Geek Culture Reviews

Rise of the Powers of X #1 heads to comic book shops next week, and you can check out the preview from Marvel Comics below… THE FIGHT FOR KRAKOA HAS BEEN LOST! Ten years ago, the mutants returned from their exile to try and reclaim the Earth from the forces of Orchis. They failed. Now, within the victorious Orchis with their gauntlet choking the world, Nimrod and Omega Sentinel put their plan within a plan into action. They are to summon their binary god to consume everything in their accession. All that stands between them is the X-Men. What can they do? They’re the X-Men. They’ll find a way. That’s their power. So begins a story beyond time and space, with the rise of powers beyond our petty human intelligence. From writer Kieron Gillen (IMMORTAL X-MEN, UNCANNY X-MEN) and artist R.B. Silva (POWERS OF X, CAPTAIN AMERICA: SYMBOL OF TRUTH) comes half of the story that will bring the Krakoa Age to its conclusion! Rise of the Powers of X #1 is set to be released on 10th January 

Skybound & Image enter new territory with Duke #1… It’s been quite a few years since I dropped into the world of G.I. Joe. Aside from a hand down of the 80’s action figures, and a very old annual, my main understanding has come from the very cheesy films from the early 2000’s.  So why jump in now?  Well in truth it’s all due to Skybound’s new ‘Energon Universe’, a shared universe that connects G.I Joe to Transformers, and Void Runners. While it’s already been teased within the latest Transformers film, Skybound have beaten Hollywood to it and Duke #1 kicks off this new shared reality. And boy, it’s an opening that doesn’t pull its punches.  Written by Joshua Williamson, Duke #1 follows a disheveled Conrad Hauser as he becomes disillusioned with his role in the American war machine. He’s seen things that he cannot explain, and his quest for answers has seen his superiors close ranks. When his friend - and comrade - is murdered by an aircraft that seemingly “transforms”...

Lawman of the people!  What better way to start 2024 by ploughing into the ‘Thrillverse’ with another helping of 5 tales from the House of Tharg.  With 2000 AD heading into its 47th year, the Galaxy’s Greatest is showing no signs of “middle-age”. So sit back, grab a bar of munce, and join me as we delve into the first Prog of 2024.  And it’s all under a quite frankly ridiculous cover by Steve Austin. Could we already be seeing 2024’s cover of the year?  After the bumper-feative Prog that saw out 2023, Prog 2363 takes us back to the usual suspects that have made up the order of running over he’s last half dozen weeks. That schedule is all too soon to change  as we get a third series to slow-burning horror, Thistlebone, and another look into the political side of the Justice Departmtne courtesy of Rob Williams.  But for now, we’re with the usual suspects. And what better way to kick things off with a Mike Carroll Judge Dredd! Judge Dredd: Vox Populi (Mike Car...

What waits for us in the dark? Jumping straight out of the pages to Matt Adcock’s novel of the same name, Complete Darkness tells a story about the accidental mapping of Hell - and what comes with it.  Taking place within the city of London 2, in the year of 2242, scientists have been attempting to map the elusive dark matter particle. Upon finally succeeding, these scientists soon discover - much to their horror - that they’ve discovered the realms of Hell and that it’s all around us. However, in looking inwards, the Devil is able to look out and as such the demon has decided to lay waste to humanity. Yet in his own hubris, the Devil has granted supernatural powers to an ordinary human. Now with the power to fight back against their extinction, humanity’s fate rests on the shoulders of Cleric 20.  Matt Adcock kicks issue #1 off by setting the stage and introducing us to the movers and shakers of the Complete Darkness chess board. A lot of the issue deals with our protagonist ...

The Man is different, The mission stays the same… Ex-S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Joe Garrison is out for revenge. With his family being murdered in an explosion at their home, Garrison begins his one-man war on those responsible. Utilising his experience as a S.H.I.E.L.D.Agent, and knowledge of the defunct agencies remaining hidden bases, Garrison isn’t someone to be trifled with. When his mission to track down the “Sokovian” sees him tangle with Mr. Hyde, Garrisons unique armour see him mistaken for Frank Castle aka “The Punisher”, and so a new legend is born. But it’s a mantle that Garrison neither wants, nor needs.  David Pepose, Dave Wachter, and Dan Brown are back for another action-packed thrill-ride into Garrison’s mission of vengeance. This time he’s up against the crime lord known as The Offer, and it’s one fight that’s certainly going to test every ounce of Garrison’s unique skill set to overcome. With word filtering down that The Offer would soon be receiving a visit from this my...