Dungeons And Dragons Archives

Beyond the Clickbait: Why the Shocking Dark Theories About the Dungeons and Dragons Cartoon Don’t Hold Water

YouTube fan theories love to claim the kids in the Dungeons and Dragons animated series are dead and trapped in purgatory, but the show’s own episodes tell a completely different story. From Terri’s real-world reunion with Bobby to Josef’s impact on actual history, the evidence for a living, breathing adventure has been hiding in plain sight the whole time.

The cottage industry of “ruined childhoods” isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Just look at MediaOCD’s World Classics use of the label for proof that revisiting old favourites with fresh eyes can actually add something. But on YouTube, a certain breed of content creator loves poking holes in beloved franchises, accuracy optional. Whether the target is He-Man or something else entirely, the clickbait title is usually doing most of the heavy lifting. One series that doesn’t deserve the treatment is the Dungeons and Dragons Cartoon.

On Reddit and elsewhere, the Backstage Tales theory is not alone. Although they are separate ideas, they all share the same DNA: Hank, Sheila, Bobby, Diana, and Eric died. Whether it was because they had no self worth or on that roller coaster ride, the consequences are grim, and are vaguely hinted at in the episode, “Quest of the Skeleton Warrior.”

Continue reading “Beyond the Clickbait: Why the Shocking Dark Theories About the Dungeons and Dragons Cartoon Don’t Hold Water”

With Dark Horse in Charge of D&D Now, It’s Not Just Another Ravenloft Comic

Ravenloft Comic Dark Horse IDW Comics’ run with the Dungeons and Dragons license ended last year, and following the success of Dark Horse Comics’ work with Wizards of the Coast, their releases are doing a touch better and the consensus is that fans like it. Ravenloft is the next release. After the first issue of The Fallbacks and the delayed release of the second, there are a lot of titles being planned getting back on track.

The four-issue miniseries written by Bram Stoker Award-winning author Amy Chu (Red Sonja) examines why this particular world is crumbling. Nobody knows why. Fortunately, monster hunter Ez D’Avenir is on the case. She’s searching the frozen wasteland of Lamordia for an undead creature that may hold the key to this world’s fate. But when Darklord Viktra Mordenheim catches wind of her quest, Ez is suddenly the one being hunted. Just how deep this series will go into the lore depends on Chu’s research. It’s also known as The Mists, a more compelling and scary reference in par with Silent Hill.

The art is provided by Ariela Kristantina (Adora and the Distance), colours by Arif Prianto (Poison Ivy, Green Lantern Corps), and letters by Haley Rose-Lyon (BUMP: A Horror Anthology, Jill and the Killers). Issue #1 will feature cover art by Guillem March, Riley Rossmo, Francesco Francavilla, Todor Hristov, and Angela Wu.

Continue reading “With Dark Horse in Charge of D&D Now, It’s Not Just Another Ravenloft Comic”

Stranger Things. The Full Series in Review

After a long rewatch of Stranger Things, I look at what worked and what did not when creating the threat that would manifest in the small town of Hawkins. Thankfully, for those in the know, no foothold was made, but is this truly the end?

When Stranger Things first arrived on Netflix, it began with something wonderfully small. It seemed to be simply about a group of kids playing a game of Dungeons and Dragons, and not expecting that world to manifest around them! After the sudden absence of Will (Noah Schnapp), they had to learn how to become heroes for real. Even though the adults didn’t believe what they’ve encountered is real, what they managed to do was the impossible: to show that dangers lurk in every corner. The shadows are alive, and the necrophagous shadows, well….

From that moment, the series evolved naturally from childhood rituals into becoming adults. As for the fantasy characters they wanted to become, all the visual motifs (including a garbage can lid modified to become a shield) came into place. And the monsters they had to face weren’t just creatures. They were metaphors to something greater shaped by the kids’ references to concepts and entities from this role playing world. Some worked, and others did not, but overall, unless the viewer was in the know, the tie-ins were more than surface level references.

Continue reading “Stranger Things. The Full Series in Review”

Dungeons and Television’s Hilarious Debut At Fantasia Film Festival 2025 Will Want You Posing Too!

Set to release on YouTube next month, Dungeons and Television is fast-paced, charming series about dungeon livestreaming in a way where why isn’t that reporter running away from that dragon!?!?

Dungeons and Television is one of the standout new series introduced at Fantasia Film Festival, and what’s presented is merely a teaser. When the festival also becomes a launchpad for fresh shows, there’s more than one title I’m already tuning in to. Another is Night of the Living Cat, which is currently streaming on Crunchyroll and you can catch my review of the first two episodes here; Fantasia hosted a theatrical screening of episodes three and four (highly recommended—the plot finally thickens).

As for this fantasy series, this made-for-the-web anime will arrive next month on YouTube. Although I can’t find an official channel, I’m sure that’ll quickly be live very soon, and as soon as I know, I’ll posted updates! In this world, the discovery of the vacuum tube has reshaped life in the kingdom of The Grand Half-Moon Cauldron, turning once-mythic dungeons into hotspots for exploration and opportunity. The setup feels very Dungeons & Dragons-inspired, and that’s definitely a plus.

Continue reading “Dungeons and Television’s Hilarious Debut At Fantasia Film Festival 2025 Will Want You Posing Too!”

Shadowdark, The Western Reaches RPG Hot New Expansion is on Kickstarter!

Instead of asking for help from the corporate industry, Kelsey Dionne’s Shadowdark, The Western Reaches is asking fans of old school gaming to help reach publication.

Kelsey Dionne ‘s Shadowdark is a sure to shake the TTRPG industry up. This role playing system gives game masters the power to make the call on how actions get resolved. And now this world has an expansion titled Shadowdark, The Western Reaches. After two years in the market, the amount of people moving over to a more back to basic fantasy environment is becoming large. From an official Discord channel to Reddit fan pages , what I am finding is even winning me over.

A welcome package at $199 USD provides newcomers with everything released to date. After getting a headache because of fellow players arguing about why certain game physics must operate this way or the fact there’s far too much data to break down an action, this remedy may well be worth it. Very few people use the Old School Renaissance (OSR) method these days, and upon discovering this game system, I know where to invest my dollars.

Continue reading “Shadowdark, The Western Reaches RPG Hot New Expansion is on Kickstarter!”

50 years of Dungeons and Dragons with the Royal Mail Stamp Collection in Review

Fans of Dungeons and Dragons can find something to appreciate with this release of commerative stamps celebrating a milestone of this game’s history!

Dungeons and Dragons Royal Mail Stamps — **Orders can be made by ordering from the Royal Mail’s online shop.**

The Royal Mail (UK) Postal Service have fourteen stamps celebrating 50 years of Dungeons and Dragons! Although this release is for the die-hard collector, what’s offered looks beautiful to behold, and not even this strange alchemic beast can say no to it!

Although I was hard pressed to decide on first day covers or the other offerings, I stuck to the basics. Although some of the art is old (from 4th edition), that’s why I was hesitant at first to order, but now that I have a set in my hands, there’s no regrets. There’s framed art, full sheets and a lot more. The art is from Wayne Reynolds, and anyone who’ve played various games long enough will recognise what is old and what is new from this set!

Here, the monsters featured are the Red Dragon, Owlbear, Vecna, Gelatinous Cube, Mind Flayer, Mimic, Displacer Beast and Beholder. Also, exposing these creatures with a ultraviolet beam of light will reveal a surprise!

Continue reading “50 years of Dungeons and Dragons with the Royal Mail Stamp Collection in Review”