Geek of Oz

2013 has been a great year for comics, with fantastic stories coming from the mainstream and independent publishers alike. We here at Geek of Oz have put our heads together to bring your our 10 favourites from the year that was. Feel free to mention yours in the comment section just in case we missed something. Hopefully 2014 will be just as good as this year!

Arguably one of the biggest (and best) things to grace screens in 2013 has been the final season of Matt Smith's run on Doctor Who and 2014 is promising to be a blast for Aussie Whovians. The Hub Productions have just announced that both Matt Smith and Karen Gillan will be gracing our shores during their appearances at the 2014 Whoniverse.

Author David Mitchell once charitably said of the film adaptation of his novel Cloud Atlas, “any adaptation is a translation … and I believe a degree of reinterpretation for the new language may be not only inevitable but desirable…”. So indeed were my sentiments about Peter Jackson’s stripping back of (and in many places adding to) The Lord of the Rings books to create his masterful trilogy concluded some eleven years back. The abandonment of plot-irrelevant or dramatically redundant scenes (novel fans will understand this to mean most notably Tom Bombadil or the Scouring of the Shire) and the embellishment of the novel’s only lightly-treated romantic plotlines served to create a film that was tauter and more emotionally engaging. Suffice it to say, I believe straying from the source material isn’t always heretical butchery; often its just good, audience-minded discretion.

It’s somehow therapeutic to think of Disney’s latest animated film Frozen whilst Sydney is in the grip of a heat wave. I’m so there right now … amongst the icicles, the mounds of powdered snow and general winter wonderland that is this film. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Frozen is a highly entertaining film which harkens back to the golden era of Disney. Something has definitely changed over at the mouse house. Over the past few years they’ve rekindled their mojo with films like Tangled and Wreck-it Ralph. It’s really positive, considering they now control such iconic brands such as Star Wars, Indiana Jones and the Marvel Universe.

Long time readers of Geek of Oz will know that I'm a sucker for those shape shifting mechs known as Transformers. Ever since I was a kid they've held a special place in my heart so, to be honest, I was bound to enjoy Transformers Rescue Bots. Hell, I even liked the Michael Bay films in spite of how terrible they are!  Optimus Prime issues a call to all operational Autobots for urgent assistance on earth. Answering the call are Heatwave, Blades, Chase and Boulder who arrive in the US state of Maine to the news that they are the last remaining Rescue Bots. Unsure as to whether the new team members are ready to battle the Decepticons, Optimus tasks the Rescue Bots to work undercover, assisting the local townsfolk whenever they're in need.

Thanks to our friends at Roadshow, we've got five copies of THE IT CROWD: THE INTERNET IS COMING  on DVD to give away. Roy, Moss & Jen are right back where we left them – in the basement of Reynholm Industries. Except now there’s newer computers and Roy has finally managed to convince one of the girls on the seventh floor to go out with him more than once. Then an incident involving spilt coffee, a homeless person and Roy and Jen looking despicable is filmed on a camera phone and goes viral on the internet. Once Jen and Roy are identified, their reputations and that of Reynholm Industries are at risk. And of course everything they do only makes it worse. Meanwhile, before Douglas goes off to do "Secret Millionaire", he shares with Moss his secret of confidence and Moss is transformed. A confident Moss devises a plan to help Jen and Roy recover their reputation but it all seems too good to be true.  As funny as ever, and sure to delight fans of the ...

Every day, from now until Christmas, the mad people at Madman will be announcing a new title for us to look forward to in the new year. Today's title announcement is.... #12 – HAL From Production I.G’s Wit Studio (ATTACK ON TITAN) comes a drama unlike any other.  When death separates young lovers Kurumi and Hal, “robot Hal” arrives to cheer Kurumi up. As the new Hal begins to uncover the couple’s secret past, a reluctant Kurumi slowly warms up to him. This beautifully-animated feature film explores the connections and conundrums that make us human.  HAL will be available on home formats in 2014 . You can check out the rest of Madman's announcements  HERE .

Every day, from now until Christmas, the mad people at Madman will be announcing a new title for us to look forward to in the new year. Today's title announcement is.... #11 – NARUTO SHIPPUDEN MOVIE 5: BLOOD PRISON  In this exciting new movie, the world’s most popular ninja is falsely sent to a notorious prison for attempting to assassinate the Raikage, the leader of the Hidden Cloud Village. Someone is out to end Naruto’s life and he will have to stay alive long enough to prove his innocence and uncover the truth before time runs out for him and his friends! NARUTO SHIPPUDEN MOVIE 5: BLOOD PRISON comes to DVD, Blu-Ray and Digital in April, 2014. You can check out the rest of Madman's announcements  HERE .

Every day, from now until Christmas, the mad people at Madman will be announcing a new title for us to look forward to in the new year. Today's title announcement is.... #10 – MAGI 2: THE KINGDOM OF MAGIC  Based on Shinobu Ohtaka's original manga series, MAGI 2: THE KINGDOM OF MAGIC re-imagines tales from the classic story ONE THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS (also known as ARABIAN NIGHTS).  Director Koji Masunari (READ OR DIE), who helmed the 25-episode first season, returns to this second season. Toshifumi Akai serves as the character designer and chief animation director, and Hiroyuki Yoshino (GUILTY CROWN, MY-HiME) is handling the scripts. Shiro Sagisu (BLEACH, EVANGLEION, BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC TRILOGY) is composing the music. MAGI 2: THE KINGDOM OF MAGIC comes to various platforms in 2014. You can check out the rest of Madman's announcements  HERE .

Every day, from now until Christmas, the mad people at Madman will be announcing a new title for us to look forward to in the new year. Today's title announcement is.... #9 – SAMURAI FLAMENCO  Masayoshi Hazama is a self-made superhero, with no aid of special powers or any sort of high-tech conversions. Hidenori Goto is a cop who has inadvertently discovered Masayoshi’s true identity by a strange twist of fate and is now bound to him. This is the story of the birth of a true hero and his partner, blending comedy and serious drama while they come face to face with hardships as they search for the true meaning of the responsibilities of being a champion of justice in this world. SAMURAI FLAMENCO comes to various platforms in 2014. You can check out the rest of Madman's announcements  HERE .

Every day, from now until Christmas, the mad people at Madman will be announcing a new title for us to look forward to in the new year. Today's title announcement is.... #8 – AESTHETICA OF ROGUE HERO After saving a fairy-tale kingdom, Akatsuki returns to the real world with his prize—Miu, the busty daughter of the defeated Demon King. It’s one hell of a happy ending until they’re forced to enroll at a school for magic users. There, Akatsuki can’t keep his hands off the girls, Miu’s constantly ballooning measurements make her a walking wardrobe malfunction, and it seems like someone is always plotting against them.  Jam-packed with extreme action and comedy, you’re in for a bouncy ride that’s sure to have you bursting at the seams. Lock your door and close the blinds: Akatsuki and Miu are about to take you places you never knew you wanted to go. AESTHETICA OF ROGUE HERO comes to the Madman Screening Room and DVD in 2014. You can check out the rest of M...

Every day, from now until Christmas, the mad people at Madman will be announcing a new title for us to look forward to in the new year. Today's title announcement is.... #7 – SILVER SPOON This coming-of-age story follows Yugo Hachiken, a high school student who decides to attend ‘Ezono’ - the Oezo Agricultural High School - to escape the academic pressures at his preparatory school back in Sapporo. But, Yugo quickly realizes that things are just not that simple, and is forced to face whole new set of hurdles at Ezono.  Yugo begins to feel a different kind of pressure as he comes to deal with new classmates who, compared to him, all have a much clearer view of what they want for their futures. Over the course of the series, Yugo will grow, both physically and mentally as he faces all the challenges the Ezono puts in his way Created by Hiromu Arakawa, the SILVER SPOON manga has been awarded both the 5th Manga Taisho Award and the 58th Shogakukan Manga Award ...

NEWSTEAM ASSEEEEEMMBLE!! After a few years in the wilderness, Ron Burgundy and the Action News Team are back for their long-awaited sequel to Anchorman (2004). I must declare something, upon first viewing I wasn’t particularly impressed by the first Anchorman. Frankly I just didn’t really get it, the silliness and disjointed dialogue kind of threw me for a loop. But on subsequent viewings it blossomed into one of my favourite comedies. I’m hoping that this is also the case with Anchorman 2 because currently I’m a little underwhelmed by it.

I'm about to make a frank admission which may discredit any semblance of gamer cred that I currently possess; I've never played any of the Call of Duty games. Nope, not one. This is for no other reason than because I've never particularly enjoyed straight laced war shooters. If it hasn't got dragons, aliens or some other form of fantastical setting, I'm probably not interested. Enter Call of Duty: Ghosts. From the moment I saw that Astronaut shooty action, I knew I had to try it.  Starting off in a "world gone mad" setting, CoD:G instantly piqued my interest with it's truly cinematic presentation. Running through crumbling buildings, at this point weaponless, gave cause for a raised heart rate and a handful of cuss words. Being closely followed by a zero-g encounter really got the blood pumping and started to show off those gorgeous next-gen graphics. Across the next few levels, CoD:G surprises with a variety of different locations and diff...

Every day, from now until Christmas, the mad people at Madman will be announcing a new title for us to look forward to in the new year. Today's title announcement is.... #6 – OREIMO 2 Kyosuke Kosaka is a high schooler who has been leading a quiet, humdrum life. However, things are turned upside-down when his little sister, Kirino, comes to him for "life counselling”.  It turns out that Kirino, a well-rounded winner in life, has many otaku-ish hobbies And so, Kyosuke sincerely takes on Kirino's request, and as more and more people in their friend circles become involved, changes to their icy cold brother-sister relationship begin to appear. But after they overcome the crisis of Kirino suddenly leaving to study abroad, what kind of crazy whims will Kirino put forward next? OREIMO 2 will be available to own on DVD in 2014. You can check out the rest of Madman's announcements  HERE .

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag has proven to be the stand out title on PS4 with countless hours of gameplay available just through the main story and various side missions but there's even more to come. In just 2 days time, we Aussies and our NZ brethren will be able to download the Freedom Cry DLC which tells the story of Edward Kenway's former first mate, Adewale. One of the coolest things about this DLC is the character himself. Throughout the main campaign Adewale proved himself to be extremely interesting and hinted at a much grander story to tell. As an added bonus, Freedom Cry promises to be bloody, brutal and bad arse.

Every day, from now until Christmas, the mad people at Madman will be announcing a new title for us to look forward to in the new year. Today's title announcement is.... #5 – THE WIND RISES Monday 16 December, 2013 – The Australian poster and trailer for the latest film from Studio Ghibli, THE WIND RISES, are now available. THE WIND RISES has been announced as the final directorial effort from Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki. The film will release in Australian cinemas on February 27, 2014. At a press conference earlier this year in Tokyo, Miyazaki announced he would retire from filmmaking, THE WIND RISES being his final film. Miyazaki will continue at Studio Ghibli, focusing on other creative projects such as exhibits at the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Tokyo and manga projects. In a statement delivered at this press conference, Miyazaki commented “I know I've mentioned I'm retiring many times in the past, so I know that many of you might thin...

Every day, from now until Christmas, the mad people at Madman will be announcing a new title for us to look forward to in the new year. Today's title announcement is.... #4 – SAMURAI BRIDE Things seemed to be going so well for Muneakira Yagyu, the hapless warrior inexplicably stuck with the ability to awaken a girl's latent samurai powers with a single kiss. Just having to deal with the impossible Jubei - who fell out of the sky and into his arms - would be more than most men could handle, let alone being the target for a half dozen more. On top of that, he had just defeated a minion of a great evil, so was it too much to ask for a little break?  Apparently, it was! The great evil is back, but that's the least of the problems complicating Muneakira's life. After all the girls he kissed, the inevitable has finally happened… someone is getting hitched with a samurai girl! It's going to be a REALLY old fashioned wedding and any resistance by the ...

Playstation 4 Console Unfortunately you've got buckley's chance of getting your hands on this monsterous gaming machine before Christmas but even an "IOU 1x PS4" card will make for a pretty spectacular gift. The Lamborghini of gaming consoles, this console is THE hot ticket item for Christmas 2013 and has been described as a "ball tearing beast"... by us. Get it from: Gaming or electronics stores Movie Vouchers There's nothing quite like paying exorbitant prices for syrupy cola and walking across sticky carpet before settling into a 60% comfy chair to check out the latest silver screen offerings. Regardless of un-popped popcorn, seat kicking children and errant Jaffa's, watching a blackbuster on the big screen can't be beat and with titles like Godzilla, Robocop, Captain America 2, Guardians of the Galaxy and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 on offer, 2014 is shaping up to be the year when home viewing just won't suffice. Get...

Every day, from now until Christmas, the mad people at Madman will be announcing a new title for us to look forward to in the new year. Today's title announcement is.... #3 - HIGH SCHOOL OF THE DEAD: DRIFTERS OF THE DEAD An new OVA for HIGH SCHOOL OF THE DEAD. Komuro and the gang stumble upon a deserted tropical island that looks to be free of zombies. They make use of this wonderful opportunity and dress up in skimpy swimsuits and have lots and lots of fanservice fun. HIGH SCHOOL OF THE DEAD: DRIFTERS OF THE DEAD will be available exclusive to digital platforms in 2014. You can check out the rest of Madman's announcements  HERE .

Every day, from now until Christmas, the mad people at Madman will be announcing a new title for us to look forward to in the new year. Today's title announcement is.... #2 - OUTBREAK COMPANY Rather than channelling his efforts into creativity like his parents, Shinichi Kanoufs has instead become one of the worldfs foremost experts on emoef, an otaku obsession with all things cute and adorable. Because of his staggeringly encyclopaedic knowledge, Shinichi is recruited as an ambassador to the Holy Eldant Kingdom, a parallel world where things that previously only existed in anime have become real!  So, how will a hot blooded young otaku react when dropped into a world with actual cute and adorable elf maids and dragons? More importantly, how will THEY react to this drooling devotee with diplomatic credentials? And even more to the point, exactly WHY does the Japanese government feel that sending someone to represent Japanfs moe interests is a good idea in the firs...

The Gutters Big F#$k off Edition  The perfect gift for the comic book fan that has everything, The Gutters BFO Edition collects the first 340 pages of The Gutters - the hilarious web comic that parodies the comic book industry. Prepare for such images as Daredevil mistaking a cat as a keyboard, Alan Moore taking a bath and Superman showing off his tramp stamp. Plus, this collected addition features a cover by none-other than Skottie 'Baby Variant Cover' Young.  Get it from: The Gutters Online Store The Bag of Holding  So I know that a bag seems like a bit of an odd pick for this Christmas wish list but believe me this is one item no geek should be without. It's got plenty of room and compartments for your comics, laptop, and any other geeky items that you need to have on your person. It has a lot of little pouches that are perfect size for business cards, roleplaying dice and other small items.  Get it from: Think Geek Arrested Develo...

With arguably the year’s greatest cast, American Hustle is an immensely entertaining crime film. This cinematic menagerie is populated by a variety of conniving, unhinged and at times ridiculous characters. It’s fascinating to sit back and watch them interact with one another as the stakes spiral out of control. This film is blessed with an exceptional script. Director David O. Russell (The Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook) proves once again he’s the master of wrangling absurd characters.

“The men involved in his wife’s death must die. All of them.” That’s the base premise for Dead Body Road, the new series from Image Comics'  Skybound Imprint. Revenge noir at its core, this book hits the ground running at a furious speed setting it apart from your regular revenge story. This is in part due the talent of the creative team at the helm. The story starts off with a botched heist, which leaves a security guard and the wife of our protagonist, Gage, dead. Tortured and broken within, Gage follows whatever leads he has, small as they are, to set bloody revenge against the people responsible for the death of his beloved Anna. The writing in this first issue by Justin Jordan is a solid introduction to the series, offering twists and leaving you wanting more. If you’ve enjoyed Jordan’s previous violence filled series, Luther Strode, you won't be disappointed with Dead Body Road. Matteo Scalera’s pencils and inks pop off the pages displaying the vio...

Every day, from now until Christmas, the mad people at Madman will be announcing a new title for us to look forward to in the new year. Today's title announcement is.... #1 - BLUE EXORCIST – THE MOVIE When his adopted father, Shiro Fujimoto, was killed by his biological father, Satan, Rin Okumura swore to become an exorcist to avenge Shiro's death declaring war on his own blood-relatives of the underworld... Everyone is in the midst of preparing for a festival which is celebrated once every 11 years in True Cross Academy Town. However, behind the scenes in the shadows, a "Phantom Train" goes berserk while the barriers protecting the town from demon intrusions are under repair. Rin, Yukio, and Shiemi are sent to exorcise the Phantom Train, but as usual Rin complicates the situation.  Amidst the chaos, Rin meets a demon in the form of a young boy. Meanwhile, Cheng-Long Liu, a Senior Exorcist First Class from the Taiwan Branch joins Shura in the repa...

Molecular Basics by Heiko Antoniewicz This is the perfect cookbook for those home cooks who are wowed by culinary wizards like Heston Blumenthal and Ferran Adria. Molecular gastronomy is where the worlds of science and cooking collide, with truly breathtaking possibilities. This is the ideal gift for that special someone who’s looking for a bit of adventure in the kitchen. Get it from: The Red Spoon Company How I Slept My Way to The Middle by Kevin Pollak Legend of film and podcaster extraordinaire, Kevin Pollak gives a guided tour of his remarkable career from his stand-up comedy roots to working with Hollywood A-listers up to and including his current online ventures. Easily one of the funniest men in the business and a great book for anyone who likes tales from behind the silver screen. Get if from:  Good bookstores Hammer Horror Collection (Blu Ray) Nothing says Christmas like the the grand daddies of horror, right … ? Why not mix things up ...

Thanks to our pals at Hopscotch, we've got 5 copies of the bloody hilarious 100 Bloody Acres to give away. 100 Bloody Acres is the creepy yet hilarious story of brothers Reg and Lindsay Morgan’s struggling organic blood and bone fertiliser business. The use of dead car crash victims in the mix has been a huge boon to business but it’s been months since their last find and an important new customer is waiting on a delivery.  When Reg (Damon Herriman: House of Wax), the junior partner in the business, comes across two guys and girl stranded on a remote country road, he sees a radical solution to their supply problems and a way of finally gaining the respect of his bossy big brother Lindsay (Angus Sampson: Insidious). But things don’t quite go to plan when Reg starts to fall for Sophie (Anna McGahan: Underbelly). So, to get your hands on a copy, all you have to do is fill out the form below and you're in the running! Don't forget, you can get yourself a b...

Thanks to our friends at Hopscotch, we've got five copies of the action packed NOW YOU SEE ME on DVD to give away. Now You See Me pits an elite FBI squad in a game of cat and mouse against "The Four Horsemen", a magic super-team of the world's greatest illusionists. The Four Horsemen pull off a series of daring heists against corrupt business leaders during their performances, and then funnel the millions of stolen profits into their audiences bank accounts, while staying one step ahead of the law. FBI Special Agent Dylan (Ruffalo) is determined to make the magicians pay for their crimes-and to stop them before they pull off what promises to be an even more audacious heist. But he's forced to partner with Alma (Laurent), an Interpol detective about whom he is instantly suspicious. Out of desperation he turns to Thaddeus (Freeman), a famed magic debunker, who claims the bank heist was accomplished using disguises and video trickery. One thing Dylan and...

Batman DC Comics Boxos Papercraft Activity Set This Activity set is perfect for any Batman or Papercraft fan!  Super cute and easy to assemble, this set will be hours of fun for anyone and looks amazing when displayed anywhere. The set includes a Papercraft Batman, Robin, Joker, Alfred, Bruce Wayne. Put together with a Papercraft Batmobile and amazing backgrounds, and you have the perfect Christmas gift! Get it from: Amazon Batman: Arkham Asylum Breakout So we can all agree that the Marvel and DC Lego figurines and packs are awesome right? So how can you top them you ask? Well Lego have done so with an Arkham Asylum playset! Measuring at 32 cm high and 34 cm wide, the set is highly detailed with 8 rooms to play out all your Lego Superhero scenarios. The set also includes 8 minifigure:  Batman, Robin, The Joker, The Penguin, Poison Ivy, Dr. Harleen Quinzel, Scarecrow and a Guard. Get it from: Lego.com and all good toys stores Cowbo...

Now, I want to tell you about this little film i saw the other day, but you’ve got to promise me that you’re not going to get too excited about it. Just play it cool, like I’m telling you some innocuous story about my aunt or something. The thing is, the world of cinema can seem like a river of light brown sludge; snaking its way through lands of predictability and sameness. Every now then small gems wash up on the banks of this river, which wait patiently for cinephiles to discover them. Spectacular Now is a beautiful little film which i hope finds its way in the big bad cynical world. Let me reiterate, this is really small film with plenty of heart, i only stress this because i fear that this film may suffer the backlash as experienced by films like Hurt Locker, Zero Dark Thirty and Little Miss Sunshine . I appreciate that these films were critically acclaimed and achieved box office success, but it’s when people come to these films after all the hype that you hear response...