Secret Level- Series Review

LINK- On And On And Colston ( Or, How We Kinda Sort of Learned to Talk About the Legacy of Colonialism and the British Empire)

LINK- ‘Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire’ LINK: Elden Ring- Videogames As Art

LINK- Toxic: Women, Fame and the Noughties- Book Review (and Some Thoughts)

LINK- Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Conquered the World- Book Review (and Personal Reflections)

Treat Yo' Self

March 31, 2025

Saturdays, once full of possibiity with trips to Barking Library, treasure hunts in Cash Converters for coveted NES, Master System and Megadrive games, and the ultimate reward, a visit to Rodney's Books and Games, have evolved into less frequent but equally cherished pilgrimages to Exeter. Okay, so 30 years or so have passed since then so things gave changed somewhat…

I have such a nostalgia for this amazing shop.

Now, every few months, I indulge in a self-prescribed dose of stress relief: a comic shop visit, a German Doner Kebab, and a browse through CEX, Waterstones and HMV. These are my ‘little presents’ echoing Agent Dale Cooper's wisdom, though my version is a quarterly affair, in case I become bankrupt.

This sentiment has stuck with me for many years.

However, three times a month, I seek solace in the pages of Edge, Retro Gamer, and Infinity. In this digital age, where information has been commoditised and is merely seen as a quick reads to be clicked on for advertising in the churn, the simple act of reading a magazine is a salve. I love the experience of going to my local W H Smiths, browsing the various publications and then picking my trusty three. Over the course of the month I like reading a little of each, working my way through and excited to see what comes next.

I have quite a backlog of magazines but I love them and never miss and issue of my favs.

I don't keep the magazines, giving them to the local charity shop or my school, but the physical act of reading whilst having a nice cuppa does something for me. It holds such a nostalgic feel for me as some of my earliest and fondest memories are of me reading and feeling content usually with Tintin but Edge particularly has figured heavily in my life. Since getting into it in the mid- 2000s (ish) I've never not bought the issues, even paying a premium of £14 per issue in Cambodia for 2 years from 2011 to 2013 as print was very expensive there.

I hope we don't lose the print written form I think it is a valuable experience. Now, I'm not a Luddite as I have a physical Kindle, have downloaded the Kindle App on my phone and have had an Audible subscription for over 7 years, but the feel of a book is special to me. I don't want to lose that special bibliochor scent and sensation. Viva la print!

LINK- The Anxious Generation: Book Review (and Some Thoughts)

LINK- On And On And Colston ( Or, How We Kinda Sort of Learned to Talk About the Legacy of Colonialism and the British Empire)

LINK- ‘Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire’ LINK: Elden Ring- Videogames As Art

LINK- Toxic: Women, Fame and the Noughties- Book Review (and Some Thoughts)

LINK- Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Conquered the World- Book Review (and Personal Reflections)

Fist of the North Star - Cult Manga Review

March 27, 2025

Fist of the North Star was a huge deal when it came out here in England, selling over 60,000 VHS tapes and being second only to Akira in terms of total manga sales at the time. That's quite an achievement for Manga Entertainment's first ever manga release here.

I saw it all the time of sale as it was pretty ubiquitous but I never watched it at the time, not for any specific reason really but the cover didn't appeal to me as it seemed to be a stupid generic beating up film and that genre had kind of died in the 80s. After snubbing it for so long, I decided to finally give it a watch. Was it any good, even without the rose tinted lens of nostalgia attached?

Starts off with a narration outlining the Yin and Yang of the Universe and how the world was destroyed by a nuclear holocaust. You expect a devastated world to appear but then, as the opening credits roll, you get a 5 minute montage of beautiful imagery and landscapes of our recognisable gorgeous world.

At 5 minutes, we see that there is a nuclear holocaust in 199X and the world as we know it is destroyed as we see the poor huddled masses ripped apart by the nuclear wind. There now exists a survival of the fittest with the poor and weak and the strong headbangers.

Into this world we meet Ken, The Fist of the North Star, a powerful warrior who is betrayed by Shin, the Fist of the South Star. After his beloved Julia is taken as a prize, Ken is thrown into a chasm, believed dead. However, he comes back and, like the Littlest Hobo, goes from town to town fighting hoodlums and protecting the weak and innocent. Along the way, we meet his Iago-like brother, Jagi, who was the one to turn Shin by lying to him of Julia's love for him, and his eldest brother Raoh the Conqueror who wants to rule mankind as a God.

Watching this nearly 40 years after it's release, I can say that it is a proper old skool bits-to-the-wall manga. There is claret everywhere as heads exploded and limbs are sliced off using chi. It's very entertaining and, whilst not highbrow or arty, it is very effective for what it is; a man going through hell to find his one true love. What the manga shows is that families are very complex is alls I'm saying.

Overall, I liked the movie and didn't feel it wasted my time. There are definitely worse ways to spend nearly 2 hours.

LINK- The Anxious Generation: Book Review (and Some Thoughts)

LINK- On And On And Colston ( Or, How We Kinda Sort of Learned to Talk About the Legacy of Colonialism and the British Empire)

LINK- ‘Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire’ LINK: Elden Ring- Videogames As Art

LINK- Toxic: Women, Fame and the Noughties- Book Review (and Some Thoughts)

LINK- Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Conquered the World- Book Review (and Personal Reflections)

Crying Freeman - Cult Manga Review

March 25, 2025

Crying Freeman was one of the big flagship titles from Manga Entertainment from way back in the early 90s. I never got around to watching it even though I did see it on sale frequently, however I do know a couple of my friends did watch it back in the day and praised its depth.

For those not in the know, Crying Freeman is a mature and violent manga written by Kazuo Koike and illustrated by Ryoichi Ikegami from the late 80s/early 90s. It follows Yo Hinomura, a potter transformed into the 108 Dragons' top assassin after being hypnotised. Dubbed 'Crying Freeman' for his post-kill tears, he's a man torn between his past and his violent present but can he break free from his handlers to have true freedom? Over the course of the series, he finds a partner, then wife, who shows him his humanity - artist Emu Hino - whilst dealing with syndicate crime bosses, corrupt police officers and his own 108 Dragon Syndicate. Over 6 episodes of 50 minute OVAs, we get to see the rise of Freeman and his 108 Dragons Syndicate.

Portrait of a Killer
Whilst out painting in a park, painter Emu Hino witnesses a gang land execution. She sees the killers face and knows that she will be targeted next. That night, the killer find her but they make love as he recounts his tragic fate. However, the gang members of the earlier hit seek vengeance and so Hino and Yo escape and wipe out the threat.

This is a dramatic introductory episode which sets the stall out pretty quickly; there is plenty of blood spilt but the kills are stylishly done. There is also a lot of nudity and two sex scenes which have aged about as poorly as most sex scenes from the era but at least the angles are tasteful and it's not too fanservicey as the people are very much adults.

The Enemy Within
When Yo and Emu marry in a private Chinese wedding ceremony, they are attacked. Sensing a traitor within their organisation's ranks, Yo travels to Macau to get to the truth. He gets his man but Kiche, the sharp shooting assassin girlfriend, seeks revenge.

The episode starts with the marriage but the action escalates very quickly as an assassin attempts to kill Yo. From there we have an action packed episode featuring car chases, bombs, submarines and an island base. The battle between Freeman and Kiche is epic as they battle it out on top of the submarine.

Retribution
Emu proves her worth by not breaking after being tested by the 108 Dragons. Later on, Freeman and Bai Ya Shan are caught up in a plane hijacking from the African Tusk, a terrorist gang. When his base is attacked by the African Tusk and many in his leadership circle killed, Freeman goes on the silent offensive as the enemy think he has been killed too. He pretends to be a hairdresser in an exclusive resort and closes in on his enemy.

Meanwhile, Emu obtains the cursed Muramasa sword and goes to train with a master swordsman but Bai Ya Shan is worried about th curse and goes to dispose of it down a well. However, the curse breaks and accepts Emu.

This episode is quite good as Yo has the foresight to predict the enemy seeing his organisation as being weak. They die to protect him and so Yo goes all espionage to avenge their deaths. Africans have not always been portrayed well in anime or manga over the years, often being caricatures with exaggerated stereotypical features but here they are presented in a more complex light. The African Tusk are terrorists but Bugnug is a warrior with a sense of honour and pride. She and Freeman bond over their fighting skills and part as lovers, with him renaming her Dark Eyes.

The episode focusing on Emu becoming stronger by learning the way of the sword is a good one as we see her want to become more independent and a warrior in her own right. The sword dance she does is entrancing and quite beautiful in its own strange way.

The Hostages
When his daughter, granddaughter and son-in-law are kidnapped by the well trained KO (Kidnapper Organisation - which is a bit too on the nose for my liking), Mr Wong asks Yo for help, playing into the KO groups plan. Yo is aware of this and knows that there is a mole in their midst and so lets himself be captured in order to get close to the captives. On the island, he finds a militia and their leader, an erotically charged woman who wants Freeman as she gets off on killers.

The introduction of this is quite something as we get a minute or so of credits rolling over a writhing naked woman moaning gently. I'm glad my wife didn't walk in whilst I was watching that as I'd have a bit of explaining to do. It is the killer Nina but I didn't know that at the time. This is an intriguing episode as it discusses soldiers who arrive back from war but feel lost in a society that doesn't accept their deeds. However, Nina getting off on watching people being killed and her constant exhibitionism is annoying and very cringey. I was glad to see Emu and Bugnug appear and do their stuff to bring the house down.

The Impersonator
After being defeated by a huge and powerful man named Tohgoku, Dark Eyes is brutally abused and thrown into a river. Yo finds and rescues her and sets out in vengeance.
Freeman takes him on in the wrestling ring and is seemingly defeated, whereupon he is taken to the homebase to recover. He finds the real power behind the throne and sees that it is a cult leader who wants power to spread the word. He seeks to replace Freeman with a clone but Freeman kills the clone and pretends to be the clone instead, luring him into a trap and exacting revenge.

This is an exciting episode but one that features sexualised violence against Dark Eyes. She gets her revenge in the end but her abuse is brutal and she is discarded into the sea at the beginning. Surprisingly for such a macho series, Freeman seems to have a deep understanding of what love and trust is and fights against patriarchy and societal norms with his enlightened attitude.

The Russian Connection
When a Russian Mafia and Japanese Yakuza boss do a deal to join their forces and cut out the 108 Dragons, Freeman is not happy and fights back. However, when he sees Tanya, a woman he seems to recall in a past life, he tries to seek out the truth. Little does he know that the woman, Tanya, is a Russian trained as an assassin through the use of her body. When there is a bloody coup within the Yakuza, as a young wannabe takes over, he fights for ascendency amongst the Yakuza in his quest for power to defeat the 108 Dragons and take over as supreme crime lord of Asia.

The bloody coup is well realised as the old mob bosses are taken out by young up and comer Tsunaike. It's full of kills but, in the end, Freeman is just better organised and prepared than the crazy indiscrimate killing of mob boss wannabe Tsunaike. It's an intriguing plot about trying to squeeze the 108 Dragons out of their weapon sales arm of business but ends badly. Never bet against Freeman though.

Overall, even though the series has aged quite badly as the animation is quite static and the constant nudity embarrassingly gratuitous, the soundtrack is pretty good and the way the series explores the psychological impact of violence and the struggle for identity is compelling. The kills are interestingly done and remind me of Agent 47 in the Hitman videogame series. Additionally, we have a tragic figure in Freeman whilst Emu is a strong female lead which adds another layer of complexity to this ultra violent and hyper-sexualised series.

Crying Freeman is considered a classic for a reason. It's a must-watch for mature anime fans who appreciate complex stories, but be warned: it's not for the faint of heart. Consider yourself cautioned.

LINK- On And On And Colston ( Or, How We Kinda Sort of Learned to Talk About the Legacy of Colonialism and the British Empire)

LINK- ‘Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire’ LINK: Elden Ring- Videogames As Art

LINK- Toxic: Women, Fame and the Noughties- Book Review (and Some Thoughts)

LINK- Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Conquered the World- Book Review (and Personal Reflections)

LINK- Parasite Eve Book Review

Indika - Videogames As Art

March 22, 2025

I'm a fan of niche games, and this one definitely fits the bill. In Indika, you play as a young Russian nun tormented by a voice that whispers in her mind, seemingly the devil himself. Is it a genuine malevolent presence, or simply a figment of her imagination? As she embarks on a journey to deliver a letter to a distant church, she'll discover the truth.

The game blends the surreal atmosphere of David Lynch's work with the unsettling experience of a constant, intrusive voice, reminiscent of Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice. Indika is a bizarre third-person puzzle platformer that juxtaposes stunningly realistic graphics with flights of pixelated fancy.

I had an interesting playing the game over a couple of nights and, at only 4 hours or so, it is a powerful game looking at the mysogyny that exists within society, mental health and what happens when you start to question your faith. It's not all existential dread or intrinsic shoe-gazing as there are genuine laugh out loud moments within the overarching story. I recommend this game as an indie pallette cleanser between the AAA onslaught we've had over the past couple of years.

LINK- Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Conquered the World- Book Review (and Personal Reflections)

LINK- Shadow of the Colossus- Book Review

LINK- Japan: My Journey to the East

LINK- Manga Exhibition at the British Museum

LINK- The Transportive Nature of Objects (And the Power of Mini Consoles)

LINK- My One True Gaming Constant in Life- Nintendo

Decoder Ring's They Blind The Stars, And The Wild Team - Album Review

March 19, 2025

I knew of Decoder Ring through the 2004 film Somersault. The film starred Abbie Cornish as a runaway teen who fends for herself as she finds work at a ski resort. I thought the soundtrack was beautiful and the film hit me at the time as it was about finding your place in the world when you are an adult but you don't feel ready. I used to listen to the soundtrack all the time back in the day but kinda forgot about it over time.

I had listened to the album on YouTube on occasion but never had the album in CD. I knew of their 2CD follow-up They Blind the Stars, and the Wild Team as I owned it in mp3 format on my old Sanza Clip. I bought the album in Cambodia whilst on my travels and it accompanied me as I travelled across the world over the course of 6 months. I loved it as it was epic is scope and had an expansive, cinematic post-rock sound. It was an album I immersed myself in, luxuriating in its vast sonic landscapes and going on a journey that was both emotionally resonant and deeply atmospheric.

I re-listened to the album for the first time in about 15 years and these are my thought on the tracks:

Beat the Twilight- starts with a wonderful train type beat before an airy rhythm kicks in. The drum beat is wonderful and driving. A great start.

They Blind the Stars, and the Wild Team- like a music box with soft woodwinds before an electric guitar and rhythmic drums kick in. The finger picking guitar and builds towards a crescendo.

Charlotte Rampling- sharp arpeggios starts and remain across the piece.

And the Grass Will Grow Over Your Cities- starts with discordant strings and a bongo sound and is added upon with a sinister theme which adds mystery to the piece. An electric guitar comes in and wails over discordant sounds before giving way to calming drums, cymbals and gentle keyboard sounds. It ends will a stunning guitar solo that repeats in a shimmering way.

Happy Place- it starts off slow and melodic and remains that way, feeling calm and gentle.

100 Suns- this is a contemplative piece with a bassy undertone covering a high electric guitar arpeggios. The bass takes over and dominates the piece in the end.

Point No Point- this starts off with a distinctly more mellow slow jazz vibe and had me thinking of the Oxenfree soundtrack by Disasterpiece, especially with the strange noises that wend their way into the background.

Let a Thousand Flowers Bloom- this is a conventional track in that it starts off clear and breezy and remains that way with lots of rhythmic guitars, drums and keyboard.

Astronaut Farewell Blues- it starts off with high pitched beeping like sounds before a mellow drum beat and shimmering piano line hits complemented with a bass guitar. The yearning sounds kick in with the glockenspiel and make the whole piece wistful.

CD 2 is more ambient and difficult to describe as it is a more ambient piece that wends and winds its way through the journey.

Same Old Paradise- eerie tones sends it's way through deep foreboding bass that pulsates.

The Horse and the Hand Grenade- the music feels like an intimate soundtrack, either tracking a journey of self-discovery of an individual or the sci-fi film epic loneliness shown in the likes of Interstellar or videogames with the scope and ideas of No Man's Sky or Jett: The Far Shore.

All the Streams Have Little Glitches in Them and The Inland Sea are both calm meditative pieces.

If I had to describe the album I would say airy, wondrous, shoe-gazey, wistful, shimmering and dreamy. In parts it reminds me of Odesza, Jon Hopkins, Burial, Nils Frahms, and Jim Guthrie with its mellow vibe and feel. When I first heard the album, I imagine that as a fan of Jarre, Wakeman, Oldfield and 90s trance it would have been right up my street.

Even with 15 years passing since I probably last listened to this album, I appreciate it and admire the ambition and scope of what it was trying to do. I would have loved to have seen them live but they have been on hiatus since 2009 so there's a slim chance of that happening. It's a shame as I think with the prevalence of the Internet, they could find their tribe and do really well in a live setting.

LINK- On And On And Colston ( Or, How We Kinda Sort of Learned to Talk About the Legacy of Colonialism and the British Empire)

LINK- ‘Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire’ LINK: Elden Ring- Videogames As Art

LINK- Toxic: Women, Fame and the Noughties- Book Review (and Some Thoughts)

LINK- Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Conquered the World- Book Review (and Personal Reflections)

LINK- Dead of Night: Cult TV Review

Sky- Cult TV Series Review

March 17, 2025

I have a huge affection for the more sci-fi and folklore oriented children television shows from the 70s and early 80s including shows like Children of the Stones, Under the Mountain and Chocky.

The opening credits are suitably weird and spooky.

I'd seen a lot about Sky as it featured quite heavily in my Amazon searches for these type of series so thought I'd finally give it a go. Before watching the show, I did some research and found that this 1975 production was timely as the optimism and hope of the mid to late 60s had dissipated and given way to political unrest, high inflation and strikes here in England. Life was not easy for the masses and this is reflected in the media from the time- including Sky.

In Sky, a trio of teens find a space traveller under piles of leaves while on a pheasant shoot. He takes the human looking alien traveller home to help him in his mission but a malevolent force wishes to do him ill. Over the course of seven episodes, we have a cat and mouse tale of good versus evil but we do not get a view of the larger picture until the denouement. It all involves The Book of Merlin, Glastonbury, messianic figures from history, Stone Henge and stone circles. Y'know, the usual 1970s fare that was in thrall of Erich Von Daniken's Chariots of the Gods.

Watching this with no nostalgia, I can say that it is a typically low budget but atmospheric series. It is of its time and so its economy of design means that the tone is eerie and the pacing languid. However, even with this limited budget, the show is genuinely creepy with eerie music, unsettling imagery, and a pervasive sense of dread. The special effects, while dated by today's standards, must have been surprisingly sophisticated for the era and added much to the show's eerie atmosphere. The distorted visuals, strange lights, and a general air of otherworldly menace through the use of early green screen all adds to the weirdness.

So, nearly 50 years after its release, Sky remains a chilling, unsettling blend of science fiction and the supernatural. It wasn't some whimsical adventure but seemed prescient as Sky's own world was one of ecological disaster and societal breakdown, and his presence in our time hinted at a similar fate awaiting us further down the line. The themes of environmentalism, social responsibility, and the dangers of unchecked technological advancement is one we are all examining now and, while this show was aimed at children, its willingness to tackle darker themes must be what makes it a truly memorable piece of children's television for those who saw it the first time round.

LINK- The Stone Tapes: Cult TV Review

LINK- Tom’s Midnight Garden: Cult TV Review

LINK- Children of the Dogstar: Cult TV Series Review

LINK- Children of the Stones: Cult TV Series Review

Kishin Heidan- Cult Manga Review

March 14, 2025

Kishin Heidan, a seven-part OAV series from 1993-94, was a name I'd often seen in the pages of Manga Mania, its industrial-looking mecha hinting at something unique. Finally diving into the dubbed version, I discovered why it holds such a revered place within the old-school anime and manga community. The series plunges us into an alternate WWII-era, a fascinating blend of retro sci-fi, political intrigue, and visceral mecha action. Here, the Axis powers, Nazis and Japanese, clash not just for territory, but for control of powerful alien technology. Caught in this struggle is the Kishin Corps, a Japanese force determined to destroy the technology, deeming it too dangerous for any nation.

The narrative unfolds through a diverse cast, each character's motivations and struggles driving the story forward. The relationships, particularly the evolving dynamic between twin sisters Maria and Eva Braun, and their interactions with the protagonist Taishi, add significant emotional depth. We witness their growth, aging across the series, which grounds the fantastical elements in a poignant human experience.

The mecha themselves are a stark departure from the sleek designs of later anime. They're brutalist machines, all rivets, filament bulbs, and pistons, their movements more akin to a mechanical rock ‘em sock ‘em brawl than a graceful dance. This analogue, visceral approach to mecha combat perfectly complements the series' gritty, alternate-history setting.

Kishin Heidan also weaves in fascinating historical lore, exploring Hitler's obsession with the occult and otherworldly artifacts, and even featuring a cameo from Albert Einstein. This intriguing mash-up of historical figures and fantastical elements creates a unique and compelling world. However, the series doesn't shy away from ethical complexity. While the Kishin Corps is presented as a force for good, the backdrop of WWII, with its atrocities committed by the Japanese and Nazi armies, creates a moral tension that cannot be ignored. The series, in some ways, risks airbrushing these historical horrors.

Despite this, Kishin Heidan remains a captivating experience. The storyline is compelling, the battles spectacular, and the characters are well-developed. While the pacing is uneven, with a fast-paced beginning slowing to a more languid middle before a stunning, all-out battle finale, the series' unique blend of political drama, mecha action, and thought-provoking themes makes it a worthwhile watch. It's a recommendation for fans of classic mecha anime, political thrillers, and those who appreciate stories that delve into complex characters and challenging moral questions, but with the understanding that it approaches a sensitive historical period with its own unique, and occasionally problematic, perspective.

LINK- Battle Angel Alita: And So It Ends

LINK- Ulysses 31 Retro Soundtrack Review

LINK- The Mysterious Cities of Gold Retro Soundtrack Review

LINK- Akira Soundtrack Vinyl Review

LINK- On And On And Colston ( Or, How We Kinda Sort of Learned to Talk About the Legacy of Colonialism and the British Empire)

LINK- ‘Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire’ LINK: Elden Ring- Videogames As Art

Venba- Videogames As Art

March 11, 2025

The tale of first generation immigrants coming to a new country with high hopes and aspirations is an old one but not one that has been extensively covered in videogames.

Venba, a cozy game about a Tamil family immigrating to Canada, is a wonderful experience that beautifully captures the nuances of immigrant life: the longing for the familiar, the struggle to find your place in a new society, and the gradual process of finding a balance between your old and new identities.

Venba is a gentle reminder of the importance of our heritage and a touching tribute to the resilience of immigrant families. Through cooking dishes with the matriarch, you see the bond that develops between the family. This game is food for the soul.

LINK- On And On And Colston ( Or, How We Kinda Sort of Learned to Talk About the Legacy of Colonialism and the British Empire)

LINK- ‘Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire’ LINK: Elden Ring- Videogames As Art

LINK- Toxic: Women, Fame and the Noughties- Book Review (and Some Thoughts)

LINK- Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Conquered the World- Book Review (and Personal Reflections)

LINK- On and On and Colston (or, ‘How We Learned to Talk About the Legacy of Colonialism in GB’)

What Just Happened?!: Dispatches from Turbulent Times by Marina Hyde - Book Review

March 8, 2025

The world is in a bit of a state, to put it mildly. Political upheaval, global crises, and a general sense of unease have left many of us feeling lost and disoriented. Sometimes, it's nice to look back at the past... unless that past is the tumultuous times we lived through from 2016 to 2022, which encapsulated Brexit, Trump Episode 1, the pandemic and the New World aftermath!

Luckily, we have Marina Hyde's What Just Happened?!: Dispatches from Turbulent Times, a collection of columns from 2016 to 2022 that offers a sharp and witty perspective on what an omnishambolic shit-show it was.

Whilst it has obviously aged, due to the nature of her weekly journalistic column writing at the time, Hyde's writing remains insightful and entertaining. Her turn of phrase and wordplay remain unmatched as her pop culture infused associative thinking brings to stark relief what a hilariously awful time we had. I love her characterisation of people into broad characatures like Otto Von Jizzmark (Dominic Cummings), the Sauron of Karaoke (Simon Cowell), a rejected Roald Dahl character (Jacob Rees Mogg) and Phony Stark (Elon Musk) as well as certain turns of phrases like Wallygarchy *chef’s kiss*

A few years after the events covered in this book, this remains a perfect read for anyone who wants to process the unmatched madness of that window of time. Looking back, it is unbelievable what those in power and, supposedly, in authority got away with and there has been no come-uppance or consequence of note. Of all the shenanigans she brings to light, the most powerful for me was the random abuse she suffered when a man shouted at and threatened her in the daytime as she went to pick up her daughter after school. Such occurrences happen to many women daily and, in light of the Sarah Everard murder by a police officer, cast a long shadow over the safety of women.

Overall, the book is the perfect read for those you know who might look back at Boris Johnson’s term as PM and think, ‘He wasn’t that bad really.’ He was and we should never forget what a catastrophe he presided over. Hyde is jokey and affable but her articles really are laser focussed on bringing those who played fast and loose with the rules and truth to account.

However, having said that, away from the contents of this book Hyde herself has recently expressed problematic views on the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Her stance minimizes the Palestinian struggle for human rights and unfairly equates criticism of Israeli policies with antisemitism. Hyde is a respected journalist who has written extensively on a wide range of topics, including politics, culture, and sports but her recent stance of Palestine, especially in light of the genocide, has made this quite a bittersweet read as she is observant about so much but, as with much of the Liberal West, chosen to side with genocide enablers.

What is fascinating are the moments of sheer hypocrisy shown by Hyde after the release of this book by her recent actions. She pontificated about the sorry state of the visa situation post Ukraine invasion and said, "Post WW2, many nations came to the realisation that they should and could have done more in various ways, not least in accepting refugees. As the images of exodus in now showing us, History is never in the past, it is now. It would be to our enduring shame if we do not try to be on the right side of it" but doesn’t seem to share the same sympathy for the Palestinians.

Oh well, there’s another person who joins the pile of people who are now a little problematic.

LINK- Utopia for Realists- Book Review

LINK- ‘Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire’ LINK: Elden Ring- Videogames As Art

LINK- Toxic: Women, Fame and the Noughties- Book Review (and Some Thoughts)

LINK- Why I No Longer Talk To White People About Race- Book Review

LINK- ‘Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire’

LINK: Let’s All Create a ‘New Normal’.

LINK- Ms Marvel Can Change the World

Ultimate Teacher- Cult Manga Review

March 5, 2025

Remember those dusty anime OVAs lurking on the shelves of video stores back in the day? The ones with dodgy cover art and the promise of mature themes? Well, I finally succumbed to the siren call of Ultimate Teacher, an hour-long OVA I'd seen countless times on the shelves of Rodney’s Books and Games but never dared to watch… until now. And boy, was it an experience.

This was where I would get my comics, manga, anime and videogames from back in the 90s and 00s.

The premise is gloriously bonkers: Ganpachi, a cockroach/human hybrid (yes, you read that right), escapes a gene-splicing lab and becomes the ‘Ultimate Teacher’ at a rundown high school. His dictatorial methods don't sit well with the delinquent students, who try to bring him down with the help of Himako and her…lucky velvet underpants. Yes, you read that right too. These underpants grant her super strength. Don't ask.

What follows is a chaotic mess of fighting, hip thrusts (so many hip thrusts), and a desperate search for said lucky undergarments. It's cringeworthy, it's ridiculous, and yet… I couldn't look away.

Surprisingly, the OVA boasts some serious pedigree, including Toyoo Ashida of Fist of the North Star fame. What drew him to this project, I'll never know. The animation is… well, it exists. But the real star of the show is the hilariously janky English dub. The over-the-top voice acting and exaggerated accents elevate the absurdity to almost comedic levels.

Ultimate Teacher is by no means a good OVA as it's cheesy, exploitative and downright bizarre. However, if you're looking for a dose of that sweet, sweet "so bad it's almost good" anime, and you have a high tolerance for cringe, then this might just be worth a watch. Just don't expect Shakespeare is all!

LINK- Battle Angel Alita: And So It Ends

LINK- Ulysses 31 Retro Soundtrack Review

LINK- The Mysterious Cities of Gold Retro Soundtrack Review

LINK- Akira Soundtrack Vinyl Review

Astro Bot - Videogames As Art

March 2, 2025

I know we have been starved of mascot platformers for a couple of console generations, with the exception of the usual Nintendo big hitters, so Astro Bot is a delightful reminder of what makes this genre so joyful. It doesn't reinvent the wheel so much as toy with it through the use of the revelatory haptic feedback and amazing draw distance. My favourite levels were the Japanese Gardens sponge (Bath House Battle), the knife throwing ghosts (Spooky Time) and Casino bullet time (Slow-Mo Casino), all which show the pure creativity. I had a great time with the game and made it last as long as possible, playing a couple of levels every few days. I bought it pretty much on release day and only finished it on 12th February 2025, but I wanted to savour it like a fine glass of Schloer.

It isn't the second coming of Christ like some have declared, with most levels following the usual platform fare, but what it is is an excellent platformer which is beautifully presented and done with obvious love for the PlayStation brand.

LINK- Love, Death + Robots- Season 1 Review

LINK- Love, Death + Robots- Season 2 Review

LINK- On And On And Colston ( Or, How We Kinda Sort of Learned to Talk About the Legacy of Colonialism and the British Empire)

LINK- ‘Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire’ LINK: Elden Ring- Videogames As Art

Managing Expectations by Minnie Driver- Book Review

February 27, 2025

Minnie Driver is an accomplished actress who I knew from Grosse Point Blank and Good Will Hunting but that's about it. She's been in other stuff I'd seen but honestly, I didn't know much about her except that she was English and had amazing hair. She intrigued me as she has been a Hollywood fixture for decades but I didn't know much about her at all, so when Audible had a 2 for 1 sale and her autobiography was a part of the promotion, I scooped it up. Driver's writing is witty, honest, and surprisingly vulnerable as she shares anecdotes from her life and career. It's not a chronological recounting of her life, but rather a collection of essays that explore themes of family, ambition, love, and loss. She doesn't shy away from the messy parts of life, and her reflections on failures and unexpected turns are what make the book so relatable. Having listened to it, I can say that I am a convert and a bit of a fan as she seems pretty grounded and self-aware of the fickle nature of fame.

She starts with the breakup of her parents marriage and the effect it had on her growing up, being a bit of a rascal who was defiant of her father. We then get hints of her passion for the theatrics as she is on Nationwide, a local news show, where she performed to stop the expansion of a motorway past her school's property.
We whizz forward to her graduating years as she describes trying to find acting work but ending up being a miserable lounge singer and weekend raver, where she meets someone who works with a casting agent.
She briefly describes her success in Circle of Friends and the lull that followed before serendipity put her in front of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon for Good Will Hunting. Damon dumped her before she was nominated for an Oscar so there were awkward award season meetups. Also, Harvey Weinstein said he didn't want to cast her as she was unfuckable- Driver’s acerbic reply of a man wearing a shirt with tuna mayo, egg and other stains being an arbiter of beauty is on point.

She discusses the travails of motherhood and the incursion into Malibu to fight the fires that ravaged her neighbourhood as well as bring supplies to her firefighting peers and neighbours. Driver ends on her mother's fight against cancer during Covid, being incredibly honest about her loss but also hopeful and earnest with her grief.

Throughout the audiobook, I felt that Driver's voice was authentic and she was engaging in her performance, making you feel like you were having a conversation with a close friend. She's funny and self-deprecating, but also deeply thoughtful and introspective. Her stories are often humorous, but they also carry a poignant undercurrent that resonates long after you've finished reading.

The book is lyrical and her prose beautiful, such as the way she describes travelling in transit in such magical terms, 'it is a feeling if freedom... it is an existential corridor where I am not tethered to who I was on departure or who I will be when I land. The pressure of expectation is released... all the myriad interactions of life are put on hold. It is the relaxation of an exhale of a pause.'

Strangely, I can relate as I love transiting too. It's an amazing liminal space that requires a change of norms, the rules seem to change amongst the giant Toblerones as people are journeying to different locations.

Overall, Managing Expectations is a delightful and insightful memoir that offers a refreshing take on the typical celebrity autobiography.

LINK- The Anxious Generation: Book Review (and Some Thoughts)

LINK- On And On And Colston ( Or, How We Kinda Sort of Learned to Talk About the Legacy of Colonialism and the British Empire)

LINK- ‘Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire’ LINK: Elden Ring- Videogames As Art

LINK- Toxic: Women, Fame and the Noughties- Book Review (and Some Thoughts)

LINK- Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Conquered the World- Book Review (and Personal Reflections)

Mario Wonder- Videogames As Art

February 24, 2025

Mario Wonder was an unexpected delight that subverted the self-imposed norms which had made the 2D Mario games seem stale over the last few iterations. Games like Rayman Legends, Ori and the Blind Forest and Celeste had been vying to dethrone Mario from his platformer heels but this game blew me away with its sheer lunacy. It dazzled with its vibrant, whimsical art, cartoonish characters and surreal landscapes which all helped to create a playful, captivating world.

The MVP was the Wonder Flower power which unleashed visual chaos, turning levels into shifting, delightful canvases. It's a testament to Nintendo’s creativity and artistry to view their gaming legacy askew and turn this single simple idea into a game-changing vehicle.

LINK- Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Conquered the World- Book Review (and Personal Reflections)

LINK- On And On And Colston ( Or, How We Kinda Sort of Learned to Talk About the Legacy of Colonialism and the British Empire)

LINK- ‘Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire’ LINK: Elden Ring- Videogames As Art

A Movie Making Nerd by James Rolfe- Book Review

February 22, 2025

"Growing up internet" – it's a phrase that resonates deeply with millennials like myself. We straddle the line between a pre-internet world and the hyper-connected present, experiencing the dawn of dial-up, chat rooms, and the thrill of discovering online fandoms. For those of us in our 40s, the early internet held a certain magic, a sense of limitless possibility. Viral sensations like Charlie the Unicorn and Ask a Ninja were the water cooler moments of the digital age, and amidst this landscape emerged figures like James Rolfe, the mastermind behind the Angry Video Game Nerd (AVGN). So, when I heard Rolfe was releasing his autobiography, I was immediately on board.

I've been on a bit of a biography/autobiography kick lately, devouring stories from celebrities like Oliver Stone, Britney Spears and Michelle Zauner. I'm fascinated by the way people shape their own narratives, the carefully curated versions of themselves they present to the world. But I'm also drawn to the moments of vulnerability, the glimpses behind the curtain. One of the biggest challenges with autobiographies is the tendency to polish and perfect, sanding down the rough edges until the story becomes a gleaming, yet somewhat lifeless, product. Thankfully, Rolfe's autobiography avoids this trap. What we get is a refreshingly honest account, told in Rolfe's signature style, which those familiar with the AVGN will instantly recognize. It's his version of events, of course, and it's important to remember that any autobiography is filtered through a single perspective. ‘My truth’ isn't necessarily ‘the truth,’ but it's a truth, a valuable piece of the puzzle. Listening to the audiobook version, I was immediately drawn into Rolfe's world.

He candidly discusses his struggles with ADHD and social anxiety, offering a vulnerable look at his childhood and adolescence. He recounts his rebellious college phase, including a near-expulsion from art school after a video documenting his and his friends' destructive antics surfaced. His passion for classic and B-movie horror shines through, and the sheer volume of films he created before the age of 21 is truly inspiring.

The story of how he accidentally became the Angry Nintendo Nerd is a fun one. His initial critiques of games like Castlevania 2, Jekyll and Hyde, and The Karate Kid were simply meant for friends, but they resonated with a wider audience, eventually leading to his iconic character. He talks about the challenges of balancing his creative pursuits with "real" jobs, from health and safety video editing (complete with a control-freak boss) to wedding videography. The moment he realized his work was gaining traction – a random encounter with a fan on the other side of the country – is a testament to the power of online communities.

Rolfe's journey hasn't been without its hurdles. He delves into the complexities of working with ScrewAttack, the rise of YouTube monetization, and the immense effort that goes into each AVGN episode (a single episode can take up to 40 hours to produce, with some, like the R.O.B. episode, taking a staggering 120!). He also discusses the challenges of bringing AVGN: The Movie to life, from securing funding through Indiegogo to navigating the difficulties of filming. He opens up about the personal struggles he and his wife faced during the birth of their first child.

What struck me most about Rolfe's story is his unwavering dedication to his craft. He's a filmmaker at heart, and his autobiography is a testament to his passion, perseverance, and willingness to experiment. He doesn't shy away from his mistakes, offering a refreshingly honest portrayal of his journey.

Rolfe's autobiography isn't just a story about the Angry Video Game Nerd; it's a story about creativity, perseverance, and the evolving landscape of the internet. It's a story that resonated with me on a personal level, as someone who also grew up alongside the internet, witnessing its transformative power firsthand.

If you're a fan of AVGN, or simply interested in the story of an independent creator who carved his own path in the digital age, I highly recommend giving this book a read (or a listen!). It's a candid, inspiring, and ultimately human story, and I'm excited to see what James Rolfe does next.

LINK- On And On And Colston ( Or, How We Kinda Sort of Learned to Talk About the Legacy of Colonialism and the British Empire)

LINK- ‘Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire’ LINK: Elden Ring- Videogames As Art

LINK- Toxic: Women, Fame and the Noughties- Book Review (and Some Thoughts)

LINK- Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Conquered the World- Book Review (and Personal Reflections)

LINK: Japan: My Journey to the East

The Anxious Generation - Book Review (and Some Thoughts)

February 19, 2025

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the constant buzz of notifications, the pressure to project a perfect online image, or FOMO? You're not alone. In today's hyper-connected world, anxiety is on the rise, particularly among young people. Psychologist Jonathan Haidt looks at this very zeitgeisty issue in his book The Anxious Generation.

There have been quite prominent displays of the book across many stores.

He starts off by presenting a scenario where youths are asked to be test subjects in a mission to Mars without seeking adult permission. It's a metaphor for how society has largely allowed the tech industry to shape the digital landscape without adequate oversight or consideration of long-term effects, particularly on young people. He then looks at Huizinga's Homo Ludens playful human concept, and how the fear of sexual predators and kidnappers, prevalent in the 1980s and 1990s, led to a culture of overprotection in the physical world, while the online world remained largely unregulated. This imbalance, Haidt argues, has created a generation of young people who are both hyper-vigilant about real-world dangers and vulnerable to the potential harms of the digital realm. He looks at how great harms have been done with technology and social media, especially from 2010 to 2015 where the online avatar world took youth away from their peers in real life and by algorithimically sticky apps that are sometimes nothing more than social Skinner Boxes that give us that dopamine hit when we got a like/ retweet/ follow/ subscriber etc.

Haidt's thesis is that the "great rewiring" of childhood, characterized by a shift from play-based to phone-based experiences, has had a significant impact on adolescent mental health. He cites rising rates of anxiety, depression, and self-harm as evidence of this trend. He also points to the increasing prevalence of social media addiction and the negative impact of social comparison on self-esteem

He breaks down his work into 4 streams:
- The Tidal Wave (the rise of mobile phones, the Internet and social media),
- The Backstory (the evolutionary predisposition of play, the social bonds formed and the negative consequences as a result),
- The Great Rewiring (how phone-based play led to an alteration of play and social interactions and norms),
- Collective Action for Heathier Childhoods (how we can take action to support the youth).

He then lays down his 4 points that he believes will help with the decline in mental health and loneliness we see across the world:
1. No smart phones before the age of 14,
2. No social media before 16,
3. Phone free achools, and
4. More unsupervised play and managed risk-taking

Reading the introduction, Haidt covers a lot of ground and the data, statistics and graphs seemed on point so I was up for reading on to see if he stuck the landing. I wrote notes on the gist of each chapter and my thoughts on them afterwards.

Part 1: A Tidal Wave, looks at the confluence of front facing smart phones in 2010, the rise in social media and filter apps that could only be used online and an always online mentality that took over when phones became dominant. More importantly, the rise in anxiety and depression was most stark in pre-teen girls across the Anglophone and Nordic world so it seems that certain demographics are more affected and there was not sufficient data in much else of the world.

Haidt counters the argument that some have raised which is that the constant stream of information and negative stories about climate change, a rise in terrorism, economic gloom has led to a rise in anxiety and depression in Gen Z by stating that Millennials, who would have been more keenly affected by these events as these were anchored moments in their life, did not see a huge rise in anxiety or depression and, after a couple of years, after the 2008 economic crisis, actually evened out. No, something specific is affected our youth and especially young girls and it happened between 2010 and 2015. The graphs bore this out and the data seemed to track with his conclusions.

Part 2: The Backstory- The Decline of Play-Based Childhood, looks at the evolutionary development of humans and the role that rituals, communal activities and face-to-face contact and play has. Haidt discusses how this is essential to mammal learning and how it helps humans in particular to become social beings. However, the lure of the online world has severed this connectedness and replaced it with individualism, low stakes 'brand' creating and self-censoring for like/ retweets etc. That is why there is a huge discrepancy in being more connected than ever but also a huge sense of loneliness that many people feel.

Discovery and defensive mode looks at how evolutionarily, we take risks to see what we can and cannot do-we push our limits as it helps us develop and grow. However, in our risk averse society many people have developed phobias and attachment issues and Haidt believes it is due to fearful parenting and educational and social cohesion falling. Also, the Mean World Syndrome has meant people are less trusting of others and less able to handle risk, conflict and frustration.

He looks at the onset of puberty and the creation of neural pathways; how experiences and immersion during this time can have a profound and long lasting effects. He discusses the various cultural and religious ceremonies which used to encourage a sense of social cohesion and responsibility but in an increasingly secularised world, there is a 'failure to launch’.

Haidt states that children are inherently anti-fragile but parental and societal paranoia and safetyism is causing problems as many children are growing up risk averse and afraid.

Anecdotally, this rings true with what I have seen as a parent and a teacher. As a parent, I know that I often helicopter more than my own parents used to. At the age of 7, my parents would entrust my older brother, who was 3 years older, to look after me when we went outside. We used to go to the park and spend hours there, only coming back for lunch and dinner or when it got dark. With my eldest daughter, who is 9, I sent her to the local shop to get a couple of groceries and she was asked by the shop assistnt where her parents were. In context, the shop is our local one and is only about 200 metres away from our house and there are a couple of sleepy village roads. The stark contrast between my pretty carefree childhood in a pretty rough East London town compared to my daughters experience in a sleepy village is stark and it's all happened so quickly.

Chapter 3: The Great Rewiring- The Rise of the Phone-Based Childhood, has Haidt examining the four main consequences of a phone-based childhood including sleep deprivation, societal deprivation, attention fragmentation and addiction and he says that this is all leading to a global mental health crisis. His examination of opportunity cost, where by doing something you miss out on an opportunity to do something else, is compelling. The number of hours many youths clock up in their phone use often exceeds the hours clocked up doing a full working week. By being screen based Haidt argues that there are other skills, life choices and life chances that the youth are missing out on: they have moved to a consumer based society.

He then discusses how social media companies used behavioural psychology teachings to hack into the youths by providing constant dopamine hits with Skinner Boxes or likes/ retweets/ subscribes etc. The result is many youths are constantly distracted by push notifications and constant update feeds, giving them little time to focus on any tasks for any matter if time.

The research shared shows that amongst teen and tween girls, social media use led to a huge spike in mental health problems compared to other demographics. When looked at further, it was due to low self esteem brought on by filters and unrealistic beauty standards created by some influencers.

Haidt writes about 4 ways that young girls are negatively affected by a phone based childhood:
1) Social comparison and perfectionism (comparing beauty and life standards to others online),
2) Relational Aggression (cyber bullying, shaming etc),
3) Biological and social conditions (young girls are genetically and culturally more predisposed to relationships and a fault in this affects them more profoundly than boys of the same age), and
4) Girls are more subject to predation and harassment (many girls look for as many followers as they can to attain social cache but many of the people following are older men or predatory individuals)

Haidt also looked at the ways that boys are affected by social media but clarified that the data is not as clear. He cites rising NEET figures in the UK and Hakikomori (Japanese shut-ins) and says he thinks it may be a combination of factors:
1) Less social and economic value in strength and muscles (as society has moved away from manual labour and much of the work is automated),
2) The rise of girls in education and work settings,
3) Lack of positive male role-models, and
4) The rise of online gaming and access to online adult content.

Haidt pulls both the threads of the harms caused by phone-based childhoods by looking at 'Spiritual Elevation and Degradation'. He argues that, although he is an atheist, religious or collective worship or activities (such as praying together, going to a concert with a group, watching the same football team and putting in the kit etc) creates a collective effervescence, a bond that unites rather than seperates each person. This collectivism is lost in the online world as people often seek quantity rather than quality in relationships so people lose their deep rooted trust in people or institutions. Emile Durkheim called this the rise of the profane and the lost of the profound; the everyday getting in the way of us considering that we are all part of something bigger than us.

He discusses various theories and beliefs from philosophers and religious scholars who discuss the need to 'still the monkey of the mind' to understand that we are part of a wider world. The awe created, by being in nature, meditating or from religiousity makes us understand that we matter and have meaning but not in the egocentric way that the Internet and social media has done by making us the centre of our own universe.

This chapter rang true for me as I had what my wife called Little Prince Syndrome, I was cooked and looked after at home but I was lucky to have many cultural experiences due to my variety of friends, interests and financial position. I wasn't wealthy but my proximity to London, access to transport and the freedoms conferred on me by my parents meant I lived a pretty relaxed and social life until getting married at the age of 29. I still lived with my parents and probably still would if I hadn't met anyone, why leave when life is easy and good? Additionally, the chance of getting on the property ladder by myself would have been miniscule so why risk what I had? This was a definite failure to launch but it wasn't because my parents hadn't prepared me for life but because the economic crisis, property price bubble, low wages and other key anchor points meant I never was able to look beyond a certain point.

However, once I decided to shake up my life and leave my job, travel around the world for 6 months, get married and work as a teacher in Cambodia for 2 years my life changed forever as I had all these experiences and met new and interesting people- my understanding of the wider world and my presence in it grew as I went to awe inspiring places and met awe inspiring people.

Part 4: Collective Action for Healthier Childhood, looks at a way that all of society, including governments and businesses, can work together to ensure a safe and protected childhood. Haidt gives a lot of reasonable and practical advice and a lot of it is a no-brainier but requires willingness and agency from various parties.

Roughly broken down it means:

Governments- Change the online safety bill to make companies out their apps on the highest security setting and make companies liable for problems.

Families- Collective action and let children grow (by allowing more time for them to play outside and the community deciding not to give phones to their children until an agreed time)

Schools- banning phones from school and allowing more freeplay (Children will not have their phones on them at all during the school day and any phones are put in a phone locker to allow them to fully connect with their peers).

Reading the book, I felt like it made sense and I left it a while before writing this review to apply my TED Talk Method - where you are swept up with the tail and theory at the time but, after walking away and getting some distance and perspective, it makes less and less sense. Here, I felt that Haidt covered a lot of salient points, was supported with evidence and aligned with a lot of the thinking I had with my current experience as a primary school teacher with over 21 years in the front line at the chalkboard. This felt a lot more evidence led rather than the 'Trust me bro, it's all real' of Jonah Lehrer and his Imagine: How Creativity Works. The graphs and data presented the information in compelling ways but, in the words of Churchill, 'There are lies, damned lies and then there are statistics.'

However, a key area I do think Haidt misses is that he doesn’t look at how many young people feel disillusioned by a capitalist system that seems to prioritize profit over people and planet. They are concerned about issues like climate change, social injustice, and economic inequality, and are seeking alternatives that prioritize sustainability, fairness, and community well-being. They are suffering from Empathy Fatigue but they cannot look away as there is a constant stream of bad news so they are finding their tribes online which makes them more brittle in their opinions and less able to listen to the other side. To be honest, this is a whole world issue with the rise of populism but I do think Haidt misses out on the bigger existential social malaise affecting most of the world with the rise of social media.

Overall, I think Haidt is doing great work and I look forward to seeing further works that builds upon his evidence led assumptions.

LINK- Utopia for Realists- Book Review

LINK- On And On And Colston ( Or, How We Kinda Sort of Learned to Talk About the Legacy of Colonialism and the British Empire)

LINK- ‘Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire’ LINK: Elden Ring- Videogames As Art

LINK- Toxic: Women, Fame and the Noughties- Book Review (and Some Thoughts)

LINK- Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Conquered the World- Book Review (and Personal Reflections)

LINK- The Rise of Retro Gaming During Covid

Hilda and Twig Hide From the Rain- Graphic Novel Review

February 16, 2025

Hilda fans, rejoice! While we may have said farewell to the television series for now, the magic of Hilda's world continues as Luke Pearson has released a new book in the series- his first in 5 years!

In this latest prequel graphic novel, Hilda and Twig live in the enchanted woods outside of Trollberg. When they find themselves caught in a sudden downpour, they seek shelter. They stumble upon a mysterious burial mound, where they encounter a group of quirky creatures who all share stories and speculations about the mound's history, Twig ventures outside and makes an extraordinary discovery: a giant, gentle white snake. The snake, it seems, is a guardian of the mound.. but what is it protecting?

Pearson's signature art style continues to change and evolve, and this new graphic novel is no exception with a stylized Cal Arts look, combined with a super-deformed chibi style. This, once again, brings a fresh and playful aesthetic to the series. Younger Hilda and Twig are absolutely adorable, and Twig's thought bubbles add a delightful layer of humor and insight.

If you're a fan of Hilda, you won't want to miss this latest adventure. Hilda and Twig Hide From the Rain is a charming and heartwarming tale that expands the lore of Hilda's world while introducing new creatures and mysteries. It's a perfect read for both young and old, and a testament to Pearson's enduring talent.

LINK- Hilda Season 1 Review

LINK- Hilda Season 2 Review

LINK- Hilda Season 3 Review

LINK- Hilda and the Mountain King- TV Movie Review

LINK- Hilda Comic Series Review

LINK- Gravity Falls Complete Series Review

LINK- Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated Complete Series 1 Review

LINK- Scooby Doo: Mystery Incorporated Series 2 Review

LINK- Ms Marvel Can Change the World

They Were Eleven- Cult Manga Review

February 13, 2025

I heard of this anime by chance when I fell down the YouTube rabbit hole and someone mentioned that this manga was an inspiration for the videogame Among Us. The creator on record said it was the part game Mafia and The Thing that inspired him but this anime is quite likely too - down to the teamwork and sci-fi setting. Intrigued, even though I don't really play the game, I thought I'd check it out as the premise sounded intriguing.

Centuries after humanity discovered warp drive, Cosmo Academy brings together a class of promising cadets from across the galaxy. Think Galaxy High, but with a twist. Ten cadets are assigned to a 53-day mission aboard a spaceship. However, eleven cadets arrive. Someone is an imposter, and their goal is sabotage. As the days tick by, tensions rise within the already fractious crew. Who is the saboteur? What are their motives? Can they be unmasked before it's too late?

Come on, this is an amazing whodunnit... in SPAAACE! (Imagine that in your best Tim Curry voice, a la Command and Conquer). This early 80s anime, based on a 70s manga by the legendary Moto Hagio, offers a deceptively simple yet compelling premise: who do you trust when your life is on the line? The 90-minute runtime is perfectly paced, building suspense and shifting your suspicions as you follow the investigation. The conclusion is satisfying, and the ending, while featuring the then-common (now cliché) montage of character futures, feels surprisingly fresh and fitting here.

We Are 11 isn't just a thrilling mystery; it also explores themes of prejudice, the difficulty of intercultural communication, and the fragile nature of trust. The character designs and animation, while clearly products of their time, have a certain retro charm.

I thoroughly enjoyed We Are 11 and highly recommend it. It's a quick, engaging watch that's well worth your time.

LINK- Love, Death + Robots- Season 1 Review

LINK- ‘Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire’

LINK- On And On And Colston ( Or, How We Kinda Sort of Learned to Talk About the Legacy of Colonialism and the British Empire)

LINK- ‘Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire’ LINK: Elden Ring- Videogames As Art

The Book of Horror: The Anatomy of Fear- Book Review

February 10, 2025

I love horror films as I find that the genre encapsulates so much in its broad church; it is many things to many people often reflecting societal anxieties, cultural shifts, and technological advancements. The genre offers a fascinating historical context for the scares as they are a product of their time.

The book is a hefty tome and the paper stock quality is great.

For example, the classic monster movies of the early 20th century dealt with fears of the unknown, reflecting a world grappling with rapid industrialization and scientific advancements. Then came the Cold War era, and suddenly we have anxieties about nuclear annihilation and the loss of individuality, which manifested in films about alien invasions and body snatchers. It's not just big, sweeping societal issues either as horror can also reflect more personal anxieties, like those surrounding family, relationships, and even our own bodies. The slasher films of the 1980s, for example, often played on anxieties about changing social norms and the breakdown of traditional family structures.

Most recently, we've had horror films based on the theme of technology as we're living in a world increasingly dependent on technology, and with that dependence comes a whole new set of anxieties.

It's fascinating how the horror genre constantly evolves to reflect our changing world and looking at this evolution, we have Matt Glasby's The Book of Horror: The Anatomy of Fear in Film to guide us. Glasby, a seasoned film journalist, brings a wealth of knowledge and a palpable passion for horror to this project, resulting in a book that's as informative as it is engaging.

The book is a meticulously crafted exploration of the genre, dissecting the very essence of fear on screen by looking at the core films he sees within the genre, starting chronologicalally from Psycho all the way to It: Chapter 2.

The structure is both logical and accessible, with a grading system based on dread, the unexpected and other key theme and a graph of the key moments. Glasby's writing style is clear and concise, avoiding academic jargon and technobabble while still maintaining a level of intellectual depth for cinephiles. He manages to be both informative and entertaining, making the book a pleasure to read even for casual horror fans.

Given the wide expanse of horror content out there, Glasby can not cover the entire genre but he does cast his net wide and the recommended viewing lists provide plenty of avenues for further exploration for those so inclined.

Overall, The Book of Horror: The Anatomy of Fear remains an essential addition to any horror fan's library. It's a beautifully designed, intelligently written, and thoroughly engaging exploration of the genre. Whether you're a seasoned aficionado or just beginning to explore the world of horror cinema, this book is sure to provide you with new insights and a deeper appreciation for the art of fear. It's a book that you'll likely return to again and again, discovering new details and perspectives with each reading.

LINK- Children of the Stones: Cult TV Series Review

LINK- Dead of Night: Cult TV Review

LINK- The Stone Tapes: Cult TV Review

LINK- Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Conquered the World- Book Review (and Personal Reflections)