Beastars, vol. 16

 

- Beastars, vol. 16. Paru Itagaki. 

After a few months' pause, I’m re-taking the notes for each Beastar volume. Let’s see…

C. 134

One detail about Leano’s mutation that a lot of people missed: Besides the scales in her back and part of her arms, one of her eyes becomes reptilian (pinprick pupil) and the other remains canine (big pupils). 

135 

The Deep Night festival, or just plain full moon party. I really like the street fair atmosphere it has. 

136 

This entire chapter pretty much confirms that Louis is a Sub —which is not the same thing as a Bottom, mind you! A lot of straight people make this mistake. Either way it stands to reason that both girls, Juno and Azuki, reason that Louis would rather be seduced and dominated. They are not that far off…

137 

We see with increasing clarity how obsessed society is with pureblood and the discrimination that hybrids live under. Same-species couples, preferably same-breed, are well regarded in society, receive government subsidiaries and even get threats from business places. Then there’s the tv crew people requesting that interviewees keep their language tame and harmless, for the privileged majority audience. 

It’s not too different from our world…

138 

The origin of the 500 mice, Yafya’s allies. Notice that as they are so small, their life expectancy is about 43 years. 

Notice, too, the police corruption: They openly torture the mice and threaten to make them “disappear”, as no one will care about dead outcasts. 

Terrifying.  

139 

We know that Melon is a killer, but the fast food employee thinks he’s creepy merely for being an hybrid and for not eating what he’s expected to. The banality of evil, if you will. 

Then there is the sexual theme —notice Melon’s sadomasochist relationship with his tattoo artist, Holger. 

140 

And speaking of sexual themes: Legosi often gets physically intimate with his own opponents. Here, he goes so far as to fantasize about Melon hugging him from behind, both of them shirtless. 

Now: Pity can be deceitful, too. Here, it’s what makes Legosi fall into Melon’s trap, and so again he’s nearly killed by the same murderer. 

141 

Nevertheless, Legosi represents hope, as much as he often pays dearly for it. Here, against all odds, he survives and makes allies out of both friend and foe. 

142 

Finally, it is emphasized that for hybrids, from children to adults, life is constant peril. So much so there is an actual fascist organization that wishes to exterminate them. 

EXTRAS

I think it’s very interesting how Itagaki will sometimes draw on personal anecdotes and make them the basis for powerful scenes, as good writers will. Here, her somewhat silly moment in the subway, as a teen, later evolved into a crucial moment for one of her characters. 

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Winnie-the-Pooh

 - Winnie-the-pooh. A. A. Milne. Illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard. 

A series of tales told to one Christopher Robin and his teddy bear —originally Rupert Bear, then Winnie-TheR-Pooh, and finally just Pooh Bear —about themselves and several others in a forest. Be it easily spooked Piglet, bossy Rabbit, depressed (and sometimes passive-aggressive) Eeyore, chatty (and sometimes arrogant) Owl, motherly Kanga, very young Roo, and quite a few others more. Tales of adventure and friendship for young readers, with something of gentler fairy tales and wonder. 

Super-famous classic of children’s literature, almost as beloved as seemingly resented (usually by ‘edgy’ adults, ahem! But also, history has it, by the author, the illustrator and even the real Christopher themselves). While it’s much more known for the numerous animated adaptations, it’s the original text and illustrations that truly made it a perennial tale.

And like virtually all tales better known by adaptations (animated but also movies in general, or tv shows), readers are often surprised to see how different the original version is. In this case, with a charming propensity for clever, seemingly nonsensical poetry woven in, and a certain dose of dry British humor. Also the illustrations —Shepard gives the tales a certain whimsical spark that makes it all work so well. 

Followed by a sequel and two somewhat-related poetry collections, all usually presented as a single pack. 

Quite recommended for all ages. 

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A streetcar named Desire.

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- A streetcar named Desire. Tennessee Williams. 

The New Orleans French Quarter. Stanley Kowalski and his wife Stella (formerly DuBois). Into their lives of squalor, intense poker nights, wild lovemaking (currently expecting a child) and brutal fights —comes Stella’s older sister, Blanche. A once-glamorous but now fading Southern Belle, Blanche’s pretensions of glamour catch the eye of one of Stanley’s poker buddies, sensitive Mitch. But delusion and bigotry will prove no match for harsh revenge, leading to a memorably tragic finale. 

A multi-prized stage-play by Williams, adapted numerous times to television and cinema (as well as to stage, including musical and even ballet variations) —even presented in an infamous episode of the perennial pop culture product ‘The Simpsons’. It remains as powerful today as yesterday —if some of our sympathies have since shifted and others have acquired a certain nuance (but this IS a deeply nuanced stage-play). The raw exhibition of prejudice (racism, homophobia, classicism) on the part of Blanche can make her hard to like —yet she is such a complex character it is hard not to pity her eventual doom. Or to rage against the abuse she ultimately suffers. But the other characters have plenty to discuss about, all as well being sympathetic one moment and loathsome the next. They feel like, wonder of wonders —real people. People who as often fight and gleefully betray each other —and as often make up and genuinely love each other. 

A very thought-provoking play, then, more than worth a read. Is it a deservedly true Classic? Without  a doubt, but even more important is to read for ourselves and find out. To discuss amongst us and discover what we can see of ourselves in it. 

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February 2022 TV

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IN ENGLISH:

- Kevin can F himself. 

A put-upon housewife has had more than enough of her moronic husband and decides to off him. Intriguing fusion of braindead sitcoms and darkly comedic crime shows, which thus gleefully tear each other down. While it doesn’t go quite as far as the premise would have surely allowed for, it’s nevertheless a highly original concept that merits watching. 

- Yellowjackets. 

In the 90’s, a girls’ soccer team crashed in the Canadian wilderness. More than ten years later, the few survivors are determined to bury the truth about what happened during their ordeal —no one may find out the many horrible things they committed just to stay alive. Essentially a more exploitative version of “The wilds”. Far-fetched but pretty entertaining. 

- Unwell. 

Docu-series about assorted health fads, from essential oils to bee poison. While more ‘exploitainment’ than information, it’s nevertheless worth a look and a few follow-up discussions. 

- Inventing Anna. 

Dramatization of the real-life notorious con-woman who scammed many of New York’s wealthiest and naivest. Gleefully black humored, though it lasts a touch too long. At its best moments it plays almost like a Ryan Murphy show, with the mandatory camp that entails. 

IN OTHER LANGUAGES:

- Magia Record (season 2). 

- La divina gula. 

Literally “divine gluttony”, a docu-series about some of the wildest, most elaborate concepts in Mexican street food —as liable to make you hungry as to make you sick, but more than worth a look. 

MOVIES

- The Eternals. 

A very rare case of a movie that is at once too ambitious and too short-sighted for what it winds up being —the lastest MCU movie entry, and by now showing exactly why mega-conglomerates like Disney + Marvel + Tons more —are not the right people for high-concept productions. 

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January 2022 TV

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Assorted shows I finished this month (and a couple extras)

LIVE ACTION

- The movies that made us. 

Netflix docu-series built around trivia about the making of assorted pop culture icon films, usually from the 80’s - 90’s (though the most recent is a 2002 entry). While fans of each movie know every episode is rather white-watched, it works as a starter for people interested in delving further into film culture. 

- One day at a time, season 2. 

Still of the best sitcom reboots I’ve seen yet, with a very good focus on Latino communities (filtered through sitcom standards, yes —but the moments when the show gets bolder are more than worth a look!). A good example of pop entertainment that can also —if not teach you a thing or two, definitely get you interested in learning more!

ANIMATED

- Golden Kamuy, season 2. 

Excellent adaptation of the even better manga, that here increasingly attempts to push the envelope on homoeroticism proper (as opposed to a particular kind of bland tease many of you are much more used to). A few arcs were cut for this adaptation —and still!! Quite recommended. 

- BNA: Brand New Animal. 

Anime mini-series about a city built as a haven for beaspeople —those born with a shapeshifting ability. Somewhat meandering, and even at twelve episodes it manages to have a little too much filler, but nicely animated and fairly entertaining. 

OTHERS

- Housamo: New Year Sunshine (year of the bull / ox).

Charming, small (as in pretty brief) event that manages to get the most out of the gimmick of starring every character in the game that is a bull or even vaguely bull-themed. 

MOVIES

- Saludos, amigos. 

- The three caballeros. 

Disney anthology combo (they work much better seen as a double feature) nowadays famous for introducing their earliest attempts at Latino characters —in particular José Carioca and Panchito Pistoles. Often critiqued for the slightly less spectacular animation compared to their biggest projects —and much more so for the problem of representation (of note, it led to the birth of iconic Chilean comic character Condorito). In themselves they are an interesting curiosity, often experimental in their animation proper, almost endearing in their earnest ignorance about Latino reality… and on a whole, still worth a look and discussion. Within, ahem, the community or in a diverse group, that is!

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December tv shows and others.

 DECEMBER 2021

The last extras of this year. 

TV SHOWS

LIVE ACTION

- One day at a time, season 1. Remake of a classic Dramedy, this time about a Cuban-American family navigating modern life. Surprisingly smart writing and engrossing acting all around. 

ANIMATED

- Aggretsuko, season 4. Cult favorite anime that went from relatable to outlandish. This season starts quite rough, but manages to become fairly entertaining by the end. 

COMIC BOOKS

- Wonder Woman: Black and Gold, vols. 1 - 3.  Anthology of short stories showcasing different takes on the titular character. 

- Marvel Voices: Identity. Anthology by, for and about AAPI (Asian, Asian-American and Pacific Islander) creators and characters. 

Both make good samples of what mainstream USian superhero comics are striving for and sometimes achieving in the current century. 

OTHERS

- Housamo: Jiangshi Night Event. 

- Sera Myu: Sailor Moon Stars. 

I never quite know how to rate video-game storylines (the first) and tapings of on-stage musicals (the second), other than to say that both are quite entertaining in their own right. Neither holds up separate from context, but by now they are intended for an already engaged audience. Both, then deliver what they promise. 

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November tv shows (and comics)

TV SHOWS

LIVE ACTION

- I know what you did last summer. 

New adaptation of the YA novel and of the 90’s slasher film series… it has virtually nothing in common with any of them. On its own it's one of many recent tv series recreating slashers of yore (Scream. Slasher. Scream Queens. AHS: 1984). This one is low on suspense but rather high on shock value. 

- Harlan Coben’s Into the woods. 

Somewhat ordinary thriller that by coincidence itself delves into slasher shenanigans every so often. 

ANIMATED

- Devilman Crybaby. 

The newest adaptation of Go Nagai’s notorious shocker, aiming to go even further with the sex and violence formula. 

- Masters of the universe: Revelations. (Volume 2) 

Fairly entertaining continuation of the 80’s cartoon. 

BOOKS

- DC Pride. 

- Marvel Voices: Pride. 

- Chilling Adventures in Sorcery. 

- The problem of Susan and others. 

- Wonder Girl: Adventures of a teen titan.

Assorted comic book anthologies. The first two centered on Queer characters, the second on Horror, the third on Fantasy, and the fourth on a legacy character. On the whole, a good sampling of the many possibilities of Mainstream American comics. 

WEBCOMICS: 

- Big Ethel Energy. 

One of the best current-era Archie Comics properties. 

- FoxTrot. 

- xkcd. 

Two regular humor strips…

- Sleepless Domain. 

One excellent dark fantasy yarn…

- AJ & Magnus. 

One strip that can’t quite seem to decide if it wants to be for adults or for children…

- Oglaf. 

- Debuffed. 

Two excellent comics for adults…

- SundayHaw. 

- Foxes in love. 

- Ty-Pesh.

Three very good furry comics for all ages…

- Wilson. 

- Convergence.

- The Island. 

And three other furry comics for adults only!

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