Image Tax: It’s Night And You’re Wearing Shades And Thigh-Highs…

…that must be cold.

Mario Wibisono knows how to draw women, that cannot be denied.

Source: deviantart

Blood On My Fists: Reign Of Assassins

Nostalgia sometimes blinds us. Some of the old kung fu movies were really crap – at least in the non-fight departments. The only thing that they had going for them was the exuberant energy provided by the performers; the plots were thin, the sound was crap, and the camera work stilted. However, we’ve come a long way from the 70s, and the 80s and the 90s refined the techniques that gave us classics like Once Upon A Time In China and Swordsman.

Well, it’s the 21st century and I can honestly say that Reign of Assasins or Jianyu Jianghu, as it is known in the Chinese market, is another martial arts classic in the vein of the best of the genre.

On The Shelf: The Official xxxHolic Guide

One of the joys of living in the Philippines is we are the black hole of English-language books. Or rather, this is where books go to die. Being one of the biggest consumers of English books in the world, we get our share of the brand-new stuff – but the real prize, especially for people with tight budgets – is the remaindered stuff. You know, the extra stock that never get sold by publishers, either through overprinting or whatever.

So our second-hand bookstores take it all in and sell them at bargain basement prices. Booksale Philippines is arguably the largest chain of second-hand bookstores in the country and they carry a very wide selection of books – of course, the fact that they circulate their books through branches means that what you saw in one branch last month may end up somewhere in the Visayas next week.

Anyway, with the manga mania abroad, it’s understandable that quite a few manga books end up on their shelves. This one though is a find. Costing $13 before shipping on Amazon, the Official xxxHolic Guide costs a cheap 180 Philippine pesos – that $4 – without shipping. There’s several copies in several Booksales in Metro Manila, all of them still shrink wrapped or at least in good condition. Check them out for several more bargains.

Like A Thief In The Night: Ninjato and Ninja: Legend of the Scorpion Clan

The kids above may not look deadly – but they only mask the secret deadliness within. Or at least I think so.

Anyway, the Japanese shinobi or shadow warrior has been the topic of many a game – however, they’re mostly video games. Thankfully someone has decided to remedy that condition. Two someones actually. That’s right, two ninja board games are coming soon and they will definitely be added to my collection. They’re Z-Man Games’ Ninjato and AEG’s Ninja: Legend of The Scorpion Clan.

Image Tax: It’s Mating Season!

Because Daffy doesn’t do it as well as Bugs.

Source: Tumblr