Geek of Oz

Birdy the Mighty: Decode Collection 1 walks a well worn path where a strange yet beautiful woman is revealed to be a shape changing super heroine, battling monstrous and grotesque oddities. Although treading this formulaic road, the difference between BTMD and most of these similarly themed stories that came before it is that Birdy the Mighty: Decode does it well.

In 2003 Nagaru Tanigawa released a light novel called The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Since then we've seen the release of an ongoing manga series, ever-expanding anime series and a swag of spinoffs including six video games. Unfortunately I must plead ignorant to the light novel series and will have to settle for a review and comparison between the anime and manga series. So, can the millions of adoring fans and devotees of Haruhiism be wrong? Follow on to find out.

Today is a very exciting day for me as I get the chance to speak with a real-life hero! For a geek like me this is a dream come true! The one and only, Spider-Girl! Ryan: Let's get this out of the way, the question on everyone's lips is this, how are you related to Spider-Man? Spider-Girl: Just friends. We aren't a team, or a couple, or brother and sister, or really anything besides two people that like to hang out together on rooftops, occasionally punching bad guys in the face and arguing about our favorite music. My apologies, I just figured... Moving on! We've previously seen you fighting crime alongside the likes of Toro, Firestar and Nomad but now we're also seeing you go solo. Why is that? I'm not sure there's any reason behind it. Mostly... things happen, and it's hard to tell a bad guy that you need a timeout in order to call everyone's cell phones and get them to meet at a certain place because a robbery / assassination att...

Today I have the honour of speaking with Mr Gabriel Hardman, fan-favourite Marvel exclusive artist and long time collaborator with Mr Jeff Parker. A great artist, a very nice chap and a damn cool cat.

With 2010 coming to a head I thought I would take time to reflect on the highs and lows and what I am most excited about heading into the new year. I've also called in some favours from Twitter pals and a few big name creators including Marvel's finest: Mr Brian Michael Bendis, Jeff Parker, Victor Gischler and the man with a beard to rival that of Jason Aaron, Mr Chris Samnee. Read on for more!

The good folks at Marvel have supplied us with a teaser image for a potential reboot of Hickman and Epting's critically acclaimed run on The Fantastic Four. Will the events of "3" lead to a universe altering reboot? Could it possibly have anything to do with the huge announcement Marvel have been teasing us with all day? Only time will tell.

I've been supplied with this trailer for the upcoming film, I am Number Four.  Director D.J. Caruso (“Eagle Eye,” “Disturbia”) helms an action-packed thriller about an extraordinary young man, John Smith (Alex Pettyfer), who is a fugitive on the run from ruthless enemies sent to destroy him. Changing his identity, moving from town to town with his guardian Henri (Timothy Olyphant), John is always the new kid with no ties to his past. In the small Ohio town he now calls home, John encounters unexpected, life-changing events—his first love (Dianna Agron), powerful new abilities and a connection to the others who share his incredible destiny.

Ho Ho Ho Yo! It's Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza time which means you have to go and spend your hard earned money on a whole bunch of people, some of whom you like and some of whom you tolerate. Here I present to you a handy dandy gift guide for the various geek's in your life.

Madman have just released Master of Martial Hearts, a 5 episode OVA produced by ARMS Corporation and based on a video game. ARMS is responsible for other animation such as Ikkitousen and Elfen Lied. In the same spirit they bring us Master of Martial Hearts ( 絶対衝激〜プラトニックハート〜), the story of High School Girl and secret warrior Aya. While walking home with her school friend Natsume she stumbles upon a street brawl between a bladed handbag wielding flight stewardess and a young priestess named Miko (Miko is the Japanese word for Priestess, no points for originality there!). When Aya intervenes she learns that she has just disrupted a battle an underground tournament. Those who win the tournament gain the Martial Heart and their greatest wish granted while those who lose are sent to The Dark Realm.

In big news from the House of Ideas, Mark Bagley is confirmed to return in March to Brian M. Bendis' Ultimate Comics Spiderman. Bendis and Bagley were the original creators of USM and currently hold the record for the longest run for one creative team. These were the glory days for USM, a time that I'd be happy to revisit. In equally exciting news, Mr Bendis revealed via Twitter that fan-favourite artist Chris Samness will be on art duties for Ultimate Comics Spiderman #155.

Only 28 years after the original Tron hit movie screens we get it's much anticipated sequel, Tron: Legacy from Walt Disney Pictures.

It has been quite some time since CrossGen graced the funny pages but in news released by the good folks at Marvel, CrossGen will return as a Marvel imprint in March 2011.

There is nothing to dislike about this upcoming mini. Marvel's hottest properties all set against the backdrop of feudal Japan. To make the deal even sweeter Marvel have confirmed that this March release, written by Peter Milligan and drawn by Tomm Coker, will have a cover price of just $2.99. Bonus.

Thor: The Mighty Avenger, written by Roger Langridge and illustrated by Chris Samnee has been an outstanding book, an absolute pleasure to read. Surely with the Thor feature film just around the corner a new ongoing series set outside of continuity would be a hit with new and old readers alike. But critical acclaim can only keep a title afloat for so long and eventually the publisher will start to question the numbers. I have been a strong and very vocal supporter of this series which will sadly come to an end in January. But why?

Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Mr Daniel Wallace. Author of The DC Encyclopaedia , The Marvel Encyclopaedia , The Complete Star Wars Encyclopaedia and most recently the very impressive tome The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force.

Siren Visual is releasing animation as shown in the noitaminA project. Originally broadcast on Fuji TV noitaminA showcases a number of different series in an attempt to expand on the usual anime demographic. The series are all varied in both visual style and story and produced by some of anime's biggest studios including Madhouse, JC Staff, Production IG, Bones and more. Siren are releasing the first two series, Welcome to Irabu's Office and The Tatami Galaxy, on the 18th of February and the 18th of March 2011 respectively and with even more to follow. If you find yourself getting border with the usual mecha/horror/fantasy anime you should give noitaminA a go. 

Yotsuba&! tells the story of Koiwai Yotsuba, an incredibly inquisitive and excitable five year old girl. She and her father, only known as Daddy or Mr Koiwai, move to a new neighbourhood with the assistance of Daddies "Jumbo" friend Takashi Takeda. Created by Azumanga Daioh! scribe Kiyohiko Azuma it is a slice of life piece which centres around Yotsuba and the wonderment she finds in everyday life.

It has honestly been years since I have played a real pinball machine. I used to love playing the KISS pinnie at the squash courts up the road. The lights, the bells, the smell of hot electrics and plywood! All that aside, if you're looking for a great way to whittle away the last day of the working week head on over and play the Megamind Pinball Machine on-line. I would have posted this sooner but I was playing... Don't forget, Megamind is released locally on next week, on the 9th of December. "that dumb, deaf and blind kid, sure plays a mean pinbal!"

Beauty and the Geek Australia wrapped up last week on channel 7 with newly remodelled 007 body double Michael Price and his partner Jessie crowned as the winners! As far as ratings go, Beauty and the Geek season two was a great success with the final episode placing 3rd in the weekly ratings.  Follow on for my chat with Michael.

The good folks at the House of Ideas have provided us with a preview of Carnage #2, due for release on the 29th of December. Written by Zeb Wells and with slick art by Clayton Crain issue #1 really left me craving #2. But be forewarned, if you haven't kept up to date since Maximum Carnage you'll have some catching up to do.

The good people at Disney have supplied us with an all new clip from the upcoming Tron Legacy. I don't know if I've made this clear but Tron Legacy has me extremely excited! Everything from the visuals, the soundtrack and... well... IT'S TRON!