Journey into Mystery

Go to your archives/calendar, take the first post you made each month and write the first line of each in your post. This is your year in review.

( I bet it's going to be boring )

Now let's talk fandom for a bit, if I may.

i. Yesterday the anime of Kuragehime ended. As it obviously couldn't conclude the main conflict in one episode (mind you, not even in the manga is resolved), they went with a cheap copout that sort of annuls most things the main characters have been working on and it leaves some plotlines too open. Except for this episode, which did adapt well the few parts that were adapted, I do like the anime. They did what they could, but they couldn't finish it well for the lack of time. It's a pity about some parts that couldn't make it to the anime, like ( cutting for tiny manga spoiler )

But that's okay because I found the raws of volume 6 and spoiled myself on what they really did next. I love that Mayaya (my favorite Amars, NGL) had this much spotlight. And my biggest issue with Shu/Tsukimi is gone now, although I still like her better with Kuranosuke.

I wish scanlations could come out faster. Now how do I get my fix?

ii. I also read Afterschool Charisma, and my god is it a mindfuck and I really need to know what happens next D: It also made me realize that EVERYTHING WITH CLONES GETS MINDFUCK-Y. And full of weird issues. This series' premise is basically Let's Clone Historical Figures (As Teen Bishounen And Bishoujo) And Put Them In a Psychological Thriller, so the combination of clones + thriller + conspiracies = MINDFUCK x 10. This is pretty much the anti-Tales of the Abyss approach, where the story tells you that clones must become their own person. In ASC, we have clones wanting to, but not being allowed by the system as they're not even thought as real human beings with rights. Everyone is "disposable" and if they wish to be individuals, they must be replaced. It's quite depressing even without the menace on their heads.

But still, this manga is a damn good seinen if you like that genre and mindfuck (or Weird Al's "I Think I'm a Clone Now"). Of course, you have to switch off your brain to the bishie and forget how the original people really looked like, or you'll die of an ulcer. Some people are pretty much unrecognizable until they tell you who they are, so you're warned.

iii. I immediately read Kame Odoru (I am a Turtle) in the same website of the former, to rinse the taste of impending doom. I do love 4 koma comedy with animals and silliness, so it was a good 10-minute waste. That turtle is so fucking cute!