MAGAZINE REVIEW: IMAGINEFX ISSUE 194

ImagineFX Issue 194

When I've flipped through the pages of ImagineFX in my local WHSmith before I buy it in the past, I've always gravitated toward the FXPose section where I could view innovative new art from fresh illustrators who can draw better than me. I was almost always impressed and this time it's Stephen Stark's Animal Handler is a lovely piece of handlers looking after a magical animal, the limited colour palette and chiaroscuro singled it out for me as the sort of image id like on my wall, or as a screensaver on my PC. It's a traditional-looking painting so would be perfect for this. 

BOOK REVIEW: LIGHT OF IMPOSSIBLE STARS: AN EMBERS OF WAR NOVEL BY GARETH L. POWELL

Light of Impossible Stars: An Embers of War Novel
Author: Gareth L. Powell
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 368
ISBN: 9781785655241
Reviewed by: Sandra Scholes

Embers of War and Fleet of Knives were the start of Gareth L. Powell's trilogy, now Light of Impossible Stars is the exciting conclusion to what has been a story full of space opera, fast paced storytelling and strong women able to get themselves and others out of conflict.

As the final novel in the Embers of War series, the Trouble Dog is being hunted by the Fleet of Knives into the Intrusion, an unstable area if space and though it might seem unfair on the Trouble Dog to be pursued by a much more sophisticated ship, but in this novel, anything is likely to happen.

ANIME REVIEW: THAT TIME I GOT REINCARNATED AS A SLIME PART 2

That Time I Got Reincarnated as A Slime Part 2
Released By: Manga Entertainment
Rating: 15
Running Time: 300 mins
Release Date: 24/2/2020
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

We saw how Rimuru started out as a Slime, then grew as he went on his adventures. As far as we're concerned Rimuru had been dealt an unlucky hand, but he soon got to evolve even after some pretty bad times in previous episodes.

You would think this is what would happen in this newest set of episodes, 12 in all, plus a bonus one for fans of the series. As a fantasy comedy, it is funny in its own way, yet this second part doesn't really go anywhere and Rimuru's character doesn't grow any more than he did in the last series.

Back then he faced some serious problems, perils with which characters he could trust and having to cope with being only partly evolved, even so, we would have liked to have seen him evolve some more and face more funny problems he could overcome if only to make the story more enjoyable rather than it only being a comedy with an original idea.

Luckily there are other characters who seem to prop up Rimuru and as there is rumoured to be another series after this one, we can only hope that we see more of what happened in the first part.



Bonus Material: English and Japanese Voices, Episode 24.5 Series Recap with Commentary.

CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEW: SWAN SONG BY GILL LEWIS

Swan Song
Author: Gill Lewis
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
Pages: 128
ISBN: 978-1-78112-954-8
Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Some children don't fit in at school. Dylan is the type of lad who would have had a bright future if he could only control his temper. One day he is expelled from school for punching another pupil.

WOLVERINE WEAPON X: A MARVEL OMNIBUS.

Wolverine Weapon X: A Marvel Omnibus
Authors: Marc Cerasini/ David Alan Mack/ Hugh Matthews
Publisher: Titan Books
ISBN: 9781789096026
Pages: 787
Reviewed by: Sandra Scholes

As omnibuses go, this one is for the keeper shelf, containing three fan favourite novels that capture Logan's life history to perfection; Weapon X, Road of Bones and Lifeblood. All three novels have their own authors and all three have their own take on the character.

Titan Books are well-known for their collections of fan favourites in sets of three and have them as part of sets that haven't been seen for over a decade in print. This collection is already of interest to fans as it features Marvel's most famous character, Wolverine.

Acclaimed authors Marc Cerasini, David Alan Mack are all New York Times bestsellers, while Hugh has won Canada's Arthur Ellis Award and shortlisted for the Philip K. Dick award. This Omnibus shows the pedigree of the writers involved who have penned novels from different stages of Wolverine's development as a major character. And when you've finished reading it, it can go on your keeper shelf along with all the other Titan titles.

Weapon X, the first novel will remind readers of Wolverine's origins, his back story and what happened in his life that made him the iconic character he is today. Strong storytelling and side characters form the basis of a bold tale of courage and the need to find out who we truly are.

BL REVIEW: DIRTY VIBRATION BY FUJOKING

Dirty Vibration

Artist/Writer: Fujoking

Genre: BL

Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

I've read lots of novels where mobile phones have played a big part in the downfall of mankind, so this one is a welcome addition to a BL lovers collection 

UNBOXING/REVIEW: POP FUNKO JEANNE FROM SUMMONERS WAR

Review: Pop Funko Jeanne from Summoner's War.

Review by Sandra Scholes

There are many reasons I love the Pop Funko range. They are small and compact, you don't have to own a mansion house to display them, a range so vast you can pick and choose your favourites. 

YAOI REVIEW: FATED MATES OMEGAVERSE

Fated Mates Omegaverse

Story: EAB

Artist: CocoonPro.co

Publisher: Lovaboy Comics

Reviewed By: Sandra Scholes

Asami and Daiki haven't seen each other in a while, so when they meet one day in a bar, Asami has an announcement - he's found a girl and he's getting married!