dashPunk

At the end of the Taisho era in Japan, a small tea house draws patrons to Hiruko. He is a Baku-he or eater of dreams. It is said Hiruko can enter a nightmare and release the victim from suffering. He can put people to sleep with the wave of his cane and accompany them into the nightmare.

The stories in Nightmare Inspector are very odd and don’t seem to make much sense. In one case, a boy walks into the tea house and asks for help. It turns out he is a weather vane. I’m confused how a weather vane could walk into a tea shop and do weather vane’s have nightmares?

Another tale features a girl who always writes the same thing in her dream. She asks him to change it, but when they get to the part where he can, she ends up writing the same thing. There is a secondary character in the tea house who sometimes asks Hiruko what happened and his explanations don’t make much sense either.

There are also repetitive chapter beginnings which are common in mangas that were serialized in magazines.  I always think it is better for the editor to cut these out when composing the manga book.

I absolutely love the art in this manga. It’s a very interesting sort of steampunk/cosplay mix with long art deco kinds of lines. The styling of the Baku-he is awesome.

In back, there is a short letter from the author. The best thing in the whole book is a full page illustration/explanation of Hiruko’s cane by the friend of the author. It’s hilarious and informative. It makes me wonder what sort of manga would come from the author and best friend collaborating.

Check out this manga for the art. The story is not worth the read.

You can find this manga at Amazon.com.

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Missingis a story about a literary club where one of the members disappears. These students claim to be the smartest in school and attempt to show it off by having lengthy discussions about society, religion, love, etc… I have never, in all my manga-reading years, seen a story with more words in it.

The bubbles are practically bursting with conversation. At one point the font is so small (to get all the words in the bubble) that it becomes hard to read. This is a good thing for those of you looking to get more intellectual stimulation from a comic. For me, it was kinda exciting at first, then got tiresome, and just before it annoyed me, they got into the meat of the spooky tale. The reason for the overly wordy manga is because it’s an adaptation from the novel Missing by Gakuto Coda.

The character all us Gloom Cookies will like is named Kyoichi. He is tall, dark, handsome, and wears a long black cloak like a priest. He’s the type that sits in the corner reading while the others are going on about whatever nonsense they deem important. Sort of a modern-day Mr. Darcy, he scares people by merely pointing at them. A couple of the classmates worship him and call him “Your Majesty” or “Prince of Darkness”.

One day, a raven-haired beauty shows up outside and he is drawn to her. Soon he goes missing and the club members meet to speculate on where he has gone. My first thought was, if I was part of this club and they had to discuss every facet of my disappearance, I would be dead before they figured it out! They discuss Kyoichi’s fascination with death, the occult, ghosts, and the Kamikakushi which are “Stealers of Souls”.

A poem starts this manga, which I am not a fan of, and there is not much action. However, it does have a spooky element because of the kids investigating what could be the cause of Kyoichi’s disappearance.  They pull out reference books and start referring to especially spooky passages.

To read this review, you may think I didn’t like it, but In a strange sort of way, I did. This manga is like watching Dead Poet’s Society. It’s deep, makes you think, and might even cause you to shiver, but when you’re craving something fun, leave it on the shelf!

Extras: 4 pages from the author and an excerpt from the novel.

Interested in checking this out? Buy it now on Amazon.com.

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The tale of supernatural horror provides an interesting field.  THE OLDEST and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.  It is the literature of cosmic fear in its purest sense.  There is here involved a psychological pattern or tradition as real and as deeply grounded in mental experience as any other pattern or tradition of mankind.

A certain atmosphere of breathless and unexplainable dread of outer, unknown forces must be present; and there must be a hint, expressed with a seriousness and portentousness becoming its subject, of that most terrible conception of the human brain.  The more completely and unifiedly a story conveys this atmosphere the better it is as a work of art in the given medium.

• The appeal of the spectrally macabre is generally narrow
• It demands from the reader a certain degree of imagination and a capacity for detachment from everyday life.
• Atmosphere is the all-important thing

Why is Supernatural Horror Effective

The thrill of the chimney-corner whisper or the lonely wood invades an obscure corner of the very hardest head; so that no amount of rationalization, reform, or Freudian analysis can quite annul the thrill.

This tendency, too, is naturally enhanced by the fact that uncertainty and danger are always closely allied; thus making any kind of an unknown world a world of peril and evil possibilities. When to this sense of fear and evil the inevitable fascination of wonder and curiosity is superadded, there is born a composite body of keen emotion and imaginative provocation.

Supernatural Horror Plays with

• fear of the unknown
• psychology
• the sensitive
• curious streak of fancy
• more maleficent side of cosmic mystery
• A certain atmosphere of breathless and unexplainable dread

What Supernatural Horror is Not.

The literature of mere physical fear and the mundanely gruesome.  This type externally similar but psychologically widely different.  The true tale has something more than secret murder, bloody bones, or a sheeted form clanking chains.

Such writing, to be sure, has its place, as has the conventional or even whimsical or humorous ghost story where formalism or the author’s knowing wink removes the true sense of the morbidly unnatural.  These things are not the literature of cosmic fear in its purest sense.

For more read Supernatural Horror in Literature by H. P. Lovecraft

• Buy it here

Get you copy of Lovecraft's great works here

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There are so many manga out, you may be asking, “How can I choose the manga that is right for me?”

First you need to know what part of the manga you enjoy most.
Do you love goth-loli art? A good story? Something with horror in it?
It’s rare to find all these things in one manga series. Believe me, I’ve tried!

Some of you may rely on reviews such as this one to lead your way, but for those of you who are trying to create your own manga hunting style, here are some tips.

Know what you like

I look for good art first, story second.

Seems kind of weird for someone to say that about a book, but  unlike fiction books, mangas need to capture your eyes as well as your mind.

Good manga authors are a skilled, rare breed that can somehow create a tale and put it down in art in such a delicate fashion, you hardly realize you are reading what is basically a cartoon.  What good is a tale in a manga book without interesting art? They might as well have written a novel, let the publisher worry about the cover art, and stick to word writin’!

Know what you don’t like

I am emphatically against talking animals in manga. I hate them. Bats and spiders are sometimes ok, but bunnies and doggies and 300-year-old kitties reincarnated from a once great vampire god? Don’t get me started! However, my best friend adores animals talking and absolutely loves the manga (that shall remain nameless) with the vampire kitty. My point?

Know your tastes and just because your best friend urges you to buy her favorite manga because it has vampires in it, don’t automatically assume you will in enjoy it.  There may be a wisecrackin’ bunny hidden in the pages, and we all know what that leads to!

Hone your skills

Here are some tips on how to narrow the competition down.

1. Go to a store with a large manga selection.  This shouldn’t be too hard as it seems manga is the only hot selling item in bookstores these days.
2. Stand back from the manga shelves and scan.  If any cover draws your notice from a few yards back, it’s worth a look.
3. Check out the front cover in full. Are you a chibi lover, or do you enjoy killer cyborgs with little chibi interference? Make sure the cover speaks to your taste. If you see one character you don’t like, put it in the maybe pile. There is a good chance that character is going to be throughout the book and will irritate you every time you turn the page and see them.
4. Once you have narrowed down a few of the great covers, glance over the description on the back. Don’t put too much stock in the description because they don’t usually relate very closely to the tale. I’ve found that often manga covers seem to be written about the whole series and not about the one volume you are purchasing. As long as there are no talking vampire kitties, you are safe to go on.
5. Flip through the book and check out the art. Is the detail inside as good as the cover art? Is it appealing to you? Is the printing bad, or is it crisp and clean? Do you stop every so often to let a “wow” or a “ooooohhhh” slip from your lips? If you realize it’s a steampunk fantasy once you get inside and you don’t like that sort of tale, please don’t buy it just because you like the cover. You will be disappointed.
6. Finally, the tale. Read at least the first four pages to make sure you like the story. Does the character cuss like a twelve-year-old boy trying to show off to his mates? Does the dialog not flow? Is there some sort of back story you just don’t like? Don’t buy it. It will not get better. Unfortunately, in some stores (especially in Japantown) they seal the books. In this case, you either take your chances, or get smart and browse them online first. Sites like Amazon and Toykopop allow you to read the first couple of pages before you buy.

I tell you all these things because, like you, I once was a manga investigator trainee. I still get caught buying a stinker once in awhile. It’s all about:

• Knowing what you want
• Believing in your first instinct and
• Sticking to it, no matter how much the commerce bug has got you itching!

For those of you who still can’t decide, I’ve made a list of my top five series. Check out the reviews, see if you might like them, and then put on your manga p.i. hat and get shopping!

1. God Child by Kaori Yuki
2. The Tarot Café by Sang Sung Park
3. Princess Ai by Courtney Love and DJ Milky
4. Death Note by Tsugumi Oba
5. Millennium Snow by Bisco Hatori

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Night’s Knights Book Release Party

Friday, October 30th
7:00 p.m.
Bay Books Concord

• Dress as your favorite vampire.
• Meet author and hostess of HorrorAddicts.net, Emerian Rich.
• Enjoy vampire-inspired snacks.
• Hear a live reading.
• Trick or Treat.
• Be one of the first 24 people to buy her book and get free dogtags to commemorate the event.
• With your Night’s Knights purchase, receive a free companion booklet with author notes, sketches, and fan works.

http://www.baybooks.us

Bay Books Concord
1669 Willow Pass Road
Concord, CA 94520

(925) 671-2245

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Yeah… it’s that good!
Awesome artist Christen Kojnok is behind the sexy new look.
You can find out about her and see her beautiful work at:
http://christenkojnok.com/

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I love getting things like this in the mail!  This is my 1st proof of my print novel Night’s Knights.

There are some adjustments I will be making, but for the most part I am thrilled beyond all common uses of the word.
All the fonts and pictures I used came out beautifully.  I really like the size and weight of the finished product and although I wanted to keep the price under ten dollars, the fact that it will be $13.00 does not bother me after seeing it.

It is quality paperback which major booksellers charge $15-$20 for and I am confident the finished product will be something vampire fans across the globe will have a hard time passing by.

One bit of news I have is, although the cover was locked in, I suddenly met someone who has the most beautiful picture that I would like to use for the cover. We are in talks about the details, but when I know for sure, I will give you links to her portfolio. Excellent stuff.  I am so excited to have met her and to have seen her artwork just in time.

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Poor Tsuknune. He’s a C student whose sent off to a monster school in the boondocks by his ignorant parents.

Rosario+Vampire starts out great, with a spooky bus ride complete with freaky bus driver spouting out inside jokes and warnings. Tsukune is let off in a desolate area where the leave-less trees are full of crows. As he follows the bone lined path towards the spooky looking haunted castle, a girl on a bike slams into him. Moka is a vampire girl who happens to feed on him five minutes after they meet. Once Tsukune makes it to school grounds, he learns Moka is not the only vampire.

Yokai academy is a school for monsters, but there’s not a goth in sight. These monsters are all pretty preps with hidden powers and vicious tempers. Tsukune must hide the fact that he is a mortal if he wants to stay alive.

There are werewolves, succubus, and different types of vampires in this tale, but the most terrifying monsters at the school are the mermaids. Yes, you heard me right. Normally beautiful buxom blonds and redheads with alluring eyes and undeniable beauty, the mermaids in this manga are devils in disguise. The seemingly innocent girls sprout fins from their ears and their months expand to cover almost their entire face with two rows of shark teeth intent on sucking the life force from whatever they latch onto in the water.

Vampire lore in this manga states that water (even swimming pool water) makes vampires weak because of its purifying quality. To take a bath, vampires must add an herb mix to neutralize the purifying effects. The vampire Moka also wears a “Rosario” necklace which when removed, unlocks her vampire powers and she turns into a mega hot super bitch.

Favorite moments:

• Tsukune: “Where did you get this (school) flyer?”
  Mom: “Well, there was this scary looking monk and…”
  Tsukune: “I don’t want to go to some bizarre monk school!”
  (But a school with hot vamp girls is alright?)
• A kid in class pipes up and asks his cat woman teacher a smart alack question. She in turn, scratches his eyes out, giggles, and then continues with her class.

True horror fans will adore this manga for its artistic detail in the haunted house-like school, raven filled trees, and elaborate monsters. There is an awful lot of chibi content. Luckily most of it makes you laugh, not groan. Rosario + Vampire is rated older teen, I suppose because of its panty shots and big chests rather than for violence.

Get your copy from Amazon here:  Rosario+Vampire

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Whether it be campfire tales, ghost stories, or just superstitions shared by your grandparents, I believe all of us have experienced the bone-chilling fear of hearing a tale that scared us to the core.

Mine, strangely enough, was an elementary school assignment.  This is an American folktale not many have heard of, so in true folktale manner, I will relate the story in my own words.  If you have family near, read aloud, or print this and take it with you on your camping trip.

The Yellow Ribbon

Once upon a time there was a man who dreamed of meeting his perfect mate and prayed to the heavens she would cure his broken heart. One day, he met such a woman. From her radiant skin, to her crimson hair, to the yellow ribbon she wore around her neck, she was perfection personified. She seemed to adore him just as much as he did her. He sometimes would ask her why she wore the yellow ribbon around her neck and she would always change the subject. He decided he did not care, if she liked the yellow ribbon, she could wear it for the rest of their lives, it did not bother him.

When he asked for her hand in marriage, he did it in the most romantic way he knew how.  He drove her up to lover’s lane, held her hand, and as they stargazed, he asked her to marry him. She said, “I will marry you on one condition. Never ask me again about the yellow ribbon.” This seemed like a simple request to him and they set a date.

However, as the wedding drew near, he began to wonder why she would not take the ribbon off, even on her wedding day. Perhaps she loved the ribbon more than him! Though he did not ask her about the ribbon, the subject began to infect their relationship. He thought about it day and night. He began to hate to look at her because the ribbon seemed to be on her neck precisely to mock him.

On their wedding day, as the priest said, “You may kiss the bride.” The man saw his chance. As his wife closed her eyes and puckered her lips, waiting for the heavenly kiss from the man she adored, he pulled the ribbon end. His new wife’s head fell off and rolled down the street. The End.

According to AmericanFolklore.com, this was a tale originally from Wisconsin. Read the tale of The Yellow Ribbon and many more American folk tales at: http://www.americanfollore.com and celebrate this Independence Day Weekend by telling a spooky folk tale of your own.

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Dead Snow, also known as Død snø,  is a Norwegian horror film that follows a more classic 80’s horror model… young adults partying in a remote location where a merderous mosters awaits it’s next victem.

My hope is that this film keeps the elements that made the 80’s horror films so great:  a subtle moral message, the horror is more in ones mind rather then attempting to show all of it, and using subtle sexual subconscious messages to enhance the thrill of the experience of the movie.

This is not even a renter for me.  I love a good horror film but I have been let down too many times.  Horror movies had a shift in focus from true horror which H.P. Lovecraft describes in his definition of supernatural horror in literature and this modern celebration of torture.  I need to care about the characters and their survival.

Let me know what you think.  Will you go to see Dead Snow in the theater on June 16 or rent it?  If you have seen it in the theater should I go see it and why?

Read more on Dead Show here

Don’t wait. Guarantee your seat before you go and  avoid a sold out show. Skip the box office lines and buy movie tickets at Fandango.com.

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