When everything is normal, you wake up, eat, and sleep. Everything on a regular basis, nothing changing until one event. As if turning to dust, Tokyo Ghoul takes you on a ride from the normal to the paranormal. Blood and gore with drama at its finest, it is embodied in this anime.
Tokyo Ghoul
Kaneki was somewhat of a normal child, yet with no parents. Instead what he surrounded himself was with his books. Yet love is never stagnant, Kaneki too falling prey to this. After successfully getting a date with a young lady named Rize, chaos ensues. Rize, a ghoul, tries to hunt down and eat Kaneki. Yet Kaneki narrowly escapes becoming fatally injured. Yet when he awakes he finds himself disgusted by regular foods. Kaneki, now a half-ghoul, must survive while living in the hell of both worlds.
Becoming a Ghoul
One of my problems with action based anime is the useless need for blood and gore. Tokyo Ghoul is a bit excessive at times, but it fits. It doesn’t needlessly drag on, fitting in each and every part into the series either. Instead, we are given a slow building story that eventually finishes with a bang. Simply put, when the story gets going, it hooks you. Before the second season premiered I had made sure to read every chapter to its end. In the end, it was worth it and I enjoyed the majority of the show.
Verdict
While I found the series to have a slower build up than most, Tokyo Ghoul is entertaining. If you don’t mind blood and gore, I do suggest this anime to you. I think it is much like a roller coaster, slowly taking you up to the top before dropping you onto one hell of a ride. Both season one and two have these aspects, so look forward to great entertainment.
Spider-Man: Homecoming features Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Donald Glover, Zendaya, Marisa Tomei, Robert Downey Jr., Jon Favreau, Tyne Daly, Tony Revolori, Bokeem Woodbine, and Hannibal Buress.
“A young Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland), who made his sensational debut in Captain America: Civil War, begins to navigate his newfound identity as the web-slinging super hero in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, Peter returns home, where he lives with his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), under the watchful eye of his new mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.). Peter tries to fall back into his normal daily routine – distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man – but when the Vulture (Michael Keaton) emerges as a new villain, everything that Peter holds most important will be threatened.”
Spider-Man: Homecoming swings into theaters on July 7.
As fans of ‘Game of Thrones’ become desperate with the series embarking on its final arc, Ommegang has a beer that will calm the nerves and brighten your spirit.
After tasting the beer, we can confirm that Bend the Knee Golden Ale pairs perfectly with the series as it is a full flavor beer that is light enough to enjoy with friends as you watch and discuss the Iron Throne and the hint of honey gives the beer a Middle Ages flare that Tyrion Lannister would be proud of. The beer even has the attitude of Arya Stark as it is deceptively strong at 9.0% ABV.
According to Ommegang, on May 22, Bend the Knee will be released on draft and in a series of three collectible 750ml bottles, all finished in matte black and adorned with one of the three Great House sigils: Stark, Targaryen, or Lannister. The brewery recommends pairing your beer with a wide variety of food, including seafood and shellfish, roasted or grilled chicken, grilled steaks, and aged Swiss-style cheeses.
“With this next Game of Thrones-inspired release, we wanted a beer and a pack that was fit for a king… or a queen,” said Brewery Ommegang President, Doug Campbell. “Drawing from a rich Belgian brewing tradition, Golden Strong Ales are deceptive due to their unique combination of extreme drinkability and relatively high alcohol content. Bend the Knee walks that line, while also incorporating the delicate flavors of honey into the mix. The subtle noble and floral hop contribution add to its delicateness, and the beer finishes smooth and dry.”
What’s in the beer:
Bend the Knee is brewed with pils malt and flaked oats and hopped with Saaz, Bravo, and Styrian Golding hops. It pours a golden hue with a large, frothy head. Both the aroma and flavor mix maltiness and citrus from the hops, while Ommegang’s signature house yeast produces prominent fruitiness. Wildflower honey added during fermentation provides light sweetness to the beer, which finishes dry and with firm hop bitterness.
‘Game of Thrones’ returns to HBO on July 16 for a seventh season.
In a recent interview with Mashable, Luke Cage showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker talked about what fans can expect in season two.
“[Fans can expect] Just bulletproof dopeness! That’s what I want to maintain. I’m hoping that people continue to really enjoy the flavor of the show, and that it feels like a real Harlem and a real New York, but at the same time, has that Marvel twist — the Marvel twist with Netflix’s reach. That’s really this combination of all those factors that I think made Season 1 really a great ride, and hopefully we can maintain that same feel.”
Season one of Luke Cage was well done, so I’m excited for season two, However, the show dragged on a few episodes too long, so hopefully the second season brings us a story arc that can last 13 episodes.
How do you feel about Coker’s words regarding the future of Power Man? Comment below, let us know!
Taking the time to look back and see how far you have come in the story is important. It helps to reinforce how the characters have changed and grown throughout the course of the storytelling. And after recent events in Attack on Titan, it’s definitely important to take stock.
Thanks to the intervention of the Colossal Titan, Eren ends up losing the fight with the Armored Titan (he so had him on the ropes) and being kidnapped. Mikasa and Armin are left with the painful fact they were unable to do anything to stop Eren from being abducted and feel terrible because of it. They start to flashback to a time before the Titans disrupted their lives and they lived relatively carefree lives as children. It helps to remind the audience just how deep the trio’s bonds run and how they have always been there for each other.
There is a nice bit of a character showing off as the military police talk about wishing Titans were actually in the area so they could have a shot at them. Unfortunately, Levi is there and is quick to suggest they join him on his next expedition. The braggers on the Military Police stop talking because they know deep down they wouldn’t last a minute in a real Titan encounter. It’s amusing to think they even could as they are cowards compared to an intense warrior like Levi.
Despite this episode far less action filled than the previous one, it still serves a purpose. It helps the characters and the audience to take a breather and remember it has been a long journey for them and they still have a long way to go. The main theme to take away is growth. The characters have grown but they are who they were from the beginning. In the case of Mikasa, Eren, and Armin, it’s a reminder these three are family and will do anything it takes to keep one another safe.
Attack on Titan: Season Two is streaming on Crunchyroll.
I’ve previously reviewed three other brews from Tobermory Brewing Company so I won’t waste too much time in describing the brewery. Check out mypreviousreviews for more information on this popular brewing company on the tip of the Bruce Peninsula. And, though I make a point of stopping by the Tobermory Brewing Company every time I’m in Tobermory, I’m always able to find a new brew to fill my growler and howler with. This time, I got a howler of Tobermory Brewing’s Rattlesnake Rye PA along with a growler of their blonde.
Unfortunately, the contents of my growler disappeared quickly upon arriving at my family’s cottage. This is a relatively a common occurrence on the May 24 long weekend. So, instead of reviewing both, I’ll have to make do with reviewing only Rattlesnake Rye PA, not for the faint of hops.
Tobermory Brewing Company: Rattlesnake Rye PA – First Sip
Rattlesnake pours an amber colour with very little foam. I notice a sweet malty aroma as I take my first sip. This beer isn’t overpoweringly bitter, but the rye flavour definitely ratchets up the bitterness of its hops. Although Rattlesnake’s initial flavour is semi-sweet, its bitter aftertaste is quick to follow and gives this beer a nice mouthwatering finish. I’m drinking this beer out of a day-old howler, and its mouthfeel is probably quite different when fresh. But from a day-old howler, Rattlesnake has a low carbonation level and a thin consistency. These combine to make it a bitter but smooth beer to drink.
Tobermory Brewing Company: Rattlesnake Rye PA – Last Sip
I don’t know why anyone would ever think of drinking straight from a 32-oz. howler, but in case you are thinking about it, don’t. Although its aroma isn’t strong, it’s pleasing and not to be missed. Also, this brew’s amber colour matches its flavour well, so it shouldn’t be hidden inside a brown bottle.
With a 6% ABV rating, beer enthusiasts should avoid drinking a whole howler in one sitting so make sure you have some fellow hops lovers to share this with.
Black Clover is a manga that came out around the time Bleachand Narutowere ending. Many people dislike it because of how many elements it borrows and combines but in my eyes, that’s what makes it so great. Shounen comics are made with a formula in mind so that they can hit all the right notes. This is no exception.
Plot
The story follows a young orphan who hopes to become Magic Emperor. That’s essentially the title given to the strongest magician of the Clover kingdom. Apart from being given a title, the Emperor also has the Order of the Magic Knights at his disposal.
In this universe everyone is given a unique book that gives them spells to use kind of like Zatch Bell.
There’s one big problem with that dream though. The kid can’t use magic! In a world where class and status are determined by how much magic you can control, this puts our hero at a clear disadvantage.
Luckily he doesn’t let that hold him back as he values hard work over talent. Oh and he gains a tome that summons a sword that negates and reflects magic.
He eventually joins a Magic Knight order after impressing its leader with his physical abilities and his never give up attitude. The squad, however, is considered the worst one of the available 9 and full of problematic characters. Magic orders act like villages in Naruto where the characters have to take on missions to make money and increase their reputation across the world.
Everything is clearly stacked up against our protagonist which makes it that much more enjoyable when he succeeds.
I like to compare Black Clover to Harry Potter meets Naruto with a sprinkle of Fairy Tail and Magi.
One thing that needs to be mentioned is how fast the pace of the story is. Within 3 or 4 chapters, our character has met all of the important characters and has already developed new abilities. There’s constant action happening but the little downtime that we get is still enjoyable.
Everyone was surprised Asta received a tome.
Characters
The main character is named Asta. As stated earlier, he has no mana and relies mainly on his physical abilities to make it through dangerous situations. He is ignorant to most of the finer details of the world due to being from a backwater village, being poor, and having no magic skills. What he does have is the ability to persevere, no matter the situation. He’s the comic relief character the majority of the time. His magic tome summons an anti-magic sword.
Yuno is the rival character. He has much of the same background as Asta as they are from the same orphanage. Unlike Asta, he has limitless mana and has powerful wind magic. He’s more serious and could be compared to Sasuke Uchiha from Naruto. He isn’t whiny and actually likes and respects Asta from the beginning though.
In terms of main characters that’s it. What we do get are recurring characters from the different Magic Knight squads instead. They each have their special traits and magic that I wouldn’t be able to do justice for by mentioning them here.
Having a big sword helps with never giving up.
Art Style
The art style is the typical manga art. Nothing really stands out negatively or positively in terms of style. Sometimes the artist seems to not have enough time to finish the complete chapter, but it rarely happens. It’s more of a minor inconvenience, by that point.
Read it
If you like fantasy, magic, and underdogs, this is the manga for you. All of the characters are lovable and the only thing that might grind your gears is how positive most outcomes are. It’s worth a read if only to get an idea of how combining elements from different stories can make something good. Black Clover is a good magical story that should be more popular than trash like Fairy Tail. If you insist on not reading it, I heard there’s an anime so give that a shot.
A brand new Wonder Woman TV spot has been released on the Warner Bros. Youtube channel. Watch it below.
This piece of marketing just reassures, to me, that WB has learned from their past mistakes. With Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad, the company put out way too much footage in the form of trailers, TV spots, and short clips. With Wonder Woman they’ve given fans enough to chew on before the release date, yet done it in a way that doesn’t reveal many spoilers.
“Wonder Woman hits movie theaters around the world next summer when Gal Gadot returns as the title character in the epic action adventure from director Patty Jenkins. Before she was Wonder Woman, she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained to be an unconquerable warrior. Raised on a sheltered island paradise, when an American pilot crashes on their shores and tells of a massive conflict raging in the outside world, Diana leaves her home, convinced she can stop the threat. Fighting alongside man in a war to end all wars, Diana will discover her full powers…and her true destiny.”
Wonder Woman stars Gal Gadot as the title character, Chris Pine, Robin Wright as Antiope, David Thewlis, Danny Huston, Elena Anaya, Connie Nielsen, Ewen Bremner, and Lucy Davis.
How do you feel about Homecoming adding a version of the classic Spider-Man theme song? Sound off in the comments below.
Spider-Man: Homecoming features Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Donald Glover, Zendaya, Marisa Tomei, Robert Downey Jr., Jon Favreau, Tyne Daly, Tony Revolori, Bokeem Woodbine, and Hannibal Buress.
“A young Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland), who made his sensational debut in Captain America: Civil War, begins to navigate his newfound identity as the web-slinging super hero in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, Peter returns home, where he lives with his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), under the watchful eye of his new mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.). Peter tries to fall back into his normal daily routine – distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man – but when the Vulture (Michael Keaton) emerges as a new villain, everything that Peter holds most important will be threatened.”
NXT takes over the second city with their first special in this current incarnation. It may be glorious, but will this be Hideo’s night to shine? Is there an Asuka problem brewing? Ninja rap, and much more as we dive in…
The popular opinion of the WWE Universe is that this year’s “superstar shakeup” really did a number on NXT. At first glance, this notion is hard to argue. Samoa Joe jumped CrossFit Jesus in January, taking his star power and experience to RAW. Austin Aries followed in March to add star power to 205 Live! (Which was like putting a band-aid on the screen door of a submarine, but I digress)
WrestleMania followed, which meant the annual call-ups commenced. By the time the dust cleared, the yellow brand was sans their previous World and Tag Team Champions (Shinsuke Nakamura and The Revival respectively), a perfect fan favorite (Tye Dillinger), and “The Drifter” (Ok, you got me. Nobody gives a shit about “The Drifter,” but I have this thing about lists of 3’s! Sue me!)
Annual resets are nothing new in the wrestling business, but this is the first year that NXT has really needed to circle the wagons and reestablish the hierarchy. Thankfully, Bobby Roode was anointed as the lynchpin of NXT for the foreseeable future. “The Glorious One” looks to defend this title this month for the second straight TakeOver special, but we’ll touch on that soon enough.
Right now, without further delay, let’s take a look at the menu for TakeOver: Chicago…
Singles Match: Roderick Strong vs. Eric Young
This match was voted “most likely to jerk the curtain” in high school. Seriously though, these two gentlemen are “pro’s pros” and this match will be technically sound. The result will have zero consequences regardless of the finish, so fans will just be able to sit back and enjoy the show.
Prediction: EY cheats and wins! Then again.
Anyone notice that Drew McIntyre isn’t on this card? This doesn’t seem practical considering the magnitude of his star power. One could easily see members of Sanity interfering, and McIntyre of Kassius Ohno coming to Rody’s aid. Just sayin’…
United Kingdom Championship Match: Tyler Bate (c) vs. Pete Dunne
NXT.com didn’t even bother to create a graphic for this match. This gesture is a microcosm of how everyone really feels about the United Kingdom Championship. Trust me.
With this in mind, I present to you a picture of Finn Bálor in front of the United Kingdom Championship logo… Boy, can dude smile or what?
Prediction: Mikey Curalli is going to publish an article about Finn Bálor in the next week or so that is actually going to have words in it. Promise.
Oh, and the champion will prevail, just a hunch.
NXT Women’s Championship Match: Asuka (c) vs. Ruby Riot vs Nikki Cross
According to this very reputable sight, Asuka has been successful in 175 consecutive matches to start her NXT/WWE career. (25 more Ws than Goldberg speared through to start his career for those of you keeping score at home) Yes, the empress has been leaving more ladies lying than Wilt Chamberlain, and there is no end in sight.
Asuka is an amazingly charismatic performer who no doubt has the “IT factor” that so many performer’s lack these days. Seriously, from step one out of the curtain, nobody in the arena can take their eyes off her. There is also this thing about Asuka being terrifying when she smiles at you. Nobody knows if she is going to kiss your cheek or kick your face off your head. All of this is incredible to witness, however, shouldn’t all of this dominance be a touch alarming?
At some point, Asuka has to take an L, right? Somebody has to come along and knock her down a peg. The problem is nobody currently on the NXT roster that has even given her a competitive match. Like, for real, she just kicks people in the head a bunch of times, laughs at their feeble attempts at offense, and wins…
The fantasy booker in me obviously sees the potential of a showdown between an undefeated Asuka and Charlotte sometime down the road. WWE will take all my money to see that, but what becomes of the NXT women’s division when their champion grows tired of playing Triple-A ball?
Ruby Riot and Nikki Cross are fine characters, and I enjoy them both. However, Saturday night has the makings of an Ausuka rinse/repeat session. This is a problem. There are no stakes in her matches anymore. That needs to change really fast.
Prediction: Everyone has fun watching Asuka dance and kick hoes in the nose. #greatattitudeerashirt
NXT Tag Team Championship Ladder Match: DIY vs The Authors of Pain (c)
This match almost went to hell when Tommaso Ciampa tweaked his ankle at a live event Thursday night. This led to Triple H assuring everyone that Ciampa will compeat while fielding questions during NXT conference call. Hindsight being 20/20, nobody should ever question the toughness of anyone who has ever been referred to as “Psycho Killer.”
With hopefully everyone participating this ladder match, these teams are primed to steal the show. DIY has brought the best out of the Authors to date, and adding a ladder certainly, raises the steaks. Gargano and Ciampa have always considered Chicago as their adopted home, so a hero’s welcome is no doubt in store for the champions.
Side Note: How on Earth did WWE/NXT not name the Authors of Pain Tokka and Rahzar?
No joke, one of the dude’s names… is REZAR! You mean to tell me that fans would not go bananas if you named these two after ninja turtle villains? Who dropped the ball with this? These dudes should be coming to the ring to Vanilla Ice doing this to everyone dressed like gigantic animals! Nobody can convince me otherwise!
Prediction: The heroes do not die in this one folks! DIY regains in a stunner.
NXT Championship Match: Bobby Roode (c) vs. Hideo Itami
TakeOver: Chicago means more to Hideo Itami than anyone else on the card. Some fans have viewed the former Kenta as a “bust” of some sorts. So much so, that Hideo actually acknowledged the rumors on Twitter this week.
Since I've come to WWE. I haven't lived up to my expectations. But finally I will have the opportunity to show, WHO I AM. Get ready #G2S
Saturday will no doubt be the most important match of Itami’s career to date. Luckily for him, his dance partner is simply… GLORIOUS. Roode is the perfect heel champion to bring out the fire-breathing baby face deep down in Hideo. NXT has done a great job building to this encounter as well, considering these two had a face off not long after Roode’s debut on the yellow brand.
Prediction: Tons of flips, strong strikes, and false finishes. Roode will retain after some glorious chicanery. Mark my words though, the night ends with Roode in a stare down with either Drew McIntyre or Adam Cole! (bay-bay)
Any predictions of your own for TakeOver: Chicago? Leave them, and any other comments in the section below. Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter as well @themikeycuralli!
with no parents. Instead what he surrounded himself was with his books. Yet love is never stagnant, Kaneki too falling prey to this. After successfully getting a date with a young lady named Rize, chaos ensues. Rize, a ghoul, tries to hunt down and eat Kaneki. Yet Kaneki narrowly escapes becoming fatally injured. Yet when he awakes he finds himself disgusted by regular foods. Kaneki, now a half-ghoul, must survive while living in the hell of both worlds.
