Categories
anime cartoon Hipster Hotline Wakfu

Wakfu: The Animated Series [Season 4 Episode 2 Review]

Episode Title: The Goddess of Love

What the heck? Might as well review this season one episode at a time. Especially since I’m loving the heck out of it so far.

Another banger of an episode! Episode two basically puts a bow on season three’s remaining characters and introduces us to the important characters of this season.

This includes the Eliatrope Goddess and Nora, Yugo and Adamai’s mother and sister respectively. And we can’t forgot their evil brother Qilby. He’s free from the state of Vermont—oh sorry—the White Dimension and ready to…I don’t know. Do stuff? I just love how eager he is to narc on Yugo for locking him up. Qilby’s that kid who always starts sh*t with his siblings but tattles the second things don’t go his way. I love it.

We’re also introduced to a blind Cra assassin. He’s listening in on the Percedal Family. What could that mean? Here’s a hint: He’s not gonna offer his services as a nanny.

Categories
anime cartoon Hipster Hotline Wakfu

Wakfu: The Animated Series [Season 4 Episode 1 Review] [Hipster Hotline]

Because you demanded it, let’s talk about Wakfu: The Animated Series.

After reviewing Wakfu season three as a whole, I think it’d be better to do a full review of the fourth and final season once I’ve watched all thirteen episodes. If it’s anything like season three, I might have to watch it twice to really understand my feelings and give a more accurate assessment of my thoughts. But, since Wakfu doesn’t get nearly as much recognition as it deserves, I want to give my first impressions of the first episode—currently the only season four episode I’ve seen.

Short answer: I loved it!

Long answer: Here are my thoughts…

Categories
anime cartoon Hipster Hotline Wakfu

Wakfu: The Animated Series – Season 3 Review [Hipster Hotline]

What is Wakfu? Should you watch it?

First things first, in case you don’t know what it is, Wakfu: The Animated Series is an anime-influenced French television series produced by Ankama Animation, based on the video game Dofus. More specifically, Wakfu is based on the game called—erm—Wakfu, and is an action/adventure series that isn’t afraid to be goofy, which again, is very anime-ish.

If you came here wondering if you should give it a watch, I HIGHLY recommend the series. But, that comes with three warnings:

1.) Be wary of the English dub. Ruel’s English dub voice is awful. It took me out of the story. If you have a problem with any of the English voices then watch the original French dub with subtitles.

2.) Wakfu: The Animated Series takes its lore from the Dofus and Wakfu MMORPG games. Do not expect the show to explain the World of Twelve. Seriously, I played Dofus for a couple of years back around when the show first started and even I’m confused by the lore. You are dunked into the Krosmoz universe and are expected to swim. It’s not a deal breaker but you may be confused at times and won’t understand game references or game character cameos. It also doesn’t help that some of jokes, I feel, work better or make more sense if you’re French.

3.) The Gobbowl episodes. Season one and season two both have 3 episodes each dedicated to the main cast playing Gobbowl, a soccer/American football-ish game that’s popular in the World of Twelve. Despite having some good moments, I didn’t care for them. They didn’t need to be 3 episodes long in both seasons and I feel like the show mainly did it to promote Ankama’s failed Gobbowl game.

All that said, give the show a chance. It’s really fun and I can’t recommend it enough. There will be series spoilers going forward.

Categories
comics Hipster Hotline

Duke #1 (Comic) [Hipster Hotline]

Let’s talk about a G.I. Joe comic book. Not exactly what I’d call hipster material but I think it’ll be worth your time.

Toys. Television. Comics. Movies. G.I. Joe is one of those media properties that’s been around for so long it’s done just about everything except have it’s own theme park. I think… And, with that longevity comes the inevitable reboot, remake, or alternate universe. There’s been a lot! The Joes have even crossed paths with The Transformers in the past. Well, they’re doing it again, but this time we’re starting at the beginning.

Duke #1, written by Joshua Williamson, with art by Tom Reilly and colors by Jordie Bellaire, introduces you to Conrad Hauser AKA Duke, one of the leaders of G.I. Joe in most incarnations. Right now, however, there may not even be a G.I. Joe organization established in this universe. Duke certainly isn’t apart of it if it does exist. The real American hero is dealing with PTSD from his too close for comfort encounter with the infamous Decepticon, Starscream, in Transformers #2.

Categories
Hipster Hotline Manga

Me And My Gangster Neighbour [Hipster Hotline]

Looking for a feel good slice-of-life series with a splash of drama? Then, give Me And My Gangster Neighbour a shot.

Created by Momose Wataru, Me And My Gangster Neighbour is a manga series about an elementary boy, named Yuuhi and his apartment complex neighbor, Mr. Aoi. Due to an unexcepted event, Yuuhi discovers Mr. Aoi’s secrets: one, that he’s a gangster and, two, he loves cute things. Yuuhi agrees to keep his secrets and a friendship is born.

One big theme of MAMGN (Me And My Gangster Neighbour) is acceptance. Yuuhi accepting Mr. Aoi for who his is as well as his Uncle are good examples of that. It’s not always easy living your life in contrast to what society says is normal. I love how the manga explores that without sounding preachy. People are who they are and that’s that. It’s simple but effective storytelling.

Categories
comics Hipster Hotline

Masks (Volume 1 – The Mask Without A Face) [Hipster Hotline]

Well, well, well. This looks interesting.

Masks #1 – The Mask Without A Face (Written by Kid Toussaint, Art by Joël JURION) tells the story of several kids who somehow gain special masks, granting them unique abilities. But what made me want to share this comic are the characters themselves. Siera is a refugee living in France (This is originally a French book.). She’s smart, popular, and lives with a loving family. Unfortunately, she has a secret that could ruin her hard earned new life.

Al is an athletic guy with a cute girlfriend, but he also holds a secret that could ruin their relationship.

Hector and Jorge are two kids from Veracruz looking to make a quick buck. They get caught up with dangerous gangsters carrying even more dangerous cargo and things go downhill quickly.

Categories
Hipster Hotline

Hipster Hotline: Comic Book Queers: Legacy

CBG_Legacy

Nobody tells me anything anymore. Many years ago, there was a great comic book podcast called Comic Book Queers. Its hosts talked about comic books or anything that caught their eye. I loved it, but podcasts don’t last forever and Brett and Evil Jeff left the show and it eventually stopped.

Enter Comic Book Queers: Legacy.

I only discovered it a few weeks ago but its the same CBQ I remember which is a couple of comic book geeks fanboying or talking trash about the comics they read. Brett and Evil Jeff’s quick wit, comic book knowledge, and great chemistry are what makes this show so entertaining. I’m not a fan of podcasts where hosts seem like they don’t know what they’re talking about or throw out constant pop culture references in an effort to be funny. CBQ gives me the comic book geekiness I need blended with the natural humor of its hosts being funny because that’s who they are and not because they need to be.

If you love comic books, give this podcast a listen. If you don’t, give it a listen. It’s just that good.

 

Categories
Hipster Hotline Manga

Hipster Hotline: Spy x Family

To prevent a war, a spy must have a family. Yep, welcome to the manga called Spy x Family.

spyfamilycover

Tatsuya Endo’s Spy x Family, as I said, stars a spy codenamed Twilight. He’s your typical super-spy, tough, suave, a master of disguise. If you’ve seen it done in a spy movie, he can do it. Twilight quickly gets what could be his most important mission yet, preventing a war between the East and West. And, all he has to do is form a family so get can get close to the guy behind it all. Easy, right?

This is where things get interesting. See, Twilight can usually don a disguise, plays the role, then bam, he’s done and off on the next mission. But now, he has to play an everyday father and husband for however long it takes. And, that includes getting a daughter.

Anya, is a little girl Twilight adopts from an orphanage to be his daughter. She’s also an esper possessing mind-reading powers. Using her power, she quickly learns who Twilight really is and despite not being the super smart and capable child Twight was looking for, is able to get Twilight to adopt her. What makes Anya such a strong and fun character is her knowing her dad’s secret mission and even secretly helping him at times without revealing she can read minds.

Categories
comics Hipster Hotline

Hipster Hotline: Star Trek TNG Mirror Broken

A comic book about the Mirror Universe Next Generation Enterprise crew. Read it.

Star Trek- TNG - Mirror Broken-000
Aw. I wish evil Picard had poofy hair.

Who says reviews can’t be short? Okay, I give you some details. Star Trek: The Next Generation: Mirror Broken shows us what’s going on with Mirror Universe Captain Picard and the regular members of the Enterprise crew. Honestly, I never even considered something like this happening. Even after watching Deep Space Nine and the prequel Enterprise’s Mirror Universe episodes years ago. Forget a TNG episode, why wasn’t this idea a movie? Anyway, it’s a comic, so let focus on that.

Like I said, it’s a good story. Evil Captain Picard and most of the TNG regulars are working aboard the I.S.S. Stargazer, Picard’s old ship for those who may have forgotten. So, why aren’t they on the evil Enterprise? Well, The Terran Empire has seen better days. After the events of the original Star Trek Mirror Universe episode, Spock took over and tried making the Mirror Universe less evil (Yay!), but the Klingons and Cardassians teamed up and stomped the Terrans all the way back to Earth’s solar system (Whoops!). Meaning, the Terran Empire doesn’t have the resources to build galaxy class ships like the Enterprise. Or, do they?

Categories
comics Hipster Hotline

Hipster Hotline: Future Quest Volumes 1 & 2 (comics)

Future Quest Vol. 01-000

Take some classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon shows, updated them a bit and put them together in a crossover event comic and what do you get? Awesomeness, that’s what!

Future Quest tells puts Johnny Quest, Space Ghost, Birdman, The Herculoids, and other old-school cartoon characters together in a “quest” to save Earth from an organism absorbing monster. A simple premise but it works. It works really well.

OGIUE MANIAX

Anime & Manga Blog | 50% Anime Analysis, 50% Ogi

StarlitDen

Illustration, Concept Art & Comics/Manga

Captain M Entertainment

Reviews, news, retrospectives, thoughts

Adventures of The Enhancers

Saving Aquamarine City From Themselves Is Harder Than It Looks

Crow's World of Anime

Reviews and editorials celebrating amazing moments in anime.

KS Blogs

Half the comedy, all the taste

Nefarious Reviews

Anime and Manga Reviews

Between The Pages of a Book

All Things Bookish

A Richard Wood Text Adventure

Near daily discussions of Star Wars, Seasonal Anime and Video Games. As well some other stuff along the way.

Al's Manga Blog

Manga and Comics Reviews

Coffee Made Better

Stopping bad coffee.

Writing and Illustrating

Sharing Information About Writing and Illustrating for Children

Endless Monkey

Eventually, we'll hit Shakespeare

The Journal

by Inandha Dian Briliani

Anime Vestige

Your Source For Anime Info and OST Download

RJ Writing Ink

Writing About All Things Pop Culture

The Unspeakable One

I'm All About Anime/Manga, Cartoons, And Video Games(Mostly Sonic And Pokemon). Nice To Meet'cha!!

Ellen Brock

Novel Editor | YouTuber