278 - Retrospective Redux 2 - BLAME!

This week we revisit the cyberpunk world of BLAME!. It’s Morgana’s first time reading a manga by Tsutomu Nihei and she has a lot to say about the impressive artwork and confusing story. How does returning to this sci-fi adventure hold up for the other hosts? Tune in to find out!!!

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Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 - Intro Song: “Megastructure” by Onogawa Hiroyuki from BLAME! Salvaged Disc, Opening, Introductions, Social Media
• 00:01:40 - Whatchu Been Reading: Transition Song: Dragon Ball Z OST “Prologue”, Seamus has decided to drop Requiem for a Rose King because of an unfortunate shojo troupe
• 00:03:50 - After checking out Knights of Sidonia Seamus was disappointed by the fan service and audience surrogates
• 00:07:53 - We discuss the risk aversion of the current manga industry
• 00:12:23 - Darfox watched the French live-action adaptation of City Hunter called Nicky Larson and Cupid's Perfume
• 00:17:44 - Darfox and dakazu saw Dragon Ball Super: Broly but Darfox was distracted by Goku’s titty muscles
• 00:27:01 - *SPOILERS* dakazu was happy to find out there was a new volume of The Full-Time Wife Escapist to read
• 00:29:13 - Butakai Ouji to 100 Kai no Kiss starts off as a fun take The Swineherd fairytale with modern twists but becomes extremely problematic with it’s treatment of the young princess
• 00:37:35 - dakazu gives a quick rundown on the anime adaptations of In/Spectre, Smile Down the Runway, Dorohedoro
• 00:41:18 - News: BEASTARS anime will be available on Netflix March 13th
• 00:41:44 - Koyama Press started a monthly program of giving
• 00:44:39 - Chiyahafuru creator Suetsugu has setup a 1 million yen grant to help vitalize the Karuta sport
• 00:48:55 - Next Episode Preview and Rundown: Triple Dip where we read the first volume of three different BL manga, including: 10 Dance by Inouesatoh, I Hear the Sunspot by Yuki Fumino, and Classmates: Dou kyu sei by Asumiko Nakamura
• 00:50:46 - Main Segment Retrospective Redux: BLAME!, Transition Song: “Cibo” by Onogawa Hiroyuki from BLAME! Salvaged Disc, we revisit Tsutomu Nihei’s sci-fi series about a man traveling through an endless city structure
• 00:51:17 - dakazu explains the basic plot of BLAME! and the various factions within the world
• 00:55:51 - Morgana was confused by the story but appreciated Nihei’s amazing artwork
• 01:00:10 - Morgana and Darfox talk about how Cibo is pronounced in Italian and Spanish while dakazu questions to choice of using the name Kyrii
• 01:02:31 - We discuss the change of tone in the story as Kyrii changes and how other characters change allegiances
• 01:05:50 - Morgana noticed Nihei use of interchangeable female bodies
• 01:12:26 - Revisiting BLAME! made Seamus connects the series to video games and literature while finding the core nature of Kyrii’s character
• 01:18:05 - Morgana questioned if the world was actually a digital reality or the far future while reading
• 01:22:19 - Darfox explains how you can find anti-technology themes in BLAME!
• 01:27:51 - We try to parse Kyrii’s morality by examining his actions throughout the story
• 01:34:15 - We rip on the BLAME! anime movie and talk about the experimental OVA shorts
• 01:38:40 - We discuss Nihei’s Marvel comic Snikt!
• 01:40:46 - We talk about Nihei’s background in architecture and how he applies that to his designs and action scenes
• 01:44:23 - Darfox is disappointed after dakazu shares the origins of the silicon life from the prequel manga NOiSE
• 01:51:01 - BLAME! Academy and So On is filled with hilarious parodies and an epilogue chapter about Pcell and Kyrii
• 01:54:45 - We theorize about the happened in the ending
• 02:03:01 - Morgana can see why Nihei’s creative process starts with panel layouts
• 02:06:12 - None of us know why Dhomochevsky placed that vial in that small room
• 02:09:36 - Morgana was pleasantly surprised that there was no romantic relationship between Kyrii and Cibo
• 02:12:14 - We share our final thoughts on the series
• 02:20:41 - Next Week’s Topic: 10 Dance & I Hear the Sunspot & Classmates: Do kyu sei, Social Media Rundown, Sign Off Song: “wish men” by sunbrain from Beet the Vandel Buster