Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
I have too many books on my to-read list. Incidentally, I’ve found that goodreads is a great place to keep track of lists. Much better than the sticky note method. Though I still do that too.
I’m at a loss of what to read next. There’s so many on my list, I think I’ve narrowed it down to five – will you help me choose?
Detroit Metal City (DMC) – This strange little manga is about a heavy metal rocker who dreams of boyband success. Very weird but lots of people are saying it’s really good.
Ember Fury – The child of celebrity parents deals with her stress by setting stuff on fire. The artwork looks neat and I’m a sucker for angry teenagers.
MariaHolic – a yuri obsessed teenager joins an all girls school in hopes of finding her love. But the perfect woman turns out to be a cross-dressing pyscho-man.
Cigarette Kisses – a yaoi about two men who almost get together when one decides to marry a woman. Years later they meet while smoking and um, I’m assuming things get hot!
Umbrella Academy: Dallas – I loved loved loved the first volume. Seriously, loved it. Enough to give Gerard Way’s band another try but no, the band still sucked.
So, which would you read? Have you read any of them and think maybe I can skip it?
List, list, lists!
You know I love lists. And Yaoi. So I’m all about a Yaoi Essentials List! Deb Aoki from About.com asked her Twitter pals what their favorite titles were and then, hooray, made a list! I haven’t read all the books on the list but I’m pleased to see one of my favorites, Future Lovers, was number 1. I also love Fake, Antique Bakery and Seduce me After the Show.
Of course, now my to-read list is even longer.
Did any of your favorite yaoi novels show up or not?
Top 5 Heroes your Kids Should Know About
Kids still on the brain I guess. Here’s my list of the Top 5 Heroes (not necessarily super) Your Kids Should Know About.
1. Spiderman – ok, the first one is super but in an ordinary kind of way. Spidey built his web shooters, using his brain to enhance his powers. He was a dork first; almost everyone is. Practically every man and quite a few women I know speak reverently of Spiderman. Why? Because he’s funny!
2. Naruto – speaking of funny, this quick ninja is a wise cracking but loyal friend. Sasuke could have easily been the star of this series what with his amazing talent and good looks but manga-ka Kishimoto made a wise choice placing Naruto at the center of the story. He’s a true hero with a strong heart that carries him further than raw strength.
3. Sadie – a central character in Mouse Guard, Sadie manages to warn everyone of danger. Determined and smart, this mouse is a dedicated mouse guard with a mind of her own.
4. Batgirl – Robin was kind of clingy and needy (not that we blame him, who wouldn’t be in his weird situation). There have been several Batgirls and almost all of them have a penchant for breaking Batman’s rules. I’m not saying kids should necessarily “learn” to break rules but challenging authority isn’t always a bad thing.
5. Professor Xavier - mainly because he’s pretty cool and he helps kids in need.
Twitter is a Superpower
Or a drug…I’m not sure which.
I was wanting to do another Top 5 list when I noticed this trending topic #crapsuperpowers. Ha! So awesome! My contribution was very literal – constantly shooting a laser beam out of your eyes. I’m, of course, referring to the X-men’s Cyclops who has to wear special glasses that constantly get knocked off and then his laser eyeballs go haywire. They can build an invisible jet but can’t make a strap?
Anyway, here’s a few of my favorite answers from other twitter folk:
@Poddingtonpease the uncanny ability to see through Glass
@esteethomas the ability to fly an inch form the ground
@Ibbored Laser pointer vision. Red ones. Give business presentations with no hands required?
@0mmbajBriano4 the power to talk to fish
and finally –
@obaadepoju The ability to memorize every twitter update you see everyday
Happy Tweeting!
Top 5 Shojo Heroines I would Slap in the Face
Normally, I don’t like to bring the hate. Ok, no that’s not true. Anyway, I expressed how much I admire the shojo heroine last week and got lots of great comments. But some shojo heroines are too much for even me.
Here’s my top 5 Shojo Heroines that I would slap in the face!
1. Hatsumi from Hot Gimmick – on the outset this had all the makings of a fantastic series. Hatsumi covers for her maybe-pregnant younger sister. In exchange for the secret, she agrees to become the slave of the boss’s son. Sexy hijinks ensue?!?! Uh no. The younger sister is not pregnant and Hatsumi is a moron. What could have been a tension filled drama quickly becomes a cautionary fable of how to act like a spineless wimp. From what I hear it doesn’t end at all the way fans wanted it to either.
2. Nobara from Crimson Hero – I like spunky but Nobara takes it to annoying. She’s so naive that you begin to wonder if she’s been huffing paint between games.
3. Nana O. from Nana – I guess Nana O. isn’t technically “shojo”. I started out loving her. She was so cool! But somewhere along the line she became a needy, selfish, entitled little girl. Blech. I hope she can come back and I love this series so I’m sticking with her but I’m also putting her on notice.
4. Shakuya from Two Flowers for the Dragon – honestly, I don’t really know why I don’t like this heroine. But..I just…don’t. I will say that the artwork in this series is pretty great.
5. Sakura from B.O.D.Y. – another case of naivete gone overboard. Wake up!
What about you? Did I put your favorite on the list? Want to make a case for why I should hug instead of slap them? Did I miss anyone you would like to slap? Let’s get mean!
Top 5 Manga Characters I would Hang out with In Real Life
I would really love to know fictional characters in their day to day lives. Mainly cause it would probably mean my day to day life was way more exciting. Here’s my top 5.
1. L – Death Note Sure Light might be charismatic and good looking. But L had a mystique and an intensity that made you wonder just what was really going on his head.
2. Ginji Amano – Getbackers His partner-in-crime Ban has better hair and is smoother, it’s true. Still, Ginji has such a big heart that he’s probably a better friend.
3. Nana O. – Nana Make me cool Nana!!!!
4. Yuko Ichihara – xxxHolic I just want to hang out with her to find out where she gets those amazing clothes.
5. Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachiin – Ouran High Host Club Getting two gorgeous, scheming men for the price of one – sign me up!
Top 5 Villains I Identify With
Inspired by facebook’s Living Social which I am unabashedly addicted to. What is it about lists and making lists and having pictures to go along with those lists and being able to comment on lists that just brings out the best/worst in people. I’m always amazed at the instant camaraderie when someone agrees with your list or the instant irritation when they don’t. Case in point, a list revealed that a friend of mine doesn’t like pancakes. THE HELL? Who doesn’t like pancakes! So of course, being a good facebook user I gave her a public flogging.
Anyway, here’s my list of Top 5 Villains I Identify With:
I chose villains because the best villains have motivations that we all can get behind. How they carry out those motivations, usually involving carnage, we don’t agree with but we can totally get why they would want to. My favorite villains are the ones who do it because they are trying to set things right, just like the hero. Ultimately, it is both the hero’s and the villain’s burden to make the decision to act, to suffer the consequences.
Villain #1 – Poison Ivy I don’t really love plants. I mean, they are nice and all but they bring bees, require “tending” and usually mean a trip to Lowe’s which… *barf* However, I do have a child (ren – well almost!). So I know the feeling of wanting to protect him at all costs. Of believing that this world needs to treat him kindly.
Villain #2 – Magneto Say what you will about his choice of headwear but this mutant understands something that X has yet to figure out. “Peaceful assimilation”? Yeah, that’s an oxymoron.
Villain #3 – Ramona Flowers’ Exes (sorry couldn’t find any decent pictures of the exes) Technically this is a crop of villains but I relate to them all. I think at one point we’ve all wanted to bust the head of the ex-girlfriend/boyfriend’s new flame.
Villain #4 – Alex Wilder I love my mom and dad.
Villain #5 – The Joker Yes, he’s bat**** crazy. He 
treats his decision to commit homicide as lightly as picking out ice cream flavors but come on. Who hasn’t wanted to skip raging against the machine and just work on making the machine pay?
