Reviews

1. Nerdy Show Review: Justice League – Spoiler Free

   When The Nerdy Show Network’s flagship podcast isn’t unloading on the latest geek news and happenings, we’re diving deep into super-specific discussions and interviews.

   Of all the crazy gambles in superhero cinema, Justice League is the biggest. With DC/ Warner Brothers’ spotty track record for their cinematic universe… there’s no way this ensemble film of largely undeveloped characters could work, right? We’re glad we didn’t put money on this one because Justice League has absolutely flipped expectations and re-writes the book on what’s possible for the future of DC heroes in cinema.

   Join Cap for a spoiler-free exploration of how this film handles introducing some of DC’s most iconic characters to the big screen, where it falls in the landscape of superhero movies, where it falters, and how it succeeds against all odds. And yeah, if you want to go deeper, we’ve got a little bit of spoilery chat safely tucked away after the credits. Booyah. (more…)

2. Nerdy Show Review: Amazon’s The Tick – Season 1 – Spoiler-Free

   When The Nerdy Show Network’s flagship podcast isn’t unloading on the latest geek news and happenings, we’re diving deep into super-specific discussions and interviews.

   The biggest, boldest, bluest name in superhero comedy is bounding back into your life! This week Amazon unveils the first season of The Tick (or half of it anyway). Ben Edlund has returned to his cyan creation with the incomparable Peter Serafinowicz in the title role alongside a cast of up-and-comers. Join Cap, Tony, and Doug as we celebrate the Ticks that have come before and discuss the finer points of what this new spin on an old favorite does differently. In this spoiler-free review, learn how the show has evolved past the pilot that was released last year and what a darker, more story-driven series can do for comedy and classic Tick stories that prior shows couldn’t. (more…)

3. Spoiler-Free Review: Bounty Volume 1

   The Breakdown

   Rat Queens creator Kurtis Wiebe partners with artist Mindy Lee on the sci-fi action comic Bounty. Volume 1 collects issues #1-5 of the series, published by Dark Horse Comics.

   Elevator Pitch

   High-tech hacking, high-stakes bounties in a space opera for the ages. Bounty stands in a class of it’s own, but for the sake of giving some context: it’s Cowboy Bebop given a visual restyling à la Fifth Element.

   The Verdict

   Bounty is a beguiling, multi-layered masterpiece. The team’s quirky camaraderie, witty dialogue, and Lee’s Bruce Timm-esque art style makes Bounty a book you’ll be unable to put down. It’s a crucial addition to any comic fan’s bookshelf.

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4. Review: American Gods: Shadows #1

   The Breakdown

   Writer P. Craig Russell adapts Neil Gaiman’s beloved novel American Gods in comic form. Art by Scott Hampton. Published by Dark Horse Comics.

   Elevator Pitch

   Mythology and realism collide as the gods of old and new battle for the worship of mortals. Gaiman’s tale is a classic, drawing you in and refusing to let you go until you’ve consumed the last page. American Gods: Shadows #1 will leave you yearning for more.

   The Verdict

   Whether you’ve read American Gods or not, American Gods: Shadows #1 proves to be just as captivating as the novel. Hampton’s art is dark and gritty, perfectly matching the tone of the original’s tone. This eerie adaptation is a must-read.

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5. Nerdy Show Review: Kong: Skull Island

   When The Nerdy Show Network’s flagship podcast isn’t unloading on the latest geek news and happenings, we’re diving deep into super-specific discussions and interviews.

   Prepare yourself for an ape apocalypse! If you’re on the fence about Kong: Skull Island like we were, this spoiler-free review will see you right. It’s a hard sell: a King Kong reboot set in the same universe as the 2014 Godzilla – hypothetically aiming for a crossover. We think we were right to be skeptical, but the results? Well, join Brandon and boR as they provide their reactions and takeaways… Let’s just say that, much like the characters of the film, they were surprised by what they found. (more…)

6. Review: The Once and Future Queen #1

   The Breakdown

   The One and Future Queen is a miniseries published by Dark Horse Comics. Presented by the creators of Amelia Cole, writers Adam P. Knave, D.J. Kirkbride and artist Nick Brokenshire.

   Elevator Pitch

   An intriguing gender-bent twist on The Once and Future King. While that novelty can often feel forced, this one doesn’t at all. There’s a pleasantly diverse cast, and, no, you’re not imagining the spaceman on the cover.

   The Verdict

   The Once and Future Queen could easily be a lazy remix. Make “King” Arthur a girl, maybe Guinevere a boy and suddenly you’ve got a “fresh new spin”. Instead, it’s surprising how non-pandering this debut issue is. Knave and Kirkbride are ingenuous in their storytelling; writing believable characters set in an unbelievable world.

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7. Nerdy Show Review: The LEGO Batman Movie

   When The Nerdy Show Network’s flagship podcast isn’t unloading on the latest geek news and happenings, we’re diving deep into super-specific discussions and interviews.

   Hear our spoiler-free LEGO Batman Movie review! Will Arnett’s brooding and hilariously self-absorbed Batman returns in a send-up to every incarnation of the caped crusader and his ginormous gallery of villains. It’s a pleasant departure from the grimdark Batmen of recent films and, like The LEGO Movie before it, is a non-stop pop culture explosion for all ages.

   Join Cap and Doug for a frank discussion of the highs and ho-hums of the film. Can this spin-off stack up to its predecessor? Will Billy Dee Williams finally get his moment as Two-Face? And… if everything is awesome, is there such a thing as too much awesome? These and many other inter-locking questions will be confronted in this movie Microsode! (more…)

8. Manga Review: Platinum End Volume 1

   

   The Breakdown

   Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, the creative genius behind Death Note and Bakuman, unite for their third title. Platinum End Volume 1 is published by VIZ Media collects chapters 1-3 of the manga.

   Elevator Pitch

   A yin to Death Note‘s yang, but no less beguiling. A fast-paced psychological thriller with devilish angels and murderous heroes.

   The Verdict

   Platinum End is thought-provoking and shocking. Obata’s art keeps your eyes locked, exploring every detail. This is a story that begins with a bang and promises to not relent in later volumes. (more…)

9. Film Review: The Protomen – “Light Up the Night”

   This article first appeared on Consequence of Sound as “First Look: The Protomen’s 16-minute short film Light Up the Night“, published 9/8/2016.

   The Protomen are the kind of band that typically only exists in fiction. They’re too extravagant to be real. How else could you rationalize an eight person crew, faces painted silver, with music, wardrobe, and stage presence that fuses spaghetti westerns with Blade Runner? There’s only a few acts out there that would dare to be so audacious, fewer still that could back up their raw theatricality with a performance that melts any sense novelty as soon as they play. They are, by design, larger than life. Which is why it should be no surprise that their first music video is a 16 minute short film. (more…)

10. Nerdy Show’s Suicide Squad Review

    Tony and boR saw Suicide Squad! One of them loved the the other was kind of ambivalent. Can you guess who? (Hint: it’s not who you’re thinking!)

    After a heaping mess of grimdark, can DC kick it cinematic presence into gear and put out a fun summer film? In this spoiler-free Suicide Squad review hear who were the stand-out characters, how the shift in tone works for this new chapter in DC’s cinematic U, and more!

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