News: Sword Art Online II in 2014

The reveal of Sword Art Online II was shown during the premiere of Sword Art Online: Extra Edition special, and the series website was promptly updated.  It will launch in 2014, but an exact date is not listed.  More details will most likely be provided after we move into the New Year.  The words "Phantom Bullet" is all that is given alongside the picture on the website.  If you're curious about seeing the video, check it out below:

New Years: 5 Resolutions for Nerds

New goals come along with every New Year.  If we were successful with our previous ones, the new are welcomed with open arms.  You ready to tackle anything life and all its circumstances might throw at you.  If you failed them, though…well, let’s get that handy dust pan and do a bit of sweeping.  You can usher those long lost goals right outside to begin fresh, or you can meticulously pick through them like when you’re cleaning your closet to see which ones you want to save.  No matter how we deal with success or failure, tomorrow is the day when people look to the future and its opportunities.  We all have most likely made a resolution at some point in our lives.  It doesn’t necessarily have to be done on New Year’s, but it’s become somewhat of a cliché or tradition.  Resolutions can come in many forms—a lot of the time they pertain to something in self-improvement.  Then again, what about those sillier resolves?  You know, ones concerning entertainment and bookworm topics?  They seem to be lost in the crowds of serious, meaningful resolutions, but we can’t be grave 24-hours, 7 days a week.  At least, I hope not.  Anyhow, I’m here to bring to light the nerdy, geeky side of New Year goals.  Check them out, and be sure to comment about your own resolutions if you’d like!

Feature: Holiday Wishlist #6

Christmas may be over already, but that doesn't mean we can't buy gifts for our friends and loved ones for New Years.  A lot of the holiday sales are continuing into the new year, so you'll be able to add last minute items to you collection.  In other words, they're trying to make our resolutions of watching more anime, reading more manga, and playing more video games possible!  Aren't they the greatest?  I've covered anime, manga, and few merchandise items worth getting for your nerdy entourage.  This time I'll be exploring the gaming world Steam style!  Most gamers eagerly anticipate Steam's seasonal sales, ranging from 30-90% off for select titles.  Well, this year is no different.  Their undergoing winter sale lasts until January 3rd, so be sure to pick up your gaming needs before it ends.  I'll be suggesting some video games worth investing your hard-earned cash in below.  Set those goals for the fresh year to come, and work hard.  Have a wonderful New Years, everybody!

Video Game Holiday Wishlist

Feature: Holiday Wishlist #5

Holiday sales are upon us, ravaging our wallets and stealing our little pennies!  Can a book fit into a stocking?  You may have to experiment and answer that important question.  As you unwrap those presents around the Christmas tree, small and large piles of gifts are forming stacks about you.  One of my favorite things to receive is a book.  I can never get enough of them!  Some will argue that manga aren’t exactly books—not in the formal sense.  I’d have to admit that I agree with them, and that fact doesn’t diminish their entertainment value.  (I swear, I read more than manga.)  Quite a few series can tell compelling stories with rich characters just as much as novels.  While novels rely only on written words, manga are able to convey emotion and meaning through dialogue and visuals.

Are you wondering what a good manga series is to pick up for your friends, hubbies, or siblings?  What’s really good for the person just starting out in the varying world of manga?  I’m here to provide you with a few titles to watch for this season—they’d be great New Year’s treats as well.  They are serious, they are action-packed, and they are filled with mystery.  They’re bound to keep you hooked throughout.  As Christmas passes us by, I hope you all have a wonderful time with your families.  Have those kiddies rip open their presents, and enjoy that massive feast waiting for you in the evening.  Merry Christmas, everybody!

Manga Holiday Wishlist #2

Review: Hyouka

Watching high schoolers solve insignificant mysteries is oddly addicting.  Besides seeing the list of themes on its description, I didn’t know what this anime was truly about.  I’m happy to say that its refreshing nature and light-hearted atmosphere was a pleasant surprise.  Simplicity can come in many forms and evoke different emotions in all of us.  We either hate it or love it—hit or miss.  Some may find it boring, while others soak it up as if their licking their dinner plates clean.  Nonetheless, it’s great when an anime can capture a sense of realism to such a degree.  Where characters remain believable and situations never spiral into craziness, this show offers a peaceful story with enough heart to put a smile on your face.  From Kyoto Animation studio, Hyouka is a 22-episode series that revolves around a group of students entering high school.

Review: Attack on Titan Vol. 1-4

Okay, so my wallet swallowed puppies as I ordered this.  Curiosity about the manga differences got the better of me, and now I have volume 1-9 sitting on my bookshelf.  Please check out my review of the anime if you haven’t already.  I eagerly cracked open the first entry, quickly polishing it and three more off in one day.  Set in a fantasy and steam punk world, Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama focuses on humanity’s plight against giants called titans.  Since the appearance of the man-eating titans, humans have built cities and now live behind massive walls for safety.  A hundred years of peace have passed without a single titan threat within the walls.  A boy named Eren, his adopted sister Mikasa, and his close friend Armin witness a terrible event one day.  A colossal titan bigger than 50 meters appears without warning, immediately kicking a hole in the wall.  Smaller titans begin pouring into the city, and countless lives are lost.  As humanity’s hope for survival collapses before his eyes, Eren vows to become stronger and obliterate every titan in the world.

 

Feature: Holiday Wishlist #4

Holiday sales are upon us, ravaging our wallets and stealing our little pennies!  Can a book fit into a stocking?  I doubt you’d want to fray the pages and bend the covers in such a way.  Wrapped packages are always great to see piling up under the tree.  Whether classic literature or comic, books are a wonderful gift to receive.  Some people desire to neatly fill their shelves, and others yearn to become the ultimate collector, letting their assortment overflow into stacks throughout their entire house.  Otakus stake out sales across the internet and bookstores, trying to locate deals on their favorite titles.  And, of course, the manga cows are grazing around this time of the year, congesting store aisles and soaking up all they can find.  Need help in discovering a new manga series that your bookworm friends, hubbies, or siblings will enjoy?  Is one of them just beginning their journey into the vast world of manga?

Don’t worry, because there is a ton to choose from!  I'm here to provide you with a couple lists of titles you should keep an eye out for this Christmas.  They’re good items to read by those fake or real fireplaces in your homes.  Also, be sure to check out this and future Holiday Wishlist feature(s) to get an idea for what to purchase this festive season.  Merry Christmas and happy shopping, everybody!

Manga Holiday Wishlist #1