Ben Applegate
@benapplegate.com
Director of publishing, editor, translator. Manga, democracy, civil rights, foster kittens, sci-fi, beer. Another world is possible. IDIC 🖖 He/him. Portfolio etc.: benapplegate.com (pfp: Marume Goshika)
All I'll say is thank God Angus wasn't around when my grandpa was "standing up" to Hitler
November 10, 2025 at 5:38 PM
All I'll say is thank God Angus wasn't around when my grandpa was "standing up" to Hitler
Reposted by Ben Applegate
Some BETTER LETTERER for you. And before the inevitable "that's not how I do it" replies, keep in mind that, by and large, this is how it's done in pro American comics (Marvel, DC, etc.) I've worked for all of them. More tips: blambot.com/pages/letter...
November 6, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Some BETTER LETTERER for you. And before the inevitable "that's not how I do it" replies, keep in mind that, by and large, this is how it's done in pro American comics (Marvel, DC, etc.) I've worked for all of them. More tips: blambot.com/pages/letter...
Reposted by Ben Applegate
Kyle Kingsbury is not a journalist. He is not an op-ed writer.
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
November 9, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Kyle Kingsbury is not a journalist. He is not an op-ed writer.
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
Pluribus is good. Glad I didn't watch any trailers.
November 10, 2025 at 4:42 AM
Pluribus is good. Glad I didn't watch any trailers.
Reposted by Ben Applegate
As much as I hate every single Republican to an almost pathological degree and as much as I find many, many Democrats pathetic and patently not up to the task they are charged with, I am most bitter towards and disdainful of the careless, unserious, bored people who are the American electorate.
November 10, 2025 at 3:40 AM
As much as I hate every single Republican to an almost pathological degree and as much as I find many, many Democrats pathetic and patently not up to the task they are charged with, I am most bitter towards and disdainful of the careless, unserious, bored people who are the American electorate.
Yes, this is a key part of the classic fascist playbook, which doesn't make it any less infuriating
you can see why fascism is so popular when the other option is The Loser Party That Loves Losing
November 10, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Yes, this is a key part of the classic fascist playbook, which doesn't make it any less infuriating
NJ, leave a voicemail for Booker: (202) 224-3224
🚨 We’re hearing that Senate Democrats are on the verge of caving to Trump in another “Schumer Surrender.”
That means your Democratic senators need to hear from you right now.
Call: indivisible.org/resource/cal...
Email: act.indivisible.org/sign/funding...
That means your Democratic senators need to hear from you right now.
Call: indivisible.org/resource/cal...
Email: act.indivisible.org/sign/funding...
November 9, 2025 at 10:08 PM
NJ, leave a voicemail for Booker: (202) 224-3224
COL. LOCKJAW [masturbating in his truck]:
November 9, 2025 at 8:19 PM
COL. LOCKJAW [masturbating in his truck]:
Reposted by Ben Applegate
Holy shit this is magical. Jump on this if you’re not familiar with Tarkovsky’s work, you will be very glad you did.
November 9, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Holy shit this is magical. Jump on this if you’re not familiar with Tarkovsky’s work, you will be very glad you did.
Reposted by Ben Applegate
Hello! This is an important one, so it won’t be the last time I post it. The Land Defenders on Hunters Mountain are gearing up for winter. They are resolute. But they need supplies, they are winterizing the cabins they built, there is food and firewood and gas for generators needed.
November 8, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Hello! This is an important one, so it won’t be the last time I post it. The Land Defenders on Hunters Mountain are gearing up for winter. They are resolute. But they need supplies, they are winterizing the cabins they built, there is food and firewood and gas for generators needed.
My 18-month-old nephew's older brother is a long-haired Dachshund, and I can't stop watching this video of him panting huskily to get my sister to give him a banana.
He thinks he's puppy
He thinks he's puppy
November 7, 2025 at 6:52 PM
My 18-month-old nephew's older brother is a long-haired Dachshund, and I can't stop watching this video of him panting huskily to get my sister to give him a banana.
He thinks he's puppy
He thinks he's puppy
If you don't want gen AI in your manga, anime, game, and light novel translations, now is the time to make your voice heard. Write to your favorite publishers and developers and ask if they are incorporating LLMs into their process. And most importantly, tell them you will vote with your dollars.
As machine translation tools under the banner of AI become increasingly accessible and easy to use, the light novel landscape is at a crossroads. Do light novel publishers compromise their product for more speed, and if so, by how much?
Does the Light Novel Translation Process Need AI?
www.animenewsnetwork.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:46 PM
If you don't want gen AI in your manga, anime, game, and light novel translations, now is the time to make your voice heard. Write to your favorite publishers and developers and ask if they are incorporating LLMs into their process. And most importantly, tell them you will vote with your dollars.
Fact
November 7, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Fact
Reposted by Ben Applegate
"World's first potential trillionaire has killed 600,000 people, including 400,000 children" is the only headline that anyone should ever read about Elon Musk
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 7, 2025 at 1:33 AM
"World's first potential trillionaire has killed 600,000 people, including 400,000 children" is the only headline that anyone should ever read about Elon Musk
Reposted by Ben Applegate
Trying
As someone who fell into the “all Shonen manga in the 60s/70s looked like Tezuka/Ishinomori” trap, reading Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 1 (1968) made me appreciate the sheer variety of styles packed into their first volumes.
Early manga history should be more storied in America
Early manga history should be more storied in America
November 6, 2025 at 5:55 AM
Trying
Reposted by Ben Applegate
They HIT HER CAR and then abducted her. She's a U.S. citizen and it's clear from the video that while of course she resisted - these guys are terrifying - she couldn't possibly have injured any officers. Most important, they had no business abducting her in the first place.
This needs to stop.
This needs to stop.
NEW: Footage of a US citizen in Chicago being rammed then dragged from her car on her way to work.
Abducted, with no warrant, her family couldn’t find her for hours.
She was later released with NO CHARGE.
A DHS statement said she “violently resisted arrest, injuring two officers”.
You decide…
Abducted, with no warrant, her family couldn’t find her for hours.
She was later released with NO CHARGE.
A DHS statement said she “violently resisted arrest, injuring two officers”.
You decide…
November 5, 2025 at 3:15 PM
They HIT HER CAR and then abducted her. She's a U.S. citizen and it's clear from the video that while of course she resisted - these guys are terrifying - she couldn't possibly have injured any officers. Most important, they had no business abducting her in the first place.
This needs to stop.
This needs to stop.
Reposted by Ben Applegate
Reposted by Ben Applegate
we had some good times
I can't believe this is the platform Andrew Cuomo is actually running on. This makes me sick
November 5, 2025 at 4:22 PM
we had some good times
"Goat meat on every corner", "taco trucks on every corner", go on racists keep threatening me a with a good time
November 5, 2025 at 7:00 PM
"Goat meat on every corner", "taco trucks on every corner", go on racists keep threatening me a with a good time
Reposted by Ben Applegate
Got to hear Kodansha talk about about this series at ANYC and it sounds incredible. Can't wait to read this one.
[Kodansha Manga] Peko Watanabe's That's Not Love Volume 1 pre-orders are up at
BAM! https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Thats-Not-Love/Peko-Watanabe/9798888777497
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Thats-Not-Love-Peko-Watanabe/dp/B0FNTHD46R
B&N […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
BAM! https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Thats-Not-Love/Peko-Watanabe/9798888777497
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Thats-Not-Love-Peko-Watanabe/dp/B0FNTHD46R
B&N […]
[Original post on mastodon.social]
November 4, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Got to hear Kodansha talk about about this series at ANYC and it sounds incredible. Can't wait to read this one.
Pathetic dipshits durhurhurring from behind their fences while they shoot journalists and priests with pepper balls.
@leighkunkel.bsky.social getting shot in the face with a pepper ball as she was kneeling behind a empty van alongside another journalist
November 5, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Pathetic dipshits durhurhurring from behind their fences while they shoot journalists and priests with pepper balls.
Reposted by Ben Applegate
Next week's @newyorker.com cover. www.newyorker.com/culture/cove...
November 5, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Next week's @newyorker.com cover. www.newyorker.com/culture/cove...
Reposted by Ben Applegate
Today is an absolute rebuke of anti-transgender politics, and a real sign that the anti-trans panic is fading.
From VA Gov to Loudoun County to New Jersey to New York City and Pennsylvania, anti-trans Republicans are falling left and right.
From VA Gov to Loudoun County to New Jersey to New York City and Pennsylvania, anti-trans Republicans are falling left and right.
Democrats are currently ahead in 63 (!!!) races in the Virginia House of Delegates.
If this holds, it would be one of the largest state legislature swings in the last 4 years.
Its an absolute bloodbath for anti-trans Republicans.
If this holds, it would be one of the largest state legislature swings in the last 4 years.
Its an absolute bloodbath for anti-trans Republicans.
November 5, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Today is an absolute rebuke of anti-transgender politics, and a real sign that the anti-trans panic is fading.
From VA Gov to Loudoun County to New Jersey to New York City and Pennsylvania, anti-trans Republicans are falling left and right.
From VA Gov to Loudoun County to New Jersey to New York City and Pennsylvania, anti-trans Republicans are falling left and right.
Reposted by Ben Applegate
Reposted by Ben Applegate
