GIFTS TO YOURSELF

[jeffbert]

O.K., I realize this seems like a self-centered topic, but some people deny themselves luxuries until they are already in the buying mood. I myself just bought URUSEI YATSURA boxed set #1, & a shower radio with a digital tuner, which has not yet arrived. I have already watched the URUSEI YATSURA series via NETFLIX, and was wanting to watch it again, but three of the 50 discs are not currently available, and I doubt they will be any time soon, because the series is out of print. So, discs 1, 30, & 33 are unavailable, & I felt that paying $15 to $25 for #1 was a loser since I could get a boxed set with 1-5 for about $50.

For those unfamiliar with URUSEI YATSURA, it is one of Rumiko Takahashi's 1st series (manga) that was made into anime. AnimEigo's DVDs are great, because they feature explanatory notes as extras that deal with diverse subjects ranging from Japanese honorific suffixes to topics parodied in the episodes. I just examined the set, & each disc has note cards in its case, which I assume cover much of the same material. Because of this, I think this is a great series for anyone new to anime or unfamiliar with Japanese culture. I know Aturo Moroboshi has watched a Spanish dubbed version, though I suppose it was on TV, & thus lacked an such notes.

[Fauna]

Just today, I bought myself a Godzilla Christmas ornament that was on sale at Carlton Cards. He's pretty heavy, but if you press one of his back spikes, he makes his trademark roar and the lighthouse he's holding lights up. Right now he's hanging on my family's Christmas tree.

[Astro Forever]

I've recently bought two Tintin album in German because I'm learning the language. Those turned out to be my Christmas gift to myself, I'm looking forward to translating them.

[Anime Girl]

I actaully bought myself the first Sailor Moon manga that was out, a DVD of Beavis and ButtHead Do America, a new purse, and this cute pink sock monkey. But can ya blame me? Mom owed and payed me like over 100 dollars in allowence. I bought presents, but I had plenty of money left for myself. I still have about 20 bucks left.

[F-Man]

Osamu Tezuka's Buddha: The Great Departure, on Blu-ray. Unfortunately even though it shipped on the 8th, it still hasn't arrived.

And the Young Black Jack live-action special too.

And I got a bunch of Jetter Mars manga the other day.

[jeffbert]

I did not even know there was any Jetter Mars manga!?

[F-Man]

I did not even know there was any Jetter Mars manga!?

None by Tezuka himself. The best ones are by Shitego Ikehara, one of Tezuka's assistant who draws just like him (he also made an old Mega Man manga). Here's a picture of my Jetter Mars collection.

The book to the far right is an incomplete compilation of Ikehara's stories, the 5 books next to it are individual chapters in the original magazines. The first two are stories that are already in the compilation, but at least the other 3 are new, so not all the copies I bought were a waste.