As For The Pictures

I have just added images to the site. I do not own these pics so if I have offended or have done something wrong to the viewers, please drop me a line and let me know the inconvenience so I can fix it.
Thank You,
George Scherer

Manga Review = Afro Samurai volume 1

Afro Samurai was a cultural hit when it was released in America. Featuring Samuel Jackson, this was an anime classic at release. Now we are proud to have the manga that started it all, and it is just as action packed (if not more) as the hit anime.
Afro Samurai Volume 1 follows the story of an amazingly strong swordsman knows as Afro. The book opens just as the anime. We see a young Afro brought to the battle ground by his father, the current Number 1 (swordsman of the world). There on the battle field is the current Number 2 that goes by the name Justice. Their battle ends quickly with Afros father being de-headed, and Justice taking the headband of the Number 1 and leaving the Number 2 headband with Afro. Afro will then grow up into a man bent on revenge for his father’s death.

Afro will be confronted with many people after the Number 2 headband. This is because in the story the man that holds the Number 1 headband is seen as a god, and the person with the Number 2 headband is the only one that can challenge the Number 1.

He will also run into the Empty Seven. We learn much more about this group in the manga than in the anime. All I will say though is that they work for the Number 1, but wish to take his power away.

The first volume will also introduce Kuma, but in this volume you see the reserve he has to fight Afro when Afro is at 100%. The volume is very well drawn and shows where the style of the anime truly came from.

Afro Samurai is an action packed blood fest of true classic samurai/western style. This truly shows how good stories can become when you combine Eastern and Western styles of media. Afro is a mature comic, and is in retail stores now.

George Scherer

Manga Preview = Black Cat

Black cat is an epic story with fun characters and great action and comedy. Black Cat follows the adventure of Train Heartnet, a once elite eraser and now a sweeper (bounty hunter) that travel around hunting down the biggest bounties. He travels with his partner Sven Vollfied, who was once a top IBI (International Bureau of Investigation) agent, now has also turned sweeper (it was Sven who brought Train in to the sweeping business).
The story follows the two as they try to make a living in this type of business. They will eventually meet a girl named Rinslet Walker, who is a master thief, and be asked to help her on her next mission. Little do any of them now that they will run into a young girl that will change their lives. Before the mission Sven find a young lost girl named Eve, and after spending time with her find that she has relation to their next target. Sven is badly wounded, but with the help of Train the two enter into the mission with Rinslet. During the mission Sven finds Eve and is told that Eve is a Bio-organic girl that can change her body as she sees fit. After some nice moves by train and the team, Eve joins the group.
In reality Kentaro Yabuki (writer and artist) says that Eve is also to be the main character. He tells that the story has two main characters and two story ideas. One is trains past and how it will affect the lives of his friends, and the second is the growing to age story of Eve.
Now to leave you will the big plot of the series. Train was an elite assassin now as a Chronos Number. He worked for the Chronos organization that owns 1/3 of the world economy. The numbers are people that are masters of one weapon and have been given a version of their master weapon made from a metal known as Orichalcum (the strongest metal known to man in this story). The member and the weapon are given a tattoo of a roman numeral, which train will be given the number VIII (hence the name Black Cat).
When Train was on a mission he meets a girl named Saya Minatsuki. She will change Train’s idea of what it means to be happy. When Train decides to leave Chronos his former Partner Creed Diskenth kills Saya hoping to change Train’s mind back to a killer. It is said that the Black Cat was killed for leaving the Numbers. Soon after the rescue of Eve, Creed finds Train and asks him to join his revolution to destroy Chronos.
The story unfolds from this point as Trains past begins to come back into his life, and his friends try to stay alive in this world that Train used to live in. This story is filled with action, comedy, and sci-fi that are done in a very well told way. You will be drawn into the action from the very first volume. Black Cat is one of those stories that once you finish reading it you will want to go tough the ride time and time again. The complete series is in stores now.

George Scherer

Manga Review = Legend of Zelda Volume 1

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is one of the most beloved of all Zelda games, and now we have the manga that represents the hit game.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time part 1 covers the beginning adventure of a mysterious boy named Link. His adventure leads him though the land of Hyrule and also in some most dangerous areas. He will not do it alone though, he will have the help of his fairy Navi and some new friends that he meets along the way. He will also gain many new and amazing weapons along the way to help in the journey.
Link starts this amazing adventure with the death of one of the closest people in his life. He is sent to give a treasure to the Princess of Hyrule. When he arrives he finds that there is a tale of a hero that will appear if three magical gems are brought together in the Temple of Time, and the Ocarina of Time is played in this place. Link then tells the princess not to worry he will collect the gems for her. Link then sets off on this amazing adventure of great victories and mysteries of his past and future being revealed.
This book is aimed more at kids, but it is also very adult in the situations and his reactions that Link has to go through. He will face things that many people must face, even that of a friend that was turned against him. He will have to deal with larger decisions that may cost many to lose their homes and lives.
This is a story of a young man that must grow into the hero that the kingdom of Hyrule has been waiting for. His adventure will reach the hearts of all that read this book.
If you liked the game, or are just looking for a story that anyone of any age can read, pick up this book and prepare for the beginning adventure of this beloved character.

George Scherer

Manga Review = Burst Angel Vol. 1

Burst Angel hit our shores in 2007, and now a year later we are graced with the manga that started the series.
Burst Angel volume 1 takes place in the time before the team was put together. The story follows Jo and Meg as they try to make ends meet with their business “Jakes of All Trades”. They are not only looked for as one of the best people to hire for a task, but are also hunted as two of the biggest bounties there are. The story will also introduce a new character to the series, Takeru. He is the scrawny boy that wants to be stronger, and thinks that being around Jo will help him get there (if he survives the encounter).
Now even though the story is before the anime, don’t think that it means that the action isn’t there. This is an action packed book that shows just how good Jo is, even without a giant robot. It contains 5 chapters that range from the story of a retrieval of an heirloom, to them having to survive while being hunted by mercenaries.
If you liked the anime, or are just looking for a new action packed manga that has “girls with guns”, then you should check out Burst Angel volume 1. You won’t be disappointed.

George Scherer

Game Review = Seal Online

Seal Online is a MMORPG by YNK Games that is an adventure for all ages.
Seal Online makes the normal MMO a fun and easy game that anyone can play. The style is a child/chibi like design that will give you different and funny ways to make your character your own. Now normally when we see a game like this we think really simple detail and little customization, but Seal delivers the complete opposite. The character and armor designs are very detailed and fun to look at. The game also gives you a bunch of different clothes styles and accessories to make your character look original and flashy.
In the game you have several different classes including a warrior, a knight, a mage, a priest, and even a jester. Each class has their own unique style that makes it easy to play as a character that you might normally never play as. You will also level up fast in the game so you have the ability to make a strong character fast and go to that high level dungeon with your friends that might have been playing longer than you have. There are still even more fun factors to the game, like pets and a couples system that gives so many more factors to make friends and rivals over.
One of the biggest problems I had with the game was the camera angles. The preset angles were pretty much useless, and in some sarcoma stances the free style camera was just a hopeless. The other problem was that the Warrior and Knight classes didn’t really seem that different.

Now Seal is a game aimed more at kids, but even some veteran MMO players will find fun and funny new ways to play this MMO. This is also an easy game so it great for new players, and there is even a class that will let you try all the other classes before you make your final choice. The reason why this game is so easy to recommend is that it’s FREE! So if you’re new to MMOs or just looking for some fun twists download Seal and find the kid in you again.

George Scherer

Game Review = Rohan: Blood Feud

One of the games that really stood out to me at e For All was a game from the developers at YNK. The title of this game is Rohan, which is a free online MMORPG. Now when you first hear this you think that it’s free but you must miss out on a lot. Well no you don’t. You actually get the whole game, with full ability to level to the max and full skill stats.
Rohan plays like many MMORPGs; it is very fluid in its controls (with the ability to use keyboard, mouse, and/or both). You get a solid amount of character races to choose from. You get the classic Human and Elf, and the new look at Dark Elfs and a new kind of race know as Dekan (a dragon type race). You also can obtain mounts of many different types. You can gain the average horse, or even go with the giant boar. You also have the ability to buy pets that will increase certain stats for your character.
Now these are great features, but the one that stood out to me was the Hit List. The Idea is that if I’m playing and someone sneaks up on me and starts a fight and I end up losing; after I am brought back to life he is written on my Hit List. With the character on my Hit List I can find him at a later time to get revenge. This is one of the best features I have ever seen in a MMORPG, you can finally get revenge on the jerk that killed you while you were weak.
Rohan is a great look at not only how an MMORPG should be, but it’s also free. The game has solid controls, graphics, unlockables, and quests. The game is very large and will take a lot of your life away.
If you like RPGs you should really download this one, and begin your quest of the Rohan world. Hope to see you in it.

George Scherer