Throwback Review: Project Nemesis, by Jeremy Robinson

            Kaiju, or giant monsters, refers to more than just the enormous beasts and creatures we see in movies and fiction.  Rather, kaiju has become a genre all its own.  From classics like the Godzilla films to modern blockbusters like Pacific Rim, kaiju have captured audiences’ imaginations for decades.  While we normally consider the original 1954 film, Gojira, to be the first kaiju movie, featuring the original appearance of Godzilla, kaiju fiction actually predates that.  However, Gojira permanently changed the landscape of the genre by using monsters to address human concerns.  Instead of a creature feature or B-movie thriller, 1954’s Gojira was about the horrors of the atomic age and the aftermath of the United State’s nuclear weapons tests.  From then on, the best kaiju stories blended the action with engaging themes, a trend which continues to the modern day.

Metamorphosis: A Review of Wrath Goddess Sing, by Maya Deane

            We all know the story of the Iliad, the ancient Greek poem detailing the story of Achilles during the time of the decade long Trojan War.  Helen, the queen of Sparta and the most beautify woman in the world, was taken to Troy by Paris, sparking a conflict between the Achaeans and the Trojans that would see many heroes dead by the finale.  Considered to have been written down for the first time in the 8^th century BCE, commonly attributed to the legendary author known as Homer, whom the Odyssey is also attributed.  In truth, the story is likely much older than his written version, and would have had any different versions in accordance with the oral tradition of storytelling.  The Iliad has the remarkable distinction of being truly timeless, with it still being commonly read today and even taught in classes around the world.  This ever-lasting appeal has also led to constant re-imaginings and appropriations of the story, characters, and themes.  From feminist translations to complete overhauls, every storyteller has their own idea on what makes the story of Achilles great.