The Quatermass Perpetual Book-Reading Blog

[Quatermass]

BOOK 58

Undertale Art Book by Toby Fox et al.

Undertale is a game that has captured the imagination of countless gamers worldwide. With a story that both embraces and subverts normal RPG tropes, and gameplay where you are encouraged to show mercy to your enemies rather than kill them, it has become something of a hit in the independent games sector. I recently ordered a copy of the Undertale Art Book, but would I enjoy it?

The Undertale Art Book is a guided tour by Toby Fox through the genesis of the game. Through artwork created by him, as well as contributors he asked for help, we get an insight into the genesis of this cult game. From ideas that never made it in, to the finished product, we see how the game came to be.

Books like this, as I have said before, are frequently a triumph of style over substance, and this one is little different. In fact, there’s frankly way more art than commentary, and I have to confess, I was left very much wanting. I wanted some more detailed discussion of the game’s origins and production. Instead, I was left with a lot of art and some small commentary.

That being said, the fact that this book exists at all is amazing. And what commentary is there is quite interesting, if somewhat informal. There’s certainly discussions of how certain things Toby Fox wanted were unable to be put in the game properly, as well as the development of the story’s themes and some of the characters. Plus, Toby Fox’s self-deprecating comments help, given the sometimes poor quality of his own artwork.

Overall, I had to enjoy this. It was a bit disappointing, as I expected more, but it was still a purchase I don’t regret.

***½

FIRST WORDS: Every video game has concept art...

LAST WORDS: Good luck!!

 

[Quatermass]

BOOK 59

One Piece East Blue: Volumes 4-5-6, by Eiichiro Oda.

Having begun my foray into the world of One Piece, and enjoyed it somewhat, I decided to continue with the next three volume omnibus. It concludes the introduction of Usopp, and brings in the new character of Sanji. But how well would this story go down?

Usopp’s constant lying about pirates attacking his village has come back to bite him when nobody believes him about a very real threat, not even his friend Kaya. For her butler, Klahadore, is treacherous, and is truly Captain Kuro, noted for a thousand plans. And his latest one will end with Kaya dead, along with the rest of the village, unless Luffy and his comrades team up with Usopp to stop Kuro’s Black Cat Pirates. But even after that, there’s no rest for the wicked, when the crew stops by the Baratie restaurant ship. Luffy gets roped into doing chores after inadvertently destroying part of it, but he soon spots a potential new member of his crew: the lecherous chef Sanji, who is as good a cook as he is a fighter. But Sanji doesn’t want to come with Luffy, Nami is about to make a choice in her loyalties, Zolo is about to bite off more than he can chew, and Baratie is about to come under attack by the infamous pirate Don Krieg…

Once more, One Piece is, like many shounen manga, full of more incident than actual story. Usopp and Luffy are still annoying, and the latter showing himself to be pretty stupid at times, and newcomer Sanji doesn’t seem much better. And the comedy seems to be on the nose at times.

And yet, in the end, it is enjoyable. Nami and Zolo get some character development, the latter especially during a brief but telling duel against infamous pirate ‘Hawk-Eye’ Mihawk. And Sanji, for all his annoying elements, does have some good points, as does his boss, ‘Red Shoes’ Zeff. And the villains of the two storylines shown in this omnibus volume, Kuro and Krieg, are interesting enough, even if they are a little gimmicky.

Overall, this volume of One Piece stays the course with the trend established by the first omnibus. Hopefully, it will pick up later…


***½


FIRST WORDS: Miss Kaya!

LAST WORDS: Heh heh...

 

[Quatermass]

BOOK 60

Field Guide to Kanto by Kari Fry et al.

I have to admit, the Pokémon games had a fairly big impact on me. Being the first RPG video games that I played, they and the anime series based on the games were part of my formative years. Which is why I ordered an unofficial guide to the Pokémon of the first generation games, albeit done almost as a natural history guide from Victorian times. But how would I enjoy it?

The Field Guide to Kanto is a guide to the 151 species of creature that inhabit the Kanto region. From behaviour to abilities and from ranges to evolutions, information of all kinds is presented here. Illustrated with zoology drawings, they illustrate the fascinating species of the region…

Okay, let’s be honest. Very little in this guide is new. In fact, to a Pokémon fan, there is very little new. It’s nowhere near the faux-natural history guide it could very well have been, with only a minimum of detail that is close to what is found in most official Pokémon guides and the in-game Pokédex. This makes it disappointingly insubstantial.

That being said, the presentation is beautiful, and while the art style may render some Pokémon a bit hard to recognise, it makes the Pokémon look a bit more realistic. This isn’t necessarily a good thing, but for this book at least, it is. And the writing style, while rarely writing anything new, does manage to have a natural history tone to it that matches the artwork. In fact, despite its insubstantial nature and its habit of retreading old ground, the truth is, it is still somewhat enjoyable.

Overall, while rather interesting for a short time, the Field Guide to Kanto retreads old ground, its saving graces being its presentation and writing style. A shame, really, as it could have been so much better.

***

FIRST WORDS: This is a guide to inspire you to explore and enjoy the creatures that inhabit the lands of the Kanto region.

LAST WORDS: Please refer to this diagram responsibly to aid in your ventures in the Kanto region.

 

[Quatermass]

BOOK 61

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Part 1: Phantom Blood volume 1, by Hirohiko Araki.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is one of those series you can’t help but hear of if you’re enough of an anime fan. Indeed, the series itself defies description, with a common response to the question ‘What is JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure?’ is ‘yes’. But I decided to dip my toes into this long-running series. But how would it turn out?

Victorian England. As the impoverished Dario Brando breathes his last, his son, Dio, is filled with an unspeakable ambition. Adopted by the Joestar family, Dio sets out to wage psychological warfare on the heir to the family, the innocent and good-natured Jonathan Joestar. What begins is a war of wits, one which Jonathan tries not to let Dio win. But Dio’s ambitions reach to the world itself, and an ancient mask may hold the key to Dio’s ascendancy…

This manga series is perhaps a little too over the top. Normally, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing in manga, but it does clash somewhat with the artistic style. And I have to admit, it’s rather harrowing to watch Jonathan go through the crap he does, engineered by Dio and treated rather poorly at times by even his own father. The story itself doesn’t grab me enough, and the art style is a bit bizarre to someone growing up on more recent manga.

That being said, there is much to be said about the story anyway. Jonathan and Dio are pretty interesting characters, if only by dint of their sheer hamminess. And there’s certainly a thrill at having a Japanese manga author and artist try to do a period drama set in Victorian England, even if it takes a fantastic twist.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, while not actually bad and certainly mildly interesting, wasn’t enough to grab my interest wholeheartedly. A shame, that…


***


FIRST WORDS: BLOOD IS LIFE!

LAST WORDS: WA HA HA HA HAAA!!

 

[Quatermass]

BOOK 62

DRRR!! volume 1, by Ryohgo Narita.

I had originally read the manga adaptation of DRRR!!, or Durarara!!, as it’s better known, but I found myself going for the original light novel. Having bought it, I hoped that it would provide a fresh angle on the story. Time would tell…

The Ikebukuro district of Tokyo, a gathering place for the strange and wonderful. The gang known as the Dollars, the Yagiri Pharmaceuticals company, and amoral information broker Izaya Orihara engage in various illicit activities. So too does a headless biker, actually a female Dullahan called Celty, who searches for her missing head. Into this strange milieu wanders high school student Mikado Ryuugamine, a seeming innocent abroad who has come to Ikebukuro in search of the unusual. And the thing is, he may just get it…

Let’s face it, this story can be a bit too weird for people, given that it involves very twisted love stories, including incest, stalkers, and headless horsewomen. And to be frank, it’s a pretty short work, over too quickly for my liking. I would have wanted it to go on further, and with such a large cast of characters, it doesn’t really give that much room for development.

That being said, it’s an intriguing book with intriguing characters, with enough twists in the plot to be satisfying. What’s more, the vast array of characters are, for the most part, very interesting. It certainly promises much for future volumes in the series.

Overall, I enjoyed the novel of DRRR!! Maybe I can read on in the series…

****


FIRST WORDS: This is a twisted story.

LAST WORDS: In the midst of that empty space--the shadow smiled.

 

[Quatermass]

BOOK 63

A Certain Magical Index volume 1, by Chuya Kogino, based on the light novel by Kazuma Kamachi.


I hear a lot about various franchises that I should give a go, and one of them is A Certain Magical Index. A light novel adapted into an anime and a manga, it also has at least one spinoff series. But would it grab me?

Academy City, a central hub in the research of superpowers, is a shining light of education. But Touma Kamijou isn’t one of the lucky ones. In fact, quite the opposite: his right hand has an ability to nullify superpowers…at the cost of making his luck abysmal. He’s trying to avoid trouble, but when what appears to be a nun literally falls into his life, well, trouble has just found him. Her name is Index, she has thousands of spellbooks crammed into her mind, and someone is after her…

Okay, let’s face it. This story has a cliché start (unlucky boy, girl literally falls into his life), and the first volume, while admittedly not allowing for much in the way of development, doesn’t really grab me as much as I had hoped it would. It just seems to lack substance.

That being said, there’s some neat concepts involved. Plus, there’s some pretty good humour. And one of the fight scenes actually does have a creative ending. I just wish there was more.

Overall, I can’t say that the first volume of A Certain Magical Index was promising at all. I wish there was more to it, and I might give it a go, but so far, not so good…


***


FIRST WORDS: What the heck!?

LAST WORDS: Hee-hee…I think I just got a little…dizzy.

 

[Quatermass]

BOOK 64

Doctor Who: A Brief History of Time Lords by Steven Tribe.

Well, another year, another Doctor Who spinoff book that tries to be a definitive guide to one thing or another. A Brief History of Time Lords treads already well-trodden ground. But would it be anything new?

A Brief History of Time Lords is an irreverent history written by a would-be historian, one who knows many of the foibles and follies of the Time Lords, as well as their wayward renegade children. From the beginnings of Time Lord society to their survival beyond the Time War, this chronicle has it all. There are even transcripts from significant events in Gallifrey’s history, events that shaped Gallifrey, and the universe as well…

Okay, let’s face it. Books like these are generally a triumph of style over substance (as I say so wearily often), and this one, well, it’s really designed for the younger Whovian just getting into the series. It’s short and frankly lacking in some substance that could have gone into it.

That being said, it’s presented quite well, with a number of lavish illustrations and photos from the series. On top of that, it’s good to see that it shows parts not only from the classic series, but also a few of the spinoff media. It’s certainly good for a beginner fan, but for a seasoned Whovian, one wants a bit more substance.

Overall, while not bad, I found A Brief History of Time Lords somewhat wanting. Shame, really.


***½

FIRST WORDS: Gallifrey lies in the constellation of Kasterborous, within a parsec or two of the centre of the galaxy, its binary location from Galactic Zero Centre being 10-0-11-00: 02.

LAST WORDS: (Not recorded due to spoilers)

 

[Quatermass]

BOOK 65

Pokémon Adventures volume 1, by Hidenori Kusaka.

I have to admit, choosing to read this book was done on something of a whim for me. After all, I had grown out of Pokémon, more or less. But I decided to give this manga series, adapted from the games, a go. But was it a good decision?

Red is a young boy living out of Pallet Town, a would-be Pokémon trainer. With his loyal Polywhirl by his side, Red sets out on a journey that will see him catch Pokémon and befriend them. But between Gym battles, his rival Blue, and the machinations of Team Rocket, he’ll have his work cut out for him…

Let’s be honest, this manga is definitely meant for kids. Then again, doing a Pokémon story pretty much guarantees it. It’s a story that bounces from incident to incident, with simple characterisation and humour with only the barest hints of an overarching story.

And yet, I find myself more favourably disposed to this than even the anime. The humour does give more than a few chuckles, Team Rocket is portrayed as both sinister and (relatively) competent, and it actually has an air of verisimilitude that the anime lacks. It helps that the story is very different to the anime, and there is a more overarching story this time. It was certainly entertaining, despite the lack of true substance.

Overall, I have to admit, I did enjoy the first volume of Pokémon Adventures. Childish, simple, and shallow, it nonetheless entertained me…

***½

FIRST WORDS: In a place called Pallet Town…

LAST WORDS: Let’s roll!

 

[Quatermass]

BOOK 66

Baccano! volume 1: The Rolling Bootlegs, by Ryohgo Narita.


After reading the first volume of Durarara!!, I decided to try and read Ryohgo Narita’s other series, Baccano!, named for the Italian word for turmoil. Set in the 1930s, during Prohibition, it mixes crime, comedy, and alchemy of a very literal sort. But I had to wonder, would I enjoy it? Or had I made a mistake?

In New York, 2002, a Japanese tourist is mugged. Directed to the local branch of the Camorra, the Neapolitan crime organisation, the tourist is regaled with a strange tale from the Thirties by one of its key members. It’s the tale of people who are brought together by circumstances and connections. Like Firo Prochainezo, a young former supervisor at a Camorra casino who is promoted in the organisation, Isaac and Miria, a pair of ditzy thieves, Szilard Quates, a vicious immortal trying to recreate an elixir of immortality, and his underling, the beautiful Homunculus known as Ennis. Between alchemy, turf wars and bootlegged alcohol, it’s sure to be a time of turmoil…

If there’s any complaint about the first volume of Baccano!, it’s its length. It’s a short novel that doesn’t really give much time for plot or character development. That leaves the read a little dissatisfied in the end.

Of course, those are minor quibbles. In truth, this book is just about perfect in every other respect, entertaining with the right mix of humour, thrills and pathos given the subject matter. It certainly feels less eclectic than Durarara!!, and just feels genuine and more entertaining.

Overall, I have to say I was impressed by the first volume of Baccano! I definitely will be returning to the series…


*****


FIRST WORDS: Why did things turn out like this?

LAST WORDS: (Not recorded due to spoilers.)

 

[Quatermass]

I meant to post these earlier, but as the BBS was down, well...

It also seems I have to re-post my review for Fate/Zero volume 5, so I\'ll be reposting it, and thus posting the three reviews at once, and the timer I\'ve had before is reset.

BOOK 67

Fate/Zero volume 5, by Shinjiro, based on the novels by Gen Urobochi and the Fate/Stay Night franchise by Type-Moon.

I finally managed to get the fifth volume of Fate/Zero. But how would it continue the story from previous volumes? Well, let’s find out…

Kiritsugu Emiya and his team are being assaulted on all fronts. Arturia faces off against the deranged Caster, with unexpected help from Lancer, while Lancer’s Master, the supremely arrogant Kayneth Lord El-Melloi Archibald, hunts down Kiritsugu within the Einzbern Castle. And while fleeing the castle, Irisviel and Maiya sense the approach of Kirei Kotomine, the Master of Assassin, and a man Kiritsugu fears. How will this three-way clash resolve? Can Kiritsugu make it through the night with his Servant, his wife, his assistant…and even his life?

This volume is a far more action-oriented volume than most, with little story. And the action itself is divided on three fronts, as noted in the synopsis above. This leads to the volume being somewhat diffuse, with little actual story.

That being said, the action is quite exciting, with particular praise going to the cat and mouse game between Kiritsugu and Kayneth, the latter using a mobile blob of magical mercury to attack, while Kiritsugu uses an anti-magic bullet. More is given on Lancer’s background, with scenes of Diarmuid’s life and his downfall being shown, as well as showing dissension in Kayneth’s camp in the form of his fiancée, Sola-Ui. We also have more glimpses into Kiritsugu’s past and personality, unflattering though the latter is.

Overall, while not the best of volumes, this one is certainly a good continuation. I hope it keeps it up…


****


FIRST WORDS: Fool...

LAST WORDS: (Not recorded due to spoilers)



BOOK 68

Guardians of the Galaxy: The Ultimate Guide to the Cosmic Outlaws, by Nick Jones.

I have to say, I enjoyed the Marvel Cinematic Universe version of Guardians of the Galaxy. It was a fun romp of a film. So it was curiosity that led me to read the Ultimate Guide on the comics version of the team, in its various iterations. But how would it go?

This book purports to be the ultimate guide to the various Marvel superheroes who have made up, at one time or another, the Guardians of the Galaxy. From the first tales set in the 31st century, all the way to the modern day, it examines characters and storylines key to these heroes. From Groot to Gamora, from Vance Astro to Star Lord, it intends to be a guide to everything…

I’ll be perfectly honest, though. I still found this book considerably lacking. Books like these, as I often say, are a triumph of style over substance, and this is no exception, with the style winning out considerably. It didn’t really interest me or entertain me as much as it should have, in my opinion, and I am somewhat disappointed.

That being said, the book is VERY well presented. In addition, what information was given in it was interesting enough for me to go through it. I just wish it was more substantial than it was.

Overall, this book was disappointing. It was okay, but it should have been so much more…

***

FIRST WORDS: You’ve got to put a team together to save the galaxy.

LAST WORDS: (Not recorded due to spoilers)


BOOK 69

What If? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe.

Randall Munroe is a former roboticist working for NASA, but perhaps his best known work is for the webcomic xkcd. In addition, he did a blog called What If?, giving serious answers to ridiculous (and sometimes disturbing) hypothetical questions. Extracts from the blog with additions has been compiled into a book form, one I stumbled across. But would I like it?

What If? takes bizarre hypothetical questions and strives to look at the consequences seriously and scientifically. From what would happen to a batter trying to hit a baseball flying at relativistic speed, to how many Lego bricks it would take to create an Atlantic-spanning bridge, it looks at the bizarre and strange through a lens of scientific inquiry. In short, scientific humour from the absurd.

Leaving aside some of the really bizarre nature of the questions involved, some of the dark comedy in this book does get a bit on the nose. Admittedly, dark comedy is one of those things of variable humour to people, but there are times when it crosses, or at least sits on, the line. And the tone seems facile, and sometimes, the lines of scientific inquiry are brought to absurd and tangential conclusions.

That being said, it’s actually both funny and refreshingly intelligent for all that. I do have to wonder at the sanity of some of the questions, even those answered. The stick figure cartoons fit the tone of the book quite well. And it is enjoyable for what it is, applying serious thought to absolutely ludicrous questions.

Overall, I enjoyed What If? Both facile and serious, it’s a good book for those of a scientific mindset to chuckle over…

****

FIRST WORDS: I was born in the United States, which means that, as a child, I learned to think in feet, pounds, (US) gallons, and degrees Fahrenheit.

LAST WORDS: And thank you to my wife, for teaching me how to be tough, teaching me how to be brave, and teaching me about birds.

 

[Quatermass]

BOOK 70

Sekirei volume 1 and 2, by Sakurako Gokurakuin.

I have to admit, there are some things which are very much guilty pleasures. And while I’m generally not a fan of the harem genre of manga and anime, there are times when I feel like indulging. Sekirei, a science fiction harem series with a strong action bent, is very much a guilty pleasure, as I discovered when reading it…

The year: 2020. The place: Shinto Teito, the capital of Japan, all but owned by MBI, a massive corporation. Minato Sahashi is a bit of a loser, a young man who has failed his university entrance exams twice. He despairs of ever having a girlfriend…until one literally falls out of the sky: Musubi, being pursued by two others with special powers. Musubi is a Sekirei, one of 108 aliens who have been released to find their destined partners…and with a kiss, Musubi seals a bond between her and Minato. But the Sekirei Plan, instituted by the maniacal Hiroto Minaka, CEO of MBI, is a secret battle royale between the Sekirei, and between finding a new place to live, enemy Sekirei, and other problems, Minato has his work cut out for him…

Okay, let’s get the obvious out of the way. This series is blatantly about fanservice. Most of the female characters (especially the Sekirei) are ridiculously well-endowed, it isn’t funny, and there’s plenty of lurid shots. The plot is basically an excuse to have beautiful women (and a few males) fight to the end, and there’s more than a few disturbing elements here and there.

That being said, for what it is, Sekirei was actually quite enjoyable. The consequences of the severing of the bonds is actually discussed with some of the gravitas needed, and the comedy actually manages to hit the right notes most of the time. The characters are also mostly interesting or endearing, a near-miracle, given how annoying or off-putting they could have been given the situation.

While not stellar in quality, Sekirei manages to overcome its many shortcomings to be entertaining, showing that there is some small substance beneath the fanservice. Time will tell if that will continue…


***½


FIRST WORDS: One hundred and eight Sekirei have been released.

LAST WORDS: Wh-why me too…?

 

[Quatermass]

BOOK 71

Inside HBO’s Game of Thrones: Seasons 3 & 4 by CA Taylor.

If there is ever a TV show that is a good example of how to adapt a book series, it would be Game of Thrones. Derived from George RR Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire books, Game of Thrones has become a worldwide phenomenon. I have read a making-of book for the first two series, and now, I come to a continuation…

Inside HBO’s Game of Thrones: Seasons 3 & 4 takes a look at the making of the HBO epic series. It examines many key shocking and seminal moments within the show. Dotted throughout with interviews with cast and crew, it purports to be a definitive look at the making of the series.

I have to say, as is frequently the case with books like this, it’s a triumph of style over substance. It’s not quite as comprehensive as one would like, and some of the background information would be known to those who have watched the show or read the books. To tell the truth, it is a little disappointing.

But the presentation of the book is pretty damned good, to say the least. Not only that, but what information is given here is quite good, with the cast and crew interviews giving some insight into the show, as well as the characters the actors play. Informative and enjoyable.

Overall, while not quite at the highest standard it could have been, this book did manage to do pretty well. Here’s to the next few series of Game of Thrones…


****

FIRST WORDS: With every great story there is a beginning.

LAST WORDS: Roose Bolton will get his somehow, but you’ve got to watch out for Hot Pie.

 

[Quatermass]

BOOK 72

Fairy Tail Master’s Edition 1, by Hiro Mashima.

I’d started reading Fairy Tail long ago, but never got beyond the first volume, if only because I had my eye on other stories. However, on a whim, I bought the first Master’s Edition, an oversized omnibus of the first five volumes of the manga, as I find manga like this to be better perused in omnibus editions. But would my intuition be on the ball?

Fairy Tail: one of the most famous…and destructive magic guilds in all of the magical world of Earthland. Lucy Heartfilia has ambitions to join this guild, and after a fortunate chance encounter with Natsu Dragneel, a powerful wizard who nonetheless lacks in social graces, she gets her chance. But between jobs to retrieve books from greedy landowners, struggling to stop a murderous rival guild, and saving a cursed island, Lucy has her work cut out for her, especially surviving the eccentric personalities of the hotheaded Natsu, the belligerent ice wizard Gray, and the cool and collected Erza…

Like many shounen manga, Fairy Tail takes a while to find its feet, story-wise. Hell, a lot of this stuff (beyond ‘enemy of the week’ scenarios) seem to be foreshadowing for later story arcs. And to be frank, Natsu irritates me more often than not, being yet another idiot shounen manga protagonist. Not to mention something Erza Scarlet does later on doesn’t really endear me to her character, which is a shame.

I have to confess, the blip aside, Erza, along with Lucy and other characters are all fairly interesting. Even Natsu, annoying though he is, has enough good points to remain interesting. And Hiro Mashima’s creativity in thinking up new magic abilities for his characters to use has to be commended. The artwork also works pretty damned well, and the storylines, while yet to move beyond ‘enemy of the week’ style ones, nonetheless work well, with a mostly well-done mix of humour and action.

Overall, while not great, Fairy Tail seems to be pretty good for a shounen manga series. Here’s hoping the next lot keeps up to standard…

****


FIRST WORDS: Ultear!

LAST WORDS: (Not recorded due to spoilers)

 

[Quatermass]

BOOK 73

DRRR!! volume 2, by Ryohgo Narita.

Having read the first volume of DRRR!!, or Durarara!!, I found myself enjoying it enough to get the second volume of the light novel series. But would I enjoy that next volume? Let’s see…

Ikebukuro is in the grip of fear. A mysterious assailant attacks people with a knife or a sword, and Celty, the Dullahan courier, is attacked herself. As she struggles to get to the bottom of things, Shizuo Heiwajima struggles with his violent urges, while withdrawn schoolgirl Anri Sonohara becomes ever more uncertain of herself, tormented by her parents’ deaths five years ago. Thrown into this is a mysterious troll who is spamming the local chat rooms with bizarre messages of love…a troll called ‘Saika’ or ‘sin song’. But Saika is actually a legendary cursed sword, a sword that infects people with its insanity, and soon, its sights are set on Shizuo Heiwajima, a threat that even the strongest man in Ikebukuro may not be able to overcome…

Again, part of the problem with this story is that it is all together too short. There’s not really that much meat on the bones of the plot. And the conclusion, while actually quite neat, doesn’t quite feel right to me, and I wish Nasujima got more of a comeuppance. And it feels like Narita is trying too hard to put in foreshadowing of a future volume.

That being said, it was an enjoyable and strange work, with the story focusing partially on one of my favourite characters from the franchise, Shizuo Heiwajima. We get more insight into his past, along with that of the rather tragically stoic and introverted Anri, who hides a surprisingly dark secret. Not to mention we have some great action scenes, like Shizuo using a van door (one he tears from the van with his bare hands) to attack one of Saika’s victims.

Overall, I did enjoy this volume of DRRR!! I’m just not sure whether the next volume will be to my liking…

****


FIRST WORDS: Her love was so unbearably creaky, so unsalvageably rusted, and while so apparently deep in its fixation- it was in fact ignorant, foolish, and shallow in the extreme.

LAST WORDS: Letting her shadow feel a moment’s peace.

 

[Quatermass]

BOOK 74

My Hero Academia volume 1: Izuku Midoriya: Origin, by Hidenori Kusaka.

Another manga, another shounen series. My Hero Academia seemed to be an interesting twist on superhero stories, so I thought I’d give it a whirl. But would I be disappointed?

80% of the world’s population have a superpower, known as a Quirk. The remaining 20% are known as the Quirkless. Izuku Midoriya is teased and tormented because, despite his Quirkless nature, he desires nothing more than to be a superhero like his idol, All Might. But a chance encounter and a reckless attempt to save his classmate, the bullying Katsuki Bakugo, from a supervillain brings him to All Might’s attention. All Might needs a successor, for he can’t use his power, One for All, for as much as he used to, thanks to an enemy attack. He trains Midoriya to be ready to start using his power. But will Midoriya make it to UA High School, especially with a power that can wreck the unprepared body?

Like all shounen manga, this series seems to be more about action and incident than proper plot, being fairly thin on the latter. Okay, this actually doesn’t turn out too badly in a series about superheroes, but even so, the initial chapters of the story seem pedestrian and also-ran, with Aizawa seeming a bit too much like Kakashi from Naruto. In addition, Bakugo does not inspire any sympathy, and I wish he would go die in a hole, and why Midoriya even looks upon him remotely well is beyond me. Plus, this seems too familiar with the whole ‘educating superpowered teens’ trope that seems to pervade this kind of manga.

But despite this, the story is actually quite good and uplifting. The shounen stock morals of tenacity and hard work actually work well in the context of a superhero story, and there’s considerable thought put into how society works with superheroes. What’s more, Midoriya is endearing, unlike many shounen protagonists are initially, and he reminds me of Yugi from Yu-Gi-Oh! in both his relative weakness and yet his strength of morality. All Might is also a great character, both as a spoof of the Golden and Silver Age superhero, as well as an affectionate homage to the same. And a couple of Midoriya’s fellow classmates, Ochako and Tenya, look promising.

Overall, while its flaws and short duration do drag it down somewhat, I have to confess to enjoying the first volume of My Hero Academia. It’s a wonderful lovesong to superheroes that manages to do more than make them darker and edgier…

***½

FIRST WORDS: People…


LAST WORDS: (Not recorded due to spoilers)

 

[Quatermass]

BOOK 75

Doctor Who: Impossible Worlds: A 50-Year Treasury of Art and Design by Stephen Nicholas and Mike Tucker.

Once more, I come to a big Doctor Who reference book, hoping that it would be a good one. Perhaps a collection of concept art would be interesting. Well, let’s find out…

Doctor Who: Impossible Worlds is a collection of concept art from across the series. From its inception in the 1960s all the way to the Peter Capaldi stories, it shows how designers and special effects people worked together to create aliens, alien worlds, and all sorts of spaceships and gadgets. We see some of the strangest images ever put to paper as the designers realise what is on the page for the screen…

Okay, let’s face it. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: books like this are triumphs of style over substance. And this book is filled with more artwork than information. Which would be good for an aficionado of concept art, true, but there’s less information than I would like. In addition, what there is from the classic series is sorely lacking.

And yet, the fact that there is any art from the classic series at all is something to celebrate. What’s more, the information that does come through is at least interesting, and this book is very well-presented. And there’s a lot of intriguing artwork that you wish was actually realised for the TV show. I just wish there was more.

Overall, while not great, this book is certainly a well-presented tour that would be of interest to Whovians. A shame there wasn’t more substance, but what can you do?


***½

FIRST WORDS: Doctor Who is a designer’s dream.

LAST WORDS: And finally, to all the men and women who have worked in the various Doctor Who design and construction departments over the years, and who have played such a huge part in making the show such a staggering success.

 

[Quatermass]

BOOK 76

Doctor Who: Heralds of Destruction by Paul Cornell et al.

Normally, I wouldn’t read two books of the same franchise concurrently, but I decided to make an exception here. Another Doctor Who graphic novel, a recent one, and yet based on the classic series…namely the Pertwee era. But how well would it do?

Sometime after defeating Omega and regaining his ability to travel through time and space, the Doctor hasn’t re-embarked on his travels. For now, he is unaware that the Master is keeping an eye on him. But when a mysterious attack of robotic monsters occurs in a village, the Doctor finds out that this invasion is not what it seems, especially when his previous self turns up, apparently sent by the Time Lords once more. But as the Doctor struggles to contain this new threat, he needs to find out who sent these beings. It may be the Master. Or maybe the man claiming to be the Second Doctor isn’t even a Time Lord at all, but another face from the Doctor’s past, and an enemy of the world to boot…

Okay, let’s be blunt. This comic series doesn’t have much of a huge plot to begin with. In fact, it’s kind of thin on the ground. I’m not that much of a fan of the Pertwee/UNIT stories either, and this story is crammed with a ridiculous amount of fanservice to that era.

And yet, the story, written by Paul Cornell, one of the best writers of Doctor Who in prose or (recently) on the screen, is a damned good one. Despite the thin plot, it’s an enjoyable one, with foreshadowing of later events in the series, a brilliant twist in who the villain is (who will be a familiar face to those who know of the classic series’ most recent found episodes), and great, on-point characterisation of the cast, making it feel like a story from the time. In short, it’s a rollicking good time.

I have to admit to enjoying Heralds of Destruction. Despite the thin plot and blatant pandering to fans, it was a fun romp.

****½

FIRST WORDS: The Fragrant Wayfarer Restaurant, Ladbroke Grove.

LAST WORDS: (Not recorded due to spoilers)

 

[Quatermass]

BOOK 77

Further Adventures In Search of Perfection: Reinventing Kitchen Classics, by Heston Blumenthal.

I have now all but completed my collection of Heston Blumenthal books with the second tie-in book to his BBC series In Search of Perfection. But would the book be any good? Let’s find out…

Further Adventures In Search of Perfection is a tie-in book to the TV series of the same name, a sequel to the first series. In it, Heston Blumenthal once more explores the history and ingredients making up eight key dishes. In doing so, he strives to create his own definitive version of these dishes…

Many of the same problems and praise that I have with the first book are the same again for this one. The sense of wonder from his more substantial cookbooks isn’t quite there, and the anecdotes, numerous as they are, seem rather dry by comparison. This seems partly due to the presentation, and perhaps, in retrospect, this was probably partly Heston not quite getting the grasp of writing his books until after this, as the books of his I enjoy most were written after this one.

This isn’t to say that this book isn’t a good one. Far from it, the anecdotes are still quite interesting, as is the exploration of the culinary arts and the science involved. I just wish there was more wonder to it, though that’s probably me spoiled on his earlier works.

Overall, this book was a good one. I just wish there was more…

****


FIRST WORDS: While I was in Washington DC filming the new series of In Search of Perfection, I came upon a food stall with a sign that really captured the spirit of the programmes: THE CHILI IS NOT READY YET!!!

LAST WORDS: Without them, Further Adventures in Search of Perfection couldn’t have happened.

Incidentally, the typo in 'chilli' above was in the book, a photo of a sign.

 

[Quatermass]

BOOK 78

Five Nights at Freddy’s: The Freddy Files by Scott Cawthorn.

While I’m not particularly fond of horror games, there’s some that I do play. However, Five Nights at Freddy’s and its sequels have never quite appealed to me, relying on jump scares more than full horror, so I’ve never played them. But the lore of the games fascinated me, so when a guidebook to the games and their lore came out, I decided to avail myself of them…

Five Nights at Freddy’s: The Freddy Files is a guidebook to the famous game series created by Scott Cawthorn. In it, not only strategies to the games are discussed, but also the lore of the series, and theories posited by the fans. It also includes a look at the novel series based on the games, giving an insight into one of the most terrifying franchises of all time…

The book is not a particularly substantial one. In fact, let’s face it, it’s pretty slender, though given that it’s barely over a hundred and twenty pages, this isn’t surprising. The subject matter isn’t for everyone, given both the horror of the games and the screenshots. And for those looking for more answers than questions about the lore of the franchise are going to be sorely disappointed.

That being said, the book is very well-presented for what it is, with glossy design and great, if disturbing, artwork. What’s more, what lore and theories are discussed within this are actually quite fascinating, if bloody macabre and horrifying. In fact, I would have enjoyed it more if it was more filled with lore and theories than the guides.

Overall, while rather insubstantial and considerably disturbing, this book was still interesting. Just hope I don’t get nightmares…

***½

FIRST WORDS: It’s the game that launched a million screams.

LAST WORDS: Sweet dreams.

 

[Quatermass]

BOOK 79

High School DxD volume 1, by Hiroji Mishima, based on the light novels by Ichiei Ishibumi.

There are many guilty pleasures in the realm of manga and anime. And one of the most egregious is High School DxD, a light novel series that combines the supernatural with a harem comedy. But would I enjoy it?

Issei Hyoudou is an unrepentant pervert with an ambition to gather a harem. But even so, he couldn’t so much as get a girlfriend, until recently. Said girlfriend, however, impaled him on a spear of light, left him to die, and erased herself from the memories of everyone else. Issei soon learns he was revived by Rias Gremory, a famously beautiful student at his school…and who is secretly a high-born Devil. And what’s more, Issei is now a Devil himself, and Rias’ servant. But even as Issei’s new life begins, it already has complications, especially when he helps out a girl who should be an automatic enemy of Devils, a young nun called Asia Argento…

Okay, let’s face it. High School DxD has an excuse of a plot for a lot of suggestive and outright sexualised things. It’s unrepentant in its perversion, much like the main protagonist, and the artwork has a disturbing tendency to linger on breasts and underwear of the teenaged protagonists. If it didn’t, it wouldn’t drag down the score as much as it did.

That being said, High School DxD is not without its charms. The characters are actually interesting, even if a few are stereotypical, and Issei manages to stay on the right side of annoying, if only barely. The lore of the series is pretty good too.

Overall, while not truly abysmal, High School DxD is frankly too fanservice heavy and too plot-lite to be of any true interest. A shame, really.

**½

FIRST WORDS: Hey, Issei-kun.

LAST WORDS: (Not recorded due to spoilers)