The paranormal mystery anime ‘Bungo Stray Dogs’ released its fourth season in January 2023 after a four-year hiatus. Produced by the Japanese animation Studio Bones, this season will have thirteen episodes with Crunchyroll announcing they would be producing a dub.
Rampo Edogawa voiced by Landon McDonald (Future Devil in Chainsaw Man)
Yukichi Fukuzawa voiced by Jamieson Price (Dreyfus in The Seven Deadly Sins)
Tokio Murakami voiced by Aleks Le (Mikey in Tokyo Revengers)
Sakunosuke Oda voiced by David Vincent (Nanami in JUJUTSU KAISEN)
Male Secretary voiced by Aleks Le
Ochi Fukuchi voiced by David Vincent
Kirstie Simone works on the project as the ADR director.
You can watch the trailer below:
‘Bungo Stray Dogs’ is based on a manga series written by Kafka Asagiri and illustrated by Sango Harukawa. It is released by Kadokawa Shoten in Japan with Yen Press releasing it in the United States.
“For weeks, Atsushi Nakajima’s orphanage has been plagued by a mystical tiger that only he seems to be unaware of. Suspected to be behind the strange incidents, the 18-year-old is abruptly kicked out of the orphanage and left hungry, homeless, and wandering through the city.
While starving on a riverbank, Atsushi saves a rather eccentric man named Osamu Dazai from drowning. Whimsical suicide enthusiast and supernatural detective, Dazai has been investigating the same tiger that has been terrorizing the boy. Together with Dazai’s partner Doppo Kunikida, they solve the mystery, but its resolution leaves Atsushi in a tight spot. As various odd events take place, Atsushi is coerced into joining their firm of supernatural investigators, taking on unusual cases the police cannot handle, alongside his numerous enigmatic co-workers.”
Studio Bones and Nomad also produced a spin-off titled ‘Bungo Stray Dogs Wan!’
After weeks of speculation about what went down when Limited Run Games publicly announced it had fired its community manager on Twitter, the person at the center of the story has spoken out. In a TwitLonger, former LRG community manager Kara Lynne gave us a rundown of how she first became aware of the issue that led to her termination.
On January 6th, Lynne woke up to messages about a post circulating accusing her of transphobia and following the wrong people. Unfortunately, rather than Limited Run Games’ leadership handling this like any other Twitter tempest in a teapot, Lynne was ushered into a call and informed she was being cut free from the company:
“In that call, I will say that there were a lot of emotions. I could tell they didn’t want to do what they were doing and even said they didn’t want to. They were being pressured from elsewhere.”
By Lynne’s account, she had experienced no previous disciplinary action before the January 6th incident. However, she does state that she was burnt out by the position as Limited Run Games’ community manager, and Lynne was getting ready to move into a different role in the company:
“Social media in general was taking a significant toll on my daily life and mental health and was in need of a change. January was going to be my last month as the community manager.”
Regarding the person responsible for dropping the match that started the fire, Lynne says nothing aside from stating she has no ill will towards that person but wishes the situation was handled maturely rather than through social media. She, thankfully, gives no power to the person whose actions led to this fallout. If you want more information on the person in question, check out our multiple videos below.
Unlike the rest of us who took to social media to bash LRG, Lynne took the high road, even stating that the top brass at the company did not deserve the ire pointed at them:
“Josh and Douglas fought to make sure I was taken care of. Please stop attacking Josh and Doug in a personal manner. They don’t deserve the harassment and I have no ill will against them.”
If co-owners Douglas Bogart and Josh Fairhurst were her advocates, then who ultimately decided to terminate Lynne’s employment over something that would have blown over in a few days? Unfortunately, the former community manager is vague on this point, whether due to an NDA or her superiors didn’t tell her.
The firing could have been orchestrated by LGR’s parent company Embracer Group. This company’s subsidiaries include THQ Nordic, Gearbox Entertainment, Dark Horse Media, and Crystal Dynamics. Odd that such a huge corporation based in Sweden would care what a few people on Twitter say about someone’s old tweet or who they follow on the social media platform.
Lynne does make it clear that she has no issue with the LGBTQ community except when children are thrown into the mix:
“I truly believe that everyone has the right to love who they want to love and be who they want to be as long as they are not hurting anyone else. My only hesitation is when children get involved. That’s literally it.”
The backlash LRG’s actions caused appears to outweigh the incident that triggered Lynne’s current situation. In the aftermath, LRG has turned off comments to the original post below and on all following advertisements for upcoming releases. In addition, customers, including CFTV’s owners, have attempted to cancel orders in protest.
Two of the TurboGrafx-16’s most iconic games now have their soundtracks etched onto vinyl thanks to Mondo and Enjoy The Ride Records. The soundtracks for Devil’s Crush and Alien Crush are now available in one multi-colored vinyl record for $25. Unfortunately, only 200 of these are being made!
As the names suggest, Devil’s Crush featured a pinball table themed around Satanic and nightmarish iconography. Alien Crush, meanwhile, took a lot of its design inspiration from sources like H.R. Gieger and R-Type. Out of the two, Devil’s Crush was the better one, in my opinion. Check out the gameplay videos below, and let us know what you think.
The Crush soundtracks also contain a bonus. Side B includes choice tracks from Toshiaki Sadoda’s Star Soldier score.
Photo Credit: Mondo
Photo Credit: Mondo
Photo Credit: Mondo
Side A
Devil’s Crush
Title Screen
Main Table
High Score Table
Bonus Table 1
Bonus Table 2
Bonus Table 3
Bonus Table 4
Score Tally 1
Score Tally 2
Score Tally 3
Score Tally 4
Extra Ball
Ending
Credits
Alien Crush
Title
Lunar Eclipse
Demon’s Undulate
Bonus Stage 1
Bonus Stage 1 Clear
Bonus Stage 2
Bonus Stage 2 Clear
Bonus Points
Event 1
Event 2
Event 3
Event 4
Event 5
Game Over
The Best Five
Side B
Bonus Tracks – Star Soldier
Star Solider Title
Star Solider Stage 1
Star Solider Stage 2
Star Solider Stage 9
Star Solider Final Boss
Star Solider Ending
Star Solider Caravan Mode
Considering the TurboGrafx 16 wasn’t exactly as popular as the NES in the US, there’s a good chance you’ve never seen these games before. My parents, for whatever reason, always got the lesser-known consoles when I was growing up. So, of course, I had a TG-16 and loved it. It may not have had the most extensive library of video games, but it did have some of the most unique titles of the time.
Check out the videos below for some of what you may have missed out on:
25 years? Really? I remember the first time Cowboy Bebop was announced on Cartoon Network. I feel so old now. Well, at least I can finally throw away those old VHS tapes because Cowboy Bebop is getting a bonus-packed new Blu-ray release to celebrate its 25th anniversary.
The Blu-rays are available in a Special Edition for $64.98 or The Limited Edition for $84.98 through Amazon. The only difference listed between the two versions is the inclusion of (5) art cards in the more expensive set.
All special features, interviews, and audio commentaries are the same. All episodes contain the original Japanese and English dubs in Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround sound. Some of the bonus features are not in HD 1080p.
Check out the complete breakdown of what each disc includes below:
Photo Credit: Amazon
Photo Credit: Amazon
Disc 1 – Cowboy Bebop The Complete Series:
Session #1 Audio Commentary with Koichi Yamadera (Spike) and Unsho Ishizuka (Jet)
Session #5 Audio Commentary with Wendee Lee (Faye) and ADR Producer Yutaka Maseba
Disc 2 – Cowboy Bebop The Complete Series:
Session #10 Audio Commentary with Wendee Lee (Faye) and ADR Producer Yutaka Maseba
Session #17 Audio Commentary with Director Shinichiro Watanabe and Composer Yoko Kanno
Disc 3 – Cowboy Bebop The Complete Series:
Session #24 Audio Commentary with Megumi Hayashibara (Faye) and Aoi Tada (Ed)
Cowboy Bebop Session #0
Interview with Wendee Lee (English Voice of Faye Valentine)
Interview with Cartoon Network Producer Sean Akins
Original Opening Song
Textless Opening Song
Original Closing Song
Textless Closing Song
Original Closing Song Ep. 13
Textless Closing Song Ep. 13
Original Closing Song Ep. 26
US Trailer
Disc 4:
Memo from Bebop: The Dub Sessions Remembered
Ein’s Summer Vacation
Tank! Full-Size Music Clip
Tank! Club Remix Music Clip -UK Version-
Dinner Aboard the Bebop
Disc 5:
Cowboy Bebop: A 25 Year Retrospective
Cowboy Bebop 20th Anniversary: Interview with Koichi Yamadera
If you’re not interested in so many bonus features, the complete series is available on Blu-ray for $21 at Amazon. Don’t forget to check out the Spike VS Vicious statues from First4Figures, too!
And while Mickey Rourke and Joy Behar have defended Baldwin, which rings with about the same credibility as O.J.’s hunt for the real killers, The Hunt for Red October actor is looking at serious charges. He is facing 18 months and if additional charges are added, a mandatory five years on top of that.
David Halls, the first assistant director that handed Baldwin the weapon, has already pleaded to six months and a fine. His sentence will be probation. This might normally be foreshadowing Baldwin’s fate, but from the sounds of the New Mexico special prosecutor and the fact that Halls will testify against the other two— Some believe Baldwin might actually be in trouble.
Certainly if he is convicted— Probation or actual jail— the actor will be more vulnerable to civil lawsuits from the crew, the film’s investors and Halyna Hutchins’ family members. Baldwin went on a media blitz after the shooting. John Nolte at Breibart covers Baldwin’s rash of mistakes— Talking to the cops without a lawyer, talking to the media in a two hour interview— Not to mention a seemingly endless parade of tweets and posts on Instagram.
One has to wonder where the movie star would be, had he just kept his mouth shut and disappeared from the public eye for two years. At 64 years old, pleading to a lesser charge to avoid jail time and apologizing to the family would seem to be the best course of action. But Baldwin’s bizarre insistence that he didn’t pull the trigger and the FBI’s counter that he did— Probably isn’t helping his case.
With a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie on the way, Playmates is again trying to capitalize on the nostalgia for the old toys. So who’s ready for some Storage Shell Turtles?
The Storage Shell Turtles were first released in 1991. Figures.com states these accessory-packed toys will be part of Playmates’ 2023 retro relaunch. These Turtles were mostly the same as the original four action figures, but Playmates used the hollow interior of each character.
With some skill, a hinged shell was added, and you could cram five or six weapons in the nearly available space. In reality, we would break the shell off accidentally or lose the small weapons in the grass or sandbox. However, we should not have these same issues as adults. Maybe.
Thankfully, Playmates isn’t pricing the Turtles for the collectors market. Instead, the Storage Shell toys will only be $11.99 each. Expect these to appear in Walmart, Amazon, and Target this month. However, given that the supply chain is still messed up, the best place to get these will be at that one out-of-the-way Walmart store you never go to.
Photo Credit: Playmates
In other TMNT news, Jada Toys will implement the franchise into its Hollywood Rides lines. A 1/24 scale Raphael-themed Chevy Camaro and Mikey-themed VW Beetle are available via the Big Bad Toy Store. In addition, the Nano Hollywood Rides line of Micro-Machine-like vehicles will add the Turtle Blimp, Party Wagon, and Technodrome in a three-pack. Expect this to ship out sometime between now and March.
Photo Credit: Jada Toys
Photo Credit: Jada Toys
Photo Credit: Jada Toys
Photo Credit: Jada Toys
In recent years, Playmates has re-released the original wave of TMNT figures along with the “Movie Star” Turtles. Aside from NECA and Super7 producing updated versions of some of the weirder Turtle Toys, Playmates hasn’t been going all out on relaunching the once-legendary toy line. Maybe this is the first step to seeing some classics like Mutagen Man finally reentering the marketplace, so we don’t have to buy a $50 Super7 toy.
Gecco has captured one of Little Nightmares‘ most iconic boss stages. The company’s artists nailed the unnerving look of the Twin Chefs, from their bulbous arms to the mountain of flesh that makes up their heads. In addition, there’s a nice touch with Six hiding under the table, waiting for the right time to move.
Trying to get a key to escape, Six must evade grotesque twin chefs in the Maw’s kitchen. The giant flabby culinary masters are even more terrifying when you notice that their fleshy faces are, in fact, masks. If they catch you, they will cook you.
Although small, roughly the size of your palm. It’s 75mm or 2.95″ tall. Unfortunately, the Little Nightmares Twin Chefs statue carries a hefty price tag: $52.99. The Twin Chefs are made from PVC/ABS and will be available between June and July of this year. This collectible can be pre-ordered now from Gecco Direct.
Photo Credit: Gecco
Photo Credit: Gecco
Photo Credit: Gecco
Photo Credit: Gecco
Photo Credit: Gecco
Photo Credit: Gecco
The Twins statue is the 4th in the mini-figure collection. Previous releases included Six, The Janitor, and Nome. The set will consist of six total figures, with The Guests and The Lady coming out later in the Summer. Check them out below:
Photo Credit: Gecco
Little Nightmares was first released on PC and consoles in 2017. LittleBigPlanet 3’s Tarsier Studios developed it, and Bandai was the publisher. The game was part survival horror, part puzzler. Each enemy was a sickening depiction of gluttony.
2021 saw the return of Six in Little Nightmares II. It delivered more of the same mix of gameplay types but wasn’t quite as memorable as the first game. However, if you want to try them out, both titles are available on Stream. The original is $19.99, and the sequel is $29.99.
If you watched That ‘70s Show when it was airing on FOX, or caught it on reruns and streaming, you’ll know how much its humor and goofiness resonated with viewers. For some, it was a fun throwback to a decade of their youth, while for a new generation, it was a window into some relatable shenanigans and fun times. The characters we came to know over eight seasons eventually grew up and moved on. And while there was a terrible follow-up to the series that focused on the 80s, it wasn’t a true sequel to That ‘70s Show. It would be a long time before we see what happened afterward to Eric and his friends with That 90s Show on Netflix.
The show takes place in the mid-90s, around 15 years after the ending of That ‘70s Show in the summertime. Eric and Donna have a young daughter named Leia who spends her summer vacation in Point Place with her grandparents, rather than going to Space Camp with her dad Eric. Leia meets a bunch of kids living in town and the new crew ends up hanging out in the familiar basement from the original show. Red and Kitty once again watch over the teens as they get into tons of goofy scenarios and humorous moments during Leia’s summer in Point Place. For those who watched the original show, the tone and humor are right in line with what they know. Even the transitions from before are done in a similar fashion, but with a 90s color scheme and twist.
Each of the kids has different personality traits that are silly and mirror a lot of what was done with Eric and his friends. Leia is every bit her father’s daughter, with an awkward personality and quirkiness that we saw with Eric However, she definitely has the clever mind and problem-solving skills of Donna, which makes her charming and fun to watch. Leia falls for one of the boys in the group named Jay, who just happens to be the child of someone the audience knows, making for a surprise and hilarious appearance.
Leia’s friend Gwen is a rebellious teen girl with a blunt personality, but a warm heart for her new bestie. She’s played by Ashley Aufderheide, and much of her antics play off a lot of the teen rebellious attitude from the 90s, sometimes even to a fault. Not all of the jokes and punchlines land, but there are a few that will get you to have a genuine laugh.
Reyn Doi is Ozzie and always has a snide remark about everything, but with funny and precise timing. A few of the comebacks Ozzie makes to different characters will catch you off guard. At the same time, some of the episodes he’s in can get a little heavy, especially when Ozzie decides to come out as gay to Kitty Foreman. Luckily there is humor to balance it out that is both tasteful and consistent with the rest of the show. There isn’t a point where things get too comical or preachy with it, which helps maintain the overall fun tone of the show without being afraid to tackle heavy subjects. That ‘70s Show was able to do so a number of times throughout its run, and it’s good to see this follow-up do the same.
Nikki and Nate are the other two characters within the group that don’t offer as much until the tail end of the show. Nikki is Nate’s girlfriend who is intelligent and goal-driven, while Nate is lighthearted and always looking to have fun. They’re both part of the shenanigans that Leia finds herself in throughout the show, but don’t really have big moments until the end of the season. Nikki and Nate together almost feel like a different version of Jackie and Kelso from That ’70s Show, but not as funny. The very last episode has a big tease about Nate and how he will affect the group in the next season, but it happens a bit too randomly and feels almost forced. The same can be said for Nikki, both with what happens with Nate and how it will affect their relationship going forward.
But what about the decade in which the show takes place, as well as the cameos by characters from That ’70s Show? There are a few times when you can feel the 90s nostalgia very strongly, including when Kitty and Red finally get a computer at the house. It’s a nice touch to see how these characters react to things changing, but it’s never really expanded upon too much. Another moment finds Leia going to a video store with Kitty, which seems to be a Blockbuster video but there are no signs that show it. Leia also ends up going to a rave with the crew, filled with glow sticks and wild outfits for everyone. If you were hoping for a lot of 90s easter eggs and nods, then you’ll be disappointed. Chances are we’ll see more overt 90s references in the next season.
As far as the cast we knew from the previous show, we get to see them sparingly. They have continuations of their stories without overtaking too much of the plot focused on the kids throughout the season. Debra Jo Rupp and Kurtwood Smith reprise their roles as Kitty and Red Foreman, who are the two we see the most of from the old cast. But right at the beginning, we get to see Topher Grace and Laura Prepon as Eric and Donna drop off their daughter. Within that first episode, we not only get a lot of details about what they’ve been doing, as well as how their relationship hasn’t changed since we last saw them. But if you thought that was it, then you’ll be happy to know that both Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis appear as Michael Kelso and Jackie Burkhart. We won’t spoil how they appear, but it’s a great moment for fans of the original show.
To compliment that, we also get to see Fez, Leo, and Bob at different points of the show. Each of them have a part to play in various storylines, with some being funnier than others. However, one major cast member from That ‘70s Show who is missing is Hyde, who was played by Danny Masterson. This could be due to the real-life controversy that happened with Danny a few years prior to the release of That ‘90s Show. Luckily, we aren’t given any explanation for why we don’t see Hyde at all, not even a passing mention. This leaves the door open in case the creators of the show ever decide to bring him in. Hopefully, it doesn’t end up with a haphazard ending for a character that many viewers loved from That ‘70s Show.
At its heart, That ‘90s Show is a good follow-up for fans of the original show. It gives some answers to what happened in the years after the clock struck midnight at the end of That ‘70s Show, while also opening up the potential for more fun stories with these characters. It’s only the first season with the new cast of teens and it will take some time for them to grow into their roles. Whether this show ends up being funnier or better than its predecessor is up for debate, at least for now.
Did you get to watch That ‘90s Show on Netflix? Were you a fan of the original show before this came out? Post your thoughts in the comments section and let us know!
Mezco has resurrected the Rumble Society’s Doc Nocturnal and turned him into a statue!
Doc Nocturnal has appeared a few times in Mezco’s One:12 Collective series of 6″ premium action figures. He, like Atticus Doom, is one of the Rumble Society’s most famous members. This, however, is his first time in the somewhat new Static-6 line. The last character we covered from the collection was Elvira.
The good Doc may not have the sex appeal of the Mistress of the Night, but he makes up for it with a badass costume and firearms! This Static-6 figure features multiple interchangeable arms and heads. In addition, he’ll only set you back $225.
Doc Noctural is expected to ship between September and November of this year.
Photo Credit: Mezco
Photo Credit: Mezco
Photo Credit: Mezco
Photo Credit: Mezco
Photo Credit: Mezco
Photo Credit: Mezco
Photo Credit: Mezco
“Straight from the serial screens, radio shows, and pulp pages of yesteryear comes Doc Nocturnal! Hidden away in the Nocturnal Tower, the Phantom Knight quietly observes the infernal region for anomalies while perfecting the ancient practice of necro-alchemy.”
The 15″ tall statue of Doc Nocturnal comes with the following:
Two (2) head portraits
Five (5) interchangeable arms in different poses
One (1) cape with integrated posing wire (removable)
One (1) tommy gun (affixed to right arm)
One (1) Ferryman (affixed to right arm)
One (1) Ferryman (fits in holster)
One (1) severed infernal beast head (affixed to left arm)
Unfortunately, he’s not a standard action figure. Maybe not at that size, but a Marvel Legends-styled Doc Nocturnal would look pretty cool, even if he were still at a premium price point. Hopefully, in the near future, Mezco will re-release some of the older Rumble Society One:12 Collective figures. Or, at least, bring them back out in new variations, as we saw with Atticus Doom recently.
It’s the year of Mario! We’re getting a new movie, and Super Mario World just opened at Universal Studios Hollywood! Let’s-a-go and pre-order a Mario Kart statue from First4Figures.
Thankfully, First4Figures didn’t make multiple versions of the Mario Kart statue. There’s only one available for pre-order as of writing this, and it’s $164.99. The base does light up, powered by a rechargeable battery. Yes, the USB-C cable is included.
The statue measures 8.7″ tall, and the base is 11.8″ in diameter. Early bird pricing will end on February 21st; the figure goes up to $174.99 afterward.
Expect Mario to cross the finish line during the third quarter of this year.
Photo Credit: First4Figures
Photo Credit: First4Figures
Photo Credit: First4Figures
Photo Credit: First4Figures
Photo Credit: First4Figures
Photo Credit: First4Figures
“Everything you know and love about Mario is brought to life in this incredible statue. Realistic touches add depth and nuance to the smallest details – from fabric and stitching on his bright red cap to the smoke coming off his kart’s spinning wheels. The kart itself is modeled after the classic Pipe Frame design, with lifelike parts and details.”
Here’s what you’re getting for $164.99:
Round black base with finishing line and racetrack details
LED function for the base (Static Mode only)
Limited edition numbering on the bottom of the base and packaging
Authentication Card
Rechargeable battery with USB-C Cable
Special Premium deluxe box packaging
The story of how Mario Kart came to be is an interesting one. The now-famous series didn’t start as a Mario title at all. Instead, the game started as a much-needed multi-player racer after the successful launch of F-Zero. After that, however, the kart racer was nearly scrapped. Check out the video below for more:
What do you think of the new Mario Kart statue? Let us know in the comments section below.
