Geek Culture Reviews

Rob Lake & Daughter review Forever Friends on Nintendo Switch... Fantasy Friends combines the fun (or annoyance) of an old-school Tamagotchi with the bonus of being in 3-D.  Before we get into the details of Fantasy Friends , I would like to point out that the majority of this review is based on the opinions of my 11-year old daughter. Whilst she's above the intended age range for Fantasy Friends (PEGI 3) she does play a lot of Adopt Me on Roblox (which is essentially the same premise). Fantasy Friends takes place in a rather flat fantasy forest. It's within this world that the fairy, Aurea tasks you with caring for 12 fantasy themed pets. It's your job to tend for these pets needs and in return, they could just become your friend for life.  To begin with, you asked to choose a pet from a set of three eggs. Much like that seen in Pokémon - except regardless of which egg you choose, your first pet will always be a cat. This hatching progres...

Rob Lake reviews Power Rangers #5... It's Morphin Time at dawn as the Omega Rangers head to the Western-esq world of Onyx and come face to face with a figure from Power Rangers past.  For Power Rangers #5 , Ryan Parrott gives us an almost Spaghetti Western affair, with a high-stakes gamble, Interstellar bar fights and plenty of twists and turns. I say this every month, but Power Rangers #5 is arguably the jewel in the crown (so far). As seen at the closing of  Power Rangers #4 , the Planet Onyx is a lawless dust bowl full of a delightful assortment of characters. Parrott establishes within the first page that " this place doesn't care much for Rangers " and it's a theme that runs throughout. Jason and Zack end up in a card match with a round nice-guy - Fendrick Prot. It's not long before the two Rangers are double-crossed and that's where the fun starts.  With Power Rangers #5 leading into the Heir of Darkness storyline (check o...

Rob Lake reviews Firefly: Brand New Verse #1... While Firefly may have ended its one season televison run 18-years ago, it's world has been expanded upon via various comics ever since. This new series just so happens to not only expand the Firefly universe, it also ties into BOOM! Studios ' ongoing Firefly series too!  Brand New Verse takes place 20-years after the events of Serenity with the story focusing on, Emma Alleyane Washburne. Emma just so happens to be the daughter of Firefly characters Zoe Washburne and Hoban “Wash” Washburne. Taking place on the much older Serenity, we follow Emma and her crew as they attempt to make a living as Smugglers in a much less hostile universe.  Writer, Josh Lee Gordon gives us a story that pulls on the nostalgia of both Firefly and Serenity . It's done in a way that keeps the sprit of what makes the show a cult hit, to then take the universe in a different direction. Gordon has done a great job in capturing the esse...

Rob Lake reviews Alien #1... " In space no-one can hear you scream! "...  Well when it comes to Marvel's first crack at crafting an Alien story, that's not entirely the case.  When it was announced last year that Marvel had taken on the Alien and Predator franchise from Dark Horse I was quietly optimistic. The teaser art of the Predator standing tall on Avengers Tower with an Iron Man helmet in hand was all I needed to go "holy shit!". Then everything went quiet, until today! So, Marvel's first take on the Xenomorph is as you'd expect it to be - it's a bit drab, it soon falls into those classic Alien traits, and has a lot of classic Alien moments. But does this opening issue exceed expectations? Well, it does, and it doesn't so let me explain... Alien #1 takes place in 2200, we're about 80-years past the events on the Nostromo and 21-years after the events at Hadley's Hope and Fiorina 161. So Ellen Reply is dead, th...

Rob Lake reviews Superman: Red & Blue #1... Superman: Red & Blue brings 5-strips by various creative teams that all explore what it means to be 'The Man of Steel'. And as Superman comics go - this one works incredibly well. Much like other serialised strips, Superman: Red & Blue had its stronger stories and its slightly weaker one's. But regardless, each explores what being Superman means to both himself and the wider world that Clark finds himself in. It's great to see both Clark and his super alter-ego being explored in this way. Each writer nails the Superman ethos perfectly with each story having that personal touch - and as someone who's not normally a Superman fan, I thoroughly enjoyed what was presented. Each story delves into a different aspect of Superman's life. The opening strip by John Ridley, Clayton Henry and Jordi Bellaire  is one that struck me the most. Not only does Ridley tie this into a story from Superman's past...