It’s time to celebrate the birth of our nation with fireworks, cookouts, and tons of really great geeky stuff that we have coming your way!
Seriously, there’s a lot this month. From a new Deadpool movie to a new Legend of Heroes game, to new books by Lev Grossman and Timothy Zahn, there is so much coming out this summer.
Let’s dive right in, shall we?
Movies/TV Shows:
July 1st:
Star Trek: Prodigy, season 2
Netflix
The highly anticipated second season of the hit Star Trek show features the crew of the Prodigy, six outcast kids who escaped a prison planet to make it to Federation Space, now serving as cadets aboard the U.S.S. Voyager under Admiral Janeway. The real one this time. New missions, new baddies, and loads of fun await our heroes.
July 3rd:
Despicable Me 4
In theaters
After his former nemesis Maxime Le Mal and his girlfriend Valentina escape from prison and set out for revenge on Gru and his family, including the latest addition Gru Jr., the family is forced to relocate for their protection. But how protected can they be when their new neighbor’s daughter, Poppy Prescott, is an aspiring villainess… and a big fan of Gru’s earlier work.
July 4th:
Space Cadet
Prime Video
Rex, a Florida party girl who has always dreamed of becoming an astronaut, is now NASA’s latest astronaut candidate after her best friend “revised” (as in “lied and completely changed”) her resume to help her get in. But what she lacks in conventional smarts (and accomplishments) she more than makes up in other ways.
July 5th:
The Imaginary
Netflix
Rudger, the imaginary friend of Amanda, goes on a journey to stop his real friend from eventually forgetting about him. While he holds onto hope, Rudger also stumbles upon the “Town of Imaginaries” where other imaginary friends go to live. But Rudger is not the only one searching for the Imaginaries. The dark and sinister Mr. Bunting, who eats imaginaries, is also hunting them.
Suicide Squad Isekai
Crunchyroll
From the studio that brought us Attack on Titan and Spy x Family (two wildly different series) comes this new take on the classic DC supervillains. Amanda Waller, the formidable head of A.R.G.U.S., gathers a crew of the most notorious criminals in Gotham City—including Harley Quinn, Deadshot, King Shark and others—and sends them into another world filled with swords, magic, and dragons. All with a chip in their heads to kill them if they don’t follow instructions.
Wingfeather Saga, season 2
Angel Studios website and (likely) YouTube
While the Wingfeather Saga premiered on Angel.com for the guild members only, we now get live watch parties for the rest of us, starting at 8 pm. Based on the beloved children’s series, Wingfeather Saga follows three young children as they attempt to escape an army of snake-like Fangs to the freezing north where—they hope—they’ll be safe.
July 7th:
Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest
Crunchyroll
Natsu Dragneel and the rest of the Fairy Tail wizard guild embark on a mission called the 100 Years Quest—a mission that hasn’t been completed in over a century. And for good reason. On the northern continent of Guiltina, the team must seal away the powerful Five Dragon Gods… all while someone else is secretly planning to seize the dragons’ powers for their own.
July 11th:
Vikings: Valhalla, season 3
Netflix
The final season is here! Three Viking heroes—Harald, Leif, and Freydis—are each in search of a home. Harald seeks his home in the service of the Byzantine Emperor, where he can win glory, and the love of the empress, in the last remains of the Roman Empire. Meanwhile Leif and Freydis must reunite with their murderous father and sail farther west than any Viking ever has.
July 12th:
Exploding Kittens
Netflix
Based (very loosely) on the iconic tabletop card game, this show follows God (yes, that God) as he is sent down to earth in the form of a chubby cat where he falls in love with and takes care of the Higgins family and protects them from the machinations of Beelzebub—who is also a cat.
Funnily enough, the actor voicing the role of God is none other than Tom Ellis, who once played the role of Lucifer Morningstar on the show Lucifer.
Fly Me to the Moon
In theaters
This romantic comedy-drama follows the developing relationship between NASA director Cole Davis and the marketing specialist Kelly Jones, who is flown in to help fix NASA’s image during the Space Race of the 1960’s—which includes filming a fake moon landing. You know, just in case the real one failed.
Project Silence
Limited release
Trapped on a foggy bridge after an accident, one family struggles to survive as the bridge starts collapsing. But that’s only the beginning of their problems. One of the other vehicles was transporting a secret project for the government. A monster the government doesn’t want to be revealed to the world. A monster that has now escaped.
Descendants: The Rise of Red
Disney+
After the rebellious daughter of the Queen of Hearts from Neverland is accepted into Auradon Prep, she becomes the center of a coup as her mother takes control of the school. Now with Cinderella’s daughter, Chloe, they go back in time to stop Red’s mom from ever turning evil.
Lumina
Limited release
After Tatiana disappears in a blinding white light, her boyfriend Alex sets off on a quest to find her with his friends and conspiracy theorists. Alex traces his girlfriend to a military base, where the group are hunted by government agents, aliens, and the mysterious lights in the sky.
July 15th:
Hit-Monkey, season 2
Hulu
Having taken on the underworld in Tokyo, Hit-Monkey and his ghost mentor Bryce Fowler head to New York City to take on new villains in the Big Apple in this adaptation of the Marvel comics. However, tired of living as a ghost, Bryce makes a deal with the literal devil to get his life back and reconnect with his daughter.
July 17th:
The Ark, season 2
Syfy
The crew of Ark One, a colony ship on its way to Proxima B, is in for a rude awakening when they jump to a new system only to find other Ark ships. With all new personalities to deal with, Sharon Garnet and her crew will have their work cut out for them.
July 18th:
Those About to Die, season 1
Peacock
When Cala travels to Rome to find her captured children, she discovers that they have been sold as gladiators. To free them, she’ll have to turn to the slippery and ambitious Tenax, who will stop at nothing to become the Master of the Games in the Eternal City.
July 19th:
The Abandon
Limited release
A wounded soldier wakes up from the battlefield in a gray cube, all alone. Inside the cube, the temperature changes, gravity and magnetics work in different ways. But when the marine picks up a signal from someone else claiming to be a fellow prisoner, can he trust them?
July 21st:
Snowpiercer, season 4
AMC/AMC+
Snowpiercer’s final season takes place several months after the end of season 3 when Layton split the train Snowpiercer, a thousand-car train that circumnavigates a frozen wasteland that was once Earth. Not much has been released yet about the plot’s details, but the show’s trailer reveals Clark Gregg as a dangerous outsider who manages to board the train. Who he is, what he wants, and what happened to Layton have yet to be revealed.
July 24th:
Time Bandits, season 1
Apple TV+
Very little has actually been announced about this upcoming show save that it was created by Taika Waititi, is based off of the 1981 movie by Terry Gilliam, and stars Lisa Kudrow. If it follows the original, then the story is about a bunch of time hopping thieves as they try to escape the Supreme Being (whom they stole a map from) and dodge Pure Evil (who wants the map) with the help of an eleven-year-old history nerd.
July 25th:
The Decameron
Netflix
The Decameron is considered to be one of the great classics of world literature… it is also absolutely filthy and filled to the brim with wine, sex, and bad decisions. Netflix’s adaptation looks to have all of that and more as it follows ten bored Florentine nobles as they try to escape the Black Death, and boredom, by telling each other raunchy stories.
July 26th:
Deadpool & Wolverine
In theaters
The Merc with a Mouth is back for the cinematic experience we have all been waiting for. When the Time Variance Authority recruits Wade Wilson for a mission and then reveals that his universe is facing an existential threat, Deadpool will have to enlist the help of someone who wants nothing to do with him: Wolverine.
July 29th:
Futurama, season 12
Hulu
Fans can rejoice (again) at the return of the beloved sci-fi parody animated show. Since there is no overarching plot for the seasons, we can expect to see the show make fun of modern events. Perhaps we’ll see some jokes about the strikes in Hollywood or the upcoming election, either way it’s going to be hilarious.
The Dragon Prince: The Search for Aaravos, season 6
Netflix
The rulers of Xadia are back as the hunt for the Star-Elf, Aaravos. Not much has been revealed about the plot so far, but we can expect an attempted coup by the dragon Sol Regnum, who can now see, and an army of outcast Sunfire elves. Not to mention a possible resurrection of our favorite ship—Raylum—all while Claudia continues to go down deeper and darker paths.
Video Games:
July 2nd:
Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail
(PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PC)
A DLC for the online version of the acclaimed Final Fantasy Online, this package includes all new territories, foes, critters, friends, and epic battles. It’s a must-have for any MMORPG fan.
The First Descendant
(PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC)
This third-person looter shooter by Nexon Games is a free-to-play sci-fi/fantasy action RPG. Become a Descendant and fight the mysterious invaders for the survival of humanity. You can play co-op or alone, and switch characters to experience a variety of perks and battle styles.
July 4th:
Zenless Zone Zero
(PlayStation 5, PC, iOS, Android)
The latest installment in the HoYoVerse (makers of Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail) is this free-to-play action RPG. This game takes place in a futuristic post-apocalypse in which the Ethereals have traveled to, and caused havoc, in the human world via mysterious portals.
July 5th:
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak
(PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch, PC)
In this latest chapter of The Legend of Heroes, Calvard is in a time of economic prosperity and the Spriggan Van Arkride is open for business. The request of the beautiful Elaine, however, may prove to be more than he can handle.
July 9th:
Lifeless Moon
(PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One)
This 3D platformer puts you on a mysterious mission to the Moon. In this spiritual successor to 2014’s Lifeless Planet, you’ll explore a desolate, but oddly familiar, desert town located (where else?) on the Moon. Piece together your reality from the clues left behind and find your way home.
Once Human
(PC)
Starry Studio brings us this multiplayer open-world survival game set in a post-apocalyptic future rife with terrifying anomalies. You’ll fight monsters, customize weapons, build territory, and hopefully find out the truth of the horrible pollutant known as Stardust.
July 15th:
Darkest Dungeon II
(PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch)
This classic dungeon-crawler roguelite is coming to the latest consoles. Avert the apocalypse with nothing but a stagecoach and four misfits in turn-based combat through a nightmarish setting. Finally, you’ll have to face your failings on the Mountain if you wish to survive.
Supernatural
(PC)
This detective horror was created by a solo developer (the mysterious Hitori De) and includes an interactive interface: your microphone is always on, and the louder you are, the scarier the game gets. This 2-hour mystery offers three unique endings alongside a spine-chilling story.
July 16th:
Aerial_Knight’s We Never Yield
(PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC)
This afro-futurist action-adventure game features parkour, combat, and pulse-pounding beats to guide the way. Two brothers, kings usurped from their thrones at birth, must fight to win back their kingdom and save their people.
Deliver Us The Moon
(Switch)
In the near future Earth’s resources will be depleted. A lone astronaut is sent to the Moon on a mission to save the human race from extinction. Ruins of previous lunar missions hold secrets you never could have imagined, and hopefully the solution to the problems of Earth.
EvilVEvil
(PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)
A co-op shooter for the vampire lover in all of us! Discover the evil plans of Zagreus and his devoted cultists, but more importantly, shoot them (and everyone around them). This first-person shooter offers a selection of the most creatively diabolical vampires for you to play. So get shooting!
July 17th:
Nobody Wants to Die
(PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)
The place is New York City. The year is 2329. Detective James Karra is on the hunt for a serial killer. In this alternate future detective noir adventure, you’ll use time-bending tech to investigate the killings of the city’s elites. Plus, the use of Unreal Engine 5 guarantees some incredible graphics.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate
(Switch)
No two run-throughs are the same in this fast-paced roguelite action adventure. Splinter has been kidnapped by Shredder and strange portals have begun to appear across the city. With exciting combat and near-endless challenges, the turtles are in for an adventure as they search for their father.
July 18th:
Dungeons of Hinterberg
(Xbox Series X/S, PC)
In this creative fantasy RPG, you play as Luisa, a young tourist on holiday in the Austrian Alps. Explore and fight your way through countless dungeons in the town of Hinterberg armed with a sword, your magic skills, and a guidebook.
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn
(PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC)
This Souls-lite sees you fighting the Gods from the Great Below for control of the world. Use melee, gunpowder, and magic to create combos to increase your power. Fight the undead, fight the Gods, and take back your world.
July 19th:
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
(PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)
A single-player Kagura Action Strategy game from Capcom, this Japanese-inspired game utilizes the art of Kagura dance, masks, and music. During the day you’ll work to purify the villages of Mt. Kufuku. Come nightfall you’ll protect the Maiden against the hordes of the hellish Seethe.
July 23rd:
The Star Named EOS
(PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC)
This puzzle adventure is built around photography. Recreate past photos to uncover a family mystery and find out the truth about your character’s absent mother. The world is totally hand-drawn and fully voiced for an immersive experience.
July 25th:
Earth Defense Force 6
(PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC)
This classic series (that always reminds me fondly of Heinlein’s Starship Troopers) has a new entry. This third-person shooter sees you as a member of the EDF tasked with defeating the giant aliens that have invaded Earth. Also, you can now play in online co-op!
Tokyo Xanadu eX+
(Switch)
The massive action RPG finally arrives on the Switch this month. This definitive version of Tokyo Xanadu allows you to experience the game at 60 FPS along with new events, new playable characters, new monsters, and exciting new modes of play.
July 26th:
One Piece Odyssey
(Switch)
This RPG set in the Grand Line of the One Piece universe came out on console and PC early last year. And now the Straw Hats are portable! Play as any of the Straw Hats (except Jinbei) on a quest to escape the mysterious island they’ve shipwrecked on. Play through memories of earlier adventures in Alabasta, Water 7, and Enies Lobby.
Books:
July 2nd:
- The Gilded Crown by Marianne Gordon–Dark Fantasy, Folklore
- The Night Ends with Fire by K.X. Song–Fantasy, Folklore, Romance
- Reckless by Lauren Roberts–Book 2 of Powerless, YA, Fantasy, Romance
- The Down Deep by Catherine Asaro–SciFi, Space Opera
- The Icarus Changeling by Timothy Zahn–Book 4 of Icarus, SciFi, Space Opera
- The Ones Who Come Back Hungry by Amelinda Berube–YA, Fantasy, LGBTQ
- Rise by Freya Finch–YA, Fantasy, Mythology
July 9th:
- These Deathless Shores by P.H. Low–Dark Fantasy, Action Adventure
- The Darkness Within Us by Tricia Levenseller–YA, Fantasy, Romance
- Navola by Paolo Bacigalupi–Epic Fantasy, Historical
- The Sky on Fire by Jenn Lyons–Fantasy, Action Adventure
- A Whisper of Curses by J. Elle–Book 2 of A Taste of Magic, Kids, Fantasy
- Black Tide Son by H.M. Long–Book 2 of The Winter Sea, Epic Fantasy
July 16th:
- The West Passage by Jared Pechacek–Dark Fantasy, Action Adventure
- Blood Jade by Julia Vee–Book 2 of The Phoenix Horde, Fantasy, Paranormal
- The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman–Epic Fantasy, Arthurian Legend
- The Spice Gate by Prashanth Srivatsa–Epic Fantasy, Action Adventure
- Wicked Marigold by Caroline Carlson–Kids, Fantasy
- Riot Act by Sarah Lariviere–YA, SciFi, Dystopian
- The Second Son by Adrienne Tooley–Book 2 of The Third Daughter, YA, Fantasy, LGBTQ
- Trespass Against Us by Leon Kemp–YA, Fantasy, Horror, LGBTQ
July 23rd:
- The Dissonance by Shaun Hamill–Dark Fantasy, Horror
- Queen B by Juno Dawson–Fantasy, Historical, LGBTQ
- Gravity Lost by L.M. Sagas–Book 2 of Cascade Failure, SciFi, Space Opera
- Ninth Life by Stark Holborn–SciFi, Space Opera, Military
- The Lost Souls of Benzaiten by Kelly Murashige–YA, Fantasy, Folklore
- So Witches We Became by Jill Baguchinsky–YA, Fantasy, Horror, LGBTQ
July 30th:
- Castle of the Cursed by Romina Garber–YA, Fantasy, Gothic Romance
- Medusa’s Sisters by Lauren J.A. Bear–Fantasy, Historical
- The Mirror of Beasts by Alexandra Bracken–Book 2 of Silver in the Bone, YA, Dark Fantasy
- Navigational Entanglements by Aliette De Bodard–SciFi, Space Opera
- Beneath These Cursed Stars by Lexi Ryan–YA, Fantasy, Romance
- Kill the Beast by Serena Valentino–Book 11 of Villains, YA, Fantasy, Fairy Tales
- Our Wicked Histories by Amy Goldsmith–YA, Fantasy, Horror
That’s July
That’s July, folks!
We’ve got a lot of stuff to look forward to this month and even more stuff to look forward to next month. Sign up for Geek Alerts to be the first one to hear all about it.
Keep it Geeky!
