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Alright, welcome, young and old, this is Marvel's Corner!
 
Now, tonight I'm going to post something I rarely do. Infact, this is the first time I ever do this. What is it?
 
THE QUOTE OF THE DAY!
 
Oh yeah. Every other day I'll post one of my personal favorite quotes. This, I promise. Now, enough talk, let's get to this quote!
 
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Today's Quote: 8-15-09
 
"You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today. 
- Abraham Lincoln
 
So true. I hope laziness is one day destroyed... 😞
 
Anyways, this is Marvel Man, signing off.
Excelsior!

Battlesphere 2 Update #1
Al Rossi: Helloooooo, fight fans!  It’s Al and Andel, back for this special report!  Today we are going to be introducing you to 6 of the 30 combatants that will be entering Battlesphere 2! 
Andel Sanap: All six of these combatants will be entering the Battlesphere for the second time.  Each one of these women were able to qualify for Battlesphere 2 by meeting 3 criteria set by the TCC.  They needed to make it to the final 10 of the first Battlesphere, they each had one of the 10 longest match times in the sphere, and they each eliminated 2 other combatants! 
Al Rossi: So let’s get this started!  The first two of our returning six will be…
 
 
    
Al Rossi: Medusa and Carmen Sandiego!  Appropriate that these two ladies get a second shot, due to the fact that they both entered at number 1 and 2 last time and managed to stay in the Battlesphere for over 50 minutes each! 
Andel Sanap: And they did not waste their time in the sphere.  They both secured 2 eliminations and finished in 8th and 6th place respectively.  We were able to secure an audience with the queen of the Inhumans for her thoughts.  Ladies and gentlemen, Medusa! 
Medusa: It seems so long ago since I entered the TCC Arena and took part in the Battlesphere Battle Royal.  Through all of the chaos I encountered warriors of all shapes and sizes.  Now I am told I have another chance to achieve glory for my people.  And this time, Carmen Sandiego, I will not underestimate you, and you shall not defeat me again!  Hail Medusa! 
Al Rossi: Well, seems like Medusa still is holding onto some frustration after Carmen eliminated her in the last go around. 
Andel Sanap: Perhaps there will be a chance to settle some unfinished business.  Speaking of which, also re-entering the Battlesphere will be…

Andel Sanap: The Miraculous Ladybug!  In her last attempt, the Parisian hero managed to last over 27 minutes in the Battlesphere and score 2 eliminations on her way to 5th place.  A participant in the first match to take place in TCC Arena, she is anxious to not only prove her mettle once again in the Battlesphere, but to go all the way and win. 
Al Rossi: And where Ladybug is, it’s almost assured you will find our next Battlesphere veteran…

Al Rossi: Chloe Bourgeois!  The Queen Bee and TCC’s resident… er, interviewer had a most impressive outing in the first Battlesphere.  She clocked in 43 minutes, a 4th place finish, and secured the most eliminations with 5!  With her thoughts, here’s Chloe! 
Chloe Bourgeois: Hellooo everyone!  That’s right!  It’s your favorite superhero/backstage interviewer in the world, Queen Bee!  Of course, I was going to qualify to get into the Battlesphere again!  Everyone knows how awesome I was last time!  And I would have won too, if that show off Ladybug didn’t get in my way!  So does anybody actually think that any of the 29 losers the TCC will bring in will be able eliminate Queen Bee and stop me from winning this time?  Ha!  Ridiculous! 
Andel Sanp: Miss Bourgeois is never without confidence, but we still as of now are unaware who the TCC have selected for the 24 other combatants.  We only know that they participated in and won scenarios crafted by the broadwaybeyonder. 
Al Rossi: But we do know the final 2 returning ladies who will round out our 6!  And they are…
 
         
Al Rossi: The Golden Age heroines Phantom Lady and Battlesphere winner Miss America! 
Andel Sanap: Both heroes clocked in 31 minutes in the Battlesphere with Phantom Lady finishing in 3rd place. Not only do they 2 and 4 eliminations as individuals, they also have a shared elimination by teaming up to take on Elsa. 
Al Rossi: And it was Elsa's power that Miss America chose to use as her prize for winning the first Battlesphere.  Little did we all know that it was all a plot by the 8 to become the 9 and gain their own private enforcer.  Miss America had these thoughts about potentially going undefeated in the Battlesphere! 
Miss America: People have asked me what it was like to be under the control of the 8.  Was I aware?  Did I try to fight it?  Did I know what I was doing?  And the answer is always yes.  I was helpless, a prisoner in my own body, watching as those monstrous men used me as their weapon.  But now I’m free, able to fight when and how I wish to fight.  And right now, I’ve decided to enter the Battlesphere again, not for any prize or glory.  But to fight for you fans.  To give you a battle like you’ve never seen before.  And as for the TCC bringing in 15 men to enter the fray?  Hmm.  Just remember, fellas.  It may be a man’s world, but it’s this woman’s Battlesphere.  God bless America! 
Al Rossi: Sounds like we’ve got some fired up combatant for Battlesphere 2! 
Andel Sanap: Yes, Al, but sadly these developments are not without controversy.  There were 3 combatants who failed to qualify for Battlesphere 2.  Chel and Poison Ivy both met the requirements on match time and eliminations, but neither made it to the final 10. 
Al Rossi: But the biggest disappointment has got to be for Cassie Cage.  Despite making it to the final 2 with 3 eliminations, the Special Forces sergeant was unable to last long enough in the Battlesphere to break into the top 10 match times. 
Andel Sanap: However, the broadwaybeyonder and the TCC have decided that these 3 combatants will be given an opportunity to compete in specialty matches leading up to Battlesphere 2.  And I have heard rumblings that these matches may also involve some other combatants looking to redeem their past performances. 
Al Rossi: We’ll be sure to keep you posted, folks!  For now, we’re just about out of time!  Stay tuned for more updates as Battlesphere 2 draws near!  Until then, for Andel Sanap, I’m Al Rossi!  Goodnight, everybody! 

Metalus Regis, The Grey Knight
 

- - - - - - - - - - - - Regis in Armour - - - - - - - - - - Regis out of Armour
 
History
This is a WIP character that I've been using for AKUMA's tournament, and I've decided to finalise just What he can actually do in and out of combat. Now, I'm sure that this is Not how an actual Grey Knight would be like... but it's the closest that I can actually get to it. Most info has been taken from Dark Heresy and has been expanded upon to fit what first a Space Marine could look like in game, and then what a Grey Knight would look like.
 
Truly it was his first day in the Position of the Honoured Brother Captain of the Grey Knights, but alas Fate would see him taken away just as he entered into Battle to lead his Chapter to war. It was through a Trick of the Warp that he was pulled into AKUMA's Tournament along with the Necron Lord. Upon entering the tournament he was given the Choice to train for a Day in Any Location he could think of. But he didn't hear it because he was Dumbstruck by the fact that he had actually entered another dimension, one where he could not feel the presence of the God Emperor of Mankind. The Necron Lord who was supposed to be his Tag Team Companion chose for them, and they were whisked away to the Mars, specifically to the Void Dragons Chamber.
 
Here they got a major surprise as The manifested Spirit of the GEOM was there with the Void Dragon, conversing and discussing in an un-natural alliance. Here the GEOM told Regis what he must do, and that he must enter the tournament and fight beside the Necron, and he accepted this task.
 
After being transported back to the tournament they engaged in their first round with the Sith Stalker known as Starkiller (Did I get that right?) With the Necron Lord engaging first. The two fought as Regis was forced to make his way slowly through the battlefield terrain, and for the most part was inconclusive with the Sith not being able to harm the Necron, and the Necron not knowing where the elusive Sith was in order to attack him.
 
With that the Necron became irritated and left the field of battle leaving Regis to deal with the opposition. At this point Star Killer took his leave and taped out for his Tag, Sora from Kingdom Hearts. The Battle was hard fought, and it seemed at times that Regis would come out on top, but the round timer ran out and pure crowd votes determined that Regis had lost. This allowed the combined might of Sora and Starkiller to blitz the Grey Knight into submission.
 
After that humiliating defeat he and the others that had lost in Round One were locked up a location known only as the Temples. These Temples were the only structures on the island and had only two buildings separated by a large and haunted looking forest. Winners were put in one complex and the Losers in the other.
 
It was as Round Two kicked off that a plan was created to break out of the jail. In spite of all their planning, the prisoners took advantage of a freak occurrence to escape. As it happened, Starkiller did not trust the Cloaked shadow priest that seemed to be running the competition and had Stitch (Whom Sora had "Summoned") scout around the area. Stitch then stumbled across the Prisons and managed to get some Gear into the cells of the prisoners for them to escape with. The Shadow Priests stepped in and Locked down the prison with their powerful magics, but Stitch managed to free Regis.
 
Thus freed Regis attempted to attack the Priests with his Grey Knights Holochaust Psychic power but failed as their Barrier deflected the power back at him. In order to survive the rebounding energies he threw them at the very wall of reality itself and burst a hole into the warp. Seeing it as his only option for escape he Jumped into it. The Corrupting energies of the warp took a toll even on the Hardened Grey Knight, but Bending every once of his will to the task he punched a hole back into reality. The ordeal however left it's mark on the Knight, mutating him into an Aberration, a fusion of Man and Bestial features.
 
At this time the other Competitors revolted against the Guards and Shadow Priests and made their way to the Prison. After Re-arming and Re-equipping they attempted to attack the Main Temple, getting ambushed in the forest between. While they fought, Regis moved on ahead to the main temple and confronted the Priests. The situation became tenuous as he was given the Choice of either Surrender or having everyone else on the Island Die. He chose instead to tactically withdraw and fight the battle outside with the support of the others.
 
The battle was a furious melee, that devolved into a confused mess as the combatants fought for survival against ever increasing numbers of foes. Finally Akuma himself showed up and confronted the tournament contestants, but one of the other contestants had foreseen this happening and had given a power to one of the other competitors. Together those two were able to defeat Akuma, however the demon had the Last Laugh starting a process that would sink the island and Drown all the survivors.
 
Thinking quickly a portal was opened that would allow everyone to escape the island. To Be Continued...
 
Statistics (Avg Human = 30's)
Weapon Skill: 68
Ballistic Skill: 59
Strength: 68 + 40 in Terminator Armour
Toughness:71
Agility: 65
Will: 73
 
There is no substitute for zeal...
 
Wounds: 40 (Average Human = 10)
 
Armour: Terminator Armour; 18 DR
 
Grey Knight Terminator Armour Specials
Aegis: The armour worn by Grey Knights is archaic and baroque, anointed and inscribed with prayers and hexagrammic wards, ritually consecrated and psychically charged to do battle with the unholy. In conjunction with the psychic might of the Knights themselves, these hallowed suits of armour enable the Knights to resist their otherworldly foes.
Effect: Cannot be manipulated by outside forces, allows the wearer to double their will save against Magic and Psychic attacks.
 
Standard Terminator Armour Systems
Vision and hearing are linked directly to the users brain via implants, this protects against blinding flashes and deafening noises. Images and Sounds are presented as if the wearer wasn't wearing a helmet. The spectrums the wearer sees range from infra-red through the visible and into the ultra-violet. Images can be zoomed in and magnified at will and subconsciously. Senses are presented as if the wearer wasn't wearing a helmet. The Helmet also contains a Re-Breather/Gas Mask that can allow the wearer to operate in Toxic or otherwise dangerous environments or even in vacuum.
 
Weapons
Nemesis Force Glaive: Damage: 2D10+Strength Bonus (Energy); Armour Penetration: 8;
Stormbolter: Damage 1D10+8 (Explosive); RoF: Single/Burst 4; Armour Penetration: 6; Ammo: 80 Psycannon rounds
Punch: Damage 1d5+7 (Impact); Armour Penetration -2x opponent's DR
Claws: Damage 1d5+3 (Rending); Armour Penetration -2x opponent's DR; Cannot be used in Armour
 
*There will be a list of various weapons and armours with the damages that they might do or reduce included at the end of the character sheet*
 
 
Psychic Powers
[b][size=3]Minor Powers[/size] [i](Basic Psychic Powers that are common to all Psykers)[/i] Call Item:[/b] An object that can be held in one hand can be infused with the Psychics imprint. This takes about one hour and Runes and Glyphs have to be inscribed on it. When the Psychic calls it to him it appears in his hands as if teleported to him. Only one item may be imprinted at a time, Regis' item is currently his Force Glaive. [size=2][font="Franklin Gothic Medium"][b]Effect:[/b] Regis's Force Glaive automatically appears in his hand as if it were there all along.[/font][/size] [b]Heal:[/b] By Channelling his Psychic power into a willing target bones and flesh can be mended. It substantially speeds up Healing, but prolonged or repeated use can cause more damage as the targets flesh can only take so much warp energy before rebelling. [size=2][font="Franklin Gothic Medium"][b]Effect:[/b] Heals 1-5 wounds / 6 hours[/font][/size] [b]Precognition:[/b] Get a fuzzy picture of what will happen, the closer in time the Clearer the picture. This can be extended to only a few Minutes into the future. [size=2][font="Franklin Gothic Medium"][b]Effect:[/b] +10 to Dodges and Weapons Parry[/font][/size] [b]Sense Presence:[/b] With the Mind the Psyker gains an Inkling of other life forms in the area. The psyker is aware of the direction of each life-form, but not their exact distance or location. 1m thick walls block this though... [size=2][font="Franklin Gothic Medium"][b]Effect:[/b] Sense the direction of any living thing within 50m + 10m/Overbleed[/font][/size] [b]Resist Possession:[/b] The Psyker throws up mental wards to shield his mind from enemy assault. It's not perfect, but it makes it a lot harder to get in there. [size=2][font="Franklin Gothic Medium"][b]Effect:[/b] Lasts for one hour, May re-roll failed "resist possession" tests.[/font][/size] [b][size=3]Psychic Discipline: Divination[/size] Divine Shot:[/b] The Psyker is able to hit with a Single almost impossible shot on Any target that he can perceive. Concentrating on a single projectile the Psyker casts his gaze into the warp to search down the Infinite paths of potential trajectories. [size=2][font="Franklin Gothic Medium"][b]Effect:[/b] Regis Automatically hits any target he can see with One Ranged Attack (Only one bullet). As long as it's theoretically possible to hit it will hit. [b]Limitations on Use:[/b] Regis first has to concentrate for a turn before firing the weapon. This will leave him vulnerable to attack for that turn.[/font][/size] [b]Preternatural Awareness:[/b] The psykers eyes roll back and his senses roam about the area around him. He "sees" everything around him and even slightly into the future. [size=2][font="Franklin Gothic Medium"][b]Effect:[/b] When Regis is using this power, he sees Everything around him at once, as well as limited precognition (0.7 seconds x Overbleed) [b]Limits on use:[/b] Cannot combine this power with other psychic disciplines except for common.[/font][/size] [b][size=3]Psychic Discipline: Telepathy[/size] Telepathy[/b] Can send my thoughts into the minds of anyone around me. The effect can be used on only one person or group, or to anyone within range. [size=2][font="Franklin Gothic Medium"][b]Effects:[/b] Regis can talk with his mind. Range 7km[/font][/size] [b][size=3]Psychic Discipline: Grey Knight[/size] Holocaust: [/b]The Psyker calls forth a raging white-hot firestorm ignited by his own soul, usually out to about a 6m radius. The Flames burn across dimensions, affecting the entities of the immaterium as well as the material. Normally this would also cause harm to the psyker, but Grey Knights in their Aegis Armour can shrug off the effects on themselves. This damage by-passes the targets physical defenses, such as how tough they are or any armour they are wearing. Those slain by Holochaust are killed forever... [size=2][font="Franklin Gothic Medium"][b]Effect:[/b] Deals 7d10 points of (Energy) Damage to everything within 6m, even creatures normally immune to Flame will burn as though they weren't. [b]Limitations on Use:[/b] Regis will take 1d10+10 (Energy) Damage per turn while using this, though he may use the DR of his Aegis Armour. [/font][/size] [b]Sanctuary:[/b] The Psyker can conjure wards around himself and companions through which enemies have difficulty approaching. For enemies breaching the threshold of this Sanctuary the very air repels them and strikes at them with ethereal electrical charges. [size=2][font="Franklin Gothic Medium"][b]Effect:[/b] Anyone not designated "Safe" by Regis, will find a Strong unnatural wind trying to blow them away from Regis, and they will suffer 1 points of (Energy) Damage per turn that they are in his area. Range 6m. [b]Limitations on Use:[/b] Cannot combine this power with other psychic disciplines except for common.[/font][/size] [b]Shrouding:[/b] The psychic prayers of Regis are focused in battle to constantly confuse and wrong-foot his enemies. It will blind their senses with the shining light of faith and resolution. [size=2][font="Franklin Gothic Medium"][b]Effect:[/b] While Regis is using this ability, anyone in his line of sight will be effected by it. The amount that their senses are clouded is based on how they are looking at Regis, with only hints of incense, whispers of chant and a faint light if they only see him in their far peripheral vision. While anyone looking directly at Regis will feel as though they are starring into the sun, hear only a deafening chanting, and will smell nothing but burning incense...[/font][/size]    
 
Space Marine Physiology
[b]Secondary Heart[/b] Allows Regis to survive his other heart being damaged or destroyed, and to survive in low oxygen environments. Not just a back-up, the secondary heart can boost the blood-flow around his body. [b]Ossmodula implant[/b] Regis' bones have been laced with Ceramite making them extremely resilient to injury and heat. His ribcage has been fused into a solid bulletproof plate. This implant also contributes to his massive size. [b]Biscopea implant[/b] This is another implant that contributes to his size as well as his physique. Having increased his muscle mass tremendously. [b]Haemastamen[/b] Increases the amount of Haemoglobin in Regis' blood, making it far more efficient as well as bright red. [b]Larraman's Organ[/b] If Regis is injured his wounds will automatically and nearly instantainously form scar tissue when his blood makes contact with air. [b]Catalepsean Node[/b] Regis needs no more than 4 hours of sleep a day, and can potentially go for 2 weeks without any sleep at all. [b]Preomnor[/b] Cannot be poisoned by ingested food. [b]Multi-lung[/b] Regis is immune to any airborne Toxins, Poisons, or Viral contaminants. Can also allow Regis to breathe underwater. [b]Occulobe[/b] Regis has far superior vision to normal humans (20/10 acuity), and can see in low-light conditions almost as well as in daylight. [b]Lyman's Ear[/b] Regis is immune to dizziness and motion sickness. As well as having the ability to consciously filter out and enhance certain sounds. [b]Sus-an Membrane[/b] Regis can enter a state of suspended animation, consciously or as an automatic reaction to extreme trauma such as a Mortal Wound, this will keep him alive until healing can be done. [b]Oolitic Kidney[/b] Regis' blood is filtered very quickly, rendering him immune to most poisons. Though if sufficiently poisoned he will fall into a coma until the poison can be fully filtered. [b]Progenoids[/b] Creates Space Marine Geneseeds, for use to create more space marines. [b]Black Carapace[/b] A hardened subdermal sheet embedded in Regis's torso that connects to his nervous system and allows him to control his Power Armour as though he were one with it.    
 
Weapons and Armour that may be encountered
[b][size=3]Weapons[/size][/b] [b]Simple Weapons[/b] like swords, axes, spears, and bows/crossbows Damage: 1d10 (Impact or Rending), Armour Penetration: 0 [b]Large Melee Weapons[/b] like Great Swords, Large Mauls, Heavy Waraxes, or Polearms Damage: 2d10 (Impact or Rending), Armour Penetration: 2 [b]Power Weapons[/b], like disruption weapons, lightsabers, plasma swords Damage: 1d10+5 (Energy), Armour Penetration: 6, 75% chance to destroy non-powered weapons if parried. [b]Guns[/b], like Modern rifles, Blasters or Laser rifles and such Damage: 1d10+3 (Impact or Energy), Armour Penetration: 0 [b]Grenades[/b] Fragmentation ~ Damage: 2d10 (Explosive), Armour Penetration: 0 Anti-Tank ~ Damage: 2d10+4 (Explosive), Armour Penetration: 6 Incendiary ~ Damage: 1d10+3 (Energy), Armour Penetration: 6, targets may be set on fire [b][size=3]Armours[/size][/b] [b]Leather:[/b] DR 2 [b]Chain:[/b] DR 3 [b]Kevlar/Flak:[/b] DR 4 [b]Plate:[/b] DR 5 [b]Ceramic/Plastoid:[/b] DR 6 [b]Powered Armour:[/b] DR 8 [b]Terminator:[/b] DR 16 *Note: Space Marines get better armour and weapons, and Grey Knights get even better.*  

Anyone who watches anime regularly can tell you that most of the shows are pretty good. But the fact of the matter is that it's just a form of TV show. There's crummy anime and more importantly, there's weird anime. Here are my top ten picks for the weirdest anime ever. Please keep in mind that this list is purely subjective, so if one or more of your picks didn't make it, feel free to make a friendly comment, but try to avoid ranting.
 
Without further ado...
 
10. Chrono Crusade
Kicking off the list is 'Chrono Crusade', an anime I discovered only recently thanks to the SciFy channel's anime featuring. In short, it's a show about a group of nuns who fight off demonic threats to the earth. Is it weird? You bet, but it's pulled off nicely, which puts it at number 10 on this list. While it's a strange concept, that's about where the weirdness ends. Aside from the fact that, apparently, nuns are a deadly supernatural fighting force, the anime is a fairly normal "future-apocalypse" type anime show. It's not particularly one of my favorites, but it merits mentioning if for no other reason than it's difficult to describe.
 
9. School Rumble
High school drama anime are a dime a dozen. There's a million variations on the theme and every one of them is different. What sets 'School Rumble' apart is the sheer absurdity of it. First off, from the outside it looks like your average shoujo (girls' anime). But upon further inspection, I've decided that it could go either way. There are elements of shoujo, to be certain, but for the most part, these only come out to play when the plot's focus is on the female protagonist, Tenma. When the story focuses on the male protagonist, Harima, the style shifts to a much more shonen (boys' anime) style. This provides for a strange, albeit entertaining, viewing experience. All in all, 'School Rumble' is a fun little anime. There are times when it gets pretty mushy, but for all intents and purposes, it's entertaining.
 
8. Inuyasha
One of the most recognizable anime on this list, some may be asking, "and what, exactly, is it about 'Inuyasha' that merits its place on this list?" Well, let's think about this for a moment. It's a show about a teenage girl who falls down a well and is transported back in time to feudal Japan where she meets a half-demon with dog-ears. They go on many adventures with their various friends and meet many strange and insidious creatures. Obviously there's more to it than that, but by the (I think) fifth episode, they fight a girl who uses her hair as a weapon. Now admittedly, Japanese myths, fables, and folklore are going to be a bit hard for American audiences to follow. 'Inuyasha' pulls the transition off pretty well, but from where I'm standing, it's still weird. On a side note, my mom watches this show. Seriously. She's a bigger fan of it than I am, but that's not to say I don't enjoy it. Albeit, I'm still dealing with the fact that my mother watches anime.
 
7. Nyan Koi!
As a sufferer of severe allergies to dogs, I can tell you that they're (I can't believe I'm actually going to say this) nothing to sneeze at. But in all seriousness, I can relate to the main character Junpei's troubles. Allergies suck. So when the plot of 'Nyan Koi!' develops and reveals that he becomes cursed to not only have the ability to talk to cats, the very thing which he is allergic to, but to have to help them with whatever problems they might have, well, I felt for the guy. 'Nyan Koi!' is strange, but it's interesting because the story is frequently seen from the cats' point of view. 'Nyan Koi' is pretty funny. The story can get pretty strange, but hey, it's a show about a guy who talks to cats.
 
6. Samurai Pizza Cats
The world of 'Samurai Pizza Cats' is inhabited entirely by talking animals which also happen to be cyborgs. Seriously. The main story takes place in a city called Little Tokyo. Little Tokyo is constantly threatened by the villainous Big Cheese (a rat), his partner-in-crime Geri Atrick (a crow), and their army of evil birds. The only defense against these guys are the Samurai Pizza Cats: Speedy, Guido, and Polly. That pretty much sums up the entire show. Every episode has the Big Cheese attacking and the Pizza Cats fighting back... and it's awesome. 'Samurai Pizza Cats' is one of the stupidest anime ever created, and I've loved every second that I've seen. Weird? You bet. Silly? Absolutely. Fun? No question. But if you want the full experience, go eat a pizza pie.
 
5. Yu-Gi-Oh
Without a doubt, this is the single most recognizable anime on this list. Even people, who barely know what anime is, know what 'Yu-Gi-Oh' is. Some people have accused it of being a Pokemon rip-off. It's hard to say, since they were released at about the same time. Let's cut to the chase. Admit it, 'Yu-Gi-Oh' is weird. Almost everyone plays the card game, it claims that the Egyptian gods were real, and some of the characters are supposed to be reincarnated. Interesting concept, I suppose. Nevertheless, 'Yu-Gi-Oh' can't seem to shake its own strangeness. It tries to be serious, but usually ends up just looking even sillier. Admittedly, I don't much care for this show, but LittleKuriboh's "Yu-Gi-Oh: The Abridged Series", which pretty much started the abridging anime craze is worth checking out.
 
4. Ranma 1/2 & Kampfer
Before you say anything: it's my list and I can put two different shows at one position if I want to.
What do these shows have in common? They both involve the main protagonist randomly changing from a male to a female.
'Ranma ½' is a fairly popular anime, but I'll explain anyway. It's about a martial artist named Ranma Saotome who falls into a magic pond and is cursed to change into a girl whenever he comes into contact with cold water. He changes back when exposed to hot water. There are a few other characters who have suffered similar fates, most relevantly his dad, who changes into a panda (oddly enough, he spends most of the show in this form) and Ranma's rival, Ryoga who changes into a pig.
'Kampher' centers around a guy who acquires a bracelet which causes him to become a 'kampher', a female warrior fated to do battle with other kamphers. Most of the other kamphers are girls naturally, so he's pretty much the only one who changes gender, though most of the others go through physical and/or mental changes.
Another thing these anime have in common is that they present some interesting romantic storylines. Ranma has several girls who want to marry his male self and at least one male who wants to marry his female self. 'Kampher's' main protagonist, Natsuru, is in love with a girl who is interested in his female self. Both are complicated shows and both are pretty fun anime.
 
3. Hell Girl
This one is really a piece of work. 'Hell Girl' is about a group of supernatural beings who run a service that allows humans to send other humans straight to Hell, in exchange for their souls, or something to that extent. The thing that confuses me the most about 'Hell Girl' is the imagery. I imagine that most of it is symbolic or something, but it's very hard to follow. The first time I watched it, I went away feeling emotionally drained, but I'm not sure why. In all honesty, I'm not entirely certain how this anime is supposed to make you feel. It is one seriously messed up show. I wish I could say more, but thinking about this show makes me want to go sit in dark room and mumble to myself.
 
2. Rave Master
On a lighter note, we're nearing the end of the list with 'Rave Master'. This is another one that's hard to follow, but it's about a trio of heroes who try to destroy some sort of evil stones. Honestly, I think if you spent an hour playing the last five or six 'Final Fantasy' games while on an acid trip, it would look pretty similar to 'Rave Master'. The show is wacky on purpose, but while it's usually fairly tame, there are times when you have to sit back and say, "OK... what just happened?" It's that weird. Admittedly, most of the time it's a fairly normal 'swords-and-sorcery' anime in the vein of 'Slayers' and 'Full Metal Alchemist'. What pushes it over the edge is the indescribable weirdness that permeates the series. Don't take my word for it. Go check it out. You'll never think the same way again.
 
1. Requiem from the Darkness
What happens when you take a series of Japanese horror novels and turn them into an anime series? You get 'Requiem from the Darkness', and in my opinion, a lot of confusion. The show is apparently about an author who wants to write a book of 100 ghost stories, so he travels from town to town looking for ideas. Well, as it turns out most of the stories he hears are more than stories. Now, the concept is sane enough, there have been weirder ideas presented. But the actual product is just...
"Beyond description" is the term I'm looking for. The same thing that caused 'Hell Girl's' weirdness causes its weirdness: the imagery. Interestingly enough, 'Requiem' never had a manga as a base. The entire thing is an original anime. It's dark, gritty, and all-out strange. The visuals look like some sort of modern art at times. 'Requiem from the Darkness' is hard to follow, but I'd recommend checking it out. It's fun to watch in a weird sort of way.

Alright, welcome people. This, is Marvel's Corner!
 
As you all know, every other day I post one of my own cool quotes. Well, now, every once in a while, I'll also add an awesome quote from a Marvel character. Today is one of those days.
 
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Today's Topic: Quote
 
The quote:
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you. "
- Friedrich Nietzsche
 
And the Marvel quote:
"While Solo lives, Terror Dies!"
- Solo
 
That's it for today. Until next time.
Excelsior!