Do Sidekicks Dream of Electric Beats?

JLA #15 – The Classic Runs

We’re here guys. This week we look at the epic conclusion to Grant Morrison and Howard Porter’s Rock of Ages saga. It’s a story so big that it needs a double-sized issue to conclude, and Gary Frank and Greg Land had to be brought in to assist Porter with the art, with each one of them taking on different pages in the book. And how do you recap a story as eventful as this one? Ah, I won’t bother.…

An (Incomplete) History of Gender Identity in Fantasy RPGs

Gender identity is currently a big issue in the United States, with progress toward acceptance of all identities proving to be a slow, bumpy process. Despite a long period of time when Dungeons & Dragons and its kin were hesitant to discuss anything that might offend parents, the RPG industry seems to be slightly more progressive than mainstream American society on this matter. That said, in…

The Samurai Slasher Part II – Review

Remember last year when we reviewed Samurai Slasher, the anthology horror comic which introduced the titular monster, written by Mike Garley with art by a whole host of indie comics best and brightest? Remember how the final story of that book ended the Samurai’s story, but also left it open for a sequel? Cover art by Martin Simmonds Of course the Samurai was coming back. After all, you can never…

This Miranda cover is a lovely homage to Catwoman’s initial New 52 cover. Unfortunately for devoted Catwoman fans everywhere, this is the last issue of the current series. Due to DC starting their comics from issue #1 because of ‘Rebirth’, yet again, this issue feels rushed. Plus, with no news of a solo Catwoman title starting after this month, if rumours are correct we’ll only be seeing Selina…

Marvel ZBOX Unboxing SPOILERS!

Last month I wasn’t sure I was going to stick around for Zavvi’s May 2016 ZBOX offering but they hooked me with one simple word; Marvel. I guess that’s the point, all they need to do is give you enough information to keep you around for one more month, those wonderful bastards. Click on the video above to see what I thought of this month and whether I’ll stick around for one more month, here’s a…

JLA #14 – The Classic Runs

Basically, it’s all gone to shit. Somehow, in defeating the Injustice Gang, the JLA have made it possible for Darkseid to take over the Earth. Which he dutifully did. Superman’s dead, and the past versions (present day to us) of Flash, Green Lantern and Aquaman have taken over their future selves bodies. Aided by a ragtag JLA, they’re now trying to find a way to get back to their own time, and…

With Valeros having told his story in the previous issue, Pathfinder #2 brings us Kyra’s tale. Valeros interrupts the issue by expressing his concern that this is going to be a preachy religious screed. Kyra doesn’t alleviate concerns all that much, since the first thing she does in her story is loudly proclaim that she’s far too holy to drink wine at a tavern. As you may notice here, the art in…

ROM Spaceknight #9: The Golden Age of Awesome

The Golden Age of Awesome is my term for Marvel comics from the 1970s and 1980s (more commonly referred to as Bronze Age Comics).  Comics were never more fun or awesome than during this period. Missed the previous reviews? That’s no problem because like any GAoA comic you can jump in anywhere! It has apparently been exactly two months since I’ve sat down to write a Golden Age of Awesome, which is…

JLA #13 – The Classic Runs

Darkseid is here. And he seems to have taken over the world. Problem is, we’re not sure exactly how this happened. When last we left the League, Superman, Batman and Martian Manhunter were heading off to confront the Injustice Gang, while Aztek dealt with twelve nuclear warheads which Lex Luthor had teleported onto the Watchtower, thanks to computer codes given to him by Green Arrow, who had…

A Burning World: Remembering Dark Sun

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Dungeons & Dragons had a pretty set flavor. Sure, there were variances between published settings such as the Known World, Greyhawk, Dragonlance, and the Forgotten Realms, but they were all variations on a Tolkienesque fantasy world where elves lived in forests, dragons sat on piles of gold, and halflings didn’t eat people. Then Dark Sun came out in 1991 and showed…

FCBD ROM #0 (IDW) Review

If you’ve been following my Golden Age of Awesome posts here on Sidekickcast, you’ll know I’m not only a big Bill Mantlo fan, but a massive ROM Spaceknight fan. So when IDW got permission to relaunch ROM, well… excited doesn’t seem like a strong enough word. When I found out that one of my favorite writers and fellow vocal ROM fan, Christos Gage, would be co-writing the series with IDW head Chris…

JLA #12 – The Classic Runs

Lex Luthor’s staging an attack on the JLA as if it were a corporate take over, backed by his Injustice Gang. Sadly for Lex, he’s completely unaware that this means he’s actually taking on the boardroom might of Bruce Wayne, and his plan is doomed to failure. Also, Darkseid is looming in the background. But you know what, Green Lantern can probably catch you up better than I can. Oh, yeah, it…

Dungeons & Dragons: Shadows of the Vampire #1 Review

If you’re like me and think that the Dungeons & Dragons comic Legends of Baldur’s Gate ended its five-issue run far too early, I have good news – Minsc and company are back for more heroing! Dungeons & Dragons: Shadows of the Vampire #1 hits shelves tomorrow! Now with pastries! In the last series, Minsc and Boo of video game fame emerged in the modern Forgotten Realms (roughly a century after the…

Keanu (Key and Peele’s first movie) spoiler-free review

Keanu, the first feature film by Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key, the creative duo behind the sketch comedy series Key & Peele, is kind of an action movie, but also kind of not. The fact that this film isn’t simple to characterize is typical of Key and Peele, as anyone who has watch their show will attest to. Their sketches are sometimes straight forward, sometimes horror themed, usually…