San Diego Comic-Con 2025: What did we discover?

On August 25, 2025 By somegeektoldme@gmail.comIn Books, Comics, Movies, Television

So this is San Diego
And what have you done?
Another Comic-Con over
And a new one just begun
And so this is San Diego
I hope you had fun
The geek and the nerdy ones
The boomers and your mum.

Can you believe that San Diego Comic-Con has already checked into the hotel, trashed the bed, glued the furniture to the ceiling, drank all of the mini-bottles, and left again?! It’s amazing that the largest geek-laden event on the planet has been and gone for another year, but this means we get to discuss it!

Before we push on further, with what will be another pulsating lecture by yours truly, let’s establish what in the Nine Circles of Dante’s Hell I’m talking about. I’ve mentioned this before, so why mess with success!

San Diego Comic-Con is an opportunity for some of the world’s leading entertainment companies to showcase their upcoming products, including toys, anime, computer games, manga, books, comics, movies, and TV shows, to the ticket-paying fans and the rest of the world.

One day I’ll get to go there. I’ll probably have to sell a kidney and take out a second mortgage, but I’ll get there one day.

I can only imagine that you can get anything you need at San Diego Comic-Con: t-shirts, back issues, DVDs, action figures, books, and information. A lot of information. After reviewing the numerous announcements that I could find, I have selected a few that caught my interest. Even George Lucas made an appearance!

Sadly, just like a mogwai, there are some rules with something that I have written.

1.) I have not read or seen every article or trailer released from San Diego Comic-Con. I can only discuss the things I know of, but also things I’m interested in.
2.) Just because a product is on my list doesn’t mean I’ll get to see or purchase it. Quite simply, if something has landed on this list, it has my attention, regardless of whether I watch or purchase it.
3.) I have included some information and trailers that were released just before San Diego Comic-Con. This is because I’m the lead writer on this venture, so what I say goes.
And with that, let us be entertained by franchises and companies fighting each other for our hard-earned money!

Literature: (Books and Comics)

This year, this section is quite sparse for me. All of the Star Wars: The High Republic books have been released, but I have not read all of them yet. As for the comics, there were a lot of interesting announcements, namely Ultimate Endgame, but also that Absolute Wonder Woman won the Eisner award for the Best New Series, by Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman.

The four main announcements that I am definitely going to find are:

Deadpool/Batman #1 (From Marvel)

Batman/Deadpool #1 (From DC)

Absolute Batman 2025 Annual #1

Absolute Evil #1

(Yes, I’m still a sucker for the Absolute Universe. The titles are nailing the characters, they are superb.)

Movies:

Spinal Tap II: The End Continues

This is Spinal Tap is one of my favourite films, as it’s chock-full of comedy gold and gems. It came out in 1984, so I thought the time for a sequel to the film was dead and gone. Imagine my surprise when I saw the trailer for Spinal Tap II: The End Continues!

I never knew about the existence of this film, so I will definitely be watching that. It’s made me search for the original to watch it again. The premise of the film is that the band had broken up, but they are reuniting for a one-night-only show. You can dial that to 11.

Predator: Badlands

I’ve seen Prey, and I thought it was a positive chapter in the Predator franchise. As for Predator: Killer of Killers, I have not seen it, so I can’t comment about it. In saying that, Predator: Badlands looks intriguing for two major reasons.

The first reason is that the writer and director of Prey and Predator: Killer of Killers, Dan Trachtenberg, is back behind the camera for the next Predator instalment. Like I said before, even though I haven’t seen Predator: Killer of Killers, Prey was enough for me to respect Trachtenberg’s vision for the films.

The second reason is that it appears Predator: Badlands is blending Predator with Aliens concepts, namely a synthetic created by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation. Is Predator: Badlands offering us a soft reboot of Aliens vs. Predator, or is it going somewhere else? I don’t know, but I want to find out.

The Long Walk

I’ve read a lot of Stephen King books, but I have not read all of them, and The Long Walk is one of them, I’m ashamed to admit. I understand that The Long Walk is based on the book, though how faithful it is to the source material, I can’t answer that question.

The concept seems simple. Wikipedia states that, “In a dystopian United States ruled by a totalitarian regime, a group of young men enter an annual walking contest in which they must maintain a speed of at least three miles per hour or risk execution. The contest ends when only one walker remains alive.”

I’ve been a King fan since before Pennywise and Maturin emerged from the Void, or Roland Deschain’s first turning of the wheel. At some point, I will be watching The Long Walk.

Television shows:

Peacemaker: Season 2

I’ve said this before, but Peacemaker had no reason or right to be as good as it was. It was brutal, hilarious, and creative, all at the same time. Essentially, what I’m saying is that I thoroughly enjoyed it. So, my expectations for the second season have increased.

John Cena had a cameo as Peacemaker in Superman, and from what I understand, the show is set after the events of the film. It will also explore the ramifications of Christopher Smith (Cena) killing Colonel Rick Flag Jr in The Suicide Squad. If the new season is as funny as the first, it will be great!

Alien: Earth

Alien: Romulus was a hit last year, but this is the first time the Alien franchise has dipped its toes into the world of television. On paper, Alien: Earth sounds and looks interesting; a spaceship crashes on Earth, carrying some nasty human-killing creatures, including the Xenomorphs.

It looks creepy as hell, and the set designs are impressive. I could be wrong about this, but this is the first time in canon that Xenomorphs have reached Earth, and it’s going to be horrific, but only in a good way. If only I’m brave enough to watch it.

IT: Welcome to Derry

I’ve been fortunate enough to have read the novel, seen the mini-series, and both movies, so IT: Welcome to Derry will not be an unknown concept to me. From what I understand, Bill Skarsgård is back as everybody’s favourite human-eating clown-entity, Pennywise, as well as having Andy Muschietti attached to the project.

Apparently, the show is set in 1962, which makes it a prequel to the two movies. Since it’s based on work from Stephen King, we can only imagine we may have cameos from other characters. I’ll watch with one eye open.

The Legend of Vox Machina: Season 4

My wife got me into Critical Role’s The Legend of Vox Machina, as it was something we both enjoyed watching together. I know next to nothing about the upcoming season, so I’m happy for it to be a surprise. Though it wouldn’t be nice for Grog to have a love interest! Imagine the carnage!

The Mighty Nein

And speaking of Critical Role, the Mighty Nein (or The Sensual Seven?) will be released later this year. I believe the show is set 20 years after The Legend of Vox Machina, as it’s on the same world, just a different continent.

If The Legend of Vox Machina is any gauge, then my wife and I will have to watch The Mighty Nein together.

Avatar: Seven Havens

To the best of my knowledge, there was no trailer for Avatar: Seven Havens, but Nickelodeon released an image from the show. The story is set after The Legend of Korra, with the new Avatar, who is an earthbender.

The world of Avatar: The Last Airbender still has some surprises and adventures for us to explore, and I can’t wait for UMC1 and UMC2 to experience them as well.

Like I said previously, I didn’t catch all of the news, so maybe I missed some important news. What announcements from San Diego Comic-Con were you interested in? As always, please let me know.

Alright, that’s another blog, for another week. Remember to walk your dog, read a banned book, speak out against the Palestinian genocide, and I’ll see you next week for the overdue return of the Solar System’s worst tour!

Jim Shooter, Ozzy Osbourne, Hulk Hogan, and 250

On August 11, 2025 By somegeektoldme@gmail.comIn Comics, Music, People

Hi everybody, how are we all feeling? This week’s lecture is bittersweet, which in reality, is nothing new for this writer who suffers from delusions of grandeur. The act of transferring information and knowledge through the written word does not come easily for me. There are moments where humour can be injected into the topic, and it feels natural.

There are times when a certain unofficial degree of levity is needed, and in most cases, finding the balance between the two can be challenging, depending on the topic.

This is my long-winded way of discussing the fact that I need to acknowledge the deaths of Jim Shooter, Ozzy Osbourne, and Hulk Hogan.

Firstly, let’s discuss James (Jim) Shooter. Shooter died on 30th June, 2025, aged 73 years, at his home in Nyack, New York. For those of you not in the know, Shooter was a comic book writer, publisher, editor, and occasional fill-in artist who worked for several companies, like Dark Horse, DC, and Marvel, having broken into the industry at the age of 13. He also went to establish Valiant, Defiant and Broadway Comics.

For me, Shooter wrote some legendary storylines for DC and Marvel, but also created popular characters like Archer & Armstrong, The Beyonder, Emerald Empress, Faith Herbert, The Fatal Five, Henry Peter Gyrich, Harbingers, Karate Kid, Mordru, Parasite, Ferro Lad, Rai, Shadow Lass, Tabitha Smith, Star Brand, and Titania, and many more. I also have a soft spot for his Aric of Dacia, aka X-O Manowar.

His characters and stories were bombastic, featuring aliens, superheroes from the future, supervillains, and everything in between. I can’t fully express my gratitude to people like Shooter, people who donate their lives and careers to a medium I love.

I valued and enjoyed his work, and like several other comic book creators who have passed away, Jim Shooter will live forever, inspiring the next generation of writers to dream of aliens and superpowers, as well as the human condition. UMC2 likes Parasite for some reason, so that’s a win!

Next, we have the Prince of Darkness, John Osbourne, otherwise known as Ozzy Osbourne. Osbourne was famous for different reasons, like being a reality TV star, co-creating the music festival, Ozzfest; a businessman; and advocating for charities, which have all added to the aura of this multi-talented Englishman. He was also a media personality and songwriter.

However, the main reason Osbourne was an icon was that he was the singer for the heavy metal band, Black Sabbath. He was loved the world over, mainly because, in my humble opinion, he would always find a way to relate to people through his career, on and off the stage.

I loved his music, and for me, he was one of the first nonconformists that I listened to and admired. He had a lifestyle that many people envied, being a real OG rock star, but I always appreciated his amazement of this world, and the beautiful people who live in it, as well as his unique experiences and views. He was a real showman who gave electrifying performances.

Osbourne died on 22nd July, aged 76 years, at his home in Buckinghamshire. I can’t remember the first song I heard Osbourne sing, but War Pigs is one of my favourites. Whenever I listen to it now, it will have a greater meaning.

Let me tell you something, brother, because we have finally arrived at Hulk Hogan. Born Terry Bollea, Hogan died on 24th July in Clearwater, Florida. As you will be well aware, Hogan was arguably one of the most famous professional wrestlers of all time. Where and when I grew up, we couldn’t watch World Wrestling Federation (WWF). And even if we did, I’m very confident my parents wouldn’t have let me watch it.

In saying that, all of the kids at school, myself included, still knew who Hulk Hogan was: he was the heavyweight champion of the world. It wasn’t until I got older that I managed to watch matches. My favourite wrestler was the Ultimate Warrior, but there was nothing like Hulk Hogan ripping his t-shirt, brother. Hulkamania was everywhere!

Like Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z, Hulk Hogan taught me the art of trash-talking, especially how ridiculous and empowering it can be. UMC1, UMC2 and I trash-talk each other from time to time, and it’s so difficult to keep a straight face when a 7-year old is explaining to his father that nobody can defeat him, and that I’m going to experience pain like never before. Added to UMC1 pointing out that he will squash his opponents like grapes before power flexing, is too much for me.

Hogan provided me with entertainment that I never knew I wanted, but I badly needed. Growing up, that kind of outlet was outstanding, brother.

I am also aware that all three men have had their share of controversies, which have upset and offended some people, with actions in their careers, and retirements. Those comments and issues could be discussed on this blog, but not today. Today, I’m just glad these three larger-than-life figures have injected some entertainment and life into an odd and quirky boy living in the South Pacific. For that, I am eternally grateful.

Now, because you train, say your prayers, and take your vitamins, you would have noticed that the title for this rant was: Jim Shooter, Ozzy Osbourne, Hulk Hogan, and 250. The first three parts of the title have been easy to identify, but what about 250?

Well, my dear and loyal readers, this blog post is my 250th. Yes, from my first blog post on 1st December 2020, I have now written 250 of the weirdest blog posts, this side of The New Zealand Sour Cream and Chives Preservation Society’s Swimming Carnival, or Beetroot Awareness Aotearoa’s baby matching game.

Let me tell you something, brother, those idiots are the worst. The Thing has the Yancy Street Gang, Daredevil has the Hand, and I have The New Zealand Sour Cream and Chives Preservation Society and Beetroot Awareness Aotearoa.

In the history of the universe, this achievement of writing 250 quasi-humorous blog posts is nothing, but to me, it’s everything. 250 blog posts of nonsense, utter nonsense. Maybe one day my writing will improve. Maybe.

Thank you for reading, following, and subscribing to Some Geek Told Me. I have no idea what the future has in store for me or Some Geek Told Me, but here’s to another 250 oddly-written and semi-informative blog posts.

Remember to walk your dog, read a banned book, laugh at Neo-Nazis, and I’ll see you next week for the 80th VJ Day Anniversary. Look after yourselves and your family.

The Rise of the Pocket Universe Monkeys: Superman Haters

On July 21, 2025July 21, 2025 By somegeektoldme@gmail.comIn Comics, Movies, Social Media

Welcome back, I’m so glad you could join me today. This week’s incoherent and mysterious blog is a follow-up to my Superman: Movie Preview/Review posts.

Superman has been out for over 10 days now, and it’s been receiving a lot of praise, as well as negative attention, particularly in conservative and right-wing circles. I noticed this when the first reviews came trickling in, but it exploded over James Gunn’s statement about Superman:

“Superman is an immigrant” and that, “Superman was the story of America”.

“An immigrant that came from other places and populated the country, but for me it is mostly a story that says basic human kindness is a value and is something we have lost,

These words, coupled with superhero movie fatigue and Snyderverse enthusiasts, have led to criticism of the movie for various reasons, with the main argument being that the movie is woke, and it has turned Superman into a woke character. It’s been hilarious watching them decry Superman for being woke, even though he’s been woke since 1938.

Wait until the MAGA crowd discover that Clark Kent’s son from the comics, Jon, is bisexual, or the fact that Superman fought the Ku Klux Klan and Nazis. They won’t recover from that!

I have no problem with anybody praising or criticising a movie, or any other form of art. However, that statement can only take me so far, because over about two weeks, I have seen and heard some hilarious and ridiculous arguments and comments, especially from people who have ever seen the film. Haters have to hate, I guess.

Having seen the movie and being a fan of Superman, I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit that I find it entertaining to watch conservatives and right-wing individuals overreact to minor and absurd topics. I’ve gathered some of the most ridiculous responses to the new Superman movie for your enjoyment.

Before I go on, you may have noticed the title of the blog included the phrase, Pocket Universe Monkeys. No, that’s not the name of my autobiography, but it’s a term used to describe some characters from the movie. In one scene, Luthor is monologuing to Superman about his plan to defame and destroy him, while they are in a pocket universe that Luthor created.

While Luthor was talking, there were hundreds, if not thousands, of monkeys posting anti-Superman propaganda online; hence, the new term for Superman haters: pocket universe monkeys. I’m talking about people jumping on the “Superman is woke” train.

Credit: Warner Bros./DC Studios

And with that delightful thought, let’s crack on and enjoy reading some foolish Superman-bashing comments.

I’m going to leave you with two things I have said before, plus something new.

1.) So when someone starts talking smack about things that I love or have an interest in (whatever it is), I listen. Basically, it’s so I can determine if there is any truth to what they are saying, because I may agree with them, or to see whether they are just talking through their arse.

Everybody on this list is entitled to their opinion, but sadly, when discussing Superman, they are indeed talking out of their arses.

2.) For the record, comic books have always been political, by exposing readers to important social issues, from Superman being an illegal immigrant to the X-Men fighting for civil rights. Comic books have always been political.

When was the last time anybody on this list read any comic book? Superman has been talking about inclusivity and diversity since 1938; that’s why he’s the good guy; he’s Superman. That’s the point.

3.) Superman is a fictional character who does not exist in real life, no matter how much we might wish he did. However, just because a character is created in literature, movies, TV, or any other medium, it doesn’t mean we can’t relate to them or learn valuable lessons from their stories.

Yes, creators can make characters do whatever they want, because it’s business to make money from them, but also to tell stories. In every single story that has ever been passed on, there is a message. That message could be laced with positivity, or it could be a warning. And Superman’s message is simply hope. From my point of view, what’s wrong with that?

And with that, I’m done. Did you enjoy the comments from the pocket universe monkeys? If you have seen Superman, what are your thoughts? As always, please let me know.

Thanks once again for reading, following, and subscribing to Some Geek Told Me. Remember to read a banned book, please adopt a dog, stay away from red kryptonite, and I’ll see you next week for The Fantastic Four: First Steps-Movie Preview. Take care.

Peter David: Writing genius

On June 2, 2025 By somegeektoldme@gmail.comIn Comics, People

In this week’s blog, I want to discuss the death of another giant of the comics and entertainment industry, Peter David. He passed away on 20th May at NYU Langone Hospital, New York, at the age of 68.

Over the last week, many articles have been written by professionals about Peter, across various media. In saying that, I’m going to offer my humble tribute to a man I had never met.

Comic-book writer Peter David ‘PAD’ attends “Stan Lee’s World of Heroes” during Comic-Con International 2012 held at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel on July 12, 2012 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Each time I reflect on someone who has influenced my life from afar and has passed away, I feel grateful for the various genres that exist, including comics, television shows, movies, and novels.

I love comic books, and as long-time followers and readers may know, I was captivated by them when I was a boy and have never recovered. Among the many reasons for my enduring passion, one of them was Peter David.

For those of you who have never heard of Peter, he was a proficient writer who had penned hundreds of comics, but also novels, videogames, and screenplays. He had worked for both DC and Marvel, but also added a large volume of work to the Star Trek canon through various mediums.

Peter David was always somebody who was in my sphere of knowledge, even though I didn’t know it. I can’t tell you the first comic I read that was written by Peter, but over time, I started recognising his name and work.

For me, his work on Supergirl, Aquaman, X-Factor, Spider-Man, and the Incredible Hulk, has become immortal, along with his status as a writer. From a comic book lover’s perspective, I enjoyed his stories because they included a collection of social issues, mixed with action.

Peter’s Incredible Hulk #420 may have been the first time that I can recall, reading about a character who was dying from AIDS in a comic book. It was relevant then, and it’s relevant now. It’s been my understanding that Peter’s life would bleed through onto the pages, helping to shape and guide characters.

Through his hard work, Peter also gave us The Maestro, a future evil version of the Hulk, who remains a key Marvel villain, and still a warning about ourselves when we allow our morality and compassion to be stripped away, to gain more power. I still have Hulk: Future Imperfect #1–2 and Incredible Hulk: The End #1; I probably always will.

I always liked his strong female characters, who rarely needed a man to save them, because they were always strong enough to save themselves, as well as other people. He also tried to champion people not just on the page, but also off it, with his views and dedication; especially about supporting creators and many other causes.

Over the last few years, I was deeply saddened to hear about his financial and medical issues. Even though he was living in another country, in reality, he might as well have been living on the Moon.

From Spider-Man 2099 to Talos, to Cyber, to Joe Fixit, to Random, to Fallen Angel, Peter’s characters are unique and beloved. I wish I had the opportunity to have met him, but the universe doesn’t work like that. So instead, I’d like to thank Peter for his amazing literacy work that helped expand the mind of a boy living in a small town, half a world away.

What’s your favourite Peter David story? As always please let me know.

Alright, that’s it for another week. Thanks once again for reading, following, and subscribing to Some Geek Told Me. I’m also on Twitter and Mastodon, where I bumble around in various echo chambers.

Please remember to walk your dog, read a banned book, and if you had a bet that PSG would win the UEFA Champions League Final, over Inter Milan, 5-0, then you’re a lot smarter than me. I’ll see you next week.

Happy Star Wars Day 2025!

On May 4, 2025 By somegeektoldme@gmail.comIn Books, Comics, Movies, Television

This is the day you’re looking for! Yes, today is 4th May, Star Wars Day! May The 4th Be With You has become a day set aside to celebrate everything about Star Wars, whether it’s movies, books, comics, toys, board games, cosplay, TV shows, and everything else!

It’s also amazing to see the 20th-anniversary Star Wars: Episode III-Revenge of the Sith re-release has been outselling new movie releases with pre-sales tickets! That’s crazy because it’s not like they will give Anakin and Padmé a happy ending. Right? Right?

As always, Star Wars Day is important to our family, so my wife, UMC1 and UMC2 decided to celebrate by creating art, but this time, it was on the kitchen blackboards.

On the left-hand side, we have my wife’s art. It’s filled with Star Wars quotes and sound effects, along with a Power Droid speaking Aurebesh saying, “Gonks Rule!”

On the centre blackboard, we have UMC2’s artwork which depicts a Rancor fighting some Gamorrean guards, at Jabba’s Palace. There’s a lot of blaster fire and explosions, because some stupid person built a blaster large enough for a Rancor to use, and gave it to them!

On the right-hand side blackboard, we have UMC1’s offering, which displays A New Hope’s Death Star battle scene, with X-wings and Y-wings attacking the Death Star, which is defended by TIE fighters.

As for me, I’m just showcasing my Star Wars: The High Republic novel collection. This does not include the comics and manga series, which are kept separately. Escape from Valo is there, it’s just been pushed to the back.

I’ve been enjoying The High Republic series, and I’m sad to see it end. I’m just waiting for the last five books to be published as paperbacks so I can finish the saga. This reminds me that I STILL have not written that High Republic blog post, I keep saying I’m going to do. I need to get on to that.

For Star Wars Day, we will probably wear our Star Wars t-shirts, read some Star Wars books or comics, play Star Wars: Risk, or watch some Star Wars content, or maybe all of it!

How are you celebrating Star Wars Day? Please let me know. Ok, that’s it for me. Enjoy this wizard day and I’ll see you on Monday.

Happy Free Comic Book Day 2025!

On May 3, 2025 By somegeektoldme@gmail.comIn Comics

Welcome to one of the biggest days on the pop culture calendar, Free Comic Book Day (FCBD)! Since its inception in 2002, FCBD has grown to celebrate not only comics, but pop culture as well. For those of you who don’t know, FCBD is a global event, where comic book stores give away, wait for it…free comic books!

Every year, publishers across the industry produce comics at low cost, specifically to be distributed for free around the world. This event is always held on the first Saturday in May, and this year’s selection is outstanding. The comics will have age-appropriate logos: All ages (green logo), Teen (blue logo), and Mature (red logo), which can be identified on the covers.

It’s a way to celebrate comics and manga, both for existing readers, as well as to introduce new readers to the medium. Post Malone’s upcoming comic, Big Rig, will also be available as a free comic book. I read the summary, and it sounds bonkers. Awesome.

FCBD is also famous for cosplaying, which is becoming more popular every year. Another place that could be celebrating FCBD, could be your local library. A lot of them will be promoting the graphic novels in their collection, as well as holding cosplay events.

If there is an FCBD event in your area, I encourage you to check it out. With a wide range of titles available, there will be something for everyone. Feel free to dress up in cosplay or wear your favourite pop culture t-shirt. I live nowhere near an FCBD event, so I hope you have fun on my behalf! You can really make the most of the day by wearing your pop culture clothes to the supermarket, work, or anywhere else you go!

Before I go, I need to remind you that supporting comic book stores is important. The comics you receive will be free, but the retailers pay something like 25 cents per issue. It actually costs them a lot of money to host an event. Sadly, many stores can no longer afford to host events because of rising costs.

Comic book stores are the lifeblood of the industry, so while you’re receiving free comic books, maybe you could have a look around the store. They will have titles including horror, war, romance, superheroes, science-fiction, western, crime, fantasy, and so much more!

South Taranaki District Council’s advert for FCBD 2021

I love comics, since I can’t truly express what they have taught me. How are you celebrating Free Comic Book Day? Please let me know.

Ok, thanks for reading, and I’ll see you tomorrow for the second special blog post. It’s set in a galaxy, far, far away!

The Comic Book Characters with the Best Porn Star Names

On March 3, 2025 By somegeektoldme@gmail.comIn Comics

To introduce some levity to this crazy old world of ours, occasionally, my wife will remember that my blog exists, and when that happens, she’ll ask what my next blog post will be about. Usually, I can tell her about my latest stupid idea, but this time, I asked her if she had good ideas. She laughed at this and replied that she was a good idea.

Anyway, after she threw out a few suggestions, she talked about me making a list of comic book characters with the best porn actor or actress names. I gave her a two-pronged answer; yes, that was a good idea, and no, I don’t want to know how you came up with that idea.

It seems pretty straightforward: To create a list of comic book characters—both heroes and villains—whose names could easily be mistaken for those in a porn movie. If you weren’t familiar with these comic book characters and heard one of these names in a porn movie, you probably wouldn’t think twice about it.

There is a catch, though. To finalise the list, I had to consult my wife. If she reacted neutrally or negatively to a name, it didn’t make the cut. Conversely, if she had a positive reaction—such as smiling or laughing—the name was added to the list. This meant I had to throw a lot of names at her, often during the most inconvenient times of the day.

Three more things to point out:

1.) I have not included group names, like The Enforcers, and The Hand, or alien races, because that would be another list for another day.
2.) Every single name on this list is real, I have not made up any of them.
3.) I hope the characters will forgive me for creating this list, though in my defence, I didn’t create the names.

That was a rare, short introduction from me today. Weird. I’ve grouped them by alphabetical order, with male and female names mixed, regardless of their origin. And with that, away we go!

Abra Kadabra	Beast Boy	Beast Girl	Big Barda
Black Mask	Blob	Boom-Boom	Bullseye
Candyman	Colossal Boy	Colossus	Condiment King
Conquest	Doc Seismic	Doctor Hurt	Doctor Octopus
Dream Girl	Duke of Deception	Elasti-Girl	Elongated Man
Enchantress	Eruptor	Fiddler	Finisher
Giganta	Grand Director	Growing Man	Heat Wave
Hush	Impulse	Invincible	Juggernaut
Lock-Up	Man of Miracles	Martian Manhunter	Masked Marauder
Mister Alpha	Mister Terrific	Night Nurse	Nightcrawler
Nightmask	Overdrive	Peek-a-Boo	Piledriver
Plastic Man	Polka Dot Man	Power Girl	Prankster
Prowler	Punisher	Puppet Master	Rainbow Raider
Rampage	Rhino	Ringmaster	Scream
Screwball	Shaggy Man	Shredder	Shrinking Violet
Smasher	Spawn	Speed Demon	Spore
Sugar Man	Supergirl	Superman	Sweet Boy
Taskmaster	Ten-Eyed Man	Toyman	Vandal Savage
Violator	White Rabbit	Wonder Man	Wonder Woman

What other names should be on this shameful and terrible list? As always, please let me know. And with that, this blog post is brought to a close.

Thanks once again for reading, following, and subscribing to Some Geek Told Me. I usually end my blog posts with my moronic little phrase of remembering to walk your dog and to read a banned book, but today, my ending is different, because some people in authority have forgotten something, and it’s simple to remember.

If Russia stops fighting, there will be no more war. If Ukraine stops fighting, there will be no more Ukraine.

From the bottom of my geek-infused soul, Slava Ukraini.

Take care and I’ll see you next week, for the return of the Solar System’s worst tour.

The Renaissance of the Last Son of Krypton

On February 3, 2025 By somegeektoldme@gmail.comIn Comics, Movies, Television

Today’s blog post is a bit unusual, so I hope you’ll bear with me. Longtime followers of my wayward account know that I have enjoyed reading comics for most of my life. As a result, I’ve encountered a variety of characters over the years. Some characters hold significant importance to me, while others are favourites for different reasons, and I have a few that I just have a soft spot for.

I’ve previously stumbled my way through posts about Invincible, Saga, The Sandman, Hellboy, and One-Punch Man, but today, as you can tell from the title, I’m going to be talking about Superman, or at least, how I describe it, his recent renaissance.

Superman was co-created by writer Jerry Siegel, and artist Joe Shuster, having made his first appearance in Action Comics #1, in 1938. Over the last 87 years, Superman has become very much beloved the world over and has transitioned to every medium imaginable, as well as conquering the retail market, covering his name and face over all manner of items.

The thing is, I’m not here to detail what Superman means to me, because that can be another blog for another time. No, today I’m talking about his recent resurgence in the media and how the public understands and relates to him.

Before we continue, let’s be clear: Superman is a fictional character and not a real person. However, due to the various strategies that creators and actors have used to portray him, many people feel a personal connection to him. They understand and know him as if he were a friend, even though we don’t get to spend much time with him.

I also need to point out some strong talking points about him, that I feel many people have forgotten, or quite simply, just don’t realise. The character has three names; Superman, Kal-El, and Clark Kent, and although they are all the same person, they are different, in subtle and not-so-subtle ways.

To start with, he was born as Kal-El, a refugee from the now destroyed planet called Krypton. His backstory has been changed and altered over the last eight decades, but what has not changed was that he was an alien baby that landed on Earth. Kal-El is his Kryptonian name, his birth name.

When a storyline requires a cosmic perspective or involves Kal interacting with other Kryptonians, such as Zod, Kara Zor-El (Supergirl), or his parents, the name Kal-El is frequently used. Other characters in his inner circle can also refer to him by this name, as it is a trusted secret name that he shares with them.

So, going back to his arrival on Earth, he is discovered and adopted by an American couple, Martha and Jonathan Kent, who give him the name, Clark Kent. This is his human or Earth name, the name people call him as he interacts with the world, like with his family and friends, whether they are superheroes or not.

The final name is Superman. This is the name the public at large, as in the world calls him; coined famously by Lois Lane. This is his superhero name.

The small, but technical point is this; he responds to all three names, but there is a difference between Clark and Superman.

Clark is the person, no matter what clothes he is wearing, but Superman is something that Clark can do and be. Superman is the mask that Clark wears to the world, not the other way around. His loved ones (family and friends) call him Clark, whether he’s in costume or not. Clark is the person, while Superman is the disguise.

Sweet? Excellent, let’s move on. Going back to the recent Superman renaissance, we are very lucky to be living in this amazing period of Superman content. If there is some other project that I’ve missed, I’m sorry; especially to the ongoing comics featuring or starring Superman being published. I’ll try to keep this short because my introduction was far too long.

Superman & Lois (2021-2024)

I think this live-action TV show was at first set in the Arrowverse world, then shifted to its own separate continuity. I was nervous about the show, from the point that I thought I needed to have watched all of the Arrowverse shows, especially Supergirl and The Flash, to understand the characters and past events, because I hadn’t been keeping up with them.

The irony was that there was no reason to feel nervous about understanding the show because the first episode explained it all, and from that point, I was on board. I feel that Clark and Lois are stronger characters, both physically and emotionally when they are together. I liked this iteration because it hammered home this point. This was because they took the time to explain that Clark loved Lois, but Lois fell in love with Clark and not Superman.

I would also like to establish that Tyler Hoechlin’s portrayal of Clark and Superman was awesome. Added into the mix having Clark and Lois as parents, brought a new side to their relationship, that you don’t see in live-action.

I loved this show for a lot of different reasons including the special effects, the twins, Smallville, the Department of Defence, Clark and Lois being parents, the supporting cast, but mainly, driving the distinction between Clark and Superman, with Clark walking around his house wearing his glasses; even though he doesn’t need to.

Also having Superman racing off to save people not just in the United States, but in other countries as well, was important, at least to me, because I’ve always thought of Superman as a superhero for the world, not just protecting and serving one country.

It was a great show and that final episode made me cry since it reinforced how important Superman is to the public’s psyche, along with installing hope to a negative and cynical world.

My Adventures with Superman (2023-Current)

I’ve only seen the first season of this animated TV show, and I liked it, which surprised me. Set in it’s own continuity, this series sees Clark Kent and Jimmy Olsen working at the Daily Planet as interns, with Lois Lane being the senior reporter.

It features the three characters becoming friends and dealing with villains from the Superman mythos. Additionally, Clark discovers more about himself and his abilities.

This series starts with Clark and Lois meeting for the first time and slowly developing feelings for each other. The animation is inspired by anime, which bleeds through and, at least to me, offers a new perspective on the classic story.

I also have to acknowledge that making Lois Lane half-Korean, has brought positive and negative attention to the show, and how its been handled.

I think this series is interesting, quirky, and charming, and I like it so much, I’m going to let UMC1 watch it. I’d have to think about UMC2 watching it though, but I think it’s off to a strong start as a modern retelling of Superman. The potential for My Adventures with Superman is huge.

Absolute Superman (2024-Current)

Multiverse stories have existed in comics for decades, because it gives creators freedom to have characters living different, but crazy lives, by not being part of the main continuity.

In the early 2000s, Marvel launched the Ultimate line of comics, which reimagined Spider-Man, the Avengers, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, and other characters in a different universe set in contemporary times. This new setting represented their version of the age of superheroes. The Avengers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) are based on the Ultimates, which is the version of the Avengers from that alternate world.

DC Comics has done a similar idea by creating the Absolute line of comics. On this world, the superheroes are not as respected, or privileged as their counter-selves, since they are missing vital elements and advantages that go with their story.

The line started with Absolute Batman and Absolute Wonder Woman, with Absolute Flash, Absolute Green Lantern and Absolute Martian Manhunter making their first appearances soon. With this new publishing initiative, Superman is involved in the form of Absolute Superman.

Absolute Superman #1 was released in November 2024, by writer Jason Aaron, and artist, Rafa Sandoval, and features some radical differences between Absolute Superman and the main continuity Superman.

Firstly, Absolute Kal-El did not arrive on Earth as a baby, but as a teenager, so the majority of his life was on Krypton. His mother, Lara-El, is some type of mechanical engineer, while his father, Jor-El, is a mining engineer.

Krypton is ruled by a caste system, with the El’s being part of the Labour Guild, which Kal-El refers to as the People of Steel. Members of the Labour Guild also wear the “S” shield on their chests, to identify themselves as part of the Labour Guild, like caste groups too.

The Absolute Kal-El does not appear to be as strong as the main continuity Superman, because he needs to recharge his cells (which act like solar batteries) at night, in addition to wearing an AI suit called Sol, which guides and protects Kal-El. Sol can create a cape made of a Kryptonian rock named sunstone, which can materialise and dematerialise.

Because Absolute Kal-El’s heritage is connected with labourers and workers, he identifies with the workers from Earth, who are being used and exploited by large greedy corporations, who he is railing against, as well as saving people.

We have also been exposed to the backstory of what happened with the tragedy of Krypton, via environmental disasters. The creators seem to be tapping into the current trend of supporting the working classes, while fighting against the ruling and elite classes, but also discussing climate change.

People have come out to decry the title for numerous reasons, including presenting Superman as a supporter of woke ideology. However, other people are equally loving it. Whether the series is a success remains to be seen, though sales have been quite strong, because Superman remains a hero of the people.

I’ve read Absolute Superman #1-3, and from what I’ve seen, I want to continue this journey, because I find it fascinating. To me, the creators have hit their respected Absolute titles out of the park, especially Absolute Superman. The greatest compliment I can give them is that I want to read the next issue, I love it.

Main covers for *Absolute Superman #1-6*. Credit: DC Comics

Superman (2025)

11th July 2025 is the release date for Superman, though I don’t know if that’s worldwide, or just for the United States. For New Zealand, I have no idea.

Written and directed by James Gunn, Superman is the first film in the new DCU (DC Universe), and armed with a budget of at least US$200 million, there is a lot of pressure for the film to resonate with audiences.

Some of the film’s cast includes David Corenswet (Clark Kent / Superman), Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane), Nicholas Hoult (Lex Luthor), Edi Gathegi (Michael Holt / Mister Terrific), Anthony Carrigan (Rex Mason / Metamorpho), Nathan Fillion (Guy Gardner / Green Lantern), Isabela Merced (Hawkgirl), Skyler Gisondo (Jimmy Olsen), Sara Sampaio (Eve Teschmacher), María Gabriela de Faría (Angela Spica / The Engineer), and Wendell Pierce as Perry White.

When the teaser trailer was released, social media was flooded with people’s reactions and comments about the trailer, mainly gushing about how good it looks, and that they can’t wait to see it. They were comparing it to Henry Cavill’s Superman, and trashing Cavill and Zack Snyder’s DC films.

Fast forward one month to a TV spot advertising the film, the social media backlash over David Corenswet flying was surprising. They were comparing it to Cavill’s Superman, and praising Cavill and Zack Snyder’s DC films. Sadly, some fans are never happy.

I’m looking forward to this film, especially if it’s good enough to take UMC1 and UMC2 to see it. I’ll watch it first, then make that decision, unless it somehow becomes age-appropriate for children aged at least 7 years old. My father took me to the cinema to see Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, so I want to do this for my boys.

I’m looking forward to seeing the movie, so I’ll write one of my famous previews/reviews in July. I’m especially excited about Krypto making his live-action movie debut; so I have high hopes for the film. When the trailer dropped, I mentioned how Krypto resembled a larger version of my dog, Indy. The moment when Krypto saved Clark hit me hard, but in a good way. When Clark started whistling, I couldn’t help but cry.

For the actual movie, I will probably cry watching Krypto run and fly around, being a good boy. Nothing, and I mean nothing, better happen to Krypto. Don’t do it, James; don’t do it.

What are your thoughts about Superman & Lois, and My Adventures with Superman? Have you read Absolute Superman, or going to watch Superman? As always, please let me know.

That’s another blog for another week. Thanks again for reading, following, and subscribing to Some Geek Told Me. Please don’t forget to walk your dog, read a banned book, say no to kryptonite, visit the Gulf of Mexico, and I’ll see you next week because we’re going back to 1956!

BTW, New Zealanders are regarded as generous and polite people, but we have nothing on Canada. So imagine what it would feel like to piss off the entire population of the politest nation on Earth? Damn, grab the popcorn, because angry Canadians were not on my 2025 bingo card.

The Hellboy: The Crooked Man Comparison

On November 4, 2024 By somegeektoldme@gmail.comIn Comics, Movies

Welcome back to New Zealand’s 5th least favourite website! A case could be made for the 4th or the 6th; though it depends on a certain point of view. Thanks, Obi-Wan.

I realise not every person on the planet gives a damn about elections, least of all elections in another country. Because of that amazing observation, and to take my little mind off it, I’ve decided to create an original blog post. Something similar, but different. Like Pepsi and Pepsi Max, Rugby Union and Rugby League, Salt and Vinegar chips and Sour Cream…wait. That last example is completely wrong.

I’ve stumbled through previews and reviews before, but I have never compared mediums when it comes to an adaption. Whether this is a smart idea or not, I’ll let my Chief Consultant of Bad Ideas be the judge of that.

As loyal and attentive readers know, I’m a fan of the Right Hand of Doom, otherwise known as Big Red, Anung Un Rama, and of course, Hellboy. I’ve been wasting money reading and collecting Hellboy comics for decades. Remember, I’m a geek, so it’s in the name. I even have a Right Hand of Doom money bank. It has no coins in it, but it still looks cool.

This means I have also seen Hellboy’s three live-action movies, along with the two lesser-known animated films. Like I said before, I’m a geek.

I’ve just seen Hellboy: The Crooked Man at my local cinema. Now I know it’s had a limited release around the world, and especially across New Zealand. It’s so limited that my local cinema only had one screening of it: 7.45 pm on Halloween. When I discovered that the screening was going to be rarer than seeing Donald Trump’s tax records, I knew I had to go.

Only three people were in the theatre for it, myself included, which was both a positive and negative experience.

Before we begin, this intellectual entertainment offering will not be reviewing the film as such like previous reviews, but rather comparing the source material to the adaption. This is new for me as well, and just like many things in life, we will have to see whether it’s a stupid idea or not.

I will add my thoughts about the future of the movie franchise at the bottom if I can remember.

Credit: Mike Mignola & Richard Corden/Dark Horse Comics-Millennium Media/Dark Horse Entertainment

Clear as mud? Great, let’s establish the mediums first. In 2008, Dark Horse Comics released Hellboy: The Crooked Man #1-3, which was a limited series, running from July to September. Mike Mignola, Hellboy’s creator, was the writer, with Richard Corben supplying the art.

Hellboy: The Crooked Man was released on the 8th of October 2024 in the United States, written by Christopher Golden, Mike Mignola, and Brian Taylor; with Taylor serving as the director. It was released by Millennium Media and Dark Horse Entertainment.

Right off the bat, I think the movie is a faithful adaptation of the comics, regardless of what you think of the movie itself. Having said that, there are always subtle and creative changes when translating a story into another medium. Always has been and always will be.

At least to me, the comics and the movie differ in three different ways. Firstly, is the opening for the comic, where you have Hellboy wandering about the Appalachian Mountains alone, when he meets Tom Ferrell after Hellboy had finished with some stuff down South, as explained.

As for the movie, Hellboy is travelling on a train with BPRD agent Bobbie Jo Song, and another government agent. They were transporting some type of supernatural evil spider, so of course the spider broke loose, the train carriage derailed, and Hellboy and Song ended up in the Appalachian Mountains.

The second major difference was true fanboy service. During the movie, Hellboy receives a vision of a witch on fire, alongside a giant raven, who is a devil. Hellboy sees her later on and interacts with her. It turns out the witch is his mother, Sarah Hughes, and the devil is his father, Azzael. The vision, which is like a flashback, retells Sarah’s descent into Hell to be with her lover, Azzael, who turns directly to Hellboy and speaks to him.

In the comics, a similar scene unfolds where Hellboy falls asleep in the church where he first appeared in 1944. During his dream, he sees a witch repenting, however, a giant devil comes to claim her and her unborn child, addressing Hellboy and referring to him as, “…my favourite son.”

The difference here is that this scene did not happen in Hellboy: The Crooked Man limited series, but rather in Dark Horse Presents 1000 #2 (1995). It gives a great origin for the character, but it happened in a different comic.

The third major difference is the confrontation between Tom and Hellboy against The Crooked Man (Jeremiah Witkins) in his mansion. In the comics, Witkins was already injured and weakened from the church fight, so when Tom and Hellboy arrived at his mansion, he had reverted to his true form, which was a demonic crab-type creature. Tom throws his witchbone; which was the source of the shenanigans to start with, at Witkins, who vanishes back to Hell.

The movie is different, because why would I be talking about this if it wasn’t? The movie features Tom and Hellboy arriving at the mansion, with Song and Reverend Watts running about in the coal mines underneath.

Song and Watts’ mission was added to the movie, along with the extended goal of locating and destroying Witkins in the mansion. The comic displayed it as a straightforward operation, whereas the movie presented it as a final boss battle. It seemed Witkins was a lot more powerful in the movie than in the comics, but you need to make the villain a real threat to the heroes, so I get it.

Like I said, I think the movie is a fairly accurate and faithful adaption of the comics, so I was impressed with that. Considering Mignola was a co-writer of the script, you would expect it to be.

Now remember, that this blog post was comparing the comics and the movie, and not reviewing the movie itself. For that, you should seek out a real professional journalist, and not amateur hour with Some Geek Told Me.

However, and here it comes, I’ll say this. The movie is different from the three previous entries, mainly for two reasons. The first is that the film’s budget was only $20 million, compared to Hellboy‘s (2004) $60–66 million, Hellboy II: The Golden Army‘s $82.5–85 million, and Hellboy‘s (2019) $50 million. If you have less money to work with than previous films, the sets, CGI, actors, and practical effects will look and sound different.

The other random thing to consider is that the three previous movies in the Hellboy series have all centred on Hellboy saving the world, from the likes of Grigori Rasputin and the Ogdru Jahad, Prince Nuada and the Golden Army, and of course, Nimue the Blood Queen and her minions.

Hellboy: The Crooked Man gave us a version of Hellboy, who was not fighting to save the world, but rather centred on fighting to save one person, Tom Ferrell. If you’re a fan of the Hellboy movies, then this movie appears to be lacking by not turning the stakes up high, like trying to save the world.

But I would argue that this Hellboy presents a more honest version of the character, because he’s the world’s greatest paranormal investigator. This means he runs into ghouls, demons, ghosts, devils, monsters, vampires, witches, and everything else.

Not all of his missions require the world to be saved; it’s personal, like trying to save a person, a family, or a town. Comic book fans would back me on this, I’m sure! Maybe, if I say pretty please?

Also, if this is the future of Hellboy movies, I’m ok with that. I would rather see a live-action version of Hellboy like this or a live-action TV show, than no Hellboy at all.

Have you read Hellboy: The Crooked Man or seen the movie? How did they compare? As always, please let me know your thoughts.

So that’s another rant finished for another week. Thanks again for reading, following, and subscribing to Some Geek Told Me. And I’m going to repeat this for a third week in a row, but please remember to walk your dog, read a banned book, and if you’re a US citizen, please vote for Kamala Harris.

I want to see Donald Trump complain and whine about how his life is so unfair. Please, America, kick that man to the curb. For the world’s sake, please vote for Kamala Harris.

Take care and I’ll see you next week.

Three more Tōtaras have fallen: Tūheitia, James and John

On September 16, 2024 By somegeektoldme@gmail.comIn Comics, Movies, People

I realise that the world is not a perfect place. Wherever you look, there seems to be injustice, war, corruption, and lies. Yet, hope remains in the form of people going about their daily lives and doing the things that they love.

This can take many different forms, as people can help strangers in unexpected and wonderful ways. I respect numerous jobs and careers, as well as particular individuals around my town, country, and the world.

But life can deliver you a googly, and you’re left standing in shock and confusion on the cricket pitch, trying to understand how you missed the ball because it’s taken the middle stump.

Today is one of those days. Depending on the circles you travel in, you may have heard the sad news that Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII, James Earl Jones, and John Cassaday died within days of each other. I’m not a professional writer, which is painfully obvious, but I would still like to acknowledge these three icons because they have helped me.

For those of you who didn’t recognise his name, Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII was known as Kīngi Tūheitia, the seventh Māori monarch. He was coronated on 21st August 2006, on the last day of the tangi (funeral) of his mother, the Māori Queen, Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu.

He reigned until his death on 30th August 2024, aged 69. His successor is his daughter, the eighth monarch and second-only Māori queen, Ngā Wai Hono i te Pō Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VIII.

Tūheitia’s mother was the monarch when I was born, so she was the only Māori monarch I had known. When she died, it was a major event in the country’s history. I remember watching the tangi and Tūheitia’s coronation, and I found it quite profound.

I respected and liked Tūheitia for many different reasons, which included and were not limited to reintroducing the need and concept of the Māori King movement to a new generation; promoting Māori culture around Aotearoa and the world; advocating for justice and prison reform for all people; representing Māori when meeting heads of state; trying to reduce the number of Māori incarcerated; desiring to unite all Māori; helping to lead the protests at national huis (meetings) against the current government’s recent policies towards Māori; and for being a passionate, positive and kind leader.

He will be missed.

*Kīngi Tūheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII. Photo supplied by New Zealand Government, Office of the Governor-General*

The great American actor, James Earl Jones died at his home in New York, on 9th September 2024, aged 93. James leaves behind a gargantuan body of work in theatre, television and film. He started acting in 1953 and only retired in 2021. James also belongs to the small group of performers who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award. He was an excellent actor and performer.

He overcame a shutter as a child and went on to have one of the world’s most recognised voices. I suppose it depends on the generation that you’re from, where you would identify his most famous roles, which include, but not all of them, Lt. Lothar Zogg (Dr. Strangelove), Jack Jefferson (The Great White Hope), Douglass Dilman (The Man), Thulsa Doom (Conan the Barbarian), King Jaffe Joffer (Coming to America), Terence Mann (Field of Dreams), Admiral James Greer (The Hunt for Red October), Mufasa (The Lion King), Raymond Murdock (A Family Thing), Junius Johnson (Heat Wave), Gabriel Bird (Gabriel’s Fire), many Shakespeare productions, and quite arguably, his most famous role, being the voice of the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader.

He will be missed.

James Earl Jones in NYC talking about his movie “Field of Dreams.” Credit: Robert Deutsch/USA Today

And finally, we need to discuss John Cassady. John died on 9th September 2024, in New York City; he was only 52 years old. John was one of these comic book artists, that you only needed 1-2 seconds to identify his work because it was very recognisable and gorgeous; whether he was the interior or cover artist. Damn, he was good.

This is a strange way to describe his art style, but I always thought his art was very “straight or linear.” At least to me, it seemed very different and unique, so I think that’s why I liked his work. Whether it was Astonishing X-Men, Planetary, Captain America, Star Wars, The Lone Ranger, Uncanny Avengers, or so many others, I feel lucky that I managed to witness his amazing work.

The number of awards that John received, reinforces that he was a very creative and talented man.

He will be missed.

Comics artist John Cassaday at a January 16, 2015 signing for *Star Wars* #1 at Midtown Comics Downtown in Manhattan. Credit: Luigi Novi / Wikimedia Commons

I never had the opportunity to meet these three men, but all of them, in their own way, have brought hope and joy to my life.

Thank you, Tūheitia. Thank you, James. Thank you, John.

The list of people I always thought I would get to meet one day, is slowly becoming smaller and shorter.

I’ve said this before, but I’ll repeat it.

In New Zealand, we have some mighty trees called tōtaras. They are symbolically important because they are massive, straight, light, and resistant to rot. Basically, they’re forest giants. Māori would use them to make large wakas (canoes), but also carve the tōtara to decorate maraes.

These are not my words, but they convey my thoughts and feelings:

KUA HINGA TE TOTARA I TE WAO NUI A TANE

THE TOTARA HAS FALLEN IN THE FOREST OF TANE

THE TOTARA IS A HUGE TREE THAT GROWS FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS. THE GREATNESS OF THE TOTARA IS A METAPHOR FOR WHEN SOMEONE OF IMPORTANCE PASSES AWAY.

To me, Tūheitia, James and John were tōtaras.

That’s it for this week. Thanks for reading, following, and subscribing to Some Geek Told Me. Please remember to walk your dog, read a banned book, be kind to yourself and I’ll see you next week for my 200th blog post!!

SOME GEEK TOLD ME

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Three more Tōtaras have fallen: Tūheitia, James and John