Christmas Annual #1

It's been a wild summer but the Fictionalitea crew is back and in person!  We all met up at Rachelle's house to enjoy friendship, eat snacks, and talk about Batman, the robins, and probably a lot more about 101 Dalmatians than originally anticipated.   Good Things   Mary:  Pokemon Legends Rachelle:  "Good Boy Magazine" by Michael Sweater, Benji Nate etc. and "Queen of the Ring" by Jaime Hernandez Paloma:  "The Delicacy" by James Albon Brenda:  The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles  

Welcome to the first episode of Video Club where we watch the first couple episodes of a show, and talk about it.  This week, we experience the epic highs and lows of high school volleyball by talking about the anime adaptation of Haikyuu.  Brenda also gets roasted for knowing about Hatoful Boyfriend.   Good Things:   Mary: Samwise Gamgee Rachelle: a 70-year-old monsterra plant and a 40-year-old dragon tree and also three  additional trees (bing cherry, honey crisp, peach) Paloma: Demon Slayer Brenda: Unwrapped on the food network

This week on fictionalitea, we’re here to redo a lost episode, and also here to talk about dads.  Bad dads.  Hot dads.  Just okay dads.  Dads of all shapes and sizes and sorts.  Who’s your favorite pop culture dad? Paloma:  “Young Shadow” - Ben Sears Brenda:  “A Man and His Cat”  - Umi Sakurai Mary:  Steven Universe  (comfort shows) Rachelle:  Lee Pace (and his eyebrows) and True Blood (the show)

Book Club is back.  We're here to talk about "Way of the Househusband" an Eisner Award-Winning manga series by Kousuke Oono about former Yakuza member, Tatsu, who gives up his criminal ways to be a househusband.  Also, we answer a question about which robots are neat.   GOOD THINGS  Mary:  Dai Dark by Q Hayashida Rachelle:  BL Metamorphosis by Kaori Tsurutani // Also Imagine A Yu-Gi-Oh Tournament but instead of cards it’s DDR.   Paloma:  Kuroko's Basketball by Tadatoshi Fujimaki  Brenda:  Paloma's new podcast about LOTR called "And My Ask"

FYI:  You'll hear us yelling at Craig, who is a discord bot who is SUPPOSED to be helping us have backup recordings, but he continues to fail us in every possible way.    This week we're doing a redo of a lost episode, and talking somewhat about "Skull-Faced Bookseller Honda-san" a manga about a person who works at a bookstore, specifically in the comic book section.  What does one do when there's no space for product?  How did Batman make our lives more difficult multiple times?  How do we handle customers who want raunchy books?  Also, some talk about hot animated men.   Good Things Paloma:  Goblin Girl by Moa Romanova Rachelle:  Her collection of lovely plants.   Brenda:  Sk8 the Infinity.   Mary:  Our Not So Lonely Planet Travel Guide vol. 1 by Mone Sorai

After a series of technical difficulties, the Fictionalitea ladies are back, and they are trying something new!  It's time for us to talk about DC's new young adult graphic novel Nubia: Real One.   GOOD THINGS:   Paloma:  Sweat and Soap manga.   Brenda:  Rug-making frame.  Rachelle:   Books ordered from the New York Art Book Festival  Mary:  Bubblegum Crisis

This week is all about Food Comics.  What is it that makes comics centered around food so special?  Why is Food Wars so hormy?  When will the anime for Way of the House Husband finally be released?  All these answers, and more! Good Things Paloma:  Thirsty Mermaids by Kat Leyh Brenda:  Her set of Detective Conan VCD’s, Tiny House Hunters Rachelle:  Gordon Ramsay’s Tik Tok

This week we talk about small press comics.  What constitutes a small press comic?  What are some of our favs?  What makes these lesser-known books so special? Good Things Paloma:  Space Battle Lunchtime/Food Books Brenda:  Hello Fresh (not sponsored) Rachelle:  Cobalt Flux DDR pad, Hell’s Kitchen Mary:  The Many Deaths of Laila Starr

Important Note:  We recorded this episode before the big Yashahime reveal. This week, it’s all about Rumiko Takahashi, creator of such classics as Maison Ikkoku, Inuyasha, Ranma ½, and Lum.  Will Netflix ever listen to Rachelle and cast Henry Cavil as Sesshomaru in a live-action Inuyasha series?  Will Brenda ever get to have little paws (but not in a furry way?). Good Things Paloma:  Killjoys National Anthem by Gerard Way and Leonardo Romero Mary:  Michael De Forge books.  Jusutsu Kaisen Rachelle:  Sasha from the Gym, Bulma figure from Mary. Brenda:  Kittens.  The snoopy sweater Paloma got her.

Happy Chrumbis everyone!  Welcome to the first ever Fictionali-tea Christmas annual #1.  Yes, it’s late. Yes, it’s longer than normal.  Yes, there really isn’t a topic this week. We answer some fan mail, talk about anime, and debate whether or not beloved comic book “Saga” will ever return.  Join us, if you feel like it.   Good Things: Brenda:  Graduating College Mary:  Pokemon Trading cards Rachelle:  Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter, Sailor Moon (again) Paloma:  Seven Secrets by Tom Taylor.