Tag: Star Wars

The Mandalorian and Grogu Won’t Save Star Wars, But It’s Honestly Kind of Charming

At long last, The Mandalorian and Grogu is on home video (released August 25, 2026) and was it worth it for the bonus features?

The Mandalorian and Grogu PosterIs the Star Wars franchise dead? Considering how long it took me to finally watch The Mandalorian and Grogu, not even a cute baby Yoda is enough to get me watching new releases on a timely schedule. The IP is in a meh state, and I haven’t even watched The Ninth Jedi yet, despite its critical success and strong word of mouth. I need either originality or the return of characters I fondly adore to keep watching.

What has kept this galaxy far, far away alive for nearly fifty years is its love of pulp adventure. Those roots remain intact with this pairing, and the performances feel much more lived-in. But somehow, I didn’t feel the need to know what happened right away. All this cinematic offering does is show its version of “Lone Wolf and Cub” doing their thing, only better. The home video release reinforces that point with its standard collection of mini-docs and behind-the-scenes looks. The only aspect I cared to know more about was how Zeb, Embo and Rotta were translated from animation into live action.

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May the 4th vs The Mandalorian: The Ultimate Loyalty Test. Who Are You Supporting?

May the 4th is nearly here, and while deals are light, Star Wars merchandise is in full swing. For those with a 3D printer, these five free model picks offer a more creative way to celebrate.

May the 4th LOGOMay the 4th is coming up fast, and for Star Wars fans looking for deals, my past articles say it all. In a nutshell: there are not a lot of deep discounts, and it’s more about random merchandise pushes. This year, it’s all about The Mandalorian and Grogu. The theatrical continuation of the Disney Plus series later this month will pick up from where things left off.

Set in the messy aftermath of the Galactic Empire’s collapse, The Mandalorian follows Din Djarin, a bounty hunter of few words and even fewer smiles. He becomes the unlikely guardian of Grogu, a tiny, big-eared, Force-sensitive little guy from the same species as Yoda. What starts as a straightforward job becomes a look at the cosmic underground, as Outer Rim politics get explored. There are bounty hunters galore, Imperials doing their own thing, and minor civil wars the pair must navigate. The concept is essentially Lone Wolf and Cub, and it’s a beautiful frontier look at a galaxy far, far away.

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What’s Exciting at CES 2026? The Rise of LEGO Smart Play, AI Toys, and Nerd Bait

CES 2026 is a wrap, but a handful of reveals still feel aimed straight at geek culture. From LEGO’s Smart Play tech and its Star Wars debut to AI “character” pedestals and retro-friendly gaming gear, here’s what looked most tempting, and what still needs a healthy dose of skepticism.

CES 2026 and Pop CultureNot every tech event needs reporting on, and with the CES 2026 show being debated on, it’s time to decide! Not everything is worth needing and the big talk is certainly on one thing: LEGO’s new Smart Play tech is shaping up to be a dream come true for TRON enthusiasts, especially when you think about how some past interactive concepts could be resurrected. That said, with Star Wars carrying far more mainstream momentum, it’s no surprise the first sets using this technology will land there before anywhere else.

These bricks are getting embedded microchips designed to trigger sound effects and blinking lights when placed near one another. At the show, the company staged a massive Death Star trench run experience in front of The Sphere, where visitors could “fly” a LEGO X-Wing in an attempt to destroy it. One can only imagine the sound, and the chaos, if crashing into the structure had been allowed. The cleanup alone would have been legendary. But only time will tell which other licensed properties will get smarter.

It’s an exciting prospect, but it also raises the question: what other electronic releases are out there to whet a geek’s appetite?

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When Genre Television Learned to Think, and Why It’s Quickly Vanishing from the Dial

When Netflix will soon dump all of Star Trek, and traditional networks are broadcasting less genre television than ever, where do audiences go to get their fix?

genre television's fading gloryLooking back, the last century feels like the moment genre television quietly defined its contract with the audience. Most of those early experiments arrived in short waves, and like the tides, they came and went. Some returned decades later on specialty stations or streaming platforms. And these days, nearly everything is being tucked into quieter shores. Every so often, the tropes that once defined a series are reskinned for a new generation, which is simply how television writing evolves.

From that first wave, some re-dos leaned into long-form storytelling, while others stayed loyal to the standalone format.

The 70s offered a handful of tests, including Shazam! (1974–1976), Wonder Woman (1975–1979), and The Incredible Hulk (1977–1982). The latter proved that if you give audiences a hero they can empathize with, they will follow even an unresolved quest, like Bruce Banner’s search for a cure. Sadly, many genre series never reached a true conclusion. The Time Tunnel (1966–1967) is only one of several 60s science-fiction shows left without closure.

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A Dark Horse Comics 2025 Gift Giving Guide

Dark Horse Comics brings a mix of festive stories, classic reprints, art books, and surprising genre gems to this year’s gift⁠-giving season. From Avatar adventures to Lovecraftian chills and collectible toy retrospectives, these picks offer something for every kind of fan.

Christmas Dark Horse Comics

From Christmas-themed narratives to sci-fi action adventures, Dark Horse Comics has a terrific range of recent graphic novel releases that make splendid gifts. If that doesn’t tickle a relative’s (or friend’s) fancy, there are also art books and adaptations of popular IPs—animated or otherwise—that may do the trick just as well. What I offer here are my top picks. The links go to Amazon USA for easy purchase.

Disclaimer: We are a member of Amazon Associates. Any sales made through these links help support this site.

Avatar: The Last Airbender
Team Avatar Treasury TPB

Original Publication Date: November 11, 2025

Avatar- The Last Airbender Team Avatar Treasury TPB

This treasury collects three recently released character-focused adventures—Katara and the Pirate’s Silver, Toph Beifong’s Metalbending Academy, and Suki Alone—into one unified volume.

Each story offers a thoughtful continuation of these characters as they grow, reflect, and refine what shapes their resolve. While not connected to the upcoming animated films, everything here is fully approved by Avatar Studios. With the cinematic continuation arriving January 30, 2026, this collection is a perfect warm-up.

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The Promise and Pitfall of Augmented Reality Games: Why Jedi Challenges Sits on the Shelf

Jedi Challenges promised a galaxy far, far away in your living room. A month of lightsabers later, the thrill faded—and so did the headset. There are not a lot of augmented reality games still around. Without updates, community, or real-world hooks, it’s still a tech spectacle stuck on the shelf.

Augmented Reality GamesThe Allure of Immersion

Not everyone wants to play augmented reality games. You can’t interact with a digital environment without strapping on a headset or waving a device around to reveal what’s there. On paper, these experiences promise to blur our physical and digital lives into one seamless reality. In practice? They’ve delivered dazzling moments—Gorillaz’s virtual concerts and Hololive’s worldwide VTuber frenzy—but more often than not, they feel like flashy sideshows rather than daily habits.

At its core, AR overlays digital visuals onto the real world.

Pop culture has long imagined it in bigger, bolder ways. Back to the Future II had Marty McFly nearly leap out of his skin when a 3D Jaws lunged from a theatre marquee. Star Trek: The Next Generation gave us the holodeck, where you could wander inside the illusion and feel every detail. That’s the kind of immersion people crave—the kind that doesn’t remind you that you’re holding a phone like a glorified window.

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