Book Reviews: Seraph of the End Vols. 7 & 8 by T. Kagami et al.

Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign Volume 7 story by Takaya Kagami and art by Yamato Yamamoto

Yuichiro's unit is ordered to the front lines of the war between vampires and humans. The plan is to eliminate a lot of vampire lords to deplete their ranks. But the unit's trip to Nagoya is both a bonding experience and a humbling one as they have to team up with more experienced and more disciplined vampire-fighting units. There's a fight between humans that's part-exercise and part-humiliation. Meanwhile, the vampires have their own problems with inter-factional rivalry. And Yuichiro's friend Mika is struggling with his desire for blood and his hope to free his friend from the clutches of the evil humans.

I thought the human-on-human fight was a little contrived and only served to fill out some space before the bigger action started at the end. The end does have a huge cliffhanger, since it's in the middle of the attempted take-down of the vampire lords.

Mildly recommended.

Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign Volume 8 story by Takaya Kagami and art by Yamato Yamamoto

The battle to eliminate vampire lords in Nagoya rages on. After some successes and some failures, a group of humans has been captured and placed on crosses in front of Nagoya City Hall. Obviously that's a trap for the remaining vampire hunters, who have no choice but to take the bait and hope for the best. They have their own secret agenda, so maybe things will work out well?

The action is non-stop in the volume, with a few small revelations here and there. The fight is not over yet, so of course it's on to Volume 9!

Recommended.

Movie Review: Key Largo (1948)

Key Largo (1948) directed by John Huston

Drifter Frank McCloud (Humphrey Bogart) travels to Hotel Largo on the Florida Keys to visit the owner, James Temple (Lionel Barrymore). Temple is the father of George, one of McCloud's war buddies who died in Italy. George's widow Nora (Lauren Bacall) lives with Temple and helps to run the hotel. It's the summer, so no tourists are visiting with all the heat and bugs and such. But when McCloud arrives, some men are at the hotel, claiming it's closed and that they are staying there for a fishing trip. Their group includes one women, a former singer named Gaye Dawn (Claire Trevor). The leader of the group is upstairs in his room, only coming down at night. The guys are a bit rough on McCloud but once he explains he'll only be there for an hour or so, they let him see Temple. Temple and Nora have a heartfelt discussion about George, especially his death. They convince McCloud to stay overnight. Trouble brews as it becomes clear the men are mobsters there for a meet-up. Also, a hurricane comes in. Additionally, some local Native Americans show up at the hotel since they trust Temple. A couple of the boys broke out of jail and he counsels them to go back with the cops when they show up. That would be okay but the local deputy has words with the mobsters and gets knocked out by them. The mobsters want to keep things quiet till they've done their business, which means keeping everyone in line.

This noir classic has a bit of a convoluted plot. The Indian subplot's purpose seems solely to get the cops to the hotel. McCloud is a bit hard and a bit pessimistic, unwilling to fight the mobsters even when Temple, who is old and in a wheelchair, is itching to take down the head mobster, Johnny Rocco (Edward G. Robinson). The singer is Rocco's former girlfriend, though now she is an alcoholic and more needy. These disparate elements come together to make some very dramatic moments and give McCloud some character arc. The cast is all around good. Huston's direction delivers the story well, giving it enough tension and excitement to stitch together the complicated group of characters. 

Recommended, especially for noir fans.

Hershey Park Summer 2026

Some friends gave us passes to go to Hershey Park. We went at the end of August, though our daughter was working so she did not come with us. It was the last big rush of summer (summer passes expired August 31), so it was fairly crowded.

The entrance

My son and I

All of us minus our daughter

Our first ride was the newly renamed Star-Spangled Laff Trakk. Normally it is called "Laff Trakk" but for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, a lot of stuff in the park has been patriotized, if that is even a word.

An unassuming entrance

Where to get on the rie

The ride is an indoor coaster that whips back and forth. The car seats four, with two people facing forward and two backward. The car rotates at times on the track (or is it "trakk"?), switching who is in front. The ride has a bunch of fun house decorations and music (though there was some patriotic songs too).

Our next ride was Wild Mouse, a coaster that does a lot of whipping back and forth, much like Laff Trakk but outdoors. It looks milder than it actually is. Some of the turns are very tight and we felt like we might fall out. Of course, the restraints are good enough to prevent that, but still we experienced the thrill of danger. 

Entrance

A convoluted mouse trap

We walked over to the Comet but the line was over an hour long. We got some lunch at the Chik-fil-A in the park and decided to ride the Classic Cars, a favorite of my son. The line wasn't too bad and we parents rode in the back while he did the driving.

Entrance

On the highway

A happy driver

Unfortunately, I twisted my foot coming out of the ride. I hobbled over to the Kissing Tower, which is a 250-foot tower with an enclosed cabin. The narration provides a little history of the park. After we got off, I decided the foot was not good enough to keep going so we went to the first aid station in the park. They elevated my foot and did an examination. They didn't think anything was broken, maybe I hyperextended something. They gave me some ice, an aspirin, and a ride back to our car. The day ended early. Luckily my son wasn't upset. We headed home where the urgent care took an x-ray and saw a broken fifth metatarsal in my left foot. They gave me a walking boot and a referral for an orthopedist. Since it was Saturday, I waited till Monday to make an appointment to have it checked. I am still in the boot and slowly recovering.

Book Review: Ethics for Beginners by Peter Kreeft

Ethics for Beginners: Big Ideas from 32 Great Minds by Peter Kreeft

Following his usual humorous and direct style, Kreeft presents the ethical stances of almost three dozen people from the history of human thought, running from ancient Asia to modern America. Most summaries are two to five pages long, outlining the main idea of the thinker, giving some critical assessment, and finishing with a short bibliography for further reading on that thinker. His explanations are clear and cover the basics.

The book shines in its extra parts. The introduction is broken into nine introductions, describing the audience of the book (open-minded beginners and teachers using the book), the value of the topic, and the variety of opinions about the topic. The tone is light but serious, giving a good grounding for what comes afterward.

The book also has several appendices, providing study questions or essay prompts for each thinker. Kreeft also provides some writing and discussing advice--how to have a Socratic debate, how to write a Socratic dialogue, how to write a logical essay, and how to write a Summa article. His long experience as an academic is in play and makes the book a useful tool in an educational setting.

Highly recommended. Even if you are an expert in ethics, there's probably something new or useful for you here.

TV Review: Mob Psycho 100 (2016)

Mob Psycho 100 (2016) written by Hiroshi Seko based on the manga by One

Shigeo Kageyama is a regular middle school student except he has psychic powers. He keeps a low profile at school and the rest of his life, keep his powers in check and never using them against other people. Sometimes he might show off but he is more worried about than impressed with his own abilities. He goes to a psychic consultant named Reigen to get advice. Reigen's business is a sham--he pretends to be a psychic and solve supernatural cases, though he just tosses salt around most of the time. When he realizes Shigeo (who is nicknamed "Mob") has authentic powers and can banish evil spirits, he takes him on as an assistant so he can "teach" Mob how to control his powers. They start having odd adventures battling local disturbances and larger, more organized psychic problems. Meanwhile, Mob tries to fit in at school. He joins the body-building club to get more exercise and a more impressive physique. The jocks are amiable fellows devoted to working out and take him under their care. He's also in a telekinesis club, though they mostly play games and eat snacks. They don't initially know about Mob's powers. And, being a school student, he has a girl he's interested in but too shy to talk to.

The show is a great blend of action and comedy, with occasionally very serious bits. Mob is good-natured and tries to help out people, often trying to talk them out of doing bad things before using his powers. Some situations escalate out of control and he has to use his powers. He also sometimes escalates out of control, with his emotions hitting "100" and resulting in a power outburst. Most of the rest of the cast are good-natured and helpful. Normally, in a situation like this the jocks would be bullies/antagonists but they are on Mob's side. Reigen is comically fraudulent and does give good advice and guidance to Mob. Mob is able to turn around some of the bad guys, including an impish spirit called Dimple. I was surprised how charming and inventive the show is, though I am definitely a fan of oddball things.

Highly recommended.

Book Review: Usagi Yojimbo Vol. 32 by Stan Sakai

Usagi Yojimbo Volume 32: Mysteries by Stan Sakai, with additional contributions by Julie Fujii Sakai

More adventures from the rabbit ronin!

The Hatamoto's Daughter--Usagi heads to Inspector Ishida's village and discovers a dead man and his living daughter in the forest. Bringing the girl into town, Usagi does not realize the trouble he is getting himself into. This is another compassionate, well-crafted tale that I found very satisfying.

Death by Fugu--Fugu is a famous sushi made from puffer fish that can be deadly if not prepared correctly. In this story, Inspector Ishida investigates a death caused by eating fugu. Is it an attempted assassination or an accident caused by a less than skillful chef? Usagi joins in the search for answers. I thought this was just okay.

The Body in the Library--Kitsune, the master thief, gets more than she bargained for when she robs a supposedly empty house and comes across a dead body (but, intriguingly enough, not in a library). The police break in, accusing her of murder. Inspector Ishida and Usagi are on the job. They try to clear her as the situation gets more complicated (and a body is found in a library). It's another fun outing.

Mouse Trap--Nezumi is a popular thief in town who robs from the rich and gives half to the poor, making him the darling of the people. Ishida and Usagi have a hard time chasing him down. Nezumi witnesses the murder of a local merchant who wasn't paying protection money to local mafia. The bad guys saw him and pin the blame for the murder on Nezumi, though Usagi and Ishida are certain Nezumi is no killer. As they investigate further, the crime conspiracy grows larger. The story is exciting and has a nice climax tying in the previous stories.

Chibi Usagi and the Big Bad Jei--A bit of a joke tale with the young Usagi bringing breakfast from town for his master. In the woods, Jei takes the sack full of food by force and eats it himself, which works out well for him until the day Usagi brings two sacks. I laughed, so the story worked. The chibi art was fine.

Chibi Usagi and the Goblin of Adachi Plain--Another joke tale, this time reimagining a great battle as a great marble competition, with Usagi drawn into a second fight many years later. This was less funny than the last story but still entertaining.

Recommended.

Movie Review: Silverado (1985)

Silverado (1985) co-written, produced, and directed by Lawrence Kasden

Fresh-out-of-jail Emmett (Scott Glenn) is ambushed by a mysterious assassin in a remote cabin but turns the tables on his would-be killer. It's the late 19th century American Southwest, so he takes the guy's horse back to civilization, presumably to sell it or find out about who wants him dead. He picks up an eccentric cowboy named Paden (Kevin Kline) whose lost everything, including his boots and clothes. When they get to town, they find more trouble and help out another loner, Mal (Danny Glover), who is just passing through and wants a drink and a bed for the night, though the local racists make trouble. Emmett discovers his brother Jake (Kevin Kostner) has been jailed and will be hung the next day. Emmett breaks him out in the morning, forcing the four cowboys (Emmett, Jake, Mal, and Paden) to flee. Their next stop is Silverado, where Emmett and Jake have a sister they want to say goodbye to as they head off to California to seek their fortune. Mal's parents have a farm just outside of town. Paden is along for the ride. They discover more trouble when the get there...a lot more trouble.

This is an unabashed throwback to classic westerns, full of tropes and common images. The cowboys help out a wagon train, have a street fight with the bad guys, drink whiskey in saloons, ride all over the range, discover a box-canyon hideout, fight corrupt sheriffs, cause a cattle stampede, shoot guy who falls off the rooftop down to the street, etc. etc. The creators show no cynicism or revisionism, just a wholehearted enthusiasm for an exciting adventure in the Old West. It's such a delight with a cast that shines in their roles. The plot is a little convoluted but the film has so much energy and charm, it is easy to forgive.

Recommended, highly for Western fans.