Joseph Szadkowski

A graduate of Northwestern University with a degree in communications, Joseph Szadkowski has written about popular culture for The Washington Times for the past 30 years. He covers video games, comic books, new media and technology.

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Articles by Joseph Szadkowski

The Star Spangled Avenger means business in the movie Captain America: The Winter Soldier now available in the Blu-ray format. (Courtesy Walt Dinsey Home Entertainment)

ZADZOOKS: Captain America: The Winter Soldier review (Blu-ray)

Marvel Comic's star-spangled Avenger's latest cinematic effort arrives on Blu-ray to allow fans to truly appreciate one of best superhero-themed movies of the year. Published September 12, 2014

Star Trek: The Compendium offers both Blu-ray movies of J.J. Abrams reboot of the Gene Roddenberry universe.

ZADZOOKS: Star Trek: The Compendium review (Blu-ray)

A new generation of Trekkers can sit down and appreciate high-definition versions of director J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek" and "Star Trek Into Darkness" along with a definitive set of bonus features in this new, four-disk, Blu-ray collection. Published September 6, 2014

Abigail Walker and her neon-infused powers star in the video game Infamous: First Light.

ZADZOOKS: Infamous: First Light review

Players looking for super-powered adventure will find a Conduit named Abigail ready for action in a fantastic, stand-alone game tied to the Infamous universe. Published August 30, 2014

Help a ranger rescue children and avoid scary creatures in the puzzling video game Road Not Taken.

ZADZOOKS: Road Not Taken review (PS4)

A rogue ranger embarks on a multiyear mission to save lost children in an adventure for the PlayStation 4 sure to delight as well as frustrate the puzzle fan in the family. Published August 25, 2014

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is now on Blu-ray.

ZADZOOKS: The Amazing Spider-Man 2 review (Blu-ray)

The latest cinematic ode to Marvel Comics' iconic web slinger arrives in a high definition format that is a feast for the eyes but mired in a bloated plot. Published August 18, 2014

Play as the warrior Caydan Phoenix the iPad shooter Modern Combat 5 from Gameloft.

ZADZOOKS: Modern Combat 5: Blackout review (iPad)

A favorite franchise of mobile, first-person shooter fans returns with a former Marine out to stop a third world war. Published August 9, 2014

Hasbro's Battle FX Star-Lord and Big Blastin' Rocket Raccoon from the Guardians of the Galaxy collection (Photo by Joseph Szadkowski / The Washington Times)

ZADZOOKS: Guardians of the Galaxy toys review

Choices for young Guardians include Big Blastin' Rocket Raccoon, Battle FX Star-Lord and the Nerf Quad Blaster Published August 3, 2014

Drax the Destroyer from Hasbro's Marvel Legends Infinite Series Guardians of the Galaxy action figure collection. (Photo by Joseph Szadkowski / The Washington Times)

ZADZOOKS: Guardians of the Galaxy, Drax the Destroyer review

Hasbro's Marvel Legends Infinite Series Guardians of the Galaxy action figures star a warrior who looks surprisingly like WWE wrestler Dave (Batista) Bautista. Published July 30, 2014

The Mudokon Abe avoids a gun-toting slig in the video game Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty.

ZADZOOKS: Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty review

The beleaguered Mudokon Abe returns to save his people in a high definition rebuild of a classic, side-scrolling video game. Published July 28, 2014

The Joker and Colonel Gumm attack Robin and Kato in the comic book series Batman '66 Meets the Green Hornet. (Courtesy Dynamite Entertainment and DC Comics)

ZADZOOKS: Batman ‘66 Meets the Green Hornet review

The Dynamic Duo meet Britt Reid and Kato in a fantastic digital comic book series paying homage to a televised superhero team-up in the 1960s. Published July 25, 2014

American OSS officer, Karl Fairburne prepares to take out enemy soldiers in the third person shooter Sniper Elite III.

ZADZOOKS: Sniper Elite III review

A one-man army challenges the Third Reich in North Africa during World War II and gives gamers an anatomy lesson. Published July 17, 2014

Star Trek: The Next Generation. Season Six is now available in the Blu-ray ray format.

Zadzooks: Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season Six review (Blu-ray)

Paramount's latest Star Trek Blu-ray set showcases the work of CBS Digital to beautifully immortalize the crew of the starship USS Enterprise-D. Published July 13, 2014

Control four unsung heroes during World War I in the video game Valinat Hearts: The Great War.

Zadzooks: Valiant Hearts: The Great War review

A player controls the lives of individuals caught up in the horrors of World War I in a puzzle solving, side-scrolling game that is both visually stunning and educational. Published July 6, 2014

Hasbro's Contruct-Bots Dinobot Warriors feature the bounty hunter Lockdown and mechanized raptor Hangnail. (Photo by Joseph Szadkowski/The Washington Times)

Zadzooks: Transformers: Age of Extinction toys review

A look at some building and tech toys devoted to the latest movie starring Autobots, Decepticons and Dinobots including Transformers Battle Stadium, Grimlock Street Attack and Contruct-Bots Lockdown. Published June 30, 2014

A close-up of the mighty Grimlock from Hasbro's Transformers: Age of Extinction Flip and Change collection. (Photo by Joseph Szadkowski/The Washington Times)

Zadzooks: Transformers: Age of Extinction Grimlock review

Hasbro's Dinobot leader co-stars in Michael Bay's new movie and its latest flip and change action figure won't frustrate or disappoint younger fans. Published June 29, 2014

Batman co-stars in The Lego Movie now available in an Everyhting is Awesome Edition for Blu-ray and DVD players.

Zadzooks: The Lego Movie: Everything is Awesome Edition review (Blu-ray)

A celebration of teamwork and colorful building blocks came together in an addictively charming film earlier this year that is now available in a special Blu-ray edition for the Lego fan in the family. Published June 27, 2014

Joel Kinnaman and Gary Oldman (right) star in the "Robocop" reboot, now available in Blu-ray. (Courtesy Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment)

Zadzooks: RoboCop review (Blu-ray)

Director Jose Padilha's reboot of a famed cyborg cop's origin looks great in high definition and has it moments but never lives up to Paul Verhoeven's original movie. Published June 12, 2014

HBO Home Entertainment's True Detective starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson is now on Blu-ray.

Zadzooks: Father’s Day Gift Guide - Best Blu-ray for dad

True Detective, True Stories of WWII Collection and The Man With No Name Trilogy are some last-minute gift ideas for dad. Published June 10, 2014

Anki Drive turns slot car racing into a high speed, combat challenge with help from an iOS app to control and upgrade vehicles and a track that uses no slots.

Zadzooks: Father’s Day Gift Guide: Best gaming ideas for dad

Anki Drive, Watch Dogs and MLB 2014: The Show are some last-minute gift ideas. Published June 9, 2014

GrillGrates' Championship Steak Grilling Set includes a temperature gun, digital thermometer, meta temperature guide and large carrying case to hold extra barbeque tools. (Photograph by Joseph Szadkowski/The Washington Times)

Zadzooks: Father’s Day Gift Guide - Best gadgets for dad

Spark Digital, DOCKr, Championship Steak Grilling Set and the 20V MAX Drill Driver are some last-minute gift ideas. Published June 8, 2014