Geek of Oz

In a comic book landscape too often dominated by explosions, superpowered violence, over the top action and bloated marketing budgets, We Can Never Go Home from BlackMask Studios comes across as essential reading. Channeling the outcast spirit and perspective that made X-Men resonate with so many readers, We Can Never Go Home trades superheroics for gritty crime shenanigans and convoluted continuity for a simple, but compelling, self-enclosed narrative. What started off as an impulse buy has, 45 minutes later, become one of my favourite comics of the year.  Meet Madison and Duncan, two teenagers who find themselves on the run after a violent turn of events. Madison possesses superhuman strength while Duncan gets by with a sassy mouth and a handgun. Duncan is the school weirdo/bully punching bag while Madison exists in the popular girls clique, but both feel out of place in the savage world of their small town high school. The pair start off as strangers who just happe...

What do you get when you take the fun and raw energy of a character like Spiderman, remove all of the confusing continuity and throw in a few foul words for good measure? Why, you get "The Bounce #1" from Image Comics of course! It's energetic, dynamic, refreshing and channels a delightful sense of youth. If like me you've been meaning to pick up a Spider-Man book but have been too intimidated by the convoluted past of Peter Parker, then this is the book for you.

Warner Bros and NetherRealm have announced their very first DLC character and it's none other than the chain smoking, chain wielding, Czarnian bounty hunter - Lobo. A fan favourite character, Lobo looks to be bringing some serious attitude to the game that we called a "tonne of fun" . While the cost of this litte gem is not yet known, Warner Bros have released a gameplay trailer and the dreadlocked fraggin' bastich has never looked better.

 Everybody, at least every fantasy fan, has a mental image that pops to mind when the term "HIGH FANTASY" is used. Somehow, in some divine miracle, Ron Marz and Stjepan Sejic seem to have read my mind and spilled its contents all over the page. Coming the February is RAVINE, an all new creator-owned graphic novel series from long time collaborators, Marz and Sejic. From just initial cover and a more comprehensive art preview, it is obvious that these guys have an overwhelming understanding of what fantasy should look and feel like. With artwork that looks every bit as epic as the intended story, RAVINE has just burst its way onto my most wanted list for 2013. Check out the press release and a link to the full art preview after the jump!

Every once in a while a comic book comes along that knocks your socks off. The kind of book that speaks volumes even through its distinct lack of dialogue. Other times, creators come along that force their way onto your "up and comers list" through their obvious talent and distinctive style. Iron: Or, The War After ticks both of these boxes. Not only is it a beautifully told story but it is a beautiful piece of art which proves that, at present, Archaia can do no wrong. "It is the aftermath of a long war, in a world of constant winter. An intelligence spy from the Resistance—the rabbit, Hardin—steals secret information from a military base of the Regime. His actions set off a chain of events that reverberates through the ranks of both sides, touching everyone from Pavel the crow to Giles the goat, from the highest-ranking officials to the smallest orphaned child. When the snow finally settles, who will be the true patriot and who the true traitor? In this spellbind...

Today I have the pleasure of speaking to writer Tom Taylor and artist James Brouwer, creators of my favourite book of recent time , The Deep: Here be Dragons.  In case you haven't heard, The Deep: Here be Dragons is the Aurealis award winning graphic novel from Aussie duo, Tom Taylor and James Brouwer, and the patriotic streak doesn't end there. This book is beautifully presented by the good folks at the independent Aussie comics company, Gestalt. Follow on after the jump and not only will you get an interview with some of Australia's best and brightest but you will get a look at some interior art and an EXCLUSIVE look at an all new piece of art from the forthcoming VOLUME 2, The Vanishing Island. Intriguing?

Every now and then I receive an email out of the blue asking if I would like to review a comic, generally independent comics, and generally titles that are brimming with heart. Not heart in the sense that they are touchy feely but heart in the sense that you can almost feel the blood, sweat and sleepless nights that these creators have put on the page, so is the feeling that I get from Killeroo: Gangwar.

Long time followers of The Geek of Oz will know that I have a massive soft spot for all ages comics. If you're not familiar with this fact, go read my rant  on the subject and then come straight back... I'll wait here while you do... Aussie independent publishers, Gestalt , bring us The Deep: Here be Dragons, an original graphic novel which is like a crazy mix of SeaQuest DSV and Man of Action's Ben 10. Being written and illustrated by fellow Aussies (Tom Taylor & James Brouwer) is just another bonus and a source of immense pride. "My family are explorers. We have been for generations. Some argue that there is nowhere left to explore, that everything on Earth that can be discovered has already been found. They say that to truly explore we need to leave our planet. While others look up to the starts, my family know that there are also an infinite number of things that shine brightly in the darkness blow. Most of our world lies unexplored, unexplained. T...

In my last post I went all gaga over Chris Samnee's art in Daredevil #12. Well it looks like it's going to be a good day because Marvel have also sent through a few pages from Secret Avengers #24 by Rick Remender, Gabriel Hardman and ever beautiful colours by Bettie B. Well Bettie B can colour me excited because this looks incredible. Check out some images after the jump.

In just under 2 months we will potentially witness the biggest smack down in comic book history. Captain America VS Cyclops, Iron Man VS Wolverine and The Hulk VS whoever is close. Just to whet your appetite, check out a few pages from the upcoming first issue before putting it on your pull list.

The battle begins in March with our first look at Marvel's latest event, Avengers VS X-Men. Who will reign supreme? Who will be left licking their wounds? X-Men may be a scrappy bunch but I've got my money on The Avengers.  Check out the official press release and some beautiful art by Frank Cho and the return of the Scarlet Witch.

I didn't think it was possible. I swore to myself after "Fear Itself" I would pass on any upcoming event titles, and then this happens. Avengers Vs X-Men is shaping up to be a tremendously fun event in contrast to the brooding that overwhelmed Fear Itself. To make things even better, Bendis will be in Australia for Supanova when this comic drops! Grab a copy, get it signed an pick his brain when in Melbourne or the Gold Coast. AvX has Check out Jim Cheung's cover after the jump!

My pull list has started to get way out of control, no thanks to Brubaker. This guy is sending me broke. I was actually thinking, although briefly, that I could pass on Winter Soldier but after seeing Guice's art I don't think I can resist. Check out some unlettered pages after the jump.

American Dark Age by writer Jean Michel and artist Jacqueline Taylor is the first release from New York based independent publisher, Megabrain Comics. Great art? Check. Intriguing storyline? Check. Pretty rock chick with a bad attitude and a broad sword? Check, one, two!

Get your dollars, pesos, yen, dong, pounds, loonies and toonies ready because tomorrow is new comic day! Below you'll find Marvel's titles for this week. I can't wait for Super Heroes, Thor: For Asgard, Steve Rogers: Super Soldier and X-23! Go here for the full solicits and cover art. *SHL=Shadowland Tie-In Comics On-Sale: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #643 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #643 SHS VARIANT AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #643 SPIDEY VS. VARIANT ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN & WOLVERINE #3 AVENGERS & THE INFINITY GAUNTLET #2 CAPTAIN AMERICA: PATRIOT #1 DAREDEVIL #509 2ND PRINTING VARIANT (SHL) DEADPOOL #27 DEADPOOL #27 SHS VARIANT HALO: FALL OF REACH - BOOT CAMP #1 HEROIC AGE: ONE MONTH TO LIVE #3 HEROIC AGE: SUPER HEROES #1 INCREDIBLE HULKS #613 INCREDIBLE HULKS: ENIGMA FORCE #1 MARVEL UNIVERSE VS. THE PUNISHER #4 NEW MUTANTS #17 NEW MUTANTS #17 SHS VARIANT SHADOWLAND: BLOOD ON THE STREETS #1 2ND PRINTING VARIANT SHADOWLAND: GHOST RIDER #1 SHADOWLAND: POWER MAN #2 SPIDER-MAN MAGAZINE #13 SPI...

The House of Ideas have released this rather mysterious teaser image (is there any other kind?) of fan fave Elektra, Assassin for Hire. Looks as though it's drawn by Harvey Tolibao (Avengers: The Initiative), whether or not he's doing the interiors or just the cover is yet to be established. That's all the information we have to share on the topic apart from telling you that it's coming in December 2010. Perhaps Shadowland will mark a resurrgence in street level characters, time will tell.

We’re currently in an “All Ages” comic book renaissance spurned on by the Adventures line from Marvel and DC Kids from…well… DC. Further to this we’re lucky to have access to Fraggle Rock from Archaia, the Disney lines from Boom Kids! and Bongo Comics who have been pumping out titles like the Simpsons and Futurama since 1993. While the term “all ages” may seem to ooze with superfluity when talking about comic books, this is purely to distinguish Lockjaw and Uncle Scrooge from Hit Girl and Franken-Castle. All ages books are just that, all ages. They are accessible and appropriate for any age group, my personal view on the rating is that it differs from a television “G” rating in that it’s not purely a mark that it’s suitable for children. The all ages stamp to me indicates that the book is suitable for children but still enjoyable for us big children too, which makes perfect sense since we’re the ones with money. I’m a big fan of these comics if for no other reason but because they are...

So here we are, my inaugural post on the Geek from Oz. As is the general procedure in social settings, here is me. I'm a geeky chap from Sydney Australia, there, I've said it. There first step is admitting that you have a problem. I'm a massive comic book, movie, book and overall pop culture geek. So in the future that is just what you'll see, posts with news, reviews and other nuggets of goodness about my interests. Hopefully I'll actually post something worth reading, right?