New 52 Catwoman: Volume 1 "The Game" Review

                Prior to the New 52, I didn’t really think much of this character. In a world of Superman, Captain Marvel, and Doomsdays most people wouldn’t think twice about some chick dressed up as a cat. Before the reboot I knew the character as a jewel thief and a possible love interest of the Batman. Beyond that I never really cared to know more about her. Then came the New 52.

                I was sketchy about buying the first book, but in the end I did. I fully expected to be disappointed with half hearted characters, predictable boring ass plots about some hidden jewels that no one cares about.  I gave it a shot anyway and within about two pages I realized how wrong I was about this particular b-list thief.        

                Judd Winick tells a compelling story, the character designs are original, the art is very well suited to the story.  Most importantly I actually cared about the characters. If you haven’t read it yet it’s a must have.

                                                                 

          The story starts off with Selina Kyle rushing to get dressed and grab her belongings as a group of thugs break in and shoot the place up. She escapes and the thugs set off a bomb in her apartment.  Next up we meet her fence Lola. Lola offers her a place to stay but Selina declines, instead decides to crash at a penthouse while the owner is away. Lola then hooks selina up with a job, ripping off the Russian mob.

                 She sneaks into the Russian party as a bartender and eardrops in on the mobs conversation. However to her surprise a guy named Renald is attending the party. Some flashbacks take place and we figure out that Renald is not a nice guy, and Selina decides to right some past wrongs by removing Renold’s eye.

                Flash forward a bit and we find out that Batman and Catwoman have an ongoing late night relationship. However that’s about as deep as it goes(no pun intended), Selina  doesn’t know Batman’s identity, and doesn’t really care to find out.

                After there little late night adventure, Selina finds herself at Wayne manor setting up two sides of the Russian mob. Some confrontation happens and she makes out with both sides cash and saves seemingly defenseless Bruce Wayne from getting shot up.

                After making a clean escape from the mob, Selina travels to Lola’s place only to find her fence beat to death, and to add insult to injury, shot in the head.

                Selina finally realizes how her actions are finally catching up to her, and knows she needs to change her ways, but first takes her revenge on Lola’s assailants. 

               And this story’s just getting started. I’m not going to ruin the whole story for you, so defiantly give it a read. It changed my whole perspective on Selina Kyle and her misadventures. Catwoman is defiantly a series to keep up with. I give it a 10/10.   

Bitty of the Week!!! Childhood Crush Edition!

You all might remember her from "Step by Step" as Alicia Lambert. I now present to you Christine Lakin. Here are a few pics to jog your memory:

Then

and NOW!!

How many of  you had a crush?

Manga Highlight!! Berserk!

       If you haven’t seen the original anime, it’s a must-see. If you've seen just the original 25-episode anime or the recent movies, then get excited because you've only scratched the surface of one of the most compelling written and beautifully drawn manga out there. Yes, you read correctly, manga (Just in case didn't know manga are Japanese comics). Berserk started as a manga on November 26, 1990 by Hakusensha in its Jets Comics. To date Berserk has 36 complete volumes and it’s still ongoing. The amazing illustrations and mind and behind the series Kentaro Miura, but that’s neither here nor there. We are here to talk about Berserk.

**** Warning! It’s not for the weak at heart, this story venture down the dark recesses of the mankind. This manga is definitely not for kids, at least under the age of 18. ****

The main character goes by the name Guts, which is more of statement then a name. Guts is literally the personification of the human will. First off, he was born from a corpse and raised by a group of mercenaries. He wields one of the biggest swords you will ever see, and it’s not just for show. He has a bad habit of cutting fully armored men and their mounts into piles of flesh. He's a master swordsman with a prosthetic arm cannon. Wielding a repeater crossbow and throwing daggers makes him a walking force of death and destruction.

NSFW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 This dark fantasy revolves around Gust’s life and his quest of revenge against higher beings that want to devour him….soul and body. After involuntarily leaving the band of mercenaries that raised him (Due to the fact that you’re going to have to read it to find out. What I’m not going to spoil it for the new readers) he sets out on his own. His quest leads him to many battlefields, until he meets a group of mercenaries called Band of the Hawk. After an ambush, a bet, and duel he is defeat at the hands of the Hawks leader Griffith and becomes a member and eventual leader of the Hawks’ Raider brigade. Guts gets caught up in Griffiths dream of one having his own kingdom and makes the Hawks his home. Their reputation on the battlefield gained them the attention of Midlands’s king. They are hired on to help end midlands 100 year war. Many events lead up to the Band of the Hawk winning the war; as a result they were given nobility by the king and given the coveted title of “white”.  An overheard conversation leads Guts to pursue his own dream of becoming a master swordsman. On the morning of Guts departure key members of the Hawks try to stop Guts from leaving for their own reason, including Caska (Guts rival and eventual lover). There he bids his farewell, but not without a fight. Griffith is pissed off, because he doesn't understand why guts would leave the group. Guts is the only person to make Griffith forget his dream, and consider him a close confidant and one might even say a friend. This leads to their final duel with Guts the victor. 

 Griffith is so depressed with guts leaving he ends up sleeping with the princess. The king finds out and Sh$t hits the FAN. The hawks are hunted down as criminals and Griffith is tortured for his crime. About a year later Guts finds out what happened to the Hawks and returns only to find out….. that this is where I’ll leave off.  Things get really interesting from that point. I left a lot of key information out so that it wouldn't spoil it for our readers new to the series. Like I said you should check it out. It’s unforgettable….trust me.