Is "Fairy Tail"...bad?

Besides Attack on Titan (and if you count my other blog, then Sword Art Online as well), I think the anime I've discussed most over the past year is Fairy Tail. I mean, I've covered everything of the anime released in English. I've mentioned it more than once in my reviews and have it featured on many a Top 10 lists.

Oddly enough, it's not even one of my favorite shows. I mean, it is, but in more of a Top 15, and those don't really count. Sure, it's got one of my favorite soundtracks of all time, but as a whole, it's something I enjoy watching, but not something I would die without. It's just something that's very accessible, and compared to other long-running, popular anime, it's pretty short. I mean, comparing it to something like One Piece in regards to length is like comparing the first "Harry Potter" book to the fifth one. Kind of a big gap between them.

Blog Update #4--ULTRON!!

Hey so guess what guys it's about to be April and you know what that means?

Fate/Stay Night is coming back! Easter! JELLY BEANS! But most importantly of all, we are simply that much closer to the movie with all da hype, Marvel's the Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Thus, to cash in--er, I mean celebrate!--the movie bringing everyone's favorite psychotic robot overlord to the big screen, I felt it appropriate to try and focus as much as we could on Ultron. After all, he is one of the greatest villains in comics, and this is going to be one heck of a big movie.

Arrow "Suicidal Tendencies" Review

FULL EPISODE SPOILERS AHEAD

Another very solid entry into the log of the CW's Arrow this week as we saw another split storyline between the (new) Suicide Squad and Oliver dealing with things in the city to take down a criminal obsessed with him. Honestly, he really has an issue with that. Although this time it was more of another superhero.

It really did feel like this episode was split in two and almost could have been one very different episode. It makes me hopeful that either the Suicide Squad will return more prominently in the next season of Arrow or be featured as sort of a "back-up" team to whatever Justice League forms in the upcoming new show featuring a bunch of new heroes and villains. Much like The Flash we saw some goofiness from our characters that has been sorely lacking in superhero live-action media, even in some of the Marvel movies where the jokes are written, not necessarily acted out. But I'm getting off topic.

The Flash "Rogue Time" Review

FULL EPISODE SPOILERS FOLLOW

My goodness are the Rogues freaking awesome in the show. With the exception of the Reverse Flash no other villain has stood out as being very excitable to see and watch the characters interact with. But even then, these guys are way more fun and the actors are having the time of their lives portraying our current Rogues gallery.

But hey, it wasn't a half-bad week for Grant Gustin's Barry Allen either. I expected some disorientation from the time-travel, but he portrayed it very well and showed how much this would effect someone. From the beginning of the episode where he is finishing everyone's sentences to when he excitedly asks Iris out (quite the facepalm moment, really), it was just a fun time watching Barry cope with what he's done.

Blue Nexus #19--Pride of the Jungle

            Come find me.

            That voice…

            I am where you are needed.

            That place…

            He will bring you here.

            That…wait, who?

            Startled, Kyle burst his eyes open. He felt a twinge of electricity course through his body as a sudden soreness overcame him as well.

Arrow "The Offer" Review

FULL EPISODE SPOILERS FOLLOW

Yet another solid entry into the annals of the CW's Arrow. It wasn't "fantastic" or have any mind-bending moments, but in many ways it felt like the series returning to its strengths. Great action. Great acting. Great character interaction. And a fun looking villain!

Yeah, Murmur was kind of pointless to the story but did what most villains on Arrow normally do and serve the purpose of Oliver realizing what an idiot he was in the first half of the episode and becoming better for it. In that, there were many other one-off villains who could have filled the role, but like I said, he looked cool. That's what matters, right?

"Green Arrow: Year One" Review

Over the last year or so, I've reviewed three "Green Arrow" comics--#35, #25, #9--had a discussion post on Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino ending their run on "Green Arrow," reviewed every episode of the show Arrow since Season 2 Episode 13 "Heir to the Demon," did a review of all of Arrow Season 2, and had a discussion post regarding where the show could go in the current Season 3. If you haven't noticed, the Emerald Archer runs this blog. And why wouldn't he? He's my favorite super-hero after all.

The Flash "Out of Time" Review

FULL EPISODE SPOILERS FOLLOW

D-did we just get retconned? In one episode?! This has gotta be the weirdest episode yet. On the one hand you have a group of characters being either really dumb, really bland, or really angsty, while on the other hand there is an amazing mystery being unveiled before us leading to a tragic, very well-done moment.

Part of me doesn't even want to discuss the Weather Wizard and romance subplots at all. I mean, sure, the end of the Weather Wizard subplot is important, but also leaves a humongous question mark hanging over our heads until next week (even then, it doesn't look like it'll be answered).

"Fairy Tail" Season 6 Review

*Disclaimer: this actually encompasses Season 6 of the anime. At the time of writing, some of the wikis listed it as a brief fourth season, but were incorrect. I apologize for the mishap*

It has been quite a while since my last Fairy Tail review. Too long, in my opinion. Especially what we got this Season. If I'd known it was going to be this awesome, I would have invented time travel to leap forward in time. Or watched the Japanese Subs, but...no. I'm too committed to the English Dub to turn back now. 

I should also note that this also technically has a "series finale," as in a strange way, this ended the series. I won't get into why, as I'm not really sure why nor are many answers online, so I won't bore you with that. Answers range from the creator taking a break, workers struggling with the weekly schedule, and actors quitting. Take your pick. I really don't care, as long as Funimation keeps on pumping out the episodes (which they will, given its overwhelming popularity). 

Top 10 "Fairy Tail" (anime, Series 1) Moments

FULL FAIRY TAIL SPOILERS AHEAD

Well with "Series 1" technically over and the latest part of the anime released in English, I figured there's no better time than to talk about some of my personal favorite moments from the series. There have been a lot and it was tough to make some of the decisions. I've known what my three favorite moments were in order, but everything was tough to decide regarding location. I flip-flopped several many times.

As per usual, this is only my opinion. There may be many moments others think are iconic that I don't necessarily care for or don't like as much. There are also so many that didn't make the list, but, I can't talk about everything. Besides, last year I covered the first three seasons of the show and the movie, and tomorrow I'm reviewing Season 4. I think I've got everything covered!

Blue Nexus #18: The Fire Rises

            Whatever green grass there had been on that field before was now entirely gone, as the great wall and blasts of fire from the Fire Tiger raged across it, chasing after the ever-elusive Phoenix. Though the blasts and flames were much larger than normal, Phoenix seemed to be doing this with practiced ease, almost as if these two had rehearsed this little number and were performing it now. It was just a wonder how Phoenix’s suit was being completely burnt away, and how he was able to maneuver around the flames.

Vengeance of the Moon Knight #10 Review

Moon Knight's a fun character, because you never know what you're going to get from him. The psycho killer powered by an Egyptian God? The heroic psycho who is cooperative? Or the man with three identities preying on New York's stranger occurrences/ trying to steal an Egpytian God's ghost back from some doctor woman? 

In this instance we have the latter, as Moon Knight joins with the Secret Avengers. Then he joins with the regular Avengers (sort of) before just doing his own thing and being nominated for tons and tons of awards. Thank you, Warren Ellis/ Declan Shavley. 

"Deadman Wonderland" (anime) Review

There are few proper ways to start a review of anime like this without spewing out how insane this little series is. I mean, do you mention how psychotic all the characters are? How visceral the action and dialogue is? Or how about that opening? At least the animation is pretty, right?

Deadman Wonderland is a short, 12/ 13 (if you count the Senji OVA) episode anime series based off of the manga of the same name. I watched one and a half episodes of "Deadman" before, the one where Woodpecker and Crow face off. I didn't really like it back then, since I still didn't enjoy seeing so much blood in anime, but, hey, Crow looked cool. I could only get through half of an episode because I fell asleep because it was one in the morning, darn it. I was tired.

"Superhero Culture"

In lieu of the 87th Academy Awards show just two weekends ago, a lot of discussion has come about on the Interwebs on the credibility of the super-hero genre and its impact on cinema today. It's not a new topic and is one that cropped up probably in 2013, when we were getting more and more news about what kinds of movies would be coming out and when.

This particularly hit home when it was announced 30-odd super-hero films from Marvel Studios, Warner Bros., 20th Century FOX, and Sony would be released through the year 2020, with no end in sight, either. Personally, I've heard many people saying that eventually this is a fad people will get over, that eventually they will grow sick of hearing about it and the big super-hero genre will die off, never to be seen again and will just be fun to look at on your shelf of movies.