Otaku Review

So before I link to tonight’s review I should warn you, I had a not that pleasant experience with this particular volume. There are certain elements of the story that absolutely drove me mad and I will pick them apart a little in my review. Unfortunately, these are also have some spoilers in them, I keep it to a minimum but there are still some spoilers. So just a little heads up there. Either way, tonight I am posting my thoughts on the train wreck that is Claymore Vol. 3: The Hunter is Prey released last month by Funimation.

With the death of the awakened being, the quartet of Claymores are left to do their own thinking. When they finally figure out what they have in common, they realize that they were put together for a reason. There’s a better than average chance that the organization actually wants them dead. Put on their guard, all of them receive a grave warning to stay away from the current top five.

Naturally though, Clare’s next mission will put her up against another awakened being and her partner is the psychopathic number four, Ophelia. Clare will have to spend time in these episodes fighting both the awakened being and Ophelia. Before the close of these episodes, Clare will remember her true mission and motivation while remembering her past with someone who was there.

To read the rest of this review click HERE .

Got a nice pile of reviews to get through this weekend but I’m going to start with the best and work my way down from there. With that in mind, today I’ve posted my thoughts on the amazing Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion Set 2 (Vols 3-4) released by Bandai.

Over the next eight episodes of ‘‘Code Geass’’, the story will take many different twists both literally and emotionally. Lelouch is gaining even more support from the various resistance forces around Japan. Every episode he and the Black Knights continue to launch more and more daring plans to get to his own ends. He’ll do many things that he never expected such as attempt to kidnap Cornelia but is always thwarted by the white Knightmare. Members of the Britannia Empire are getting wise to him however and in an odd twist, will cause the relationship between Shirley and Lelouch to change forever.

In the second half of these episodes, the story will take even more drastic turn towards the serious. With the relationships that he shares with his friends changing, Lelouch will be forced to deal with some very harsh realities that he has created for himself. He has killed many people in the battles he’s fought and for the first time he will truly live with the consequences. Meanwhile, a new villain will enter the scene as someone from C.C.’s past will come back to haunt her and Lelouch.

To read the rest of this review, click HERE .

It may not rank anywhere on my ‘Best of 2009′ list but Baccano Vol. 1 from Funimation certainly qualifies as one of the hardest to review in recent memory! Filled with blood, violence and a twisted story involving alchemists creating the secret of eternal life Baccano does little to impress with its first four episodes.

For hundreds of years, a group of alchemists from around the world have been working on the secret to eternal life. In the year 1930 New York, one of them finally succeeds (but pretend like you don’t know that until episode three) but is unable to deliver it to his colleagues after being robbed in an alley. Fast forward a little and you get to five families within the city.

The Runorata crime family has declared war on the Gandof and Martillo families though they also have problems of their own. The missing Dallas Jenoua has pointed a finger at them from beyond the grave for the death of his father. Meanwhile, Luck Gandof and his brothers are trying to figure out who is making the call to have them rubbed out. While the newest rising star of the Martillo family, Firo Prochainezo, and his mentor Maiza are doing what they can to help out without getting involved.

All of these families are going to become even more involved with each other as a train heist begins to take shape. The ‘Flying Pussyfoot’ is leaving Chicago headed towards New York. On board is the psychotic killer Ladd Russo along with his fiancé Lua and his followers, two dim thieves names Miria and Isaac, the family of an influential senator, a gang made up of physically scarred criminals and other less than reputable characters. Most of them are on board for one reason though; the train is carrying a brand new type of bomb that will give a decided advantage to whoever has it and they all want it.

To read the rest of this review, click HERE .

Happy Friday the 13th everyone! In what I hope is going to be a very long string of DVD reviews this weekend, I have taken a look at the absolutely mesmerizing and possibly first ‘Can’t Miss!’ series of the year with my thoughts on Claymore Vol. 2: The Point of No Return from Funimation.

In the next five episodes of ‘Claymore’, the series continues to follow Teresa and the girl she’s picked up named Clare. Wandering into a new town, Teresa is provoked by bandits into breaking the one absolute rule of being a Claymore; never kill a human. Having broken that rule, Teresa is ruled a traitor to the organization and sentenced to death. The top four Claymores below Teresa will be sent in to destroy her but along the way a new and much more pressing enemy will surface. 

To read the rest of this review, click HERE

Moving a second series in a row into the completed pile with my thoughts on the conclusion released last year, Witchblade Vol. 6 from Funimation.

The truth about her impending death is weighing heavily on the mind of Masane. Everyone will eventually learn the truth on this volume starting with Tozawa but followed by Rihoko and everyone else in Masane’s life. No one has time to dwell on this matter though as there is still work to be done. The surge in power coming from the Witchblade has activated 3800 I-Weapons that were traveling by barge and have made them all head back for Tokyo. Already crumbling, Masane will have to fight them all off along with a bit of help.

Maria has found her helpers though and is on a mission of her own for more power. With I-Weapons after her as well, she’ll fight through it all in order to get her chance at obtaining the Witchblade for herself.

To read the rest of this review, click HERE .

Moving closer to being able to put this one in the ‘completed’ pile, today I have posted my thoughts on Witchblade Vol. 5 released last year by Funimation.

In the next four episodes, things are starting to return to normal. Masane has regained custody of Rihoko but after learning that the Witchblade is headed to her next, she begins to dote on her endlessly. Back at the Douji group, the battle between Wadou and Takayama will come to a head. After the final result of this one though, things will go from bad to worse when secrets get revealed to those who shouldn’t see them. Takayama will be forced into a difficult position and decision but one that will ultimately bring him closer to both Masane and Rihoko.

On the other side, Maria has become calm and even docile after her encounter with her mother. Her powers have grown but she wants more. Forming a plan of her own, the new Maria will increase her role through any means she has to. Which by now everyone should probably know means she’s going to kill people. Lots of people. But she’s going to look pretty cool while doing it.

To read the rest of this review, click HERE .

Wow, a DVD review that isn’t from Funimation? It has been awhile I admit it but I’ve returned and have moved yet another series into my completed column with my thoughts on Toward the Terra Set 3 (Vols 5-6) from Bandai.

In the final eight episodes of ‘Toward the Terra’, Keith will launch his attack on Naska causing the Mu to flee their home once again. Sick of running away, Jomy launches a new plan for his Mu which puts them on the offensive. The Mu now plan to go to every planet and destroy the SD system which has kept humanity on a leash ever since they left Terra until they are allowed to return to their original home.

When Keith gets wind of this plan however he will launch his own new mission given to him directly from the true controller of the SD system; destroy every single last one of the Mu even if it means the destruction of humanity itself. Along the way though, all truths will be revealed including the mysteriously linked pasts of Keith and Physis and the truth behind the SD system.

To read the rest of this review, click HERE .

Moving yet another Funimation series to the ‘complete’ pile and have posted my thoughts on the much darker and surprisingly entertaining ‘Sasami: Magical Girls Club Season 2′ released earlier this winter.

In the second season of Sasami, all five of the fifth grade heroines are invited to return to the world of the witches for a special summer camp without Daimon or Washu ever being told. Once there the girls learn that they are actually being scouted to learn more advanced magic. Everyone naturally takes them up on this offer but after it is revealed that the Chief Sorceress actually has much more evil intentions the girls must be rescued. That’s when the real truth comes out; it’s really Misao that they wanted the entire time. In the end, it will be Misao being pitted against her former best friends in a battle of magic. 

To read the rest of this review, click HERE .

Continuing the reviews from my weekend marathon session I have posted my thoughts on Witchblade Vol. 3 from Funimation and find that these episodes go a long way towards keeping the series enjoyable.

With a new X-Con terrorizing women in the city, Masane and Tozawa go on the hunt. Finally tracking it down, Masane finds this experience to be unlike the others and goes on a new hunt for answers. Finally learning the truth about the X-Cons from her employer, she will have to attend a high class party as a penalty for being found out.

On the other side of the coin, the NSWF has a new daughter to wear the cloneblade named Maria. Spoiled, annoying and deadly; she’s killed five of her sisters in training already. Before she can be unleashed though, Masane will be kidnapped and a rescue mission will have to be formed.

To read the rest of this review click HERE .

With the free time I had over the weekend, I found myself able to pick a series back up that had me at least slightly interested by the end of the first volume. So tonight I have posted my thoughts on the fan service filled action series, Witchblade Vol. 2 from Funimation.

In the second volume of ‘Witchblade’, Masane is still attempting to piece together a normal life despite her new job working with the Douji group. Her salary is good but the job is requiring long hours which has started to include battles with two women from the NSWF who are wearing cloneblades; artificial witchblades. Unfortunately the NSWF are finding out some very unfortunate realities about those who wear the cloneblades which alerts the Douji group to the fate that will also be awaiting Masane.

Back in her new home, Tozawa has continued his search for answers regarding what he saw at the detention center. Snapping photos along the way, Tozawa believes he’s on the verge of a big scoop continuing to pursue the story right along with Masane on the job.

To read the rest of this review click HERE .