Comics Roundup #5: Ten Comics to add to my Pull List

Hi Gang!
  The last couple of days have been rife with comic book news! With Convergence and End of Days so near both DC and Marvel have been practically bursting with new additions, and since New 52 is ending, I will definitely need to find something new to read. A lot of the titles that they are introducing sound great, and since I was a bit behind, it will be good to get the continuing titles that I was missing. Thanks to my amazing twitter feed, I've come across a bunch of new comics that I didn't even know was in existence. If you are on twitter Make sure you follow #blackcomicsmonth and #28daysofBlackcosplay !

http://www.theverge.com/2015/2/6/7992463/all-female-avengers-a-force-marvel
https://twitter.com/anniew
http://marvel.wikia.com/Cindy_Moon_(Earth-616)

- Watson and Holmes published by New Paradigm Studios and Written by Karl Boilers. This is a reimagining of Doyle's classic characters, as African-American, in a more urban setting solving unique crimes. The cool thing about this is Holmes doesn't have the run of the show, they equally share the limelight, and the art looks so cool, I'm kind of really excited to read it, Comixology has #1 for 1.99, I'm going to invest, and so should you!


- Black Canary by Brenden Fletcher + Annie Wu. First, this is automatically in my list just because Black Canary is my favorite Heroine, she's getting a "fresh" start in her own solo, and it's written by the awesome man who gave me the New Batgirl and Gotham Academy with Babs Tarr and Becky loonan respectively. I am so stocked for this, why is June so far away?

- Silk #1 by Robbi Thompson + Stacey Lee. This is the perfect opportunity for me, to start fresh with the VAST Spiderman Universe! The art by lee looks amazing, and I really loved the art in Steed and Mrs. Peel, Which I will be picking up later as Well. Silk launches on the 18th of February.

- Spider-Gwen by Jason Latour + Robbi Rodriguez,  Gwen has always been one of my favoirte characters and it will be fun to see her not dead, and saving the world on her own! Plus, I totally dig the art, it's kinda futuristic but still reminds me of the 60's, and it's super colorful, all the things that bring me to a comic in the first place! Sometime this Febraury, I'll be picking it up, I haven't really heard a finitive date.

- A-Force by G. Willow Wilson +  Marguerite Bennet.  Again, I'm in love with the art, and the fact that it's the first all female Avenger's team, GO MARVEL! It gathers Great Marvel women from all over the UNIVERSE! I saw Storm, She Hulk, Jubilee, Rouge, Wasp just to name a few! It launches in may, I guess I'll just have to keep reading X-men, until it comes out.

- Storm by Greg Pak + Victor Ibanez
. I can't believe I just heard about it, it's already on issue 5! It is a must have, I hear the writing is good and the art that I've seen looks good to me. Plus, I am a fan and a woman of Color, I feel like it is my civic duty to read Storm's first Solo run! To me that is so HUGE! It's already on shelves, Grab it from your local, or Comixology!

Same Bat Time, Same Bat Channel,
Until Next Time,
~Gabriella!~

The Conversation Continues on Twitter! What #comics are you looking forward to?

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Handheld Mistress #30: The World Ends With You

 Hi Gang!
  So fresh off my Puzzle Fighter High, I decided to switch consoles, and try out the World Ends with you on my 3DS. If this game seems familiar, I actually bought it a year ago, but due to carelessness, I would up leaving it, and a group of games, I played frequently in an old apartment. After getting over the initial depression and disappointment, I decided that I needed to just suck it up and get new copies.
  I couldn't sleep the other night, so I booted it up. A collaboration between Jupiter and Square Enix, it definitely deserves a playthrough. The music is catchy, and it is one of the few games that I play with the sound on. The characters vaguely remind me of  Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy, which is actually one of the reasons I was so interested in picking it up in the first place.
  You start as Neku, a boy, with spiky hair and large headphones that wakes up in the middle of Shibuya with a timer etched into his hand, and a cellphone with the mission, Make it to 104 before time runs out or you will be erased. Neku, Shiki, Beat Rhyme and other players have been thrust into the Reaper's Game, to survive one week, completing different missions, before the time runs out and the Reaper's erase them.
  I made it to Day Four this morning, and am thoroughly enjoying the game, I don't think I have mastered it because there are still times, when my battle score is a D or lower, but I am moving through pretty quickly with a fairly low amount of restarts, and issues. I'm in love with the game play, and the ability to melee attack the Noise, instead of Final Fantasy's Tried and True Turned base Battle System.
  Aint Nobody got time for that. It is one of the reasons, I am starting to like this game so much more than Final Fantasy. I'm sure, that maybe now that I am older, and have a bit more patience I might attempt, and maybe even enjoy a Final Fantasy Game from beginning to end, but when it was super Popular, I just didn't have the will power to sit still for that long.
  Noise the monsters that show up in Shibuya UG, have the ability to give pins ( new skills for attacks) or Possess someone, they come in all different shapes, sizes and strengths, and I honestly can't wait to conquer them all. (See what I did there?) All in all, I highly recommend it to anyone with the ability to swipe across there touch screen with a stylus. Since I only have 4 Days of the Week left, I look forward to writing up a finished Post about it soon!

See Ya next Time,
Same Bat Time Same Bat Channel,
~Gabriella!~

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Handheld Mistress #29: First Finished Game of the year!

Hi Gang!
 I've been playing video games again! The other night, I purchased Puzzle Fighter Turbo II  HD Remix on PSN! If you have a PSN, my gamertag is Shadoette, we should totally play some time. I've been itching to play someone other than Alex and the computer! I've only had the game for two days, and I completed the whole thing! Now it's not like it is the most involved video game, it is a simple puzzler with like 9 levels per difficulty, but I completed each difficulty including EXPERT, with three different characters, I feel like that should be bragged about. Now onto my other games, that haven't even been touched. I'm coming for ya, and posts will be coming up soon!! In the mean time, Enjoy Puzzle Fighter, it really just makes me smile. I am hoping to do a lot more of these posts for the year!! I am hoping that I can start cleaning out my gamer cache and start getting new games.

As Always, the conversation continues on twitter, What games fill up your backlogs?

Until Next Time,
~Gabriella!~

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Cosplaying Goals for 2015

Hi Gang!
 I am taking a cue from Mia and creating a list of costumes I would like to create this year. I haven't cosplayed for a while, and I am literally itching to get back to it. With all the help I can forsee coming from scoping out  CosplayCents + The Geeky Seamstress archive's I'll be up to snuff to create some awesome stuff, even some of the super complex stuff on my Cosplay Bucket list. Below is the list that I am hoping to actually complete. There's 12 of them, but since it's already the middle of January, I'll have to put some of them on the back burner, or save them for future conventions!!!

- Sailor Uranus: One of my favorite sailor scouts ever! With all the hubub about Sailor Moon Crystal, I thought it would be the perfect time to bring back one of the favorites! Plus, it's a double wammy, I can use Haruka's wig in the King Costume a little further down.

- M: If you aren't aware; Monet St. Croix is a telepathic mutant. One of the few Muslim comic characters. I'm really digging her bodysuit, and the experience I gain from this will help with Lien Neville and Linna Yamazaki costumes later.

- Shermie: a favorite King of Fighters Character, one of the originals. Her Costume, is one of the simpler ones, a blazer, mini skirt and Leotard with a boob window, and then the wig is just a pony tail so easy to style.

- Lien Neville: Another King of Fighter's character, There's just something about a blonde wig, that I am just a huge fan of. She's definitely on the sexier side of my character choices. This should be easy to create her body suit with the experience of M's Costume, and then I just add a zipper. This will definitely be one of my favorite suits when I'm done.

- Hinaka: Also a King of Fighters character, she is perhaps the only one I have never come across in the game before. I chose her, because I like her costume, and it seemed pretty simple to put together. I am just jumping back into the swing of things, so I definitely don't want anything that is extremely scary, or involved.

- Mignon Beart: Have you figured out just how much I like King Of Fighters? It is one of my favorite arcade fighters, I used to tour the tournament circuit when I was younger and going to conventions all the time. Gotta get back into that as well. The costume isn't that difficult just multiple pieces on top of each other, I am looking forward to having a pink wig, pink is one of my favorite colors. She's a very upbeat character.


- "Grunge" Marceline: I have always been a fan of Marceline from Adventure Time. I knew that if I was going to start cosplaying again that Marceline would be one of the first costumes I would finish. This particular costume; Mini dress, Blazer, fishnets and tights, is definitely a great beginner costume.

- "Bunny" Bulma: Dragonball was one of my first animes, Young Bulma being one of my favorite characters. This costume is sexy without being racy. Honestly I am just looking forward to being in a bunny suit at a con and all that male attention. Joking Joking!

- King: King IS my favorite King of Fighters Character. She is always on my 3 piece team, and she is one of my "bucket List" Cosplay characters. A super easy costume, and I can use the same wig as with Haruka's Costume.

- Momoka: The Final King of Fighters Character, I am sure you guys are excited about that. Her costume is so adorable! This will be a super easy costume, and definitely one that I can pull off in the summer, without being too revealing. I also adore her fighting style very similar to Christie's in Tekken.

- Linna Yamazaki: Newbie to the Tokyo Bubblegum Crisis gang, and I am in love with her skinsuit. Maybe if I was a little more experienced I might attempt her outside mecha suit, but that is just way too scary to contemplate at the moment. Plus her hair is so similar to mine, that I can save money by not needing a wig.

- The Rocketeer: I am absolutely in love with the feel of her costume. It's totally 50's super pinup and I will wear whatever comes with garters. They've always been one of my favorite pieces of lingerie. I've already been looking into how I will make the mask, If it becomes too difficult, then I might commission it. Anyone know any awesome mask makers?

Until Next Time,
~Gabriella!~

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A Walk through the roses

Hi Gang!
 Personal style is back on the Menagerie, and I am hoping this time that it will be staying put.  Now, that I have a fancy camera, AND a doting boyfriend, issues of Outfit Photography should be a thing of the past! Once a month, my Mother's side of the family gets together and has breakfast/brunch and everyone comes together and talks about whatever has been missed. Generally, it lasts about two to three hours, and is filled with loud voices and cheerful laughter.
 Since it's a once a month thing, I take it upon myself to actually attempt have a sense of style and get dressed to confirm it. Between going to work, and staying at home with my gaming and my knitting, my everyday wardrobe consists of a tank and sweatpants, but I want to change that this year, so hence, I will be sucking it up and doing more style posts! We went to eat at Japanese Buffet, and it was DELICOUS! One of my favorite dishes is their crab casserole, to die for! It is one of my favorite restaurants in town, and I must admit that I stuffed myself.  I have more outfit details on my chictopia, which I plan on bringing back to life, along with outfit posts on the blog! I wore: Converse in Chocolate. "Knee-High" Socks. White Flowy Top. All Bought at Burlington. The Strapless Dress is From Rue 21.

As Always, the convo continues on twitter. Do you guys have any family traditions; other than Holidays?


Same Bat Time, Same Bat Channel,
~Gabriella!~

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What I've been reading lately...

Hi Gang!

 I finally found the Public Library in my little city. I am still getting used to the new place and my surroundings. I was so surprised by how large it was, especially since it was just a branch. It has three stories! I wasn't able to get a full and complete look at the entire library, but I was able to check out their graphic novel area. Yes, area not section. They had an entire room filled with floor to ceiling bookshelves filled to the brim with comic books, graphic novels and copious copious amounts of manga. A huge window that took up half a wall, letting in an amazing natural light by which to read all the amazingness! It was AWESOME! If there was more parking, I could definitely see myself being there more often. 

 I wished I had actually planned to go to the library, instead of passing it by accidentally, I would have brought a basket, or a bag. I would have been able to bring more books home. Unfortunately, eleven was all I could carry back to the car safely. So I picked up Bunny Drop 1-7, which is a manga about an illegitimate daughter of a grandfather, whose children and grandchildren are all adults, and when the grandfather passes away, and the daughter Rin doesn't have a caretaker. Unfortunately, the family is a total pack of bums, and don't want to take her in, so basically her Nephew, adopts her, and it follows their misadventures.

 I have finished My friend Dahmer, which was creepy, and sad. I am all about studying and learning about serial killers, but his childhood, was so dreadful, I almost..Almost felt sorry for him. I wasn't a big fan of the art, but it was clean enough for me to be able to finish and understand the story. I wanted to read You have killed me, but someone decided that they liked the art so much, that they removed some of the pages, making it impossible to read, which annoys me, because I really liked the art, it was one of the reasons why I picked it up in the first place. 

 I also picked up The Complete Maus, because I had heard really amazing things about it! I haven't gotten around to reading it yet, but I have a feeling I am really going to enjoy it. I was also able to pick up the first graphic novel of Gail Simone's Batgirl. Issues 1-6 Which is great, because I only have one through 3, so it will be easy for me to catch up from here. 

  

Until Next Time,

~Gabriella!~

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Comics Roundup #4: Gotham Academy and More!

Hi Gang!
 First Comic post of the new year! At the beginning of December, I picked up some much needed comics but because ya know, Life, I just now got around to writing about them. I picked up Gotham Academy #1-3, Capture Creatures #1, She-Hulk #1-8 and Secret Six #1. I was so disappointed with Secret Six, I didn't even bother to write about it. I picked it up, because Simone has my allegiance but the art is catastrophically terrible. I really hope the art gets better, otherwise, I'll have to drop it from my pull pile.

Capture Creatures by Gibson & Dreistadt is first up. I was drawn to it by the cover art. I have always been a huge fan of cute art. The inside art is so clean, and the characters have some ethnicity to them. Always a big plus for me. I actually just realized that my Huge Marvel Poster, doesn't have a single person of color in the front the first one I found was like three rows back. If I didn't find them I would have gotten rid of the poster. I'm composing a letter about How angry I am that Storm is literally in the back of the poster but that is a post for another time. This comic is funny, the art is adorable and I am super excited about what they have in store for the future. I am a huge Pokemon fan, and I honestly didn't see a lot of similarities, despite what the Internet may be saying.

Gotham Academy By Cloonan, Fletcher, Kerschl, Geyser, and McCaig. I have read 1-3. I was drawn to it by the art and the many times it appeared on  Betty Felon, if you don't know who she is, educate yourself. I did enjoy the diversity that DC showed. I had to close it and open again, just to make sure it was DC! I also liked the story, but I haven't quite pieced together the importance of Cobblepot yet, I hope they aren't adding it just because it is in the Gotham Television show. it would be the easiest way to piss me off.

She-Hulk by Soule, Pulido, and Vicente. I have only read issue one. As a comic fan, I have heard about She Hulk, but I didn't know anything about her except that she was a lawyer. My interest was piqued when that awful Screen Writer described her as a green Porn Star, So I went to my local shop, and picked up issues 1-8, Unfortunately, by the time I got to Shulkie, I had a headache the size of Texas, after reading comics all day and had to put her to the side. I have certain art styles that I am drawn too and even though my father isn't a fan of her 60's feel I am. I can't wait to delve into her story, I have a feeling that she is going to be a new favorite.

Until Next Time,
~Gabriella!~

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