Spider-Man | Geekscape

The Geekscape ‘Spider-Man: Miles Morales’ Special!

by JonathanNovember 19, 2020

The Sony PS5 is here! And with it ‘Spider-Man: Miles Morales’ for the PS4 and PS5! A follow up to 2018’s ‘Game of the Year’ Contender, this newer, smaller game follow Miles Morales as he takes the mantle of Spider-Man to defend Harlem and Manhattan from the Roxxon Corporation and mysterious Underground! How does it measure up to the original? What additions did developer Insomniac make to the game? And what do we want from a follow up to these two incredible titles? Longtime Geekscapist BigYanks and first time Geekscapist Justin Britton join me to discuss all of this and more on a brand new Geekscape Special! Enjoy! Subscribe to Geekscape on iTunes!

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The Geekscape ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’ Special With Ian Kerner!

by JonathanJuly 6, 2019

SPOILER WARNINGS! ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’ is in theaters and marks the end of the MCU’s Phase 3! But what does it mean for our favorite web slinger? How is Peter (and the entire world) recovering from the aftermath of End Game? Is Mysterio’s arrival proof of a larger Marvel multi-verse? Will MJ and Peter finally get together? What hints does Far From Home give us for the Phase 4 of the MCU? And what was up with those insane post credit scenes? It’s all here on a new Geekscape special so enjoy!

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The Geekscape ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Special With Ian Kerner!

by JonathanApril 26, 2019

Here it is: the biggest movie in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe… and it has all been building up to this! And we know you’ve got questions! Is this the greatest film the MCU’s 12 year history? How is this a love letter to everything that’s come before? Where do you go after the cataclysmic events of Avengers: Infinity War? Who survives? Who doesn’t? Who comes back? What were the biggest moments in the biggest movie? What does this mean for the future of the MCU and the Disney+ Marvel series? And what were the coolest easter eggs and comic book origins that we’re seeing played out on screen? It’s all here… so enjoy!

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The Geekscape ‘Spider-Man: Into The Spider-verse’ Special With Ian Kerner!

by JonathanDecember 28, 2018

On the heels of the blockbuster success of ‘Venom’, Sony is back with another entry in the Spider-Man universe… this time going in a completely different direction (or a few)! With the fully animated ‘Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse’, movie audiences are introduced to Miles Morales, the younger Spider-Man originally introduced in the Ultimate Spider-Man comics… but very quickly he meets up with Spider-characters from various universes as the Kingpin pursues a plan to access them all or destroy them all! Is the hype about this film real? Is this the greatest Spider-Man film of all time? What works? What doesn’t? What characters and creators were done justice and just how insane an idea for a movie is this? And did Sony pull it off!?! Ian and I go FULL SPOILERS on this one so only listen to it if you’ve already seen the film! Excelsior!

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Geekscape 499: Yuri Lowenthal Swings Into Spider-Man!

by JonathanOctober 18, 2018

Longtime Geekscape friend Yuri Lowenthal has been keeping a secret… that he’s Spider-Man! But now, the entire world knows because Spider-Man on PS4, in which Yuri plays Peter Parker and Spider-Man, is one of the hottest, system selling games of the year! In this episode, Yuri talks about the long process of auditioning for the roll, having to keep such a giant secret and performing as one of the most iconic characters of all time! What was the process of performing some of the action packed mocap sequences? Did he get to adlib any of the lines? What were some of his favorite parts of the whole experience and would he be up for a sequel? Also, we talk about Yuri’s live, user interactive sci-fi series for Project Alpha, ‘Orbital Redux’, and what an insane and brilliant idea it is for a web series! There’s a lot here to process, Geekscapists, so enjoy!

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The Geekscape ‘Venom’ Special With Ian Kerner!

by JonathanOctober 8, 2018

Finally! Hollywood had its way and successfully released the stand-alone ‘Venom’ movie that they’ve been trying to make for years! But… is it really a success? What can be argued against an $80 Million opening weekend? Well… a lot. This movie isn’t exactly a critical darling. From the script to the fx to the acting to the entire point of making a stand-alone Venom movie in the first place, there’s a lot that doesn’t work. So why did we still have fun watching it? Did it have anything to do with the movie? Well, it’s time to answer your questions. Does any of it work? How is there a Venom separate from the Spider-Man story? Are the action scenes exciting? Did they nail the Venom and Eddie Brock relationship? How does the villain stack up? Does anything in this movie make sense? It’s all here in this episode… so better you listen to this than watch the movie.

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The Geekscape ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ Special With Ian Kerner!

by JonathanMay 4, 2018

‘Avengers: Infinity War’, arguably the biggest movie event of all time, is out and we’ve all seen it (and if not, don’t listen because MAJOR SPOILER WARNINGS)! And after seeing all the characters and plotlines of this 2 and a half hour epic, we’re sure you’ve got a ton of questions! What was Doctor Strange’s plan? Who lived? Who didn’t? How will Marvel bring some of our favorite heroes back? What’s in store for us with Avengers 4? Where does Iron Man go from here? How does Captain America rebuild the Avengers? Who is stronger than Thor? Who is Captain Marvel? What does this mean for ‘Ant-Man and The Wasp’? Luckily, it’s ALL ANSWERED HERE and by none other than our own Ian Kerner! So sit back and assemble because this episode is loaded!

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The Geekscape ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ Special With Ian Kerner!

by JonathanJuly 10, 2017

Here it is! The ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ Geekscape Special! You know how Ian and I do this so MAJOR SPOILERS ahead! Spider-Man is our favorite character and we’ve been excited about this one for a while… and we almost can’t believe it! We get into the character changes, the cast, what 100% worked and what aaaaaalmost did, the Vulture, the Sinister Six, Sony’s future plans for the Spider-verse and so much more! Apologies on the mic short! New mic incoming!

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Watch Four Hilarious Minutes From ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’!

by Derek KraneveldtJuly 3, 2017

Briefly: This is incredible.

I’ve been largely avoiding trailers, clips, and spoilers for the upcoming release of Spider-Man homecoming, but for some reason the opportunity to catch the first few minutes of footage from the film was simply something that I couldn’t resist.

Cinemablend points out that this isn’t actually the first four minutes, and that there’s another scene preceding this footage, but in any case, it’s a freaking wonderful few moments of footage that skyrockets my excitement for the feature.

Naturally, if you don’t want anything spoiled you should probably avoid watching (and reading below this sentence).

The clip plays off as a video diary of Peter’s journey to meet The Avenger’s (culminating with him stealing Cap’s shield), getting a new suit, annoying the hell out of Happy, and… having to sit around awkwardly while Stark talks about his hopes that Aunt May is wearing something skimpy.

A new trailer is attached to the end of the footage, though it’s composed mostly of footage that has already been released in some form or another.

In any case, we’re just a few days away from what sounds (based on early reactions) like an actually freaking good Spider-Man film, and I couldn’t be more excited.

Take a look at the footage below, and be sure to let us know what you think! Spider-Man: Homecoming hits theatres this Friday!

https://youtu.be/OmE8cujOcBo

‘Uncharted’ Casts Tom Holland And Gets A Rewrite . . . Again

by The_aczMay 22, 2017

Sony’s Uncharted movie has endured development hell, as is typical of a usual movie put out by the company today. Mostly because no one there knows what the hell they’re doing, nor do they care about understanding why a series is so beloved and popular. Production started in 2009 and has yet to solidly secure and keep writers and directors. It’s frankly amazing how they haven’t given up after 8 years of no progress. Now, it looks like development is finally moving forward, whether we want it to or not. Sony has announced that Spider-Man Homecoming‘s Tom Holland will be playing Nathan Drake in the newly rewritten Uncharted prequel.

A bit confusing, seeing as how a few months ago, the studio was teasing an R rated film based off the first game. Night at the Museum and Cheaper by the Dozen director Shawn Levy will direct the film, which will be about a young Nathan Drake meeting Victor Sullivan (think of the Uncharted 3 flashback, but extended to a 2 hour film). Sony seems to want the film out as fast as possible, yet they still have yet to hire a new writer. This can only end well, right? (Probably not). What do you think? Tell us in the comments below!

‘Venom’ Solo Film: Tom Hardy Is Venom & Ruben Fleischer Will Direct.

by The_aczMay 19, 2017

Let’s end this week with some juicy movie news.

The Hollywood Reporter broke the scoop that Tom Hardy has signed on to play Venom himself in the upcoming Venom solo movie, and that Zombieland director Ruben Fleischer will direct. Don’t get too excited, though, as there are some asterisks next to this announcement. First thing to realize right off the bat is that this is a separate Spider-Man universe film not at all related to Spider-Man Homecoming or the MCU. Once again, Sony is trying to restart their half of the failed Spider-Man universe. Another problem is that while it’s exciting to see the director of Zombieland take the reigns of this project, he has also done some not-as-good films such as Gangster Squad and 30 Minutes or Less. Will Venom overcome the odds and be a decent film? Only time will tell. Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ Trailer Is Spot On

by Courtney DossettMarch 28, 2017

Spider-man: Homecoming definitely looks like it’s going to be worth watching this summer.

I’ve been interested to see what Marvel was going to do with the Spiderman story after his cameo in Captain America: Civil War. The scenes with the young Spidey were hilarious as he switched between fangirling over the fact that he was SO CLOSE to the Avengers while simultaneously fighting them.

I’ve never seen a Spiderman movie that I actually liked. I always thought the Peter Parker they portrayed would be more likely to become a stalker or serial killer than a superhero. But Tom Holland comes across more as a cute, quirky, nerdy guy who just wants to become an Avenger. I also like the addition of Tony Stark (obviously played by Robert Downey Jr.) as a sort of surrogate uncle/mentor figure (although, I could just be happy to see RDJ on screen, and who can blame me?).
What do you think of this latest Spiderman reboot? Watch the trailer and tell us in the comments!

The ‘Spider-Man Homecoming’ Trailer Is Here!

by Matthew MorrellDecember 8, 2016

SPOILER FREE TRAILER POST!

Finally, a Spider-Man that’s home at Marvel Studios where he belongs. So much good going on in this trailer: web-wings, integration in an established universe, and an Uncle Ben that’s already in the grave. We love Ben. Love him so much we can’t bare to see him die again for a third time. It’s about time to web-sling into the unexplored parts of Spidey’s mythos.

It may be to early to call, but this is Spider-Man done right.

Check out the trailer below to see for yourselves…

Geekscape 433: Talking A Career In TV Writing With Jose Molina!

by JonathanDecember 1, 2016

Writer Jose Molina isn’t only a member of my Dungeons and Dragons group! He has been writing for TV for almost two decades, including stints on some of your favorite shows! On this Geekscape, I sit down with Jose to talk about how he got his start, how playing roleplaying games as a kid in Puerto Rico started him down his path and what it was like writing on popular geek shows like ‘Firefly’, ‘Agent Carter’ and the newest iteration of ‘The Tick’! Plus we talk about writing some ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ for Marvel! This is a really, really good episode for you creatives! Enjoy!

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Geekscape Comics: Best Bets for 11/23/16

by KarsonNovember 23, 2016

It’s that wonderful time of the week again, new comic book day! Choosing what to read can be daunting (and expensive!). Don’t worry though, Geekscape has you covered. Each week we give our best bet for a comic book that you’re sure to enjoy. Let’s get into it!

It’s a quiet week from the big two publishers if you’re tastes are anything like mine. So let’s brush over them before getting to Image, who is responsible for all of this week’s sexy releases.

Marvel

I’m sure someone, somewhere once said “war never ends” or something like that. Well, I doubt they would have been referring to Marvel’s Civil War II, but they definitely could have been. Despite Marvel’s New or Now or Whatever the Heck reboot being in full effect, we still haven’t learned the conclusion of Civil War II. We get one step closer today though with the series’ seventh issue. If you’re caught in the web of Clone Conspiracy, the second Prowler tie-in issue is also out today.

DC

Nothing too crazy out of the DC camp this week. A lot of good titles but nothing I’m dying to read. Titans #5 is probably the book I’m anticipating the most, with Action Comics #968 in a close second.

Image

Get ready. There are a ton of great Image titles to read this week!

Outcast has lost a lot of it’s steam for me the past few issues, but I’m still excited to be reading another one this week.

Perhaps the series I’ve been most surprised by this year is
Bryan Lee O’Malley’s Snotgirl. I started reading this solely because O’Malley’s name was on it but after three issues I’ve really enjoyed the fresh feeling art and surprisingly interesting story line. Hopefully it gets even better with the fourth issue.

It seems like forever since we’ve had a new issue of Jason Aaron’s The Goddamned, and that’s because it has been! Well, since June. In case you forgot, here’s a snipped of the book’s description:

It’s 1,655 years after Eden, and life on Earth has already gone to hell. The world of man is a place of wanton cruelty and wickedness. Prehistoric monsters and stone-age marauders roam the land. Murder and destruction are the rule of the day. Humankind is a failed experiment. This is life before the Flood. The story of man on the verge of his first apocalypse. Welcome to the world of the Goddamned.

If I recall correctly, the first four issues were solid, so it’ll be fun to get back into this world.

Since it’s release, I’ve been saying Jonathan Hickman’s The Black Monday Murders is a book you’ll probably want to read in trade. Well, now is our chance! Sort of. The book’s first arc concludes in issue #4 today. So however you get your hands on the four issues is up to you but rest assured, you won’t regret doing it. Honestly, that’s probably what I’m most excited for this week. However, Image has one more title up it’s sleeve that I think’ll be even better!

Best Bet

A.D.: After Death Vol. 1
📝 Scott Snyder
🎨 Jeff Lemire

WHAT IF WE FOUND A CURE FOR DEATH? Two of comics’ most acclaimed creators, SCOTT SNYDER (WYTCHES, Batman, American Vampire) and JEFF LEMIRE (DESCENDER, Moon Knight, Sweet Tooth) unite to create a three-part epic like no other, set in a future where a genetic cure for death has been found. Years after the discovery, one man starts to question everything, leading him on a mind-bending journey that will bring him face-to-face with his past and his own mortality. A unique combination of comics, prose, and illustration, A.D.: AFTER DEATH will be serialized monthly as three oversized prestige format books written by SNYDER and fully painted by LEMIRE.

All I had to do was see that creative team and I knew this book was on my pull list. Having an innovative storyline and blending mediums together takes it to another level. While we won’t get it’s conclusion until the end of January, this has book of the year potential written all over it.

Geekscape Comics: Best Bets for 11/16/16

by KarsonNovember 16, 2016

Honorable Mentions

Oh baby! Marvel is bringing it this week! Thanos returns to the Marvel comics spotlight with the Jeff Lemire and Mike Deodato Jr. helmed, Thanos #1. We are being delivered a double-dose of Clone Conspiracy tie-ins with Amazing Spider-Man #21 and Silk #14. While I enjoyed the character in Spider-Verse, this’ll be the first actual Silk book I read! The Doctor Doom as Iron Man story continues in Infamous Iron Man #2. Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos continue their new run on Jessica Jones with issue #2. If you were a fan of their original run, or the Jessica Jones or Luke Cage Netflix series’, this book is a no-brainer.

As far as DC goes, the Superman and Batman books are amongst my favourite of the Rebirth titles right now and we get new issues of each, #11 and #11 (yeah, I put the ‘and’ in there so I could link them up 😂). I know I sound like a broken record but the father-son dynamic going on in Superman is so damn good. As far as Batman goes, we got Bane back, what’s not to love about that?

Image has a couple of titles out this week that you should be reading. First, we have Reborn #2, issue 1 didn’t let us down and here’s hoping Millar and Capullo can continue to wow us with issue 2 of their sci-fi fantasy. Next, comic book masters Brubaker and Phillip’s conclude the first arc of their latest book, Kill Or Be Killed #4.

Best Bet

Ether #1
📝 Matt Kindt
🎨 David Rubin

A science-minded adventurer gets mixed up in the mysteries of a fantasy world in this charming new adventure from an award-winning creative team. Boone Dias is an interdimensional explorer, a scientist from Earth who has stumbled into great responsibility. He’s got an explanation for everything, so of course the Ether’s magical residents turn to him to solve their toughest crimes. But maybe keeping the real and the abstract separate is too big a job for just one man.

If you’ve been reading this for awhile, you’ll know I’m a huge fan of Matt and Sharlene Kindt’s Dept. H. This week we get a new Dark Horse Comics book from Kindt, Ether #1. With one science fiction fantasy title on our pull list in Reborn, you’d think there wouldn’t be room for another but with Kindt’s name on it, I can’t imagine it not being awesome. His love for comic books is apparent in everything I’ve read of his so far, he takes advantage of everything the medium as to offer. There’s no reason to think we won’t do it again with Ether.

Geekscape Comics: Best Bets for 11/09/16

by KarsonNovember 9, 2016

Regardless of how you feel about last night’s election, there is one thing that can’t be disputed: there are a lot of great new comic books out today! Oh man, so many that I’m excited for! Let’s start rattling them off.

Joshua Williamson and Felipe Watanabe’s Flash is kicking ass and kicks off a new storyline this week. The most exciting and refreshing of the ongoing Batman titles, All Star Batman, has it’s third issue hitting shelves today. If you’ve been Gerard Way’s Young Animal line of comics (I have been, but they’re a little out there), their latest, Mother Panic is out today.

Marvel’s new Invincible Iron Man (Iron Woman? .. Mmm, no.. Ironheart!) makes its debut this week, even though I’m not a big fan of the trend of new characters taking on the mantle of old heroes, I think this title will be worth checking out.

Mosaic, starring Morris Sackett, the brand new Marvel super hero, is rolling onto issue #2 today. First one was solid, and left me wanting more.

I want to say I’m the most excited for Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows, where Gerry Conway is going to be taking the character back to the roots of what makes Peter Parker, Peter Parker, because that is SO up my alley… but that won’t be the first title I read…

Most Excited For

The Clone Conspiracy #2
📝 Dan Slott
🎨 Jim Cheung

Yeah, no surprise here. I’m just hooked on this story line, I can’t help it! Am I a fan of Peter Parker bank rolling the entire Avengers team over in Avengers #1? Not really. Does it indicate that he might become a lot less relatable? Maybe. BUT Slott has been delivering great issue after great issue here (including some very powerful “Peter Parker” moments) so I’m not worried at all… yet ☺️

Who else will come back from the dead!? Does someone have a bingo card? Someone should make a bingo card.

Best Bet

Let’s mix it up…

Doctor Strange: The Oath
📝 Brian K. Vaughan
🎨 Marcos Martin

Well, if jumping into Spider-Man isn’t your thing, maybe you’re looking for a little Doctor Strange in your life? Comixology has you covered, their running a sale on Brian K. Vaughan and Marcos Martin’s iconic Strange story, The Oath ($1 for each of the five issues). Strange simultaneously tries to find the person who nearly murdered him as well as find a cure to Wong’s terminal cancer.

So that feels like kind of like an advertisement but hey, it’s a good story and I didn’t want to leave you without a Best Bet for two weeks in a row!

And with all that Stranger Things 2 news over the past week, how about checking out Vaughan’s Paper Girls too. Sorry, too lazy to find a link 😝

What books did you pick up today?

Happy reading.

Kevin Feige Confirms! Michael Keaton Is The Vulture In ‘Spider-Man Homecoming’!

by The_aczNovember 9, 2016

Earlier this year, it was reported that Batman himself Michael Keaton will be joining the cast of Spider-Man Homecoming as a mystery character.

Rumor had it that Keaton would be playing spidey’s arch enemy The Vulture. While there was still some speculation and hesitation around it, MCU head honcho Kevin Feige has confirmed the news himself.

In a Doctor Strange interview with The Toronto Sun, the publication asked him what cool things fans can expect in future films, and Feige dropped the bomb that Keaton’s vulture will be a fan favorite. What do you think of Michael Keaton as the vulture? Are you still excited for the film? Tell us in the comments below!

Geekscape Comics: Best Bets for 10/26/16

by KarsonOctober 26, 2016

Sadly, Steve Dillon passed away this past week. For me, Dillon was on of the first artists I learned by name and style. Nothing against Garth Ennis but it was Dillon’s art that drew me into Preacher for multiple readings. It was his artwork that had me excited about the ongoing Punisher series. It’s hard to believe just a few months ago we were raving about how awesome it was to have him back on Punisher, and now he’s gone. His work will live on forever though, and I highly encourage you to check some of it out if you haven’t yet. 🙏

Honorable Mentions

With all the Super characters going on in the DC Universe right now, you’d think I would be suffering from Super fatigue. That’s not the case yet though. Action Comics #966 is out and I couldn’t be more excited. Lois is back to work at the Daily Planet and Superman continues to investigate who’s responsible for Doomsday. Maybe another Mr. Oz appearance? My enthusiasm for Outcast has been waining, but maybe this issue will bring it back up. After being wowed by the last issue of Civil War II, I’m mildly intrigued by Civil War II #6, is Spider-Man going kill Steve Rogers?

Most Excited For

Seven To Eternity #2
📝 Rick Remender
🎨 Matt Hollingsworth, Jerome Opeña

Now face to face with the God of Whispers, enslaver of worlds, all that stands between Adam Osidis and his heart’s every desire is one simple compromise, to bend the knee.

Honestly, there wasn’t anything I was waiting all week to read but the first issue of this series was solid. It’s always fun to witness Remender construct a world, especially with Hollingsworth by his side.

Best Bet

Black Widow Vol. 1: Shields Most Wanted
📝 Mark Waid, Chris Samnee
🎨 Chris Samnee

Collects Black Widow (2016) #1-6.

They wowed you with DAREDEVIL, now the Eisner Award-winning team of Mark Waid and Chris Samnee take Black Widow to new heights — by forcing her to go on the lam! Natasha has a lifetime of secrets, and when some of the darkest ones are made public, nobody is safe. As S.H.I.E.L.D. turns on its once-greatest asset, she seeks out her own answers in a knock-down, drag-out tale of action and espionage! But the Widow’s hunt for the Weeping Lion sends her back to the one place she never wanted to go! With a little help from old friends — and old enemies lying in wait — she’ll face the new incarnation of the Red Room: the Dark Room! But as S.H.I.E.L.D. closes in, Natasha finds herself on a collision course with the Invincible Iron Man!

I raved about it last week, and I’m going to do so again this week. Black Widow is go-go-go. It experiments with new ideas and ways of storytelling every issue. There are action moments, high tension moments and even some funny ones. Waid and Samnee are proving to be masters of the comic book medium. This series will be on my Best Of Year list (and I’m sure many other people’s) if you haven’t checked it out yet I highly encourage you to do so!

Geekscape Comics: Best Bets for 10/05/16

by KarsonOctober 5, 2016

Wow. We have a ton of awesome looking new releases this week! It’s hard to pick just one, but here we go…

Best Bet

Champions #1
📝 Mark Waid
🎨 Humberto Ramos

Following the fallout of CIVIL WAR II, Avengers Ms. Marvel, Nova and Spider-Man strike out on their own — joined by Cyclops, Viv Vision and the Totally Awesome Hulk! Six young heroes determined to change the world — and they’re only the beginning!

This title has me torn, but I’m giving the benefit of the doubt to the creative team. I have been saying since the spring that Marvel is sinking it’s own ship, and I disagree with the what the company is doing with their characters. That said, I’m willing to give Marvel NOW a try. Currently, I can’t find a book with Waid’s name on it that isn’t amazing so hopefully that trend will continue with Champions. Despite all my doubts over Marvel, I think it’ll be refreshing to get into the post-Civil War II Marvel Universe, and Waid is just the man to take us there.

Honorable Mentions

Gerard Way’s Young Animal imprint latest title Shade, the Changing Girl #1 is out, Jessica Jones #1, Eclipse #2 (the first issue was a best bet a few weeks back), Superman returns to Dinosaur Island, and of course Before Dead No More continues with Amazing Spider-Man #19.

Geekscape Comics: Best Bets for 9/21/16

by KarsonSeptember 21, 2016

Best Bet

Seven to Eternity #1
$3.99
Writer: Rick Remender
Artists: Jerome Opeña, Matt Hollingsworth

The God of Whispers has spread an omnipresent paranoia to every corner of the kingdom of Zhal; his spies hide in every hall spreading mistrust and fear. Adam Osidis, a dying knight from a disgraced house, must choose between joining a hopeless band of magic users in their desperate bid to free their world of the evil God, or accepting his promise to give Adam everything his heart desires. Writer RICK REMENDER reteams with collaborators JEROME OPEÑA (Uncanny X-Force, Fear Agent) and MATT HOLLINGSWORTH (TOKYO GHOST, WYTCHES) to take you on a hard road through the strange fantasy world of Zhal. All men have surrendered their freedom for fear. Now, one last free man must choose.

When Rick Remender and Jerome Opeña work together, only one thing can happen; the creation of awesome stories! Love the concept, love the creative team, this book is going to push the boundaries of what I expect to see in a comic book.

Most Excited For

Amazing Spider-Man #18
$3.99
Writer: Dan Slott
Artist: Giuseppe Camuncoli

BEFORE “DEAD NO MORE” marches you closer to the Spider-Event of 2016…THE MOMENT YOU’VE BEEN WAITING FOR HAS COME! Doc Ock has been trapped in the body of The Living Brain since the first issue, but now it’s time for him to act!

FINALLY! Doc Ock is coming back! We saw a bit of a lull in the early teen issues of Amazing Spider-Man but now it’s full steam ahead as we rapidly approach this fall’s big Dead No More event. I’ve been saying it for awhile now, issue #16 is a great jumping on point for this series. Jump on it, you can be sure you’ll want to be reading it this fall.

Honourable Mentions

DC’s first crossover event begins this week. “Night of the Monster Men” will span across Batman #7, Nightwing #5, and Detective Comics #941. All three of these books have been stellar on their own so I imagine the crossover is going to be great. There have been some unexpected twists in the other Bat books so I think it’s safe to expected the unexpected with this event.

Geekscape Comics: Weekly Reads!

by KarsonSeptember 7, 2016

Last week was quiet for releases, so I’ll keep this brief, that way there are no excuses for not reading the massive amount of exciting titles coming our way this week.

👎 – Skip, read at your own risk
👌 – Okay, not great, not bad, you might find something to like here
💪 – Great, highly recommended

Marvel

💪 Amazing Spider-Man #17

Slott is firing on all cylinders! This was the title I looked forward to the most this week and it didn’t disappoint! The issue had zero Spider-Man as the focus was placed squarely on Hobie Brown, the Prowler and Spider-Man decoy. The chess pieces are being put in place for what Spider-Man will face this fall. Jackal’s crew is growing and it looks like we are going to take a break from that and start to see Doctor Octopus’ return the next few issues. Start reading this series guys, it’s going to be good!

👎 Spider-Man #7

I’ve been hot and cold on this series, and to a certain extent Miles Morales as a character, since his introduction to the Marvel Universe. A few issues into this series I thought it was going to start delivering what I was hoping for, basically focusing on balancing Miles’ personal life with being Spider-Man. However, thanks to Civil War 2, we have strayed from that the past couple of issues. Instead we get to watch Miles debate whether or not he should support Tony or not. On a separate note, the art in this book is great!

DC

👌 Suicide Squad Special – War Crimes #1

A title that had quite a bit of hype due to it’s writer, essentially the creator of the modern-day Suicide Squad, John Ostrander. I’m beginning to feel that this franchise isn’t for me. Ostrander delivers a tight plot with plenty of action and there isn’t much to critique there, it just isn’t what I want from the story. I’d prefer to see a focus on each member of Suicide Squad that makes us relate to them and cheer for them to earn their freedom. Think how the Marvel Netflix series’ make you connect and empathize with their villains (Kingpin, Purple Man). If your a fan of the Suicide Squad this is the best version of it to come out in recent months, just don’t expect it to reinvent the wheel in any way.

Geekscape Comics: Best Bets for 8/31/16

by KarsonAugust 30, 2016

Best Bet

Nothing I feel comfortable labeling as a best bet this week.

Most Excited For

Amazing Spider-Man #17

BEFORE “DEAD NO MORE”! The Prowler (and our readers) meet the new Electro! Who is this woman and what does she have to do with the Man in Red?!

It might be called Before Dead No More, but it feels like Dead No More is well underway. This series has been picking up steam the last few issues and I imagine #17 is going to continue to gather momentum rolling into Dead No More. Issue #16 is a great jumping on point for this series that I feel will be some of the best reading of the latter half of the year.

Honorable Mentions

Silver Surfer #6

If you’re looking for a Marvel book that stands on it’s own (outside of Civil War II) look no further than Slott and Allred’s Silver Surfer. This is the series’ 200th issue and there are bound to be some zany twists! Slott’s love of Doctor Who bleeds through onto the pages of this series and Allred’s art is on another level. This is probably worthy of being a best bet but I’m behind on the series so I couldn’t pull the trigger.

Geekscape Comics: Weekly Reads!

by KarsonAugust 17, 2016

👎 – Skip, read at your own risk
👌 – Okay, not great, not bad, you might find something to like here
💪 – Great, highly recommended

Image

Another week and another huge Image release! This time it’s Black Monday Murders from the creative team of Jonathan Hickman and Tomm Coker.

“MAMMON” ALL HAIL GOD MONEY! From JONATHAN HICKMAN (EAST OF WEST, Secret Wars, Avengers) and TOMM COKER (UNDYING LOVE) comes a new crypto-noir series about the power of dirty, filthy money… and exactly what kind of people you can buy with it. THE BLACK MONDAY MURDERS is classic occultism where the various schools of magic are actually clandestine banking cartels who control all of society: a secret world where vampire Russian oligarchs, Black popes, enchanted American aristocrats, and hitmen from the International Monetary Fund work together to keep ALL OF US in our proper place.

This book is dense. Hickman essentially creates a world where the leaders of the financial markets are devil worshipping magicians, but you have to be a smarter person than me if you want to understand everything that’s going on in this oversized debut issue without reading it multiple times. There is tons of a dialog and diagrams as you might come to expect from Hickman. Tomm Coker’s art is a nice balance of photo-realism and creepy noir… if that makes any sense.

If you haven’t read anything from Hickman before, I strongly recommend reading this in trade as it is going to require a lot of focus to understand what’s going on.

👌 The Black Monday Murders #1

DC

This may have been the greatest week of DC’s Rebirth yet!

Action Comics has become my favourite of DC’s ongoing series. There is a ton of action in this issue as the battle with Doomsday rages on, as well as more glimpses of the cloaked men behind the scenes. This is exactly what I want in biweekly book, enough story to keep it interesting, but never too much that I feel lost or like I’ve forgotten plot points.

I’m pretty sure the creative meeting at DC before Rebirth must have went something like this:

“So what’s next for our characters?”
“How about we take every super hero we have and give their powers to everyone?”
“Ok”

The trend that began in the Flash is continuing with Super characters in Superwoman #1. I don’t even know how many of them there are now…

We have pre-Flashpoint Superman, his son, Lex Luthor Superman, Supergirl, powerless Clark Kent, the “new Super-Man” (which I haven’t read) and now not one but two Superwomen (well, sort of). That’s a whole lot of super! If you aren’t fatigued by the characters yet, I actually found Superwoman #1 to be a surprisingly enjoyable read, although a little dialog heavy at times.

Alright, one more DC title to dive into before we transition to Marvel, and that title is All-Star Batman. This is the title I was most excited about back when DC announced their Rebirth titles, basically because I recognized and was excited by the creative team. Remember, I read very little DC before Rebirth. This title is unlike any other Batman story (Batman, Detective Comics) on the market right now. John Romita Jr.’s art makes it worth the price of admission. While the book gets a little zany for Batman at times, it is still a fun and refreshing read if you are interested in a less dark Batman than what we’ve become accustom to.

💪 Action Comics #961
💪 All-Star Batman #1
👌 Deathstroke – Rebirth #1
👌 Detective Comics #938
👌 Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #2
👌 Red Hood and the Outlaws #1
👌 Superwoman #1
👌 The Flash #4
👌 Wonder Woman #4

Marvel

While Civil War II isn’t of much interest to me anymore, but the few Marvel books outside of it that I’m still reading have been great and this week’s Amazing Spider-Man and Black Panther are no different!

Amazing Spider-Man is now into “Before Dead No More” but it definitely feels like the event itself. All the story lines that have felt ignored the past few issues are back in the spotlight and I’m loving it! Looks like Slott is ready to deliver us another superior (ok, bad pun) Spider-Man story.

I haven’t been into Black Panther, but this issue was one I actually enjoyed. I doubt I’ll ever go back and read these these issues and give deep thought to the themes Coates is digging into but this issue made me glad I’ve stuck with the series.

💪 Amazing Spider-Man #16
👌 Black Panther #5

Geekscape Comics: Weekly Reads!

by KarsonJuly 27, 2016

Welcome to another edition of Weekly Reads! Our opportunity to look back and discuss the titles from the previous week in comic books.

👎 – Skip, read at your own risk
👌 – Okay, not great, not bad, you might find something to like here
💪 – Great, highly recommended
🙅 – Dropped the series

DC

We’re nearly a few months into DC’s Rebirth and that new and exciting feeling that came with it is starting to fade. Yes, there are still Rebirth titles being released but we have many series’ reaching their third issues. We are beginning to get a feel for what should be read and what can be left behind. It’d be nice to read everything but unless you have a lot of time and a lot of money, it just isn’t feasible. It’s time to think about what can be cut from our weekly reading. That said, I did a boat load of DC reading again this week…

👌 Batgirl and the Birds of Prey – Rebirth #1
👌 The Hellblazer – Rebirth #1
👌 Justice League #1
👌 Aquaman #3
👌 Batman #3
💪 Green Arrow #3
👌 Green Lanterns #3
👌 Superman #3

As far as the Rebirth titles go, nothing special here. They have that same Free Comic Book Day/get acquainted with the characters feeling that most Rebirth titles have had thus far. Birds of Prey revolves around the team of Batgirl, Huntress and Black Canary. It looks like they’re going to be hunting down a villain who stole the entity of Oracle and is messing with Barbara’s identity. Constantine is back in The Hellblazer, depending on your interests you may be more familiar with the character from the television show than his 300-issue comic book run, or if you’re like me, neither. This issue was a lot of fun and did a great job introducing me to the characters and the world, I’ll probably stick with this for at least a story arc. I think fans of AMC’s Preacher may enjoy this title.

Justice League begins and aliens are still attacking and it looks like they are going to have to deal with some of the side effects of The Blood Prophecy from Green Lanterns. There are some nice scenery and a few action-packed panels in this title but overall it’s not quite firing on all cylinders yet. A lot of style, but not a lot of substance.

Green Arrow is still going strong. If I could only follow one DC book, this would be it. Art is great, writing is tight and each issue leaves you craving more! In Batman, we got to learn a little about the origins of Gotham and Gotham Girl. As well as find out Hugo Strange has found himself a partner! Finch’s art style for Gotham feels spot on. Green Lanterns continues to explore the dynamic between Jessica and Simon, the newest green lanterns. I’ve been slowly appreciating and enjoying this story more and more with every issue. Aquaman is starting to feel too political for my liking. For me, Aquaman is at it’s best when there is more water in the environment, here it takes place mostly in buildings. Superman, I was wondering what the heck was going on, until I realized I forgot to read #2. So I’ll have to take care of that business before getting too much farther ahead.

Again, my take on these new series’ are that you should read what characters interest you. With the exception of Green Arrow, I don’t think any title is a whole lot better or worse than any other title. Explore, dip your toes in a few different books and find out what you like.

Marvel

👌 Spider-Man #6
🙅 Uncanny X-Men #10

Yes, I’m losing interest in all things Marvel Comics currently. There are just too many other good books on the market to spend my time reading their currently mediocre stories. That said, I did give the latest Spider-Man a read.

This issue just wasn’t for me. There was far too much dialogue for my liking. I felt a lot of the stuff that was explained through dialogue could have been explained in different ways but that’s ok, I don’t know the grand vision of the story so maybe this issue will pay off down the road. Despite not enjoying most of the issue, there are still a few plot points I’m interested in so I can’t drop the series just yet.

If you’ve been reading Weekly Reads for awhile now you’ll know I haven’t thought too highly of the current X-Men books, especially Uncanny, so I decided to pull the trigger this week and drop it. Let me know if I made a mistake.

Image

👌 Snotgirl #1

I started hearing about Snotgirl quite a bit a few weeks ago, I quickly judged it by it’s cover (and title) as something I wasn’t interested in. Then I found out it was written by Bryan Lee O’Malley (Scott Pilgrim, Seconds, etc.) so I hesitantly decided this is a must-read. I’ll summarize the experience: cover, didn’t interest me. First few pages, didn’t interest me. Next few pages, didn’t interest me. Last few pages, still not that interested. Last page, ok, I’ll pick up the next one. Leslie Hung’s art goes great with O’Malley’s words but her style isn’t really my thing. Basically, this story is just strange enough and the ending just enough of a cliffhanger to make me want more. If O’Malley didn’t write this would I read the next issue? Probably not, but he did and therefore I will.

Dark Horse

👌 Black Hammer #1

Honestly, at this point I’m getting sort of tired of writing about comic books and the debut of Black Hammer didn’t wow me enough to make me any more enthusiastic to write about one more book, but I’ll try anyways. This book also falls under the category of wouldn’t-have-read-it-if-it-wasn’t-for-the-writer-behind-it. Basically we have a group of super heroes who have been displaced in time and are living a simple farming life, most of them aren’t content with it. This issue we meet them and discover someone from their time is going to track them down. That’s about it, nothing too interesting. I’ll probably read the second issue though because you know, it’s Jeff Lemire.

Book of the Week

Green Arrow gets the title again, this series gets better with every issue.

Geekscape Comics: Weekly Reads!

by KarsonJuly 13, 2016

👎 – Skip, read at your own risk
👌 – Okay, not great, not bad, you might find something to like here
💪 – Great, highly recommended

DC

👌 Aquaman #2
👌 Batman #2
💪 Green Arrow #2
👌 Green Lanterns #2
👌 Justice League Rebirth #1

I can’t get enough of DC’s Rebirth. Eventually, I’ll cut back (in fact, I almost skipped Green Lanterns) but I’ll wait until things get a little tougher to keep up with. Green Arrow has been blowing me away and is my favourite of the current Rebirth titles. Percy is telling a Green Arrow tale that is starting to feel a lot like a Frank Miller’s Born Again story arc for Daredevil. For those of you unfamiliar with the reference, it means good things, very good things.

Justice League Rebirth wasn’t as exciting as I was hoping it would be since it basically just served as an introduction to the team, but Hitch’s art provided enough action, spanning cities and giant monsters to make the issue enjoyable.

I don’t have much to say about the other titles. Batman is pretty solid so far, after two issues most of the chess pieces are in place and it looks like things are going to start getting really interesting for Batman, our new super-powered heroes, and the villain who is revealed by the issues conclusion. Green Lanterns and Aquaman are both decent enough reads, just not characters that I feel a strong connection to yet.

Marvel

👌 Amazing Spider-Man #15
👌 The Punisher #3

Last week’s Amazing Spider-Man was interesting. It looks like Peter, MJ, and Regent may remember the events of Secret Wars. This came out of left field, so I’m not sure what the implications of it could be but I’m excited to find out. The issue concludes with a shocking twist, leaving one of our characters lifeless (probably not, but maybe) on the ground. I’d recommend picking up issues #13, #14 and #15 and start familiarizing yourself with this series. I have a feeling Amazing Spider-Man is going to find itself in must-read territory very soon.

Sure, this Punisher run isn’t reinventing the wheel, but it has been a lot of fun so far. It has everything you’d expect from a Punisher book; the Punisher, bad guys who are after The Punisher, good guys who don’t know whether they’re after bad guys or the Punisher, and a whole lot of violence!

Image

💪 The Fix #4
💪 Paper Girls #7

I’ve previously mentioned The Fix isn’t as strong or funny of a title when the two characters aren’t together. The trend continues here as we see what Mac is up to. However, I found myself enjoying this issue as much as the first two. I can’t recommend this title enough, we’re only four issues in so go pick ’em up and get in on the fun!

I’m loving Vaughan’s Paper Girls. It is just so unlike anything I’ve ever read before. The art is a lot of fun and Vaughan’s plays with time travel (a concept that many would say has been done to death) in plenty of fun and inventive ways. This isn’t a series you can just start reading though, if you are interested I strongly suggest you begin with #1.

Book of the Week!

Not only is the Green Arrow my favourite of the current Rebirth titles, it’s also my favourite book of the week!

Geekscape Comics: Weekly Reads

by KarsonJune 22, 2016

We are experimenting with a new format the next couple of weeks, let me know what you think!

👎 – Skip, read at your own risk
👌 – Okay, not great, not bad, you might find something to like here
💪 – Great, highly recommended

Be sure to check-out the end where I tell you why I think DC is in the position to win over a lot of life long Marvel fans, including myself.

MARVEL

👌 Amazing Spider-Man #14
It’s all Regent all the time. Setting up for Dead No More? I don’t think so. Reading it because it’s Spider-Man and that’s it.

👎 Uncanny X-Men #8
While initially I was enjoying it, Uncanny X-Men has became my least favourite of the X-Men books. The Apocalypse Wars arc has lacked focus and this book, despite it’s strong characters, offers little to the narrative.

👌 Civil War II – X-Men #1
Solid book, plants seeds of the X-Men’s involvement in Civil War II. Much like last week’s Civil War II – Spider-Man, a good read but not necessary if you’re just trying to keep up with Civil War II.

👎 International Iron Man #4
How they can slap a Civil War II logo on this book is beyond me right now. At least with Invincible Iron Man (discussed a few weeks ago) it was just a little behind Civil War II, this book I have no idea where it even fits into the narrative. I could be swayed but I have a hard time seeing how this isn’t anything but extra money in the bank for Bendis.

👎 Civil War II #2
I don’t know if I’m just frustrated with how many damn books Marvel has released under the Civil War II title and how little has went on but honestly, this has me so down on Marvel. We have to be more than a dozen books in and I could summarize in a single sentence what has happened so far. Marvel wants your money and in my opinion is doing little to deserve it.

DC

👌 Batman #1
Fun, emotionally impactful story of Batman doing the impossible. The ending left me curious as to where this series is heading.

💪 Green Arrow #1
Surprisingly, this was my favourite of DC’s #1’s this week. Solid writing, stand out art, and jaw-dropping ending.

👌 Green Lanterns #1
My least favourite of the current Rebirth titles. There are a lot of cool elements and nothing that I can point to that is glaringly wrong with the book, it just isn’t clicking for me.

👌 Superman #1
This book is all about Superman and his super-powered son. I really like the father/son dynamic at play here and can’t wait to see where it is taken.

💪 Titans – Rebirth #1
I loved this book. I wish I was more in tuned with the DC Universe because I think that knowledge and appreciation would put this title on a whole other level. I was so emotionally tied into everything that happened throughout this issue. Such great stuff! If you haven’t got into Rebirth yet, this is the book to do it.

Book Of The Week

Thought Bubble

Being a die hard Marvel fanboy all my life, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think by this fall, DC Comics is going to be my #1.

Right now, it feels like Marvel is taking their fan base for granted while DC is actively trying to please them. Anyone who loved Captain America: Civil War and goes to their local comic book store because Civil War II has peaked their interest is going to feel completely lost when they think they are expected to read nearly every title Marvel puts out each week to keep caught up with the event. There is no need for this, especially when none of the side books have done anything substantial to drive the story forward. Honestly, we have to be close to a dozen Civil War II related titles released and I can still summarize the story in a single sentence. Not to mention, after the dust settles on this arc, Marvel is going ahead with their own reboot or rebirth or whatever you’d like to call it, which further dwindles the value of the Civil War II run.

Historically, switching allegiances was a difficult thing to do, since if you want to read a certain character you are stuck with the company that owns it. However, Marvel has taken the spotlight off of their historically significant characters and started to shine the light on all-new versions of them. Sure, Marvel may own the characters I love, but I hardly see them nowadays, and when I do the character rarely resembles the one I grew up loving. There is a real opportunity to distance yourself from Marvel books and not miss out on anything.

While Marvel is in a slump, DC is delivering unbelievable value to fans. They aren’t doing anything fancy either; they are just trying to please comic book fans. Rebirth has been perfect in that it makes all the titles accessible to new readers, yet still offers bonuses to the publisher’s long-time fans by embracing the history of their properties (at least I think it does, I’m not in that camp). They price all their book and one low price, making them accessible to anyone. While DC is also introducing new iterations to their main characters, the changes feel much more complimentary than what Marvel is currently doing.

I don’t know the in’s and out’s of the comic book industry, I don’t know the numbers or even how much winning in comic books matters these days, maybe it doesn’t? I do know that comics mean a lot to me, and in my heart, for the first time in 26 years, DC has a chance to be #1.

Geekscape Comics: Weekly Reads!

by KarsonJune 15, 2016

Welcome to Weekly Reads! It’s your little dose of comic book goodness that discusses comic books from the week that was!

How about we take a break from all the video games news to discuss comics! 📚 > 🕹

Ongoing Reads

It’s been awhile since we discussed X-Men and with the release All-New X-Men #10 this past week, what better time than now? The whole is NOT greater than the sum of its parts when it comes to the current arc going on in the X-Men books, Apocalypse Wars. There doesn’t seem to be any continuity between the titles, each storyline seems to be it’s own entity involving Apocalypse but they don’t feel like a part of the same narrative so reading All-New X-Men isn’t going to make your reading of Uncanny X-Men any better. This means you can read as few or as many of the X-Men books as you want and not have to worry about missing out on anything. Currently, I’d say All-New is the strongest of the X-Men titles, with this week’s issue being particularly fascinating. We see Evan, Kid Apocalypse, interact with an Apocalypse who is in his early teens (before becoming one of the most powerful villains in the Marvel Universe). I find it fascinating to see noble and pure intentions from a character who grows up to become bent on wiping out entire races of people. I hope we get to find out what caused him to snap, although I’m not sure what it’ll be since he doesn’t appear to have anything that means too much to him.

Finally, a new issue to one of my favourite ongoing series, The Fix #3! I wouldn’t say it’s a slip-up, but the third issue of The Fix isn’t on the same level as the first two. I didn’t enjoy this issue as much for two reasons. First, the humour was noticeably lacking. The first two issues had me laughing every other page, this issue barely got a smile out of me. Second, our two main characters aren’t together. It became obvious to me that a lot of the laughs and zany moments in this book were a result of the chemistry between Roy and Mac. I’m sure this book will get back on track in the next issue or two. It’s sort of a stretch to say it’s offtrack, it just wasn’t what I have come to expect from this book and therefore I didn’t enjoy it as much. It is still probably my favourite read of the week!

New Reads

I have mixed feelings about Civil War II – Amazing Spider-Man #1. I like Spider-Man, Gage and Foreman put together a nice Spider-Man feeling story that feels like an authentic extension of Slott and Camuncoli’s current Amazing Spider-Man books. My problem is it’s Civil War II branding, which to me is nothing but a money grab play by Marvel. I feel like this book (and probably many others) isn’t going to offer any substantial story elements to Civil War II, yet they clearly market you to buy it to so you can be in the know. These excessively large story arcs complicate the buying decisions of most comic book readers and put a pretty big barrier to entry up to new readers. If you loved the Civil War movie and walk into the comic book shop to read this Civil War II you’ve been hearing about, you aren’t going to be excited by the endless list of books you’re supposed to read, you just aren’t going to bother with it at all. I wish we could trim the fat on these crossover events and keep the number of titles you need to purchase to a minimum.

If you like Spider-Man and want more of him, you’ll enjoy this book. If you just want to read it because it’s a Civil War II tie-in, don’t bother.

DC’s Rebirth continues with The Flash, Aquaman and Wonder Woman this week. All these titles have felt solid so far. As far as a recommendation goes, I’d say go with your gut. No book is noticeably better or way worse than any other book right now, pick a character that interests you and start reading them.

Action Comics and Detective Comics also saw releases this week, 957 and 934 respectively. Yep, these books have been around for awhile. In case you aren’t in the know, Action Comics is Super-Man and Detective Comics is Batman. What’s the difference between them and their solo titles? Well, it would seem to me that Detective Comics will focus the attention on Batman and his team, while his book will be just centred around Batman. The lines between Action Comics and Superman felt a bit more blurred. For someone new to DC, these books feel like they carry a little more baggage than what we are seeing from the Rebirth titles but are accessible none the less.

Next Time

Another week in the books! Come back next time for, you guessed it, more Civil War! More Rebirth! And who knows what else!

E3 2016: Insomniac Is Making A New Spider-Man Game Exclusively For The PS4!

by Josh JacksonJune 13, 2016

Just when you thought that Spider-Man has ran out of ways to surprise us in a video game adaptation, here comes Insomniac Games to prove us wrong. Announced during Sony’s E3 2016 press conference, Spider-Man PS4, (a working title if you couldn’t tell,) will bring the wall crawler to Sony’s console exclusively in a way that’s never been seen before.

As breathtaking as it was to swing through New York in past games, the mechanic has become somewhat passe, especially when it hasn’t been improved on much since Spider-Man 2 released over a decade ago. With that in mind, color me surprised when the teaser for the new game showed Spidey truly making the city his own. Whether bounding off of tables and crashing through a window from the inside of a cafe while in pursuit of a bad guy, seeing the city break apart while he finds himself locked in battle with an enemy, or his slick webbing animations that help him tie up crooks in style, the minute of footage already gives us hope that this could be the best Spider-Man game yet. The improvements to movement, combat and environment interaction are already apparent, so with a developer with the reputation that Insomniac has earned at the helm, we’re guessing this is going to be great.

This has been a big year for Spider-Man, and 2017 can only get better once this game finds its way into our hands if the placeholder date is anything to go by. Are you ready to throw on the underoos one more time?

Geekscape Comics: Weekly Reads!

by KarsonJune 8, 2016

Welcome to Weekly Reads! It’s your little dose of comic book goodness that focuses on some aspect of my comic book reading!

📚🏊📚

That’s right, we are swimming in a pool of awesome comic books this week! Let’s talk about them!

Ongoing Reads

Brian K. Vaughan’s PAPER GIRLS is back with it’s 6th issue! Vaughan tells the story of a group of 12-year-old paper girls who get caught up in some pretty crazy apocalyptic scenario. Aside from a ton of awesome 80’s references, there are also some cool time travel mechanics. There are so many questions I’m dying to find the answers to. I’m really digging Cliff Chiang’s poppy art style too. You won’t want to pick up this book without reading #1-5 first, but they’re definitely worth it.

Jason Aaron and Giulia Brusco’s THE GODDAMNED is a book I want to like a lot more than I actually do. Brusco’s work is breathtaking throughout the series, the sense of bareness and desolation that his settings matchings the book’s tone perfectly. As always, I think my lack of enjoyment for the title stems from some bad expectations on my part. The main character, Cain, just isn’t who I expected him to be. He has done too much crying and not enough kicking ass… It looks like that might change next issue though. I can’t recommend this series because I’m just not a fan, but I think there are a lot of people out there who love and would love THE GODDAMNED.

The second issue of THE PUNISHER was pretty standard Punisher stuff; the Punisher kills a lot of people a lot of different ways. Well, mostly by shooting them. The books ending left me in shock though, it’s a moment that you only see in the medium of comic books. Before you ask, no, Frank Castle didn’t hail hydra.

Dan Slott and Giuseppe Camuncoli’s run on Spider-Man continues with AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #13. If you like seeing super heroes get into school yard fights, this issue is for you. Iron Man and Spider-Man squabble and insult each other while Miles gets into a little bit of trouble with Regent. I can’t see myself getting too invested in this storyline, I just want Dead No More, but we still have 3 more issues to go.

New Reads

DC’s Rebirth is in full effect! Last week brought us four Rebirth issues; Batman, Superman, Green Lantern and Green Arrow. These issues feel a lot like Free Comic Book Day books, it’s mostly just setup for things to come. If you aren’t familiar with the DC Universe (like me!) these books are still accessible. Even at the new, lower, price point, I don’t think any of these Rebirth issues are worth picking up, just read a summary instead. If you’re on a tight budget, just pick one of the characters and roll with that. Or wait a month or two and find out what book everyone is loving. Got no shortage of cash? Read em all! Nothing has wowed me yet, I’m just enjoying the newness of it all.

A simple guide for getting into DC Comics:
1. Listen The Geekscape DC Universe: Rebirth Special
2. Accept that Ian Kerner is human and not a walking comic book encyclopedia.
3. Pick one character (or more) that interests you and start reading.

BOOM! Studios’ Power Ranger line-up is expanding with this week’s MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS: PINK #1 by the creative team of Brenden Fletcher, Kelly Thompson, and Daniele Di Nicuolo. This book is pretty much what you see is what you get. It isn’t on the same level as the other Power Rangers book but if you like the universe this is probably worth picking up, otherwise, you’re probably better spending your money elsewhere.

Amongst all the DC Rebirth, Marvel quietly began their big summer event with CIVIL WAR II #1. All the big surprises took place in the Free Comic Book Day issue and this book shows us what led up to it and the aftermath. We won’t get into spoilers, but basically a new inhuman is discovered that can see the future, a couple of characters die, and everyone is conflicted over this. There are A LOT of books involved in this arc, and right now I’m worried that it’s going to be hard to keep up with if you aren’t reading everything. This book did nothing to calm my worries.

On that note, I decided to read some more Brian Michael Bendis this week and checked out INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #10. That didn’t do me much good. Unless I’m missing something, this book is lagging behind the rest of Marvel’s ongoing stuff. Mary Jane isn’t even working for Stark yet, which we are seeing in both Civil War II and the Amazing Spider-Man books. So basically we are getting some back story explaining the events that took place on Free Comic Book Day and Civil War II #0, which I guess makes sense since it’s “Road to Civil War II.” Anyways, long story short, it’s frustrating to be reading these things out of order and for me, just makes me feel crazy for not just reading in trade.

Next Time

More Rebirth! More Civil War! The Fix #3!