Saying Good Bye to an Old Friend – Kochikame Manga Franchise Ends After 40 Years

Kochira Katushika-ku Kameari Koēn Mae Hashutsujo (known as Kochikame for short) ended its 40 year run in Weekly Shonen Jump‘s September 17th edition.

Writer/Illustrator Osamu Akimoto began his weekly run for this series in 1976 and has continued publishing weekly episodes uninterrupted until its final episode this past Saturday. This veteran manga follows the daily adventures of police officer Kanichi Ryotsu (Ryo-san) who works at a police box in Tokyo’s Katsushika Ward and has landed Akimoto a Guiness Book World Record for “most volumes published for a single manga series” back on September 12th.

Over the course of 40 years, Kochikame has enjoyed adaptations from a wide variety of media including an anime series, two animated films, two live action films, stage plays, and a live action TV series.

Image courtesy of Anime News Network

Everytime I see Ryo-san’s eyebrows, all I can think of is Morgan Freeman from the movie Dreamcatcher

Image courtesy of http://www.craveonline.com

Kochikame’s departure has not gone unnoticed in Tokyo’s actual Katushika Ward, where Kamaeri Station train station has erected numerous art displays commemorating the series.  The art displays are open to visitors and will remain until the end of September.

Image courtesy of Anime News Network

As a final celebration of the series, rocketnews24 reports that Kindle versions of select volumes of Kochikame will be available for free on Amazon Japan (original Japanese only) until September 23rd, so don’t hesitate to check out this piece of manga history.

Doumo arigatou gozaimasu Akimoto-san, I can’t wait to see what new adventures you will bring us!

links:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kochira_Katsushika-ku_Kameari_Kōen-mae_Hashutsujo#Reception
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2016/09/12/entertainment-news/kochikame-manga-series-goes-bang-setting-guinness-record/#.V-Pl-WUpDML http://en.rocketnews24.com/2016/09/07/was-the-end-of-kochikame-the-longest-running-manga-series-ever-foreshadowed-two-years-ago/ http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2016-09-20/kamaeri-station-says-goodbye-to-kochikame-manga/.106701 http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201609050066.html

Nigerian Comics Set to Take World by Storm

Image courtesy of Vortex Comics

Founded in 2015, Lagos based comic book company Vortex Comics is striving to create a new generation of comic book fans in Nigeria.  During an interview with Jordan Calhoun from blacknerdproblems, CEO Somto Ajuluchukwu highlighted his mission to create a mythology of superheroes specifically designed for Nigerian readers.  The titles and characters draw on both current issues (political and otherwise) affecting African readers, as well as ancient Yoroba traditions and ideals in an attempt to educate young readers on their cultural heritage.

Vortex continues to press forward with giving back to their community in the creation of the Vortex Academy.  The Vortex Academy is a co curricular program that works with Lagos area schools to teach classes in illustration, graphic design, animation, and coding. Unfortunately, this program is only for the Lagos region in Nigeria, but you can check out their YouTube channel to watch this awesome group of guys at work.

The crew behind Vortex Comics

Check out their website, buy some comics, and help spread the love to get this movement off the ground!

NeoVerse Indigogo Campaign

Image courtesy of the NeoVerse team

Edx alum Enrique Betancourt has gathered a super team of fellow edx alumni to form the NeoVerse project including Casey Van Camp, Brigadier-Wolf, Gage Lynn, Sabine Antigua, and Thomas Wilson combined with artistic backup from the artists at Kamui’s Colors and Zain Naqvi. 

The NeoVerse is an ambitious project, featuring series of novels with characters inspired by the SmithsonianX course.  Each novel features the story of separate heroes, culimiating into an epic crossover where the heroes form their own superhero team.  Betancourt and company have started up an indigogo campaign for this project with perks ranging from credit on the back of the first novel Auroch to the inclusion of a backer’s all new character in the NeoVerse.

Its always awesome seeing fellow alumni push forward with their projects, so make sure to check out their indigogo (which will be ending in May this year) and if you can, sling some dollars thier way!

Keep up the awesome work guys!!

Asgardian Weather Report

The God of Mischief himself stopped by a local Fox affiliate out of Chicago to give an impromptu weather report.

Many luls were had

Back in the Saddle

Image courtesy of Netflix

After battling a respiratory infection and Daredevil Season 2 binge session, Its time for me to get back on the blog horse.  As the internet continues to rave about this series, I will get up and rave right with them.  Berenthol was sublime as Punisher, bringing such nuance to this tortured character it left me speechless on more than one occasion.  The casting for this season was spot on, as was the writing in a big way, coupled with Tarantino levels of violence (I’m looking at you, Episode 4).  I can’t wait to see where this series goes next, and I really can’t wait to see more of Berenthol as Punisher!

Go watch Daredevil on Netflix now!!!

Frank is sad that you aren’t watching Daredevil right now.

Real Life Spidey/Punisher Team Up

Earlier this week, Jon Bernthal and Tom Holland stopped by the New York Daily News to talk about their upcoming MCU debuts as The Punisher and Spiderman.

Bernthal went on to tell the Daily News how he met Holland on set for the period drama Pilgrimage.  It didn’t take long for the pair to start helping one another make audition tapes, Holland vying for the role of Spiderman, and Bernthal for Punisher.  The Daily News also reports that Holland called on some divine intervention in the form of Chris Helmsworth (who Holland worked with during Heart of the Sea).  Executives heeded the God of Thunder, landing Holland in a pair of brightly colored Underoos.

According to sources interviewed by the Daily News fans shouldn’t hold their breath in anticipation of a clash between these two Marvel titans, so instead, make sure to load up Netflix on March 18th and catch season 2 of Daredevil!

OMG ELEKTRA!!!

Begrudginly Optimistic

Image courtesy of Paramount Pictures

One month ago, Paramount released the second trailer for the new Ninja Turtles film, Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows and my brain feels like it is trying to tear itself apart. As a kid in the 90’s, I ADORED those turtles (Space Cadet Raph used to protect me from monsters at night) and had a blast with the first two movies (I was blissfully spared from Turtles in Time). As I grew older I learned about the comics, one time accidentally stumbling into an issue of Body Count, and found an old Eastman and Laird issue while browsing at a flea market. It was jarring to see my funny turtles strait up murdering the shit out of the very human Foot Clan, but the simple black and white style of the Eastman/Laird comic was so different from everything I had seen before, I was hooked.

This ain't no Archie comic. Image courtesy of Image

Fast forward to 2006 when one of my other childhood favorites, Transformers hit theaters, I was beyond excited.  Giant robots beating the crap out of other giant robots? TAKE MY MONEY! I was so much younger then, so much more naive.

At first I simply glanced over Shia Labeouf’s cringeworthy Sam Witwickey, eager to hear Peter Cullen’s booming voice as he commanded the Autobots to “Roll out” but the magic soon faded away. The film seemed eager to push the Autobots into the background as we were forced to Witwicky and friends get into all kinds of hilarious hijinks.

The sequels didn’t get any better either. I actually fell asleep twice during the overbolown mashy robo battle at the end. Now, I will admit, the source material Bay and company had to draw from (most specifically, the original cartoon) was not exactly “ground breaking” to begin with, it was mostly a marketing vehicle for toys. That being said, shows like Beast Wars and Transformers Prime and issues upon issues of comics beg to differ. Simple roots should not be an excuse for shallow writing.

Image courtesy of Hasbro

After Transformers, I developed a passionate loathing for everything Michael Bay touched, and when I heard the news he was in charge of a new Turtles flick, I LOST MY MIND.

So the first Micheal Bay Turtle movie came and went, being the overblown turd I thought it was going to be (cynical much?).  Shreder was a walking Ginsu commercial, April O’Neil became a pair of boobs with vacuous/sometimes painful dialogue, and more ridiculous fight scenes that defy the simplist laws of physics (how the Hell did Raph bust out of that van?). At the end of the day, I was left wondering if anyone involved with that film had read the comics, Hell, even watched the cartoon. It’s almost like they did a rudimentary image search of “Ninja Turtles” and yelled “Done!”

Time passed, and I attempted to ignore rumblings of a sequel.  I expected any further films in this franchise to follow the same trajectory of Transformers, big explosions, mediocre plot, and annoying casting.  Then a friend insisted I watch the trailer, and after much convincing, I relented.

I was FLOORED.  Bebop AND Rocksteady (who I had been pining for ever since the minor let down of Tokka and Rahzar from Turtles II), actual ninjas in the Foot Clan, Casey Jones, a legit Baxter Stockman, and I still can’t believe I saw Kraang. Despite my efforts to remain cynical, I was genuinely excited, and part of me felt dirty for it.  Bay is good at making slick trailers, like an angler fish made of explosions, so part of me was still guarded, waiting for that second shoe to drop.  But the deed is done, he did it.  I am going to see Ninja Turtles.

Image courtesy of Paramount

Please don’t suck….

Vertigo Hits the Small Screen

Monday, Warner Bros. affilate station WGN America announced their greenlighting of a new series based off the Vertigo title Scalped, with The Flash executive producer Geoff Johns and Doug Jung from Banshee.

Scalped, written by Jason Aaron and illustrated by R. M. Guera, follows the story of Dashiell Bad Horse as he returns to his hometown on the Prarie Rose Lakota Reservation.  The critically acclaimed western/crime series started in January 2007, spanning sixty monthly issues dealing with organized crime, poverty, addiction, and the struggle of Prarie Rose inhabitants to retain their cultural identity.

Unsure if your cable provider carries WGN America?  Visit their website to find out how you can gain access and check showtimes.

Also, don’t forget to show Vertigo some love and pick up your copies of Scalped (digital or otherwise) today!

Strike Back at the Evil Bydo Empire!

Image courtesy of Nintendo

I have to admit, I am a sucker for old school sci-fi side scrolling shooters, and R-Type was one of my favorites growing up.

Anime News Network reports that YouTube channel Mashed has commissioned animator Paul Johnson (of Dr. Who anime fame) to create a short anime styled film honoring the beloved ’80s arcade title.  Judging by the clips Anime News posted on their website, Johnson is doing a Hell of a job, and I can’t wait to see the final product!

Feel the need to strike back at the loathsome Bydo?  Check out DotEmu’s mobile port on Google Play

Young Justice Takes a Dip in the Lazerus Pit?

Image courtesy of Warner Bros. and Cartoon Network

Early February, the internet exploded with rumors of Netflix possibly bringing back the beloved (and tragically shortlived) series after releasing Season 2 on their streaming service.

Paul Dini Interview

Though Young Justice was highly rated in Cartoon Network’s DC Nation animation block, the show was baffingly axed before airing it’s third season.

Shortly after the cancellation was announced, Paul Dini (writer for Batman: The Animated Series and creator of Harley Quinn) speculated on this briefly on Episode 52 of Kevin Smith’s “Fatman on Batman” podcast. Dini noted a growing trend in Cartoon Network of cycling out shows they feel are “too old” for their target demographic.

Dini also went on to speak of his experience with other television executives, alluding that some would outright discourage a female audience, their reasoning being “they [girls] don’t buy toys.” Though Dini strongly mentioned not hearing these sentiments from Cartoon Network executives, the thought of these attitudes are unsettling when speaking of the future of comic book inspired animation.

Hope Remains

There is still hope! Recently, Danica McKeller (voice of Miss Martian) recently did a Periscope Q&A, speaking of an ongoing twitter campaign to ressurect the show. Mckeller, amoung other Young Justice alumni have joined their voices (and twitter accounts!) to the cause, asking fans to continue tweeting and streaming to gain the attention of Netflix executives.

If Deadpool’s swelling box office numbers are any indication, this plan is just crazy enough to work!

As always, stay awesome, and keep watching Young Justice!!!