Some of the biggest elements of any Final Fantasy game are Summons, a select group of magical creatures that aid you during battle. When it came to recreating and designing new Summons for Final Fantasy VII Remake, the game's Co-Director, Naoki Hamaguchi, explained his team's process.
Hamaguchi said the team's biggest priority was to make sure the Summons "looked as good as possible." He explained, "We quickly realized that recreating [the Summons] exactly as they were in the original wouldn’t have been good enough for today’s graphical standards. I feel that these magnificent, supernatural and majestic beings would have looked quite weak."
Hamaguchi said the team re-worked a lot of the ideas from the original game, including making Summons battle alongside you instead of being controllable figures. He then shared some early sketches for Bahamut's attacks.
"As you can see, we thought long and hard about both how Summons and their special attacks should look," he said, before sharing some more sketches of Bahamut's attack. "This version of Bahamut didn’t make the final cut, but it does give you an idea of how much iteration each Summon went through during development!"
Final Fantasy VII Remake is developed and published by Square Enix. The game is available now on PlayStation 4.
When comparing the many arcs of One Piece, the Davy Back Fight arc (or Long Ring Long Land arc) is often one of the most contentious among fans. It's very short by One Piece standards and it doesn't have the same kind of scale, build-up or tension that One Piece's best arcs do. The anime's adaptation also contains quite a bit of filler. It doesn't help, either, that it comes right before an arc that many consider to One Piece's best: Water 7.
Still, the Davy Back Fight arc is nothing if not fun and charming; feeling like one of the early East Blue Saga arcs but with the crew already fairly established as legitimate pirates.
Right away in the arc's beginning, we're greeted with Long Ring Long Land, which Luffy, Usopp and Chopper run off to go explore. Once we see the island's fauna and flora, it becomes pretty apparent how the island got its name. The three knuckleheads look in awe as a loooooong bear and a daaaachshund walk past them. You can tell series creator Eiichiro Oda wanted to do some goofy-looking animal designs, which does a great job of making the island stand out without needing as much set-up or history as the future islands like Water 7 or Dressrosa do.
Still, he also provides a bit of historical context for the island through the nomad, Tonjit, who tells us this land is actually connected to 10 other islands, and that his people periodically move from island to island every couple of years. It's not a whole lot but it's enough to make this strange world feel oddly believable.
Another aspect that separates this arc from the many others is that Oda uses the "game" framework for the Davy Back Fight, rather than the simple objective of needing to defeat/save someone. Having an arc framed around a game or challenge is pretty typical by shonen standards. Just take a look at the Chunin Exam of Naruto or the Hunter Exam of Hunter x Hunter; they're a great way to experiment with the storytelling of your world.
In this case, The Straw Hats get challenged to a Davy Back Fight with the Foxy Pirates, a massive crew who earned notoriety through stealing pirates from other crews by winning said fights. In a Davy Back Fight, winning a series of games played between pirate crews means the victor can take another's crew's members, treasure or even their jolly roger. It's a fun idea and adds a bit of worldbuilding to pirate culture and tradition.
However, the thing that really sells the idea of the Davy Back Fight is that it's a game played by pirates, which means cheating is fair (or, not so fair) game. In the game arc, the characters need to stick closely to the rules but the fun comes from seeing both sides cheat in order to win instead. After all, pirates don't and shouldn't play fair, and that's best exemplified in the antagonist for this arc, Silver Fox Foxy.
Foxy can best be described as Dick Dastardly from Wacky Races if he were a pirate. (His gorilla sidekick even does a very Mutley-esque laugh to himself every time Foxy embarrasses himself.) Although he may not have the same fear factor or charisma as major One Piece villains like Crocodile or Doflamingo, Foxy is nothing if not genuinely entertaining.
Seeing him throw every cheat and scheme he has at the Straw Hats is so much fun, especially when Nami is the only one who right through all his tricks. Still, Foxy's persistent -- ensnaring Luffy in several of his traps during their one-on-one bout together. Even if we're not meant to take him as seriously, he still made it this far through the Grand Line, which is no easy feat.
The different games the two crews play all have their noteworthy moments as well. In the Donut Race, you can see Nami really takes the reins as a navigator as she knows exactly how to deal with the whirlpool reef, even when Foxy makes a smokescreen. This is also Usopp's first time using the dials he got from Skypiea, showing that's he already figuring out how to accommodate them into his arsenal.
The Ball Game that Zoro and Sanji take part in also gives us some hilarious moments between the two rivals as they both can't stand having to work together. You can't help but laugh at Sanji's frustration with the referee not noticing the Foxy team constantly cheating. We're also reminded that, even if he's not carrying his swords, Rorornoa Zoro is still a 100 percent badass. When they do eventually figure out how to work together, it's all-the-more satisfying.
The climactic showdown between Luffy and Foxy, while not being as tension-heavy as other Boss Fights, is still incredibly fun. Right off the bat, we're hit with the bombastic and fired-up Afro Luffy, which is still one of Oda's best redesigns he's done for the rubber man. The massive afro, combined with the stylish skull tattoo and boxer's aesthetic, gives the captain a different kind of presence. Oda also uses Foxy's Slow-Slow powers in some very creative ways, like having Foxy standing on slowed down cannonballs as Luffy chases after him, which makes up for his lack of strength.
The fight leads to some hilarious visual comedy as well, such as Foxy ducking into a room with spikes hoping Luffy will rush in after him, only for the rubber man to simply knock the wall down by firing a cannon. Eventually, even the Foxy Pirates are moved by Luffy's will and "Afro Power," leading to everyone cheering for him in his climactic final blow to a slowed-down Foxy. It's a satisfying moment; one you think is where the arc ends, but then, out of nowhere, we're met with a very unexpected, additional adversary in the form of Admiral Aokiji.
Aokiji is very different from the marines we've met up to this point. He's much more laid back then Smoker, preferring not to start any fights with the Straw Hats, at least initially. Of course, he's still an admiral, and it becomes clear just how wide the gap in power is between the Straw Hats and him when he freezes over the ocean in a matter of seconds. Worse even, Aokiji gives the first hints at Robin's pasts, a character who, up till this point, has both been mysterious and composed -- until Aokiji stands in front of her.
Suddenly, we see the fear and desperation in the Straw Hats, best exemplified by Chopper and Usopp as they try to thaw out a frozen Robin in the bathtub. We're left to question where Robin's loyalties lie and who she really is. It's a terrifying encounter and the first clue that there are much bigger players across the board in One Piece.
All of this does a great job of setting up the next arc in the series, Water 7, without a doubt one of the most well-crafted arcs in One Piece, if not shonen manga history. But, the storyline just wouldn't be the same without Davy Back Fight arc that came before it.
Student Ronnie Raymond and physicist Martin Stein were caught in nuclear accident that caused them to be bonded together into the hero Firestorm. When they access the Firestorm matrix, Ronnie is in charge but Stein becomes the little voice inside his head, giving Raymond access to the Nobel winner's knowledge and advice. Firestorm's range of powers are incredible, including the ability to rearrange the molecular structure of almost anything.
His power levels are impressive, and his abilities to wield them even more so. Marvel's villains had best bring their A-game if they plan on facing him.
10 LOSE TO: Annihilus
This long time enemy of the Fantastic Four thinks very highly of himself. No one with even an ounce of humility in their body would refer to themselves as "The Lord of the Negative Zone" or "The Living Death That Walks." As powerful as Annihilus is, his greatest ability might be giving himself particularly grand nicknames. He possesses a variety of superhuman abilities thanks to exposure to the Cosmic Control Rod, including being virtually indestructible. Good luck on this fight, Firestorm. You're not surviving it.
9 DEFEAT: Moonstone
If there are two words you could use to describe Moonstone, they would probably be "powerful" and "crazy." The accuracy can be confirmed personally by Captain Marvel as she has had frequent run-ins with Moonstone over the years.
If Firestorm is lucky, Captain Marvel might give him some pointers. Moonstone's powers come from the Kree gravity stone she's bonded to, which is quite formidable. But Firestorm out powers her, particularly with his molecular manipulations.
8 LOSE TO: Graviton
While Firestorm can manipulate molecules to do almost whatever he wants, Graviton has him beat. He manipulates gravitons which carry the gravitational force between nuclei. His power levels are almost off the charts, making him one of the most devastating villains in the Marvel Universe. It's going to be hard for Firestorm to beat someone who can take things a step further than he can in the world of manipulating molecules.
7 DEFEAT: Ronan
Best described as the top cop of the Kree Empire, Ronan eventually left the title of "Accuser" behind and forged his own path away from the Supreme Intelligence. Already highly intelligent and well trained, Ronan was cybernetically enhanced by the Kree to make him more dangerous.
Then, the Black Vortex unleashed his cosmic potential, augmenting him further. Ronan would prove to be a challenge for Firestorm but he would eventually come out on top.
6 LOSE TO: Thanos
Thanos had a rough life from moment one. His own mother took one look at him, was driven mad and tried to kill him. Then, Cosmic Ghost Rider, aka Frank Castle, came back in time in an attempt to raise the boy right and only succeeded in making Thanos worse, so Frank fixed the timeline. The nastiest purple dude in the Marvel Universe was destined from birth to be the bad guy. Like most heroes, Firestorm does not have the power to face Thanos one on one. It's a team effort to say the least.
5 DEFEAT:Magus
The dark side of Adam Warlock took on a life of its own years ago. Despite being defeated, then destroyed and/or banished by Adam on more than one occasion, Magus keeps popping back up, each time with a more ridiculous and poorly thought out plan.
Magus has a variety of superhuman abilities, including cosmic powers, sorcery and quantum magic. All of those things are impressive but it's unlikely that he has enough power to take down Firestorm.
4 LOSE TO: Apocalypse
Apocalypse, or En Sabah Nur as his friends call him, has been walking the Earth for nearly 5000 years, making him one of the earliest recorded mutants. Already quite powerful, modifications made to him on board a Celestial ship only augmented him that much further. Apocalypse has a huge range of abilities that he is incredibly well practiced with and is highly intelligent. If the world's most powerful mutants have problems dealing with him, Firestorm doesn't stand a chance.
3 DEFEAT: Radioactive Man
As part of his experiments to use radiation to create superhumans, Dr. Chen Lu turned his life's work on himself, becoming Radioactive Man. While it's not the most inspired supervillain name, his opponents should still take him seriously.
Radioactive Man can absorb vast amounts of energy and manipulate it in a variety of ways. including energy blasts. He has even been know to use his abilities to briefly turn other people's powers off. Unfortunately for him, Firestorm is better with energy than he is.
2 LOSE TO: Molecule Man
While he eventually turned a corner and became a decent person, Molecule Man spent the bulk of his super-powered career as a villain facing off against the Fantastic Four. He has the ability to warp all molecules in all matter and energy, to the point that Galactus has claimed that Molecule Man could even destroy him. Firestorm is no slouch in the molecule manipulation department but even he doesn't have the ability to stand up to someone with that level of power.
1 DEFEAT: Magneto
Magneto has often been recognized as one of the most powerful beings on Earth, keeping in mind that his power levels seem to fluctuate frequently. The Master of Magnetism is always ready for a fight, though, especially when it means defending his fellow mutants from human threats. But Firestorm has certain abilities that would offset Magneto's, not to mention the fact that Firestorm could also use his powers to remove all metal from the area.
Part of what’s so interesting about My Hero Academia is the fact that there are tons of characters, both heroes and villains, to follow. Everyone has completely different motivations for doing what they’re doing. While the heroes have all sorts of reasons to be training to use their Quirks, the villains have equally interesting backstories and personalities, with unique and sometimes understandable reasons for not wanting to adhere to the rules that the world has set about how and when one is allowed to use one’s Quirk.
So while there are definitely anime villains it wouldn’t be too much fun to share a zodiac sign with, My Hero Academia villains bring a lot of unique perspectives and personalities to the table.
12 Aries: All For One
All For One is a very Type-A, straightforward, and confident person, like pretty much all Aries. He has one of the most powerful Quirks out there, the ability to steal the Quirks of others, which allows him to hoard power as he sees fit. Because of this, he’s very condescending and thinks very highly of himself and his abilities.
11 Taurus: Stain
Stain has a strong sense of duty, a trait he definitely shares with other Tauruses. He has very extremist views around the idea that false heroes should be eradicated, and this sense of right and wrong, while skewed, shows the conviction and stubbornness with which he will try to achieve his goal.
10 Gemini: Destro
Destro was the founder of the Meta Liberation Army. He didn’t believe that Quirks should be regulated or that the government should be allowed to control the ways in which people used their natural abilities. This resistance to being controlled by others is classic Gemini, who resist confinement of any kind and would prefer their talents be free from constraint and expectations.
9 Cancer: Nomu
Nomu are creatures made by Doctor Garaki by heavily modifying dead bodies in order to use them as powerful drones that will obey orders during battle.
While Cancers aren’t all just mindless zombies, they are very prone to following instructions and do whatever they can to respect the authority of their superiors in order to avoid conflict.
8 Leo: Chimera
Chimera is a classic Leo in that he thinks pretty highly of himself and looks down on society in general. He has been ostracized since his Quirk makes him look like an animal, and he now wants to help create a society in which his appearance doesn’t matter and people are only judged by their power.
Also like many Leos, he can be something of a hypocrite, since he does make fun of Mezo for his monstrous appearance, not seeming to realize that he’s doing the same thing others did to him.
7 Virgo: Dabi
Like many Virgos, Dabi is a surprisingly cautious and strategic person. He’s quick to violence and enjoys it, but he also understands when to back off and take his time. Virgos are somewhat cautious and practical when it comes to decision-making. But, also like Dabi, they’re also very critical of others and aren’t afraid to tell people what they think about them.
6 Libra: Gentle
Like many Libras, Gentle is pretty polite and well-mannered. He doesn’t actually mean to be a villain in the same way that a lot of others do. He’s not interested in stealing or gaining material wealth; he mostly just wants to be famous. Libras also are interested in leading by example and, though the example Gentle is setting isn’t a good one, he is certainly trying to inspire others.
5 Scorpio: Twice
Twice has what appears to be two different sides to his personality that are completely different. While this seems like a quality that would suit the Twins of Gemini, there are things about this condition that definitely screams Scorpio. For one thing, it makes him slightly paranoid, and Scorpios are nothing if not distrustful.
4 Sagittarius: Himiko Toga
Himiko Toga is incredibly cheerful and enthusiastic, which are classic Sagittarius traits. She’s friendly and very affectionate, but these are also creepy qualities since she is also incredibly sadistic and is constantly trying to kill the people she’s being friendly toward.
She can be compassionate, but she’s also impatient, which makes it hard to tell which version of her one will have to deal with.
3 Capricorn: Tomura Shigaraki
Capricorns are probably the most cynical of all of the signs, and that describes Tomura Shigaraki to a T. He feels abandoned by the world and blames heroes for the negative state of things. He initially wants to change society but eventually comes to the conclusion that it can’t be saved and decides to destroy it instead. This attitude is classic Capricorn.
2 Aquarius: Geten
Like many Aquarians, Geten balks at the idea of formal institutions. He never attended school to learn to control his Quirk and has instead been working on becoming more powerful and learning to control it on his own. He is part of the Liberation Army, and he feels strongly that it is the best thing for the world, which shows progressive nature, regularly seen in Aquarians.
1 Pisces: Daruma Ujiko
Daruma Ujiko is one of the smartest villains in the series, having created Nomus to help aid in battle. This creative solution to the problem of not having enough soldiers is classic Pisces. It is also very Pisces in the way that he dutifully follows All For One, even when he doesn’t agree with him; this out and out trust is a very Piscean trait.
With half a thousand episodes, Naruto: Shippudenreintroduced us the show's cast and added dozens more interesting characters which had until the time remained in the background. However, as the plot took Naruto further from the Hidden Leaf, the characters he would interact with became increasingly diverse.
Consequently, some of the existing cast would fade into irrelevance. However, this was not entirely the case, as fan favorites had their chance to shine. It's time to take a blast to the past, examining which Naruto characters did well in Shippuden and which were tragically forgotten.
10 Irrelevant - Kurenai Yuhi
As the mentor for Team 8 and the foremost authority on Genjutsu in Konoha (barring her famous run-in with Itachi), Kurenai posed a serious asset to the Leaf village and one that complemented the skills of the other Jonin.
However, her pregnancy seriously debilitated her usefulness to her allies, especially when the events of the Forth Shinobi War took place. Considering her proficiency at Genjutsu, it's unfortunate we never saw her engaging in more action. An illusion based combatant would balance out the explosive destructive of Shippuden's other battles.
9 Thrived - Might Guy
Might Guy served as the pinnacle of Taijutsu in Naruto: Shippuden, primarily battling opponents that would be impossible against ordinary chakra users (such as Kisame of the Akatsuki).
Guy's welcome appearance also answered the question fans had ever since the Gates were explained in Rock Lee's fight against Gaara: "What would happen if all Eight Gates were open?" He was the only person strong enough to defeat Madara fairly and by himself, failing only due to the overexertion he placed on his body. Fortunately, he would make a miraculous recovery and return for Boruto, even if his martial arts would never be the same.
8 Irrelevant - Rock Lee
What started as a promising career as a shinobi quickly became irrelevance as Rock Lee fell behind the rest of his class. Though he may have contributed in some battles (such as taking on Kisame with the rest of his team and defeating a perfect Ninjutsu copy of himself), his importance was ironically overshadowed by his teacher.
Rock Lee may have helped shatter some of the asteroids created by Toneri that were bound for the Leaf, but given that other shinobi have done so as well, he was much more like part of a collective, rather than the beautiful green beast we'd come to love.
7 Thrived - Kabuto
Kabuto's role to Shippuden reflected much of Orochimaru's part in the original show. He was a sinister mastermind who plotted from the shadows, working alongside unscrupulous allies with the intent of better meeting his own agenda.
Not only was Kabuto responsible for the entire Edo Tensei army (produced from a particularly successful session of grave robbing), he mastered the power of the Sound Four. When Itachi and Sasuke confronted him, he posed such a harrowing threat that not even two Susanoos could defeat him.
6 Irrelevant - Baki
Baki was to the Sand Siblings what Kakashi was to Team 7; he was a mentor and advisor harboring a sinister past. His role in the Sand's invasion on Konoha is often overlooked, namely to the murder of Hayate Gekko, the tournament's first announcer.
He may serve as the retainer and counselor to Kazekage Gaara in Shippuden, though he is as scarce as he is inefficient in his role. Sadly, there are few opportunities for him to demonstrate his unstoppable wind sword, a technique impossible to parry and as deadly as a real blade.
5 Thrived - Sakura
Easily the least impressive of the three in the original series, Sakura excelled in Shippuden, vastly surpassing her peers and proving herself a worthy member of Team 7. She defeated Sasori, an Akatsuki deadly enough to exterminate nations and slay the Third Kazekage, sniffed out the Zetsu attempting to infiltrate the Shinobi Alliance, and even saved Naruto's life.
Additionally, she was the only person to directly partake in the final battle against Kaguya without any exceptional circumstances of her own (with Kakashi and Obito assuming a more supportive role). Sakura has proven to her allies that she is far from worthless.
4 Irrelevant - Neji
Like Rock Lee, Neji was often portrayed as a smaller part to a larger aggregate, serving as a support character with little opportunity to shine as his own individual. Similarly, Hinata's role overshadowed his own as the resident Byakugan user, making it more difficult to find a place where he is imperative to the mission's success.
His death was quick and unceremonious, perishing at the hand of an inconsequential spawn of the Gedo Statue. With his arc complete since his life changing fight against Naruto, it was hard for his character to progress since.
3 Thrived - Shikamaru
Shikamaru's role as a tactician and leader was only magnified in Shippuden, with none among his peers able to emulate his complex mind. Asuna's death was a brilliant motivation for him to conquer his apathy and laziness, becoming the leader he was gifted enough to be.
The final impetus for his maturity was that of his father's death late in the Forth Shinobi War. Since his passing, Shikamaru has shown wisdom, restraint, and become a perfect advisor for the newly appointed Hokage he grew up with.
2 Irrelevant - Kiba
Kiba provided a well-written contrast to Naruto; he shared Uzumaki's spirit, adding a callous spin to make a realistic character. His combined skills with his shinobi hound Akamaru made for creative fights, notably against Sakon.
However, Fang Over Fang proved mostly useless against the opponents he would later face, either too weak or difficult to control to cause significant damage. He hardly had a coherent motivation in Shippuden beyond attempting not to let Naruto surpass him too starkly, a goal he comically failed. In the Infinite Tsukuyomi, it was mentioned he aspired to be Hokage, but this was never built upon and poorly even explained.
1 Thrived - Hinata
Hinata had solid foundations to work off from the original series. She was the successor of the Hyuga clan with the lofty expectations of greatness thrust upon her and poetically overshadowed by Neji of the servant caste.
Her dreams became realized in Shippuden when she perfected her palm technique, consummated her love for Naruto, and even saved his life (and by extension the entire village) from Pain's wrath. Hyuga may have been a shy girl in her youth, though she blossomed into a champion and the worthy partner of the Hokage.
Everyone enjoys a good laugh, and the genre of comedy within manga has a rich and deep history. Additionally, and as reflective throughout this list, a lot of good manga knows how to incorporate aspects of humor to compliment other genres.
With this in mind, the following series are the highest-rated within the genre of comedy on MyAnimeList, even in the case where they may not be primarily associated with the genre. Regardless, the ability of each of these series to offer up laughs amidst the action, thrills, and chills make them worthy additions. Whether there is punching and kicking or awkwardly sneaking up, there are plenty of good comedy titles to be found in highly-ranked titles. Here are the top ten, as it currently stands, on the website.
10 Beck By Harold Sakuishi (8.68)
Starting off on a template that will carry itself through this list, the first entry comes by way of a slice of life complemented by comedic highlights. Beck follows a band of hopefuls named Mongolian Chop Squad and their attempt to make it on the world stage.
The comedy from the series is generated in the realistic relationships of the band members and extended friends of the aspiring rock group. Arguably not a comedy in the strictest sense, the first entry on this list establishes how humor can brighten any story.
9 One-Punch Man By ONE (8.77)
One-Punch Man is proof that the same punchline ad nauseam can be utilized for great comedic effect. Additionally, the absurdity of villains that would come across as the final boss in any other manga only appear to get plastered by a single shot is also used to great comedic effect. Not to sell the series short, but what started off as a simple repetitive joke soon evolved into a deep series with a varied and entertaining cast.
Comedy and action meld in perfect harmony in the manga, making it difficult to pin down the best attribute of the series. Ultimately, it is easiest just to say that One-Punch Man is a deliriously fun series worthy of its current rating.
8 Haikyuu!! By Haruichi Furudate (8.81)
The first sports manga on the list showcases how comedy has become integrated into a large portion of the sports genre. This seems to stem from the ability of the genre to bring together a large and diverse cast and put them in an atmosphere that requires many personas to bounce off of each other. Undeniably, a large cast is bound to generate some humor just from having to deal with a diverse crew.
Even if not every character in the manga is adored by its fanbase, the series has taken the sport of volleyball and made it a smash hit, in part, by handling humor better than other series that try to just focus on comedy.
7 Yotsuba To! By Kiyohiko Azuma (8.87)
Adorable, imaginative, and over the top, Yotsuba To! is the only series on this list which could be argued to be family-friendly. Consequently, the strength to appeal to a broad audience reflects a strong universal narrative that captures the simple but absurd charm in childhood imagination and development.
The series is an undeniably charming and deserved entry on this list, which can also serve to introduce younger readers to the rich world of manga, both in the comedy genre and in general.
6 Kaguya Sama: Love Is War By Aka Akasaka (8.89)
Pat Benatar once expressed that "love is a battlefield," and in Kaguya Sama: Love is War, this idea is taken to its full comedic potential. The never-ending battle is expressed in making mental battles out of the most mundane actions, as the two potential partners fight to make sure their romantic intents are never made apparent. Furthermore, the tension is always heightened through the third member of the student council in Chika (the star of the fun and meme-fuelled closing sequence).
The anime, being such a smash hit, does offer some things that the manga does not, but also falls short in certain regards. As most manga fans will already be aware, the manga does add some better narrative depth and is also boosted by some really great bonus content/chapters not seen in the series. Regardless, of which you prefer, both are worth checking out to get the full scale of the comedic brilliance of Love is War.
5 GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka By Tooru Fujisawa (8.89)
This is the first series in this list to have started and concluded before the arrival of MyAnimeList. Consequently, the popularity of the series, when you consider it dominated by either running titles or titles that had their heyday during the existence of the service, speaks volumes to the success of GTO.
The series, which follows the titular teacher, was known for its crude and over the top humor, ultimately anchored by a teacher who put his students first. The manga has seen such great success that the series has been adapted for anime, live-action, as well as a variety of spin-off series. If you want to see comedy manga done right, you can't go wrong with GTO.
4 Slam Dunk By Takehiko Inoue (8.98)
Drawing some similarities to the previous sports genre title in this list, particularly in being able to capture intense matches in both anime and manga incarnations. The series also builds on the comradery between the players on the team, and how their struggles are complemented by the strong and playful bond they share.
The adventures of the basketball team from Shohoku High School, which arguably set the gold standard for Shonen rivalries, is the second series to have had its run before the launch of MyAnimeList. Consequently, this shows the staying power of the series and the drive for fans to keep it in discussions by putting it so high up on the list.
3 Grand Blue Dreaming By Kimitake Yoshioka (9.00)
In comparison to the other sports manga on this list, Grand Blue Dreaming is the only one that is a comedy manga first and a drama second. Consequently, the series leans on the machismo of the diving club at Izu University, which is known for partying and eccentric behavior.
There are few series that make you laugh out loud at the stories and illustrations of characters "losing it" as much as Grand Blue. Consequently, great comedic timing and a riotous cast have earned the place as one of the best "purely" comedy series available.
2 One Piece By Eiichiro Oda (9.07)
It comes as no surprise that the adventures of the elastic Monkey D. Luffy and his crew of pirates make it onto the list. With the series running since 1997, it may be a daunting task for new readers to get into.
However, the manga offers a deep exploration of the world created by Eiichiro Oda and is likely to always be a contender for one of the best manga series of all time.
1 Fullmetal Alchemist By Hiromu Arakawa (9.13)
Number one may not come as much as a surprise, as it tops the list in so many different "Best Of" lists in anime and manga. Arguably the manga is not strictly aiming to be comedic, but it still plays into light humor using the characters' eccentricities, such as Ed's insecurity about his height that is constantly brought up.
Ultimately, this is a highly adored series, which does not need to be sold or explained to fans. However, the manga should not be overlooked in favor of the anime, as both offer a different look into the beloved franchise. As it stands, Fullmetal Alchemist deservedly rests at the top, and it will take something truly special to come along and take the crown.
The Myers-Briggs® Type Indicator (MBTI®) is a personality test that identifies primary, secondary, and additional character traits that fit each person. One category encompasses the dominant traits of extraverted, intuitive, feeling, and perceiving, which has been shortened to ENFPs. People with this combination are often called idealists or mediators.
If that doesn’t sound like a description that fits many DC villains, keep in mind that not everyone starts out as a villain. But high hopes can quickly be dashed, creativity stifled, and ideals betrayed by hypocrisy. At some point, it is just about the right circumstances that turn a good person bad. Keep reading for ten examples of just how quickly it can all go wrong.
10 The Ventriloquist
Arnold Wesker was born into a crime family and saw the brutal murder of his mother. The horrifying event traumatized Arnold and he began suffering from a dissociative disorder. His only outlet became a wooden dummy named Scarface. Arthur became the mediator and Scarface expressed his ventriloquist's extraverted emotions.
Arnold's intuition allows him to perceive what others want. He is deeply emotional about how well he is treated and struggles to express this without Scarface. Recently Arnold was separated from Scarface and struggled to find a release for the extraverted side of his personality. Eventually, he turned to a sock named Socko to communicate.
9 Desaad
Desaad is the right-hand man of Darkseid. He fits the role of mediator by acting as the mouthpiece for many of Darkseid’s commands and communicating them to Steppenwolf, Granny Goodness, and others. Desaad's extraverted side is often forced aside in deference to Darkseid.
Desaad is driven to refine the horrible tortures that are implemented on prisoners. He has the ability to feel the pain he is inflicting on them and he revels in making it worse. Desaad is committed to Darkseid’s goal of achieving the Anti-Life Equation. It is often his intuition that has brought Darkseid closer to his ultimate goal.
8 Agent Liberty
Benjamin Lockwood believed in his country so much that he joined the CIA. But his missions and objectives caused him to become disillusioned. His disgust made Benjamin an easy target for the Sons of Liberty. The group took advantage of his feelings of betrayal and intuition.
The paramilitary group gave Lockwood the equipment he needed to become Agent Liberty. His extraverted personality made him a natural leader in the Sons of Liberty's plan to overthrow the government. But his intuition prevented Ben from following orders to kill politician Pete Ross. Clark Kent and Superman’s oldest friend even found assistance from Agent Liberty during an invasion.
7 Mazikeen
Mazikeen is a descendant of Lilith and her extraverted demeanor made her a leader of warriors called lilim. She is a faithful servant, niece, and sometime lover of Lucifer. Mazikeen served Lucifer in Hell and again when he left and opened a bar in Los Angeles. Her loyalty is matched by her intuitions and perception. Her ability to understand his feelings and share them make her the perfect mediator.
During her time at the bar, Mazikeen wore a silver mask to cover half of her face that is deformed and rarely spoke. This allowed her to develop her powers of perception and intuition. Her devotion and loyalty are rarely matched.
6 Monsieur Mallah
Monsieur Mallah is a superintelligent gorilla and in love with the Brain who he loyally serves. Mallah is an extravert his feelings and intuitions are attuned to the desires of the Brain. Together they formed the Brotherhood of Evil to overcome Niles Caulder, the leader of the Doom Patrol.
Mallah perceives a world where the outcasts like he and the Brain can feel at home. Mallah often carries Brain like a baby. Eventually, their crimes put them in direct conflict with the Teen Titans. Mallah's idealism returns despite every defeat. Mallah believes he and the Brain will one day change the world for better.
5 Doctor Destiny
In the beginning, Doctor Destiny was a small-time crook and amateur scientist. His extraverted personality drove him to access dreams and create the Materioptikon. It was later revealed that the source of his invention was the Dreamstone, and it was given to his mother by Morpheus. But, his intuitions and perception offered a chance to punish a world that slighted and belittled him.
Destiny was creative enough to use dreams to control people and challenge the Justice League. His idealism warped his thinking until he believed that his intuitions were shared by others.
4 Mercy Graves
Mercy Graves is the personal assistant and chauffeur to Lex Luthor. She has appeared in the animated Young Justice series and Supergirl. She is fiercely loyal to Lex, and her prowess as a fighter and intuitive bodyguard has helped her remain a fixture in Luthor's life. Her feelings for Lex are founded on an idealistic perception that Lex is the only one to follow.
Mercy was the leader of a gang of thieves when she was caught stealing Luthor's briefcase. He hired the street-tough woman and gave her a job. Mercy gave up her own ambitions and became intercessory for Luthor's will.
3 Professor Ivo
Anthony Ivo was driven to avoid contact with the outside world because he was afraid of death. Ivo began an idealistic quest to defeat death by pursuing immortality through a career in cybernetics. Hoping to mediate the disconnect between human mortality and computers which theoretically cannot die.
Ivo's extraverted impulses took control when he discovered a clue. He killed his father to create a template for his invention, Amazo, and siphon powers from members of the Justice League to power his immortality. Instead, he failed. Ivo's idealism resulted in a potion that granted him immortality. But it disfigured him and left him in a state of constant pain.
2 Jean-Paul Valley
Jean-Paul Valley was a successful graduate student and his dominant traits were intuition and feeling. The Order of St. Dumas used brainwashing to turn Valley into the next in a long line of assassins and enforcers. Service took the form of a warrior named Azrael.
When the Order activated Jean-Paul to fulfill its mission of vengeance his extraverted side came out. He embraced his mission like a zealot until a confrontation with Batman led to his change of heart. His intuition confirmed that Batman was telling the truth. Valley would later wear Batman's suit after Bruce Wayne's back was broken by Bane.
1 Firefly
Garfield Lyons turned failure into an opportunity to become one of Batman's legendary rogues as Firefly. When times were good Garfield was an extravert and trusted his intuition. After a bad economy in Gotham closed down his work as a special effects pyrotechnician, Lyons developed an itch. The scars of his childhood manifested into a fixation with fire. Lyons believed that he could see visions in the fires and himself as a mediator and emissary for the fires.
Garfield adopted the identity of Firefly when Batman mistook a firefly for Garfield's lit cigarette after a robbery. Lyons' intuition combined with his pyrotechnic expertise led to the first of his arsonist's outfits. His extraverted side came to the surface again and drove his creative passions to take on Batman and win.
More often than not, the truth can be stranger than fiction, which is why plenty of fictional works look at historical events for inspiration. Even the most famous fantasy powerhouses such as Game of Thrones couldn't resist this allure - a certain wall and a certain Eastern nomadic horde come to mind. Anime is no exception, for that matter.
A lot of them, especially for the fantasy genre, are openly based on certain time periods in a specific country's history. As a result, people who are fond of history or even History Majors will find these anime delightful to watch. Here are 10 examples of those anime; some are faithful recreations while others use the historical backdrop for its fantasy and supernatural elements.
10 Rurouni Kenshin - 8.33
Rurouni Kenshin is a huge part of many people's childhoods and it also portrays a pivotal period in Japanese history. The anime and the films all take place in the Meiji era, during the waning days of the samurai and the feudal period of Japan.
As a result, many traditional things were being outlawed as Japan adopts Western modernization such as sword-carrying being made illegal as well as long hair for men. Many former samurai were also rendered jobless wanderers called ronin. Himura Kenshin is just one among them.
9 Samurai Champloo - 8.50
Speaking of ronin, there's plenty to find in Samurai Champloo. Like Rurouni Kenshin, it explores another important period in Japanese history called the Edo era which takes place before the Meiji era.
As such, samurai or ronin killing and dueling one another in the streets were a more common sight. Samurai Champloo explores this particular bushido culture with flair and style along with some sick beats courtesy of the same director as classics such as Cowboy Bebop.
8 Hetalia World Series/Hetalia: Axis Powers - 7.67
Back in 2010, no one thought that personifying the nations who joined World Wars II and turning them into a cute humor format would be a hit. However, Hetalia: Axis Powers and its anime adaptation shed a hilarious light on WWII.
Of course, the main characters are the US, United Kingdom, Russia, and France on the Allies side while it would be Germany, Japan, and Italy on the Axis side. Don't worry, there's no mass murder or mindless conflict involved, just adorable male tantrums with a homosexual subtext.
7 Zipang - 7.52
Zipang is another interesting WWII-themed anime but it takes place in the modern world, specifically around 2009. It follows the story of the crew of the Japanese Defense Force Mirai destroyer battleship which somehow encounters an old battleship named Yamato.
The problem was, battleship Yamato belonged in the Imperial Japanese Navy and supposedly sank in 1945 near the end of WWII. Turns out battleship Mirai actually got transported back in time during 1942 and they can either choose to alter the course of WWII with their more advanced weaponry or go back home.
6 Golden Kamuy - 7.78
At first glance at Golden Kamuy's protagonist, Saichi Sugimoto, it's clear that he came from a certain time period in human history. That would be shortly after the Russo-Japanese war during 1904 to 1905 where Russia and Japan fought over Manchuria and Korea.
Hence, expect to see some great historical battles which set the mood and the atmosphere. However, the anime's main focus is Sugimoto's journey to find a hidden fortune by helping a certain tribe.
5 Baccano! - 8.43
For those who love some modern historical background that doesn't involve wars, Baccano! would be a welcome sight. It's an anime that's set during the roaring '20s period or the 1920s in the United States where jazz is ubiquitous and so are criminal gangs and illegal alcohol.
It's pretty much an anime version of Boardwalk Empire except supernatural elements are thrown in like an elixir of immortality that could be hidden among alcohol stashes. It's a good suspense anime even taking the setting out of the equation.
4 Maria The Virgin Witch - 7.18
If viewers can look past the fan service and the ecchi elements of Maria the Virgin Witch, its faithfulness to the time period it's inspired by is actually quite meticulous. Maria the Virgin Witch uses the Hundred Years' War setting that took place back in 1337 to 1453.
The Hundred Years' War was a conflict between French and English nobilities. Caught between the two sides is the benevolent witch Maria who wants to stop the war to save lives but her patrons have other plans for her which involve something about maintaining her virginity for that advocacy.
3 Altair: A Record Of Battles - 7.55
The reign of the Ottoman Empire is seldom depicted in cinema, much less in anime but Altair: A Record of Battles still did it and it did so with flying colors. It's a visually stunning anime take on life during the Ottoman Empire which lasted from the 14th and early 20th century.
Altair: A Record of Battles chronicles the story of Tuğril Mahmut, a young military officer who has vowed to protect his country from a neighboring empire's aggressive expansion which also involves plenty of assassination plots.
2 Vinland Saga - 8.74
Fancy an anime about Vikings? Vinland Saga is the perfect series then. It's a show that takes place around the Golden Age of the Viking era in Europe which is around 1000 A.D.
Vinland Saga's Viking protagonist, Thorfinn, witnesses his father's death at a very young age and he vowed to take revenge against the killer. What complicates matters is that the killer took Thorfinn under his wing raised him... so now Thorfinn wants an honorable duel to the death with his guardian but he has to grow up first while he helps Vikings invade England.
1 Grave Of The Fireflies - 8.51
Most anime based on wars and conflicts usually don't explore the more depressing side of warfare, which is why Grave of the Fireflies stands out with a humanitarian and gloomy take. The protagonists are the mere casualties of WWII-- Japanese civilians.
The anime film explores the chaos and inhumanity WWII wrought upon the once civil human beings through the eyes of two struggling children. Even the hardest of hearts will be brought to tears by this harrowing tale war casualties; it would be wise to pick an appropriate emotional state before watching it.
Summer of 2019 heated up in more ways than one when Fire Forceburst onto the summer anime season. Created by the same mangaka as the widely popular Soul Eater, Fire Force sees a high powered firefighting team in a world ravaged by flames as normal people spontaneously combust and become monstrous "Infernals".
Boasting action and great animation to cover it, it's no surprise that Fire Force got itself a second season that's currently on its way. Admittedly though, the anime got a mixed response from viewers, while there's plenty of things fans enjoyed about it, there were things that held others back from fully enjoying it. However, season two might just be able to play its cards right, as long as it adds more great stuff while avoiding some other pitfalls.
10 SHOULD HAVE: MORE GREAT OPENING & ENDING THEMES
If there's one thing that Fire Force had in spades, it was great opening and ending themes. Both "Inferno" and "MAYDAY" make for great high energy openings with great animation that help get viewers pumped to watch the anime. The endings, "Viel" and "Nounai" were also really good notes to close out each episode too, having a more stylized look to boot.
Obviously that's something the anime should keep on rolling with since a good opening can always grab a viewer's attention and a good ending can also leave a lasting impression on fans once the episode ends.
9 SHOULDN'T HAVE: ONE-NOTE CHARACTERS
Fire Force has some good characters making up its cast, the best of which have a distinct look and amazing power to go along with it. Sadly not all of them can be winners, and for the characters that are enjoyable to watch, there's just as many who don't leave much of an impression.
These characters tend to be one-note, really only having one trait or personality quirk which becomes their entire character. This isn't limited to side characters, but also villains (like Rekka) and even some of the main cast get this treatment. Hopefully, season two will rectify that, making some of these characters and new ones a little more well-rounded.
8 SHOULD HAVE: MORE CREATIVE USES OF PYROKINESIS
Firepower is not just limited to the Infernals, in fact, most of Fire Force's cast is packing some sort of fire-related ability. From Shinra's fancy footwork to Maki's flame manipulation, there are quite a few ways the Fire Force is able to literally fight fire with even more fire.
One would think this would make everyone's powers feel the same, but some characters deploy even more creative uses of pyrokinetic abilities. Arthur's plasma sword and Karim's "Thermoacoustic Refrigeration" are great examples of unique abilities that don't feel too similar to others. With the next season, there's bound to be even more unique ways to play with fire.
7 SHOULDN'T HAVE: INCONSISTENT TONE
It can be said that Fire Force sadly has something of a tone problem at times. The stakes of the Fire Force's missions are high stakes and often have a tragic element to it, but sometimes that feeling of sadness and dread gets thrown off by bits of comedy that's thrown in at the wrong times.
Comedy can be a great source of levity when a story is feeling heavy, but it works best if done in the right places. Action, drama, and comedy can all be something achieved in the same story, but there does have to be a balance between them. Unfortunately season one had moments that really suffered from an inconsistent tone, with comedy and drama elements fighting for dominance. Maybe the tone could be more focused in the upcoming season.
6 SHOULD HAVE: FOLLOWING UP REVELATIONS
Every good season finale has ground-shaking revelations for the characters and their world, and Fire Force definitely had a few as the first season began to wind down. The relationship between Sho, Shinra, and the Evangelist was revealed in the final episode in the season, as well as the true identity of the Infernal Shinra saw the night his house burned down actually being his mom.
With Sho still with the White-Clad and with the possibility that Shinra's mother could possibly be restored, season two already has a good throughline to bring viewers back and should follow up on those plot threads the last season set up.
5 SHOULDN'T HAVE: MORE WORN OUT CLICHES AND TROPES
If there's one thing Fire Force has been criticized for, it's an overreliance on certain anime cliches and tropes. With the amount of Shonen anime out there, there's a bunch that relies on familiar tropes, but Fire Force has quite a few of them throughout its first season, such as the "orphan protagonist" and lots of fan service.
With twenty-four episodes under Fire Force's belt in the first season, there was only so much time to flesh out certain characters. Obviously Shinra got the lion's share (being the protagonist) and a few others like Princess Hibana and Hinawa got some time in the spotlight too, but there were quite a few characters who barely got any time to shine at all.
Characters like Arthur and Maki who are favorites to some, don't get a lot of time to have their backstories elaborated on, and Tamaki hasn't done anything impressive since her debut. These are problems that the second season could fix by giving more time to flesh out characters and allow others some much-needed attention.
3 SHOULDN'T HAVE: STYLE OVER SUBSTANCE
Much like its predecessor, Soul Eater, Fire Force is dripping with a style that really makes it stand out among other action-oriented anime and it's quite possibly the show's best aspect. Action is very well choreographed, characters look distinct, even little details like body language and certain physical character quirks are firmly unique to this anime. As nice as that is though, there can be such a thing as too much style.
While Fire Force's unique kind of stylization is part of its identity, it should never be so overabundant that it drowns everything else out, especially not its story. At times Fire Force could be guilty of being too much style over substance, but perhaps next season it can strike more of a balance between the two.
2 SHOULD HAVE: BETTER PACING
Pacing is very important to a story, it should never be too slow, nor too fast, that way things feel like they develop organically. Sadly, Fire Force's pacing is one of its weaknesses, having a mad-dash pace that feels like it's trying to make it to the finish line as quickly as it can.
Many plot points, characters, and elements get thrown in left and right, very early on and the status quo is shaken up before the viewers are accustomed to what the status quo even is. As such, season one doesn't allow time in a lot of places for fans to sit on a certain detail for too long before the story gets moving again. Season two could benefit from a more even pace for the story's progression.
1 SHOULDN'T HAVE: POOR EXECUTION
With great action, an interesting world, and likable characters, Fire Force has the makings of a truly great anime that can stand out among the rest, just as Soul Eater did. The pieces are there, but even the best-laid plans can be ruined by poor execution.
Season one was in a good place when it started, but its weaknesses held it back from being widely beloved. It's sad to see an anime that had so much going for it before its premiere gets such mixed reactions, but the good thing about this is that it can learn from past mistakes.
In the Bleachanime, protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki gains the powers of a Soul Reaper via Rukia's zanpakuto, then goes on all kinds of adventures in the Soul Society, Hueco Mundo, and beyond. He and his friends clashed against the Soul Reaper Captains for a time, such as when Uryu came face to face with Mayuri Kurutsichi and later Kaname Tosen.
Kaname Tosen may not be the most powerful Captain, but he is an expert at using kido, and his zanpakuto, Suzumushi, boasts some truly unique powers. He and Gin Ichimaru joined Sosuke Aizen to take command of the Arrancars, and he even got his hands on holl0w abilities to use against Sajin Komamura. Kaname has vowed to fight injustice at all times, and his battlefield honor is what truly drives him. Here are ten cool cosplays of this remarkable character.
10 Cool Gaze
For the first entry in this gallery, the cosplayer is giving the camera a cool and calm look, based on his neutral expression and relaxed posture. Kaname Tosen isn't easily riled up, after all, and he prides himself on his discipline and generally pacifistic ways.
He's still a tough fighter, though, and he can intimidate his lesser enemies with a stern look if need be. This cosplayer's visor, meanwhile is a stylish one that's well polished and reflects his surroundings, and he chose a rather gritty filter to give this shot a supernatural edge.
9 Former Allies
Kaname left behind a number of former friends and allies when he and Gin ran off with Captain Aizen, and that included his own Lieutenant, Shuhei Hisagi of Squad 9. Shuhei was devastated when his much-admired Captain turned on the Soul Society like that.
In this cool cosplay shot, Kaname and Shuhei cross swords as mortal enemies, and the cosplayers chose a sunny and spacious place to do battle. They also made sure that their zanpakuto props caught the sunlight, just for extra style.
8 His New Look
When the three traitor Captains made their way to Las Noches to begin their operation they had a change of wardrobe to cut the last few ties they had to the Soul Society. No longer did they wear black robes or their haori coats with Squad numbers on them.
Kaname swapped out for a sleeveless outfit that included a new visor, and this cosplay provided two different angles for his new outfit, side and front. He also carries Kaname's zanpakuto, Suzumushi, and has an elaborate arm tattoo for some added visual flair.
7 Manga Cover
This next cosplay shot is an unusual one, since the subject isn't actually facing the camera. Instead, this shot is using a manga volume cover filter, and Bleach volumes tend to feature a single character on each cover.
So, Kaname Tosen is taking his turn,and he is clearly headed into battle since his head is bowed and his zanpakuto is being held in a battle-ready position. He's answering the call of duty to protect the Soul Society from those intruders, and nothing can stop him.
6 Cosmic Kaname
This next cosplay shot has some vivid and rich colors in it, and the cosplayer opted for an ethereal take on the character. He's posing on top of rippling sand dunes, probably to represent the infinite desert of Hueco Mundo.
Violet and blue hues fill up the negative space, as do a few celestial bodies that hover behind the subject. Kaname is battle-ready here too, crouched in a stable position and pointing Suzumushi right at the enemy. Whoever just invaded Hueco Mundo is going to pay a serious price for trespassing.
5 Twin Kanames
Many cosplayers opt to creatively reimagine a classic character with a different gender. Sometimes, cosplayers make a double shot like this one, and have it both ways.
To the left is Kaname Tosen's original look, with his Las Noches outfit and a fierce arm tattoo to match his sharp blade. To the right is a lady Tosen, who's looking good in a slightly modified outfit and a comfortable visor prop. Both versions are battle-ready.
4 Shadow Knight
Here is another cosplay shot that plays up the supernatural and ghostly tones of Bleach. This Kaname Tosen cosplayer didn't just don the Las Noches outfit; he also used some eerie shadow effects to reflect the grim nature of Hueco Mundo.
Kaname takes himself and his pursuit of justice seriously, and he's willing to dive right into the dark side of things for that quest. This cosplayer did a fine job portraying a grim and determined Tosen who is 100% business. This is the last thing any intruder in Las Noches wants to see.
3 Streamlined Look
Kaname Tosen has long hair that he carefully styles, and he's also known for his shiny visors to hide his sightless eyes. Still, he could always streamline a little, and experiment with a new look. That's what he did here.
This cosplayer imagined a Soul Society-era Kaname Tosen with some shorter hair and dark shades, though he's still got that classic orange scarf to add some color to his somber outfit. It's a good look, and those shades are nice and shiny.
2 Getting Serious
Kaname Tosen would rather not fight if he doesn't have a reason. That contradicts his idea of justice, and he'll also take measures against anyone (like Grimmjow) who fights just because it's fun. No purpose means no honor.
This cosplayer shows us a serious, "If I must" scene of the character, who has drawn Suzumushi and is about to perform a release with it. The blade is pointed down, making it clear that Kaname wants to use its kido-like ability rather than the cutting edge. Interestingly, Byakuya's Senbonzakura is put in a similar position when bankai is activated.
1 Gazing In Wonder
The final entry shows a Kaname Tosen who is symbolically looking all about (in a sense), trying to figure out his true role in the world. He is alone in the tranquil woodland, where no one can interrupt his deep introspection.
It should also be noted that the cosplayer blended elements of both of Kaname's outfits. He has the orange rope and the thin visor of his Las Noches outfit, but also his Soul Reaper robes. He is a man of two worlds, and is meditating on his role in each.
It's no secret that horrormanga fans have been disappointed with the last few anime seasons. Many of the top horror series have yet to have an anime adaptation announced. No matter how tame some of the series below are, it just seems like the industry doesn't want to put them on television.
The truth is, in the last few years, fans have been treated to a treasure trove of incredible horror manga that easily have better stories than shows like Mayoiga, which fell completely flat. Below are ten shows that horror manga fans want to see made into an anime.
10 Until Your Bones Rot
This is a pretty gruesome manga about a group of friends who committed murder when they were just kids. Every year they gather to say a pact over the body, but it seems to have gone missing this time. The kids find a phone and are put under the thumb of a serial killer.
They must do as he says in order to get the bones of their victim back, no matter what the cost.
9 Shibuya Goldfish
The title says it all; this is a horror manga about giant goldfish invading Tokyo. The main character Hajime watches as the creatures gobble up humans and must find ways to survive. Despite the strange premise, the manga can be unsettling at times, especially when the fish are gobbling down humans.
While the show would likely need time to be taken seriously, it's a solid story.
8 Platinum End
Platinum End is actually a series fans ofDeath Note should be excited for. It's written by the same author and drawn by the same artist that worked with him on his previous titles. The series revolves around humans who are thrown into a game to become God.
The catch is that only one person can become God, and the easiest way to achieve this goal is to kill off the competition.
7 Phantom Tales of The Night
This is a series that has the same vibes as the famous Hell Girl anime. Phantom Tales of the Night takes place at an inn in the spiritual world ran by a man simply known as the Innkeeper. The innkeeper takes in tired souls in exchange for learning their darkest secrets.
As one might guess, once you visit the inn, it's very unlikely that you will ever be able to leave.
6 Real Account
Real Account is a horror isekai that has the main character Ataru sucked into a virtual world. Ataru, along with countless other victims, must try their best to gain followers in order to keep from dying. Not only do they need to take part in ridiculous games, but if they hit zero followers, they die.
As an added rule, if someone with followers gets killed in a game, then they all die as well.
5 Ito Junji no Neko Nikki: Yon & Mu
You probably know who Junji Ito is by now since he is the most famous horror mangaka. Yon & Mu is a great book that follows the tales of the real-life, Junji Ito, as he faces a real-world terror, cats. As it turns out, adjusting to life with furry creatures that like to scare you isn't all that easy.
Yon & Mu show just how talented he is at making a great horror-themed story out of just about anything.
4 Happiness
Happiness is about a young boy named Makoto who is attacked by a vampire. Now that he has gotten bitten, everything in his life is turning upside down as he awakens to his new powers. Even worse, if he doesn't accept the new vampire lifestyle, then he is to be killed.
Happiness takes a more realistic look at the world of vampires and what it would mean to turn into a monster.
3 Ibitsu
Ibitsu is a horrifying ghost tale that will leave you feeling unsettled. The story follows Kazuki, who unknowingly agrees to be a ghost's big brother. He soon finds that the little girl he talked to on the street has found her way into his room and is likely plotting to take the place of his actual sister.
Kazuki must figure out a way to save himself and his sister before it's too late.
2 Franken Fran
Franken Fran is a horror-comedy than revolves around a girl named Fran. After being left unattended, she decides to use the mad scientist lab to make her own creations. This is in an attempt to help out the humans around her, but Fran doesn't exactly understand how they work.
Things, of course, go south, even though Fran only wants to help.
1 I Am A Hero
This is a story about a manga author who finds himself in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. Suzuki must learn how to deal with this new world, and the story slowly reveals where the zombie came from. If you're looking for a realistic story about survival and zombies, then this is the perfect choice.
I am a Hero has realistic characters that you can find yourself relating to.
What Marvel has managed to accomplish with the Marvel Cinematic Universeis unbelievable in so many different ways. It is one of the biggest achievements in the history of cinema, with incredible quality movies and characters intertwined for a series of epic experiences for fans.
However, superhero movies have not always been as well looked upon as they are now thanks to entities like the MCUand The Dark Knight, and that is for a good reason, before the MCU, Marvel produced some movies of which both they and fans would prefer to forget the existence.
10 The Punisher (1989)
The Punisheris one of those properties that comes up time and time again, with Dolph Lundgren's outing as the ex-cop turned vigilante being the worst of the worst.
The low budget flick robbed the character of many of his most exciting aspects, with a weak script, wooden acting, unexciting action, and overall poor quality, Marvel will be keen for fans to forget the Punisher had lows like this.
9 X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
Speaking of properties that keep popping up, X-Menhas done a far better job quality-wise in that regard. However, the low point of the franchise was the third of what was to that point a phenomenal trilogy in The Last Stand.
It got done poorly in just about every conceivable way, to the point that it got erased from the timeline in a future - and a far better - movie. If that is not a signal that Marvel wants it forgotten about just as much as fans do, what is?
8 Daredevil (2003)
Long before Batfleck was born into the pop culture zeitgeist, Ben Affleck donned the spandex in an infamously bad Marvel film, Daredevil.
Before the excellent Netflix series came along, Daredevil got butchered with his villains treated awfully, Elektra likewise, in a movie that attempted to piggyback its action off the success of The Matrix, failing miserably and adding to the laundry list of issues with the film.
7 Elektra (2005)
Perhaps even worse than that, though, and another incredibly stupid film Marvel would want to forget sooner than later is the spin-off to Daredevil, Elektra.
Despite dying in the previous film, Elektra simply just got resurrected in this flick, becoming a paid assassin afterward. With no sign of Daredevil, terrible use of Stick and the Hand, Elektra joins Catwomanas an early-2000s butchering of the potential of good, female-led films.
6 Dr. Strange (1978)
Long, long before his crucial role in the MCU under the brilliance of Benedict Cumberbatch, Doctor Strange appeared in a T.V. movie in the late-70s. It was admittedly not as awful in quality as others on this list, but extremely forgettable, probably for the best.
What can get done today with the character is worth the wait, so it is best to forget this film, which takes some significant liberties with the character's origins that, if done today, would suffer some insane backlash.
5 Captain America (1990)
Speaking of subpar T.V. movies that are hard to believe existed in comparison to the movies given to the hero in the MCU, the 1990 Captain Americasucks.
There are aspects that stay true to the comics, but they do nothing to make up for the awfulness of the overall filmmaking and acting, nor the parts that defy the comics. It is nonsensical, clearly made by people with absolutely zero clue about the characters or comics, shown by its 7% on Rotten Tomatoes.
4 Hulk (2003)
Ang Lee's 2003 effort with Hulk had so much potential, both in terms of the effects side of things and in terms of the story. However, precisely zero of that potential got fulfilled.
The movie looked more like a video game than a film, and not in a good way. It did OK at the box office but was once again made by people without a clue about comic books. The CGI holds up truly awfully; emotional depth is non-existent replaced by action, which itself is not enjoyable.
3 Ghost Rider (2007)
The Nicholas Cage led Ghost Ridermovies are pretty much a pair of abominations as far as comic book films go. The second entry in 2011 simply amplified everything wrong with this first entry from 2011.
The character is one of the most brutal in the comics. Yet this film is thrown together with cheesy dialogue, a blob of weak CGI action and violence, focusing on all the wrong things with a very questionable decision with Nicholas Cage, a decision only made worse by the lack of quality in the story.
2 Nick Fury: Agent Of S.H.I.E.L.D. (1998)
Yeas before the always iconic Samuel L. Jackson donned the eyepatch and badassery of Nick Fury, the Hoff, David Hasselhoff brought the character to life in a mess of a movie.
Contrasting in pretty much every way with the quality of another movie that came out in 1998, Blade, this flick has terrible production value hidden behind awful lighting. It also has some abysmal performances, lousy writing, and a straight-up bad plot. Samuel L. Jackson has thankfully done Marvel a favor by wiping this movie from the active consciousness of fans.
1 Every Fantastic Four Film
In 1994, 2005, and 2007 (as well as a slap bang in the middle of the MCU's success flick in 2015), Marvel produced four poor Fantastic Fourfilms that, before their inevitable introduction to the MCU, Marvel wants fans to forget about.
It is pretty amazing this property has never gotten a decent movie, with the 1994 movie being nothing more than the retention of the rights of the property. The pair in the mid-2000s are better but very bland with little emotion, no drama, and poor character development, as well as a Galactus that fans simply will not forgive.
Hamilton, according to its creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, is the "story of America then, told by America now." America now is a time and place of anxiety-inducing uncertainty and deeply felt political divisions that threaten to erupt into unrest at any moment. America then wasn't much different, and Hamilton, with its decidedly unstuffy approach to turning the stuff of textbooks into living history, makes that refreshingly clear. But the multi-award-winning musical phenomenon moves fast, which doesn't give audiences much time to decipher lyrics and catch up. These are some of the key moments in the musical that are also key moments in the country's founding.
Though Hamilton technically covers the entire life of the country's first Secretary of the Treasury (and then some), most of the on-stage action takes place between Alexander Hamilton's emergence on the political and military scene in 1775 and his infamous death in 1804. An early song ("Farmer Refuted") borrows from Hamilton's second published work of the same name, in which he argued for more meaningful independence from British rule, even if that meant war. The farmer in question was Samuel Seabury, who wrote under the pen name A.W. Farmer and believed that the colonies could remain peaceably loyal to England while maintaining their own separate governance. Such was the ideological battle that led up to the American Revolution; it's important to remember that then, as now, opinion wasn't uniform.
The first act illustrates consequential moments in actual battles of the latter half of the Revolutionary War. Two years into the fighting, the British had General George Washington and his Continental Army on the defensive, waiting out a hard winter at Valley Forge. England's General Sir William Howe had captured Philadelphia (the strategy and series of battles was called The Philadelphia Campaign) which he thought would force the Continental Army to give up its cause.
Throughout much of the conflict, things looked bleak for the Colonies. A sorely-needed victory at Saratoga helped turn the tide, and inspired more colonists to join the Continental Army. But it wasn't until the French joined the Colonies' forces, at the behest of Benjamin Franklin, that the war became winnable. This culminated in the Battle of Yorktown -- the musical's first act climax -- in which Washington, Hamilton and the Marquis de Lafayette defeated an unsuspecting General Cornwallis. He surrendered, and Yorktown was the last significant battle, but the war went on for nearly two more years until America officially secured its freedom with the Treaty of Paris.
Independence meant America was no longer King George III's problem, so unresolved issues like slavery, taxation and debt -- and whether to intercede on France's behalf in its own revolution -- were left to the men who'd come out of the war as America's leaders. But before those topics could be debated (and Hamilton debates them via a trilogy of rapped "Cabinet Battles"), America had to establish itself as an official nation, which proved difficult.
In 1787, many of the men we now consider founding fathers met to discuss the merits of various systems of representative government at the Constitutional Convention. It's easy to look back on the drafting of the Constitution as if it was the product of divine intervention, but the colonists that emigrated to the Americas didn't necessarily intend to establish a utopia for all, just a country in which they could call the shots and wield the power.
Some attendees (including Hamilton) favored something that resembled Britain's own system, and supported lifelong terms for democratically elected officials and a strong central government. Others favored something that functioned more like a second draft of the Articles of Confederation, which loosely bound the states together and left much unsaid. The compromise solution was America's government as it's currently organized, with three separate branches and a bicameral legislature.
Now, those founding fathers had to get the okay from the citizenry. Hamilton (along with James Madison and John Jay) proved that his pen was indeed mightier than his sword with his authorship of the Federalist Papers, a series of 85 essays meant to convince the public to support ratification of the new Constitution. Hamilton used the platform to tell Americans that good government doesn't happen by accident. That liberty and prosperity are the result of hard work, sound decision making, give and take, and perseverance.
We all know how the story ends, or so we think. Washington becomes President, then (crucially) cedes his office. Hamilton's killed by Aaron Burr in a petty duel. But between those two well-known events on the American timeline, Hamilton also essentially invented American economic policy, started the Coast Guard, continued to lobby for Federalist policies and struck deals that shaped the political landscape as we know it today. It's enough to fill several volumes, but it's all there in Hamilton if you listen closely.
Directed by Thomas Kail, Hamilton stars Lin Manuel-Miranda, Daveed Diggs, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Leslie Odom, Jr., Christopher Jackson, Jonathan Groff, Phillipa Soo, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Anthony Ramos, Okieriete Onaodowan and more. The recorded performance is currently streaming on Disney+.
Some of the most popular isekai series are Konosuba and Re: Zero. Both shows feature several female leads that have tons of fans behind them. Aqua and Emilia are both two of the main girls from their show and even appear together in the series Isekai Quartet.
While the two shows have a totally different feel, it isn't hard to see why fans of Aqua and Emilia may cross over. The real question that is on everybody's mind is who is the best character out of the two. Below are five reasons why Aqua is the best choice and five reasons that Emilia may be better.
10 Aqua: Sense Of Humor
Aqua can be pretty useless in some battles, but she has tons of party tricks to cheer you up with. Aqua is great at helping Kazuma kick back after a busy day by just being herself. The water goddess is one of the funniest characters on the show and often finds herself in the middle of most jokes.
One thing that is made clear in Konosuba is that Aqua isn't that smart. Aqua doesn't seem to understand even some of the most basic of concepts and gets herself into trouble time after time. Emilia, on the other hand, is a candidate for being royalty who is well studied.
While Emilia may not be as powerful as Aqua is, she is much smarter.
8 Aqua: Can Revive The Dead
Aqua has the ability to bring back the dead, which in the world of Re: Zero would be extremely interesting. This ability is used several times to resurrect fallen adventurous and even pull Kazuma back to the world of the living, no matter what condition his body was in.
She even completely patches him up, so it looks like nothing ever happened.
7 Emilia: Has Puck
Puck is one of the coolest sidekicks in isekai and is willing to accompany Emilia just about anywhere. The two come as a package thanks to their unique ability to be extremely effective in battle when together. Watching them fight in the anime is fun, it's almost incredible how powerful this duo can be.
Aqua is much better at supporting her allies with magic than Emilia is. Aqua is not only able to resurrect like mentioned above, but she can also heal or provide a cold beverage to those around her. As long as Aqua is around the party, she is with won't be able to be easily defeated.
We don't even know if Aqua is able to be destroyed or not, as she never seems to really get hurt.
5 Emilia: Better At Fighting Monsters
Emilia is much more equipped for fighting monsters than Aqua. Aqua can barely take down a beginner level toad, much less any of the danger that lurks in Re: Zero. Emilia may not make it in every scenario, but for the most part, she can hold her own in the world.
As the series goes along, Emilia even gets more skilled at fighting.
4 Aqua: Can Purify Anything
Aqua has the unique ability to purify most anything that is tainted. She is shown purifying several water sources and claims that the water she creates has special properties. In addition, undead enemies will seek her out in order to try to obtain a way to move on to the next life.
While Aqua hates being popular with the undead, she has a pretty impressive ability.
3 Emilia: Cares For Her Allies
Emilia is more caring than Aqua is, most likely due to Aqua's lack of intelligence in many cases. Emilia is very gentle with Subaru, especially considering the amount of time that she believes the two have spent together. She even stepped in to help him during the first episode of the show.
Emilia is kind and gentle; she always makes sure that those around her are taken care of.
2 Aqua: Wields Water Magic
Aqua wields water magic beyond her simple magic tricks. In the battle against the Dullahan, it is revealed that Aqua has flood level water magic. This impressive spell lets her unleash a devastating spell on the field that can easily wipe out both her enemies and any nearby towns.
Aqua continues to grow during the show, while she isn't shown using much powerful magic, it's highly likely she has more spells she doesn't think to use.
1 Emilia: Wields Ice Magic
Emilia uses ice magic in order to fight her battles. While her ice isn't as powerful as a flood, she is a lot more strategic with her attacks. Her ice crystals can be lethal to enemies who dare to cross her. Emilia even gets more powerful as the series goes on, making her a much better fighter by the end.
Emilia is a much more skilled fighter but doesn't have the same amount of raw power that Aqua probably does.
Pennyworthis an origin story quite unlike anything else DC has produced. Rather than it leading to the final reveal of the superhero, it really is more based on a very human and non-powered character from the Batman mythos. The series explores Alfred Pennyworth's early days with Thomas Wayne and the criminality he had to deal with.
It's a formula that perhaps Marvel could actually learn from. There's plenty of non-powered characters in the MCU that haven't really had their backstories explored. There may be an opportunity to replicate the success of Pennyworth but with that trademark Marvel twist.
10 Sharon Carter
Sharon Carter's early days with S.H.I.E.L.D. haven't been very well documented. Fans know that in the context of the MCU she was incredibly inspired by her aunt Peggy.
Although Sharon will be appearing on Disney+ soon, there's definitely room for some kind of espionage based show, perhaps titled Agent 13. It would give this Carter the spotlight she so rightly deserves.
9 Misty Knight
Part-time cop, part-time vigilante, there's a lot to learn about Misty Knight. While she has become defined by her time with Luke Cage there's certainly an opportunity to look at her early days as a police officer, before she lost an arm.
It could feature previous allies such as Brigid O'Reilly, before she transitions into the character known as Mayhem. It would be an interesting look at the future hero for hire, playing on tropes from the police genre.
8 Stan Lee
One of the things Stan Lee was most proud of was his cameos across the Marvel films. He always said he deserved a starring role and he'd likely be honored to get one in the form of a prequel show.
It will be difficult to find an actor that could truly portray the heart and soul of Stan Lee, but following the character of Stan Lee during his early days in the MCU could be a fun trip through the Marvel Universe as he joins the Watchers on their mission.
7 Phil Coulson
Phil Coulson has been featured heavily thanks to the TV side of the MCU, but his early days aren't that well established. He's been seen helping Nick Fury track down Captain Marvel, but his past before this is unknown.
An early days Coulson, who's just discovering this world of heroes and becomes a collector of their artifacts, could be a really fun way to tie the universe together and could even jettison into other franchises like the Invaders.
6 Okoye
Okoye is the fierce leader of the Dora Milaje, the tough group of warriors that defend the King of Wakanda and their nation. Her job is an incredibly important one that she had to have learned.
A series set in Wakanda, with Okoye getting trained in the military and in international missions, would be a completely unique way to spotlight the character and some more of her nation's culture.
5 Maria Hill
Maria Hill is known for playing second fiddle to Nick Fury. It's time she stepped out of the shadows. There's a period where she's not working for Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. has collapsed. It will be great to see that iteration of Maria Hill.
In the comics Hill is a leader in her own right. She took on the director role of S.H.I.E.L.D. and even headed up the Secret Warriors for a time. There's a lot more to this character that has barely been explored.
4 Clint Barton
There will be a Hawkeye based TV show coming to Disney+, but that's only going to explore his time as Ronin and his days training a brand new Hawkeye, Kate Bishop.
But what about before his days as an Avenger. Apart from brief glimpses battling Thor and a few nods to his partnership with Black Widow, very little is known about the MCU version of the archer. A Pennyworth-esque show could solve that.
Wilson was given his trademark wings during his days in the military, after all, so it would be compelling to see that journey unfold and his transition into becoming a hero.
2 Lady Sif
Lady Sif has been off on adventures while Asgard is getting destroyed and fans need to know where she's been! The Asgardian warrior is certainly not afraid of a fight.
The series could take Sif to different parts of Earth or maybe even into the galaxy as she tries to assimilate into each location and help the local population.
1 Luis
While Ant-Man and The Wasp are excellent partners, no one can really rival Scott Lang's crew. Specifically, the leader of the group, Luis. He's street smart, an entrepreneur, a former criminal, and absolutely hilarious.
A show simply titled 'Luis' is all fans really need. It probably doesn't even need a trailer and there would still be fantastic ratings. The adventures of Luis, his van, and his bad luck could take audiences to peculiar corners of the MCU.
Just last week, DC Universe released the closing chapter of Harley Quinn’s second season. Although it’s unclear if the series will continue on, it’s the perfect time to reflect upon what they gave us in the show’s sophomore outing. It undoubtedly raised the stakes story-wise after last season, but its best moments are those that directly focus on Harley Quinn’s journey to self-acceptance.
Keep in mind, all the following episodes are special in their own right, but some deserve more recognition than others.
10 BACHELORETTE
As with most shows that deal with an impending marriage, there is always that one episode dedicated to the Bachelorette party. In this case, Harley plans an extravagant, action-packed getaway for Ivy and the few friends she has. Although Kite-Man has a party of his own, Ivy's is undoubtedly the highlight of the episode. Although some of the crew's antics on Themyscira can get ridiculous, it's evident they wanted to take the time to evolve Harley and Ivy's relationship in a pretty drastic way.
Their feelings for each other reach a climax, however, it ends with Ivy ultimately rejecting Harley. It's a moment that heavily affects the road to the finale, and even though fans knew where the journey would lead, things felt helplessly dire for their relationship.
9 BATMAN'S BACK MAN
Besides the hilarious opening, which is no doubt a highlight, the episode featured the return of this show's version of the Dark Knight. It’s a pretty self-contained story that focused on the Bat-family in an extremely comedic light compared to any other version of the characters. It was a breath of fresh air and a good break from the typical madness of Harley’s adventures.
Even if though it ultimately doesn't impact the over-arching storyline as much as it should've, but there's no doubt the people behind-the-scenes have a knack for taking beloved characters and turning them upside down.
8 INNER (PARA) DEMONS
After Harley's intimate encounter with Ivy, she sets out to prove to herself that it meant nothing by falling to her evil desires. This leads her to Darkseid, who she makes a deal with in order to conquer Earth using his demonic army. Although she does go overboard and causes the deaths of hundreds, she realizes her mistake by finally attempting to reconcile with her feelings Ivy.
It's likely that on the list of things people had been expecting from this season, Harley becoming a New God was very low or entirely absent on that list. However, the final product is one of the craziest episodes of the series as it blends the crazy high-concept villains of Apokolips and the zany, Gotham-orientated cast of characters.
7 DYE HARD
“Dye Hard" introduced who would serve as the season's ultimate physical adversary for the squad, and it was a doozy. Doctor Psycho, who felt like he was being held back by Harley and her antics, decides to turn on the team and attempt world domination with the help of Darkseid's loyal army. However, the twist didn't come out of anywhere as Psycho always served as the coldest member of the group and consistently showed interest in pursuing his evil desires.
Although the series was still mostly concerned with Harley's love life, this episode raised the stakes for the season in a way that felt well-earned. It set up an exciting set of final episodes that helped the story come full circle from the very first season.
6 ALL THE BEST INMATES HAVE DADDY ISSUES
In the series' first flashback episode, fans finally saw how Harley, Ivy, and Joker met in Arkham Asylum years beforehand. It's an entertaining, reconfigured origin for their relationships that builds the foundation of what we've gotten in the show so far with a lot of twist and turns. It was clear that Ivy and Harley shared a connection long before Harley made it official with the Clown Prince of Crime.
Although it's a bit surprising that this has been the only flashback episode thus far, "All The Best Inmates Have Daddy Issues" is a clear love letter to Batman: The Animated Series and arrives at the perfect time during the season. If a third season is greenlit, more episodes like this one will surely be welcomed.
5 THAWING HEARTS
Up until "Thawing Hearts", the focus of this season was primarily Harley's superficial goal of conquering New Gotham. That made for an entertaining first few episodes, but it was this one that kicked things into high gear for our favorite anti-heroine. In perhaps one of the most emotionally resonant scenes of the series, Mr. Freeze is shown sacrificing himself for the love of life, impacting Harley's view on the validity of love.
After this moment, it was clear the show was far more interested in the titular character's acceptance of her own feelings than her villainous quest for domination.
4 LOVERS' QUARREL
In the penultimate chapter of the season, Doctor Psycho makes his last push for world domination. This includes pitting Ivy against Harley in a brawl that'll decide the fate of the world, which ends with the confirmation that the latter is meant to be with the bride-to-be.
It's an action-filled episode that could've easily served as a season finale. Thankfully, the cliffhanger only leads into the finale episode, which ensures that fans won't leave the season unsatisfied.
3 A FIGHT WORTH FIGHTING FOR
Featuring a Harley and Joker team-up, this action-packed chapter is filled with satisfying moments that call back to the first season. Even though Harley is initially hesitant in partnering up with the person responsible for a lot of her trauma, it becomes as cathartic for her as it is for the audience.
Utilizing their trademark gory action sequences, the result is one of the most entertaining episodes of the series. From the Joker reemerging from a vat of acid to the return of the Book of Fables, "A Fight Worth Fighting For" brings everything full circle.
2 THERE'S NO PLACE TO GO BUT DOWN
In quite possibly the funniest episode of the series, everyone's favorite villain, Bane, takes in both Harley and Ivy to the pit Two-Face promised him. However, this isn't the dour prison seen in The Dark Knight Rises, Bane has taken upon himself to create a safe space for the criminally insane. In addition to the hilariousness that ensues, the episode includes a major turning point for the season when Harley and Ivy share their first kiss.
Serving as the midpoint of the season, "There's No Place To Go But Down" is just one of many near-perfect episodes this sophomore outing had in store.
1 THE RUNAWAY BRIDESMAID
As far as season finales go, it's hard to imagine a superior conclusion to the storyline. After Ivy's final attempt at saving her relationship with Kite-Man falls through, Harley proves herself once again as being the one person who'll always have her back. It was the ending everyone expected, but it doesn't take away from how satisfying it felt to those who have been waiting for this moment since the first season.
Add the fact Commissioner Gordon is up to his usual shenanigans, the final episode packs the punch that it needs. A third season would be ideal, but if it doesn't come to fruition, "The Runaway Bridesmaid" is exactly what audiences have been clamoring.
The Teen Titans were the first teenage superteam and set the standard for every one to come after it. The team has gone through a lot of changes over the years, usually combining known sidekick characters with newer teenage superheroes. The current incarnation combines sidekicks Damian Wayne and Kid Flash with new characters like Red Arrow, Djinn, Roundhouse, and Crush.
The Titans' greatest enemy has always been Deathstroke and in his schemes to destroy the team, he brought together the villainous Titans East - Batgirl (Cassandra Cain), Bombshell, Duela Dent, Enigma, Inertia, Kid Crusader, Match, Risk, and Sun Girl. This team was meant to trump the Titans of the time and is full of powerful individuals. So which team has the better line-up - the Teen Titans or Titans East?
11 Teen Titans: They Have A Genie
Djinn being on the Teen Titans is kind of weird. She looks like she's a teenager, but she's actually 4000 years old. Damian Wayne is known for being meticulous about things, so it's weird that he'd make the mistake of putting a 4000 year old on a teenage team.
However, when one looks at just how much power Djinn brings to the team, it's easy to see why he made that mistake - she can shapeshift, teleport, fly, and manipulate reality to an extent. With power look that, it makes sense that Damian would overlook a little thing like age.
10 Titans East: They Have Captain Atom Jr.
Created using the same alien quantum metal that gave Captain Atom his amazing powers, Bombshell is easily one of the most powerful members of the Titans East. She's super strong, invulnerable, can fly, and fire powerful blasts of energy. She can also use that energy to scramble people's minds and control electromagnetic technology.
She was also trained by the US military, meaning on top of being amazingly powerful, she's also a very skilled fighter who has been trained to use her powers tactically.
9 Teen Titans: Play Ball!
Roundhouse seems super lame at first look - he can change his shape into a ball. With powers like those, visions of one of the more useless members of the Legion Of Superheroes, Bouncing Boy, dance through the air. However, he can turn into of ball of just about anything, like fire, ice, or iron, making his powers much more useful.
When in ball form he's much stronger and faster and his durability is amazing - dude was able to withstand a nuclear blast. He's way more than meets the eye.
8 Titans East: Some Solid Second Stringers
Deathstroke put a lot of powerful people in the Titans East, but he also included some less powerful members as well. These less powerful members were Duela Dent, Enigma, and Kid Crusader. Duela Dent was known as Joker's Daughter and was a highly skilled combatant, Enigma was Riddler's daughter and nearly as talented as her father at riddles, and Kid Crusader brought occult skills to the table.
While these three aren't the greatest, they bring solid skills to the table.
7 Teen Titans: Queen Of The Bow
The current Red Arrow is Emiko Queen, daughter of Green Arrow's father Robert Queen and the ninja assassin Shado. Her mother started her training when she was very young; she's an expert martial artist and is a natural with her bow and arrow.
Her acrobatic skills allow her to dodge just about any attacks and her half brother admitted that she was a better archer than he is. She may not have any superpowers but she's still one of the most dangerous teenage superheroes around.
6 Titans East: Faux Boy Of Steel
Deathstroke was pulling out all the stops when he was creating the Titans East and needed someone who could go toe to toe with heavy hitters like Wonder Girl, Cyborg, and Starfire. He was able to get his hands on Match, who was a clone of the at the time dead Superboy.
While not as powerful as Superboy, he was still a formidable threat and one that would be very hard to deal with for the current team.
5 Teen Titans: Justice Like Lightning
Kid Flash is easily one of the most powerful members of the Teen Titans. Empowered by the Speed Force, Wallace West is the cousin of the first Kid Flash and the third Flash, Wally West, and was trained to use his powers by Barry Allen.
Kid Flash is probably the fastest Kid Flash to ever wear the costume, mastering Speed Force abilities that it took the other Kid Flashes longer to learn. He's even been able to push past the speed of light already. Kid Flash's power gives him a huge advantage over just about any non-speedster he fights.
4 Titans East: Flash Killer
Inertia is a clone of Bart Allen, the second Kid Flash and fourth Flash. However, unlike Bart, Inertia can't tap into the Speed Force. Instead, his abilities allow him to manipulate the flow of time around him - he's technically moving at regular speed but is slowing down time so much that he's moving much faster than those around him.
This ability has allowed him to outclass the fastest Flash, Wally West. He even led the Rogues in a battle against Bart when he was the Flash, killing him. In Inertia, Deathstroke has the perfect anti-Kid Flash weapon.
3 Teen Titans: Son Of The Bat
Damian Wayne is the current Robin and probably one of the most skilled people to wear the costume. The son of Batman and Talia al Ghul, he was trained from birth to be a peerless combatant, skilled tactician, and shrewd detective. Damian's only weakness is his arrogance but he has the skills to back his boasts up most of the time.
He's not much of a people person, but he's a great leader and has led the current incarnation of the Teen Titans well.
2 Titans East: Two Of The Best Fighter Ever
The Titans East are led by Deathstroke and Batgirl, Cassandra Cain, and that duo is going to be a big problem for any team even without any help. Deathstroke's superhuman physical abilities make him tough, but it's his amazing brainpower that makes him so dangerous - he uses 90% of his brain.
Batgirl was trained by some of the greatest martial artists in the world and is easily their equal, if not superior. Although Deathstroke was using a drug to control her, it didn't impede her amazing fighting skills.
1 Winner: Titans East
The new roster of Teen Titans is very powerful, with members like Djinn, Kid Flash, and Crush (Lobo's daughter) acting as heavy hitters for the group. However, Deathstroke built his team to counter one of the most powerful Teen Titans line-up of them all and the current team just can't stand up to the kind of power the Titans East bring to the table. Combined that with Deathstroke's tactical acumen and the Titans East are superior.
The gorgeous genre of anime is as explosive as it is elaborate — tackling complex matters such as psychology, philosophy, and sociocultural norms. Among the common trends utilized is mythology, specifically sourced from the ancient religions of Hinduism and Buddhism.
Eastern folklore is exquisitely reshaped into the genre's moldings, taking the form of characters or concepts, which often symbolize the aspects indicated in the respective mythology. Here are ten examples of popular anime in which these themes are not only present, but prevalent.
10 Noragami: Bishamonten
Noragami's Bishamonten is part of the pantheon of the Gods of Fortune, specifically presiding over warfare. She is a gentle soul, but tries her hardest to express her martial personality in order to be taken seriously. Bishamonten is based on one of the Four Heavenly Kings in Mahayana Buddhism, who are beings dedicated to safeguarding the Buddha.
She is a reimagination of Vaiśravana, the weaponized (male) deity of war and the punisher of sinners. He is usually depicted holding a pagoda and a spear in either hand, indicating his role in protecting the celestial temple.
9 One Piece: Vinsmoke Judge
The head of the Vinsmoke family, and ruler of Germa, the Science Kingdom, is Judge. He also goes by the name Garuda, a bird or human-bird hybrid in Hindu tradition. Garuda is the first bird in existence, and by extension, the ruler of all avian creatures.
He is the mount of Lord Vishnu, one of the most important Gods in the triumvirate (that includes Brahma and Shiva). In fact, Garuda is said to be so powerful that the slightest flutter of his wings can prevent the earth, heaven, and hell from spinning about their axes.
8 Bleach: Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō
Bleach is packed with references to spirituality, starting with the Shinigami themselves. Captain Komamura's final bankai stage, however, is gigantic humanoid wrapped in jet-black ropes — the name of which translates directly to "The Heavenly Punishment of the Vidyaraja of Kalasutra."
Vidyaraja is a reference to the Wisdom Kings, guardian spirits tasked with defending the Wisdom Buddhas. The Kalasutra, on the other hand, is associated with the black thread that condemns sinners to a burning Hell composed of red-hot copper.
7 Fate/Apocrypha: Lancer Of Red
One of the most powerful characters in Fate/Apocrypha is Lancer of Red, who also goes by Karna, a crucial character in the Mahabharata (one of the two major Hindu Epics.) Karna is the firstborn son of Kunti, who abandons him by a river to avoid being considered an "impure" woman as she has him out of wedlock.
He spends most of his life seeking vengeance against his legitimate brothers, the Pandavas, allying with the evil Kauravas even though he is a morally upright person. Interestingly, both versions of Karna appear with a set of golden armor wrapped around their bodies, each offering invulnerability against most attacks.
6 Berserk: Rakshas
One of the longest running manga in history, Berserk's Rakshas is a strange character who is banished by the Kushans (an actual Indo-Greek clan who ruled parts of South Asia almost two millennia ago.)
The anime Rakshas is a villainous entity, choosing to murder and torture people to satisfy his craven desires. He is based on the demonic beasts called Rakshasas, who are said to be horrifically cruel and self-serving, several of whom play major antagonists in the Hindu Epics.
5 Naruto: Chakra
The powers in Naruto ultimately derive from the Chakra, originally obtained via Otsutsuki's consumption of the fruits of the God Tree. The spiritual force of the Chakra is controlled by the Eight Gates, which prevent users from overdoing it during combat.
The term originates in Hinduism, and is ascribed to the seven spiritual centers in the anatomy, from the forehead to the tailbone. They are employed in various meditative techniques, the most important one being Tantra, wherein energy can be transposed in complex ways.
4 Hunter x Hunter: 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva
The most powerful of all Nen techniques, and the most difficult to wield, is Netero's Guanyin Bodhisattva. With roots in the Shaivite branch of Hinduism, this deity is also known as the Avalokiteśwara With The Thousand Arms.
In Chinese tradition, it is referred to as the Guanyin, a female Bodhisattva known best for her aspects of compassion and universal love. Unlike Netero, who uses his ability to destroy his opponents, the many arms of the Guanyin symbolize her intention to help all those in need, irrespective of how many devotees seek her blessings.
3 Yu Yu Hakusho: King Enma
Enma is the Japanese God of Death in the series, but also in Japanese Buddhism. Sourced from the Hindu God of Death, Yama, Enma is the final judge for a soul seeking to enter heaven. He attains this status after becoming the first human who endures the pain of death.
Although his appearance is fierce, his nature is gentle — his justice is tempered with mercy in accordance with Dharma, and those who meet him cannot but admire his grace and elegance.
2 DanMachi: Ganesha
In DanMachi, or Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?, Ganesha is a colorful character who wears an elephant mask and decks himself in fancy jewelry. The original authentic Ganesha is an important Hindu God with the head of an elephant attached to a human body.
As the son of Parvathi and Lord Shiva, he is considered the most intelligent being in the universe, so much so that he single-handedly writes the Mahabharata (24,000 verses and almost a million words), almost as quickly as dictated by its author, Veda Vyasa.
1 Kuroshitsuji: Agni
Kuroshitsuji, a.k.a. Black Butler, is partially set in Bengal, India. One of its main characters is Agni, one of Prince Soma's most dutiful servants. He is based on the God of Fire in Hinduism, who also goes by the same name (the word agni literally means "fire".)
Agni is one of the most ancient deities who still remains prominent today, usually being invoked during rituals that involve fire, which is pretty much every single one. He is known to manifest himself in various forms, including lighting and the sun.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Harley Quinn Season 2, Episode 13, "The Runaway Bridesmaid," now streaming on DC Universe.
DC Universe's Harley Quinn has reimagined classic comic characters in a way that's refreshing yet stays true to their essences. With Season 2 wrapped and high hopes for a Season 3, it would be a great opportunity to introduce new heroes and villains, like the ones listed below, from the DC canon, giving them the comedic, violent and honest treatment characters like Harley, Ivy and others have received in the show
The New 52 introduced an unexpected heroic duo between Power Girl and Harley Quinn, spawning a mini-series written by Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner and art by Stephane Roux. This series showed that despite being opposites, the two are comedy gold. The series also was a prime example of Harley's mixed morals, where she longs to be a hero, but her means are questionable.
While Harley, especially in her animated series, enjoys her self indulgent acts of villainy, she does have a heart. In the show, she's proven to be a hero in her own way on several occasions, so introducing a hero like Power Girl, who has the no nonsense attitude needed to deal with Harley, would provide plenty of laughs and highlight Harley's morals in comparison to Power Girl's. Power Girl would also be a refreshing change of pace from the big three heroes, Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman, who have predominantly been featured in Harley Quinn.
This year, Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn introduced the cinematic universe to Jurnee Smollett-Bell's Black Canary. The dynamic between her and Harley is captivating, blending humor, hate and heart in one. While this film gave fans plenty of moments between the two that prove it would be fantastic to see them team up in Harley Quinn, this is far from the first time they've gone toe to toe.
Whether it is in the Injustice comics and video games or one of several Birds of Prey comics, these two are more than familiar with each other. Injustice in particular features an unexpected friendship between the two, which would be amazing to see developed in Harley Quinn, especially since this animated show has already done a great job exploring adult friendships. While the two are tough as nails, the dynamic they have in Injustice is sentimental, something that the animated show can only benefit from.
Renee Montoya, like Harley, saw her debut in Batman: The Animated Series, so her return to animation would be welcomed, especially after seeing how she's developed over the years in comics and cinema. Renee has always been one of the best cops out there, however, she's faced her own demons and obstacles, with the GCPD and her family not accepting her lesbian identity in several comics.
Even in this year's Birds of Prey, moviegoers saw how disillusioned she's became with the police, eventually committing to a life of vigilantism. With Gordon also experiencing frustration with his GCPD role in Harley Quinn, introducing a cop who's better than him could further push his character while giving Renee time to shine. On the other hand, Gordon could find an ally in Renee if she remains frustrated with the GCPD, and the two could become the antagonists of a potential Season 3, pursuing Harley and crew outside of the law.
Harley Quinn's cinematic live-action debut was in Suicide Squad, and despite the criticisms of the film, one dynamic in the movie kept viewers intrigued. Deadshot and Harley have a mutual respect for one another, and the two seem to genuinely care about each other by the end of the movie. Furthermore, Harley and Deadshot have a rich history together in the comics, specifically during their shared time as members of the Suicide Squad.
At their best, the two are more than just friends, romancing one another, however, the two have also been a pain in each other's sides, best seen in Suicide Squad Issue #7 written by Rob Williams and art by Scott Williams and Jim Lee, where she kidnaps Deadshot, forces him to wear Joker's face and attempts to get closure with her ex through her teammate. With a chemistry like this, it would be amazing to see Deadshot brought to Harley Quinn as an antagonist pursuing her and Ivy, especially since it's been established that the Suicide Squad has attempted to hook Harley Quinn into their team before. Deadshot would surely provide plenty of bloody action, something the cartoon is known for.
With Harley and Ivy now on the run, a potential Season 3 could see the two team up with new villains. One villain, who had a minor cameo in Harley Quinn, in particular deserves an expanded role and would work with the power couple. Livewire's personalityfeels right at home in Harley Quinn, given her history of ridiculing Superman. This sort of attitude compliments the snarky behavior of Ivy and Harley, who both take pleasure in riffing on how ridiculous most heroes are.
Furthermore, Harley's debut was in Batman: The Animated Series, which has succeeded in having the three villains team up in "Girl's Night Out." While it would be lazy to redo the episode, the showrunners could take inspiration from it by having the three enjoy a more adult aimed night out, which could also establish Livewire's relationship with the couple, since she probably has history with them given that Ivy invited her to the failed wedding.
DC Universe's Harley Quinn stars Kaley Cuoco, Lake Bell, Diedrich Bader, Alan Tudyk, Rahul Kohli, Christopher Meloni, Tony Hale, Ron Funches, Wanda Sykes, Natalie Morales, Jim Rash, Giancarlo Esposito, Jason Alexander and J.B. Smoove.
Many viewers gravitate towards television shows where they like and admire the main characters. From superheroes, to first responders, to generally upstanding citizens, a majority of television shows follow the lives and activities of likeable protagonists; however, this isn't always the case.
There are a number of extremely popular shows that center around highly flawed and even downright deplorable characters, following their antics and exploits as they interact with the more conventional society around them. There's something endearing, maybe even charming, about characters that don't conform to society's norms, but most of all, it makes for hilarious television.
It's no secret that the fab four from one of the most popular sitcoms in television history are actually terrible people, with George being particularly bad. Of course, this is one of the reasons that the show is so funny because it's interesting to see how someone so selfish and petty can function in the real world. The show even pokes fun at this, with the finale episode finding the four main characters on trial for laughing at and recording a man being robbed instead of helping him. A number of prominent characters from the series testify against Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer, outlining why they should be imprisoned.
One of the most realistic and sympathetic shows available at the moment is BoJack Horseman. The show follows the titular BoJack, as he navigates Hollywood after his fame has faded from his popular, 90s sitcom. He's an overgrown child, with his maturity having peaked during the height of his fame in his twenties. His inability to function in an adult relationship, along with his substance abuse problems and general selfishness, make BoJack an unreliable, careless person. The character recognizes his issues, and his character development throughout the series is what makes the show emotional and relatable.
Known for being an incredibly over-the-top and raunchy comedy, the FX series It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia follows the lives and antics of five adults as they unsuccessfully own and operate a bar. The main characters Dee, Dennis, Charlie, Mac and Frank are constantly scheming and plotting towards their success, generally to no avail. They have no regard for other people and are either taking complete advantage of or destroying others in an attempt to get what they want. This makes the show funny, and their flaws need to be accepted to truly enjoy the show.
It's not just comedies that can function with unlikable protagonists. The Showtime series Homeland offers an interesting main character, Carrie Mathison, a CIA operative, who is naturally elusive and sometimes deceitful. The character is complex as she battles her own mental illness, being Bipolar, while also having a moderate drinking problem. At the onset of the series, it's easier for viewers to reconcile with Carrie's selfish and impulsive actions, as it comes with the nature of her occupation. However, it's when Carrie becomes a mother later on that her actions become less sympathetic and more infuriating. Overall, the series is well executed, in spite of the sometimes unlikable protagonist.
The internet has become obsessed with how awful Ted Mosby is as the protagonist of How I Met Your Mother. The entire premise of the show is Ted narrating in retrospect the story of how he met his children's mother, as he recounts his entire dating history as it spans through the series. Overall, Ted doesn't treat women well, but the worst part is that he thinks he does. The character Barney is made to look like a womanizer who treats women poorly, so in contrast Ted is meant to look like a decent guy. However, he consistently plays the victim and gaslights women throughout the series, doesn't take no for an answer and breaks up with girlfriends on their birthdays. The show itself is entertaining and funny; however, Ted isn't doing the series any favors.
The famous medical drama House is based on Sherlock Holmes, so naturally the protagonist is an insufferable genius with a drug problem. The character of Gregory House can be frustrating. He treats everyone around him terribly, does not follow the rules and makes ethically questionable decisions. However, the audience empathizes with the character as the show reveals House's past, explaining his injury that requires his painkillers. The writing on the show is excellent, with House particularly delivering intelligent and hilarious lines. He saves lives in nearly every episode, cancelling out his unpleasant behavior.
The HBO series starring Larry David as a fictionalized version of himself is awkward in the same manner that Seinfeld is, as the character of George in the older sitcom is based loosely on David, the co-creator of Seinfeld. Curb Your Enthusiasm focuses on David as he navigates his life and relationships with his wife, friends and celebrity peers. David is known for his unwillingness to conform to social norms. For instance, he hates text messaging, says whatever he's thinking and doesn't feel he needs to apologize for his idiosyncrasies. Most of the time, the audience agrees with David, as it's typically the people around him being unreasonable; however, there are plenty of times where the audience is cringing on behalf of David, making the show absolutely hilarious.
