Ever imagined Rick and Morty landing in the Dungeons & Dragons world ? Or Harley Quinn falling in love with a T-Rex? It’s ‘Uncharted’ territory all right!
And boy, are we excited for the Uncharted Movie landing in cinemas this week!
The casting of Tom Holland as Nathan Drake was met with mixed responses from fans of the video games, with many feeling that he will play a character too similar to the adolescent Peter Parker. However, Uncharted will act as a prequel to the games, hence why Drake and Sully are so young, but this doesn’t seem to be easing concerns…perhaps the endorsement of Kurt Margenau will help?!
As a DC and anime lover I was overjoyed by the surprise release of Catwoman:Hunted, an anime-esque movie adaption. In an attempt to steal a priceless jewel, Catwoman ends up in a face off between familiar villains, Interpol and Batwoman – and we know what a turbulent relationship that pair have.
I never understood why WWE didn’t let fictional monsters into the wrestling world…well now Rumble has entered the ring and my question will finally be answered! Rumble follows a monster named Steve, (Will Arnett – BoJack Horseman), who has dreams of making it to the top as a professional wrestler. This means taking on the champion of the world, a tentacled monster voiced by Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine). The animated movie also features the voices of real-life WWE Superstars Roman Reigns and Becky Lynch! Rumble will be the first wrestling-monster movie made by a wrestling organisation, which is absolutely nuts right?
In the world of comics, Marvel has stepped up with Secret X-Men #1 starring co-captains Sunspot and Cannonball who must lead Marrow, Tempo, Forge, Banshee, Strong Guy, Armor, and Boom-Boom on a secret mission to save Empress Xandra. Yep, that’s right! Not our usual team of mutants but I have a feeling I am going to love these misfits just as much!
Marvel has also started the final part of the Maestro trilogy written by Peter David, this time titled World War M. The new king must take on Abomination and his army of the dead as well as Namor and Doom for an epic final battle that will rock the kingdom!
My favourite releases this week however come from DC (surprise, surprise!)
Firstly in the form of Suicide Squad – Blaze. Whilst the Suicide Squad may generally seem erratic and like cheap fodder, that’s exactly why I love them. However, this time when a member dies their power is transferable. As each member of the Squad dies…the others get stronger. What would a hardened criminal do with that knowledge? Worse yet: What would a desperate, lovesick idiot such as Michael Van Zandt do with it? One thing’s certain,’win or lose — they all burn’.
And if you need something a little more light hearted, Strange Love is in the air just in time for Valentines and this is a tale as old as Jurassic time! As well as a bromance between Peacemaker and his eagle sidekick Eagly, as well as a first date you never see coming…in true DC style, let your freak flag fly and let’s explore love in all forms!
I may be a bit late to the party on this one, but I noticed a title named ‘Good Boy’ had its third issue released this week via Source Point Press and I had to explore it!
Set in a world where humans and dogs are equals, Good Boy is a meaty treat for anyone who loves action and animals! Flint Sparks and his human Jon, both former mercenaries, have settled down in quiet retirement. However, this new life, filled with peace and joy, is not to be. In the dead of night, some of their former ‘colleagues’, who disagree with their decision to retire, break into their home and murder Jon, leaving Flint alive in the bloody aftermath. Think role reversal John Wick and you’re pretty close! I love the art style in this comic and had to go back to start this series.
Dynamite Comics brings us Draculina, a story following a streetwise runaway human who could also be Vampirella’s deadly evil twin. Two souls linked by a reality-jumping demon struggle for control of their own destiny. Draculina, Lilith’s first and most beloved daughter, is brought into Vampirella’s reality but also linked to an alternate version of herself, a homeless young girl who is being constantly drawn into Draculina’s schemes.
And finally, probably the weirdest entry for me (yes even weirder than Harley Quinn kissing dinosaurs) is IDW publishing with Rick and Morty vs Dungeons &Dragons.
Whilst the world of Dungeons & Dragons may have their share of wish-granting djinn, none is as desperate to please and persevere as Mr. Meeseeks! Morty’s desire just to learn about D&D to keep up with the cool kids is of course taken to the extreme as Rick plunges them into their own campaign!
Moving onto video games, there was a huge Kingdom Hearts haul for Switch users this week! Kingdom Hearts 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix and Kingdom Hearts 3 are now available so be prepared to lose a good chunk of your life to Disney cutscenes.
Also coming to Switch is the noir adventure game Backbone. Basically if you put an animal on the front cover I am probably going to pay attention to it. That’s exactly what happened here. Based in an anthropomorphic, dystopian version of Vancouver, you play as a Private Detective racoon named Howard and solve various puzzles whilst following the beautiful dialogue and storyline. Full of twists and turns in both story and gameplay, busting drug dealers and tracking down murderers as a racoon and fox duo is always going to be intriguing however since the days of Myst (I was lulled in because I loved the book!) I haven’t picked up a puzzle game and I have no plans to, maybe you have played it and can convince me?
If you have ever thought of opening your own trading card shop, the PC game Kardboard Kings allows you to experience the trials and tribulations of doing just that! Set up home by the seaside and host exciting events to bring yourself new customers and better cards. This should be a simple, carefree game to enjoy in your downtime but watching the animation for it, I can imagine it being along the lines of Overcooked and that game sent me into meltdown a few times…
So what was your favourite release this week? From the obtuse to the downright absurd- February is certainly not boring so far!
Editor’s Picks:
Nightmare Alley (2022) SPOILER-FREE Review: Spook Shows and Neo-noir Nightmares
6 Iconic London-based Horror Movies: From Cult Classics to Subversive Scares
