Kingbeast's Lair

-== What is it? ==-

Samurai Jack Season 1 is an animated TV show about a powerful samurai who gets sent to the future by an evil Chinese devil known as Aku. Season 1 originally aired from August 2001 to November 2001. It was produced by Genndy Tartakovsky.

There is no nudity in the series and no sexual references. Combat involves the destruction of robots and strange beasts only. Fight scenes in Samurai Jack are very violent but they are done in a light cinematic fashion. I would rate the series at 10 years and up.

I purchased the standard edition version of the DVD boxed set. There are XIII episodes that are roughly 22 minutes length. The DVD entry on Amazon says that there is 299 minutes of material in the boxed set.

-== What I Like ==-

Samurai Jack is an iconic cartoon series and one of the things that helped catapult Genndy Tartakovsky into the spotlight of animation greatness. Each episode of the series is presented as a small movie with sweeping cinematic images and fantastic storytelling. Season 1 of Samurai Jack lays the groundwork for the rest of the series.

The individual episodes in season 1 are not as strong as those in season 2 but there are still some standouts that deserve mention. Here are the episodes that I would rank at 8 out of 10 paws or higher.

• I – 10 out of 10 paws – The main story of Aku and Jack. The training scenes with young Jack are breathtakingly done and capture the attention of the viewer. The artwork style is clean yet fluid. The music is sweeping in scope and really sets the tone for the epic nature of the series.
• III – 8 out of 10 paws – A very A-Team like episode. The extended fight scene in this ep ebbs and flows through its course.
• V – 8 out of 10 paws – Astronauts trying to return home. Jack allows them to escape but traps himself in the future.
• VI – 10 out of 10 paws – A fantastic yarn where Jack meets a strange woman in black who has a prophecy about a gem that can return Jack to the past. The pair travel across the land facing dangers. Wonderful ending. Iconic Jack ep.
• VII – 10 out of 10 paws – This might be my favorite ep of the first season. It involves a legend of a pool that can grant wishes and three blind kangaroo archers of superior skill. The casual opening is just fantastic. It is a calm before the storm. The way music and sound are used and taken away in this episode is off the charts beautiful. Listen to and watch one of the greatest Jack stories of the entire run.
• IX – 9 out of 10 paws – In this story Jack visits an underwater city. Fantastic fish creatures and ships. Wonderful plot twist.
• XI – 9 out of 10 paws – This ep is Jack’s first meeting with the Scotsman. The scene on the bridge is fantastic and wonderfully done. The Scotsman is by far my favorite recurring Samurai Jack character.
• XII – 9 out of 10 paws – Mobsters who befriend Jack for their own gain. This ep shows the vast range that the design crew was willing to take with the series. From the Scotsman to dog mobsters. Don’t get much better.
• XIII – 8 out of 10 paws – Nice story of some kids telling fairy takes about Jack and Aku. The ep gets really funny when Aku tells his version of the stories where he is the hero. Classic ep.

There are not a lot of extras with the Season 1 boxed set. The only extra worth commenting about is a “making of” piece. It is nicely done but I would have liked to see a bit more. There are also episode commentaries which vary in relevance.

-== What I Don’t Like ==-

There are a couple of episodes in the first season that are not that strong. I am not fond of ep II where Jack gets his name or ep VIII that really has no plot besides a bunch of bounty hunters trying to kill Jack. Both lack the heart of other episodes in Season 1.

-== Summary ==-

Samurai Jack is one of my favorite animated TV shows of all time. The only animated series that even comes close is Batman: The Animated Series from Bruce Timm. Season 1 of the series is a GREAT collection and is highly recommended. The price point from Amazon is also quite good.

I give it 9 out of 10 paws.

You can get copies of the DVD on Amazon for $15.49 at this URL.

-== What is it? ==-

The Adventures Of The 19XX (19XX) is a pulp web comic that has been bound and published by it’s creator, writer, and artist Paul Roman Martinez. The collection of web comics are split into two stories called Rise Of The Black Faun and Montezuma 1934. Each story is bound into a separate hardback book. Funding for the books was conducted through a kickstarter.

The 19XX books have color covers and beautiful color interior art. The books are 10.25” x 6.75” and are roughly 130 pages in length. The pages are not numbered so it is a bit hard to calculate the exact length of each book. I am reviewing print copies of 19XX that I bought through the kickstarter.

-== What I Like ==-

The 19XX is a group of elite heroes who travel around the world on a massive zeppelin called the Carpathian. They use their talents to fight evil before the start of World War II. Adventures have some mystical elements that really pump up the storytelling.

The writing for 19XX is top notch. Each storyline is split into several action filled chapters. Tension builds in each chapter until is reaches a climactic finish where the stakes are very high. This is great pulp writing.

The various main characters and people that they meet along the way are dynamic and chock full of pulpy goodness. Some of my favorite 19XX characters include the baseball swinging Penn, The Kid and his intelligent rabbit friend Togo, and Vera the tank driver. Some really memorable villains include the undead Shining Skull, the elder god tainted Demonhand, and the twisted beekeeper Modomnoc. One really neat addition to the stories is the presence of historical figures. The main characters will meet or mention people like Nikola Tesla, Howard Hughes, Freida Khalo, and the ghost of Isambard Brunnel.

The artwork in 19XX is detailed but not cluttered. Focus is put on the characters and the gear/vehicles. Backgrounds are often left empty or lightly rendered. You can tell that the artist took a lot of care when drawing the various vehicles. It really adds a nice touch of authenticity to the stories.

The production quality of the books is wonderful. The front covers for the 19XX books are full color with cloth bindings. The interior pages are bright and vibrant. These are high quality books.

One really fun aspect of the 19XX “franchise” is that you can pickup lots of different products related to the property. From the online store you can get the books, patches, t-shirts, bags, models, and prints. I got some of the patches and they are top quality. Next I think I may get a t-shirt…but which one!!!

-== What I Don’t Like ==-

My only complaint with the storytelling in 19XX is that sometimes the pacing can feel a bit jerky. I think this is because each strip was initially presented as an individual web comic. In my opinion this is more evident in the first book. The second book flows a bit better.

There are a lot of main 19XX characters, villains, and side characters. (See the associated picture with this article. This picture shows the 19XX heroes only.) At times I wanted to hear more about a given character. As part of the kickstarter I also pledged for books called Secret Files. These books contain additional information and stories about some of the characters from the books. These really added to the experience for me. I recommend purchasing these with the main two collections.

-== Summary ==-

The Adventures Of 19XX might be my favorite pulp comic strip and I have read quite a few of them. I’m waiting for the next story to finish so I can buy the third book. Each book has a price point of $19.95 which is VERY reasonable for the quality of the presentation, artwork, and storytelling. If you want high-action stories full of pulpy goodness then look no farther than The Adventures Of 19XX.

I give it 9 out of 10 paws.

You can get copies of the books at this URL for $19.95. Here is a link to the main 19XX site.

-== What is it? ==-

Mom’s Cancer is a personal tale of how a family deals with the onset of cancer. It was written and illustrated by Brian Fies. Mom’ Cancer was published by Abrams Comicarts and has a cover price of $14.95. If you want to get more details on the book head over to momscancer.com.

The book has a color cover and predominately black and white interior pages. There are a few interior pages which are in color. Mom’s Cancer is 7.5″ x 5.5″ and is 115 pages in length. I am reviewing a print copy of Mom’s Cancer that I purchased from Brian Fies when he did a signing at Illusive Comics & Games. (FYI. Brian is a super friendly guy. )

-== What I Like ==-

Mom’s Cancer is an incredibly honest story about how a family deals with the onset of cancer. The honesty and care in how the individual strips are presented is really refreshing. While reading Mom’s Cancer I felt like I was taking part in the families journey. I have not felt that way reading a graphic novel since Spiegelman’s Maus.

The story of Mom’s Cancer covers a wide range of emotions. The family goes through times of doubt, confusion, pain, sadness, joy, frustration, and relief. This is comic strip writing at its very best.

Several years ago my Mom went through a battle with a brain tumor that put my family through the wringer. While reading Brian’s story of how he dealt with his Mom’s cancer I immediately had flashbacks to my own experiences. I think many adults who have been through something like this would have the same reaction when reading Mom’s Cancer. In many ways my experiences make the story hit home even harder. This is powerful tale told in a graceful easy to digest manner.

The form factor of this graphic novel is very different. It is only 7.5″ x 5.5″ in size. I think the form factor and one strip per page layout makes Mom’s Cancer approachable. Even people who are not graphic novel readers will be able to enjoy it.

-== What I Don’t Like ==-

Mom’s Cancer is a very personal story. Even though it did not affect me I could see how some reader might feel like they are intruding on something that is private.

-== Summary ==-

Mom’s Cancer is an Eisner Award winner and I can see why. The story and art come together to tell an honest and powerful tale. After talking with Brian at the book signing my appreciation for the story only gets greater. We talked about our kids for several minutes and it was easy for me to see how much family means to Brain. When my kids get older I will have them read Mom’s Cancer. Mom’s Cancer gets my highest recommendation and a rare 10 out of 10 rating.

You can get copies at Amazon.com at this URL for $5.98. It is also available for the Kindle. For $5.98 this is absolutely a STEAL! I would also bet that Illusive Comics also has some signed copies in stock. Head over and buy it.

I give it 10 out of 10 paws.

Summary

Welcome to the third annual Lair Awards. It is again time to pick through the fumbles to uncover some critical hits. This year I will not be changing the format.

Here is how the 2012 Lair Awards will work. There will be four categories: Best Anime, Best Read, Best RPG, and Best Session. To be eligible for an award the product must have been reviewed in the calendar year by me on the blog. There were a TON of great products released in 2012 but if I did not review them they don’t count. Also note that I often review products that are quite old. A product is eligible for an award if I reviewed it in 2012…period…it does not matter when the product was actually released.

The envelopes please!

Best Anime – Samurai Jack Season 2

Picking the winner for this category was difficult. I watched three animated features that I thought were very good. Here is a list of the three that stood out with some comments and links to the detailed reviews. These are presented in alphabetical order.

• Mushi-Shi – A rare series that merits buzz words like serene, exquisite, and enchanting. A true joy to watch.
• Patlabor The Movie – Classic giant robot movie with action, investigation, and drama. Off the charts set of extras in the limited edition DVD set.
• Samurai Jack Season 2 – Season 2 has some of the best episodes in the entire run. The three that really stand out include XVII (The Scotsman), XIX (Lone Wolf And Cub), and XXV (300).

When I was considering these entries I thought about each one then reread my reviews. They all have some amazing content but Samurai Jack Season 2 raises to the top of the pile because of some superior episodes. The Scotsman episode (XVII) is probably my favorite episode of Samurai Jack. Every time I watch it I fight to stay seated on my couch.

Best Read – No Winner!

Houston we have a problem! I realized a bit too late the I did not have any print media reviews this year. Wow…this is something that I must address in 2013. I read some wonderful stuff in 2012 that just did not make it to the blog.

Best RPG – The Widening Gyre

The award for Best RPG was easy this year. Bill Keyes really hit it out of the industrial park with his steampunk genre book for the Hero System called The Widening Gyre. The amount of coverage and the high quality of the writing make this one a real winner. The Widening Gyre should be considered THE steampunk sourcebook for Hero. (I just heard today that Bill is contemplating a version of The Widening Gyre for Savage Worlds. That would be great. )

In this section I also wanted to mention a blog post that I did called One Patron’s Guide To Crowd Sourcing RPGs. I think this is my best blog post on the site for 2012.

Best Session – Spirit Storm Session #34 – Vault Of The Dragon Kings

I had a lot of fun gaming in 2012 and I was able to blog about many of them through the session reports. The sessions that I blogged about in 2012 included Sessions #34-#35 of Spirit Storm and Session #1-#8 of The Armitage Files. After reviewing all of these blog posts I decided the my favorite session was Spirit Storm Session #34 – Vault Of The Dragon Kings. The massive climactic dual between Avatars Of The Great Tree and Sunscratch in Cragspine’s body were just a blast. Every PC really shined in that adventure. Highlights included Cillian taking on his dragon form for the first time, Oren’s crushing blow on Sunscratch’s skull, Bilby’s acrobatic prowess, and Po’s powerful curses.

If I had to pick a second favorite it would be The Armitage Files Session #6 – Travelling Side Show Freaks. The roleplaying and depth of investigation in this session is really wonderful.

Please reply if you have any comments.

GAME ON!

I decided that it might be fun to start a new Christmas tradition at Kingbeast’s Lair. Since this is a time of giving and since I love reading gift lists I thought it might be fun to present a list of the RPG, anime, and fun read related offerings that are currently on my gift list and a list of items that I think would make great gifts for the geek in your life. For each list I will limit myself to one RPG, one anime series or movie, and one fun read.

My Wish List

Here is a brief summary of a few of items on my Christmas list this year. I really hope I get some of these under my tree. If any of my regular players are reading this then I want to remind them how much work I put into running games…I could really use something to keep me motivated…hint hint.

Agents Of Oblivion by Reality Blurs
Agents of Oblivion is a setting for Savage Worlds and True20 by the folks at Reality Blurs. Here is the elevator pitch from their site:

Ready for horror-fueled espionage action? Agents of Oblivion wants you!

The pages within are graced with everything you need to play the style of spy game you want to play from “The Company Line” where every nightmare and conspiracy you can imagine is real and you can wield the powers you need to drive back the darkness to “Spy versus Spy” where you can take things on in a gritty brutal fashion.

Agents Of Oblivions was a nominee for 2012 ENnie Award for Best Supplement. The other things that look interesting to me is that it is run with Savage Worlds, which I have been itching to run, and it features spies and monsters. What is not to love about espionage and horror! Here is a link to the product page on the Reality Blurs website. They have copies at Noble Knight Games at this URL for $24.95.

Rin: Daughters Of Mnemosyne Complete Series by FUNimation
Rin is an adult anime series that looks to be full of sex, violence, and mystery. Here is the story blurb from the FUNimation site:

Rin Asogi is an immortal private detective with a thirst for vodka and a talent for attracting things that go bump in the night. In a series of nightmarish vignettes spanning sixty-five years, Rin’s lush body is sadistically pierced, blown up, and mulched to a bloody pulp. The fiend behind her tortured existence is Apos, an eternal being obsessed with sacrificing Rin to Yggdrasil, the tree of all life. While Rin struggles to unravel the secrets of her endless agony, Apos lurks in the shadows, eager to tear into her ripe body and devour the memories of her countless lives. Rin’s no stranger to the realm of the dead, but her next visit could last forever.

I has received some good reviews and the preview material on the FUNimation site looks excellent. Here is a link to the Rin site at FUNimation.com. You can get copies at RightStuf at this URL for $24.99.

Black Fire by Hernan Rodriguez
Black Fire is a very interesting graphic novel published by Archaia. I don’t have any experience with Hernan Rogriguez but I love almost everything that comes out of Archaia and the summary on their site looks really interesting. Here is a synopsis from the Archaia site:

Black Fire is the story of two soldiers in Napoleon’s army retreating from his disastrous campaigns in Russia. Separated from their unit by a Cossack attack, they stumble across an isolated Slavic town, where strange and bizarre doings are afoot. The ancient town is deep, forbidden territory, the prison of a dark monster-god out of Slavic legend and nightmare, which seeks to use the newcomers to escape. This is an historical horror story in the vein of HP Lovecraft and Brotherhood of the Wolf.

Monsters and Napoleon’s soldiers!?! SOLD! Here is a link to the Archaia product site for Black Fire. You can pickup copies on Amazon.com at this URL for $18.96.

Wish List For That Special Person In Your Life

Here are just three of the items on my bookshelf that I think would make great gifts. Note that two of these entries have not yet been reviewed on Kingbeast’s Lair but may be reviewed next year.

Never Unprepared by Engine Publishing
This is a new book full of advice for GMs of any system. Here is the blurb from the product site:

Whether you’re new to game mastering or have been running the same campaign since 1974, Never Unprepared: The Complete Game Master’s Guide to Session Prep will help you prepare for games faster, avoid common pitfalls, and have more fun in the process. To our knowledge, this is the first book entirely devoted to the process of prepping for tabletop RPGs.

Ten years in the making, Never Unprepared is award-winning author Phil Vecchione’s epic rock ballad to game prep. A project manager and veteran game master, he draws on extensive experience to present flexible systems for developing or optimizing your own unique approach to game prep. Phil’s work has previously appeared on GnomeStew.com (silver ENnie Award winner for Best Blog, 2010 and 2011) and in Eureka: 501 Adventure Plots to Inspire Game Masters and Masks: 1,000 Memorable NPCs for Any Roleplaying Game.

You can pickup copies at Noble Knight Games at this URL for a paltry $17.95.

Mushi-Shi by FUNimation
Mushi-Shi is a wonderful anime series that follows a mushi master known as Ginko. Stories are heart warming and deep. I did a complete review of the series with tons of details at this URL. Highly recommended.

Atomic Robo by Red 5 Comics
Atomic Robo is a light pulpy comic that is a joy to read. The stories are well written and the artwork is just beautiful. Here is a blurb about the first trade paperback:

In 1923, Nikola Tesla’s career is in its twilight… until he unveils a robot with automatic intelligence – ATOMIC ROBO! After decades of dealing with all manner of weirdness, Atomic Robo and the so-called Action Scientists of Tesladyne become the go-to defense force against the unexplained! See ROBO take on Nazis, giant ants, clockwork mummies, walking pyramids, Mars, cyborgs, and his nemesis, Baron von Helsingard, in his first trade paperback graphic novel. This edition collects the hard-to-find, sold-out, debut issues of Atomic Robo #1-6, complete with cover gallery, pin-ups, concept sketches, and bonus stories.

Another cool thing about Atomic Robo is that there will soon be an RPG for the setting produced by the brilliant folks at Evil Hat Games. (Here is a link to the RPG site that you can watch for updates.) You can get copies of Atomic Robo at this URL for $18.95 on Amazon.

Merry Christmas everyone!

[FYI. If any of my players are still reading this post I was just kidding...it is a joy running games for you gyus. ]