Graphic Novel Review - X-Men The Animated Series: The Further Adventures

Name: X-Men The Animated Series - The Further Adventures 

Published by: Marvel comics

Writters: Ralph Macchio, Nel Yomtov, Kelly Corvese, Robert Loren Fleming, Mike Pellowski, Joey Cavalieri, Mike Marts

Artists: Yancey Labat, Ben Herrera, Mike S. Miller, Andy Kuhn, Derec Aucoin, Alex Saviuk, Don Heck, Artie Ruiz etc. 

X-Men The Animated Series is definitely one of the best animated shows ever based on Marvel characters. So my expectations were quite high when I decided to check this omnibus which was supposedly a continuation of the story of the characters from the show. 

While there were definitely some high points in this collection, the varied nature of the stories seems to hold back some of the fun of this one. The drawing also seemed a bit too unorthodox and out of place at times. 

Some of the writing was quite good, specially stuff by Ralph Macchio. The Magneto and Apocalypse issues, the Cyclops centric issue, the Jubilee vs. Sabretooth issue, the guest appearance of Hulk etc. were some of the best issues and the ending also does an interesting thing trying to connect it to the Marvel-616 continuity. 

While this won't fill the whole left by the X-Men TAS on the fans, this collection is definitely worth the time and a great motivator for rewatching the show while we eagerly wait for X-Men '97.

This gets 3.5 out of 5 stars from me. 

Retro Comic Review - All-American Comics #61

Name: All-American Comics #61

Published by: DC comics

Writter & Artist : Alfred Bester, Paul Reinman, Joseph Greene, Joe Gallaghar, Stan Aschmeier, Jon L. Blummer

This issue is mainly famous for the first story featuring the first appearance of 'Solomon Grundy' fighting the golden age Green Lantern Alan Scott. It has 4 other stories and a few extras. 

'Fighters never quit' is the first one, which is the aforementioned Green Lantern issue. Ignoring its historical value for the first appearance of Grundy it does have a message of heroes never quitting despite odds and despite a bit of repetitiveness was fairly enjoyable. (3 out of 5)

'Van Dorra's Box' was a story featuring golden age Atom. This one seemed a bit confusing to me due to the opening page, and the author seemed a bit interested in wanting to tell a humorous story but didn't quite nail it for me. (2.5 out of 5)

'The men with two lives' featured Doctor Mid-nite. This was the best of the bunch for me its wacky and unbelievable yet fantastic plot, some interesting characters and a twist ending. Golden age storytelling at its best. (4 out of 5)

'Captured', a Red, Blue and White story. Typical war story with a bit of humour, cheesy dialogue and some familiar racism of the 1940s. (3 out of 5)

'A Letter from home', another war story, this time featuring Hop Harrigan. This one was a bit too unbelievable at times with the hero overcoming too many obstacles rather easily and had so many one dimensional characters. (2 out of 5)

There were a few extras including a two page text story by 'Evelyn Gaines' also in the issue. 

Overall rating - 3 out of 5 stars. 

Graphic Novel Review - Sub-mariner: The Depths

Name: Sub-mariner: The Depths

Published by: Marvel

Writter: Peter Milligan

Artist: Esad Ribic

I always thought Namor was a very cool character and heard good things about this miniseries, and this really did live up to my expectations. Haunting prose and beautiful yet nightmarish art made this an experience to remember.

This is definitely an alternate universe story and Namor has a minimal appearance with no dialogue at all, but there is always a foreboding shadow of his menace pervading the whole atmosphere of the story. This was done quite brilliantly and almost made me forget I was reading a Marvel comic.

The story is about Profesor Steins search for Captain Marlowe, who went missing while searching for Atlantis who also have this overwhelming desire to debunk the myth of its existence. Stein is the main character and he is not likeable at all, but the author made us feel somewhat sympathetic to his plight and always kept us wondering what dreadful stuff might happen next.

The art is the main driving force and created the whole atmosphere for the fear and dread to sink in. It gives the slow pace of the story its deserved depth and charisma with its almost painting like nature.

Overall, I really savoured reading this short work. 

4 out of 5 stars from me. 

Retro Book Review - The Sins Of The Father

Book - The Sins Of The Father
Writer - Lawrence Block  
Series - Matthew Scudder #1
Published By - Orion Books
 
I have heard a lot of good things about the writing of 'Lawrence Block', but sadly the one book I read from him didn't really impress me much. And yet, I keep hearing people praising him so much. So I finally decided to check out his most famous and loved character. And finally I see what the hype is about. Matthew Scudder is a character who is very unique and the author details his personality brilliantly in the first novel of the series.

Retro Manga Review - Cowa!

Manga Name : Cowa!
Author: Toriyama, Akira (Story & Art) 

Serialization: Shounen Jump (Weekly)

Genres: Shounen
Volumes: 1 
Chapters:14

Status: Finished 
Published: 1997 to 1998

Is there anyone even remotely interested in Anime & Manga who doesn't know "Akira Toriyama"? Despite all its shortcomings, flaws and cliches "Dragonball" is undoubtedly one of the most influential manga/anime ever? But does all of these people know that Toriyama also wrote quite a few other mangas? "Cowa!" is one of these others and one of the best of these. This is definitely a kids manga, it does not have any complicated plot, no over the top action elements and no fan service that shounen now a days are famous for. This is just a cute adventure story with some simple funny moments and typical yet quite likeable characters. And its only 1 volume (14 chapters) of material, so a must read for any Toriyama or even shounen fan.

Retro Combo Videos - NCC Samurai Showdown Tribute Requiem

My newest combo video is a request from someone and has combos of various Samurai Showdown games from the Neogeo era.

All games and Music in this video are property of their respective owners, they were used without any view of profit. All combos were performed on keyboard; no tools, cheats or hacks were used.
Info -
BGM -
"Girl of Revolution (Charlotte Ending)"
"Tuna (Galford)"
"Ground (Earthquake)"
"Sinister (4 Jin Masaru Kachi Demo)"
       - From Samurai Showdown OST
Dedicated To - 0supermoose (who requested a Samurai Showdown cmv)
Special Thanks to - combovid.com & the forum members there
Hope you guys enjoy this.
If you do you can watch my earlier solo combo videos (both for obscure SNK fighting games), recorded and edited and uploaded by armison -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pELx3n3GPIY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYc7n40
PS 1 -
Most of these combos were a product of research during when I was trying out SS3, SS5 & SS5sp for flashy Genjuro stuff & fooled around with other characters out of boredom. SS1 & SS2 combos are something I tried out after "0supermoose" requested a SS series cmv. This cmv is kind of a left-over plus request thing and is dedicated to - 0supermoose.
PS 2 -
1. If you want to request combos for any characters or any pc fighting game you can request it on the comments. I will try my best to fulfill your requests.
2. If you want to see the transcript for these combos also you may request in the comments, then I will upload it.
3. Please do check out my blog of "Reviews & Stuff" and leave your comments -
http://ihate00critics.blogspot.com

Retro Combo Videos - NCC Vol 4 Rebirth

My newest combo video & first multi-game combo exhibition. Hopefully there will be more in the future.

The song and the games used on this video are all property of their respective owners and are used without profit.
This is my first multigame combo exhibition, hopefully more will come. All combos were performed on keyboard; no tools, cheats or hacks were used.
Info -
BGM - Unrest - The End of Raging Winds from "Etrian Odyssey 4 Super Arrange Version"
Special Thanks to - combovid.com, orochinagi.com & cyberfanatix.com
            for quenching my thirst for Kof and other fighting game combos, still.
Hope you guys enjoy this.
If you do you can watch my earlier solo combo videos (both for obscure SNK fighting games), recorded and edited and uploaded by armison -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pELx3n3GPIY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYc7n40
PS 1 -
1. I believe the AODK combos are the first combos of this game ever published, they are 100% legit, you need opponent life at red to perform super move in the game & when you fall on flamed are you can't block till the flame quenches, I used this trick among others for the combos. I might do transcript for these combos in the future.
2. Some other combos from other games need specific set-ups, timing & conditions but all are totally legit. If you have any question regarding any combos please don't hesitate to ask.
3. Some of these are totally new & others are improvements over previous combos/set-ups ( I used my combo video collection on my Hard disc & youtube to do my research on that).
PS 2 -
1. If you want to request combos for any characters or any pc fighting game you can request it on the comments. I will try my best to fulfill your requests.
2. If you want to see the transcript for these combos also you may request in the comments, then I will upload it.
3. Please do check out my blog of "Reviews & Stuff" and leave your comments -
http://ihate00critics.blogspot.com

Retro Combo Videos - CCC Vol 1 Super Muscle Bomber

This is my newest combo video on youtube now, from the game "Super Muscle Bomber/Ring of Destruction/Slammasters 2", a classic cps-2 game.

Info -
All games and Music in this video are property of their respective owners, they were used without any view of profit.
Most of these combos were recorded a few years ago, only some done recently and some had a bit changes.
No hacks or tools were used but occasionally Player 1 Infinite energy cheat was used to get player 1 in rage mode.
BGM - "Love's Vagrant" (from Bravely Default Flying Fairy OST)
          "Attack Of Delusion" (from Attouteki Yuugi Mugen Souls Attouteki Soundtrack)
Special thanks to "KIREEK" from sftchina for his awesome combo video for this game (which I saw from youtube but can't currently find the link). I only did combos for some of the characters cause he already exploited most of the mechanics for combos of this game.
And special thanks to Maj@Combovid.com for still providing us with awesome combo video new. Check out his mind-blowing site if you like fighting games.
Hope you guys enjoy this.
If you do you can watch my earlier solo combo videos (both for obscure SNK fighting games), recorded and edited and uploaded by armison -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pELx3n3GPIY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYc7n40
PS 1 -
If you want more combos for this nice game please check out awesome combo video from sftchina performed by "KIREEK" (Sorry I can't provide the link cause I can't find the video on any site, I have it on my hard disc if any of you want it PM me & I'll send it to you). 
PS 2 -
1. If you want to request combos for any characters or any pc fighting game you can request it on the comments. I will try my best to fullfill your requests.
2. If you want to see the transcript for these combos also you may request in the comments, then I will upload it.
3. Please do check out my blog of "Reviews & Stuff" and leave your comments -
http://ihate00critics.blogspot.com

Retro Combo Videos - NCC Vol 3 Fighters History Dynamite

This is my 2nd combo video, from an obscure SNK fighting game called - "Fighters History Dynamite/Karnov's Revenge"

The songs and the game used on this video are all property of their respective owners and are used without profit.
All combos were performed on keyboard; no tools, cheats or hacks were used.
Info -
BGM - "Lies" by Assailant (from the album "Nemesis Within")
           "The Cauldron Of Renascence" by Eluveitie (from the album "Evocation I: The Arcane Dominion")
Special Thanks to - http://www.cyberfanatix.com/ & http://www.combovid.com/
            for quenching my thirst for Kof and combos, still
Hope you guys enjoy this.
If you do you can watch my earlier solo combo videos (both for obscure SNK fighting games), recorded and edited and uploaded by armison -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pELx3n3GPIY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYc7n40

PS 1 -
Sorry for same stage on all the combos, I tried many things to change the stage but just couldn't in vs mode. I didn't record 2-3 infinite combos cause they are already published on various videos on youtube. And also I couldn't record a few combos because I wasn't able to repeat them for recording.
If you want more combos for this nice game please check the following videos -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DSVVjcUo7k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0gcVaG1TOc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhGcoB5h008
PS 2 -
1. If you want to request combos for any characters or any pc fighting game you can request it on the comments. I will try my best to fullfill your requests.
2. If you want to see the transcript for these combos also you may request in the comments, then I will upload it.
3. Please do check out my blog of "Reviews & Stuff" and leave your comments -
http://ihate00critics.blogspot.com

Retro Anime Review - Serial Experiments Lain

                                                                           

Anime Name - Serial Experiments Lain
Aired - Jul 6, 1998 to Sep 28, 1998
Episodes - 13
Staff - Ryutaro Nakamura (Director), Yoshitoshi ABe (Original Character Design), Chaiki J. Konaka
(Screenplay), Yasuyuki Ueda (Producer)

Unlike most other animes at that time, SEL was not based on any manga or light novel, it was an original. Let me at first tell you that this is definitely not the only criteria that makes this anime unique. Firstly I would like to say that if you want a fast anime with lots of action or generally lots of things happening this is not for you; if you want an anime with romance or ecchi this is not for you; if you want an anime that starts with a bang from start and keeps on its definitely not for you; and lastly if you think after watching this you will soon forget the plot and get on with your next on watch list I say at the beginning its not that forgettable. This is an anime that makes you stop and think, makes you ponder the reality surrounding you and most certainly makes you question your beliefs. And if you think of the time when this aired that was and I think still is one of the most unique traits of any anime.

Retro Video Game Reviews - 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors

                                                                           

# Game Name - 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors
# Publisher - Aksys Games
# Developer - Chunsoft
# Platform - Nintendo DS
# Genre - Visual Novel, Graphic Adventure

Visual Novels or Digital Novels already has a thriving market in Japan, but this genre is quite unknown yet in rest of the world specially the west. Usually many good visual novels never get a English language port because of almost absence of any market. But yet somehow Aksys Games decided to port this gem. First of all I wanna thank them for the courageous move, otherwise people like me who doesn't know Japanese at all would have missed such an experience.
Visual Novels are actually like reading a virtual book where you get occasional choices which effect the outcome of the story or you get some puzzles to solve to progress through the game. Actually to be honest this is my first experience to be ever playing such a game. I stalled it for a bit but I am glad I finally played this. Now lets get to scoring by category.

Retro Book Review - Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny

                                                                    

# Book Name - Nine Princes In Amber
# Series -  Amber Chronicles, 1
# Writer - Roger Zelazny
.....Sometimes you come to some books by which you can not help get amazed at the geniuses of it writer, you can't help want to read more from.....
.....I have heard lots of praises of this series on the net and wanted to read it but just couldn't start as there was many new books to read, but fortunately I have finally read this as with a group and this is amazing. The book first starts as a kind of pulpy detective books of 50-60 then suddenly everything changes and speed turns over. I was amazed by the beautiful world building done in this blinding pace. At least the book slows down a bit after chapter 8 but by then you are so into the sentiments with the main character that you can't slow down yourself and at last the book ends with promises of something to look forward to in the next books and seriously I can't wait to get into the next one.....

# Final Verdict - 5 out of 5 Stars