Karneval, vols. 1 & 2 Mangaka: Touya Mikanagi. Translation: Su Mon Han. Lettering: Alexis Eckerman. Yen Press March 2015 & July 2015 Review copies were provided by Yen Press. Just imagine: what if Cirque du Soleil were actually a band of government-sanctioned assassins dedicated to fighting an underground ring of genetically engineered criminals? Can you…
U Serious, Bra? Game of Boobs: Boob Age
Welcome to the very first installment of U Serious, Bra?, where Claire and Wendy discuss the proper use of boobs in gaming. The topic stemmed from Games Editor Al Rosenberg’s simple question: What does it mean for a game that they have to sell it with boobs (see: Game of War: Fire Age by Machine…
The Thursday Book Beat: Testing the Impact of Bechdel’s Fun Home
Margaret Atwood column: hair today, everywhere but the National Post tomorrow? A tongue-in-cheek column written by Atwood about the hair escapades of some Canadian politicians was pulled from the newspaper’s website a few hours after publication. An edited version of the column appeared on the website that night, with some of Atwood’s more striking remarks…
What’s So Important About the New Steven Universe Theme?
While the eager fans of Steven Universe wait for the second half of season two on Cartoon Network in September, there was a very overwhelming, emotional, and amazing overnight sensation that took everyone by surprise. Fans were presented with the extended San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) version of the Steven Universe theme song in all its…
A Trans Woman in Orbit Around Bitch Planet
When I explained the context of the Non Compliant symbol to my tattoo artist, the one she was going to etch into my skin that day, I used the same elevator pitch I’ve been using since Bitch Planet was announced: “It’s like Orange is the New Black in Space.” Her smile at that description told…
Relic Hunter: Tomb Raider With A Sex Life
Relic Hunter isn’t televisual literature, and the lighting makes it look cheap. It has minimal continuity and no responsibilities; it’s a show made for re-runs and junky binges. The former of which was where I found my familiarity with it, the latter where we got reaquainted last December. The first time I came in contact…
Play to Date: Fallout is on Tinder
Welcome to my new miniseries, Play to Date, in which we discuss the strange, perhaps upsetting, perhaps useful overlap of dating and gaming. Have your own dating/gaming anecdotes? I’d love to hear them.
Get Your Game on Wednesday
Hello, gaming lovelies! Who out there loves pinball? I was lucky to meet a pinball enthusiast at my Makers meeting last week and got to chat about his collection and about making game mods to pinball machines. How cool! Apparently, a pinball renaissance is taking place and there are even pinball museums. Company secures…
Give Yourself a Self-Five: Organization, Anxiety, and Sparkly Stickers
Last month, we explored the world of cosplay with a range of interviews and perspectives. This month, in preparation for the new school year, we decided to talk organization and productivity.
The Best and Worst Boarding Schools in YA
August is coming to an end, and even though it’s been a few years since I’ve had the perversely strange pleasure of picking out new folders and pens, I’m thinking about school. I went to schools of varying degrees of quality and remoteness in a handful of Midwestern states, and while I’m appreciative in many…
3 Takes On Island #2
Island #2 Ed. Brandon Graham and Emma Rios Robin Bougie, Brandon Graham, Will Kirkby, Ludroe, Emma Rios, Simon Roy, and Miguel Alberto Woodward Image Comics August 19, 2015 Island is a new comic magazine edited by Brandon Graham and Emma Rios. The magazine includes prose, illustration, done-in-one, and serialized comics. We reviewed Island #1 here….
How to Tell Your Story: SMOO Comics Series by Simon Moreton
SMOO is an autobiographical comics series from Simon Moreton, one of the most exciting artists on the UK small press scene and co-founder of Bristol Comics and Zine Fair. SMOO is hauntingly brilliant, a series of comics self-published by UK artist Simon Moreton, they make for addictive reading. Whether you start at the beginning (SMOO…
