Geek Culture Reviews

What happens when the dream is over? That’s the haunting question at the heart of Avengers:  Twiligh t, Marvel’s latest dystopian saga, penned by the always-provocative Chip Zdarsky and gorgeously illustrated by Daniel Acuña . Set in a chilling future where the Avengers have been disbanded, disgraced, or simply disappeared, the six-issue series offers something rarely seen in Marvel canon: a funeral for superhero idealism, played with a mix of sorrow, fury, and uncomfortable introspection. It’s not the first time Marvel has asked what happens after the end. Old Man Loga n, Marvels , and Ruins have all dabbled in similar territory. But where those stories looked outward at the destruction of the world around the heroes, Avengers: Twiligh t turns inward. It’s about what happens when the world keeps going but leaves its champions behind. And more than anything, it’s about Steve Rogers an icon who wakes up not just in the wrong time, but in the wrong truth. This review contains light...

A Mission Through Time… As the penultimate chapter in what has become one of my favorite Marvel outings of recent years, Cable: Love & Chrome #4 isn’t just good—it’s devastatingly great. With David Pepose on writing duties and Mike Henderson delivering hard-hitting visuals, this issue stands as the most character-driven and heart-wrenching entry in the mini-series yet.  So grab them hankies, it’s time to get emotional!  Due to the storyline of this issue I will be attempting to refrain from any major spoilers. Please read with caution as some minor plot points may be spoilt . The fourth issue finds Cable grappling with a personal and tactical crisis. Avery Ryder—the fierce and determined leader of the Resistance and a key ally (and possible romantic interest)—has been infected with the Techno-Organic virus. This development pushes Cable into a desperate, time-bending mission to save her, forcing him to confront the paradoxes and pitfalls of changing fate. But while Cable...

The hunt for the Lumia Seal takes Magik and Cal deep into the heart of Tokyo. But who is watching from the shadows? And has Cal teamed up with Earth’s saviour or its prophesied destroyer?  Magik #1 set this standalone series off in spectacular fashion . A series of events has caused Ilya to be thrown into a grand mystery that started with a demon-killing a mutant. With investigating this death, Ilya is now part of a wider conspiracy that centres on the demonic entity Luminal and its attempt to invade Earth by destroying the five seals that are keeping it at bay. With one seal being destroyed at the end of the opening issue, Ilya has now teamed up with the mage - and seal protector - Cal to stop Lumia from wreaking havoc. Now the duo forms themselves deep in the underground of Tokyo, and well let’s just say their journey is about to get a lot tougher.  Needing time to figure out where the next seal is, Magik #2 opens to Ilya and Cal in a cat café weighing up their options. Ca...

Love and rebellion in a cyberpunk world…  Cable: Love and Chrome #1 did a fantastic job in throwing Nathaniel Summers into a future where the Techno-Organic Virus had won and subsequently taken over the world. Across the opening issue writer David Pepose introduced us to the status quo of this world as Nathaniel was introduced to the people of Salvation Bay, their leader - and potential love interest - Avery Ryder, and their enemy; the Prime Conclave. Much like the opening issue, Cable: Love and Chrome #2 continues its spectacular action-centric narrative as Cable battles across the time stream. However, it’s the budding romance between its two central characters that’s the more interesting aspect of this story. It’s been clear since the last issue that there are some romantic feelings between Cable and Avery. The duo enter combat like a fine-tuned machine, and they’re throwing flirtatious insults at each other like it’s a Valentines' Day lovers tiff. As such it’s no surprise th...

‘Magik #1’ takes a walk on the supernatural side as Illyana Rasputin sets off on her post-Krakoa adventure… Since the fall of the mutant island Krakoa it seems that Marvel Comics is going all out on giving us a new X-Men-related series each week. This week also seems to follow the trend as Magik #1 heads to comic book shelves. Normally I’m not that into reading about mutant kind, however since the launch of “From the Ashes” I have been drawn to the various series that fall under the umbrella narrative. Naturally, it was given that I’d dive straight into Magik #1.  This issue opens up in a small town in Alaska where the citizens are seemingly being dragged away into oblivion by a demonic force. This suburban horror is then cut to Magik as the mutant is suffering from a nightmare. While a simple scene in itself it does do a good job in briefing new readers on who Magik is while not bogging the issue down with needless exposition. Anyway, once this is over the rest of the X-Men attemp...

Due to my holiday break I’m a little late on this one, but Cable: Love & Chrome #1 is arguably my COTY (Comic Of The Year) for 2025. Why? Well read on… Much like other Marvel characters, Cable is one who’s gone through a multitude of changes since his debut. From team-ups and fallouts, Cable has seen his fair share of ups and downs. Now with David Pepose at the helm, Cable heads back to his roots - albeit with a bit of Mad Max thrown in.  Taking place after Krakoa’s fall (seriously Marvel are milking this new era), Cable finds himself in a place called Salvation Bay. It’s a place that the seasoned veteran hasn’t heard of before, and it’s a world whose salvations is soon thrown into his hands. With no choice but to accept an offer by the one person who saved his life, Nathan Summers is soon drawn back to doing what he does best - gratuitous violence.  For those who’ve read my previous reviews on David Pepose’s Punisher reboot will know that the writer isn’t a stranger for p...

There’s more tactical espionage action as Mystique discovers her Destiny…   The first issue of Declan Shalvey’s Mystique mini-series flew out of the starting blocks like a bullet from a gun. Not only did we see what Mystique has been up to post Krakoa, Shalvey added in an espionage angle as Nick Fury Jr is hot on her tail. With Destiny as the focus point of this second issue, it’s becoming clear as to Mystique’s motivation.  Eagle-eyed readers will already clock from the cover who Mystique is dealing with in this issue as she takes the fight to Avalanche. As former member of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, Shalvey taps into this shared past to make their confrontation a personal one. As the duo battle in the snowy wilderness, there are plenty of cameos from other mutants as Mystique utilises everyone in her shape-shifting arsenal to tackle Avalanche. Her battle is also powered by her love for Destiny which is heightened further as Shalvey uses Destiny’s voice to show how dev...

Alison Blaire heads off to Tokyo for some much-needed R&R. However, trouble isn’t far behind… Last time out in Dazzler #2 we saw Alison head to the UK on the next leg of her worldwide tour. Booked to appear on a life television show, Alison found herself being controlled by a telepathic mutant, to then see her wreck uncontrolled havoc across the television studio. Her music is also being branded as “mutant-centric”.  Dazzler #3 starts by exploring the immediate aftermath of that disastrous television interview. Forced to make a public apology to her fans, Alison promises that this isn’t the end, and she takes the safety of all her fans very seriously. This then leads to the appearance of Lila Cheney as it’s revealed that the Dazzler and your team are hiding out within a penthouse uninvited. With security on their way, the group escapes back to their “tour bus” which happens to be one of the last surviving pieces of Krakoan technology.  With the threat of her tour being can...

Now that Black Panther Vs. Predator has reached its finale, it’s time for the alien hunter to target a new prey. This time the Yautja sets its sights on our friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man for its next target in the Marvel Comics universe.  Scheduled for release in 2025, and being written by Benjamin Percy, with art by Marcelo Ferreira Predator Vs. Spider-Man follows Marvel’s recent run of Predator Vs. limited series, and will join the likes of Predator Vs, Wolverine, Predator Vs. Black Panther, and Aliens Vs. Avengers.  Predator Vs. Spider-Man is set for release in April 2025. Be sure to keep an eye on Geek Culture Reviews in the coming months for a sneak peek preview of what to expect

Alison and her entourage head to London for the next stop of their tour, but someone has other plans… Dazzler is the one ‘ From The Ashes… ’ comic that surprised me. While the post-Krakoa narrative has so far centred on two separate X-Men teams, Wolverine, Mystique, and the new Sentinels, Dazzler wasn’t a character I’d have expected to steal the limelight of this new era. Even though we’re still dealing with the opening act to Jason Loo and Rafael Loureio ’s series, Dazzler has so far been the fun side to the all-encompassing ‘ From The Ashes… ’ narrative umbrella.  Taking place straight after her eventful concert in L.A., Alison heads straight backstage and wants answers from Scorpia. The wayward mutant doesn’t give up any names as to who hired her, but she does let slip that someone wants Dazzler’s concerts to fail. As Multiple Man takes Scopia off to the awaiting authorities, Alison has a catch-up with her beau, Dale, to then reveal that she’s off to London on the next stop of...

How to solve a problem like Mystique?  Another week, and we’ve got yet another new X-Men-related release under the “ From the Ashes… ” umbrella. This time we’re catching up with Mystique as she aims to show the world why she is one mutant that should be feared. Holding Mystique’s reigns for this outing is Declan Shalvey, who takes the shape-shifting mutant into the espionage world of Nick Fury.  How it all comes together? Well, come with me as I find out… First off there’s very little story within this opening that gives away what exactly Mystique is up to. All we know is that she’s after something (or someone) called “Protozoa” and Maverick has intel on where this mysterious MacGuffin is located. As such we follow Mystique as she heads off to Germany to lure Maverick to her. Deciding to portray herself as Sabertooth, it isn’t long before Mystique and Maverick meet and a bloody - yet quick - battle ensues.   We then switch perspective to Nick Fury Jr as he’s bogged down ...

The X-Men’s most fearsome foe gets an upgrade…   Sentinels is the latest story to come from the wider ‘ From the Ashes ’ X-Men narrative that’s taking mutant-kind into new territory since Krakoa’s fall. Where the majority of these new stories have placed their focus on the heroes, Sentinels follows a group of Sentinel-tech enhanced hunters who operate out of Greymalkin Penitentiary - the former Xavier mansion. With human and mutant relationships ever more strained after the events of Krakoa, can these new Sentinels keep the fragile peace?  The set-up to Sentinels is pretty simple and writer Alex Paknadel doesn’t pull any punches in telling us that we’re following the bad guys of this new era. Lawrence Trask (the son of the Sentinel creator, Bolivar Trask) is front and centre as he’s been hired to hunt down the mutant kinds most wanted. In true Trask fashion, Lawrence utilises Sentinel technology to turn injured veterans into cyborg warriors with the sole purpose of hunting ...