Throwback #63 - The Request Line

During the third confrontation between Ichigo & Grimmjow, it seems as if it was going to be an all-out battle with the two willing to put their very lives on the line. Bitter rivals, Ichigo has already had his fair share of making rivals ~ Renji, Ikkaku, Kenpachi, Byakuya, & Ulquiorra. Grimmjow, eager to challenge Ichigo with his newfound Visored powers, held nothing back as immediately released his true form to Ichigo & the two battled it out. Neck & Neck, it seems as if the two were evenly matched. However, the battle came to an abrupt end the moment Ichigo heard the cries of the damsel in distress, Orihime Inoue. Orihime, worried over Ichigo's safety, cries and begs Ichigo to not fight anymore; prompting our hero to thwart Grimmjow with one last attack before his energy is 100% depleted. This scene showcases the hardships and tribulations that our heroes have to endure when in the face of conflict. Orihime's stopping of Ichigo's fight with Grmmjow is an indication of that Orihime cannot endure seeing Ichigo getting hurt because she worries that Ichigo could just as easily be overpowered by an even stronger adversary than Grimmjow. If Grimmjow were to win, Orihime would return to being the damsel in distress. However, in the moment where the knight in shining armor (Ichigo) was fighting the dreaded beast (Grimmjow), the damsel became distressed not for herself, but for the knight. Usually the Knight saves the Damsel no questions asked, but it's switched ~ The damsel saves the Knight. I think it's a beautiful turnaround from the usual norm in storytelling. Orihime is so innocent, you can't help but feel for Ichigo's safety.

I hope you enjoyed this week's Throwback. Look forward to Throwbacks every Friday. Until then, I'll see you all Tuesday for the weekly Affinity. There'll be an announcement next week regarding the return of Fight Night Mondays. 

Legacy #6 ~ Is This a Zombie?

One of the funniest Anime(s) that I've seen recently went far beyond my expectations. I became fond of it considering it incorporated Harem elements. It didn't disappoint as I grew to not only love this Anime, but wished it continued more than just 2 seasons. The name of this Anime is titled Is This a Zombie? What's the story? Well, in a nutshell ~ a perverted zombie lives with a necromancer, a vampire Ninja, & a Chainsaw Magical Girl. Together, shenanigans ensue, but evil lurks in the form of Demons. It's up to our heroes to help thwart Evil from taking over their city. I was surprised that Is This a Zombie? entertained me so much. It's a perfect blend of comedy & over-the-top-nonsensical action. When you got 2 Vampire Ninjas, a Necromancer, & a Chainsaw Magical girl falling for a perverted Zombie, you can't help but want to see for yourself what this show has to offer. Spawning two seasons, it never fails to bring a smile to my face. A part of me wishes I had the main character's life ~ surrounded by beautiful girls, fighting off Demons, & ensuing in shenanigans. However, the fact that direct sunlight can kill you~ that's a pretty major downfall for the zombie life. Overall, Is This a Zombie? never failed ti disappoint me and it always brought a smile to my face. I currently own the 1st season and have yet to get the 2nd ~ but it's worth the investment if you want to see a Anime with zombies, necromancers, chainsaw magical girls, & vampire ninjas with Big BEEWBZ. Overall, two thumbs up.

I hope you enjoyed this Legacy post. Look forward to Legacy posts every Thursday. Until then, you all stay classy and I'll see you tomorrow for the daily Throwback.

WBCR - What the Hell!? (Grade: A)

Like pawns in a chess game, one false move and the King takes over. That is exactly what the King has done ~ he took over the pawns because he is, without question, the mantle of fear & power. No one questions the King because his mantle of renowned fear and power shakes the very foundation of those beneath his crown, robe, & influence. He merely exists to serve as the center of the World ~ the epicenter of his domain ~ a God/Goddess amongst men & women who exist to serve him with open arms. As the title suggest in this chapter, I was, at first, questioning why the chapter was named ~ What the Hell? Well, to be more specific, the chapter details the pawns meeting their end (Hell) at the hands of their King (Yhwach) as he now is summoning his very influence to shake the foundation of the board (the 0 Division). The pawns merely are going "What the Hell?" during this whole epidemic. Yhwach (the King) can do whatever he wants to his pawns ~ foster his own power or revive his pawns to do his bidding over and over and over again. Meanwhile, Robert "The N" Accutrone explains to Liltotto & Giselle that they are mere pawns in Yhwach's hands & that their lives hold no meaning as they merely serve as vessels for power for their Lord's conquest. Robert, as light shined upon him, turned to bone; leaving the two ladies to just barely escape the blast. Elsewhere, we see Askin & Bazz-B getting affected by the light and becoming vessels (pawns) for their King's power. With Yhwach getting stronger by the minute and some of his pawns getting revived, it seems that the 0 Division has to step their game up. Overall, I dug this chapter because it questions allegiances and whether or not the Sternritter will accept their newfound discovery as being vessels for their King rather than henchmen. It doesn't appear that Liltotto will accept this and may/may not go against the King's wishes in order to save her own skin alongside Giselle & the zombified Bambietta. And I will openly admit, this is the first time we see the Sternritter feel "hopelessness." In this state, all they can do is panic and await their inevitable demise OR they can fight against this hopelessness and join the winning side in hopes to come to a truce with the Shinigami. I'll give this week's chapter a A ~ just astonishing to see the enemy fear for their own lives over their own King when in face of the enemy (Shinigami), they have the upper hand.

So what did you think of this week's chapter? Good? Bad? In the middle? Comment below and let me know. Look forward to WBCRs whenever chapter's available AND when I have the time to post it. Since it came out surprisingly on time AND I had the time, I posted the WBCR on time. Until then, you all stay classy now.

Affinity #61 - School Girl Crush (Ichigo X Riruka)

One of the most brief(est) affinities in all of Bleach is reminiscent of High School girl (Riruka) falls for athletic jock (Ichigo). As soon as Riruka saw what Ichigo looked like, she literally screamed from the top of her lungs ~ "OMG, he's such a hottie." She literally head over heels for Ichigo just based on looks alone, but of course Ichigo didn't return the favor as, with some protagonists, are oblivious to romance when it comes to action/adventure stories. Ichigo saw Riruka as a fellow Fullbringer and nothing more, but knowing Riruka ~ she'd probably lock away Ichigo for herself because Riruka is very fond of things that are cute. Though brief, Riruka is the first girl to ever outright saw Ichigo's a hunk whereas Orihime is the first girl to outright confess that she loves Ichigo (even if he was asleep). Overall, it's a "school-girl-crush-on-hunk" scenario and Ichigo, hopefully, will come to realize that a Big-BEEWBED girl with orange hair named Orihime Inboue has had feelings for him and he'll (possibility, not completely ruling out) respond to her feelings.

I hope you enjoyed this brief Affinity. Look forward to Affinities on Tuesdays. Until then, you all stay classy now.

WBCR - Lethal Dose (Grade: B)

The very beginning of this chapter explicates the information surrounding the term: Lethal Dose. Lethal Dose, in a nutshell, is what happens when an unknown substance is absorbed into a living organism ~ how much can the body withstand? This is Askin's power ~ controlling and implementing doses that affect his opponent. He began licking Oetsu's blood and soon he felt weak, stumbling to the ground as if his body gave out. Just as Askin was about to deliver the fatal blow to Oetsu, Oetsu comes back up and has a little help from Tenjirou's hotsprings. One Hotspring can squeeze out blood & reiatsu, but the other hotspring can replenish and replace lost blood. With one swoop, Askin falls and Oetsu prepares to fight Yhwach. This chapter was relatively short, but the thing that got me confused, at first, was Askin's power. I thought, originally, that he couldn't die or at least survive fatal injuries. But when adopting the principle of Lethal Dosage and getting beat easily, I lost interest in Askin's character. Askin looked like a smooth criminal and could've easily been one of the best of the Yhwach's Sternritter, but the moment he underestimated Oetsu ~ he fell. Askin had potential, but in just 1 chapter ~ he's "gone." I put that word in quotes because anything can happen in Bleach. Oetsu kicks @$$, but I think he fought the wrong opponent. Askin isn't even remotely close to his level and with Yhwach stepping up to the plate, sh*t is about to get real. Overall, I gave it a B. It was a short read, but the only enjoyment I found was Oetsu's confident bravado in knowing he could easily wipe the floor with Askin. The downside ~ the opponent was too weak and not even on Oetsu's caliber.

So what did you think of this week's chapter? Good? Bad? Somewhere in the middle? Comment below and let me know. Look forward to WBCRs whenever chapter & myself are available. Until then, I'll see you Tuesday for the weekly Affinity post. Throwback is posted below.

Throwback #62 - Facing the Gentle Giant (Ichigo vs. Jidanbo)

One of the first challenges Team Ichigo had to face was a giant guard named Jidanbo. Wielding his two giant-@$$ axes, it seemed that Team Ichigo's rescuing of Rukia wasn't going to be easy. With various Lieutenant & Captain-level Shinigami, Team Ichigo was unaware of the giant guards that stood before them. However, since Jidanbo became Ichigo's first opponent in the Seireitei, Ichigo quickly dealt with him as seen in the picture. However, the surprising part is that Jidanbo wasn't bad ~ he was just doing his job as gatekeeper. He applauded Team Ichigo and even was about to let them enter, but Team Ichigo reached an impasse the moment then 3rd division Captain Gin Ichimaru fatally injured Jidanbo, making it difficult to now pass through the gate & leaving Ichigo & our friends to find another way to enter. In a nutshell ~ Jidanbo was the stepping stone into the Soul Society & would become one of Ichigo's allies since he showed compassion & understanding to the gentle giant. Ichigo's strength over time only grew as he faced off against various opponents and came out on top. Facing Jidanbo, like I said, was a test and Ichigo easily passed. It showcases above all else that heroes, in the face of adversity, can forge bonds with the enemy to in order to prevent any more bloodshed from being spilt. Ichigo was able to befriend Renji, Ikkaku, Kenpachi, & most of all ~ Byakuya, the very man who imprisoned Rukia and her older brother. From the Gentle Giant to Captain-level Shinigami, Ichigo's journey, with all stories, has to start from the bottom up to get where he is now, fighting off against the Father of the Quincy ~ Yhwach.

I hope you enjoyed this week's Throwback. Look froward to Throwbacks every Friday. Until then, you all stay classy now. WBCR will be up later. 

Legacy #5 ~ School Rumble

In the early 2000s (2004-2006 to be exact), there was one Anime that I was completely obsessed about. It incorporated comedy, a barrage of memorable characters, romance, and drama. School Rumble, at that time, was my favorite comedy series. Not only did I find it LOL hilarious, but the concept of Harem was a familiar sight to behold considering Harem(s) are my favorite genre of Anime. Bright and radiant, this show never failed to disappoint me and it became one of those shows that I'd gladly watch if I was ever down in the dumps. Of course nowadays it's common for school-based Harem(s) to be so popularized, but at that time ~ School Rumble was my first School-based Harem that I've ever watched. I still haven't gotten around to purchasing the complete series or even completing the Manga (it stopped publishing here in North America), but I'm sorta thinking of revisiting this series to see if it still holds up. So what's the story about? Well, in a nutshell ~ A tough guy has a crush on a bright & ditzy girl, but that girl has a crush on an emotionless mofo. On top of that, there's this one blonde rich b!tch that starts to develop feelings for the tough guy, but at the same time the bright & ditzy girl's little sister also starts to develop feelings for him. Also, did I forget to mention that there's also a barrage of so many characters that it'd be impossible to give them all background, but at least give them all a personality so that at least we can acknowledge that they're sorta there. THAT pretty much sums it up. The whole story completely revolves around going after your crush ~ whether you end up with them or eventually get crushed in the end. It spawned 2 seasons & 1 OVA. It's pretty difficult to find School Rumble in stores (you have more chances to find it online + it's pretty expensive), but if you ever want to see a School-based romance/comedy/drama, then look no further ~ School Rumble truly is a Rumble of the Hearts.

I hope you enjoyed this week's Legacy post. Look forward to Legacy posts every Thursday. Until then, you all stay classy now.

Affinity #60 - The Sexta Crew

One of my favorite characters in Bleach and 3rd favorite Espada is Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez. He is one punk-@$$ you don't wanna F with and the same can be said with his crew. We got Di Roy, Shawlong, Edrad, Yylfordt, & Nakeem ~ SEYND is what I'll abbreviate from strongest to weakest (in my opinion). Di Roy got his @$$ handed to him by Rukia, but the others actually put more effort into fighting than gloating. Though all ultimately lost, they were, at the time, the biggest threat to Karakura Town as Hitsugaya's task-force were the only ones capable of drawing them back. However, Grimmjow's presence shakes the very foundation of Ichigo & Rukia's livelihood the moment he laid foot on the Human World. Grimmjow was pretty much a one-man wolf-pack, but it wouldn't be long before he got himself his own wolf-pack. Together, they're all beasts, freaks of nature, and howl together beside their one and only King ~ Grimmjow. Though not the strongest Espada, Grimmjow is the 2nd Espada Ichigo met and he'll later become one of Ichigo's rivals alongside Renji, Ikkaku, Kenpachi, & Ulquiorra. Grimmjow is one panther you don't want to cross and though his brethren fell one by one, the panther still howls ~ preying for the day he'll set his jaws on his victim. Despite Grimmjow not giving two sh*ts about his brethren, they still stood beside him probably knowing full well ~ they'll gladly die for their superior in the line of duty.

I hope you enjoyed this week's Affinity. Look forward to Affinities every Tuesday. Until then, you all stay classy now.

Throwback #61 - Setting the Stage (Aizen Schemes)

In setting the stage for the 2nd half of the Rescue Arc, why not add in a "fake death" scene in which a Captain is murdered and the perpetrator most likely are the Ryoka or perhaps the least expected. Momo Hinamori was devastated to see her Captain in such a state, but what's even more worse is the question ~ Whose to blame? Were the Ryoka capable of taking down Captain Aizen Sousuke, a Captain-level Shinigami? Or....was it a fly getting caught in a venus flytrap? Well if you guessed the flytrap option, then you're 100% correct because Aizen indeed instigated his own death, put the blame on Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya, and even made it so Momo, his lieutenant, would try and kill her very own childhood friend. The only ones known aware of Aizen's schemes were Captains Gin Ichimaru & Kaname Tosen. This was all part of the plan and Aizen was just getting stated ~ killing the Central 46 Chambers & extracting the Hogyoku from Rukia's Gigai body were all that needed to be done in order for Aizen to ascend into power. His "fake death" set the stage to stir up confusion and mischief amongst the allied & enemy fronts. To create one's own ideal of order, one mustn't always abide by standards ~ they'll turn everything to ash & ruin in order to portray the bigger picture. That is why Aizen's development was given so much to work on considering he's always 1-2 steps ahead of the game.

I hope you all enjoyed this week's Throwback. Look froward to Throwbacks every Friday. Until then, you all stay classy now. WBCR is posted below.

WBCR - Askin is "Asking" for it (Grade: A)

Alright, this chapter was hella short and to be perfectly honest, it didn't disappoint me one bit. Oetsu of the Zero Division pretty much mopped the floor with Gerard (Thor), Pernida, Lille, & Askin. However, Askin is literally "Asking" for it when he stands back up and comments that his Majesty (Yhwach) chose him because of his ability to not die/survive fatal injuries. Regardless of how serious the injury may be, Askin's power is more of a curse than an actual gift. It's unknown of the other 3 will stand back up, but for now ~ it's Oetsu vs. Askin. Before Lille met his supposed demise, he explicates that Oetsu's tacking down of Gerard was a gimmick as he points out the jelly-like substance made Oetsu's blade flawed and shaky to its hilt. In the MS translation, Oetsu explains that the name of his blade is called Sayabuse and its a failed creation ~ unable to be chipped or have a drop of blood imprinted on it. It's the kind of blade that's sheathe is impossible to craft and the type that cannot coexist with any other Zanpaktou in the Seireitei. And that ends the chapter. I personally dug this chapter because of how incredibly fast Oetsu did away with his opponents. Despite the newcomers not really showcasing much (especially Pernida), Oetsu's badassery makes up for it because he's a member of the renowned Zero Division, the creator/father of the Zanpaktou, and this chapter really dug into how no one should F with the Zero Division....especially Oetsu. However, Oetsu has his work cut for him since Askin can survive just about everything and anything, right? This week's chapter is a A ~ astounding to see the Zero Division kick some major @$$. And, like the meme suggests, FUCK YEAH!

So what did you think of this week's chapter? Good? Bad? Somewhere in the middle. Comment below and let me know. As always, look forward to WBCRS whenever chapter's available. Until then, you all stay classy now. Throwback will be posted later (or latest by Midnight). 

4th Rhetorical (Anime Impressions) Post ~ Dragon Ball

The final installment of the TCTD Quad should've been quite obvious for Anime fans out there. Full of testosterone manliness that raises our dopamine levels to over 9000, this Anime is action-packed, has memorable characters, and is has a barrage of nostalgia that'll go down as being one of most entertaining Anime(s) of the 90s. Spawning 291 episodes, multiple movies & videogames, & much much more (excluding 2 ~ GT & Kai), this Anime, alongside Tenchi Muyo, Cowboy Bebop, & Trigun are what defined my childhood growing up. If you haven't guesses already by the picture, it's the renowned phenomenon ~ Dragon Ball Z. What can be said about this masterpiece? Sure, the run-time was only 30 minutes whereas the fight scenes last 5-20 episodes, but that didn't stop it from being entertaining. From childhood to adulthood, DBZ fans followed our main heroes ~ Goku, Vegeta (first villain turned ally), Gohan, Krillin, Piccolo, and many too many to mention. Aliens who can amplify their power to that beyond one's comprehension fighting against one another to preserve peace & order in the Human World pretty much sums up DBZ. From memorable villains such as Frieza, Cell, & Majin Buu ~ DBZ knew how to entertain us with their winding fights. I'm not going into full detail on what happens in each episode, arc, and season because I don't think there's anyone out there who hasn't heard of this Anime. I haven't met a single person in my life that says they don't know DBZ. Of course we watched it when our hero Goku was small (as a kid), but when it went from him turning into a kid (GT), that's when audiences started distancing themselves from the franchise because GT didn't deliver as much as DBZ did. Don't even get me started with DB Kai because it's practically rhe same thing as DBZ w/enhanced animation and horrible dubs in comparison to DBZ's awesome dubs (props to the actors/actresses who had to yell). Overall, this show is martial arts to the extreme ~ showcasing fights so full of hype that it makes us jump for the joy the moment one goes Super Saiyan or does the renowned Kamehameha. Though cheesy I'll admit, DBZ still entertains audiences everywhere, creating a large fanbase and following that spawns new videogames & movies. So this Anime is over 9000 and it'll go down as one of my favorite Nostalgic Anime(s).

I hope you enjoyed the last installment of the TCTD Quad. The Rhetorical(s) posts will be renamed Legacy next week. Look forward to Legacy post every Thursday. Until then, you all stay classy now. WBCR & Throwback will be up tomorrow. 

Affinity #59 - Thugz In Harmony (Renji & Ikkaku)

Renji Abarai, prior to his promotion to Lieutenant of the 6th Division, was the 6th seat in the renowned and feared 11th division under the tutelage of Kenpachi Zaraki. He, much like the reputation of the 11th division suggests, was a thug and looked down on weaklings. So it's a safe bet that Renji & Ikkaku got along considering their both part of the same division, looked like thugs, and looked down on weaklings. One acts tough and is impatient whereas the other is Tatted up. Ikkaku was considered to be at Captain level as supported by Renji's notion, but Ikkaku reiterated to him that he'd rather die alongside Kenpachi than to be promoted. Ikkaku & Renji not only are close friends, but have sparred against each other in the past ~ having a strong devotion to becoming stronger and unlocking untapped potential. Renji looks up to Ikkaku as his superior and as a brother-in-arms.....or in this case Thugz in Harmony. Though part of different squads, they still get along and are valuable assets to Team Ichigo. 

I hope you all enjoyed this week's Affinity. Look forward to Affinities every Tuesday. Until then, you all stay classy now 

Throwback #60 - No Dirt on Monkeys (Renji vs. Jackie)

One of the shortest fights in all of Bleach next to Giriko vs. Kenpachi, Dordoni vs. Ichigo, & Jirobo vs. Uryu is the fight between Jackie Tristan & Renji Abarai. After the whole full-scale war between the Shinigami & Espada, Jackie is not even on par with Aizen's forces and thus Renji was able to peacefully do way with Jackie without having to resort to killing her. Of course the question that probably is on everyone's mind is ~ What was the point of Jackie? Well, like I said previously, I found the Fullbringer arc to be both a filler & a set-up for the remaining Xcution forces to fight against the Wandenreich. So does that mean Jackie will fight? Well, Xcution didn't interest me as much and everyone's backstory is cliche by all means ~ power, loss of a love one, & gratification of self-indulgence are elements that define them. Jackie's power didn't interest me as much as Renji easily beating her was like a big middle finger to Jackie's character. Renji just fought Aizen ~ Jackie isn't anywhere near his league. Renji's growth stems from his growing relationship with the main characters just like many of Bleach's characters. Although Jackie, at times, is hot & she does have okay BEEWBZ, it doesn't change the fact that she clearly was no match for Renji. In this case, Dirty & Mud were no match for Monkey & Snake. However, I wonder if Jackie (and possibly Riruka & Yukio) will return....who knows.

I hope you enjoyed this brief Throwback. Look forward to Throwbacks every Friday. Until then, you all stay classy now.

3rd Rhetorical (Anime Impressions) Post ~ Trigun

So far in the TCTD Quad, I discussed both Tenchi Muyo & Cowboy Bebop, two masterpieces in their own right. Reiterating once more, the TCTD Quad are 4 series that instantly got me hooked into Anime and also what introduced me to CN's Toonami lineup. Today we discuss the other "T" in the TCTD Quad ~ Trigun. Vash the Stampede is a renowned name for those familiar with Trigun. Set in western period w/science fiction thrown into the mix, Trigun embarks on telling a story of a sixty billion double dollar man whose a target for bounty hunters, but something about him is....weird. In the sense of cartoons, putting logic into the mix won't really get you anywhere considering the setting & mixing Western & Science Fiction into one really is far beyond anyone's comprehension. From the get-go, I was curious and fascinated with Trigun's world ~ it's characters, setting, tone, & ranging from action to drama and comedy ~ it was a perfect blend of testosterone badassery that is Vash the Stampede. Vash & the other badass of the show, Wolfwood, were what made Trigun awesome in every way. From the intense shootouts to the dramatic scenes revolving around Vash & his past, Vash is an iconic character whose up there with Spike from Cowboy Bebop as being one of the most memorable, badass, and fleshed out characters in Anime. Premiering in 1998, Trigun still remains one of my favorite iconic Anime(s) that paved way for my growing interest in Cartoons both American & Japanese. Although I didn't talk about the other characters (the chicks & cool @$$ antagonist with sick @SS name ~ Millions Knives), I'd say take a look for yourself on the world of Trigun because I wouldn't want to spoil anything on the Sixty Billion Double Dollar Man. He'd probably come looking for me if I were to say anything, so go check it out yourselves partners!

Not wanting to give anything away, I'd say give Trigun a chance. It's a strange take on Westerns & Science Fiction, but hey ~ it's pretty damn entertaining. Iconic in its own right, I doubt there's anyone who hasn't heard of Trigun or the name Vash the Stampede. Look forward to Anime Impressions every Thursday (next Thursday is the end of the TCTD Quad). Until then, you all stay classy now.

WBCR - The Zero's Division's Stand (Grade: A)

This chapter was a relatively short read AND was released a day earlier on MangaPanda (not yet on MangaStream) ~ Hence why this week's WBCR is posted today rather than tomorrow or Friday. However, I somewhat knew that the Zero Division couldn't be defeated so easily and that deploying a decoy of the King's Palace to fool the enemy was all part of the grand plan. They're the freaking Zero Division ~ stronger than all the Gotei 13 combined. All of them have rightfully earned their rightful spot alongside the Spirit King and it'd be a shame if they were to die easily just because they've finally come across mighty foes such as Yhwach's caliber. The chapter starts off with what appears of Senjumaru's dead body getting destroyed as to create a pathway for Yhwach, but soon they've come to realize the landscape began shifting. Senjumaru, Osho, Kirio, & Oetsu appear and are dead set in fighting Yhwach's Elite. Kirio explains that the trap caging (The Cage of Life) Yhwach's Elite, no matter how much its attack, only feeds it reiatsu and only grows stronger ~ making it impossible to trample it all down. Oetsu makes a dramatic entrance and pretty much says he'll take them all on. Overall, I liked this chapter a lot more because it's a perfect setup for the two parties to clash ~ Yhwach & his Elite & the Zero Division. However, we all know the Star & his ragtag team will steal the show the moment the two parties clash. I love the Zero Division ~ each character is given not much depth, but the gravitas of their role makes up for it as they now face an ultimate foe; defending the Spirit King is their sole duty and with that being said ~ major @$$ will need a kicking. Although the other fights in the Gotei 13 are okay, I personally am really looking forward to seeing the Zero Division because they're only 5 people and together, they are mightier, stronger, faster, & wiser than the entire Gotei 13. Yhwach's Elite can only do so much, but if they can somehow match par with them or even have an advantage, it'd be an interesting matchup to see. For this week, I'm giving this chapter's grade a A because I'm thrilled in seeing the Zero Division's comeback (despite it's cliche-ness, the decoy was inevitable as the heavily guarded palace couldn't possibly be run down that fast without a fight).

So what did you think of this week's chapter? Good? Bad? Somewhere in the middle? Comment below and let me know. As always, look forward to WBCRs whenever chapter's available (Normally Wednesdays, but if not ~ Thursdays-Fridays) AND when I have the time to post, give my thoughts, & explain properly what I thought about the chapter overall. Until then, you all stay classy. 

Affinity #58 - Hug...of Death! (Ichigo X Nelliel)

Many Bleach fans out there, if I'm not mistaken, are on two opposing sides: Ichihime (Ichigo & Orihime) & Ichiruki (Ichigo & Rukia). I'm somewhere in the middle, but I'm heavily leaning towards Ichihime mainly because of the tearful confession scene Orihime gave to a sleeping Ichigo if she had 5 lives ~ all would live a life where they'd all fall for our main hero. Though I'd wish Ichigo would return the favor and just get together with Orihime, Bleach isn't focusing on that aspect and will most likely leave us Bleach fans left wondering how his life will be after evil has been dealt with. On the other hand, we have Ichiruki, but I see it more as Captain-Lieutenant level relationship/best friends. IF Ichigo were to become a Captain of the Gotei 13, Rukia is 50/50 going to be his Lieutenant and, like I said before, without Rukia ~ There's no Bleach. However, there are various relationships that haven't been touched upon as much with our orange-haired protagonist. One of which is Ichigo & Nelliel, the 3rd Espada. In her child form, Ichigo cared for Nelliel and saved her from harm's way. However, in her adult form, Nelliel is a big-breasted hottie who literally almost embraced Ichigo to death. Not only was it a key scene, but I found it comedic seeing we went from seeing Nelliel as a kid to a woman with big-@$$ Tits. Nelliel is one of hottest Bleach chicks (in ADULT form) and probably the 4th woman to possess a large rack (Orihime, Rangiku, Yoruichi, Nelliell, & Ikumi). Nelliel's reaction when running towards Ichigo to give him an embrace was showcasing that she had developed feelings for our main hero and oh boy does love hurt...literally. Nelliel & Ichigo is a potential relationship, but much like Ichigo X Senna, Ichigo X Nozomi, & Ichigo X Tatsuki ~ it isn't emphasized on as much as Ichihime or Ichiruki. However, I will say Ichigo is a lucky bastard for having a hottie (in ADULT form) like Nelliel get close to him. I would LOVE if Nelliel embraced me tightly....probably do stuff with her if ya know what I mean, but when she reverts back to adult form ~ playtime is over. I'd personally make it my job to find a way to permanently make her an Adult so I could XXX her as my Espada squeeze. So Ichigo, please remain as innocent and badass as you are so that ladies like Nelliel can embrace you so tightly that her BEEWBZ literally will make your nose bleed.

I hope you enjoyed this week's Affinity. Look forward to Affinities every Tuesday. Until then, you all stay classy now. WBCR will be up when chapter's available AND when I have time to post (between Thursday-Friday). 

WBCR - Headshot! (Grade: B) ~ Delayed Review

So I'd like to take this opportunity to apologize once again for posting WBCR late. It's not often that I've delayed posts, but since starting school & being a part-time worker ~ time is kinda of constricted here. WBCRs are usually posted on Wednesdays, but since chapters are released a day or two later, WBCRs are often posted when I have the time to read, evaluate, and give verdict on whether or not the read was worth it. Last Thursday's chapter pretty much sums up the cliche-ness of "Having the upper hand to Letting everything crumbles." However, I am curious for the 4 newcomers ~ The M (Gerard Valkyrie), X (Lille Barro), C (Pernida Parnkgjas), & D (Askin Nakk Le Vaar). Askin was the only one to get promoted as being Yhwach's "Elite." Just before, Senjumaru dealt with Nianzol and this week ~ Senjumaru may/may not be dead since she got a bullet to her head thanks to Lille. So these Elite must be the real deal, right? We got a mysterious hooded figure, a sniper, & Thor. Yes, did you know Thor was up in here? A part of me thinks Tite Kubo's creation of Gerard Valkyrie was modeled after Marvel's Thor. I mean, it makes sense. Senjumaru calls for back-up to protect the King, but that plan soon came to crumble the moment Lille says one badass line ~ "The Royal Palace has already fallen the moment his Highness set food in it." The chapter ends with a bullet pretty taking off a good potion of Senjumaru's head. Overall, this week's chapter was a short read, but although I did say it was cliche was f*ck ~ my curiosity got the better of me since I'm more curious to know what will happen now and if Team Ichigo will make it in time. It's a set-up for what I'd like to call "The Hero ascending into Hell." The most protected place of the Soul King is beginning to crumble and now it's up to our hero to literally ascend into darkness to thwart evil once and for all. The chapter gets a Grade: B.

So what did you think of last week's chapter? Good? Bad? Somewhere in the middle? Comment below and let me know. Look forward to WBCRs when chapter's available and when I'll be available to post it (hopefully between Thursdays-Fridays). If delayed, then the reasons are: School, Work, or Family/Friends. Until then, you all stay classy now.

Zealot Update (10/5/14)

Hello everyone and welcome to another Zealot Update. It's been one hectic week considering I'm balancing school & work. In regards to WBCR, I initially said I was going to post it yesterday, but due to getting stuck at work a little longer than usual, I was unable to deliver posted WBCR. I will TRY to post WBCR later on today or latest Monday (October 6th). I do apologize in advance if I post late, but do consider that I'm both a full-time college student & a part-time worker. Stay classy.

- Stillmattic, 10/5/14

Throwback #59 - Bitter Reunion

2 Leaders that once were allies now fight together once again to face a common foe ~ Aizen Sousuke. Shinji Hirako is leader of the Visored whereas Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto is leader of the Gotei 13. Prior to Kisuke's banishment, Shinji was Aizen's superior and, like all Captains, took orders from Captain Yamamoto. Upon discovering the hollow experimentation was implemented on various Shinigami Captains & Lieutenants, Central 46 announced that they are to be executed. To save them from execution, Kisuke & Yoruichi did the unthinkable and ran away to the Human World as to escape persecution. Years later did they know that Shinji Hirako & the rest of the Visored were very much alive and led their own faction that implemented their Shinigami & Hollow powers together. When Shinji & Yamamoto met face-to-face, it suggests a bit of tension between the two considering Shinji doesn't quite see his old Leader as a friend or ally, but rather explicates that he is Ichigo's ally. He despises Aizen, but doesn't quite trust the Gotei 13 ~ which suggests why Captain Yamamoto was unsheathing his blade the moment Shinji explained "We aren't allies." Yamamoto was just about to cut down Shinji, but as soon as Shinji explained that Aizen was there foe & Ichigo was their ally, Yamamoto stopped himself ~ knowing full well that despite what happened in the past, they must face Aizen now before it's too late. A bitter union, but nonetheless paves way for rekindling since we see Shinji, Rose, & Kensei resume their duties as the 3rd, 5th, & 9th division Captains.

I hope you all enjoyed this week's Throwback. WBCR will be posted, for this week only, tomorrow ~ Saturday, October 4th. Until then, you all stay classy now.

2nd Rhetorical (Anime Impressions) Post ~ Cowboy Bebop

What defines entertainment in the form of Media nowadays? Is it the compelling storytelling from the imaginative writers or perhaps the setting that perfectly landscapes the overall atmosphere, tone, & gravitas of the show? It is its characters that are outlined as either being the protagonists or antagonist or perhaps its the way the story is told that makes us, the audience, invested in what'll happen next. In last week's first Impressions post, I discussed what I'd like to call the TCTD ~ four Animes(s) that I grew up watching and are defined as masterful crafts in its own right. Some may/may not disagree, but in my opinion ~ these are the shows that got me invested in Anime. We all have a starting point and the TCTD Quad got me instantly hooked. Since last week was Tenchi Muyo, a harem-based Anime, why not discuss the "C" in the TCTD Quad. If you haven't guessed yet, it's none other than one of, if not, the most renowned Anime out there ~ Cowboy Bebop. What needs to be said about this masterful show? It has great storytelling, interesting characters, a cool soundtrack, and overall well-written episodes that sometimes arches into the character's arcs. Spike, Jet, Faye, & Ed ~ These 4 stars are what made Cowboy Bebop such a hit. Spawning 26 episodes, a full-length movie, and a supposed live-adaptation (in the works), Cowboy Bebop's debut in 1998 has created a huge following that spawned audiences everywhere to outright say ~ It's pretty damn good. From it's imagery to its scenery, Cowboy Bebop doesn't pull any punches ~ it's quite different from anything I've ever seen at the time. Cowboy Bebop is what I'd like to call an Experience ~ sometime so revolutionary for it's time that it got me, a fan, to discuss why it carries so much gravitas in the Anime World. Each episode was a story in it's self and the soundtrack, by far, is one of my favorite components behind Cowboy Bebop's craft. The action scenes, the character's emotions, the setting, and overall relationships ~ It's quite a spectacle to see a well-developed, well-written, and well-crafted Anime that mainly emphasized the maturity behind a Space-Western Noir setting. It tackles various themes such as loneliness, the past, & existentialism and when you put those 3 in an Anime ~ it's quite interesting to see the direction of where it'll go. I cannot say it enough ~ Cowboy Bebop truly is a Craft in the Anime World.

I sincerely believe anyone whose interested in Anime or just overall great storytelling, compelling characters, a cool soundtrack, & scenic atmosphere should check out Cowboy Bebop. You have to see it to believe it because it's an experience that I'll always remember as one of my favorite Shows of all time. Sorry I didn't touch upon what the show's about, but I'll leave it up to you, the audience, to take a look for yourself because I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. Look forward to the next 2 installments of the TCTD Quad (you may/may not know what they are). Until then, you all stay classy now. WBCR will be posted, for this week only, on Saturday. Weekly Throwback will be posted normally tomorrow.