In a German Expressionist world of dark ivy, sinister alleys and creepy children books, Inspector Lunge is a somewhat vampire-resembling, workaholic police detective. He has a very good memory, a well-seated respect for the facts, and a sense of legalism that would give Inspector Jauvert pause. And now, he is now obsessed with a case… Read More The Devil and Johan Liebert
For a while, I pondered the unlikelihood of the premise of 86: that a nation could have a slave army which reaped none of the benefits of citizenship and which fought without the direct coercion of the citizens. It is true that Spartans fought alongside their Helots, and galley slaves rowed as Roman soldiers fought… Read More The Roman Martyrs and 86ers
For as long as I can remember, my family has vacationed in a small village by the Cantabrian Sea for the summer. We would rent a little house and stay there for a month. A the family would grew bigger each year, more inventiveness was needed, but only in times of great need did we… Read More Nagi no Asukara: The Liturgy of a Love Story
Kyousuke is back, yet again. He lies over the table of the school canteen, tired—more so than he has ever been. The Refrain route, the last one, is about to begin. It is the last chance: Life, death, friendship, the past, the future, love and treason are all going to play out now. If only he… Read More Kyousuke Natsume and Meeting the Crucified Christ (II)
Spring shines outside as a new school year begins. Yukko Aioi, a schoolgirl of fourteen or so, is resting over her desk, groaning and grumbling. She has no motivation to do anything, she says. So Mio Naganohara, her best friend, suggests that she finds one. “But I lack motivation to do even that!” Yukko complains.… Read More Nichijou, comedic hope and my own ordinary life