The Curious Case of “Sword Art Online”: Character Agency, Impotent Villains, and Hope for a Brighter Future (Part 2)
Yesterday, I posted the [first part] of my examination of Sword Art Online and my explanation of why I was so disappointed in what had been the most promising show … Continue reading
The Curious Case of “Sword Art Online”: Chekov’s Gun, Broken Promises, and the Squandered Potential of Anime Storytelling (Part 1)
(This was not originally intended to be a two-part post, but I wrote enough for this review to qualify as an academic paper. Consider this my review of Sword Art … Continue reading
Hunting Absurd Titans: Ushering in 2013 with Manga and Manhwa
Why, hello there, fellow madcaps! The past few months have been a time of change for me, not the least of which was the fact that I switched jobs. As … Continue reading
Winter 2013 Season Preview Part 4: Rapid-Fire Round!
Finally, we’re at the end of this season’s new anime offerings! (Find Part 1 [here], Part 2 [in this direction], and Part 3 [over yonder].) Why are there four parts … Continue reading
Winter 2013 Season Preview Part 3: Problem Children Are Invading My Anime, Aren’t They?
And so we come to day three of my four-day Winter 2013 anime extravaganza, full of pop idols, ESP-weilding terrorists, and hair festishist werewolves! Oh, and don’t forget those talking … Continue reading
Winter 2013 Season Preview Part 2: Terrible Character Designs All Around!
This is the point where I start to regret trying to cram watching so many shows into so few days, but I power through for you, lovely readers! It’s time … Continue reading
Winter 2013 Season Preview Part 1: Come Hell, High Water, or Talking Birds
Ah, here we are again: a new year, a new anime season. I enjoyed my little vacation at the beginning of this month immensely, but it’s time to get back … Continue reading
2012 Retrospective: The Armchair Madcap Looks Back on a Year Fondly Spent
It’s the last post of the year, and that means it’s time for me to do what all self-indulgent bloggers do: post a retrospective/best-of list! …My God. Has… has it … Continue reading
A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing: “Loups=Garou” Pulls No Punches
The world has changed. Where once people socialized face to face, computers have replaced human interaction, and even food has become a highly processed mimicry of itself. Haduki Makino is … Continue reading
One Magnificent Psycho: “Mardock Scramble: the First Compression” Brings the Heat
In the future, nobody can hear you scream: Rune Balot learns this the hard way when, forced into a life of prostitution by an abusive father, she has no one … Continue reading
Unconventional Romance: the Armchair Madcap Shines a Spotlight on “A Devil and Her Love Song”
I’m not usually one for pure romance manga. I don’t mind lovey-dovey-ness in my entertainment, but I usually want some blood-spurting action to go along with it. That’s why I’m … Continue reading
The Last-Last Shows of Fall 2012!
We’re at the halfway mark for November, and I’m exactly at the halfway point of my 50,000 word odyssey for NaNoWriMo. So, instead of watching a full show like I … Continue reading
