the Bat family and another one who has been on everyone’s wish lists. He’s also my favorite in the collection. That’s right, I’m talking about none other than Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne’s loyal butler!

DC Multiverse Alfred

You might think a butler action figure is boring. But you would be wrong! A comic-accurate Alfred is long overdue! He also comes with a trusty silver platter, a glass of water, and an extra Bat cowl. And to make it even better, Mattel included alternate heads that feature the likenesses of Michael Gough (Alfred from the Burton/Schumacher films) and Alan Napier (the 1960s TV Alfred). They even included a Voldemort head for good measure.

I’m aware that the third head is of Alfred as the Earth-3 supervillain, The Outsider!

My only gripe with this Alfred figure is that he doesn’t scale too well with older DCUC Batman figures. In fact, that’s an issue with most of the recent Multiverse figures. He does scale really well with NECA’s 7-inch figures however!

Alfred with a DC Super Heroes Batman

Alfred with NECA 1989 Batman

Alfred with NECA 1966 Batman

League of Extraordinary Alfreds

I’ve had an up-and-down relationship with Mattel over the years. But I am sad to see them no longer make DC toys — as critical as I’ve been in the past, there’s something nostalgic about associating these two brands together. This final wave is a hell of a way to go out too. While not perfect, I can’t think of a more perfect way to go out than with the character they came in with. Thanks for the memories, Mattel!

Don’t forget that you can get your own DC Multiverse Batman 80th Wave 12 Action Figures at Entertainment Earth!

Batman R.I.P.: Mattel's Last Line of DC Multiverse Figures #actionfigures #Batman80 #toyreview When it was announced late last year that Mattel would be losing the master license to make DC Comics-related action figures, I wasn't sure how to react.

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a-forbidden-detective · 6 months

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Episode 5, The Case of the Hand Collector Killer

For the joint investigation of serial murder cases, eagle-eye Kawasemi Omito comes to the Tokyo First Investigative Division. Amamiya, who is Kawasemi’s rival and earlier colleague, dares to lend the “useless” Toto, but Kawasemi already treats him as if he doesn’t exist after pointing out that Toto “has zero talent.” Ron, who appeared as a consultant at the scene upon the discovery of a new body, proves to Kawasemi that he’s wrong about Toto.

Can’t wait for the others to meet him, Eagle Eye Kawasemi.

So Toto, why the face?

#kamonohashi ron no kindan suiri #totomaru isshiki #ron kamonohashi #akira amano #ron et toto #spitz feier #amamiya #amamiya senpai #kawasemi san #omito kawasemi #kawasemi #the hand collector killer arc #ron kamonohashi: deranged detective #deranged detective #episode 5 #rkdd spoilers

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ramblingcj · 7 years

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ME:A talking about the trilogy

Very nitpicky, but….

Why wasn’t the Citadel attack ever mentioned in MEA?

When Suvi talks about how the technology to study Andromeda came from the geth, Ryder makes a (tbh dumb) comment about those “killer robots from the Milky Way” instead of questioning if it was wise to use that technology, given the attack on the Citadel. Which is what anyone would do in that situation since, to these people, the Citadel attack happened recently. It would also have been ironic since Ryder is using technology they don’t fully understand during the entire game.

Or when Ryder mentions Saren to Avitus and he says “sure, if you believe the rumors” before kinda defending Saren.

And….what? Rumors?

The Citadel attack is not a “rumor.” Saren being at the front of that attack isn’t a damn rumor!

The arks left for Andromeda between ME2 and ME3, meaning that the Citadel attack happened 2-3 years prior. In ME2, you can walk around Omega and hear news talking about the Citadel attack. There’s no way in hell they don’t know about it. It happened and all these characters knows damn well it happened.

Why is the game pretending it didn’t? Did the writers forget when the arcs left?

Avitus says something like “the Saren that he knew wouldn’t do something like that” and that’s a line that works even if they mention the Citadel attack. Instead of Avitus dismissing it as rumors, he could wonder what had changed? Why did the attack happen? Have Avitus ask why? The Saren he knew wouldn’t do something like that, so what changed?

________________________

Like I can understand how these characters wouldn’t know much about the Reapers. Only a few people in the Milky Way knew about them before they invaded. But Sovereign’s attack on the Citadel IS known. Even if most people think that Sovereign was a geth ship.

Andromeda is a refugee story without ever adressing that that’s what it is.

On the one hand, it kinda works. There is a sense of dread hearing Suvi talk about her family living out their lives. Or Liam talking about his family. Or anyone else talking about the people they left behind. Hearing all of that while knowing there’s a strong possibility that these people most likely didn’t live out their lives at all because of the Reapers. That them being alive is actually the best case scenario.

Also, can you imagine it from the families POV? Imagine Liam’s or Suvi’s families trying to survive in the Reaper war and hoping that they got out of the Milky Way in time.

Cora and Vetra might mention that their contacts might still be around while you, the player, know that the commandos Cora is talking about most likely died trying to hold Thessia. What if one of the asari Cora knew was Lieutenant Kurin?

________________________

Hearing these people being nostalgic for the Milky Way or even hearing some NPCs having some regret and wishing to go back, while you as the player know what happened in the Milky Way does do its job of making you feel dread.

The final Ryder memories adds to this. That Turian distress call in combination with Liara saying goodbye definitely made the feels hit me like a train.

________________________

Like this game had some really stupid attempts to reference the trilogy, like Liam constantly mentioning a “scarred-up Turian vigilante that he tussled with” and you knowing that its supposed to be a Garrus reference. But if you’ve played the original trilogy, you ALSO know that there’s no way in hell it can be Garrus since that he was only “scarred-up” after he joined up with Shepard. At which point, he was busy fighting the Collector’s to have a “tussle” with some random cop.

They could’ve just had Liam say that he once encountered a “Turian vigilante” or a “Turian cop who didn’t like playing by the rules”. We would all know that was referring to Garrus.

But, honestly, the Vakarian in Ryder’s memories was really the only reference that we needed. At least that one touched on something lore friendly. Garrus tells us in ME3 that he went to his dad and that his dad actually listened to him about the Reapers. That if the clues/proof was there, his father wouldn’t ignore them. And here, in Ryder memories, we see just that. Garrus dad did listen to him.

#mass effect andromeda #mea #mass effect #andromeda

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jenmedsbookreviews · 7 years

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Man. Where to even begin this week. Well. I will start by saying my reading achievements were next to none. Not quite none. But near enough. Work has been very demanding, I have been very tired and my heart just was not in it. No reflection on the books, more a reflection on my weary and rapidly ageing bones and brain telling me to take a break. In fact I am writing this post in stages as I know where my head is currently at so it if makes no sense come the end … well nowt new there really but this time there is an excuse at least 🙂

So, anyway. Aside from being generally ancient (turned 42 this past week don’t you know) I was preoccupied with something else. Lordy 42. Do you remember being a kid and thinking that people in their forties were ancient? Well I’ll let you into a secret – when you finally reach your forties you bloody feel it too. Just kidding. Age is just a number. Like my chest, mine is just larger than some, that’s all. But back to my point (wandering mind comes with age too…) I was away from home from Thursday until Sunday this week because I took the plunge, packed my backbone in a small holdall and made my way to Harrogate for the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Festival.

It’s an interesting festival, very different in tone to Crimefest, geared very much to a social atmosphere but encouraging and enticing readers with a healthy and steady supply of books. I say healthy with my tongue in my cheek (not easy to do without biting said tongue – don’t believe me try it), as carrying around the dang things all day has knackered my shoulder but hey ho.

As book hauls go, this week was mega. It was also rather big in terms of meeting people. I met a whole host of bloggers this weekend who I’m not going to try and name for fear of missing someone and causing great upset, but it was a pleasure to meet you all either finally or again (and you super lovely ones already know who you are 😉 ). I also met quite a few authors that I admire, including Robert Byrndza and the lovely Jan, Caroline Mitchell and Mel Sherratt, Graham Smith, Sarah Wray, Claire Seeber and also got to meet Keshini Naidoo (yes – a small Bookouture bias in this post I think).

It was also lovely to catch up with Kim Nash, Karen Sullivan, Steph Broadribb, Amanda Jennings, Lucy V Hay, Amer Anwar, Felicia Yap, Patricia Gibney, Bernie Steadman and Fiona Cummins again, and to get to say hi to Paul Burston as I absolutely loved his book The Black Path. I even remembered to take pictures of some of them (but not many as I suck at that). Oh yes, and it was nice to see Rod Reynolds again even if he did show Jo and Emma the terrible selfie he took at Crimefest (terrible because I was in it). And lovely to finally meet Graeme Cumming and have a catch up chat with Gabriela Harding in the quiet times. I’m just hoping I haven’t missed anyone and if I have I’m sorry and I do love you too. (Well at least like and admire – love is such a strong word 😉 ).

Have to give credit to Abbie Osborne for the selfies as I would totally not take those 😀

As well as generally milling about I did attend a couple of panels, though not as many as I perhaps would have liked so I’ll try better next time. The Friday night panel chaired by Sarah Millican and featuring Lee Child, Mark Billingham and Val McDermid was hilarious as you would expect. And I totally agree with Sarah Hilary’s shout out for Chris Whitaker as a totally brilliant writing talent. I also went to a blogger/author event organised by Orion where we met Mari Hannah, Emma Kavanagh, Stephanie Marland (aka Steph Broadribb, aka Crime Thriller Girl) and Lara Dearman, a forensics talk in which I learned many important things to include in ‘Killer’, and a quick start talk on writing crime fiction with Isabel Ashdown and Sam Eades.

And I had two lovely evenings out, firstly with Abigail Osborne, Leah and Jill of Jills Book Cafe, and then with Tracy Fenton and the guy and gals from TBC. Thanks for the company all.

And then there were the books… So. Many. Books.

I got the following:

The Devils Claw by Lara Dearman (Kindle pre order 7/9/17);

My Little Eye by Stephanie Marland (Kindle pre order 2/11/17) Happy dance moment :D;

The Wrong Child by Barry Gornell (Kindle pre order 2/11/17);

The Lost by Mari Hannah (Kindle preorder 2/3/18);

Murder at the Mill by M.B. Shaw (Kindle pre order 30/11/17);

Shadow Man by Margaret Kirk (Kindle pre order 2/11/17);

Beautiful Liars by Isabel Ashdown (Kindle pre order 19/4/18);

I Found You by Lisa Jewell;

The Seagull by Ann Cleeves (Kindle pre order 7/9/17) – The only book I actually purchased all weekend.

The Snowman by Jo Nesbo;

If I Die Before I Wake by Emily Koch (Kindle pre order 11/1/18);

Give Me The Child by Mel McGrath;

Eyes Like Mine by Sheena Kamal;

The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell (Kindle pre order 5/10/17);

My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent (Kindle pre order 29/8/17);

The Mountain by Luca D’Andrea;

The Mitford Murders by Jessica Fellowes (Kindle pre order 14/9/17);

The Collector by Fiona Cummins; (soooooooooooo excited about this one and so new there are no Amazon links yet!!! :D) If you don’t know why I’m excited and haven’t yet read Rattle (and if not why not?) then you can order it here and get yourself ready for next year. Did I mention I love that book? I do. I was so excited I may have actually started reading this in bed instead of the books I should have been reading. Oops. (Sorry – not sorry). All the eeeeeeeeeks and squeeeeeeeeals.

The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn (pre order January 2018);

Consent by Leo Benedictus (pre order 1/2/18);

Perfect Remains by Helen Fields;

Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughn (Kindle pre order 11/1/18);

Strange Magic by Syd Moore

So all in all a great book haul of a weekend. And I visited Betty’s and treated myself to a belated birthday cake. Go me.

Now the weekend wasn’t without it’s down moments too but least said, soonest mended so lets move on.

Now as if all that wasn’t brilliant enough, before I left for Harrogate I received some absolutely stonkingly fantabulous book post from the wonderful Louise Ross (LJ Ross). Now I knew I’d be getting the signed book as I won it in a charity auction, as well as the chance to be a named character. But I wasn’t expecting to receive a DCI Ryan series mug as well. I actually collect mugs as well as books so this couldn’t have been a better gift for me and will take pride of place in the collection.

And, totally not book related but my new cushions and mugs turned up. How fab are these?

The McMoos by Jennifer Hogwood – You totally need to check out the website.

Just the one book order this week (just as well) which was Bad Sister by Sam Carrington. It’s due out on 5th October and I can’t wait to get my mitts on a copy.

Just the one Netgalley this week too (just as well) which was The Good Sister by Jess Ryder. It’s due for release on 16th August.

I see a theme here. Kind of reminiscent of my life. I have one of each. I’ll let them fight over which is which 😉

I also received an ARC of I Know A Secret by Tess Gerritsen, the brand new Rizzoli and Isles novel which is due out on 10th August.

Now I am hoping that all of these exciting things I’ve been rambling about above will distract you from my reading tally which stands at the grand total of 2. Lorraine at The Book Review Cafe will be laughing at me this week given her mammoth reading achievements and rightly so. If only I’d saved the bloody Mr Men books… When I say reading tally it was one read, one listen as I only completed one book and then listened to an audio on the way too and from Harrogate. Failed blogger I am then (this is not news but now we have evidence).

Books I have read

Red Is The Colour by Mark L. Fowler

A GRIPPING NEW POLICE THRILLER Bullying. Corruption. Murder.

It is the summer of 2002. The corpse of a 15 year old boy, who has been missing for thirty years, is discovered in Stoke-on-Trent. The city is on the cusp of change and Chief Superintendent Berkins wants the case solved quickly.

DCI Jim Tyler has arrived from London under a cloud, moving to Staffordshire to escape his past. He is teamed up with DS Danny Mills to investigate the case, but there is tension between the detectives.

When the dead boy’s sister comes forward, describing a bright, solitary child, she points a finger at the school bullies, which puts important careers at stake.

Then one of the bullies is found brutally murdered and when Tyler and Mills dig deeper they start to suspect a cover-up.

What is the connection between the death of a schoolboy in 1972 and this latest killing?

With the pressure building, and the past catching up with DCI Tyler, will he and DS Mills be able to put aside their differences in order to catch a cold-blooded killer?

I’m reviewing this for the blog tour next Monday but I have to be honest and say that this was a really well observed look at childhood bullying an the people who were involved, both directly and indirectly. With a thirty year old victim it is a tough ask for newly transferred DCI Jim Tyler to bring the killer to justice in this new police procedural from Mark L. Fowler and Bloodhound Books. It is released tomorrow, 25th July, and you can buy a copy here.

…

You Don’t Know Me by Imran Mahmood

It’s easy to judge between right and wrong – isn’t it?

Not until you hear a convincing truth.

Now it’s up to you to decide…

An unnamed defendant stands accused of murder. Just before the Closing Speeches, the young man sacks his lawyer, and decides to give his own defence speech.

He tells us that his barrister told him to leave some things out. Sometimes, the truth can be too difficult to explain, or believe. But he thinks that if he’s going to go down for life, he might as well go down telling the truth.

There are eight pieces of evidence against him. As he talks us through them one by one, his life is in our hands. We, the reader – member of the jury – must keep an open mind till we hear the end of his story. His defence raises many questions… but at the end of the speeches, only one matters:

Did he do it?

Oh my life. What an intriguing novel. Taking courtroom drama to brand new heights this is a story which will not only challenge your idea of right and wrong but also the whole idea of how courtroom dramas should be. Set as a series of court transcripts and told in the defendants voice the author takes you on a journey and you as reader are set to act as jury. I listened to the Audio book of this and I have to say it was absolutely perfect in this format. My review will follow but you can order a copy of the book here.

…

That is all. Thankfully I was fully prepared on the blogging front so I had posts everyday.

#BlogTour Guest Post: Dying Art by Malcolm Hollingdrake

#Booklove: Katherine Sunderland

#BlogTour Review: The Other Twin by Lucy V Hay

Review: Blind Justice by M.A. Comley

#BlogTour Review: Her Deadly Secret by Chris Curran

#BookLove: Jane Cable

#GuestReview: Another You by Jane Cable

…

The week ahead is a bit of a mixture. I start with a review, then some #Booklove with Helena Fairfax, followed by blog tours for The Marriage Pact by Michelle Richmond, and then The Unquiet Dead by Ausma Zehanat Khan with a very special Author Q&A in between, rounding out the week with more #Booklove with Jack Steele and another blog tour, this time The Lost Wife by Anna Mansell.

Hope you have a brilliant week all. I’m reading all day today before going back to work and some more training tomorrow. Boo hiss to that one but someone has to do it. Going to Chester Zoo on Saturday so think of all the animal/nature pics I can share with you next week. You can’t wait can you? Hope they still have the Pudu’s and the Kimodo Dragon. I love them!!!

See you next Monday.

P.S. since penning this post Sunday evening I have been online and preordered three books from Goldsboro (it’s now Sunday bedtime). We’ll just ignore those, pretend I ordered them after midnight and I’ll fill you all in next week 😂

Rewind, recap: weekly update w/e 23/07/17 Man. Where to even begin this week. Well. I will start by saying my reading achievements were next to none.

#BookLove #Rewind Recap #Weekly Round UP

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theboxreviewers · 7 years

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Fresh Fiction Box Not To Miss Review – May 2017 http://ift.tt/2rujiCC

When you sign up for Fresh Fiction Box Not to Miss, every month you will receive a box full of new print books, eBooks, and a Fresh Fiction keepsake. Fresh Fiction focuses on genre fiction, romance in particular. There will be the occasional mystery, erotica, and paranormal as well.

Plan Options:

Month to Month ($25.95/month+FREE shipping in the US – Discount worldwide shipping is available)

3 Month Pre-Pay ($74.85/3 Months+FREE shipping the US – Discount worldwide shipping is available)

Use Code “TBR3” To Receive $3 Off Of Your First Box!

I am a huge fan of Fresh Fiction Box Not to Miss, so I was so excited when this box landed on my doorstep!

The pink design with the iconic logo on the top makes this box pop! I love seeing its cheery presence at my door. The box instantly brightens my mood.

Upon opening the box, you are greeted with the June content card! I love the Romance Blooming in June idea. You can never go wrong with a good summer romance!

The first item in the box is this pack of Viter Energy Caffeinated Breath Mints. I had never seen these before receiving them in the box, so I was excited to try them out! They are very strong and they do give you a great burst of energy. I like how these breath mints are a comedic pairing with the romance novels in the box!

This month's box features the publisher Forever!

Fresh Fiction Box Not to Miss likes to focus on certain publishers or authors each month, so this month's choices from Forever are highlighted on the insert card. Each box received one of these books with a letter from the author!

In addition to hard copies of novels, Fresh Fiction Box Not to Miss brings you ebooks! This month, the ebooks I received are:

Why the River Runs by JoAnna Grace

Some call this river a taker of souls, a reaper. Sanguine is the Spanish word for blood and God knows plenty has been spilled in its murky depths. As Tina floats on her back, she couldn’t help but feel it's more of an artery, giving life to its limbs. Not everyone would agree. Tough as nails, Tina Foster, doesn’t have time for a relationship. She’s far too busy running her family construction company. Tina’s take charge attitude may intimidate some, but to others, she’s a rock, a woman with a plan. Taming a heart this strong will take a man up for a challenge, and so far, there haven’t been too many contenders worthy of her time. Bo Galloway is returning to Riverview after a rough few years. He’s home to take care of his grandmother and prays for a chance at redemption and a fresh start. Untrusting of most women, he doesn’t know what to think of his new boss. He definitely didn’t expect to admire Tina Foster. Bo’s only shot at getting Tina to notice him is to be as strong as she is. Just like the waters of the Sanguine, Bo and Tina must find their flow. Will the waters sweep away their only chance at true love, or nourish a relationship as steady as the river itself?

Lexie by Kimberly Dean

Desire is a double-edged dance. Lexie Underhill works her tail off in hopes of winning her adoptive father’s approval. It’s never enough. The stinging proof? He’s brought in a reorganization expert. As if the prospect of losing her job in the family business isn’t enough, Cameron Rowe’s sexy, intimidating presence makes her palms sweat.

When Lexie’s face appears on a scandalous freeway billboard, her protestations of innocence go unheard. With orders to save the family name—or else—she marches into the bar the billboard was advertising and comes face-to-face with an identical twin sister. Roxie is wild and free, everything Lexie isn’t. Before the night is out, she welcomes the chance to explore her own sensuality.

As she dances wantonly on the bar, suddenly Cam is there, kissing her as if he has the right. The sizzle between them breaks out in four-alarm desire, but Lexie has recalibrated her life plan. And the equation doesn’t factor in Cam—until she’s sure where his loyalties lie. With her…or her father’s company.

A Suitable Affair by Erica Taylor

Despite being beautiful and wealthy, Lady Susanna Macalister’s marriage prospects are rather lacking. Unwilling to let an opportunity pass her by, she decides a loveless marriage is better than spinsterhood, as it will allow her to continue her charities.

The life of Ian Carlisle, the Earl of Westcott, has been overshadowed by darkness and guilt for the past decade. Having abandoned his family when he was eighteen, Ian’s position within a secret division of the government has provided him an escape from the guilt he feels over the death of his sister.

When the Earl's horse almost tramples Susanna in the middle of Hyde Park, Ian embraces the chance encounter as a possibility for redemption, for Susanna’s soon-to-be fiancé is the man Ian holds responsible for the death of his sister. Can this damaged lord hope to absolve the guilt he feels for failing his beloved sister by saving this vibrant, and unsuspecting lady from a similar fate? And will this charity-minded well-bred lady, who is not the perfectly bound book as Ian assumes, be willing to take a chance on the unstable earl when something more dignified and permanent is well within reach?

I always love bringing ebooks with me on my Kindle when I travel, so I can't wait to sink my teeth into these picks!

The main book that I received is Lethal Lies by Rebecca Zanetti! The book also came with a letter from the author, which I LOVE!

Here is the synopsis:

A deadly secret can't stay buried forever . . . Revenge. It's the only thing that will help Anya Best sleep at night. The serial killer who murdered her sister is on the loose, and Anya will stop at nothing to put him behind bars, even use herself as bait to lure him out of hiding. But she can't do this alone.

Private investigator Heath Jones's job is to bring bastards to justice. This time it's personal. He knew the Copper Killer's latest victim so when her sister asks for his help, he's all in. But when Anya uses the media to taunt the killer, she exposes Heath's identity, putting them both in jeopardy. Now, secrets buried long ago are coming to light and the forces determined to destroy him are watching Heath's every move, waiting to exact their own revenge. And they'll use anything and anyone to get to Heath.

With twists and turns that will take your breath away, LETHAL LIES is sexy, action-packed suspense at its very best from New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti.

The next book is In the Cowboy's Arms by Vicki Lewis Thompson. This is a Harlequin Special Edition novel, and I can't wait to read it! Cowboy romances are always my favorite, so I love that Fresh Fiction Box Not to Miss included this novel this month.

Here is the synopsis:

Return to Thunder Mountain

Matt Forrest was born to be an actor but grew up a cowboy. That's why, when things go haywire after he shoots his first Hollywood movie, he retreats to Thunder Mountain Ranch. Because it's home—where his parents and foster brothers can help Matt find what he really wants out of life. So when someone he wants follows him to Wyoming, things get very interesting!

PR agent Geena Lysander isn't about to lose one of her best new clients—so she goes after him! And, yes, it's complicated…because she is attracted to Matt, and not just for his movie-star looks. As she gets to know the man behind the cowboy, their professional relationship becomes passionately personal. Could Matt's next big role be as Geena's leading man?

The next item is an ARC (advanced reading copy) of A Stardance Summer by Emily March! I am an avid collector of ARC's so I was very excited to read this book. I think it is cool that Fresh Fiction Box Not to Miss is able to send readers books before they are released to everyone else!

Here is the synopsis:

Return to the beloved small town of Eternity Springs in the newest installment of Emily March’s New York Times bestselling series with A Stardance Summer.

Sometimes the end of one road Brick Callahan enjoys every minute of chaos at his campground, Stardance Ranch, especially after the Tornado Alleycats arrive for an extended summer stay. The members of the all-female glamorous camping club are primarily seniors―active and adventurous, friendly and fun. But when he discovers Liliana Howe frolicking with the glamping grannies in a late night skinny-dipping session, he fears he's in for a summer of trouble. Because his best friend's kid sister has grown up to be drop-dead gorgeous. . . .is the start of another

Betrayed by those she trusted, Lili decides she's put her career first for too long. She sells her practical sedan, buys a travel trailer, and heads to Eternity Springs for a summer of rest, relaxation, and reassessment as the newest member of the Alleycats. The last person she expects to find running an RV resort is her high school crush. Their undeniable mutual attraction is a reminder that life is full of surprises. But when the past comes calling, will their summer romance stand the test of time?

Here is the next book in the box. I am an avid reader of old west novels, so I was so excited to see that Trusting Grace by Maggie Brendan was included in this box!

Here is the synopsis:

All of her life, Grace Bidwell has longed for a loving husband and children, but now the chances of her dreams coming true are looking slim. Widowed and caring for her elderly father, she struggles to maintain her late husband's ranch, until she places an ad for a hired hand.

Robert Frasier arrives in town with three pitiful, bedraggled children who have nothing but the tattered clothes on their backs and a load of hurt, pride, and anger. Believing this is divine intervention in her life, Grace welcomes them with open arms. As feelings grow between her and Robert, Grace will have to convince him that she is a woman who can be trusted with his heart.

Readers will be swept away into 1860s Montana's lush Gallatin Valley, nestled among towering mountains and proud pines, in this emotional conclusion to the Virtues and Vices of the Old West series.

The last book included is The Darkest Corner by Liliana Hart! I love how different this book is from the others. All of the books are so diverse, and it gives the reader a variety of choices to read.

Here is the synopsis:

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Liliana Hart’s first book in her suspenseful Gravediggers series, featuring an elite group of mysterious men who might be dead to the world, but are also tasked with saving it—and no one can ever know.

The Gravediggers aren’t exactly what they seem. They’re the most elite of the world’s fighting forces—and all they have in common is that they’ve been betrayed by the countries they’ve died for. Because they are dead. To their country, their military, and their families.

Sometimes the dead do rise…

Deacon Tucker is a dead man walking. A former black ops agent, he was disavowed and stripped of all honor before being recruited as a Gravedigger. But his honor and good name no longer matter, because no one knows he’s alive, and he’ll never get the recognition he deserves. His mission is simple: save the world or die trying. And for God’s sake, don’t ever fall in love. That’s a rule punishable by death. The kind of death a man can’t be brought back from.

Tess Sherman is the only mortician in Last Stop, Texas. She has no idea how Deacon Tucker ended up in her funeral home, but she’ll eat her hat if he’s only a funeral home assistant. Deacon is dangerous, deadly, and gorgeous. And she knows her attraction to him can only end in heartache.

Deacon is on a mission to stop the most fatal terror attack the world has ever known—what’s known as The Day of Destiny—a terrorist’s dream. But when he discovers Tess has skills he can use to stop them, he has to decide if he can trust her with secrets worth dying for. And, most important, he has to decide if he can trust her with his heart.

Final Thought: Fresh Fiction Box Not to Miss is a great box to bring you new romance, mystery and assorted books in various genres. The book choices are always diverse, and I love how the box brings you enough books to fill up your month! If you are a fan of new romance, suspense, and mystery novels, then Fresh Fiction Box Not to Miss really IS a box that you cannot miss!

Use Code “TBR3” To Receive $3 Off Of Your First Box!

*NOTE: The Box Reviewers received this box to review.

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