The top article on the Black Gate blog last month was Elwin Cotman’s detailed look back at the Space Opera of famed Anime creator Leiji Matsumoto.

Second on the list was Jon Sprunk’s survey of the Worst Fantasy Films of All Time, followed by our tribute to the 80s science fiction & fantasy of Bluejay Books.

Fourth was the 12th installment in our ongoing series tracking the latest in Appendix N scholarship: “H.P. Lovecraft, A. Merritt, and Appendix N: Advanced Readings in D&D. Closing out the list is M. Harold Page’s thoughtful response to the question, “So What’s Wrong With (Some) Modern Fantasy?”

The complete Top 50 Black Gate posts in December were:

1. Futuristic Myth: The Space Opera of Leiji Matsumoto
2. The Worst Fantasy Films of All Time
3. A Fond look back at Bluejay Books
4. H.P. Lovecraft, A Merritt, and Appendix N; Advanced Readings in D&D
5. So What’s Wrong with (some) Modern Fantasy?
6. Seductive Sorceress Queens, Decadent Civilizations and Moon-lit Brawls: Bloodstone
7. The Cartoon Revolution will no Longer be Televised
8. Experience the Joy of the Pulps with The Incredible Pulps
9. The Problem with Wonder Woman
10. A History of Godzilla on Film, Part 1: Origins (1954–1962)
11. My Favorite Dragons
12. Robert E. Howard and the Yellow Peril
13. Announcing the Winners of the Stalking the Beast Contest
14. The Hobbit: The Long-Awaited Movie, Part One
15. The Series Series: Seven Forges by James A. Moore
16. Vintage Bits: BattleTech, The Crescent Hawk’s Inception
17. Why I’m Here, Part One
18. Star Trek Nemesis: One Generation’s Final Frontier
19. One Man’s Trash
20. When One Window Closes…

     

21. This Will be on the Test
22. Dungeon Wishes
23. Why Evil Overlords need to be Competent
24. Skyfall: In Which a Pulp Hero Meets the 21st Century
25. Goth Chick News: Why Japanese Tire Commercials Are Cooler Than US Tire Commercials
26. Everything Bad Makes a Puzzle: Some Thoughts on Everything Bad is Good For You
27. A Ghost Put to Good Use: Ali Smith’s Hotel World
28. Christmas in the Dungeon
29. Tolkien Landscapes
30. Vintage Treasures: The Unknown, edited by D. R. Bensen

     

31. Rejecting the Golden Age: Gareth L. Powell on Escaping Science Fiction’s Pulp Roots
32. Yes Virginia, There is a Cthulhu
33. Space 1999: The Fantasy in Your Mirror May Be Closer Than It Appears
34. The Whole Northern Thing: Hrolf Kraki’s Saga by Poul Anderson
35. Yes, Virginia, Damn Straight There’s a Santa Claus
36. World Building Historical Fiction using Military Thinking
37. Two Perspectives are Better Than One: A Review of A Short History of Fantasy
38. Ancient Worlds: Apples, Cattle, and Big Red Buttons
39. November Short Story Roundup
40. Godzilla Geek Out – More on the First Trailer for 2014 Remake

     

41. Prologomenon to Fantasy
42. Forgotten Heroes of Pulp Fiction: Jim Maitland
43. The Ballantine Adult Fantasy Series: The Blue Star by Fletcher Pratt
44. The Resurrection of Dr. Mabuse
45. Last Minute Gift Ideas for your Game Geek or Webcomics Lover
46. Lord Dunsany, Philip José Farmer, and Appendix N: Advanced Readings in D&D
47. The Man Who Was Gilbert Keith Chesterton
48. Sandman: An Overture And A Look Back
49. The Shock of the New: Chris Moriarty’s Spin State
50. Sword Sisters: A Partnership, a Prequel, a Picture Show, and a Print Run

The Top 5o Black Gate blog posts in November are here, and you can see all 101 posts we made in the month of December here.