This will be a list of both television/streaming series and full length films that premiered in the year 2023.

1. PLUTO : A Netflix original mini-series based on the acclaimed manga by Naoki Urasawa. Pluto is a retelling of a story arc from the pages of Astroboy by Ozama Tezuka. A riveting story that should be talked about a lot more. Don’t expect the Saturday Morning cartoon formula. This is a masterpiece with brilliant and poignant references to our current geopolitical climate, debates on A.I., Civil Rights, life & death, PTSD and the costs of war on the spirit. Anime of the year.
   
2. Dungeons & Dragons (Honour Among Thieves) : A quick and straight to the point adventure starring Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Hugh Grant, Sofia Lillis and Rege-Jean Page as your typical D&D table-top party archetypes. Not too dark and not too comedic with wonderful landscapes and action set-pieces. Worth the viewing.
   
3. Super Mario Bros the Movie: What a wonderful and beautiful film. The textures and amazing animation painted with the most beautiful colors I’ve seen since Children of the Sea. The story is what you’d expect and that’s fine. The voice actors did their thing here and performed nicely according to the script. A must watch on psychedelic stimulants.
   
4. Barbie: I heard it was good. I interviewed over a dozen people about it with 19 out of 20 giving positive responses. It has to be good to earn $1.4 billion dollars. Good job. Keeps that momentum going.
   
5. Town Called Malice (series): Created by Nick Love (Football Factory, The Business, The Firm) for Sky Max. The series premiered on 16 March 2023, with the full set of episodes being made available on Now. Jason Flemygn and Martha Plimpton star with an ensemble cast as a family living the life in the 1980s on the coast of Spain only to be entangled with the criminal underworld of their new home. Stylized Neon Crime.
   
6. TMNT Mutant Mayhem : The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters created by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman. A reboot of the Turtles film series, it was directed by Jeff Rowe and co-directed by Kyler Spears, from a screenplay and story written by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and Rowe, with Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit co-writing the former and Brendan O’Brien the latter. Acid dripped animation not too different from the Spiderverse films featuring Miles Morales. The turtles battle in and under the streets of New York City against the schemes of villains like Baxter Stockman and henchmen including Bebop & Rocksteady.
   
7. Scott Pilgrim Takes OFF: A collaboration between Netflix and Japanese animators, Takes Off is a retelling of the original graphic novel as well the live-action film. The entire cast returns to lend their voices to the story. Still streaming on Netflix.
   
8. Yu Yu Hakusho : Like it or not Netflix is determined to bring a lot of your favorite Toonami series to life. The beloved Yu Yu Hakusho has been adapted in live-action. However, there is one drawback. This is a very short season with a lot of character development from the anime crammed, if not rushed, into these episodes. I am no uber-fan of live-action animes but, it’s been hit and miss with Netflix with the Death Note adaptation being its worse while the live-action One Piece had a good launch with some if not most fans. Hopefully, Netflix can continue to improve with the upcoming Avatar: the Last Airbender series soon to premiere on the streaming app.
   
9. Totally Killer : The Retro Slasher Comedy from Blumhouse came like a whisper and tickled every remember-berry I could have. First off, Kiernan Shipka is always going to give you a good performance and she doesn’t disappoint. The film will seem like just a slasher back to the future rehash but, at the halfway point it does start to pick up the pace and plays out into being a pretty entertaining film. Still streaming on Amazon Prime, worth a watch.
   
10. Jewel Thief (Documentary) : Now this is a film that I started watching out of boredom and boy is it a helluva documentary. Gerald Blanchard the infamous international jewel thief and con-artist is a tale that spans three decades and is documented in this brilliant documentary on HULU with testimonies from associates, victims and law enforcement local, federal and international. This is an absolutely recommendation for true crime fans and those looking to remember a simpler time in their yesteryears. Too good to miss.

And there it is your list of (in my opinion) the best in retro for the year 2023. Stay cool, Stay Classy, Stay Chill and remember never take your finger off that REWIND button.  

“Look forward to more reviews and Fish Scale in the 2024.”

10. Big Trouble in Little China: Old Man Jack (BOOM! Studios)

While the story of the second and final arc of Big Trouble in Little China: Old Man Jack was underwhelming, the artwork on display throughout the BOOM! Studios series makes it an easy start to our list of the 10 best retro-themed comics of 2018. Series artist Jorge Corona translates Carpenter’s Jack Burton perfectly into visual storytelling and the hero’s luck-based bumbling is always bristling with a striking amount of kinetic energy.

9. Doomsday Clock (DC Comics)

It’s 2018 and there is an honest-to-goodness Watchmen sequel. DC Comics veteran Geoff Johns delivers in what is largely a thankless task. Following up arguably the greatest comic of all time written by debatably the greatest comic writer is, to put it lightly, difficult. While not as cerebral as its predecessor, Doomsday Clock delivers as a page-turning superhero thriller. This has been more and more apparent as the series has progressed, with issue #8 out of 12 dropping just a few weeks ago. There’s no doubt that this will end with a sense of bombast that only Geoff Johns can deliver.

8. Black Hammer (Dark Horse Comics)

If Doomsday Clock is Watchmen’s successor in a literal sense, Black Hammer is it’s successor in a thematic sense. Jeff Lemire has always been an incredibly talented writer, but until Black Hammer it was hard to say what his definitive series would be. There is no question, Black Hammer is one of the best writers today writing at his best, and the results show. With the recent string of spin-off comics in 2018, Black Hammer is poised to be publisher Dark Horse’s next Hellboy.

7. Blackbird (Image Comics)

If you’ve been to a comic shop, you’ve seen Jen Bartel’s work. If a comic has any traction or hype, it’ll usually boast a cover from Bartel at some point. While Blackbird, a series in which she serves as artist, is still in its infancy, it has had one of the most impressive debut issues in recent years. The world that writer Sam Humphries has created is both noir and fantasy portrayed with a sense of realism that makes everything feel immediately relatable. Couple this with Bartel’s art and this is easily the series to watch in the upcoming year.

6. Misfit City (Image Comics)

Misfit City’s first arc was solid, and we wrote about the debut issue of the Kirstin Smith-written and Naomi Franquiz-drawn series back in 2017. While that was good in its own right, the series has really found its voice in 2018 and has quickly become one to pick up. The premise is interesting enough for fans of retro media — the town is very clearly modeled after Astoria, OR, and the movie filmed in the town in the 80’s is very clearly supposed to be The Goonies. On that backdrop, though, this is one of the best stories of the year, and the back half of the series has been a rollercoaster.

5. Robocop: Citizens Arrest (BOOM! Comics)

Writer Brian Wood’s take on Robocop is a little more restrained than Frank Miller. It’s in the microcosm of the universe that he writes that his series really shines. The anti-consumerist, anti-corporate bend of the original Robocop film is more relevant in 2018 than when it was released, and Wood never lets the citizen-consumers of his dystopia off the hook. Jorge Coelho’s highly stylistic art lends itself to the feeling of unease and dread that permeates a series that ran for a tight six issues in 2018.

4. Mister Miracle (DC Comics)

Tom King built his series on the idea of ambiguity. It’s hard to build a story around an unreliable narrator without readers feeling betrayed, but King affirms his status as one of the best writers around today by sticking that landing throughout. This is no doubt assisted by Mitch Gerads incredible artwork. Gerads relentless and retro-inspired nine panel layout really nails King’s depression-laden story and makes the whole experience feel as unique as it does melancholy.

3. Robotech (Titan Comics)

I was taken aback by how good Robotech was last year when it was added to NRW’s end-of-year list in 2017. Even with those raised expectations, Titan Books’ revival of the cult 80’s show that admittedly I hadn’t heard of before this series has continued to be one of the most consistently well-written, well-drawn, and interesting books of 2018. It’s wild to think of how much is crammed into this series, from the espionage plots, to the grand war narratives, to the subtle moments of romance. All of it is given equal room to breathe.

2. Labyrinth: Coronation (BOOM! Comics)

Few people understood storytelling better than Jim Henson. With the BOOM! Studios spin-off Labyrinth: Coronation, it’s clear that writer Simon Spurrier understands the appeal that Henson’s fantastic imagination had, and exactly why it was so foundational to multiple generations of kids and teens watching Bowie sing “Dance Magic Dance”.

1. X-Men Grand Design (Marvel Comics)

The X-Men comic franchise has been, if we’re being frank, a mess in recent years. There will be moments of promise, like the Jean Grey solo series or X-Men Blue’s earlier arcs, but the House of Ideas can never settle on what it wants to do with its mutants for more than a year at a time. As a result, it’s been very stop-start. For new fans, it makes the books seem less important and confusing. For longterm fans, they feel disheartened when the series fail to meet expectations. Grand Design aims to fix that issue for both fans, and the success with which it accomplishes that is nothing short of uncanny. In some respects, Grand Design acts as cliff notes for the often convoluted superhero soap opera that is the X-Men. While those old X-Men comics are worth reading in their own right, it is a huge undertaking to do so. Grand Design has you covered, but for returning fans, it acts as a love letter to a series and a mythos that rivals that of Superman and Batman. The X-Men have always been extremely important to me, and were my gateway into this kind of storytelling. It’s glorious to see what this series is doing for it.

The basic plot of the movie unequivocally reminds us of those Shakespearian love tales, such as Romeo & Juliet, but with a happily ever after, of course. There are, however, some other factors that we believe contributed to the film’s cult status, so stay tuned to find out more.

#1 Killer soundtrack

You know that feeling when the movie starts with a powerful opening sequence accompanied by even cooler opening theme? Well, this is something you can definitely expect to see in Thrashin’! The eponymous tune composed by no one else but Meat Loaf kicks off amazingly, leading us straight to the careless world of a teen, nostalgic, Californian summer for which we are sure will be packed with loads of action and teenage romance.

Thrashin’

Don’t Think Twice by France Joli is a touching power ballad that follows Cory and Chrissy’s bonding in the best possible way while Staring Down the Demons by Animotion makes an excellent fit to Cory’s efforts to take part in the L.A. Massacre despite his arm injury. Other honorable mentions: Arrow Through My Heart by Jimmy Demers.

#2 Brolin’s Insanely Good Looks

What we get to know about Brolin’s character, Cory Webster, in the beginning, is that he comes from the Valley for a famous (or rather infamous?) L.A. Massacre race, and it seems that he’s 100% ready to conquer the world. Cory is the absolute epitome of all 80s beauty male standards, with ripped muscles, blond hair, and overall fantastic physique which will grant him both the hearth of his crush, Crissy, as well as the chance to make all his dreams come true.

Thrashin’

#3 Red Hot Chili Pepper’s Performance

Even though the Anthony Kiedis & Co. performance might seem a bit odd at first sight, especially given their innovative music approach which had nothing in common with then-popular music, the band’s appearance in Thrashin’ made it pretty evident that the band was the herald of the new time that would come in only four years. Moreover, Black Eyed Blond by RHCP, which is included in Trashin’ OST, makes a perfect sense observed in the context of central protagonists who are – accidentally or not – both blond. Joking aside, the only dark-eyed blond in the movie is Brolin himself.

#4 The variety of retro fashion styles we get to see

All the way from punk rock outfits donned by notorious Daggers to somewhat casual combos of the Locals, Trashin’ offers a great insight into the favorite styles from the era indeed. The movie, on the other hand, takes place in Venice Beach, meaning that high cut swimsuits are to be seen on every corner too (think sexy chicks with their 80s hard bodies!).

Retro accessorizing is also present, including body paint, oversized jewelry, as well as a variety of crazy hats. Then again, we get to feast our eyes on tight and cropped tanks, high-waist pants, and jeans/leather outfits which are, as you’re already guessing, reserved mainly for ”villains“ and outcasts.

#5 Directing style

For all of us living outside the L.A, Thrashin’ offered a view of the city from the entirely different perspective. Remember that epic moment when the guys are skating down the Hollywood walk of fame? We thought so! David Winters did a great job with framing and perspective, which consequently contributed to consistency and beauty of the movie in general.

All in all, it seems that this motion picture can effortlessly bring us back to a more innocent time where the main problem was how to win over a girl. A bit naive from today’s perspective, we dare say, nevertheless a real treat for all us retro lovers who derive their positive energy straight from a wellhead of cinematic yesteryears.

Have you watched Trashin’ yet? Did you enjoy the soundtrack? You can tell us all about it in the comment section below!

10. SID64 – Future Nostalgia

Charles Michaud’s alter ego SID64 illustrates the potential that music has to tell stories. His experience composing film soundtracks no doubt lends itself to the best parts of his summer EP Future Nostalgia. The lead synth lines are the highlight, and they shine best on “Violet City”.

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9.  Moondragon – Miramar

While many artists in theretrowave / synthwave / outrun scene focus on the atmosphere created by and created for driving, Moondragon looks to the skies. Even without the Bandcamp description, Troy Simpson’s music lives in the experience of liftoff. “Maneuvers” is the biggest standout track. 

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8.  The Starfighter – After Hours

Dustin Fraser’s retro-inspired project The Starfighter is unique in that there is an understanding of the kind of power empty space can have in music. Just because every moment of a song can show you how fancy it can be with melody or effects doesn’t mean that is neccesarily always should. The open spaces are exactly what make After Hours memorable and groovy. The best song here is “Night Hawk”.

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7.  Waveshaper – Solar Drifter

Solar Drifter opens with one of the most danceable songs of 2015, regardless of genre. While “Stellar Jupiter” is the best song on the EP, the supporting songs after it each bring a confident and catchy mix of sounds. This was one of the first new releases I heard this year, but it stuck with me since. 

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6. Raydar – Evil Squad

If the first track on your release is titled “Satan”, you know exactly what you are doing. Evil Squad is as menacing as it is infectious from beginning to end. It manages to blend in several glitch hop elements throughout the five-track run. The best song is ” Lycanthrope”, which is set dead in the middle of the EP.

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5. Sebastian Gampl – Winner

Winner is not homage to music from the 1980’s. Apart from the release date, it is music from the 1980’s.  I have a soft spot for vocal synthwave, and the vocals on this EP are a perfect match for the music, and the melodies are exceedingly catchy. “Without You” is the highlight here.

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4. Robert Parker – Cardinal

Cardinal is an EP that knows it’s cool. It expertly weaves 80’s synths with 90’s nu-disco grooves and funky bass lines.  The production is clear and punchy, serving the funk and disco. The way Robert Parker weaves music from three decades, in particular on the track “Flashback”, shouldn’t be missed.

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3. SelloRekT / LA Dreams – Sounds and Waves

Being “weird” in terms of sound is impressive in its own right. What is more difficult, however, is composing weirdly. The songs on SelloRekT / LA Dreams’ EP Sound and Waves utilize familiar sounds from the scene, but every single track contains surprising melodies and turns that you don’t expect the songs to take. The album leaves an impression of being strange while not always being able to tell exactly why. It’s the songwriting. The titular track, “Sounds and Waves”, is the standout. 

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2. OGRE – Gradients Live

And once in a very long while, an artist comes along with a release that manages to be constantly unexpected in terms of craft and sound, all the while pushing the genre into territory as of yet unexplored. The entire EP was recorded live and in one take on forty-year-old cassette. And that odd quality to the sound? You’re hearing all hardware. Nothing on this EP was created in a computer. It’s odd and catchy and atmospheric all at once. A large part of the charm is found in the improvisational quality the music has, but it’s built on a foundation of true talent. If OGRE refines it, I can honestly see him releasing the Kid A of synthwave albums. Every song on this EP is the standout, but if I absolutely had to pick: “A3”. 

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1.  The Northern Lights – Teenage Wasteland

The Northern Lights released an excellent album this summer under the moniker Astronaut Arcade. Teenage Wasteland was released shortly after, and it feels like the night following the summer day that permeated that album. The indie and nu-gaze influences can still be heard on this EP, where they are complemented by either catchy and breathy vocal performances or catchy and breathy synths. It’s chilled out, well written, and sonically interesting from beginning to end. “Say Goodbye” leads the pack as the closing track, bringing in everything that made the EP great with what I swear is some inspiration from Twin Peaks.

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]]> https://newretrowave.com/2015/12/13/top-10-retrowave-eps-of-2015/feed/ 0 https://newretrowave.com/2015/06/25/the-astronaut-arcade-electric-summer/ https://newretrowave.com/2015/06/25/the-astronaut-arcade-electric-summer/#respond Thu, 25 Jun 2015 13:59:53 +0000 http://new-retro-wave.com/2015/06/25/2015625the-astronaut-arcade-electric-summer/

One of my favorite things about the scene is the fact that you can find an artist you have never heard before, who is good enough that you definitely should have heard of them before, and who has been active long enough to give you a catalogue to listen through. This was my experience with Electric Summer by The Astronaut Arcade, my favorite album of 2015 so far and one that is setting a high bar for summer releases.

“Pacific Lights” is my favorite song on the album and shows some pretty strong M83 influences. Where M83 lands more in the realm of shoegaze (or nugaze if we’re being Wikipedia genre snobs about it), Astronaut Arcade lands squarely in the retro synthwave genre, bringing just enough of the bombast and atmosphere to give Electric Summer an immediately recognizable sound. It also showcases how this album can have an almost lo-fi sound while still maintaining cohesiveness.

Vocals are present on a number of tracks. The interesting thing about them is that they act more as textures than focus points. The lyrics aren’t always discernable, but the melodies and production add to the track in the way that an additional synth might. It’s exciting while never coming off as a novelty. 

While I am piling praise on this album, I want to acknowledge that some NRW readers might not be as into this sound. It is not an album for fans of (and I don’t mean this negatively) heavily compressed dance oriented songs. The beats don’t hit as hard as many other synthwave albums. This is not a bad thing, as it allows the rest of the mix room to breathe. The level of reverb and echo on some tracks might be overbearing as well, but again, this adds to the atmosphere the album is so intent on crafting.

I am a fan of science fiction themed concept albums and have given them high praise in the past. That is a trend that is popular in the synthwave music. Because of this, the straightforward and personal songwriting of Electric Summer is so refreshing. The Astronaut Arcade knew exactly when to release this album. Hearing it on the cusp of summer 2015 it feels like a cool wave of water. It is rare for me to start an album over immediately after listening straight through it. This album did that for me. Beginning to end, it is refreshing, emotional, and most importantly fun. If you do buy this album, for the love of all that is retro play it while you drive.

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