GLADIATOR REVIVAL BY JOHNNY ZUCKER

Gladiator Revival

Author: Johnny Zucker

Publisher: Ransom Publishing LTD

ISBN: 978-178127-712-6

Reviewed by: Sandra Scholes

When I picked this up at my local book shop, I thought for sure it would be on Goodreads so I could review it on there, but imagine my surprise when I entered the search terms and couldn't find it. There was only one thing to do if I wanted to get my review out there to the sort of audience that needs to know about really good novels young adults will be interested in. I needed to put it on my blog!

NEO ISSUE 202

Neo Issue 202

Review by: Sandra Scholes

There are few Anime magazines out there in the UK, so this one is essential reading for those who want to read up on the latest on the Japanese culture scene. From anime, Asian film, J-Culture, music and cookery, action figures, there is an article for it that goes as in-depth as you need. 

And if you didn't already know from the cover, this issue concentrates on that firm shonen fan favourite, Akira. Originally set in the future, Akira over the years has now got to the point where it is in the past, so it gives us an idea how it's creator, Katsuhiro Otomo saw how 2019 would look. The expectations were of more technological advancements in a dystopian almost destroyed world from an atomic disaster. The story follows a handful of characters, Kaneda, Kei and Akira who act as rebels in a new world that don't tolerate those who don't conform. Unlike other kids who attend school and swot up on exams, these guys would rather race around on bikes and bunk off. Akira was required watching when I was younger and anime were being animated in more sophisticated ways, using digital graphics to create another more perfect, less fuzzy look. 

ADVANCE REVIEW: THE HUMILIATIONS OF WELTON BLAKE BY ALEX WHEATLE

The Humiliations of Welton Blake
Author: Alex Wheatle
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
Pages: 144
ISBN: 978-1-78112-949-4
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

I received this novel as an uncorrected manuscript proof that contained none of the dyslexia friendly features associated with the completed novel that will appear on bookstore shelves or online; the paper used will be an off-white background and have different typesetting. Also, what I could tell was this proof copy doesn't have the cover art that I saw on the press release sheet, so I thought I had got something rare.

WORLD BURN DOWN BY STEVE COLE

World Burn Down
Author:Steve Cole
Publisher:Barrington Stoke
Pages: 120
ISBN: 978-1-78112-946-3
Reviewed by: Sandra Scholes

Carlos's life goes from bad to worse when a man hunts down and drags him away from his house taking him to the Amazon rainforest. 

CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEW: THE GRIFFIN GATE BY VASHTI HARDY

The Griffin Gate
Author: Vashti Hardy
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
Pages: 104
ISBN: 978-1-78112-943-2
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

This is Vashti's first Barrington Stoke title and the good news is its part of a series with The Puffin Portal coming soon. 

CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEW: THE HOUSE OF CLOUDS BY LISA THOMPSON

The House of Clouds
Author: Lisa Thompson
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
ISBN:1781129061
Pages: 104
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

When Tabby's mum takes in grandad, she doesn't realise how much her life will change until it happens. Downstairs is converted into a living room and bed for him so he doesn't have to walk upstairs, and if he has to, there's a grab rail to make life a bit easier.

CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEW: THE INVASION OF CROOKED OAK BY DAN SMITH

The Invasion of Crooked Oak
Author: Dan Smith
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
ISBN: 9781781129203
Pages: 104
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Everything was fine in Crooked Oak until the fracking started. Nancy, Pete and Krish remember the good times they had at Carpenter's Field. When the field was fenced off and work happened, the strangeness started too.

MANGA REVIEW: JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE - PART 1: PHANTOM BLOOD BY HIROHIKO ARAKI

JoJo'sBizarre Adventure - Part 1: Phantom Blood
Author/Artist: Hirohiko Araki
Publisher: Viz Media/Shonen Jump
Pages: 249
ISBN: 13 978-1-4215-7879-8
Reviewed by: Sandra Scholes

Synopsis:
The setting is London in 1880 where two people, Jonathan (JoJo) Joestar and Dio Brando meet under strange circumstances, one good the other bad and the two are always at odds when Dio ends up at his father's estate.

ANIME REVIEW: STAR BLAZERS: SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO 2199 - THE COMPLETE SERIES

Star Blazers Space Battleship Yamato 2199 - The Complete Series
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 15
Running Time: 300 mins
Release Date: 29/6/2020
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

We're used to watching two alien races pose a threat to the human race, but it's rare that Earth has an alien race willing to help them fight against the threat.

CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEW: THE TOAD FROM OUTER SPACE BY FAIZ KERMANI

The Toad from Outer Space
Author: Faiz Kermani
ASIN: B08CCJCYNT
Pages: 33
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Snotbubble the alien toad has crash-landed on Fizzy Frog Swamp, much to every frogs amazement as the frogs there don't tend to get visitors, let alone ones from outer space.

ANIME REVIEW: JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE SET 3: STARDUST CRUSADERS PART 2

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Set 3: Stardust Crusaders Part 2
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 15
Running Time: 600 mins
Release Date: 17/2/2020
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Just when we thought it would be easy to sort out DIO and his cohorts in the previous set, this continues the problems that Joseph and Jotaro are finding when they are trying to eradicate the problem of DIO and cure Holly's illness.

ANIME REVIEW: BLACK CLOVER SEASON 2 PART 1

Black Clover Season 2 Part 1
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: PG
Running Time: 572 mins
Release Date: 27/4/2020
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

In the previous seasons, Asta had his arms injured when he fought the Eye of the Midnight Sun and this first part carries on with the Black Bulls who are off on a journey to the Forest of Witches where they get help for healing his arms, as Asta might not be able to use magic ever again.

ANIME REVIEW: GOBLIN SLAYER SEASON 1

Goblin Slayer Season 1
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 15
Running Time: 600 mins
Release Date: 17/2/2020
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

There is always something enigmatic about a man with no name and this man known only as Goblin Slayer is a lone wolf for the most part who goes about killing goblins. As we see his story progress, he starts to gather his own goblin slaying band; High Elf Archer, Guild Girl and Cow Girl.

ANIME REVIEW: ATTACK ON TITAN SEASON 3 PART 2

Attack on Titan Season 3 Part 2
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 15
Running Time: 300 mins
Release Date: 23/3/2020
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

The characters remember their humble pasts more than anything, how their lives were shattered by the coming of the Titans, their hopes and dreams crumbled, but they had their memories. Attack on Titan Season 3 is later on more about revisiting their old hometown of Almaria to see how bad it looks and, more importantly whether they can take it back from the Titan's grasp.

ANIME REVIEW: WISE MAN'S GRANDCHILD THE COMPLETE SERIES

Wise Man's Grand Child the Complete Series
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 15
Running Time: 300 mins
Release Date: 18/5/2020
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes


In 2020 it seems to be the year of series where the main character dies in real life and is resurrected in another world, one which might become very real; two spring to mind, That Time I Was Reincarnated as a Slime and How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord, and as usual the unexpected happens.

ANIME PREVIEW: ID: INVADED

Anime Preview: ID: Invaded

Previewed by: Sandra Scholes

When I last saw such anime as Psycho-Pass, I didn't think there were that many futuristic crime thrillers around, but thankfully I was wrong. There is another one; ID: Invaded.

CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEW: CAPTAIN WHISKERS BY JEREMY STRONG

Captain Whiskers
Author: Jeremy Strong
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
Pages: 96
ISBN: 978-1-78112-927-2
Reviewed by: Sandra Scholes

You might remember I reviewed Nellie Choc-Ice and the Plastic Island, which was part of Jeremy's Little Gems series of novels which educate young readers on current issues of climate change and overuse of plastics in society.

BOOK REVIEW: EDEN BY TIM LEBBON

Eden
Author: Tim Lebbon
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 384
ISBN: 9781789092936
Reviewed by: Sandra Scholes

From the author of Netflix's The Silence, bestselling author, Tim Lebbon introduces us to his latest thriller where mankind has ravaged most of the planet, and only the Virgin Zones remain. There are thirteen areas where nature has been left to grow, yet with so much damage already been done to the environment, nature might not be able to go back to what it once was.

ANIME ARTICLE: FRUITS BASKET: A CAT AND RAT STORY

Fruits Basket: A Cat and Rat Story
by Sandra Scholes

When you watch this a few years after you reviewed it the first time around, you forget how well animated it looks now. The improvements on colour and sharpness are there and make for great viewing.

ANIME REVIEW: FRUITS BASKET SEASON 1 PART 2

Fruits Basket Season 1 Part 2
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 12
Running Time: 280 mins
Release Date: 2/3/2020
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Feel-good anime series is pretty hard to find, though this shojo series is popular for several reasons; the way its heroine, Tohru is portrayed, the way she helps the Sohma family cope with their turbulent life and how we get to really know each character.

SCI-FI BOOK REVIEW: RE-COIL BY JT NICHOLAS

Re-Coil
Author: JT Nicholas
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 384
ISBN:978178903131
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

When humans are at the point of near-immortality, their aims must be never-ending and far-reaching, yet in this novel, there is someone in the shadows who wants to disrupt humanities need to live on eternally.

SCI-FI BOOK REVIEW: THE BREACH BY M T HILL

The Breach
Author: MT Hill
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 384
ISBN:9781789090031
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes


Zero Bomb was MT Hills first novel for Titan Books, and when you think that the previous one was innovative and interesting enough, along comes The Breach.

ANIME REVIEW: STEVEN UNIVERSE SEASON 1

Steven Universe Season 1
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: PG
Running Time: 572 mins
Release Date: 16/3/2020
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

There are plenty of animations out there that don't fall into the standard anime category of characters with big eyes and even bigger hai that I have been tasked with reviewing for the most part, but this doesn't make it any less interesting as it has elements to it that separate it from what I am used to watching.

BOOK REVIEW: SPIDER-MAN: THE VENOM FACTOR: A MARVEL OMNIBUS BY DIANE DUANE

Spider-Man: The Venom Factor: A Marvel Omnibus
Author: Diane Duane
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 656
ISBN: 9781789094596
Reviewed by: Sandra Scholes

I enjoyed the last Marvel Omnibus I reviewed; X-Men and the Avengers: The Gamma Quest Omnibus by Greg Cox, so I got quite a shock when this tome was mailed to me. Here, we have Spider-Man facing three of his enemies: Venom, The Lizard and Doctor Octopus in the form of three of Diane Duane's stories, The Venom Factor, The Lizard Sanction and The Octopus Agenda.

BOOK REVIEW: CURSED: AN ANTHOLOGY OF DARK FAIRY TALES

Cursed: An Anthology of Dark Fairy Tales
Editors: Marie O' Regan /Paul Kane
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 384
ISBN: 9781789091502
Reviewed by: Sandra Scholes

The premise of this new Anthology is cursed and what our heroines do to try and break them, all with a fresh and unique twist on the original fairy tale concepts such as Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Little Red Riding Hood.

INTERVIEW WITH J.T. NICHOLAS AUTHOR OF RE-COIL FOR TITAN BOOKS

Author Interview with J.T. Nicholas and his new novel, Re-Coil for Titan Books conducted by Sandra Scholes.


In his new novel, J.T.Nicholas writes about a future where humans could become immortal through uploading their memories to a new body everytime the old body wears out, yet there are always problems with any technological breakthrough, and Nicholas points out the floors in our human compulsion to be younger, better, faster and stronger, even when we are naturally predisposed to age normally. This interview is for those of us who want to know more about the novel and how fascinating it is and how popular it will be in 2020.

ANIME REVIEW: JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE SET 2 STARDUST CRUSADERS PART 1

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Set 2 Stardust Crusaders Part 1
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 15
Running Time: 300 mins
Release Date:13/1/2020
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Here Jotaru Kujo is the protagonist, the grandson of Joseph Joestar who has been trapped by an evil spirit after a fight at school. When Joseph meets him, he tells him all about what the evil spirit is. Joseph says it is a Stand which is made by a person's energy and being next to the person gives it that name.

ANIME REVIEW DRAGONBALL SUPER PART 10

Dragonball Super Part 10
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 15
Running Time: 300 mins
Release Date: 24/2/2020
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Now that the tension has built up over the previous parts, the Tournament of Power is at its final stage with a few universes battling it out for domination.

ANIME REVIEW: OVER THE GARDEN WALL

Over the Garden Wall
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: PG
Running Time: 110 mins
Release Date: 2/3/2020
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes


When I reviewed Adventure Time last year, I didn't know that it's writer and creative director, Patrick McHale based this on a short film he made, yet this, the Cartoon Network's first mini series has an all-star cast voicing the sort of characters you would expect to see in Adventure Time.

CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEW: ANNA GAIN AND THE SAME SIXTY SECONDS BY GUY BASS

Anna Gain and the Same Sixty Seconds
Author: Guy Bass
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
Pages: 66
ISBN:978-1-78112-916-6
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes


Laura Border: Sheriff of Butts Canyon was one of my fave YA books of 2019, so imagine my delight that Barrington Stoke author, Guy Bass had released another title along the lines of popular 90s movie, Groundhog Day.

ANIME REVIEW: ZOMBIE LAND SAGA: THE COMPLETE SERIES

Zombie Land Saga: The Complete Series
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 15
Running Time: 300 mins
Release Date: 10/2/2020
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Most girls dream of becoming an idol in Japan, but very few realize that dream in reality, but Sakura Minamoto wants that dream to come true, yet she doesn't know how it will happen. One night, her dreams are shattered when she is caught up in a car accident and dies, but is given hope by a man who seems to rescue her from her fate.

CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEW: MONSTER SLAYER A BEOWULF TALE BY BRIAN PATTEN

Monster Slayer A Beowulf Tale
Author: Brian Patten
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
Pages: 51
ISBN: 978-1-78112-932-6
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

When a mighty king holds a feast, he doesn't expect to wake the one monster who has been asleep for a hundred years and could destroy the peace they have known.

ANIME REVIEW: I WANT TO EAT YOUR PANCREAS

I Want to Eat Your Pancreas
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: PG
Running Time: 108 mins
Release Date: 24/2/2020
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

There are several ways a high-school kid can get with a girl, but finding one is the main problem they face in most anime. When he finds a book called "Living with Dying," it is a journal kept by Sakura Yamauchi, the sort of girl who wouldn't have looked at him once, let alone twice, but she has a nice personality and one problem. She has a pancreatic illness and only has so long to live.

ANIME REVIEW: HOW NOT TO SUMMON A DEMON LORD

How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord 
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 18
Running Time: 300 mins
Release Date: 17/2/2020
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Gaming has been a cultural phenomenon throughout the world and especially in Japan. No one is who they really are in the gaming world and that takes us to Takama Sakamoto, famous online in the MMORPG, Cross Reverie, but in real life, he has no friends; something with which many gamers share.

ANIME REVIEW: SSSS. GRIDMAN: THE COMPLETE SERIES

SSSS. Gridman: The Complete Series
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 12
Running Time: 300 mins
Release Date: 3/2/2020
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

How would you feel if you woke up without any memories? Well, this is how Yuuta Hibiki feels. Yuuta is a first-year student at high school, trying to piece together his memories with the help of Hyper Agent, GRIDMAN who communicates with him through his computer.

ADVANCED ANIME REVIEW: SAGA OF TANYA THE EVIL THE COMPLETE SERIES BLU-RAY/DVD EPS 1-12

Saga of Tanya the Evil The Complete Series
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 15
Running Time: 300 mins
Release Date: 24/2/2020
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

As we saw from How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord, people's online persona is very different from their real-life identity. This is what happens in this anime. What the other gamers don't know about the cute, blonde-haired girl who fights in a terrible war is actually a male office guy who has dreams of making it up the corporate ladder any which way.

ANIME REVIEW: SAMURAI JACK THE COMPLETE SERIES (SEASONS 1-5)

Samurai Jack The Complete Series
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 15
Running Time: 1374 mins
Release Date: Out Now!
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

There are some series you can get into and enjoy while there are others that due to their animation style take a bit of getting used to. Samurai Jack might be one where the style may detract from how good the story is.

ADVANCED SCI-FI BOOK REVIEW: ECHO CYCLE BY PATRICK EDWARDS

Echo Cycle
Author: Patrick Edwards
Publisher: Titan Books
Release Date: 10/3/2020
Pages: 336
ISBN: 9781785658815
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

If I remember correctly, Snake Plissken said this first in Escape From New York: "The more things change the more they stay the same," hinting at humans not liking change even if they are in a dystopian future. The more we seem to progress technologically, the faster we plunge into it and we resent the rate we do.

SCI-FI BOOK REVIEW: THE STARS WE STEAL BY ALEXA DONNE

The Stars We Steal
Author: Alexa Donne
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 384
ISBN: 978178909185
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Princess Leonie Kolburg is looking for an eligible bachelor, but she is in space and her noble family is in need of urgent funds. Leonie is different from her family in that she prefers to be called Leo by her friends and doesn't personally need a man.

ADVANCED ANIME REVIEW: CODE GEASS: LELOUCH OF THE REBELLION COMPLETE SEASON 1

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion Complete Season 1
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 15
Running Time: 625 mins
Release Date: 10/2/2020
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Cool Clamp design? Check. Even cooler and catchy opening song? Check. Unlikely antagonist Lelouch Lamprouge? Check. Get ready for 8 discs of roller-coaster battles, battles of wits and some good humour when it's needed.

ANIME REVIEW: ONE-PUNCH MAN COLLECTION ONE

One-Punch Man Collection One
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 15
Running Time: 292 mins
Release Date: 13/1/2020
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

When we have Naruto, One Piece and Bleach why would we need another one? 

That is a bold statement to make and we can think in a narrow-minded way about anime when we think we have the best there is.

ANIME REVIEW: SOUL EATER THE COMPLETE SERIES BOX SET

Soul Eater The Complete Series Box Set - (Eps 1-51)
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 15
Running Time: 1119 mins
Release Date: Out Now!
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

At the Grim Reaper's Death Weapon Meister Academy. a student can grow to become the best they can, developing their powers to protect the world from evil, but evil comes in all forms and can deceive.

ADVENTURE TIME COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON

Adventure Time Complete Fifth Season
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: PG
Running Time: 561 mins
Release Date: Out Now!
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Just when you think you could keep a good series down, even the fifth season of Adventure Time, you can't and viewers will think it's the best yet with Jake on the cover art for the slip case. Adventure Time Season 5 is available on Blu-ray and DVD and contains 52 episodes that had previously been on Cartoon Network as its number-one feature series.

BOOK REVIEW: THE X-MEN AND THE AVENGERS - GAMMA QUEST ( A MARVEL OMNIBUS)

The X-Men and The Avengers -  Gamma Quest (A Marvel Omnibus)
Author: Greg Cox
Publisher: Titan Books
ISBN: 9781789093339
Pages: 570
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

This is the year for crossovers on TV at the moment with Crisis on Infinite Earths; Marvel and DC never looked better, and the Gamma Quest Trilogy of books is one every fan must read in 2020. So get the toasting out of the way and get on that sofa with a real book, or device and delve into the X-Men and Avengers universe.

ANIME REVIEW: JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE SET 1 (BLU-RAY)

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Set 1
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 15
Running Time: 627 mins
Release Date: 13/1/2020
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes


Just as DC Comics had the privileged Bruce Wayne undergo a transformation into the legendary dark knight, Batman, Jonathan Joestar is heir to the famed Joestar family, when the father of the Brando family saves his father's life, he forever owes him a debt. This debt is paid in full when his son, Dio asks to be taken in by their family after his father's death.