Monthly Archives: March 2022

March 2022 Catgirl Critics’ Media Mewsings

Mike Moon / Catgirl Island
and Jamie Robertson / Clan of the Cats
purroudly purrsent a Mike Moon purrduction,
starring The Ladies of The Mew in
The March 2022 Edition of The Mew:
The Catgirl Critics’ Media Mewsings, nya!
________________________________________________
This year is the Year of the Tiger, the 22nd Anniversary 
of Catgirl Island’s official site, and the 15th Anniversary 
of The Mew, nya! in this edition of The Mew:
 
TV, DVD & Movie Mewsings:
our favorite films of 1982
Strike Witches Season 3: The Road to Berlin
Catwoman: Hunted
The Book of Boba Fett
 
Collectibles & Toy Talk:
Captain Carter action figure
Ironheart

action figure
Purrinted Media Mewsings:
My Little Pony: Generations # 4 & 5
Flying Witch manga vol. 10
Haruhiko Mikimoto Character Design Archive
The Art of Star Wars: The Mandalorian Season 2
I’m Smith, He’s Jones #1
The Celebrity Catgirl & Kemonomimi Spotlight
 
Additions to the Catgirl Island Mewseum of Art:
“Sechs” plushy doll by Misty Hopkins
“Catian Booty” by Melody Rondeau
“Andocait” by Melody Rondeau
“Gameowra & Mewt” by Melody Rondeau
“Egyptian Catgirls” by Melody Rondeau
“Angel Catgirl” by Melody Rondeau
“Melusinaг” by Melody Rondeau
“Floating” by Rvkh
“Spring Rain” by Rvkh
“Mushkind” by Rvkh
“Nystar” by Rvkh
________________________________________________
 
Mike
(the human fella wearing the Carolina Panthers tee shirt and Teal cargo shorts): Aloha y’all and welcome to The Mew, our monthly “show” in which we review and discuss fun stuff! This month’s Mew comes from the south end of Wisteria Bridge on the riverwalk in the beautiful downtown Purrbank district of Catgirl Island in Mew Hanover County, NC, where it’s 72 degrees under the Blue sky and puffy White Cumulo-Neko clouds! I’m Mike, the show’s “purrducer”, and here are The Ladies of The Mew!
Jeannie
(a.k.a. Jen, the yogini, model, archer, belly dance instructor & roboticist catgirl, wearing the Serval purrint micro bikini & sheer purrled purreo): Nihao.
 
Trini-chan
(Jen’s purrotege, the stand-up paddle surfer, board shapurr, pony owner and belly dance instructor kitsune, wearing the Caracal purrint tri-kini): Konnichiwa!
 
Petra
(the art guild purresident, art mewseum co-curator & beach volleyball champion catgirl wearing the Clouded Leopurrd purrint side-tie bikini): Aloha, nya!
 
Bunni:
(the art mewseum co-curator, Petra’s beach volleyball partner, and purrize-winning carrot cake baker bunnygirl wearing the Cheetah purrint trikini): Guten Tag!
Nyanko:
(a.k.a. Nya-sensei, the martial arts champion & sensi, dojo & gym purropurrietress catgirl wearing the Bengal Tiger purrint cropped tee shirt and shorts): Howdy!
Nyoka
(a.k.a. Nyo-sensei, Nyanko’s twin sister, the magick shop purropurrietress catgirl wearing the Jaguar purrint cropped tee shirt and shorts): Howdy!
 
Yvonne
(the fishing boat charter captain & drumming circle purrcussionist catgirl, wearing the Fishing Cat purrint monokini with cropped tee shirt): Namaste, nya!
 
Tara-chan
(Yvonne’s younger sister, college freshman, pony owner and nature photographer catgirl wearing the Iriomote Cat purrint tankini): Namaste, nya!
 
Elizabeth
(

a.k.a Lizzy, the hot salsa dancer, gamer, Purrkour Club captain & spa co-owner catgirl wearing the Margay purrint bandeau top bikini): Hola!

 
Becca:
(Lizzy’s nekomimi gynoid wife, avid golfer & spa co-owner w

earing the Eurasian Lynx purrint ring-closure bikini an an orchid lei): 

 
Mary Nyan
(a.k.a. Myayr, the seamstress, cosplayer, hula instructor and semi-retired miko catgirl wearing the Cougar purrint purretzel – cutout maillot): Aloha!
Mielikki
(the winged faerie golfer, foxfire juggler and outdoor ampurrtheatre director wearing the Ocelot purrint criss cross halter neck bikini) Mellow greetings!
 
Melanakeami
(the mermaid purropurrietress of the triphibius airship tours business, wearing the Asiatic Lion purrint bandeau bikini top): Shello!
 
Daytona
(the dolphin -tailed mermaid surf purrtol leader / trainer, wearing the Sand cat purrint sports bra): Aloha!
 
Elaenor
(or just Ellie for short, Mew Hanover County’s Fire Marshall, a Banker Pony centauress wearing the Bobcat purrint bandeau bikini top: Hay there!
 
Mike:
So, what have y’all been up to since last month’s Mew?
 
Mary Nyan:
As mewsual I have been busy instructing the hula cance class; whilst

Tia, Jany and I have been 

sewing the costumes for the cosplayers. We recently finished the Wixoss Lrig costumes, and in purrogress are the Lapis Re: Lights costumes!

Mielikki:
So like, I am either on the golf course or directing the repurrtory companyFoxfire Fantasy Fest at the ampurrtheatre, and we planning our upcoming Happy Haru Extravaganza, fur shur!
Melanakeami:
I cannot believe that it has been the month already since the 15th awards presentation! Since then, things have been back to normal with my airship tours and at my parents’ dive-in theatre!
Daytona:
When i have not been busy with the surf purrtrol watches and training the swim team I have been watching the college hoops, gymnastics, softball, beach volleyball and the Winter Olympics!
 
Elizabeth:
Becca and I have stayed purretty busy at our spa to pampurr the many customers who have retreated to here from the nippier weather upon the mainland!
Becca:
Hai hai, we have purrtaken of the sports, the gardening, the DVDs, and the weekly late night hot salsa dance! Our most recent video binge watching has included The Book of Boba Fett, After School Dice Club, and  Around the World in 80 Days!
Tara-chan:
I have been studying for my mid term exams too, nya! Let’s see… in addition to the college classes and – and the photography club I have been caring for our cats, the ponies, and – and helping onee-chan with our yacht’s fishing charters, nya!
 
Yvonne:
My fishing charters have reeled in the bumpurr crop of the Snappurrs, Groupurrs, Croakers, Mackerels and Tunas; 

and my drumming circle has purrvided the purrcussion for the purrades and matsuris, nya!
Trini-chan:
I have been paddle surfing, board shaping, caring for the ponies, and it is already the mid term exam time for my beginner belly dance students at the Purrforming Arts Center!
Bunni:
I have been baking the carrot cakes and gardening when Petra and I have not been curating at the Mewseum of Art or coaching at the spring beach volleyball camp!
 
Petra:
Hai hai, we are very enthused about the camp and our Mewsum’s upcoming annual body art show, nya! Oh and our mewseum’s cafe has expanded its menu to include the purramisucrepes, the piping hot croquettes, the and the carameowl expurresso capurrcino, nya!
 
Nyoka:
It seems like only yesterday we were commeowmerating the Winter Solstice, and nyow at my magick shop we are purrparing for the Vernal Equinox. 
Nyanko:
The time continues to fly by like the hypurr drive! I have been busy at my gym and at my dojo where my students are training for the spurring qualifier tournyament! Howboutchoo, Ellie?
 
Ellie:
During the awards ceremony, I was extra busy with the patrols and inspections, but there were no unpleasant incidents with the many fireworks, bonfires and lanterns, and since then I have been able to spend more time at the gym and the beach!
 
Jeannie:
My routine is still compurrised purrdictably of the mornings at the yoga studio, afternoons at the kyudo range, alternating weeknights purrsiding at the robotics club and instructing the advanced belly dance class, and the occassional weekend gravure photo shoot modeling. Back to Mike.
Mike:
Ah, not much noteworthy for me aside from the usual art, writing, reading, running, and spending time with the family! For purrofiles and illustrations of those and other Ladies of The Mew, please visit our Meet The Critics page http://www.mewsings.catgirlisland.com/meet-the-critics/! Ah, we’ve got a lot on our plate today, so let’s go ahead an start our
TV, DVD & Movie Mewsings with this month’s 
Lightning Round Topic: Our Favorite Films of 1982!
 
So this year weve bene looking back at fun things  of years ending with a 2; we’ve already covered 2012, 2002 and 1992, so this month we’re listing our favorite films from 1982, one of the best years ever for cinema! So, are y’all ready to “conduct the lightning”?
 
The Ladies of The Mew:
HAI! LIGHTNING ROUND GO- NYA!
Jeannie:
I will nominate Firefox, Tron, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Blade Runner, and Hail Columbia. (tags the mermaid with a brush of her tail)
 
Melanakeami:
I will nominate the concert films such as Let’s Spend the Night Together, The Concert in Central Park, The Secret Policeman’s Other Ball, and Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl! (tags Becca with her tail fin)
Becca
The comedies such as The King of Comedy, Tootsie, Diner, Deathtrap, and Summer Lovers!  tail-tags her wife)
Elizabeth:
Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Porky’s, Airplane II: The Sequel , Eating Raoul , and 48 Hours! (tags Petra)
Petra:
The World According to Garp, Missing, Sophie’s Choice, The Verdict, and An Officer and a Gentleman, nya! (tags Bunni)
 
Bunni:
Blade Runner, Gandhi, Reds, The Year of Living Dangerously, The Man from Snowy River, and The Legend of Walks Far Woman! (tag Mielikki)
Mielikki:
So like, I will nominate Gandhi, Reds, The Year of Living Dangerously, The Man from Snowy River, and The Legend of Walks Far Woman, fur shur! (tags Nyoka with a flit of the wing)
Nyoka:
I would say… E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, The Dark Crystal, Conan the Barbarian, Tempest,  Cat People, and Pink Floyd- The Wall! (tags Trini-chan)
Trini-chan
The Thing, Poltergeist, Cat People, Creepshow, and The House Where Evil Dwells (tags her BFF)
Tara-chan:
I want… I want to nominate the animated movies such as Tron, The Secret of NIMH, The Last Unicorn, The Plague Dogs , A Charlie Brown Celebration, and – and Miss Switch to the Rescue, nya Onee-chan’s turn, nya! (tags her sister)
Yvonne:
The animated movies such as Flash Gordon: The Greatest Adventure of All, The Flight of Dragons, Arcadia of My Youth, Queen Millennia, and Space Adventure Cobra, nya! (tags Nyanko)
 
Nyanko:
The Road Warrior, First Blood, Forced Vengeance, The Soldier, Firefox, Megaforce, and Tag: The Assassination Game! (tags the centauress)
 
Ellie:
The Dark Crystal,  The Last Unicorn, Conan the Barbarian, The Beastmaster, The Sword and the Sorcerer, and Dragon Lord! (tags Daytona)
Daytona:
Hmmm… I’d hafta say E.T., Star Trek II, Fast Times, Monty Python, Tron, oh oh and Koyaanisqatsi, (tags Mary Nyan)
Mary Nyan:
I will nominate the horror movies such as Cat People, The Thing, Poltergeist, Friday the 13th Part III, Halloween III: Season of the Witch,  Q – The Winged Serpent,  Swamp Thing, and Basket Case! Back to Mike!
 
Mike:
Oh I gotta go with Blade Runner, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Tron, The Dark Crystal!, and my 2nd favorite Star Trek movie Star Trek II:The Wrath of Khan! Well that was an expedient little Lightning Round, considering  our big group! Ah, now Jen will continue our
TV, DVD & Movie Mewsings, with her review of 
Strike Witches Season 3: The Road to Berlin!
 
Jeannie
Hai. Combine a heroic team of endearing kemonomimis with thrilling aerial magick combat and magnificent military mecha in an alternate reality’s 1944, with quite the bit of amewsing slice-of-life moments and ’fan service’ and there you have the Strike Witches a.ka. the World Witches series, the military moe /magickal  girls with guns series of light novels, manga, anime (TV series, movie & OVAS) & video games plus a few spin-offs since 2007.
The anime TV series is based upon the manga by Humikane Shimada & Projeckt Kagonfish which was serialized in Comp Ace magazine, published monthly by Sneaker Bunko. The purremise of this series is that instead of a 2nd World War, countries analogous to our own US, Britiain, Japan, Germany, Italy, Russia and so forth have united against alien invaders called the Neurois, whose mysterious dark aircraft have decimated Europe.
 
In response, the multi-national 501st Joint Fighter Wing  known as The Strike Witches and other teams were created. The 501st is compurrised of girls with magickal abilities who can create very ornate magickal deflector shields, and they fly into combat not on brooms, but with the magickal mana-powered mechanical Striker Units which resemble aircraft fuselages worn around each leg, hence the witche wear short skirts instead of pants.
They are of various nationalities which are analagous to real countries, such as Fuso (Japan), Liberion ( USA), Karlsland (Germany), Britannia (Britain) Orussia (Russia), Galia (France) and Romagna (Italy). The 501st consists of Maj. Mio Sakamoto (voiced by Seto Saori), Lt. Col. Mina-Deitlinde Wilke (voiced by Tanaka Rie, Sgt. Lynette Bishop (voiced by Nazuka Kaori), Lt. Perrine-H Clostermann (voiced by Sawashiro Miyuki)…
 
… Lt. Erica Hartman (voiced by Nogawa Sakura), Capt. Gertrude Barkhorn (voiced by Sonozaki Mie), Ens. Francesca Lucchini (voiced by Saitou Chiwa), Flight Lt. Charlotte Yeager (voiced by Koshimizu Ami), Ens. Eila Ilmater Juutilainen (voiced by Oohashi Ayuru), Lt. Sanya Litvyak (voiced by Kadowaki Mai), the main character Sgt. Yoshika Miyafuji (voiced by Fukuen Misato), and new meowmber Sgt. Hattori Shizuka (voiced by Uchida Aya).
When a witch uses her powers, animal ears & tail are manifest. For example,Yoshika’s are Shiba Inu, Perrine’s are Chartreaux Cat, and Eila’s are Black Fox.They carry weapons such as Perrine’s Bren Gun, Sanya’s Fliegerhammer, and Gertrude and Erica’s MG-42s. The Striker units resemble the fuselages of real aircraft, such as Mio’s Yamanishi Shiden Model 53 N1K5-J, Lynette’es Spitfire Mk.22, Charlotte’s P51D, and Mina’s Bf109K-4.
They group attempts to liberate Berlin from the Neurois in Road to Berlin, which is the 3rd season of the Strike Witches anime TV series, which aired in Japan in 2020 and was recently released here on Blu-Ray by Funimation. Purrduced by Takashi Tachisaki and directed by Kazuhiro Takamura, the character, mecha and scenic design, art and animation are supurrb, with the wonderful voices, sound FX and Nagaoka Shigemu’s rousing mewsic.
This Blu-Ray set includes epurrsodes 1-12 plus special features upon the two disks with the digital copy instuction sheet packaged in the plastic case with the outer cardboard sleeve.The reverse side of the insert is the wraparound pic of Mio. The 1080p HD video is of the 16:9 screen aspect ratio, with the Dolby TrueHD audio choices of English 5.1and Japanese 2.0, and theoptional  English subtitles. The few special features include the “eyecatch” gallery, and 12 textless versions of the opening song.
I wish there were far more special features, but I found Road to Berlin to be highly entertaining, due to the excellent story, characters, mecha and world-building, plus the great balance of charming, joyful, sad, heroic, cute, zany and slice-of-life moments in addition to the thrilling combat scenes. I will give it the “A” grade, and I hope that the subsequent spin-off series Luminous Witches will be released here on Blu-ray soon. Nyow here is Nya-sensei to discuss
The Book of Boba Fett.
 
Nyanko:
Arigato! I have been enjoying the heck out of the live-action and animated Star Wars series on Disney Plus, such Star Wars Visions, Clone Wars season 7, The Bad Batch, The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, which stars Temuera Morrison as Boba Fett, Ming-Na Wen as Fennec Shand, and Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin, plus many other characters whose surpurrises I do not wish to spoil!
This series has the seven epurrsodes which are spun off of The Mandalorian and are set 5 years after Return of the Jedi, with appurrances by certain characters from Epurrsodes I-V, the Clone Wars and Rebels. There even seem to be some veiled references to the Star Wars Holiday Special, which was Bobba Fett’s first appurrance in 1978, about the year and a half before The Empire struck back in 1980!
This series also goes a long way in atoning for the Tattooine scenes of Return of the Jedi, such as that 1983 movie’s regrettable Rancor FX and the Fett’s embarrassingly silly Sarlacc Pit fight scene.  It’s the most “western” Star Wars, moreso than even the Han Solo movie, but not as “samurai” as Star Wars Visions. The Tusken / Sandpeople flashbacks remind me of the movie A Man Called Horse.
I have no purroblem with Fett not wearing his helmet all the time. Like Bo Katan, Sabine Wren, etc his spirtual path is not the same as Din Djardin or The Armorer. I almost didn’t recognize Matt (What We Do in the Shadows) Berry’s voice as 8D8, but Corey Burton’s voice was unmistakable as a certain bounty hunter who’s name I won’t reveal as not to spoil anything.
I love the characters, purrformances, costumes, cinematogaphy, FX, purroduction values, music, fight and  stunt choreography. While it does have a TV budget look about it compurred to the feature films, it is still of very high quality. I think that i might like The Mandalorian series the bit more, but I will give The Book of Boba Fett the B+ grade! I am done, and nyow here is Myayr to tell us about
 
Catwoman: Hunted!
 
Mary Nyan:
Hai! Selina Kyle alias Catwoman is my favoritest DC Comics character, so I was purrticularly anticipating this latest DC animated movie! I was also especially eager for it, as it is Japanese anime, like the Batman Ninja movie, although thus’un is set in the contempurrary time. It is also like the buddy cop movie, as Catwoman teams up with Batwoman to fight the Leviathan crime syndicate and its appurrant leader Barbara Minerva alias The Cheetah!
 
Selina also hopes to purrloin the fabulous Cat’s Eye Emerald, which Black Mask brings to Minerva’s costume ball! Sellina’s cat Isis, Interpol agents Julia Pennyworth and King Faraday help against the villains, which is good because they include Cheshire, Nosferata, Dr. Tzin, Tobias Whale, La Dama, Talia al Ghul, Mr. Yakuza, Soloman Grundy, The Cheetah, lots of gangsters and ninjas. Rated PG-13, this 79 minute OVA is a lot of thrilling, sexy, amewsing, action-packed fun!
The movie seemed too brief, but loved the story, dialogue, designs, animation, backgrounds, voices, sounds and mewsc! Purrduced by Sam Register, Michael Uslan, Ethan Spaulding  and Colin Abv Lewis, written by Greg Weisman, directed by Shinsuke Teresawa and edited by Robert Ehrenreich, the movie’s casting & voice direction wwere by Jamie Thomason, character designs by Erik Okada and animation by Warner Brothers, with the jazzy score by Robert J. Kral.
 
The supurb voice cast includes Elizabeth Gillies as Catwoman, Stephanie Beatriz as Batwoman, Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Minerva, Jonathan Banks as Black Mask, Kelly Hu as Cheshire, Keith David as Tobias Whale, Lauren Cohan as Julia Pennyworth, Jonathan Frakes as King Faraday, Jacqueline Obradors as La Dama, Steve Blum as Grundy, Ron Yuan as Dr. Tzin, Andrew Kishino as Mr. Yakuza, and Zehra Fazal as Talia and Nosferata!
 
The single Blu-Ray disc and the digital download code sheet are packaged in the plastic case with the outer cardboard sleeve. The 1080p Hi Def video has the audio choices of DTS-HD MA English 5.1, Dolby Digital French and Spanish, with the optional subtitles in English SDH, French, Spanish, German SDH and Nederlandic. 
 
The special features are When the Hunter Becomes the Hunted, the 19 min. documentary about the making of the movie; and Catwoman: The Feline Femme Fatale the 40 minute documentary about Catwoman, which is narrated by Tara Strong and includes comments by many writers, artists, purrducers, directors, and actresses!
I wish there were more special features, but I was pleased with this movie, to which I give the grade of the A Minus! It has been the good time for the Selina items, what with the new Batman movie and the meowrchendise such as the action figures and the Funko Pop! vinyl figures! On that note, Melanakeami-san will start our
Collectibles & Toy Talk, with her review of the
Marvel Legends Captain Carter action figure!
Melanakeami:
Hai! We like to collect the figures, dolls, statues and ornaments of the inspirational heroines, so I was quaite pleased to get Hasbro’s figure of Steve Rogers’ girl friend the British agent Peggy Carter in her guise as the super soldier Captain Carter, as depicted in the animated What If…? TV series! Created by Stan Lee and jack Kirby, Peggy first appeared in Marvel Comics’ Tales of Suspense #75 in 1966! In the Marvel Cinematic Universe she is wonderfully portrayed by Hayley Atwell!
 
This 6.25” figure is part of the separately – sold Marvel Legends What If…? wave of figures that also includes Sylvie, Heist Nebula, Zombie Captain America, Zombie-Hunter Spidey Doctor Strange Supreme, and Star Lord T’challa.  All but Zombie Captain America include  one or two of the parts needed to build a figure of The Watcher, whose arms are included with  Captain Carter. She is beautifully designed, sculpted and painted, with the intricate details and the faithful portraiture!
She is very posable too, with the articulation in her neck, shoulders, upper arms, wrists, abs, hips, thighs, knees and ankles; and she is accessorized by thr 2” diameter shield which can strap on to either of her arms. She is balanced well- enough to stand wiithout requiring a display base or a doll stand (which are not included), but I will recommend using one if you want to pose her in the more dynamic stances. I have displayed her on a prime spot on my desk! Now here is Mike to discuss the
Marvel Legends 

Ironheart 

action figure!
Daytona:
Arigato! Created by Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Deodato, Riri Williams alias Ironheart is the genius teen girl with her own Stark-like armor who first appeared in Invincible Iron Man Vol. 2 #7 in 2016. In the animated Marvel Rising series she is voiced by Sofia Wylie, and in the MCU she is going to be portrayed by actress Dominique Thorne! 
 
This lovely 5 7/8” figure of her is part of the separately – sold wave of figures that also include Darkstar, Ultron, Vault Guardsman, Modular Iron Man, Stealth Iron Man, and Hologram Iron Man.  Except for the latter figure, each includes a piece needed to build a figure of the Soviet super soldier Ursa Major.She is quite splendidly designed, meticulously sculpted and precisely painted, with the intricate details of her sleek Red, Gold and Black armor!
Included in the box are an alternate unmasked head, a pair of variant hands, 2 repulsar beams, 2 contrails, and Ursa Major’s right leg. The articulation in her neck, shoulders, upper arms, wrists, abs, hips, thighs, knees & ankles. A display base or stand is not included. I purchased an adjustable NECA dynamic action figure stand to display her in vertical flight. That is all for our toy talk, so now Tara-chan will start our
purrinted-media mewsings, with her review 
of IDW’s My Little Pony: Generations #4 & 5!
Tara-chan:
Hai,

I love these pony comics which so capture the style and – and  the spirit of the animated TV series, nya! It is hard to believe that the Friendship is Magic animated series started 12 years ago, nya!

Generations is the crossover betwixt the original (Gen One) 1980’s ponies and – and their Friendship is Magic (Gen Four) counterparts, nya!
The
purremise of this five-issue mini-series is that the evil human teen cousins Grackle, Dyre (who are
the daughters of Reeka and – and Draggle)
and – and their magickal rat named Trench plot  to avenge their evil grandmother
Hydia whose sinister Smooze weapon was thwarted by the ponies, nya!
They transform some of the Smoze slime into the evil ponies Violet Shiver, Black Belle and – and Shadow Storm who will bring the chaos and – and the bad morale to the pony world, but the miscalculation sent them to the
Gen Four world instead of the Gen One World, nya!
Reeka, Draggle, Hydia and – and Smooze appurred in the
1986 My Little Pony movie, nya!
The Smooze ponies purrtend to be purrofessors at the Friendship School, where teacheth
Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie,
Fluttershy, Starlight Glimmer, and – and Sunburst Star, nya! In issue #4 the portal opens from the Gen One World, through which emerge
Lickity-Split, Lofty, Minty, Galaxy, Surprise, Applejack, North Star and – and Rose Dust, nya!
Other characters who appurr in this mini-series include
Apple Bloom, Granny Smith, Big McIntosh, Mayor Mare,
Yona, Smolder, Ocellus, Sand Bar, Silverstream, Gallus, Pizzelle, Spitfire, Fleetfoot and – and the other Wonderbolts, nya!
in issue #5 the Gen One and – and the Gen Four ponies unite for the finale battle to save Equestia
, nya!
Purrced $3.99 apiece, e

ach issue has the 28 full-color pages including the uninterrupted 20 page tale followed by the cover art gallery and – and ads, nya. I am glad that the ads do not interrupt the tale, nya!

It was written by Casey Gilly, illustrated by Michela Cacciatore, colored by Heather Breckel, lettered by Neil Uyetake and edited by Megan Brown, nya!
Cover A is by Michela Cacciatore, cover B is by Agnes Garbowska and – and Silvana Brys, whilst the scarcer Retailers Incentive cover is by Samantha Whitten, nya! I loved the plot, pace, poses, dialogue, expurressions, scenery, colors, shading, fonts, and – and the graphic narrative techniques, so I will give this mini – series the

“A” as in Applebuck, nya! 

Now here is Mie -sensei to tell us about

Flying Witch manga vol. 10, nya!
 
Mielikki:
Arigato! So like, This is one of my all – time favoritest manga series! Flying Witch by the artist / author Chihiro Ishizuka is the beautiful, whimsically charming tale of the teenage novice witch Makoto Kowata & her cat Chito who have moved from Yokohama to her relatives’ The Kuramoto family’s lovely mansion in the rural town of Aomori for her witchy studies!
Other recurring characters include Makoto’s older sister Akane & her cat Kenny, their mentor Akira, cousin Kei & younger Chinatsu, their mom Nana & dad Keiji, Inukai the fortune teller & her hamster Ai, Ms. Shiina the cafe owner, her daughter Anzu, waitress ghost Hina, Anzu’s owl Ororu, Makoto’s senpai Sayo and Kei’s classmate Nao!
The plots typically include learning spell craft, gardening, farming, cooking, day trips, and revealing more of the magickal world! Originally published by Kodansha in Japan, Volume10 was published in English by Vertical Comics, translated by Melissa Tanaka & edited by Ajani Oloye, with the purrduction by Grace Lu & Tomoe Tsutsumi.
 
Purriced at $10.95 in the USA and $11.95 in Canada, it has the 176 Black & White pages compurrised of B&W chapters 55-61 with the pretty color cover art! So like, it is summertime and the manga if off to the delicious, nutritious start as the family picks the fruits and vegetables which they trade with the neighboring gardeners and farmers.
Makoto, Akane, Chito & Kenny ride the bullet train, visit the Society of Witches office in Hirosaki where they have an exam and then on to their home in Kanagawa, where we meet their mom, friends Miko, Yayoi & Cantera. Then Makoto, Akane and Miko ride in the horse drawn carriage with Nihei the witch who will assist them and Anzu with an assignment at a temple full of maneki-nekos!
This was yet another totally beautifully charming, magickal slice of life tale that introduces us to more endearing characters, amazing creatures, mystical phenomenon, lovely locations and insights into the witchy world, so I will give vol. 10 the grade of an “A” as in Akane, fur shur! I am done, so now here is Ellie to tell us about the
 
Haruhiko Mikimoto Character Design Archive!
 
Ellie:
Arigato! Haruhiko Mikimoto is a lengendary Japanese animator, character designer, illustrator and manga-ka whose famous works include anime, manga, novels and games such as Gundam,  Macross, Gunbuster, Megazone 23, Orguss, Quo Vadis, Hi-Speed Jecy, Marionette Generation, and Tytania!
Published by PIE Books, and priced $49.99 USA & £40.00 UK, this 208 page 12” x 8.5” x 7/8” hardcover by Mikimoto is chock full of hundreds of annotated images that are as beautiful as beautiful can be! Representing the master’s career from the 1980’s to the present. it also includes more his recent works such as Blue Remains, Kabaneri, Khamrai, Koyasai, Tottoi, Mirage of the Flower, and Hatsune Miko!
I lost count of the hundreds of images of all sizes, but I’d say there are over four dozen full-page pics, over a dozen two-page spreads, and hundreds of other images of various sizes. I will give it the high praise grade of the “A” as in Aquarian Age! Now Trini-chan wants to tll us about—
The Art of Star Wars: The Mandalorian Season 2!
Trini-chan:
Hai! We are fond of the books about the design of the Star Wars productions so I am pleased with this book by published by Abrams and written by Lucasfilm’s Creative Art Manager Phil Szostak, who also wrote The Art of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Art of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, The Art of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, The Art of Solo: A Star Wars Story, and The Art of Star Wars: The Mandalorian I!
The full color, 256 page, 11 5/16“ x 10 7/8” x 7/8” dust – jacketed hardcover is purriced at $40.00 in the USA, $50.00 in Canada and £30.00 in the UK. The jacket front llustration of Mando & Grogu is by Lucasfilm Executive Creative Director Doug Chiang ( who wrote the book’s forward), and the jacket back llustration of Ahsoka Version 01 is by Lucasfilm Senior Concept Designer Brian Martyas.
With the case’s wraparound illustration of Crash Spider Version 105 by concept supurvisor Ryan Church, this book is the lavish collection of sketches, storyboards, concept art, paintings, diagrams, 3D models and comments for the characters, creatures, costumes, props, mecha, graphics, environments and FX of the 2nd season of The Mandalorian TV series.
The hundreds of other images by the dozens of contributors include many half-page pics, twenty full – page pics, two1.5 page pics, and twenty-five two-page spreads! I will highly recommend this beautiful informative book to fans of Star Wars, the science fantasy genre, cinematic design, and beautiful art in general; and I hope that there will be a similar book for The Book of Boba Fett! Now here is Mike to discuss the
I’m Smith, He’s Jones #1!
Mike:
Alias Smith and Jones was a fun early 70’s Western TV series about two outlaws Hannibal Heyes and Kid Curry who try to go straight with new identities, while a governer secretly considers pardoning them, but every week some new trouble would find them.  As a kid in the mid 70’s before we got cable TV, I watched reruns of it and Star Trek, Time Tunnel, Then Came Bronson and other shows that comprised Bob Gordon Theater, a weekend show on a channel out of Winston-Salem.
Meanwhile, the 70’s were a golden age for Star Trek fandom, during which I found out fanzines. Nowadays most fanfics and fan art is posted to the internet, but in those days there were no web sites and few fans had computers, so fan fiction, art and essays were typically published in those amateur magazines and newsletters. The ones dedicated to Star Trek might be the most famous, but tof course here are fan works dedicated to, well, pretty much any subject that has its fans.
Jim and Melody Rondeau have been famous fans, collectors, authors, artists and publishers for many decades; buying and selling fanzines, magazines, books, comics, games, film clips, posters, memorabilia and so forth at cons and through their web site Make it Go Away http://www.crossovers.net/makeitgoaway/home.htm. It has been a joy to make their acquaintance, do business and trade art with, so I was quite eager to get a copy of their latest fanzine, I’m Smith, He’s Jones #1!
Edited by Jim & Melody, published by their Buffalo Chip Press in January, and limited to a first print run of 75 copies, the 8.5×11” zine has 114 stapled pages (plus covers), consisting of nine short stories and a poignant essay by Pamela J. Corsa, six short stories and a couple of vignettes by Terrence Oswald Knova, four illustrations and five limericks by Melody, and a cordial opening editorial by Jim. I don’t want want to spoil the plots of the captivating tales—
– but I will broadly say that they range from charming, whimsical and adventurous to suspensful, tragic, poignant and bittersweet. Melody’s Black and White art of Heyes, The Kid and the horses is quite delightful, and I especially liked the pic that accompanied the Cat House Tale! Not only was this old-fashioned. top quality fanzine such a lovely read, but it put me in a wonderfully nostalgic mood, almost like I was 50 years younger, and that ain’t bad! Ah, that’s all for our book reviews, so now I’ll turn The Mew over to Lizzy, Becca and Nyo-sensei who’ll present the
Monthly Celebrity Catgirl & Kemonmimi Spotlight!
Elizabeth:
Hai, in this monthly portion of The Mew, we commeowmorate catgirls, nekomusume and other kemonomimi of international mythologies and popular cultures! Appurring in the folklore, novels, comics, movies, TV shows, theatre, mewsic, games, sports and advertising, they might include the shape – shifters, anthropurrrmorphic ladies, monster girls.
Some ladies are Ailuranthropes, also known as were-cats, who might seem to be the average humans until they transform into the feline or merely spurrout the tail and / or nemomimi pinna. Then there are those who might not actually have beasty DNA, but do have the cat-titude or couture, whether it is full-on cosplay or the animal – purrint attire!
We have  several examples of celebrities who we consider as an “honorary catgirls” for their feline fashions, such as jounalist Jericka Duncan who wore the gray leopurrd purrint blouse during the February 2nd CBS Evening News, commeowntator Zerlina Maxwell who wore the leopurrd purring blouse during her segment on MSNBC’s The Last Word with Lawrance O’Donnell
… and who could forget singer / actress Cher’s TV character Lavrne who wore the tiger stripe outfit? Sometimes the cat ears and claws are meowrly imagined, such as when Chizuru Mizuhara meowmentarily meownifested those when when she fiecely confronted her meddlesome grandmother in Epurrsode 5 “Hot Springs and Girlfriend” of the anime TV series Rent-A- Girlfriend!
Becca:
Sometimes the cat couture is more elaborate and overt, such as the titular young girl of the Kitty chapterbook series by author Paula Harrison & artist Jenny Lovlie! She dons the costume with the ears and tail for the nocturnal adventures with her neko companions as she tried to emulate her mom who is the supurr heroine of the feline motif!
Sadly not all thusly costumes girls who purrowl the streets have the cheerful lives, such as DC Comics’ Kitrina Falcone alias Kittyhawk and Catgirl, who first apurred in Batman # 692 in 2009. Created by author Tony S. Daniel & artist Sandu Florea, she had the unhappy life as a daughter of the Falcone crime family, but fortunately Catwoman took the liking to her and adopted her as the purrotege!
Voiced by Kimlinh Tran in the video game series Skullgirls, Nadia Fortune a.k.a Ms. Fortune is the bonafide catgirl- and the undead one at that! She is the friendly. fiece, athletic Robin-Hoodish character with the feral ears, claws, tail, fangs, keen senses, regenerative ability, detachable body parts, and the impurressive fighting purrowess!
The videogame series Blazblue has combative kemonomimi characters too, such as the stoicly cynical two-tailed catgirl Kokonoe Mercury, Makoto Nanaya the genki risumimi with the large squirrel tail in the sexy tight bare midriff outfit, and the mysterious catgirl Taokaka who wears the hoody, mask and large paw gloves! Our friend Misty Hopkins  https://kranberrijam.blogspot.com who was a guest of the March 2008 Mew, has cosplayed as Taokaka http://www.catgirlisland.net/art/guest2/2.html!
Nyoka:
If it is the magickal post-apocalyptic nekomimi you crave, then I will suggest the video game ArKnights, which is brimming with such charactersas Ahmoni, Beanstak, Blaze, Cliffheart, Dawn, Dora, Folinic, Haze, Heidi, Indra, Iris, Jessica, Kal’tsit, Melantha, Monique, Mousse, Mint, Nightmare, Picale, Pramanix, Rosmontis, Siege, Skyfire, Swire, and Waal Fu!
Problem Children are Coming from Another World, Aren’t They? is the series of light novels, manga and anime of the isekei genre in which three metahuman teenagers from Earth are telepurrted to the realm of Little Garden where they battle the bullies and despots that theaten the peacefully charming commeownity. One of those three is Kasukabe, the shy girl with the animal powers and her pet cat. 
 
The trio is summoned to Little Garden by the powerfully magickal bunny girl Black Rabbit. The nekomimi Shiroyasha is an elder of the commeownity with the tremendous solar power. Riri is the young kitsune who they befriend, Hifumi is the kemonimi hey resuce from the slavers, and Sandra is the ryumimi with the fiery dragon powers who helps them in the battles against the demon lords!
Lastly but not leastly for this month’s spotlight, I will meowntion the kemonomimi characters of the beautiful anime – style online role – playing video game Genshin Impact such as Diona the tsundere catgirl who tends The Cat’s Tail bar, Keqing the telepurrting swordswoman and merchantile guild leader, and Sayu the petite sleepy widdle kunoichi! That is all for this month’s spotight, and nyow here ar Petra and Bunni to purrsent the latest
Additions to the Catgirl Island Mewseum of Art!
 
Petra:
Arigato, nya! Here y’all will find the hundreds of annotated illustrations and photographs, nya! Galleries 1-8 display images by our purrducer Mike Moon, whilst Guest Art Galleries 1-5 display images by other folks with their purrmissions, nya. Mike’s collaborations with other artists are peppurred throughout the mewseum, nya! 
 
Some of the images are sexy, and some might depict the artistic nudity, nya! The most recent pics are the lowermost row of the cropped widdle “thumbnail” sized portions of the pics in a gallery, and you have to click upon those to see the uncropped full images, nya. In Guest Gallery Two http://catgirlisland.net/art/gallery/guest2.html 
 
— we are purroud to purrsent the supurrb Sechs plushy doll made by Misty Hopkins https://kranberrijam.blogspot.com who was a guest of our March 208 Mew, nya! Sechs was the full-body cyborg, an elite agent of the TUNED group and meowmber of the Space Angels martial arts team in Yukito Kishiro’s Alita Battle Angel manga, nya!
Then we are delighted to display six more catgirl pics by Melody Rondeau http://www.crossovers.net/makeitgoaway/home.htm, starting with ther recently Star Trek inspired sketches of “Catian Booty” and Andocait”, nya! An Andocait is part Andorian and Caitian, nya. 
 
Nextly “Gameowra & Mewt” is Melody’s amewsing purrody of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy characters Gamorra & Groot, nya! After that is her beautiful 1993 pic of four “Egyptian Catgirls, her lovely 1996 pic of the Angel Catgirl, and her gorgeous 2000 pic of “Melusinaг”, nya!
Bunni:
Then in Guest Gallery Three http://catgirlisland.net/art/gallery/guest3.html we are elated to exhibit four wonderful new illustrations by Rvkh

(pronounced Riv-kah), the artist formerly known as Rebecca Brogden, who was the guest for our September 2009 Mew!
“Floating” depicts the lovely fairy with Goatweed Leafwing lepidopteran wings! Rvkh used Faber-Castell Watercolor Pencils, Davinci Watercolors, Micron Pen & White Posca Pen for this image, of which there is an art process video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NCTFfzqHOg&feature=youtu.be!
“Mushkind” depicts exquisitely our widdle alien mushroom friend Cortinaria-sensei! Rvkha used Faber-Castell Watercolor Pencils, Davinci Watercolors, White Gouche, Micron Pen & White Posca Pen for this image, of which there is the art process video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCDVY3nlK9I&feature=youtu.be!
“Spring Rain” depicts the cute widdle pixy with the shroombrella on the rainy day! Rvkha used Procreate wiith the Apple Pencil upon the Ipad for this adorable illustration, of which there is the art process video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9v2I0-H8QU&feature=youtu.be!
 
Lastly but not leastly, “Nystar” is the male guise of  Rvkh’s female fairy character Nystia! Rvkh used Procreate with the Apple Pencil upon the Ipad Pro for this sexy illustration, of which there is the art process video of the pic at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3p0rf2zNBI&feature=youtu.be!
The cat lady sings…
Ellie:
Misty’s doll certainly faithfully captured Sechs’s spirit and appearance!
Daytona:
I love the paw print cutie mark on th Catian Booty, and the red tassle on the Andocait’s antenna and spear!
 
Melanakeami:
I guess that Gameowora would be of the Zen-Mewberi species and Mewt would be of the Flora Nekolossus?
Yvonne:
That seems appurropurriate, but those mice in the Egyptian Catgirls pic are causing the craving in my tummy, nya!
Mielikki:
I love the intricate details of the Angel Catgirl! from the vanes of the feathers to the decorative celtic knot corners!
 
Mary Nyan:
I feel the same way about the pic of Melusinaг from her lovely whiskers and spots to her jewelry and the tail!

Nyoka:

Nystar’s hair, grin and wings definitely resembles Nystia’s, and my those are some sexy abs, mew la la!
Tara-chan:
The Floating fairy is so graceful, and I love the salted watercolor technique of the circular vignette!
Trini-chan:
The Spring Rain pixy is so cute, with the richly vibrant colors and the perfect chibi proportions!

Becca:

Rvkh nailed the pic of Cortinaria -sensei! She has quite the knack for the mushrooms!
Elizabeth:
Well, I

guess that will do it for this edition of The Mew!

 
Bunnii:
We wish to thank Misty, Melody and Rvkh for the beautiful art…
 
Nyanko:
… and all of the other brilliantly talented people whose works we have discussed!
Jeannie:
We also wish to thank Jamie for his web meowstery…

Petra:
… and our other friends, family, acquaintances and audience whom we greatly appurreciate, nya!
Mike:
We’ll be back next month with more stuff! Be there… aloha!
The Ladies of The Mew:
Happy tails to mew- until we eat again, nya! Baibai. nya!