Geek Culture Reviews

Rob reviews TOXX #1 from Wolven Press… From first reading Evan Carothers and Eric Palicki ’s end of the world survival story, I couldn’t help but see the similarities between a few tales I’d experienced before. Set within a dying, radioactive filled world, TOXX tells the tale of those unfortunate to have survived the initial apocalypse. Now living in the shattered shadows of the old world, the humans they remain have to contend with dwindling resources, crazed mutants, and each other. While this alone doesn’t set TOXX apart from any other tale of sci-fi survival, it does have quite a unique hook - its protagonist happens to be pregnant!  But wait. How does this make TOXX different? Well since disaster struck some thirty years in the past, there hasn’t been a child born into this hellish landscape. So throw in murderous settlements, backstabbing, and the promise of a free future, and TOXX #1 sets itself off to a great start.  Created by Carothers and written by Palicki, TOXX ...

Attack of the fanzine… When it comes to extended universes, nothing comes close to Star Wars. Across its multitude of television series, films, video games, and other multimedia content, we’ve barely scratched the surface to what that galaxy far, far away can offer. While Disney continues to adhere to its own “canon” universe, the Star Wars fandom have taken these established characters and added their own spin to them. Of course fanzines are nothing new, and any popular franchise will have its own spin-off’s crated by its fans.  One such fanzine is the aptly named Far, Far Away (A Star Wars fanzine). Produced by a talented bunch of Star Wars   fans, this anthology takes a different look at the characters that we’ve come to love - with plenty of surprises along the way. Released to coincide with Star Wars Day , this FREE comic is available now and can be downloaded by clicking here .  So without further ado, shall we?  Kicking things off is a beautiful introduction...

Rob takes an early look at The Crying Boy: Book Two... Niall O'Rourke 's suburban horror continues with The Crying Boy: Book Two. Still haunted by the strange happenings within her apartment, Nadia seeks help from local mystic Irene Borisov. But is this enough to save her son from the entity that's taken a hold on him?  It's been a while since I last stepped foot inside of Niall O'Rourke's creation - and a lot has changed. While the creative team of O'Rourke , Rob Moran , and Justin Burch remains, the comic has been picked up by publisher Sumerian (formally Behemoth ). What this means is that while O'Rourke works on The Crying Boy: Book Three , the series is going to be released to a much wider audience. However, in the here and now we find Nadia and Samir getting dragged deeper into the nightmare that stalks their apartment.  The Crying Boy: Book Two  picks up straight after the previous episodes conclusion. Needing answers to what Samir i...

Rob reviews Once Upon A Time In Xanatopia #4... It's been a few months since I last journeyed into the strange world of Xanatopia. Across the previous three issues, writer DC Horn has introduced us to Nora - a monster-slaying badass whose past is just as mysterious as her present, and future. Now as Nora lies unconscious as a result of her grueling fight with the monster that roams the Statue Field, she's approached by an otherworldly figure.  Is this new character the God it claims to be? Or is it just a figment of Nora's imagination? Picking up where  OUATIX #3 ends,  #4 sees Nora in a bit of a predicament. While her body is still within the real world, he mind consciousness is transported to Xanatopia's future. Here Nora finds a world where once gleaming towers have been reduced to rubble, and strange jellyfish-like creatures float across the skies. Before she's got a chance to catch her bearings, Nora's attacked by another being who can utilize ...

Rob checks out Balor by Peter Harte... Created by Peter Harte and Amii Muir , Balor tells the story of an ordinary Irish youngster, Sean James whose life is about to become entwined with the mythology of old.  Up until two weeks ago, Sean James was a typical Irish youngster. However, this all changed the night his younger brother Ben was murdered by criminal kingpin Don O’Donnell. Torn up over his brother's unjust murder, and frustrated with O'Donnell being above the law, Sean is very close to doing something he may end up regretting. Sensing this frustration, Sean's mother suggests they take a trip to Ben's favorite place Loch Na Suil. Needing some alone time, Sean decides to head out into the frosty waters of the Loch. Once out on the water, he’s then overcome by a mysterious green glow that compels him to swim deeper into the murky depths. Coming into contact with a faerie, Sean is then told he is to be the vessel for Balor's magical powers. He's ...

Magdalene and Dorian are back. But this time they're heading to Kickstarter... lolanda Zanfardino and Elisa Romboli 's queer rom-com roadtrip is coming back for a second outing. Heading to Kickstarter on January 30th, A Thing Called Truth Vol. 2: Drive Home will see the next chapter in Magdalene and Dorian's story. However, this time it's a comple graphic novel!  'What happened with the medical advancement Dr. Magdalene "Mag" Träumer was working on before it was stripped away from her by her unscrupulous former employer? Will her estranged husband's search for her lead to complications with the law? Will Dorian Wildfang's Quixote-like quest to fulfill her brother's posthumous wishes come to pass?   BECAUSE QUEER STORIES DESERVE GOOD ENDINGS.' As normal with crowdfunding, the campaigns success relies on people pledging to see the project come to life. And to help temp you to part with your money, Zanfardino and Romboli have some...

Rob reviews Sentinel Issue #13: The Pack... Roaring into its thirteenth issue, Alan Holloway and Ed Doyle 's tribute to Starblazer continues to amaze with its depth of storytelling. This time out  Holloway is joined by artist Mac Art for 54 pages of werewolf action. Best described as Dog Soldiers meets  Predator, The Pack introduces us to a squad of six battle-hardened roughnecks. What makes this squad unique is their ability to tap into their inner beast - and operate as a 'pack'. When a routine mission goes south, and one of their remains within his werewolf form - the hunters become the hunted. But is there a wider conspiracy at work? Coming shortly after Sentinel Issue #12: Valhallasaur, you'd think that too much of a good thing would sour the experience. However, with The Pact Holloway continues his writing resurgence that made Valhallasaur a great read. Across this issue, we get a simple military story that not only evokes the same feel...

Rob reviews TEN #1... Created by Dr. Christopher Rhodes TEN asks what our world would be like with super-powered people. Would they fight crime? Stand against prejudice? Or use their powers for fame and glory? While it's a premise that's been seen before, TEN adds quite a spin to proceedings - these super-powered individuals have been chosen by us to represent the best humanity. Originally just normal humans, these ten individuals were then granted great power by an alien race. Now, 5 years later and Christopher Rhodes shows how much everything has been changed by the "Ten". Opening this new series is Brian Johnson, a black Navy veteran who now goes under the moniker, ' Peacekeeper '. As one of the 'ten', Johnson falls under the jurisdiction of the United States government. However, while Johnson - as Peacekeeper - looks after American affairs abroad, he's banned from using his power on home soil. This all changes when a...

Rob checks out Destiny's Sword on PC... When it comes to mental health, for many the subject can be a tough bridge to cross. While some of us find it easy to talk about our mental health, others may not even realize that they see living with poor mental health, or just say "things will get better". In video games, the subject is also one that's not ventured into by many developers. Sure Mass Effect delved into Commander Shepherd's PTS, it was Ninja Theory who captured mental health perfectly with their hit Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice.  Another title aiming to build upon the stigma of mental health - and to get us talking to each other - is Destiny's Sword by 2Dogs Games . It's an ambitious project that aims to tell a gritty and hard-hitting sci-fi tale that also grounds itself in reality. As you venture through the narrative (that's been written by author M.D. Cooper ), the men and women you meet each have their emotional stability....

Rob reviews Sentinel Issue #12: Valhallasaur... After a short hiatus, the creative talents of Sentinel founders Alan Holloway and Ed Doyle collide once again to bring a tale of Vikings and dinosaurs. At writing it's been eight long months since we last delved into the creative mind of Alan Holloway . Previous Sentinel issue; Dark Matter saw the writer take an experienced mercenary squad across a planet-hopping, action-packed adventure. Dark Matter was well received, Holloway is drawing in plans for its sequel!  Anyway, back in the present and we're thrown to 950AD. Opening to a Viking longboat wading its way through the frozen North, the crew soon discovers a distant island. Mistaking this island for Iceland, the crew suddenly realizes they are miles off course and as such make landfall. Little do the raiders know that they're not alone on this island. It's here that dinosaurs still roam supreme, and they can't wait to take a bite out of those who...