Comic | Nerdologists https://nerdologists.com Where to jump in on board games, anime, books, and movies as a Nerd Thu, 29 Aug 2024 11:37:34 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://nerdologists.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/nerdologists-favicon.png Comic | Nerdologists https://nerdologists.com 32 32 Unico – The Return of the Little Unicorn https://nerdologists.com/2024/08/unico-the-return-of-the-little-unicorn/ https://nerdologists.com/2024/08/unico-the-return-of-the-little-unicorn/#respond Thu, 29 Aug 2024 11:36:27 +0000 https://nerdologists.com/?p=9121 Follow the story of a little Unicorn, named Unico, in this adapted classic. What adventure and troubles await?

The post Unico – The Return of the Little Unicorn first appeared on Nerdologists.]]>
Free Comic Book Day is great. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s the first Saturday in May. So you missed it for this year, but now you know for next year. There are bags of comics for adults to get them hooked on upcoming titles. And there are comics for kids to get them hooked as well. Unico was one of those in the kids section, though, let’s talk about how good it is for kids.

What Is Unico About

I can tell you the whole plot of Unico if you want. But I won’t. Unico is a story originally created by Osamu Tezuka and published from 1976 to 1979. Tezuka’s name might be familiar as he also created and wrote Astro Boy. So he is one of the founders and creators of manga as we know it. Unico is a lesser known story. But Samuel Sattin (adaptor) and Gurihiru have adapted it into a new form.

The story follows that of a unicorn who with the goddess Psyche bring joy and beauty to the mortal world. But that makes the goddess Venus mad. She is beauty, not Unico and people should be adoring her, not Unico. So she captures the little unicorn and sends him across time with the West Wind so that he forgets who he was. He is to be left in that forgetful state, but the West Wind can’t do that. But her betrayal of Venus is going to cost her and put Unico back in danger.

Is It A Good Story?

So the first graphic novel or trade paperback just came out of this. I don’t think it is going purely to comics, but that means that only part of the story is ready to be read. But Unico: Awakening, the first graphic novel, is wonderful. You get a taste in the comic for free comic book day, but the rest of the story really shines as you dig into.

There is a surprising amount of depth to the story as you look into Unico, Chloe the cat, and what other characters, like the West Wind need to go through. It’s a kids story, but not a kids story for the faint of heart. And I think the story is better off because of it. But that is also a downside of it.

The comic book came with the kids bag of stories. And my five-year-old kid loves Unico. But now that we own and I read the story, is it the right thing for a kid that age. The start has some big things to it, just in the comic. But nothing too overtly scary. Unico: Awakening, that is going to contain more that might be scary for a kid.

Then Who Is It For?

Unico is for a slightly older kid and parents who like manga and comics. It is not a teenage story by any means. I think it is for middle grade kids though, not young kids. Venus is not nice, and Unico is adorable. I expect a lot of kids are not going to like that element of the story. And there is a monster that is not pleasant to look at. It’s the type of thing that might stick in a kids head and cause some nightmares.

Now, I also want to say that your mileage will vary. I still am trying to figure out what my kid is going to be able to handle or not. It might be fine it might not and the question always is, is it worth it. I think as he gets a little bit older, maybe not even to 9, the story won’t be too much for him. But at five now, it might be. So it’s probably more a screen it yourself to know for your kid.

Final Thoughts on Unico

I want to talk about it more. But I think, because it’s a classic manga adapted it’s worth just saying, go check it out. Most people should find it enjoyable. And while the focus is on a younger audience, adults will find it enjoyable as well. Samuel Sattin’s adaptation of Osamu Tezuka’s work is very enjoyable. And the artwork by Gurihiru is great, as well.

When I read the story, I find it a lot of fun. And like a good comic or manga, I want to know what is coming in the next one. If I feel like I can just set it down and get back to it eventually, it is a miss. But when I read Unico, I want to read more of it. Now I need to wait until the next one comes out, which is a downside of reading a comic when it comes out. But I find Unico to be worth the read.

Send an Email
Message me on X at @TheScando
Visit us on Facebook here
Support us on Patreon here

The post Unico – The Return of the Little Unicorn first appeared on Nerdologists.]]>
https://nerdologists.com/2024/08/unico-the-return-of-the-little-unicorn/feed/ 0
Solo Leveling – First Impressions https://nerdologists.com/2022/10/solo-leveling-first-impressions/ https://nerdologists.com/2022/10/solo-leveling-first-impressions/#respond Mon, 24 Oct 2022 11:46:30 +0000 https://nerdologists.com/?p=7484 Jinwoo is a low rank hunter who barely survives dungeons and monsters, but what happens when he starts Solo Leveling.

The post Solo Leveling – First Impressions first appeared on Nerdologists.]]>
Normally I don’t do first impressions on books or book series. And really this is a review for the first book in Solo Leveling, but it is also a first impressions. Manga or comics often need a larger run to unfold everything. And with Solo Leveling, I feel like I can get that feeling for the series but not everything to do a full review on it. Let’s find out what it is all about.

The Plot – Solo Leveling

Sung Jinwoo is a hunter. But he isn’t a good hunter, in fact, he is the weakest hunter out there. He needs to do it because he got the power, but also to help support his mother in the hospital and his sister. But, every time he comes back from a hunt, he is always beat up.

This all started when weird portals or gateways started to show up around the world. He and some lucky others were given powers to be hunters. This might mean great at combat or it might mean that they can heal others. Jinwoo just isn’t good at any of them. But when things go wrong in a dungeon, he finds that his life is going to change forever.

Solo Leveling Monster
Image Source: Yen Press

What Doesn’t Work?

While this does some different things, I’ll talk about them later, it does feel somewhat derivative of other manga that I’ve read. Technically without it being manga, I believe, since it is South Korean. But the elements there match what I’ve read before. I would say that Lit RPG might even be a better example of what it is doing. And I also compare it to Isekai that I’ve read.

And secondly, what I don’t consider to be a major knock, is that this is violent, at least to more of a level than a lot of manga. Solo Leveling is full color, so blood looks like blood. And there is a lot of violence. More, to me, this is something that if you don’t know it’s going to be there might be a surprise. For the story it is telling it works though.

What Works?

I think that the main character is interesting. His motivations for being in the dungeons, we get to see it in flashbacks, are meaningful. This is the real world, minus the portals and hunters, and he’s doing what he needs to to take care of his family. That feels more real than a lot of characters randomly thrust into another world.

The characters also do real world type things in non-real world type situations. The conversations that they have when they go into the dungeon that kickoff the story aren’t in awe of the dungeon. It is something that is common place in their world. And going on a hunt to clear a dungeon is a job. Conversations around it are normal conversations as people talk about life, love, family, things that normal people talk about.

And I like that it is in color. I’m not sure if this should go here or be in my final thoughts, but it is something that works. The color on the page is nice. It gives it more of that comic feel and I think makes the story that much more immersive. And it isn’t like a page full of color but is used with the blank space on the page, to convey the story really well.

How Does It Compare?

I want to talk about what I compare this to, because it is my normal comic or manga that I read and write about. But it is also different. Thinking about it, I compare it in some ways to something like Blood, Blockade, Battlefront. But the monsters and creatures aren’t coming through. I also compare it to LitRPG’s that I’ve read. There is one where towers appear in the world and now monsters and magic are a thing.

But in terms of manga that I’ve read, I think it does feel different. There is a game like element to it. It does have some of that DNA that you see in things like Sword Art Online. This fantasy element and dungeon clearing element. And there are real life consequences to failure, But they are different. In Sword Art Online, someone dies, and we see them disappear in a game. here, characters address it to the real world immediately. That just adds weight to what the characters are doing.

At the same time, it is about a character leveling up. So while it does feel like there is a bit more weight to it, the basics of it are familiar. Going into a dungeon, fighting, and trying to make a living, survive, and level up, it is what we’ve seen before in a lot of anime or manga. Solo Leveling doesn’t stray too far from the expected tropes.

Final Thoughts on Solo Leveling

Solo Leveling is definitely a comic that I want to keep reading. And it is getting an anime adaptation. I want to read more of the comic and I might even want to read the light novels or LitRPG novels that the comics are based off of.

Like I said in the last section, I think that Solo Leveling, while it is familiar, does feel different. Blood Blockade Battlefront is one that it really does compare to for me. Placing a character into a world where there are real consequences and consequences to the real world feels different.

That does, I do want to see how the main character continues to progress. I think what they’ve done so far makes a lot of sense. I don’t see them leading the character down a dark path, but if they do, it would mess with my enjoyment of the series. The characters reasoning wouldn’t lead that way, but it is hard to tell. And the covers make it feel like it might, at times.

I also hope that it doesn’t just become another, here’s a boss monster, let’s level up this character and make them really powerful. That doesn’t fit with what the story has been thus far either. It should be a struggle for Jinwoo throughout. But because of who he is, and what he needs to do, he can level up and overcome.

Let me know if you’ve read this comic? Is it something that you’re interested in reading or watching the anime of when it comes out? Supposedly coming out in 2023, or is it one you’ll pass on?

Send an Email
Message me on Twitter at @TheScando
Visit us on Facebook here
Support us on Patreon here

The post Solo Leveling – First Impressions first appeared on Nerdologists.]]>
https://nerdologists.com/2022/10/solo-leveling-first-impressions/feed/ 0
Locke & Key Season 2 Review https://nerdologists.com/2022/05/locke-key-season-2-review/ https://nerdologists.com/2022/05/locke-key-season-2-review/#respond Mon, 09 May 2022 13:34:09 +0000 https://nerdologists.com/?p=6987 Locke & Key season two has been out for a bit, but I finally got around to watch it. While closer to the comics, does it hold up to season one?

The post Locke & Key Season 2 Review first appeared on Nerdologists.]]>
Finally got through watching Locke & Key. And while that does sound like a bit of an knock on the season, it isn’t meant as one. I find that with shows, if there is a long enough gap, it is hard for me to immediately jump back into it. Especially with new shows always coming out. Locke & Key got caught up in that wash of shows.

Locke & Key Summary

No spoilers, but let’s talk about the premise and what happened in season one. Locke & Key is a young adult styled horror themed show about the Locke family. After Rendell, the father, is killed in seemingly a random attack by a student he was counseling, Nina takes her kids, Tyler, Kinsey, and Bode back to Massachusetts and the Keyhouse, where Locke, grew up.

There, Bode meets an imaginary friend, or so he thinks, in the well house, Dodge. And he starts to hear strange whispering sounds that lead him to keys. These keys all of magical powers, like a key that opens a door to anywhere. Unfortunately, Dodge is not just an imaginary friend, but an entity from another dimension who bonded to Lucas, one of Rendell’s friends from high school, years ago.

Dodge wants the keys, and in particular wants the Omega key, one that will open the door blocking off the portal. Using the student who attacked and killed Rendell, Dodge tries to get the keys that she needs in order to complete their plan. Meanwhile, Tyler, Kinsey, and Bode are dealing with a new town and that adults don’t know about the keys. Eventually, though, they manage to defeat Dodge and throw her through the portal back to her dimension, or so they think.

Locke & Key Season 2

Season two picks up shortly after the events of season two. Really when the kids next year of school starts. And of course, as viewers, we know, that the issue at hand is Dodge. She is still around, but the kids don’t know that. So what is Dodge’s plan going to be now?

The style of the show stays very much the same. It is still a young adult show with horror elements to it. For me, the feel of the show leans more into those horror elements, but not too much. But one of the things that this season does, it dig more into the lore of the Keyhouse and the Locke family. It is shown early on, but really delved into towards the end of season two.

What Doesn’t Work?

I think the one knock people might have from season one still remains. If you read the comic by Joe Hill you know how much darker and twisted that is. While Tyler, Kinsey and Bode are all around the same age, the world and how they interact with it is much less fanciful. They struggle with life more, and the actions of the student are grimmer.

For something on Netflix, I think that the changes work. But while season two is a little bit darker, it is not that dark horror. So if season one is not your jam, then season two is not going to be either. Now if season one grew on you, this might feel a bit more like the comics. And I think as someone who read the comics and likes the show, I see more nods to the comics in this one. There are in season one, but more direct references I feel here.

What Works?

I really think that building on the lore works well in this season. We get to find out not about where the portal goes to, but more of the history of it. More of what Dodge wants as well, which is intriguing. The house and lore are so intriguing that it’s hard not to want to know more about it and see more in the world. The portal to another dimension is that element that just feels different and out there from other shows.

I think they also toned down the teen drama a little bit. Watch the first few episodes, and you will disagree. But the further you get into the series, the more you see that drop away. There is still drama, since they aren’t going fully horror, drama needs to exist in some other ways. But it isn’t as much as times in season one. And a lot of that is that Tyler, Kinsey, and Bode feel like a weight has been lifted with Dodge being gone.

I appreciate, as well, that there is more adult involvement and that some of that involvement, while similar to the comics, is handled better. I think that they create a more interesting story that way. And it feels like the adult involvement makes more sense in this case.

Finally, the acting is still very strong. Bode, as a kid actor, is not always the best, nor the new kid actor in there as well. But Gabe is amazing (Dodge’s current form), and the other two kids, Kinsey and Tyler do a very good job as well. I love it when a show does well with the casting. And their mother, Nina, is very good at being confused.

Who Is It For?

I think it is for fans of Stranger Things. Another Netflix property with a similar feel, but more of a kids on bikes focus. This feels like it’s a tad more cleaned up from that and while it blends fantasy and horror, the feel is not quite the same.

As for fans of the comics, I do think that season two is likely to be appreciated more. But it is young adult in tone versus the comics. So if you dislike season one, season two is unlikely to change that. And I can understand that if expectations starts differently that this might seem very off. But if you go into season one knowing it is young adult, you’ll likely be able to appreciate it more.

Locke & Key Season 2 Final Thoughts

I like this show a lot. For me, I do not mind the young adult feel, nor am I sure that I would love to watch something that sticks perfectly to the comics. This helps balance out some of the trauma that they went through by showing off the wonder of the Keyhouse and what it is to be a Locke. The decisions that Tyler, Kinsey, and Bode face still are heavy, but there are more moments in there.

And I know there is going to be one more season. I think, many people, like myself, didn’t watch season two immediately when it dropped. There is just too much time between the seasons. But, thankfully, Netflix is already committed to a season three and they know it will be the last one. I want to see where the series ends, and while it might not be release day binge, I will watch it.

Do you enjoy Locke & Key on Netflix?

Send an Email
Message me on Twitter at @TheScando
Visit us on Facebook here
Support us on Patreon here

The post Locke & Key Season 2 Review first appeared on Nerdologists.]]>
https://nerdologists.com/2022/05/locke-key-season-2-review/feed/ 0
10 Minute Marvel S2E58: Crazy Moon Knight Theories https://nerdologists.com/2022/03/10-minute-marvel-s2e58-crazy-moon-knight-theories/ https://nerdologists.com/2022/03/10-minute-marvel-s2e58-crazy-moon-knight-theories/#respond Tue, 22 Mar 2022 13:12:51 +0000 https://nerdologists.com/?p=6820 Moon Knight is coming soon to Disney+, what are some of the crazier things that could happen in it, and how likely are they?

The post 10 Minute Marvel S2E58: Crazy Moon Knight Theories first appeared on Nerdologists.]]>
We’re coming up on Moon Knight next week, so I thought it might be time to talk about some of the more wild theories I could see happening. Plus news is light this week. A comic book sells for a massive amount of money. And Spider-Man: No Way Home has come to digital.

Thank You For Listening

I hope that you are enjoying the 10 Minute Marvel Podcast. If you are, there are a few ways that you can help support the podcast. Firstly, share it with your friends. A personal recommendation always helps so much. But you can also subscribe or leave a rating and review. Those make the podcast easier to find. You can find the podcast on iTunes, Google Podcast, Stitcher, and Spotify.

I also have a patreon, which you can find here. This Patreon helps raise funds to improve the quality of the podcast as well as Malts and Meeples and Nerdologists.com website. Thank you for considering supporting us in any way that you can.

Comments or Questions?

What do you think is the craziest thing that we could see in Moon Knight? Are you expecting any big cameos on it? Do you think we could see a Skrull? Will it introduce an important new character like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier did with Val?

Let me know your thoughts down in the comment section below. Or you can tweet them to me over on Twitter. You can find me on Twitter @TheScando or with #10MinMarvel.

Let me know what else you might want me to cover coming up here. Two weeks from now I start covering Moon Knight but I need a topic for next week. Though, I probably need to dive into the Ms Marvel Trailer which I haven’t talked about much thus far.

Send an Email.
Message me directly on Twitter at @TheScando
Visit us on Facebook here.
Support us on Patreon here.

The post 10 Minute Marvel S2E58: Crazy Moon Knight Theories first appeared on Nerdologists.]]>
https://nerdologists.com/2022/03/10-minute-marvel-s2e58-crazy-moon-knight-theories/feed/ 0
10 Minute Marvel Episode 59 – Spider-Woman and Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD https://nerdologists.com/2020/08/10-minute-marvel-episode-59-spider-woman-and-marvels-agents-of-shield/ https://nerdologists.com/2020/08/10-minute-marvel-episode-59-spider-woman-and-marvels-agents-of-shield/#respond Tue, 25 Aug 2020 12:54:57 +0000 http://nerdologists.com/?p=4684 Lighter news week though we have an Olivia Wilde directed Sony project to talk about, and a comic book coming out that might have been

The post 10 Minute Marvel Episode 59 – Spider-Woman and Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD first appeared on Nerdologists.]]>
Lighter news week though we have an Olivia Wilde directed Sony project to talk about, and a comic book coming out that might have been meant for an MCU tie in. Plus, I’m finally getting around to watching Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD.

If you are enjoying the podcast, first of all, thank you for listening. We’ve seen nice growth in the podcast, and I want to welcome you to 10 Minute Marvel. Also, please consider subscribing or leaving a rating and review. Those help the podcast in the algorithms and will help more people see the podcast and join into the 10 Minute Marvel community. The podcast is on iTunes, Google Play Music (soon to be Youtube Music), Spotify, and Stitcher.

If you want to leave a comment on the show, your thoughts on Agents of SHIELD or the Spider-Woman news, you can do so in the comments below. Or you can find me on Twitter. You can either tweet directly to me @TheScando or you can tweet using #10MinMarvel.

I’ll see you next time.

Share questions, ideas for articles, or comments with us!

Email us at nerdologists@gmail.com
Message me directly on Twitter at @TheScando
Visit us on Facebook here.

The post 10 Minute Marvel Episode 59 – Spider-Woman and Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD first appeared on Nerdologists.]]>
https://nerdologists.com/2020/08/10-minute-marvel-episode-59-spider-woman-and-marvels-agents-of-shield/feed/ 0
Back or Brick: The Umbrella Academy Game https://nerdologists.com/2020/07/back-or-brick-the-umbrella-academy-game/ https://nerdologists.com/2020/07/back-or-brick-the-umbrella-academy-game/#respond Wed, 29 Jul 2020 12:58:43 +0000 http://nerdologists.com/?p=4593 Take the fight to the villains as a member of the Umbrella Academy, take down your greatest threats and deal with your family in this

The post Back or Brick: The Umbrella Academy Game first appeared on Nerdologists.]]>
Take the fight to the villains as a member of the Umbrella Academy, take down your greatest threats and deal with your family in this card game.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/umbrellaacademy/the-umbrella-academy-game?ref=profile_saved_projects_live

Pros

  • Theme
  • Solo Play
  • Art and Aesthetic

Cons

  • Simple Game Play
  • First time creator

The Page

While I don’t have a ton in pros and cons, I do have more to say about the page. I don’t love this page. The art is great on it because it’s the comic art, but the issue I have with the page, it doesn’t show me what I want to see in a good order. We get the pledge breakdowns at the top of the page and a link to the rules. I can read the pledge breakdown in the side of the page, I don’t need that laid out to me as the first thing. I want a bit of a description of what the theme of the game is and what you’re doing in the game. And some glamour shots of the game, things like that.

Also, a link to the rules doesn’t cut it for me. I want more rules explanation. And we get some of that with a game play explanation, which is what I want and what I really look for, and ideally you’d have that and then at the end of that you’d have a link to your rules for people who want to go more in depth. But a random link higher on the page is not going to be something I’d look at twice, except for the fact that I’m writing up about it.

All of that said, they nail the comic aesthetic throughout the page. So it looks like they’ve tried to get the theme into the game which I like to see, i think that they just miss some of on the overall layout of the page and providing information in a good way. And their add-ons don’t make much sense either, it’s just additional pledges, not really an add-on. If it was a version of the comics or something like that, that’d be an add-on.

Back or Brick

When I heard about this game, I was interested, not excited, but interested. I enjoyed the Netflix show, and the comics have been interesting to read. I feel like both of them have their flaws though. And when looking at this game, I see stuff on the page that I don’t love. Overall this game seems too simple for me, and I’m not sure how you’d make it that much more complex or what you’d do differently, but this looks like something for big fans of the comics, but not really big board gamers. And I’m worried about the shipping as well, it’s vaguely written and I suspect they are going to run into money issues with shipping. Also, this game isn’t up on BGG yet, now that isn’t the most important thing in the world, but for something I’ve seen advertised, it doesn’t seem like it’s being created by a game company or at least one highly in touch with the modern hobby. For me, while I like the aesthetic of the game, there are too many red flags and doesn’t feel like my type of game, so it’s a Brick for me.

How about you, is this game a back or a brick for you?

Share questions, ideas for articles, or comments with us!

Email us at nerdologists@gmail.com
Message me directly on Twitter at @TheScando
Visit us on Facebook here.

The post Back or Brick: The Umbrella Academy Game first appeared on Nerdologists.]]>
https://nerdologists.com/2020/07/back-or-brick-the-umbrella-academy-game/feed/ 0
10 Minute Marvel Episode 40: 2 MCU Rumors, Plus Thor’s Origin https://nerdologists.com/2020/04/10-minute-marvel-episode-40-2-mcu-rumors-plus-thors-origin/ https://nerdologists.com/2020/04/10-minute-marvel-episode-40-2-mcu-rumors-plus-thors-origin/#respond Tue, 14 Apr 2020 12:09:53 +0000 http://nerdologists.com/?p=4274 There are two interesting MCU rumors for upcoming films, Shang-Chi and Black Panther 2, including one that was hinted at in Avengers: Endgame. Then I

The post 10 Minute Marvel Episode 40: 2 MCU Rumors, Plus Thor’s Origin first appeared on Nerdologists.]]>
There are two interesting MCU rumors for upcoming films, Shang-Chi and Black Panther 2, including one that was hinted at in Avengers: Endgame.

Then I go and look at the origins of Thor from the comics. Is it a hokey and dated comic, yes it is, but there are aliens from Saturn in it so join me as I go through what the story was so you don’t have to read it.

Thank you to everyone who has been checking out the podcast, please consider leaving a rating and review if you are enjoying it. Those help more people find the podcast and join into the 10 Minute Marvel community. You can leave a rating or review on iTunes, Google Play Music, Spotify, or Stitcher.

If you have questions, comments or comics you want me to cover, let me know in the comments below. Or you can find me on Twitter @TheScando or use #10MinMarvel. I’m always looking for new things to checkout, especially new things to read on Marvel Unlimited.

Share questions, ideas for articles, or comments with us!

Email us at nerdologists@gmail.com
Message me directly on Twitter at @TheScando
Visit us on Facebook here.

The post 10 Minute Marvel Episode 40: 2 MCU Rumors, Plus Thor’s Origin first appeared on Nerdologists.]]>
https://nerdologists.com/2020/04/10-minute-marvel-episode-40-2-mcu-rumors-plus-thors-origin/feed/ 0
So, You Like Zombies… https://nerdologists.com/2020/04/so-you-like-zombies/ https://nerdologists.com/2020/04/so-you-like-zombies/#respond Tue, 07 Apr 2020 13:23:19 +0000 http://nerdologists.com/?p=4256 There are a lot of zombie shows and movies that have come out, so I thought that I’d take a stab not just talking about

The post So, You Like Zombies… first appeared on Nerdologists.]]>
There are a lot of zombie shows and movies that have come out, so I thought that I’d take a stab not just talking about the same things over again but if you want to dig more into the realm of zombies, what you could checkout as your next steps. This includes board games and other mediums where zombies have begun popping up (or been part of the zeitgeist for a while). Some of this comes from talking about the undead with Glory Houndd and Dr Glory Hogg on their Gloomy Graves board game stream last night, so blame them.

But we’re all familiar with zombies in popular culture. The Walking Dead both as a comic and a TV show really brought them into the limelight and turned what was just a bunch of shambling monsters into something more terrifying where the humans might be the monsters. But we still kept getting the more standard zombies as well with movies like Shaun of the Dead. But The Walking Dead was really the show that let zombies expand. And even hit board games where the popular Dead of Winter gives you a potential traitor in your midst and everyone being selfish to some extent.

There has to be a lot beyond that, so what are some other things you can check out?

Image Source: IMDb

Book/Movie – Pride, Prejudice and Zombies
This one people might be more familiar with. It did have a movie come out and while it wasn’t an extremely successful movie to pick up on the zombie theme, it was advertised. But I think that the movie and book are worth checking out. Pride, Prejudice and Zombies is a lot of fun because while it twists the story from Pride and Prejudice, it stays true to many of the themes. It still has the sarcasm and it takes itself seriously. Even though the world is in the midst of a zombie apocalypse (or at least England is), there are certain principles of being a lady and a gentleman that can never truly be done away with. It’s a funny juxtaposition of those two things, and is something that Jane Austen did in her own work.

Game – Zombicide Black Plague
While this isn’t a unheard of game in the board gaming world, it does take on more of a classic zombie feel. You’re fighting off endless hordes of zombies in various scenarios that might just be about killing zombies but might have more going on as well. I have the Green Horde stand alone expansion for the game where you can get some orcs into the world as well, so there’s magic as well as zombies. There’s also Zombicide and Zombicide 2nd Edition that put it in a more modern setting, I went with Black Plague for the list because Zombicide, the original, has some issues with it, and the 2nd Edition I don’t believe is out yet. But if you want to be in one of those movies where you’re dealing with wave after wave of zombie trying to survive, but you’re not worried about the people as much as the zombies, this one’s worth a look.

Image Source: Steve Jackson Games

TV Series – iZombie
Obviously the big TV show is The Walking Dead, but this show based off of a Vertigo comic by the same name and produced by the producer of Veronica Mars is a lot of fun. Liv Moore, get it, is turned into a zombie and now her perfect life of planning to become a doctor and getting married has to be put on hold. Not only is she a zombie, she realizes that she gains memories and knowledge that the person whose brain she eats at last, so she goes to work for the police, in their morgue, and can get access to brains to help solve cases. It has a bit of a procedural nature to it, but a lot more fun. And there’s a good supporting cast of characters around her. The villain of the show is really good. CW also didn’t mess with this show like they did with Veronica Mars, which keeps the show stronger throughout.

Movie – Cockneys vs Zombies
So the first time I went to a con, CONvergence in Minneapolis/St. Paul area, I went at the last minute because they were screening Cockneys vs Zombies and I was following the writer of it on Twitter since he’d also worked on Doctor Who. This is a good, absurd, and British zombie movie. I really highly recommend this one as it just has some wonderful moments in it. While I wouldn’t call the story anything amazing, I think that they did a great job of adding in a few expected jokes, but is clever ways. Possibly the best moment, and spoilers so you can skim ahead to the next heading if you want, is there is a nursing home/assisted living home, and when the zombies come there, one of the residents is outside. Of course that resident is slow and has a walker, so we get a great slow speed, high intensity chase as a zombie slowly shambles after the resident who is slowly walking using his walker. And that’s not the only joke that works well, definitely a zombie comedy worth checking out.

Game – Zombie Dice
When you want a faster game to play, Zombie Dice is a simple game in the style of Farkle or other dice games. You’re rolling dice, pushing your luck to see how many brains you can get, but if you push your luck too much, you can get shot, and if you get shot you don’t collect the brains you’ve gathered this round. The game is very simple but it works well in decent sized groups because turns take a few seconds and you just need to remember your total of brains. It’s one that works well with families as well, again because of the simplicity.

Book – Chemistry
Now, I don’t know much about this series, Kristen is the one who has read it and loves it. I’m just hearing about it through her. From what it sounds like, it has elements of being a Twilight Parody but with zombies instead of vampires. And that the writing and characters are more interesting and better. And that’s coming from Kristen who still enjoys the Twilight Saga for the cheesiness that it is. This book, and series, just do have a similar story but in a more interesting way with more developed characters. So if that sort of fiction interests you, I know that Kristen and other she’s read it with, have enjoyed the books a lot.

Now, there are a whole lot more zombie themed things out there. Some of them are more serious and plenty of them are pretty silly. I wanted to highlight some that are maybe a bit more well known while others that are a bit more out there, that is you’re a zombie fan you could checkout. What are some of your favorite zombie things?

Share questions, ideas for articles, or comments with us!

Email us at nerdologists@gmail.com
Message me directly on Twitter at @TheScando
Visit us on Facebook here.

The post So, You Like Zombies… first appeared on Nerdologists.]]>
https://nerdologists.com/2020/04/so-you-like-zombies/feed/ 0
TelevisionTalks: Locke & Key https://nerdologists.com/2020/03/televisiontalks-locke-key/ https://nerdologists.com/2020/03/televisiontalks-locke-key/#respond Mon, 30 Mar 2020 12:55:39 +0000 http://nerdologists.com/?p=4230 I’m a little bit late to the party, but this show based off of a series of comics by Joe Hill. And I was very

The post TelevisionTalks: Locke & Key first appeared on Nerdologists.]]>
I’m a little bit late to the party, but this show based off of a series of comics by Joe Hill. And I was very interested in it from having read the first trade paperback for it, but also because Joe Hill is Stephen King’s son. So take one of my favorite authors, and find out that his son is doing a horror comic that’s being turned into a show, that sounds great to me.

Locke & Key follows a family who is moving back into the families home after tragedy has struck them. Rendell, their father, has passed away so Nina picks up and takes the kids from Seattle to Mattheson, Massachusetts. None of the kids, except the youngest, Bode, are excited to be there. But when Bode hears a voice in the well house talking back to him when he makes his voice echo, it’s clear that this isn’t a normal house. Soon Tyler and Kinsey are drawn into the crazy world that the house holds with many magical keys and Echo, the voice from the well who has gotten out. What does Echo want and why can’t their mother, Nina, remember anything about the keys?

Image Source: Netflix

Let me quickly give my thoughts on the show and then I’ll go into more depth. There might be some spoilers later on, but I’m going to try and keep them to a minimum. I really liked this show, even though it isn’t as dark and horrific as the first trade paperback, there’s definitely a very interesting and creepy story behind it. And that was enough for me, plus Joe Hill did the work on it to keep it in the spirit of the books, but not have to go fully dark. However, because of that it has much more of a YA feel to it, so if you’re a huge fan of the comics, know that before you jump in. There are a few things that stand out to me for the show.

The first thing is the acting. Most of the time, you have a cast that is mainly teen age (though teen in acting can be early 20’s) or kid actors, the acting will end up being suspect. However, in Locke & Key they do an amazing job. The actor who plays Bode, Jackson Robert Scott, does a great job. Bode is supposed to be a wide eyed 8-10 year old in the show, and you can really see that in the acting. He does a very good job of portraying an innocence and sincerity to his acting. And I won’t go into it a ton with the other actors, but the actors portraying Kinsey and Tyler, Emilia Jones and Connor Jessup respectively, do really good work as well. There are shifts in their acting as you get to see more of their character and as their characters change that are really well done. Even the adult acting is well done and it doesn’t just feel like so many YA stories where there’s a group of teens and no adults believe them and then the adults are wrong.

Image Source: Netflix

Another thing is that while this leans into horror tropes and supernatural elements that could seem cliche, it does a good job of keeping them different. When we were watching through it, it felt to Kristen and myself like several things we’ve seen or played before, Haven, Life is Strange, Oxenfree, and more, but it still felt unique. The element of the keys and how they work is really well done. And you can see where Joe Hill is borrowing form the work that his father has done before, but in a very respectful and well done way. I got numerous callbacks to IT in the show, and I appreciated that. It’s really that none of the tropes it used felt out of place or felt like they were forced in there because it’s horror or anything like that, it just flowed naturally.

Let’s talk a bit more about the story before I wrap up here. Like I said, the story is not going to be as heavily horror focused, which I’m fine with. While I love some good horror, there’s something whimsical about the keys that lends itself not just to horror but to this more fantastical element as well, and the show leans into that some more. As things unfold, there is definitely more horror and violence, but there’s also a sense of fantasy or magic to the story. Like I said previously as well, it doesn’t fall into the storytelling tropes of YA where the kids are smart and the adults are dumb and don’t believe the kids. It avoids some of that by a nifty plot device that they explain but also by just having the kids do their own thing. They use the grief of Rendell’s death and Nina’s reaction to it to drive some of why Kinsey and Tyler don’t bring as much to her as well, which I think is well done. And Bode is just too Bode to think about that.

So, I’ve said that I like the show, but would I recommend it to everyone? I’d lean towards no. It still has horror elements, so some people aren’t going to love that as much. Kristen actually stopped watching part ways through episode one because of some of the creepy stuff that was going on. But in the middle of the season, it hit more of that fantasy and whimsy, so I stopped and we rewatched it because I knew that she’d like it. So there’s definitely a piece where if people aren’t horror fans they’ll enjoy it as well, and like myself, Kristen and I are waiting for, hoping for, a second season to come out. Definitely an interesting show and if the trailer seems interesting, they do a good job and it’s worth checking out.

Share questions, ideas for articles, or comments with us!

Email us at nerdologists@gmail.com
Message me directly on Twitter at @TheScando
Visit us on Facebook here.

The post TelevisionTalks: Locke & Key first appeared on Nerdologists.]]>
https://nerdologists.com/2020/03/televisiontalks-locke-key/feed/ 0
10 Minute Marvel Episode 11 – Luna Snow and Thor https://nerdologists.com/2019/10/10-minute-marvel-episode-11-luna-snow-and-thor/ https://nerdologists.com/2019/10/10-minute-marvel-episode-11-luna-snow-and-thor/#respond Tue, 08 Oct 2019 13:30:57 +0000 http://nerdologists.com/?p=3645 So, I look at comic book news and get introduced to a new Marvel hero, Luna Snow. She’s interesting because her background is different than

The post 10 Minute Marvel Episode 11 – Luna Snow and Thor first appeared on Nerdologists.]]>

So, I look at comic book news and get introduced to a new Marvel hero, Luna Snow. She’s interesting because her background is different than a lot of other super heroes out there.

Plus, I look at Thor and see how that movie holds up. I still enjoy it, but I feel like some of the acting still needed to be grown into with the defining of Thor’s character.

If you are enjoying the podcast, please consider giving us a rating and review. We are on iTunes, Google Play Music, Stitcher and Spotify. If you have questions or something you want me to cover, you can contact me on Twitter, @TheScando, or by using #10MinMarvel.

Share questions, ideas for articles, or comments with us!

Email us at nerdologists@gmail.com
Message me directly on Twitter at @TheScando
Visit us on Facebook here.

The post 10 Minute Marvel Episode 11 – Luna Snow and Thor first appeared on Nerdologists.]]>
https://nerdologists.com/2019/10/10-minute-marvel-episode-11-luna-snow-and-thor/feed/ 0