March 2021 Update

I watched so many films and TV shows this month. Here is the list:

Films:

All six Tinker Bell movies. Here they are in the order I liked them, the first being the best:

1. The Great Fairy Rescue

2. Secret of the Wings

3. The Pirate Fairy

4. Tinker Bell

5. The Legend of the NeverBeast

6. The Lost Treasure

Next, there's Moxie (it's good, but it needed better disability rep, and any queer rep), Whip It (2009) (generic by today's standards, and inappropriate and condoning with some issues), Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) (definitely a ridiculous, so-bad-it's-good shlock fest that tries to do too many things at once), Ophelia (2018) (underrated, and Daisy Ridley needs more praise and attention), Finding 'Ohana (too long and pretty boring, and it's full of clichés, contrivances and cringey performances from the child actors, but the diversity is appreciated), Wonder Woman 1984 (a fun and relevant superhero flick; the only real downside for me is Diana's blind obsession with Steve Trevor over her own home and mother and fellow Amazons), The Favourite (my second viewing, and I still think it's overrated, and I dislike historical costume dramas altogether, so maybe I'm not the best judge; plus the sound/music choices and editing is annoying and obvious), Professor Marston and the Wonder Women (I love it, it's one of my new favourite films, and I don't know why I didn't think much of it the first time I saw it years ago), Brokeback Mountain, The Devil Wears Prada, The Handmaiden (2016) (holy crap!), and Soul.

TV:

Harley Quinn season 1 (the second season isn't available in the UK yet, and I'm so mad about that because I want to see what happens next - specifically with Harley and Ivy! They're the best! Now this is a proper adult cartoon), Tokyo Mew Mew (oh my goddesses, it's been years since I first saw this, and watching it now, I'm sad to say I am disappointed; at fifty two episodes, it's not nearly developed enough, and I only recommend it to hardcore Magical Girl fans, and to people who don't mind hearing "Aoyama-kun" five billion times), Adventure Time (oh wow - and everything else aside, Marceline is the best, and Obsidian is an effing masterpiece), Over the Garden Wall (overrated, and I forgot about it after finishing it in under two hours), and Danny Phantom (more fun and funny than I thought it would be - a good glimpse at mid-2000s nostalgia).

Book rereads:

Princess Academy - Read review here.

Wonder - Read review here.

Whisper - Read review here.

Artemis Crescent - Fairy Pokémon Trainer - Cards (2021)

All 28 of them!

Girl-Themed Yugioh! Cards (2021)

All 222 of them!

Manga Review - 'Our Dreams at Dusk: Shimanami Tasogare, Vol. 1' by Yuhki Kamatani

Content warning: attempted suicide, depression, homophobia, homophobic slurs, sexism.

'Our Dreams at Dusk: Shimanami Tasogare, Vol. 1' is a contemporary manga that features both yaoi and yuri themes, by nonbinary mangaka Yuhki Kamatani. It is harrowing and hard-hitting in how it depicts issues of homophobia, internalised homophobia, and coming out in Japan. Attempted suicide is a huge cloud and motif in the whole volume, it is that dark and depressing.

How any society can function and call itself human - and how any family can call themselves loving - when they treat queer people so abysmally, I cannot fathom it. It is monstrous; especially where the youth, the most vulnerable of people, are concerned. No one is safe, healthy, decent, loving and happy whilst discrimination continues to exist. The system of "normalcy" is corrupt and toxic. It's not just unfair, it's deadly.

There is a glimmer, a peak, of hope in 'Our Dreams at Dusk', however. It reminds me a little of 'Fruits Basket', in how the main character, out of the midst of tragedy and/or ostracization, stumbles upon a new found family in the outskirts of society, who accepts them for who they are, and the individual family members are more like the protagonist than they'd thought.

Destroying and renovating old houses is the business of the "Drop-In" centre (well, it's a volunteer group, really), and the metaphor of breaking down walls also meaning to break down your own inner walls and find self-love, respect and acceptance is apparent and amazing. How cathartic and relieving that must be; 'Our Dreams at Dusk' contains some tools for therapy to go with its story.

Additionally, sexism towards women and the outdated expectations placed on them is depicted (as is sexism towards men, for sexism and homophobia are linked; it's to do with conservatism and toxic masculinity). Then there's the same-sex marriage movement in Japan.

Every subject in this short modern manga is important and relevant, no matter where you live in the world.

Is there a fantasy element to the manga? It's ambiguous in this volume, as far as I can discern. There is a typo or two in the English translation, as well. Not every character is developed (or named in-story more than once, for that matter) so far, either.

I still recommend 'Our Dreams at Dusk', whatever your sexuality. I can imagine that it will be difficult or even triggering for queer readers - it pulls no punches. Those who are considering coming out of the closet to family and friends won't find much comfort in it. But depending on where your home is and who you know, acceptance can take time (too much time in the 21st century, if you ask me). This manga at least lets the LBGTQA community know that it is just that, a community. They are not, never have been, and never will be, alone.

Discrimination, ignorance, hate - it is a continuous battle that we all must keep fighting.

Love is love.

We are all in this together.

Final Score: 3.5/5

P.S. Something I related to personally and positively in 'Our Dreams at Dusk' is the volunteer groups for local conservation activities. I used to take part in projects like those taking place in the manga when I was at university (I never knocked down any walls, though, but I'd like to try), so that was a surprising small nostalgia trip. It's a life affirming reminder of what I can still do in my life, too. To help people and be productive and active in my community. 

Manga Review - 'Goodbye, My Rose Garden, Vol. 1' by Dr. Pepperco

Content warning: talk of suicide, depression, homophobia, sexism, xenophobia, racism.

A sophisticated, beautiful and intricately-written-and-drawn historical fiction yuri manga, set in England in 1900.

'Goodbye, My Rose Garden' (how I love these yuri and yaoi titles) is a story of forbidden love between Hanako Kujo, a young Japanese woman who has just moved to England to follow her dream of meeting a famous novelist and becoming a novelist herself, and Lady Alice Douglas, a noblewoman who appears charming and well put together, but is in actuality severely depressed to the point of planning her own suicide.

This is brought on by living in a society that won't accept her for who she is; that views her as a sin and a disease. For Alice, being herself, loving whoever she loves, is not only shameful and disgraceful for a woman in her position, it is dangerous. She and her family could wind up dead, one way or another.

She has another secret as well, which society will scorn and criticise her for, but that's a major spoiler, not to be disclosed carelessly here.

Hanako, Alice's new maid whom she had picked up outside of a publishing house, fervently believes that love should be free. She is a woman ahead of her time, and for one who is surviving purely on luck in a foreign country in 1900, I think she is remarkably brave, underneath her naïve and flustered demeanour. She is boldly determined, no matter her goals.

You know where this is going, and it would be evil of me to give away any more information about these two great, revolutionary women, and their relationship with one another. Experience their struggles, their hardships and their loves through reading the volume yourself.

(Although, admittedly, Hanako and Alice's worlds-apart class and power division is only slowly deconstructed in the first volume.)

'Goodbye, My Rose Garden, Vol. 1' is also a love letter to bibliophiles. It loves libraries, bookshops, writing, and the experience of reading books that make you happy; that make you momentarily forget about the world and the present. Or not, as every reader is different. There are references to Oscar Wilde (very significant), and other authors.

It goes without saying that the manga is well researched. Sexism and homophobia are explored more than xenophobia and racism, but each issue is touched on suitably in relation to the story being told (religion? The English monarchy? They're blips on the radar at this point). It is as authentic as it is delightfully drawn. The range of character expressions, for example, is astounding.

There is a darkness to the manga's gracefulness, and an intriguing mystery that is interconnected to the main LBGTQ relationship. It's there to heighten the dynamic substance, to keep readers coming back.

'Goodbye, My Rose Garden, Vol. 1' - it is rosy, all right. The "black spots" only make it even more enticing. Nothing and no one can be perfect, after all.

Here's to another awesome recently published yuri manga that's checked off my list.

Final Score: 4.5/5

Manga Review - 'Failed Princesses, Vol. 1' by Ajiichi

More shoujo-ai than yuri, and it's a high school comedy manga, with hijinks aplenty. But 'Failed Princesses' is cute, and contains good messages about empathy, breaking BS social cliques, finding out who your real friends are, trying new things, not judging people, standing up for what you believe in, and basically calling people out on their shit. And looking pretty while doing it.

Yeah, it might not be completely groundbreaking - cuteness and appearances still matter to the characters - and it doesn't look as though that mentality will change further down the line (or at least, not significantly in the face of a wider sexist culture). But there is a parody element to 'Failed Princesses'. I adore that it's also about otaku culture, and the mangaka seems to know and love a lot about it. The character development is clear and done well, in my opinion; even if not in the "cuteness in girls doesn't matter, WTF is wrong with you?" department.

'Failed Princesses, Vol. 1' - an opposites-attract manga that will tickle your funny bone, and make you think of yuri and shoujo-ai titles like 'Girl Friends' by Milk Morinaga (there are some similarities). Recommended for light and fluffy fun.

Final Score: 3.5/5

Manga Review - 'Doughnuts Under a Crescent Moon, Vol. 1' by Shio Usui

'Doughnuts Under a Crescent Moon' is the first in the sample of contemporary yuri manga titles I've decided to read, and it is absolutely beautiful and wholesome. Especially considering that the main characters are adults. Ordinary, working class adults.

One of the women, Uno Hinako, has been trying hard to fit into society's traditional feminine woman role her whole life. It's the reason for why she's working for a fashion and make-up magazine, and for why she cares so much about her appearance. She is expected to fall in love, get married and have kids already.

But it's not happening. She's never fallen in love with any man, and so she thinks she's wrong and broken. Defective in some way. That she's not normal. That's what limited, boxed gender roles and conservatism straight out of the fifties does to you.

Uno is depressed - society's expectations of her have forced her into her own worst enemy, have made her hate herself and not systematic prejudice at large. She is unmotivated, insecure, has low self-esteem, and is terrified of being alone (keeping up appearances means clinging to work friends she doesn't really like).

But she finds she is happy when she gets to know and hang out with Asahi Sato, a cool and sombre woman who also works at her fashion company. Asahi is also unmarried, and five years older than Uno, and she doesn't seem to care what other people think of her. Uno is in awe of this serious and hardworking social outcast.

They bond over lunches; lunches that include food in bento boxes. But specifically, they bond over doughnuts. Cat-decorated doughnuts with holes in the middle. It is the sweet food, with or without holes in them, eaten under any stage of the moon, that makes these women feel whole and happy. They need to be careful about their money, but their concern for each other makes them buy food for one another. Uno even starts visiting Asahi's home, and cooking, with Asahi's younger sister eagerly eyeing them.

More than the doughnuts, Uno and Asahi make each other whole.

Bottom line, 'Doughnuts Under a Crescent Moon' is a career woman's yuri manga that's so sweet and touching and enlightening that it almost aches. I'll be honest, I wanted to pick it up mostly because of the title - sweet foods from a bakery and crescent moons are among my favourite things in the universe! And cats!

With the LBGTQ content or not, Uno's depression, her fear of disappointing her conservative family and friends, and of being alone in an unforgiving and outdated culture full of stigma - it is harrowing and relatable. Asahi, too, is three-dimensional (it's implied that her parents are deceased and she has to support herself and her sister all on her own) and kind of adorable. Workplace sexual harassment is another issue that's touched upon in a serious light.

But there is hope on the horizon, however, that's like milky way starlight and sugar, mixing into the night sky like cookie dough. In a doughnut-shaped galaxy, where pretty crescent moons are common sights when stargazing. The couple don't kiss yet in the first volume, but it'll get there.

Here is a new manga (2020!) that I strongly recommended to anyone. Start the progress, and keep the conversation going.

Final Score: 5/5

Graphic Novel Review - 'Clueless: One Last Summer' by Sarah Kuhn (Writer), Amber Benson (Writer), Siobhan Keenan (Artist), Kieran Quigley (Artist), Natacha Bustos (Artist)

'Clueless: One Last Summer' is the sequel to 'Clueless: Senior Year', and it is more or less the same as that, except with a Nancy Drew-spoof mystery angle to it. It arguably contains more substance and emotional stakes than 'Senior Year' does, too. It is funny and charming, and the female friendship theme is stronger than ever. I adore Tai and her story with Travis and her late great-aunt's lover Edwina. Each character is well developed, and each arc is well done. Empathy is also a key theme in all 'Clueless' media.

See my review of 'Clueless: Senior Year' here.

See also my review of the children's picture book here.

Finally, here is an excerpt from an old list on my blog, on why I love 'Clueless':


One of the earliest, smarter and funnier chick flicks to have gotten so popular as to receive spinoff material, a stage musical, and a planned remake (heaven help us all, just leave cultural milestones be, Hollywood), to this very day. Very loosely based upon Jane Austen's 'Emma', the legacy of 'Clueless' must mean it's done something right. Even though it is materialistic, meandering, a little dated, partly responsible for the valley girl culture and lingo, and full of rich white people problems, 'Clueless' has an undeniable charm to it. A lot of that is due to the star, Alicia Silverstone as Cher, who imbues the spoiled sweet trope brilliantly - she was born to play this part. When Cher is being selfish and self-serving, there is still the sense that she genuinely wants to help people and make them happy. She just might be going about it the wrong way.

Look past the fashion trends, the makeover montages, and the celebration of how great it is to be rich and pretty: 'Clueless' is a teenage girl's coming-of-age story, peppered with her honest and entertaining inner monologue. There is a sweetness, warmth and innocence to the whole thing, and humour that isn't aggressively mean-spirited (except for the "You're a virgin who can't drive!" line, that's shaming and sexist, but at least the person who says it apologises). You've got to see the funny side of a girl who's so superficial that the only traumatic thing about being robbed at gunpoint for her is getting her jacket dirty. It is also one of the first film roles of the utterly gorgeous Paul Rudd, so it has that going for it too.

Another thing to add: Amazingly, there are no mean girls in 'Clueless'! And its LBGTQ representation is surprisingly tasteful and decent for 1995.

Who knew that a chick flick written and directed by a woman would produce worthwhile quality? I know, right!


Final Score: 3.5/5

Graphic Novel Review - 'Clueless: Senior Year' by Amber Benson (Writer), Sarah Kuhn (Writer), Siobhan Keenan (Artist), Natacha Bustos (Artist)

A surprisingly cute and heartfelt comic book sequel to the movie 'Clueless'. The humour is nowhere near up to par with the film's, but it is still funny.

I especially love the revelation of the LBGTQ relationship between Tai's deceased great-aunt Ellie and her partner Edwina (quite disappointingly, Christian doesn't appear anywhere in the whole comic). The apple farm aesthetic of that storyline is sweet and charming.

It's all about girl power, and girls taking charge of their lives in their upcoming adulthood. Most saturated but no less genuine is the interconnected theme of female friendships, which can last a lifetime. Nothing is set in stone when it comes to career choices and finding "the real you", however the relationships you share with the people you care about are more certain reliability in your life. You can count on them. Identity crises need not apply.

I had no expectations for 'Clueless: Senior Year'. Because I rarely read comics that have nothing to do with the fantasy genre; even rarely do I pick up comics based on "chick flicks" (in fact, I never do that). But there is heart and love put into this one, once you get into it, even though the comedy isn't on the level with the original nineties classic film. The characters do develop, realistically and brilliantly. Like 'Clueless', it is not as shallow and airheaded as it might first appear.

Besides, it is published by BOOM! Box, so at least some quality is mandatory.

The art is nice, too.

Recommended for 'Clueless' fans.

Final Score: 3.5/5

Graphic Novel Review - 'Nubia: Real One' by L.L. McKinney (Writer), Robyn Smith (Artist)

'Can you be a hero...if society doesn't see you as a person?'

A bold, brilliant and hugely relevant DC comic by L.L. McKinney, the author of the 'A Blade So Black' YA series.

What can I say? What hasn't already been said by dozens of other reviewers on why 'Nubia: Real One' is so good? Read it, be entertained, and learn something. Let western society and culture learn something through its thick, stubborn and toxic skull already.

This super comic about a black teenage girl, Nubia L'Shae Johnson, living in America, who happens to have superpowers - which she must hide from the public eye for reasons that don't apply to white superheroes - is about fighting the system. The system of racism, misogyny and misogynoir. It really hammers home the truth of how black people are viewed as a threat no matter what they do. Hell, even when they literally do nothing. No matter how scared those in the black community are, no matter how hard they try to adhere to the "rules" of living safely, they will still be called "uncooperative", and so deserve to die, according to the police. For Nubia, being a tall black girl in the land of "truth, justice, and the American way" is intimidating to white people (who won't see her as what she truly is - just a kid); but being one with super strength will make her appear as even less than human to the white patriarchal society. Even if the good, noble-hearted girl wants to be a hero, to be like Wonder Woman, they would not let her. Never mind whether she saves lives, they would not want her.

They would sooner see her dead.

With nothing outside of her circle of parents and close friends to show that she is welcomed and loved, Nubia is forced to hate herself. The white supremacist patriarchy makes her think she is broken for existing ("I'm sorry I'm like this. I wish I wasn't! I wish I wasn't broken. [...] I can't turn it off...I'm sorry you're stuck with me." - one of the most heartbreaking lines). When she could be a great hero.

So it's seriously fucked up, racism and misogynoir, isn't it?

Thank you so much, 'Nubia: Real One', for tackling issues such as police brutality, the Black Lives Matter movement, protesting against racist law enforcement, gun violence, school shootings, white male privilege, male entitlement, toxic masculinity, sexual assault, and threats and violence towards women that is kept hidden and quiet by the patriarchy. Thank you for giving rich white male arsehole characters the accountability and punishment they deserve, as well. Those who are obsessive, violent, insane and deadly in their bigotry do heartbreakingly exist. They are the monsters in society, those sociopaths and psychopaths who hold absolute power and sway in their communities.

We will not stand for this bullshit any longer.

And I'm glad DC seems to agree.

Everything is political. Nothing happens in a vacuum, nor in a narrowminded, ignorant bubble. To be "woke" is simply to know and do better. To educate. To upgrade. To progress, for the sake of everyone.

I'd never heard of Nubia before. I never knew that she was a pre-existing character in the DC universe before picking up her new solo comic. I knew nothing about her origin, which I won't dare spoil in this review. For me the surprise revelation of her true identity was a thing of tearful beauty. But what I love most is that Nubia is not defined by her origins. At best it is a footnote in her story. She will not be compared to any white superhero. She is her own magnificent and real person. She is a hero in her own right.

Other examples of representation include: Nubia's two mums, who mean well in their overprotection of their daughter, and are clearly very much in love with each other; and Oscar, Nubia's love interest, who is Hispanic, and has a feminine appearance to him. The thing is, though, in the comic's Black Lives Matter protest march scene, Oscar wears a shirt that says Stop Killing Black Trans Women. Another protester wears a shirt that says Black Trans Lives Matter. There is no other reference to the trans community in the whole comic. Oscar isn't hinted to be trans. Maybe he isn't? I'm not sure. I only wish for more overt rep for that violently marginalised group as well. It would have made 'Nubia: Real One' all the more perfect.

A few more of the best lines in the comic, in an exchange between mother and daughter:


"People like Wayland are dangerous. They're used to getting their way, no matter who gets hurt. A lot of the time, they do the hurting."

"Nubia. I know I say you should be careful because of how the world perceives you...But that perception is their problem, not yours."

"Baby...none of this is fair. Not Wayland. Not the cops. Not having to hide who you are, or deal with people who would likely set themselves on fire if it meant watching you burn. More importantly, none of it is your fault."

"[...] And don't you let anyone make you feel you need to throw pieces of yourself away to be part of this world. You be you. All of you, all the time. Everyone else will deal with it."

"I don't feel very heroic." "True heroes seldom do."


'Nubia: Real One' is the graphic novel equivalent of Angie Thomas's 'The Hate U Give'. And like 'THUG', it's also incredibly sweet, touching and relatable, to go alongside its heavy subject matters. Nubia is the realest heroine DC has right now. She is beautiful and amazing, and deserves praise and exposure and recognition of the highest order in mainstream pop culture. She is who we need.

Final Score: 4.5/5

Manga Review - 'Sword Princess Amaltea, Vol. 1' by Natalia Batista

'Sword Princess Amaltea' is a Swedish manga-inspired comic by Tokyopop and International Women of Manga (appropriately enough), and it is a typical medieval-style fantasy...except the gender roles are switched. It's about a matriarchy. Here the women hold the power, the positions of authority, the privilege, the physical strength, and overall embody the traditional "masculine" traits (which unfortunately include the entitlement issues and sexual harassment and assault inclinations), and are generally seen as superior in society. The men are the inferior, weaker, lesser, more invisible, docile, "feminine" gender, and are treated as property to be owned by women. They are even drawn with conventionally feminine features, and readers unfamiliar with the manga's purpose could easily mistake a male character or two for being female by their looks alone.

Seventeen-year -old Princess Amaltea has to go on a quest to slay a dragon and rescue and marry a prince. She doesn't want to do any of that, but she is forced to by her mother, because it is her duty as a princess. So even in a matriarchal world, Amaltea and other girls are still trapped by strict, boxed roles enforced on them by society ("A woman has got to do what a woman has got to do" is a common motto here, and it really can apply to any unfair, gender biased non-civilisation). Amaltea is living in her older sister Dorotea's shadow as well, adding an inferiority complex to her brash, stubborn, arrogant, self-absorbed and spoilt character.

The young princess and knight goes on the quest only to prove to everyone how strong and capable she is; that this is something she can handle on her own (plus her long-suffering horse Palifax, whose inner thoughts are very funny). The prince is an afterthought that she can discard to his mother's queendom as soon as she rescues him. As you can expect, things do not go exactly as she planned, and life out in the world is more cunning and complicated than she anticipated. Prince Ossian, her "inferior", isn't about to make things easy for her, either.

Numerous outside forces are out to get Amaltea, who is as naïve and foolish as she is conceited, on her so-called simple quest...

It is her coming-of-age journey. Where she also learns not to be so sexist against men.

'Sword Princess Amaltea' may appear to be a fantasy comedy manga, but it is serious in its gender bending rules and the implications that come with them. The story features many instances of female bandits sexually harassing and assaulting men. There is also an implied gang rape backstory for a male character. So be warned. Princes are brought up to be only useful at screaming for help, and to be damsels in distress waiting to be rescued by princesses. Male bartenders have to get by through seduction, treachery and other "feminine" wiles.

The point of these types of stories is to show how stupid and nonsensical gender roles are, and how gender is just a construct, a concept, nothing more. No one deserves to be dominated or seen as superior or inferior based on these harmful and outdated notions of humanity. Sexism helps no one in society.

'Sword Princess Amaltea' depicts marriage as akin to a slave auction and a prison sentence for both men and women; no fairy tale happily ever afters here, it is aware of the origins and history of that aspect of patriarchal rule.

Although one slipup on the gender role reversal I've spotted is a female bandit nastily remarking that another female bandit's viciousness is due to her "bleeding time". A PMS joke is something I did not expect from this (wouldn't menstruating be revered instead of mocked in this context?), even if it came from villainous characters, and I hate it.

And is Amaltea supposed to be depicted as "masculine", when she wears a checkered red and white bow on her head - her head of curls - and is drawn with pretty shoujo eyes? Is it a deliberate mixture of masculine and feminine norms, to demonstrate that these concepts are meaningless?

Props for including POC rep via Ossian, however, in what would otherwise have been a typical, unimaginative white fantasy adventure. I wish 'Sword Princess Amaltea' had overt LBGTQ content, though.

Extra worldbuilding detail: magic, despite being a big part of this world's origins and the reason for its existing as a matriarchy, is never actually used in the story. I'm guessing that it will be explored in the sequels.

It's an interesting European fantasy "manga", overall. It is aglow with strong female presences. Yes, there is a political and ethical point to it all. Get over it.

Besides, how often do I get to see queens with so much power and authority in their queendom, to a point that kings barely exist? How often do I get to see female bandits who are just as morally bankrupt, and as much potential rapists, as male criminals are depicted as and are encouraged to be? And how often do I get to see a pretty, slender, submissive and seductive bartender, who just happens to be a man?

These creative choices are included for a reason. Don't dismiss 'Sword Princess Amaltea' so easily.

Final Score: 3.5/5

Manga Review - 'Carole & Tuesday, Vol. 1' by Morito Yamataka (Artist), Shinichirō Watanabe (Original Creator), BONES (Original Creator)

One of the best manga I have read in a long time. I do believe this is my first five star read of 2021, as well. It only took until March.

'Carole & Tuesday' is a hip and cool manga based on the anime of the same name by Shinichirō Watanabe, the director of 'Cowboy Bebop' and 'Samurai Champloo'. It is a science fiction story set on Mars, and it's about music and pop and rock stars. And lesbians. And it is notably diverse.

I have not seen the anime series yet, but after reading the first manga volume, I definitely can't wait to binge it. 'Carole & Tuesday' is so well drawn and paced - everything flows at a quick but steady and exciting momentum.

I adored the two leading ladies - Carole the Black street smart orphan struggling between jobs, and Tuesday the white runaway socialite - almost from the first page they are each introduced. Right from the get-go you get a sense of what their individual lives are like, and what their passions are - and that's before they even meet each other. Once they are together, by a mere chance encounter on the street, their passions fuse and they become unstoppable. Their chemistry is palpable. Their shared dream of making music - writing song lyrics from the heart, without AIs writing the "perfect" songs, singing, and playing the keyboard, piano and guitar - for all of Mars and even the entire galaxy to hear, is set to turn into a reality.

These two put-upon, disadvantaged girls from different worlds, who were practically homeless and/or poverty stricken before, may be destined to change the music scene. No, the music industry. Because they have soul. They have life.

Because they have each other.

How's that for female empowerment?

The reader feels all of this and more without the manga coming across as pretentious or heavy-handed. It just works. Carole and Tuesday's talents and thirst for recognition are infectious. Be prepared to get hyped up and inspired by them.

It is very funny, too. 'Carole & Tuesday' is a breezy, fun and progressive sci-fi anime/manga project, containing diverse representation, no problem, and LBGTQ elements. Musicians and music fans are sure to love it, too.

Minor criticisms that I perceive are: the volume seems to lose focus on Carole and Tuesday themselves little by little once it proceeds towards the end, even though they are the mains, and are the most interesting characters (not that the side characters aren't interesting - they are - but still, this is the girls' story being told here!); and since this is a manga/comic and therefore solely a visual medium, it can be problematic for a story that's all about music and music playing - you just have to take the author's word for it that the sounds are good or bad. On that note, not a lot of song lyrics are shown to the reader in any of the panels; they are either short couplets, just scribbles, or are not presented, period. It makes the melodies ambiguous, ergo hard to judge and form an opinion on, I guess. No doubt this issue is nonexistent in the anime.

All the same, I had no trouble believing in the manga and its passion and energy.

'Carole & Tuesday, Vol. 1' is awesome. I don't know what else to tell you to entice you to read it, without spoiling anything. Do I recommend it? Oh, very much yes.

(Carole also has a robot owl that doubles as her alarm clock. I thought I'd add that tidbit in here somewhere.)

Final Score: 4.5/5

EDIT: About time I updated. I've seen the anime, and it is great, and relevant, despite the absence of a(n explicit, at least) sapphic relationship between Carole and Tuesday themselves. You can't tell me it wouldn't be even better if they were a romantic couple. It makes sense and is suitable.

Book Review - 'Clueless: A Totally Classic Picture Book' by G.M. Berrow, Amy Heckerling, Heather Burns (Illustrator)

A cute children's retelling of the classic 90s teen flick 'Clueless'.

'Clueless' is a quarter guilty pleasure, quarter escapism, quarter feelgood popcorn chick flick, and the other quarter one of my absolute favourite films from the 90s, which is hilarious, feminist and progressive for its time. And it was written and directed by a woman, so it's authentic and wholeheartedly genuine as well as a comedy magnum opus. Plus, I'm a girly girl at heart, who likes bright colours, and pretty clothes and accessories (not necessarily fashion, because I wear whatever I want and don't care for brands, trends and fads).

'Clueless: A Totally Classic Picture Book', which sets the characters in elementary school instead of high school (nice touch having Dionne's mum drive the girls to school rather than Dionne herself driving), is about friendship, and accepting people for who they are and what they like. It's the usual "Be yourself" message from any children's media, but it works well. The main focal characters are Cher, Dionne and Tai; and maybe Travis and Amber. Others such as Christian I think only appear on one page. Josh is MIA in the entire picture book, which is baffling because who wouldn't want to include Paul Rudd in anything? Oh well, I suppose his absence is tied to the downplaying of the romance in this book about elementary school students. The emphasis is on friendship.

It's a colourful, cartoony, fun little book, overall. A must for 'Clueless' fans.

It's great that a female-centric film from the 90s has risen beyond a cult status and has gained the attention and appreciation it deserves. Amy Heckerling's film is a "bubblegummy" comedy chick flick that is much deeper than its surface level suggests. It's the best kind of popcorn entertainment. And it's just a funny, sweet, tender movie.

Final Score: 3.5/5

Graphic Novel Review - 'Amethyst' by Amy Reeder

This is part of DC's new 'Wonder Comics' brand, and it's another reboot of 'Amethyst'. Never mind that it is technically a sequel to the character's classic, pre-New 52 origin story and first adventure (Christy Marx's work doesn't apply here at all, which is a shame) - in the end, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter how much you know about Amethyst, her story, and Gemworld in general before reading Amy Reeder's take on the DC fantasy action heroine; in fact, if anything, it is better to go in blind, and just go with the flow. There are scatterings of information and flashbacks that help to explain some stuff here and there (Amy Winston is already Princess Amethyst and has been saving Gemworld for years), but this brand new/new brand comic is best viewed as a reboot than a sequel. There will be retcons, so the less you know about Amethyst and Gemworld, the better. There may be less annoyance (read: fan outrage) that way.

Thankfully, I find the retcons in this particular case to be less of an issue, in comparison to the more recent retcons done to other superheroines like Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel, which range from unnecessary to crass to horrible and insulting. In 'Amethyst', written and drawn by Amy Reeder, the retcons help add mystery and intrigue to the story. Aside from a few side character assassinations and characters just being ignored altogether, in a bizarre turn of events, it all works. For a modern fantasy story (Isekai) where politics are as screwed up as they are in our world, and nothing and no one is what they seem. Messy, complicated worlds.

And regardless, it overall remains a fun comic, which knows the importance of emotional investment on the part of the reader.

Amy Winston/Princess Amethyst of Gemworld is a lovable, determined and flawed young heroine, who faces so much adversity; so much debasement, slander and abuse, from a world she loves and which once loved her back. But at the end of it all, after everything that is revealed to her, after everything she has suffered through, both externally and internally, she is still respected. She is revered by the people she least expects; by the downtrodden, the ignored, the forgotten. By new friends and allies. Everyone else has abandoned her. There is a meta subtext to this development: Amethyst, who was treated badly recently by her past friends - and by DC - now has a newfound lease on life.

Amy - who despite her powers and experiences, is sixteen and still a naïve kid - is given a chance to grow and progress, thanks to the new; which she will incorporate into the old, corrupt Gemworld. Established things are twisted; spun and flung upside-down. The tables have turned, and a bittersweet yet fresh, bright era awaits.

As you grow up, you realise that, even in fantasy worlds, things are not as black and white - or as like a cartoon - as they appear: such is the lesson that Amy, along with the reader, learns.

A teenage girl's wish-fulfilment fantasy this ain't.

Welcome to real life. But there will always be friends and family that you can rely on. They will do anything for you, and be there for you. There is still hope.

Thus concludes my rambling and vague review of 'Amethyst'. I had no expectations for it going in - I had pretty much given up on DC and Marvel at this point - but it surprised me. I won't mention any plot and/or character-specific details because, as I've said, it is best to go in blind. Experience it anew as Amy does, on her modern hero's journey.

The artwork is alright and appropriately colourful. Though it looks a little too sharp with heavy line work, and in some instances, whenever characters yell and scream, their heads tilt upward and their jaws look unhinged. Very awkward.

On another note: one aspect that is like a teenage girl's fantasy is there are lots of gemstones that are integrated into the story, apropos of Gemworld. Each possess their own powers and properties. With the help of a "Healing Crystals" book that Amy's earth parents give her on her birthday, she can use not only amethysts, but different stones for any situation. I love it!

Hail Princess Amethyst of the newly rebooted Gemworld, in her millennial and revolutionary glory! Like every girl, and like every child, she is far better than she knows she is capable of. More powerful, with or without magic stones.

Final Score: 3.5/5

Book Review - 'Ghostbusters: Who You Gonna Call? (Ghostbusters 2016) (Little Golden Book)' by John Sazaklis, Alan Batson (Illustrator)

 A really, REALLY abridged version of the movie, but it's cute, with ghostbusting and girl power all the way!

Final Score: 3/5