Black Bullet Review

    
       Black Bullet is one of the newest shows to hit the anime scene, and it’s definitely leaving its mark. With a huge following and an ever growing fan base, it’s definitely living up to the hype. It’s a fun Sci-Fi Action Drama revolving around the lives of two young characters. One is Rentaro Satomi, a high school student and Promoter for Tendō Civil Security, and Enju Aihara, an incredibly bright young girl and Rentaro’s Initiator.  They are colorful, entertaining, and unique characters. They are the only thing standing between the vicious monsters known as Gastrea that have flooded our world, and what’s left of the population.

       In the near future, a virus hit the human race. It caused mutations in the human body and ended with the raging Gastrea bursting from within their human cocoons. These monsters are very dangerous and are immune to many of our current weapons. The human race now has only two weapons that work against them; Black Bullets and Initiators. The Initiators are young girls who have been infected with the Gastrea virus, but have it kept dormant using newly developed antidotes. The virus gives them special abilities such as super strength, speed, and many more. The black bullets are made from a special mineral known as Varanium that repels the Gastrea and prevents their powerful healing process. These bullets are carried by the Promoters, the young fighters who watch over and fight alongside the Initiators. It’s their job to protect the initiators, and to make sure the virus doesn’t go into full effect.

       The story opens up on Rentaro years before when he was a small child during the beginning of the outbreak. He’s among a large group of people setting up tents inside of a sports stadium of some kind. The sky above is black and red with lightning cracking every which way. Two fighter jets suddenly sail over head towards one particular cloud formation. After a few seconds they emerge again, but they are chasing a massive flying Gastrea. Rentaro looks on in horror as the jets and Gastrea do battle in midair. This scene is incredibly powerful, and does a great job of getting you hooked into the world of these two characters, and it really shows off the fantastic artistic style of this anime.

 

       Our two protagonists in this story are Rentaro and Enju. Rentaro is your typical hero. He’s determined and courageous in battle, and cheerful and lighthearted in life. He trains constantly to be the best for Enju, and she does the same for him. Enju is also very colorful, and your typical young girl. Her special power is her ability to channel her strength into precise hits from her lethal kicks. Just one kick has the power to destroy most Gastrea. Enju is also madly in love with Rentaro, and makes it apparent as often as possible. This leads to some very funny and endearing moments between the two. Their chemistry and personalities really make the story shine, and you look forward to their moments together.

       The antagonist in this story, Kagetane Hiruko, is just as unique as the heroes. He has a strangely different design, and he looks distinct from all the other characters in the anime. It’s unknown as to how, but his body has been implanted with the same mineral found in the black bullets, which gives him incredible strength and lightning fast reflexes. He also demonstrates extreme intelligence, and brutal nature about him.

       On the outside he appears as your typical terrorists, but he seems to display a hidden agenda through his actions. Nobody quite knows what he’s after, but they know he’ll stop at nothing to get what he wants. Hiruko also happens to be an extremely skilled Promoter, and his Initiator is incredibly powerful as well.  She is also his only young daughter.

              All in all, Black Bullet is a must watch. The fantastic art style of the characters and environment, amazing visuals during fight scenes, and interesting storyline will leave you checking in for every episode update. And trust me; there are plenty more amazing characters and stories to see. It’s currently on its eleventh episode, and if you want to continue the story more quickly the manga is available online. I hope you enjoy it as much as I am... :)

 

Bruce Wayne Vs. Dick Grayson: Who's The Better Batman???

      

       It has been wildly considered throughout the comic book fan base that the super hero known as Batman is one of the most popular and interesting heroes ever created. His uniquely dark villains, and distinct anti-hero personality have attracted many fans over the seventy five years of his existence in comic fiction. But there's a secret that many fans don't know about the caped crusader; it wasn't always Bruce behind the mask.

       Several characters in the DC universe have taken the mantle of Batman in some form or another, but the one who stood out the most was the original Boy Wonder himself Richard "Dick" Grayson. After Bruce had his back broken fighting against Bane, and in a separate story arc where he had been killed in an explosion, the remaining heroes and villains of Gotham fought over the mantle of Batman in the story arc known as Battle For The Cowl. At the conclusion of this fight, it was Grayson who emerged on top. In Bruce's extended absence he protected Gotham from several of its most deadly foes with the same energy and style of his mentor. Both of them are very formidable heroes, but this brings about what I consider to be an important question; who is the better Batman?

       As a Batman and Nightwing fan I'm very curious to find the answer. To do so I believe we should look at the history and traits of these two characters, who Batman is as a figure, and see which best fits the persona of the caped crusader...

 

BRUCE WAYNE

 

       The legendary man behind the mask, Bruce Wayne is the original secret identity of The Dark Knight. A young boy who vowed justice in the wake of his parents slaughter, and dedicated his entire existence to the idea. Wanting to inspire hope in his citizens, and fear in his enemies, he dawned the symbol of a bat and started to single handedly cleanse the streets of his beloved city. Any fan knows the origin story of this man, but what about his current story? What is he like as Batman?

       When the mask is on he's a cold and determined protector, but when it's off he's a supposed rich playboy and beneficiary to his home city. It has been apparent throughout his story that Bruce would be happy if Bruce Wayne never existed, and it was only Batman who remained. Bruce has always felt more comfortable in the batsuit than in his business suit. A few fans have argued that Batman is actually his true identity and that Bruce Wayne is his real alter ego. Bruce himself has even made this point apparent in several situations

       Bruce achieved many things as Batman. He organized and was the leader of the Justice League, he helped to rebuild his city through his immense wealth, and he was the inspiration and mentor for many current heroes in the DC universe. But is he as great as everyone claims?

       Bruce has shown many times that his ego is as incredible as his intelligence. He may be a formidable hero, but he has also almost brought about his own destruction on a few occasions. Preferring his solitude even when he desperately needs help against a foe. This has proved to be his greatest weakness. His first confrontation with Bane, the first time the Justice League encountered Darkseid, and his most recent fight against The Joker in the Death Of The Family. All of these situations were far too much for him. Though many times he has pulled through and achieved the impossible, whether by his gadgets he develops or his skills as a warrior, when he could have avoided the whole conflict by taking on help. 

 

 

RICHARD GRAYSON

 

       Former Batman sidekick, Robin The Boy Wonder, and the current hero known as Nightwing, Richard Grayson has held an important presence in the Batman world. He has filled in for Bruce on several occasions in the Batman timeline, started the Teen Titans and the Outlaws, and helped to save several cities as well as Gotham from ruin. He's the ideal apprentice and exhibits a lot of the best traits in Bruce.

       After the supposed death of Bruce Wayne during the Legacy Arc, everyone turned to Grayson to take on the legacy. Knowing he could never fill the shoes of his mentor, he reclined the position. This sent everyone into a frenzy. Panic was sent out throughout the remaining heroes of them world as one of its greatest defenders was in danger of disappearing from existence forever.

       Jason Todd, Tim Drake, and Damian Wayne all thought they were entitled to the role since their brother wasn’t prone to taking the job. Tim and Damian were both almost killed by Jason, and they would have been dead if it wasn’t for the intervention of Richard near the end of Battle For The Cowl. Once Richard saw how important Batman’s presence was to the world around him, he put his doubt aside for the time being and put on the mask.

          As soon as he became the new Batman, he quickly got to work. He put away several of his mentor’s rivals, and even staved off the escape of some of the major ones. One big thing he accomplished that Wayne could not was that he was able to prevent any crime committed by The Joker. The infamous villain only escaped one time during Richards time as the Dark Knight.

       Despite all these things, Grayson still fell short in some areas. Due to his actions when he first entered Bludhaven he caused several villains to escape, and his insecurities when he first started a Batman made him vulnerable and easy to overcome by his enemies. Something that they were aware of, and took complete advantage. Richard would eventually overcome these feelings, but who's to say they would never rise up again?

THE DARK KNIGHT PERSONA

 

       We've looked at the two men who have represented Batman, but what does Batman represent? Who is Batman? Is he ominous shadowy justice? Is he a symbol to be feared by evil? Or is he just some suit that anyone with a well built physique can put on? I would like to think that the idea of Batman is more than what he really is, but it's honestly just not true.

       Batman itself is just a suit. It's a large amount of latex, body armor, metal, and gadgets. But it's not about any of that. Batman embodies something everybody would like to believe in. He's a guardian angel, someone to depend on for those who have nobody, and the embodiment of a hero. Though he has been described as a dark and brooding character, he wasn't always like that. In the early days he was a somewhat lightly colored and eccentric character who protected people from experiencing the same traumas he went through.

       In my opinion, he is the outline for how many heroes should be viewed. A self-sacrificing, and unbreakable force that fights for the benefit of others no matter what.

 

I AM BATMAN...

 

       Now it's time for a winner. One is brutal, intimidating, and incredibly intelligent. While the other is reliable, heroic, and an ideal leader. Both have brought so much to the table, but only one can be the better Batman.

       In my opinion, Grayson has the better qualities for the role of Batman. Though Bruce has the fear and intimidation aspect of the Dark Knight, the intelligence necessary for creating multiple devices for defeating his foes, and the fact that he invented the Batman persona, it's Richard who I think shines through the mask.

       Grayson is more instinctual, a far better leader, and has more heroic qualities. Richard inspires the people he leads into battle, where Bruce demands their co-operation. Richard relies on himself but isn't afraid to ask for help, and Bruce will try to fight alone long after he's aware the situation is beyond him. Grayson is the best of both worlds. With his heroic personality, his determined attitude, and his dark drawbacks. Bruce has even said himself in the DC NEW 52 arc that Richard is a far better man than himself. So when the original Batman himself says that you would do a better job than him, I'm inclined to believe him.

       Despite my opinion, I still think Bruce and Richard are two of the most unique and exciting characters in comics, and I will continue to read their epic stories as they take down the villains of Gotham, Chicago, and the universe. To quote one of my childhood heroes...

       

       "Tell everyone. All the punks, junkies, gunsels, enforcers... all the wise guys, leg-breakers, muscle boys... tell them they're finished. Tell them the streets belong to the Batman."

                                            -- Bruce Wayne (New Earth)