Monthly Media Recap - March 2026

 For an April 1st post, there's not a lot of stinkers this month!

As usual, linked titles will take you to a trailer. 

 

Gatchaman Progress

Only watched 2. Now up to: 75

 

Streaming Series

 

Wonder Man (Disney+)

The MCU TV series can really shine when they take a chance and do something different. This isn't a "superhero" show. It's a show about a guy making his way through life that happens to have super powers. I love how they made "Wonder Man" an 80s sci-fi movie icon and that they brought back Trevor. who has no trouble stealing the scenes he's in. Looking forward to season 2!

 

Ted (S2, Peacock)

Simultaneously more crass than last season (hilariously so) but also balanced with an equal amount of heart. MacFarlane has said this is the last season due to the cost of the show which is really too bad because it's just so damn funny.

 

Movies

 

Project Hail Mary (2025, IMAX)

I've only really seen Gosling in Barbie and the Fall Guy and he does a phenomenal job here. His co-star is no slouch either and will likely be one for the record books. There was a lot more comedy that I was expecting which is kind of ironic as Lord and Miller were booted off Solo: A Star Wars Story for trying to make it more comedic. If you're on the fence about seeing this in a theater, do it! The little kid in me that used to stare at the moon through a telescope and wonder what was out there is glad he did.

 

Rating: 9/10 

 

 

The Last Video Store (2023, Shudder)

The Videonomicon, a strange video tape, traps two people in a video store and forces them to face off against movie characters. I often rip on low budget horror but then there's ones like this that have something special that I thoroughly enjoy. Just about everything hits for me: the synth score, the meta movie tropes, and the knockoff fictional stereotypes of famous movie characters. Horror kids that grew up renting everything and anything in the 80s, this one's for you!

 

Rating: 8/10

 

The Running Man (2025, Paramount+) 

Solid action movie with a social commentary that's a little too close to home these days. It's one of those movies where some things don't make sense if you stop and think about it, but it's also not that kind of movie and before long there's another action set piece to keep things moving.

 

Rating: 8/10

 

Escape Room: Tournament of Champions (2021, Prime)

Speaking of movies that don't make sense... I mentioned with the first one of these how crazy it was that Someone constructed these elaborate escape rooms which must cost into the billions and that's even more true here. Not only that but it feels like things happen because that's the way they have to in order for the plot to progress. Even just the way the main characters are forced together must have taken an improbable amount of planning. Still, kind of a fun watch for the traps.

 

Rating: 6/10 

 

 

Alligator (1980, Prime)

This is one of those movies that was always at my periphery of horror. It was always on the rental shelf, frequently saw it popup on TV but for some reason never watched despite it being one of my favorite sub genres: giant animal on the loose. It may be a B movie Jaws knockoff but they pull it off! I was surprisingly entertained for the whole thing

 

Rating: 7/10, not really but it was a fun watch

 

 

Alligator 2: The Mutation (1991, Prime and YouTube)

As much fun as the first one was, this direct-to-video bomb needs an MST3k treatment to get to the same level of fun. It's a poor retread of the original and everything about it is worse. The plot, the acting, the effects, you name it. At one point, the alligator is making its way through a fair and it's clear they're just shooting the snout from the side while it's on a dolly, rolling it through the crowd.

 

Rating: 3/10, flush it

 

Ready or Not (2019, Prime/Hulu)

Have you ever watched a movie that you've never seen but parts of it felt familiar? That was my experience here, very odd. Anyway, it's a pretty wild ride and if it's possible seven years later, best to go in blind. The plot becomes apparent to the audience almost immediately but the build up to the main character being let in on it and the roller coaster that follows is wonderful and the dark humor woven in is chef's kiss.

 

Rating: 8/10

 

 

Relaxer (2018, Shudder)

I feel secure promising you, you've never seen and will never see, another movie like this in your life. The basic plot is about a guy trying to get to the Pac-Man kill screen on New Year's Eve 1999. The whole movie takes place in his living room with the occasional visit from oddball characters. And there's some extra weird layered on top of all this. It's something you have to see for yourself because I sure as hell can't explain it! While I kind of get what they were doing and the performance of the main character was fantastic, it's just a little too out there for me...and I love Rubber!

 

Rating: 4/10 

 

This Month

New: 8   Rewatch: 0

Year to Date

New: 22   Rewatch: 0

Thundarr the Barbarian Comc Book

 It's still pretty early in the year but I think I can safely say Thundarr the Barbarian from Dynamite is my most anticipated comic of the year!

 

As far as Saturday morning cartoons go, Thundarr is at the top of my list and was likely a factor in my picking up the D&D Basic rule set at that age. If, for some reason, Thundarr isn't known to you, check out the show's intro. A post-apocalyptic world combining sci-fi and fanatasy? Doesn't get much better than that! 

 

 

 Like many comics these days, Thundarr has multiple cover variants. The above one is my favorite since Jack Kirby himself worked on the show's production design including most of the villains, which are all memorable in their own way. Not only is in done in a very Kirdy-esque style but there's a not so subtle Kirby tribute on the cover.

 

 The comic hooked me from the first few pages. Obviously, I'm an easy mark but even in the opening scene, they bring back a few of the bad guys Thundarr crossed paths with in the show. Being an 80s Saturday morning show, Thundarr was pretty episodic and usually dealt with a new threat each week. To see some of them pop up from the get go, told me these folks are really paying attention to the source.

 

 If you watched the intro, you might recognize the guy on the left that appears for maybe 2 seconds. 

 

The comic tells two stories simultaneously: The main story takes place in the present of 3994 and has Thundarr going under cover to break up a human trafficking/slavery ring. The other story is told through flashback and follows Thundarr's life as a gladiator slave leading up to him meeting Ookla and Ariel.

 

 Despite how much I was looking forward to this, the first issue snuck by me and I only found the second issue just released a few weeks ago. This issue spends a little more time in the flashback, you get to see how Ariel ties into things, and Thundarr faces his toughest arena fight yet: Ookla the Mok!

 

Meanwhile, in the present day, the gang confront the Council of Wizards who are involved in the human slave trade. In classic comic tradition, these wizards have all been bested by Thundarr over the show's run and are now gathered together to bring him down! One of them activates a time portal and sends our heroes back to 1994 just moments before the runaway planet passes between the Earth and the moon, kick starting the global apocalypse from the intro!

 

 

Another thing I love about the series so far is they perfectly capture the characters, including Ariel's commentary on Thundarr's recklessness.

 If you're a fan of sci-fi/fantasy that's just being introduced to Thundarr from this post, you'd probably enjoy the comic. But if you're someone that's been craving more Thundarr adventures since the 80s, I think you'll absolutely love this and find it a worthy successor to the show.

 

Monthly Media Recap - February 2026

 The country (world?) may be going to hell in a hand basket but I'm still here to bring the Monthly Media Recap! As usual, linked titles will take you to a trailer.

 

 

Gatchaman Progress

Only squeezed in 3 this month. Currently up to 72.

  

Streaming

 

His & Hers (2026, Netflix)

Two estranged spouses — one a detective, the other a news reporter — vie to solve a murder in which each believes the other is a prime suspect. Excellent murder mystery! And you can't go wrong with Jon Bernthal and Tessa Thompson as the leads, great performances.

 

The Muppet Show (2026, Disney+)

If this doesn't get a series order, people should be rioting! Not only did the reproduce the original Muppet theater but they also captured the essence of the original show. I think more than ever, the world needs the Muppet Show!

 

Movies

 

Uncanny Annie (2019, Hulu)

Part of Hulu's holiday horror series Into the Dark. This one has a bunch of teens playing a haunted board game on Halloween night. There's some drama among the friend group but I didn't really care. I didn't like any of them and was pretty much waiting for the body count to rise. The kills aren't anything memorable but they're okay. 

 

Rating: 5/10

 

 

The Jester 2 (2025, Shudder)

I'm torn on this series so far. On one hand, they have some creative kills inspired by magic tricks. On the other, they keep doing something to make me not like it as much as I want. In this one, they redesigned the Jester's look (probably to get away from Art the Clown) and it just looks like a mask on a mask. At least the plot in this one is more straightforward and it falls an oddly specific sub-genre that I enjoy: kids getting roped into working with the evil.

 

Rating: 5/10

 

 

10/31, Part IV (2024, Tubi or watch it on YouTube)

Another entry in the Halloween horror anthology series. I went back to see what I thought of the rest and found I've only seen the first! Of the four stories, the first, Ejectdead, is my favorite. Imagine The Ring but instead of Samara, you get a Jason like slasher. There's one other tale that's memorable even if the way they carried it out didn't make a lot of sense. Overall, not bad for an indie anthology.

 

Rating: 4/10

 

The Wrecking Crew (2026, Prime)

This feels like it could be in the Fast & Furious-verse: it's loud, dumb, about family, has lots of action and for some reason I really enjoyed it. Bautista and Momoa play off each other really well, milking the "at odds buddy cop" trope for all it's worth. My two biggest issues were some sequences with painfully obvious blue screen and the unbelievable civilian collateral casualties they cause with no mention.

 

Rating: 7/10

 

Predator: Badlands (2025, Disney+/Hulu)

Some people won't like this because a Predator is the main character and it removes some of the mystery around them. Me? I've been waiting for this movie since the original AvP comics came out. Having a young Predator protagonist allows you to see there's more to them as a species. Elle Fanning is great and has a lot of lifting to do as she's the only "human" in most of the movie. Between this, Prey, and Killer of Killers, we've been blessed with some of the best Predator content since the original.

 

Rating: 8/10

 

 

Mrs Dex found the Six Million Dollar Man on Peacock and we're doing a series watch. I can't really call it a rewatch because there's no way I caught a lot of these when they aired. Being Gen X kids, we both have nostalgia for the show so it's interesting to go back and watch it now, especially with the gratuitous use of stock footage. Prior to the show proper, there were three made for TV movies to get Col. Austin off the ground.

  

The Six Million Dollar Man (1973)

I've read this is a good adaptation of the original novel Cyborg by Martin Caidin. I haven't read the book but I'm not sure how anyone saw this and said "Yes, we need more!" Steve has mental trauma from his accident and replacement parts which is understandable and is a great theme for a book. But here he's very dour and the show just isn't that much fun. The fan-made season one trailer above gives a little peek at how serious the pilot can be.

 

Rating: 3/10 

 

Wine, Women, and War (1973) &The Solid Gold Kidnapping (1973)

I'm lumping these together as there's not a lot to differentiate them. They basically turned Austin into James Bond with bionics. He's got a sense of humor and even drops a couple double entendre! They're dated, as anything from the 70s will be, but they're a lot more fun to watch than the pilot. They haven't got around to using the iconic sound effects yet so it's a little weird seeing him in action without them.

 

Rating: 4/10 & 5/10

 

This Month

New: 8   Rewatch: 0

Year to Date

New: 14   Rewatch: 0

Sid & Marty Krofft Figural Bag Clips

 Mrs. Dex got me a couple of these with my Valentine's goodies.

 

 Some people hate the whole blind package thing but we love it here. I don't usually try to go for complete sets so picking up a few rarely results in duplicates.

  

But sometimes you do get ones you're not as excited for. I don't remember much about the Bigfoot & Wildboy show other than it existed. I actually thought this might be Chaka from Land of the Lost when I pulled him out. Bigfoot was huge in the 70s but I'm guessing when you talk about him and TV most people are going to think of when he was on The Six Million Dollar Man.

 

 On the other hand, ElectraWoman and DynaGirl was probably my second favorite of the Krofft shows (just behind Land of the Lost naturally). Live action superheroes on Saturday morning weren't a rarity but unlike the other shows, EW & DG were usually squaring off against costumed villains. Plus they had those cool Electracomp bracelets and a flying car.

 

Other shows represented in this series are Land of the Lost (gotta get that Sleestak!), Wonder Bug, Lidsville, The Bugaloos, The Lost Saucer, and Sigmund and the Sea Monsters (which got a whole other series of these).

 

I'm hoping there's a series two to give us Fi (Ruth Buzzi) from The Lost Saucer and maybe a Doctor Shrinker. 

Lost in the Longbox - Dagar the Invincible

Back in 2018/2019 I did a few posts under the title Quarter Bin to talk about random old comics. That title never really clicked with me (even though I decided on it!) so I'm rebranding to Lost in the Longbox...and I'll probably post another one in 2033.

 

Today's deep pull (maybe that would be a better title?) is Tales of Sword and Sorcery Featuring Dagar the Invincible. Or just Dagar the Invincible to his friends.

 

 Dagar was published by Gold Key from October 1972 to December 1976 for a total of 18 quarterly issues. I think I was just getting into Superfriends comics when Dagar ended so I missed out. If he'd come along a few years later when I picked up my first D&D box set and Thundarr was on TV, I'm sure I would have checked it out. I mean, look at that cover!

 

Issue 2 was reformatted and packaged as a give-away with bubble gum. Bazooka Joe, he ain't! I know packing a comic book with bubble gum sounds weird but if you're wondering what it would look like, here you go. 

 

Issue 1, Page 1. That saber-tooth tiger is looking for lunch!

 

Dagar was written by Donald F Glut who Star Wars kids will no doubt recognize as the author of the Empire Strikes Back novelization. He was also a screenwriter for Saturday morning heavy hitters like Land of the Lost, Transformers, G.I. Joe, DuckTales, Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, and also created characters and lore for Masters of the Universe. How's that for a resume?

  

 Covers and interior art was done by Dagar co-creator Jesse Santos who is best known for this book and Tragg and the Sky Gods, another Gold Key book written by Glut. Tragg, as you might guess by the name, is a prehistoric caveman. The Sky Gods are humanoid aliens so this book has a little more sci-fi to it than Dagar. Santos would go on to work in advertising to work with properties like Blackstar, Jem, and Tiny Toon Adventures.

 

Monsterzone has a great post showcasing Santos' work on Dagar and Tragg. 

 

Dagar was a typical brawn over brains adventurer type contending with magic and monsters in a fantasy world. But Glut's writing is what keeps him from being a Conan knock-off. Thanks to the Wayback Machine, you can read an interview with Glut about his work on Dagar. 

 

If you'd like to enjoy some Tales of Sword and Sorcery, head back to that first cover and give it a click. 

Monthly Media Recap - January 2026

 Before I jump into anything, I want to take a minute and dedicate this post to Will West. If you read this blog, you probably know who he is and that he had a stroke last week. I don't know him personally but he's one of the bloggers that inspires me. He's got such a great voice online and has a lot to say. I know a lot of us in the blog-o-sphere are pulling for him and hope he recovers soon. There's a GoFundMe out there to help out his wife and two girls and they're getting close to their $40k goal. More than anything, I think he's going to be pissed at having to break his weekly blogging streak.

  

 

Gatchaman Progress

Not only did I forget to log this last month, but I've only watched 5 eps since November.

Current ep: 70 

 

Streaming

 

Stranger Things (S1-5, Netflix)

Usually, when a show comes back after a break, I'll find a 30 minute YouTube recap video but I know how much I loved this show and with it being the final season, I re-watched the first four seasons and am so glad I did! Not only did it make the overall story more cohesive but I got to meet the gang again and be reminded of their interpersonal dynamics. I feel like I need a whole post just to talk about the series but I'm lazy. The first couple eps of season 5 didn't quite click but once it did, I was all in. They managed to stick the landing for me. It was satisfying and emotional. I'm going to miss the Hawkins gang so I'll be diving into some of the books this year.

 

History of the World Part II (Hulu) 

At it's best, it was okay. It probably would have been better as a movie instead of a comedy sketch type show. Does not fill me with hope for Spaceballs 2.

 

Movies 

 

M3GAN 2.0 (2025, Prime)

I see why a lot of people didn't like this. I enjoyed the first one but this is is more like a whole new operating system than an upgrade. It's got a more campy tone, is more violent than I remember the first one being and also somehow feels like a superhero movie? If I saw this by itself, I'd probably like the 90s direct to video feel but as a sequel, it doesn't quite deliver what you liked about the original.

 

Rating: 5/10 

 

 

Igniting the Spark - The Story of Magic: The Gathering (2025, Prime)

I was there at GenCon 1993 when MtG debuted and like everyone else, was instantly hooked. At least for a few years and then I got out. Anyway, this doc starts of with the founding of Wizards of the Coast and then how MtG came to be. If you've ever been into the game, I highly recommend checking this out. If you've never played but are a gamer at heart, I still think its interesting to see how a whole new genre of game was developed.

 

Jurassic World Rebirth (2025, Peacock)

How many freakin islands are there?! Despite the very video game plot (they need to get DNA from a water dino, an air dino, and a land dino), this was a pretty solid monster movie. There's no legacy characters to bog it down and I like the assembled by circumstance adventuring group. It may not really do anything new (other than introduce contractually obligated new dinos) but it's a fun ride that stands on its own.

 

Rating: 7/10

 

 

Killing Mary Sue (2025, Prime)

An action comedy that doesn't quite deliver on either premise. I'm guessing they spent most of the budget on the cast because it sure wasn't on the gunfire effects. This movie wants to be cooler than it really is and that's too bad because it could be fun if handled the right way. I'd recommend Becky and The Wrath of Becky instead of this.

 

Rating: 4/10

 

Black Phone 2 (2025, Peacock)

File this under unexpected sequels I didn't know I needed! But didn't The Grabber die in the first one? Yes, yes he did. Horror fans will not doubt draw comparisons to Freddy here but it all works for me. The psychic dream sequences have a fantastic otherworldly creepiness to them (as they should!) and I really liked how they tied it together with the first one.

 

Rating: 7/10

 

 

Marshmallow (2025, Shudder)

This is one of those where you should go in as blind as possible as it keeps you guessing. The kid actors are pretty good and the counselors play their slasher movie stereotypes well. This should be a good gateway horror flick for young teens that want to dip a toe in the pool...or summer camp lake.

 

Rating: 7/10

 

This Month

New: 6   Rewatch: 0

Year to Date

New: 6   Rewatch: 0

Labyrinth Graphic Novel

I got this a little while back and keep forgetting to show it off. Boom Studios did a Kickstarter for this hard cover collecting their eight issue adaptation from 2024. The cool thing about it is that it adapts the movie novelization which was written while the movie was still in production so there are a couple things here and there different from the final film.

 

 I shelled out a little extra to get the version with the slipcase which is styled after Sarah's Labyrinth book from the movie. Boom Studios was also offering hard cover collections of their two (yes two!) Labyrinth sequel comics. I already have those and didn't feel the need to drop the extra cash to upgrade to hard covers. Of course, I also already have the comics collected here but this is THE story.

 

 This Kickstarter version has an exclusive variant cover that won't be reprinted again. The pages are gold gilded which just adds to how it looks on a table. I like when they do stuff like this so you feel like you're really getting something special when you support them.

 

Speaking of something special...one of the stretch goals was this fantastic art print.

 

 And this enamel pin was unlocked for people that backed on day one (that's me!). The campaign hit its initial $25k goal in 15 minutes! I guess there's a lot of us weirdos out there that love this movie.

 

 I instantly fell in love with the art style. I like that it's sort of cartoony. Disney's been all about live action remakes of animated movies. I think this would be a great candidate for an animated remake of a live action movie! I'd just use the film audio and animate it.

 

At the back of the book are 16 pages featuring different cover art used for the individual comics.

 

The last six pages have character designs. There's two pages each for Sarah and Jareth and the last two have a bunch of the characters Sarah meets, including Alph and Ralph the two dog-like door guardians that pose the logic puzzle to Sarah. Bet you didn't know they had names!

I'm really happy with this one and it's going to be a great addition to my growing Labyrinth library.

Haul-iday Highlights 2025

 This used to be an annual tradition but it looks like I haven't done one since 2022. At any rate, here's a look at some of the goodies left under my holiday tree by various supernatural beings.

 

 We'll start off with these awesome gift tags that Mrs Dex found. Perfect for me!

 

 Sadly, this art print from Spooky Cat Press isn't a full comic magazine!

 

 Speaking of Krampus, here's a weird plush from the Pinhead Monsters line.

 

 Throwing this in here because it's on theme. This was a gift to myself after we saw the author, Jeff Belanger, do his "The Fright Before Christmas" show. It's just him and some slides talking about the origin of Christmas as a holiday in addition to all the weird dark folklore from different countries. Can't recommend this enough if you want to dive into the darker side of winter traditions.

 

 A great set of figures from Disney's Haunted Mansion. All the most popular characters are here and I found it interesting that they picked the mummy to round out the set.

 

 And to go with them, a Disney Racers Haunted Mansion Hot Rod! Love the details on this: Mdme. Leota's headstone on the front and the pipe organ in the back.

 

 The Indy Temple Trekker is sporting the famous hat and whip. The vehicle is based on the design used for the ride vehicle from the Disneyland attraction.

 

 While we're talking Disney, Mrs Dex got me this very cool Tron: Ares light up popcorn...bucket? container? It's pretty sizeable at just over a foot tall!

 

I was very excited to unwrap this Funko of one of my favorite Muppets: Pepe the King Prawn. There's not enough Pepe merch out there! And he's flocked!

 

 Rounding things out with a pair of Star Wars card games. This Solo Solitaire game comes in a tin that looks like Han in carbonite. It's basic "Patience" solitaire with a themed deck of cards. There's a Jedi Master mode where you add two additional cards: Carbon Freeze which "freezes" the lane when it reveals, preventing you from playing or moving cards there, until you play Save Solo on it to remove it.

 

 Finally is the Stay on Target card game, which I really wanted because it comes in that cool Death Star! Each player takes a squadron color and battles their way through Imperial defenses to take a shot at that exhaust port to score victory points.

Monthly Media Recap - December 2025

 Well, here we are at the end of another year. This was probably my lightest month for movies since I started keeping track. I was up for watching some so bad it's good holiday horror and ended up with a lot of coal in my stocking.I have no one to blame but myself as I rarely watch trailers to see what I'm in for.

 

  

Series

 

IT: Welcome to Derry (HBO Max)

I'm a King fan but only know IT from its film incarnations. The series started out a little shaky but quickly gained its footing. The kid actors are all great and their performances make each one endearing. Pennywise may not be in every episode (which is good!) but when he does show up, things are bound to get horrific and/or bloody.

 

The Creep Tapes (S2, Shudder)

On one hand, sometimes less is better. Seeing this much of "Peachfuzz" takes a little away from the films. On the other hand, watching Mark Duplass perform this role in all its unhinged craziness is a delight.

 

Movies 

 

 

Twas the Night (2023, Tubi)

I honestly couldn't tell you what this is about other than it's a holiday themed anthology. There's a wraparound story to supposedly tie everything together but like most of the rest of the movie, it fails to do what they want it to. I feel like the folks that made this had an idea in their heads that just didn't make it to the screen. For some reason, people in Purgatory are judged by Krampus?

 

Rating: 2/10 

 

 

I Trapped the Devil (2019)

It's a slow burn that could have used a little more fuel for the fire. There's a lot of atmosphere in the way it's shot and the actors are very good but I feel like it would be better as a 30 or 60 minute episode of the Twilight Zone or something similar.

 

Rating: 4/10

 

 

Krampus vs Vikings aka Pagan Warrior (2019, Tubi and YouTube) 

Hey, we have a Krampus costume and access to a castle, let's make a movie around that! Low budget, bland actors, laughable stage combat, and typos in the text opening aside, the biggest crime committed here is that Krampus is summoned by witches to help a Saxon get revenge on Viking invaders. That's not how Krampus works! There was at least one scene where the horns on his head were noticeably askew. 

 

Rating: 3/10

 

I remembered the Blumhouse "Into the Dark" Hulu series of holiday horror movies so decided to try my luck in that neck of the woods...

 

 

New Year, New You (2018, Hulu) 

I'm sure there's an audience for the type of movie this is, but I'm not it. I found it hard to get invested in most of the cast. It doesn't get off the ground for me until the second half and then it's a lot of chasing around in a dark house where I was never quite sure of the layout which made it difficult to keep track of what was happening where.

 

Rating: 4/10 

  

 

A Nasty Piece of Work (2019, Hulu)

At least I ended the year with a winner! This thing has more twists than a multi-story parking garage ramp, you know the corkscrew ones? Julian Sands (channeling his best David Warner) and Molly Hagan are wonderful as a rich couple with an epic love/hate relationship. How far would you go to get that promotion?

 

Rating: 8/10 

 

Letterboxd tells me I logged 93 movies this year but my on going total only shows 92. I wonder what I forgot to post about?

 

 

This Month

New: 5   Rewatch: 0

Year to Date

New: 82   Rewatch: 10