Geek Culture Reviews

Rob reviews Iron Cat #1... The Iron Cat armour returns in this new 5-part mini-series which sees a team-up for Black Cat and Iron-Man, however, who's piloting the armour? And what does it have to do with Felicia Hardy's past?  Iron Cat #1 sets itself off to a great start. Part heist, a part trip down memory lane, we follow Black Cat as she attempts to nab herself the score that got away. Trouble is when you are a master thief - the past has a way of coming back to haunt you. Felicia Hardy is about to experience this first hand as someone from her past has gotten hold of the Iron Cat armour. What then follows is a high-speed game of cat vs cat across New York as Black Cat attempts to find out who her high-tech adversary is. Jed MacKay, Pere Pérez , and Frank D’Armata  perfectly work in tandem to bring this heist thriller to life. Not only do we get to see events within the present day, but  MacKay also takes us 12 years into the character's past as we learn about

Rob reviews BRZRKR #9... Boom! Studios, Keanu Reeves , and Matt Kindt 's brutal tale of the immortal B is heading to its conclusion. Throughout the last nine issues, we've seen B recount his personal history as his current "masters" attempt to unlock the secrets to his creation. It's been a rip-roaring ride of blood and non-stop action, that feels like it's sacrificed any semblance of coherent plot. However, with the final arc now starting, could we see a more human side to the monster?  I'm not going to lie, I came into BRZRKR #9 with a bit of curious anticipation. For the vast majority of issues (for me), the narrative has been more miss than hit. While the action sequences are pretty good the narrative feels like it's on repeat. Yet reading the synopsis to this ninth issue makes out that everything has been leading up to this point, however in reality it's just more of the same. After his disappearance underneath the Moj

Rob reviews 2000 AD Prog 2288 [Regened]... This week sees Tharg taking some well-earned time off as his nephew Joko-Jargo takes over for another instalment of those special all-ages Progs. Yes! It's Regened time!  While some corners of the 2000 AD readership take their collective groan, I see the benefit of these all-ages specials. Not only do they act as a springboard into the more "grown-up" world of 2000 AD, but the Regened Progs also allow Tharg to utilise his talented pool of writers, artists, colourists, and letterers in new ways.  So, now I'm riding high on my horse...shall we get on with it?  Inside Prog 2288 you'll find the usual collective that typically makes up these Regened issues. Kicking things off is another outing with Cadet Dredd in ' Zootrapolis ', more magic meets Grange Hill in ' Lowborn High ', and another weird and wonderful ' Futureshocks '. Completing the line up we also have the returns of ' Scooter

IDW announces Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures... IDW have announced that they are taking us back to the 90s with their reboot comic of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series. Coming this September writer Erik Burnham and artist Tim Lattie will be embracing the retro vibe of the classic cartoon with the new limited series  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures . “I’m no stranger to writing the TMNT for IDW, but this is different,” says Burnham . “The version of the Turtles that exploded onto TV screens in 1987 was the version that I first met, and it brought me a lot of joy…and getting to play in this particular corner of the sandbox has built upon that joy! Humor, action, and plenty of high concepts were packed into each episode, and we’re following that path. I’m not sure if anyone in comics is having as much fun as Tim Lattie and I are with these done-in-one stories!” “Growing up in the late ’80s, nothing was like

Rob reviews Battle Action Special... When it comes to British comic books both Battle and Action cemented their names in the memories of many children throughout the 70s and 80s. While Battle , Action,  and their many incarnations are now but a distant memory, the publication's legacy lives on through its influences within the current 2000 AD weekly Progs. 2000 AD fans will already know this as both Battle and Action were helmed by 2000 AD creators;  Pat Mills and John Wagner . Now, 34 years after its final issue Battle Action is back! Written by Garth Ennis and illustrated by a wealth of artists such as PJ Holden, Kevin O'Neill, John Higgins , and Mike Dorey , this Battle Action Special anthology aims to celebrate the legacy of one of comics' golden oldies.  Featuring seven self-contained stories set around World War 2, Battle Action Special is an action-packed thrill-ride along side some familiar faces. Characters such as Crazy Keller, The Sarge, Johnny

Advanced preview - Bloodborne: Lady Of The Lanterns #1... Titan Comics have announced that a brand-new series set within the world of Bloodborne is heading to comic book shelves in July. And we've got a first look at what to expect!  ' Enter the city of Yharnam through the eyes of its citizens, when new hunters take to the streets to fight against the cruel and unusual epidemic that has gripped the city. in the black of the night, families and faith will be tested...'   Based upon the hit Sony video game,  Bloodborne: Lady Of The Lanterns sees writer Cullen Bunn (THE SIXTH GUN, WOLVERINE, SPIDER-MAN: SEASON ONE), artist Piotr Kowalski ( Image Comics ' SEX ), and colorist Brad Simpson , bring new Hunters to Yharnam's troubled streets.  Bloodborne: Lady of The Lanterns #1 is available at comic shops and digital from July 27, 2022. Pre-order now from your local comic shop and Forbidden Planet (UK

Rob reviews Metal Max Xeno Reborn on PlayStation 4... The JRPG genre has seen a steady resurgence over the last couple of years. Popularised by titles such as Persona and Final Fantasy, the genre is often features over dramatic storyline, crazy characters, and some pretty whacky gameplay.  When it comes to Metal Max Xeno Reborn, the game fits into the genre well. You've got a character who's dark and moody personality hides an inner voice that screams "hug me!", a pet dog that can fire an assault rifle, a post apocalyptic Tokyo that's called "Distokio", and to top it off - a heavily customisable tank. Its totally bonkers and plays favor to a lot of cliché storytelling, but deep down  Metal Max Xeno Reborn offers a somewhat grounded experience - even if it's rather mundane.  Don't get me wrong. It's not all bad and the game manages to be equally as good as it is bad. It tries to introduce some interesting mechanics, yet

Previewing Star Wars: Obi-Wan #2... Marvel takes us back into the world of Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi next week as Star Wars: Obi-Wan #2 heads to shelves. If you can't wait, you can check out the official preview below. “DARK SIDE OF THE MOON” Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan answer the distress call of an outpost on the edge of the galaxy. What’s the secret behind the devastation wrought upon the terrifying moon base? Will whatever plunged it into darkness pull a Padawan off his enlightened path? Star Wars: Obi-Wan #2 heads to comic book shelves on June 29th, 2022. Rob Lake - For more comic book and video game chat why not follow Geek Culture Reviews on Twitter and Facebook @GeekCultureRev

Rob reviews Red Solstice 2: Survivors on Steam... Red Solstice 2: Survivors takes a typical sci-fi action horror story and turns the dial up to 11. In the distant future, humanity has reached out to the stars and in doing so has colonised Mars. However, terraforming the Red Planet has awoken a pathogen dubbed STROL, which in turn has ravaged the human population. Now as bloodthirsty mutants wander the landscape, your team has been sent in to clean up the mess and save the day.  Red Solstice 2: Survivors is a curious mix of X-COM , mixed with a twin-stick shooter, then sprinkled with an RTS. Each mission is a desperate battle through mutant-infested locations as your three-man team attempt to complete various objectives. Whether you activating orbital super weapons, rescuing survivors, or slaying mutants - it's very easy to get swept up in the variety that Red Solstice provides. However, it's not all smooth sailing as while the game does a lot of things right, it equ

Rob checks out White Heat Comics #1... White Heat Comics   is a brand-new, 66-page comic that's been inspired by the medium's 'Golden Age'. Created by animation industry veteran; Stephen Reid, White Heat Comics aims to capture the balance of quirkiness and action that made comics of the golden era a hit.  With a talented bunch of writers and artists by his side, Reid has ventured out into the realm of crowdfunding to see his mini-digest dream become a reality. At the time of writing this review, the Kickstarter campaign is heading into its final 10-days. Not only has the project smashed its modest goal of £408 (current funding: £3,445), there are still plenty of great backer rewards on offer!  Split between three different narratives, White Heat Comics is an eclectic mix of sci-fi, action-adventure, and "Jungle Girl" styles, all tied together with some great artwork. Just reading the Kickstarter campaign page shows how much passion has gone into