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scans_daily2024-04-16 08:44 am
icon_uk) wrote in scans_daily2024-04-16 08:44 am
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Mod Post: Off-Topic Tuesday
In the comments to these weekly posts (and only these posts), it's your chance to go as off topic as you like.
Talk about non-comics stuff, thread derail, and just generally chat among yourselves.
The intent of these posts is to chat and have some fun and, sure, vent a little as required. Reasoned debate is fine, as always, but if you have to ask if something is going over the line, think carefully before posting please.
Normal board rules about conduct and behaviour still apply, of course.
It's been suggested that, if discussing spoilers for recent media events, it might be advisable to consider using the rot13 method to prevent other members seeing spoilers in passing.
The world situation is the world situation. If you're following the news, you know it as much as I do, if you're not, then there are better sources than me.
In the US, a former President has become the first to face criminal charges in court.
The current awful UK Prime Minister is ploughing ahead with his Rwanda deportation plan, and our legendarily awful last PM (No not that one, the other one, no, the OTHER other one, the one outlasted by a lettuce) is proving herself to be legendarily awful in entirely new dimensions of awfulness.
At the other end of the scale:
It's been announced that Season 5 will be the last for "Star Trek: Lower Decks" (though there's a hint or two they might try another network), but that "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" is confirmed for a Season 4.
Finally, a cartoon gets a live action prequel I can get behind!
And the voice of Shadow in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has apparently been confirmed as being Xrnah Errirf. (If you hover over the link you can read who it is in the linked headline)
Talk about non-comics stuff, thread derail, and just generally chat among yourselves.
The intent of these posts is to chat and have some fun and, sure, vent a little as required. Reasoned debate is fine, as always, but if you have to ask if something is going over the line, think carefully before posting please.
Normal board rules about conduct and behaviour still apply, of course.
It's been suggested that, if discussing spoilers for recent media events, it might be advisable to consider using the rot13 method to prevent other members seeing spoilers in passing.
The world situation is the world situation. If you're following the news, you know it as much as I do, if you're not, then there are better sources than me.
In the US, a former President has become the first to face criminal charges in court.
The current awful UK Prime Minister is ploughing ahead with his Rwanda deportation plan, and our legendarily awful last PM (No not that one, the other one, no, the OTHER other one, the one outlasted by a lettuce) is proving herself to be legendarily awful in entirely new dimensions of awfulness.
At the other end of the scale:
It's been announced that Season 5 will be the last for "Star Trek: Lower Decks" (though there's a hint or two they might try another network), but that "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" is confirmed for a Season 4.
Finally, a cartoon gets a live action prequel I can get behind!
And the voice of Shadow in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has apparently been confirmed as being Xrnah Errirf. (If you hover over the link you can read who it is in the linked headline)
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So this is some concept art for the first few pages, which will be setting up one of our main guys, Chuck Clay/Captain Speed, a speedster who is now retired and trying to enjoy a nice, peaceful life. But first we have to set up what his life used to be like, so this is him involved in a battle with, y'know, the forces of evil.
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You know it's odd. Some parts felt really conclusive, others to create the feeling that history will keep on going even after the show stops, while other parts seemed to set up spin-offs that didn't happen.
I know the behind the scenes reasons why but it's funny Sheridan didn't invite his ex-wife to his Going Away Party.
I read Minor Threats I guess it was okay. It just really annoyed me that blurb described it as "Sin City MEETS Watchmen MEETS The Boys". Like they didn't even have the decency to include a less mainstream story to try and look more alternative.
(I guess the cover had a quote by Neil Gaiman which compared it to some other comics, but I'm not sure I trust him after Rebo and Zooty)
Watched the first episode of The Guy From Rouge One. it's alright. They've clearly established him as a member of the local community so it's going to be a real shame when they all die in a few episodes.
oh they said 'brothel'
There's clearly a racial aspect to him being shakedown by security guards, but they use generic Star Wars insults rather than real slurs which I feel undercut things slightly. (anyway tie-in media has established the Empire as being ethically diverse and accepting of different sexualities and genders)
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-The Apothecary Diaries and Seventh Time Loop are the only two titles I can honestly recommend. Both have very detailed, gorgeous animation and complex character and set designs that are a delight to look at. Both are also rather calm stories about very intelligent girls who get unwillingly mixed into high court politics and catch the eye of a royal. The Apothecary Diaries takes place in an Imperial China inspired setting and is more realistic, while Seventh Time Loop takes place in a setting inspired by preindustrial Europe and has minor fantasy elements. They are like two sides of the same coin and can theoretically coexist in the same universe if you like the idea. I genuinely enjoyed both.
-Another category is time fillers, which are anime that I watched while doing something else. They were overall nice if you are into very specific niches, but not very strong on their own terms. Cherry Magic is a sweet, slow burn gay romance with beautiful character designs and a fantastic realism feel. If you liked Yuri on Ice, you will like this anime. Mr. Villain’s Day Off is a sweet fantasy/sci-fi iyashikei, a slice of life featuring a villain who is a surprisingly nice guy despite wanting to conquer the Earth. Some gags are magnificent. Villainess Level 99 is a pretty point by point reborn-as-a-villainess story, and brings nothing new to the genre, though the characterisation of stoic main character differs a lot from the typical genki girl. Gushing Over Magical Girls is a magical girl/ superpowers themed lesbian BDSM softcore pornography with surprisingly solid plot. I watched it from bile fascination, but came to genuinely be interested in the last few episodes.
This season I am only interested in Whisper Me a Love Song, a romantic story between two high school girls, one of whom is in a school band. It sounds really sweet. I don’t know if I’ll watch the newest season of Black Butler, as it is adapting an arc I am not too fond of. If you know any airing or recently finished anime that you like, you can recommend it to me. :) Speaking of Black Butler, in the newest volume I was delighted to see again a character that haven’t appeared in well over a decade, and whose presumed death was a sour point that caused me to drop the series when I was originally reading it. I’m so glad that this character is back, and their return may lead to an important plot thread that that dropped long ago being picked up, and I can’t wait to see what happens!
I have a very long backlog of American comics I wanted to read but I am constantly feeling too tired to do so. Last few weeks have been very difficult for me due to extreme volume of work (and to a lesser extent renovation of the house and garden after the earthquake, but that was just a lot of minor damage and more frustrating than dangerous), having me working over 13 hours a day for a few days, but I think it will slow down now that the tax deadline for American clients passed. I can barely function, but on the upside I finally found replacement haskaps! I bought two plants of different free-growing (rather than climbing like wild haskaps) varieties, and planted them by each other, with the idea that once they bloom the insects will cross-pollinate them. The very hot, sunny and humid (humidity is a key factor in successful gardening) weather this year caused all plants to sprout leaves and bloom about a month earlier than usual, and for the first time in my life I’ve been seeing early spring flowers (croquises, hyazinthes, magnolias, forsythias) bloom at the same time as late spring flowers (tulips, narcisses, cherries, plums, apples), and summer flowers either blossomed already (currants, gooseberries, sweet bushberries, not sure what’s its English name, it’s like a blackberry but it grows on tall bushes) or will blossom soon (azaleas, aronias, roses). As you can see, I am mostly interested in edible plants :) Little luck with strawberries and my peach seems to have died though, and while my raspberries survived and are thriving, they likely won’t bloom this year. Herbs are half-half, melissa, mint and marjoram definitely survived and I bought a new basil. I’m happy I can properly garden now, I helps keep my spirits up.
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The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten. Guy lives alone in a messy apartment, next door to the prettiest girl in school. A chance encounter leads them to getting closer, even though they insist they have no intention of dating.
I Married My Female Friend. Female friends make a pact that if they are both still single after five years, then they will marry each other. Fast forward five years and the time comes to make good on the promise.
Lovesick Ellie. Girl posts her fantasies about a handsome student under an alias. What if the subject of her desire were to find said fantasies online? Awkward.
A Man And His Cat. Ugly cat nobody wants is taken in by a lonely older gentleman.
The Two Of Them Are Pretty Much Like This. Rookie voice actress and a script writer have a strictly professional relationship, or so they tell people. They have secretly been living as a couple for the past year.
Marvel Epics on my list:
Fantastic Four Epic Collection: Atlantis Rising. Morgan Le Fay forces Atlantis to rise to the surface. The remaining members of the Fantastic Four must team up with Namor and the Inhumans to stop her.
New Mutants Epic Collection: Curse of the Valkyries. Dani Moonstar is acting funny, so the New Mutants go to Asgard in search of answers.
Silver Surfer Epic Collection: Inner Demons. The Surfer returns to Earth to find most of the heroes presumed dead thanks to Onslaught. Better make some time with another man’s girl!
Thor Epic Collection: Blood and Thunder. Thor has gone mad, so a gauntlet of Marvel’s heaviest hitters tries to halt his rampage.
X-Factor Epic Collection: All-New All-Different. The rubbish Summers brother sells out and starts working for The Man. Alas, I am not talking about Becky Lynch. Val Cooper wishes she were Becky Lynch!
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(Money's on the Inhumans.)
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Maybe a reprint of "E is for Extinction" should've been a hint.
This week on The Nostalgia Series, after last week, when Jubes gets sucked into a video game and Sunspot is welcome to DIE...
"You got Krakoa-era in my nostalgia!"
"Pfft! You got 2000s deconstruction in my Krakoa-era!"
"It's RUINED! We'll be bringing legal action!"
(I am annoyed by the way the episode went, but there's a possibility good ol' time travel will undo at least some of it, so I'll wait a bit.)
There was an interview out about Captain America: Whatever We're Calling It This Week, where Mr. Mackie said it was going to be "grounded".
While I'm pretty sure it was meaning more grounded than Infinity War and Endgame, given the cast list (at the moment) involves at least one of the Hulk's cast members, I am a little dubious about how 'grounded' this thing can be.
Even assuming Harrison Ford does not turn into a giant red rage monster.
New TFs at the local toy store. Oooh, Silverbolt...
an' I only went in to look at the LEGO...
As is the way, having expressed a mild curiosity to reading the Simonson New Mutants stuff, every physical copy of them has vanished from the local.
And her X-Factor.
(I have idly wondered about using this apparent low level power to warp reality by testing it on Stephen King novels, but I suspect it wouldn't work. Some things are too big to be erased.
... plus, I just bought a copy of The Stand at the weekend, and I'm only halfway through it.
The things you find in National Trust giftshops...)
Actually, speaking of complaining about the X-Men, I was sort of hoping that after the last few years of Immortal X-Men and Mother Righteous and whatnot the franchise would maybe take a break from Sinister for a while.
Where "a while" might mean several years.
Alas, looking at the solicits, we couldn't even get five minutes.
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But unfortunately, Hasbro’s price gouging has finally gotten to be way too much. A Deluxe Class is now €30. Voyagers are €40. I want to support this line because it’s probably the best Transformers has ever been, but for goodness sakes, Hasbro talks about financial woes and then they do nonsense like this. At least the overall quality is still good, which is more than can be said for certain other lines of theirs like MARVEL Legends and other figures in that style.
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Every time I look at a Tigerhawk I think "oooh", and then the price is a whole £55, and for something that once would've been... well, a lot less, and I think "eeeehhh, maybe not this time."
I like Beast Wars, and beast 'bots in general, but not that much...
(*nervously tries to hide a Megatron under a cat*)
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On the way, I passed by Tropes and Trivia, a new all-romance genre bookstore. Line down the block for the grand opening, even when I went back past four hours later.
Marvel Puzzlequest has added more daily, weekly and monthly goals.
Work continues to be work.
Over at my blog, I look at the hstory of James Cook's final expediition: https://www.skjam.com/2024/04/16/book-review-the-wide-wide-sea/
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(Really uncomfortable with the whole “job seeker as a Brand” thing that they keep pushing. Corporations are people and people are bands. Cool. Cool. Cool. Not terrifying at all.)
Anyway, I know from recent conversations that some of you are in a similar boat and I was wondering if you’d also had struggles with motivation and what you did to overcome them. It seems like lately the online algorithms have been feeding me a lot of job hunt horror stories and that’s the last thing I need right now.
I got a Webtoon notification saying Big Ethel Energy was ending so I decided to catch up. It sure was a choice to have everything interesting happen in a time-skip in the penultimate chapter. I assume it’s because the series was abruptly cancelled and not an admission that it should have ended with the first arc.