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*NO SPOILERS

A 7. That number just doesn't feel right when it's gentle vibrations slip off the tongue. If you asked me 13 episodes in, I'd give Rainbow a 9/10 without hesitation. But that's the fundamental paradox with this series. It was too fantastic for it's own good. After this critical point, every episode seems to indicate that the writer lost his sense of direction for the show. He knew all too well that nothing he could conjure up with that brilliant head of his could compare to the sheer and unceasing bursts of adrenaline given to the fortunate audience who gave witness to the ... horrid conditions that gave birth to that magnificent rainbow, that wondrous unit of 7 whose hearts merged into one. What could match that captivating spectacle, that theatrical piece of tragedy that pushed me and others to the brink of madness, always carrying that pure yet simple question in our heads... what will happen next? No... after those 13 episodes, the audience is sorely disappointed by 13 more that simply do not meet the standard of quality that made us love the series to begin with. Of course, this is not to say that the second half is horrible. Far from it, it's still watchable, and dare I say it even enjoyable... Yet somewhere it misses the mark.

But don't misunderstand! If you seek wisdom, if you desire to know what manhood is... then watch this series NOW. The maturation of the protagonist's is truly a sight to behold. Furthermore, let us now address the topic of friendship. Far too often we are spoon-fed an idealized and unrealistic depiction of companionship by the classic shonen formula. But this series rejects all of that nonsense and creates a philosophy of it's own. Indeed, it is one of the seldom few that not only strives but succeeds in it's illustration of what true friendship can be. The rainbow-linked bond of these 7 men is something that left me speechless. It gave me sweet words of truth, sweet words of guidance applicable to my own life as a human being on this Earth. After watching this series, I cannot help but use the various interactions between these characters as a definitive reference for how to measure not only my own value as a friend but those of others. And that very gift granted to me and perhaps you dear friend, cannot be said to defined by anything other than this one word... priceless.

Seldom has it been the case that a series has gotten as much undeserved slander than Devilman Lady. The rather severe judgments that have been cast against this series have some understandable points, yet at the same time I would like to argue that these criticisms are flawed and do not give Devilman Lady the dignified treatment it deserves. I will keep this review entirely spoiler free and would also like to make it clear that this series is the sequel to the original (unlike Violence Jack).

The most common complaint I have seen cited against this series is that it is nothing but a softcore ... hentai trying to disguise itself as something far more complex than it really is. This claim bases most of its weight on the fact that there are numerous scenes depicting nudity and light pornagraphic imagery. However, there is a distinct artistic reason why Nagai chose to design this manga in such a sexualized manner. Jun is a devilman, she is a beast and as such she is in constant confliction between her human senses and her bestial desires. The carnal longings of her being throughout the series are illustrated in her depictions as a nude figure. Of course, this makes sense as animals do not wear clothes. Nagai makes it clear that the main occupation of demons is to rape and devour their victims. This sensual excess is the very reason why humans despise the animalistic tendencies of other species. Afteralll, humans rarely resort to such behavior, and are quite adept at inhibiting them. For Jun to succumb to the wishes of the beast inside her would mean to destroy all of her humanity at once.

Another common accusation against the series is that it is convoluted. I find this to be the most bizarre and laughable attempt at constructive criticism . The series deals with many plotlines derived from multiple mythological stories and tries to weave them together in a cohesive manner. Biblical tales, Japanese folklore, Homers Greek Mythos, and even Dante's Divine Comedy all play a clearly influential role in the narrative. However, Nagai does not overcomplicate things. These major literary works are brewed together to form a classic and mind-bending manga of epic proportions. I can say with much certainty that the ending of the work is one of the biggest mind bending conclusions. Those who say that it is confusing did not really read it in the way it was meant to be read.

While writing this review I find myself in a position of affliction. Every limb of my literary body tears and rends its bones separate from the whole, in a combative wave of dissonance Bastard is wonderful. Bastard is awful. Bastard is ecstasy. Bastard is Bastard.

I am here to set the record straight on this series. The most unfortunate and unnecessary problem with Bastard is its ever-present reliance on bad writing tricks and hypnotic acts dependent on the ignorance of the reader. Yet, the irony is that this utilization of plot conveniences and literary evasion grants the series a delectable dynamicsm that one cannot help ... but indulge in. To be conscious of the series flaws is by no means difficult. On the WebToon app, you can see via the comment forums that the audience is fully aware of its qualitative misgivings, but rather than criticize they hold a banquet of praise for its disregard of rationality and admiration of chaos. Indeed, it is a sinful indulgence, but an indulgence nonetheless. The writing is at times unbearably bad and thrives on concept alone. Any renowned writing aesthetic would find Bastard to be an impermissible display of lazy writing that must face every munch and nibble the critic enacts upon its weary neck.

But do not misunderstand. Bastard remains a unique work of art that any reasonable folk who does not find himself obsessed with a conceited sense of the written word will enjoy. What I have learned from my years of digesting literature is that sublime writing is worthless if not founded on an engaging concept. It is the concept that interests us, it is the concept that drives the story, and it is the concept that infests our minds until our perceptive glances are no longer compelled by Earthly diversions, but the enchantment of phantasmal dreams. I can say with assurance that Bastard is a win in this department.


Verdict: 6/10

Quick Summary: Bastard is an enjoyable thriller with poor and absurd writing that could be easily fixed. Yet, it is this use of the absurd that opens the gates to so many narrative pathways making it engaging and unpredictable. The four main characters are well developed and the end leaves the reader with a real sense of fulfillment. Although Bastard has many chapters they are structured with brevity and there are few pages and panels to observe. It is a quick and simple read, that any and all should have no difficulty reading.

For those of you who aren't looking to read an essay, I have decided to post a quick summary of the series first. This review is spoiler free (as all reviews should be). :)

Summary: Inside Mari is a captivating psycho-analytical manga, with dazzling art and a fleshed out protagonist. The premise is based off a body switching scenario in which a social outcast finds himself in the body of a popular female girl by the name of Mari. The story is thouroughly engaging and is only hindered by a few plot inconsistencies as well as the fact that it could have been condensed into fewer ... chapters. Some of the characters could have been involved and dissected a bit more, but the development of the protagonist makes up for this. The author does a good job of conveying his message to the readers, and you will be lost in thought after you finish the manga. I recommend you read the first 3 chapters and if you don't find yourself hooked by then, this might not be for you.

My rating without personal bias: 7/10

Now firstly I will say that this was an enjoyable read, certainly bing-worthy and I read it in under two weeks. This is a psychologically motivated manga, and it's concepts are explored with a dark palette of colors. It is not for the faint of heart, so if you are unable to take nudity, sexual examination, bullying, ejaculation, depression, extreme social anxiety and a lot of fucking cringe then don't read this.

The basic premise of the story is about a socially awkward hikikomori who lives off the income of his distant parents who innocently believe he is spending his days studying and making friends at college. Ironically he actually goes to college at first, but over time the social atmosphere becomes too overwhelming and he finds refuge playing games in isolation at his apartment. He is infatuated with a girl named Mari who he casually stalks with no harmful intentions. One morning he wakes up to find himself inside Mari's body, but although his former self still exists in the real world, Mari is nowhere to be found.

I gave the story a 7, due to plot conveniences involving a supporting character as well as an inability to execute on its full potential. The quality of its narrative elements remains relatively stagnant throughout the story and by the end, the manga becomes defined by the progress of its psychological components.

The art is gorgeous, and I often found myself completely dazed by the emotional expressions exhibited in the panels. Each scene is crafted carefully, and the mangaka portrays the general atmosphere in every chapter with wonderful precision. I never found myself questioning the correlation between the art displayed and the actually events taking place.

There is a clear change in the mentality of numerous characters throughout the series. In the supporting cast, we see an evolution based on dialogue, facial expression, and the portrayal of their actions.The main character differs from the others in that the development is based on introspection. You are able to see every facet of the protagonist's mind, sometimes to the point of disturbance. So, in this case, the development is driven by introspection rather than self-action, although the two sometimes coincide. This, of course, is to be expected when dealing with characters who are socially troubled.

My rating with personal bias: 8

I gave this story an 8 because I connected deeply with it. Now, something like this might be new to you, but don't be discouraged. There are a lot of scenes that are uncomfortable to read, but I think it's important to note that this is intentional. Don't just skim past those pages, instead look over them and think about why they make you feel the way you do. You might find, no relatable association to these characters but that's not a bad thing. This an emotionally fueled story based on the sentiments a lot of people have gone through in their lives. By understanding them, you are allowing yourself to understand the feelings of more people in the real world.

Before I begin I would like to make one thing clear. Danganropa is a masterpiece. No, I am not talking about the anime but rather the video game/visual novel series. If you truly want an unforgettable experience, I recommend that you buy it.

When I first watched the Danganropa anime, I knew nothing about the games but that infamous bear-like plush of Monokuma left me no choice but to give it a try. It was a quite enjoyable series. Every episode was engaging and it took very little time to finish. The style was vibrant and unique but fit well within the story. At times, ... however, I felt it lacked something. I was often left amazed by the cunning writing, only to be betrayed by the brevity of explanation and lightning quick pacing. By the time I finished it, I thought "this was bad yet so good".

After doing some research on the series I found out about the games and gave them a try. I was completely knocked off my feet with the brilliance of them. Whatever the anime lacked I found in them. The animation was superb, the use of sound was emotionally euphoric, the characters became my brothers, and the writing was inventive. With that said I am grateful to the anime for introducing me to such a great series. Should you watch it? Absolutely, it's an enjoyable series and even if you think the quality is poor you'll still love it for what it is. Should you play the games? Yes! Yes! Yes! The games are original, ingenious, and unlike the anime a production piece of the highest caliber.

If you got this far, thanks for reading :)

Hunter X Hunter is unique. It brings the enjoyment of a series like Naruto but at the same time brings the quality of a series like Berserk.

Art- The animation is absolutely exquisite. This is the only long running series that I have seen in which the studio is able to maintain high-quality art. We often see in series such as Bleach, One Piece, and Naruto that the animation quality is all over the place, sometimes being fantastic and at other moments being utter shit :) Hunter x Hunter's fictional world immediately captivates you with its beauty and mystery. And the art does nothing but ... enhance this experience.

Sound- The soundtrack carries a certain depth that very few anime have. I many of the modern anime I have noticed that there ost's are very simplistic and play the same songs over and over. Fortunately Hunter x Hunter doesn't rely on one song for people to rave about but rather a composition of many. In fact, even though I have already completed the series, often I will go on youtube and re-listen to a part of the soundtrack.

Character- Hunter x Hunter is not about just one character but many. The main characters don't have a monopoly over the screen as is common in many anime, rather each episode gives you time to understand the diverse array of personalities within the series. The two main characters Gon and Killua are portrayed in a manner that makes the viewer want to watch them progress as human beings, and the same goes for the rest of the characters.

Enjoyment- In terms of enjoyment Hunter x Hunter is in a very select class of the best. It has that shonen quality that makes you want to watch more and more. But the difference is that many shonen contain many flaws,whereas this one has very little.

Overall- 10/10
For me Hunter x Hunter IS the greatest anime of all time. It's art, sound, characters, and enjoyment are all in a class of its own. If you have concerns about the initial childish nature of the series let me address them with a quick story. Recently I convinced my brother to watch Hunter x Hunter, after viewing the first episode he deemed it as childlike. I simply told him that it wasn't what he thought. The innocent manner in which the first episodes are composed is just a starting point to develop the characters. He hesitated to continue the show at first but decided to watch it. He finished the whole series within a month and praised it for its balance of light and dark themes. In conclusion, it is likely that you will enjoy this series. So please just watch it :)