Babylon 5 on YouTube

The future of Doctor Who and Star Trek may be in flux, but renewed interest in Babylon 5 could be our last, best hope for a classic sci-fi series on streaming services following the cancellation of Stargate.

Warner Bros. Discovery has launched an official YouTube channel featuring classic episodes from J. Michael Straczynski's sprawling space saga.



Read the official description:

"You’ve arrived at Babylon 5, the last, best hope for peace. A neutral station standing at the crossroads of galactic powers, where ambassadors, soldiers, traders, and dreamers all have a stake in the future.

Here you’ll find stories of destiny and choice, of politics and prophecy, of wars fought in shadows and victories won through understanding. This channel is a gathering place for the history, ideas, and moments that made Babylon 5 one of science fiction’s most enduring legacies.

Whether you’re a longtime citizen of the station or arriving through the jump gate for the first time, you’re welcome here."

Straczynski introduced the new channel, promising it would feature original commentaries, interviews, chats, and additional material in the coming months.

As I've written previously, the sci-fi series will always be synonymous with undergraduate study. SeaQuest DSV and Babylon 5 both utilised Amiga Video Toasters and were the subject of lively debate in computer animation studies. George Lucas' Star Wars prequels were still a few years away, non-linear media production was still in its infancy and prohibitively expensive for the homebrew crowd (myself included) before Steve Jobs returned to Apple, democratising the industry with the iMac and iPhone.

Babylon 5 was originally shown on Channel 4 in the UK, running for 5 seasons between 1993 and 1997. Straczynski's sci-fi opus, a galaxy-spanning retelling of The Lord of the Rings, quickly became a touchstone in the space opera firmament. There were countless carshare and water-cooler conversations with fellow fans when I was hired as an online journalist at Reuters following graduation 30 years ago.

Could Warner Bros. Discovery be testing the cosmic waters to garner reaction from fans (myself included)? There have been premature announcements of a reboot with Straczynski back at the helm on The CW.

What are your memories of watching Babylon 5? Let me know in the comments below.

Dungeons & Dragons x Star Wars

Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is a gateway into role-playing games (RPG) for generations of fantasy fans (myself included)!

The first time I became aware of TSR's tabletop franchise (not namechecked) was in Steven Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Subsequently, Marvel Comics' D&D animated series became an afterschool staple, and my parents bought me licensed LJN action figures, which were soon integrated into Masters of the Universe and Star Wars toy stories.

Netflix's Stranger Things introduced a new generation to D&D.

Star Wars celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2027, and Hasbro's Wizards of the Coast has announced a collaboration during the D&D Vision Keynote at Gen Con!

Season of Rebellion.

"We want to let our community know that D&D Universes Beyond is additive to the incredible roadmap we have for our own worlds. We have been staffing up to support this initiative and look forward to what the future holds."

As a fan of both franchises, I'm intrigued and am envisaging Magic: The Gathering Star Wars action figures on Hasbro Pulse!

Are you looking forward to the Dungeons & Dragons | Star Wars collaboration? Let me know in the comments below.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Is superhero fatigue a thing, or can Spidey swing above it? Matt, Harry and Luke Charlton find out in Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

Guest post by the Charltons

Are you Spider-Man? Or are you Peter Parker?

This is the question that our hero is faced with throughout the latest movie from Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures - with the latter hoping that the webhead carries on bringing in those dollars after every other attempt to bring a Spider-Man villain to the big screen without Spidey has failed miserably and is often lambasted for being ‘that bad’ - especially by the people who star in them.

We won’t mention Morbius; suffice to say we know that Jared Leto (Tron: Ares) is very capable in Masters of the Universe, but every single attempt by Sony to do anything with the Spider-Verse that doesn’t involve Spider-Man is terrible. It is known.

This will be a spoiler-free review for the most part - but if you want to stay completely away from anything going on until you’ve seen the movie, step away now.

We, of course, will not speculate nor confirm who Sadie Sink (Stranger Things) is playing in this movie.

She is in the movie. That’s all you’re getting. Oh, and there’s no Kate Bush.

The movie picks up after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, with Peter Parker (Tom Holland) being pretty much truly alone in the universe. Nobody knows who Peter is, but everyone knows Spider-Man and his reputation has never been better. Everyone loves him. It’s great.

If you’ve seen the trailers, you’ll have seen The Punisher (Jon Bernthal) features, as does Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) (and maybe even a little Hulk - and maybe even a big Hulk?).

I’ve seen a few early reviews that say bad things, but I think they were going to the shock jock angle. People saying it was emotionless and messy. I disagree, and at the moment the critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes is 91%, which is fair.

I’ve also seen people asking if we need a 4th Spider-Man film, and the answer is yes, we do, and more, please.

This movie is an emotional rollercoaster, and it will make you feel things, and feel things again. It covers topics of grief, of loneliness, of loss and of losing hope. But it also talks about finding hope and helping others, too.

There are many lessons, multiple layers and many laughs. The stakes are high; anything could happen, and you truly feel your heart leave your chest at multiple parts.

As always these days, I travelled to the cinema with Harry (15) and Luke (10), both big Spider-Man fans and again as a dad, I can’t tell you how much love I feel in my heart that I can share these moments with them. Seeing their faces light up with joy, seeing the shock and awe. You can’t beat it.

The cinema was the fullest it's been on any of our trips, given it was the first UK showing at 5:30pm on release day - and we get it two days before the USA, too. The people sat beside me sadly could not stay off their phones or stop talking all the way through - why people are happy to pay upwards of £70 with tickets, snacks and drinks and sit there like it is their living room, I have no idea - or maybe that’s just what it was, feeling they paid enough so they could do what they wanted?

The dynamics between Spider-Man and The Punisher are great. There’s a lot of quips, attitude and history there, and you get a feeling they’ve worked together quite closely in the past.

We see Peter go through a lot of changes in this movie, both physically and emotionally, and we also see him evolve in many other ways.

It’s fun to see how right or wrong people were about characters being photoshopped out of certain scenes in trailers, AKA Peter 2 and Peter 3 in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

There is a post-credits scene, just a single one - which doesn’t give much away but, as always with Marvel, it’s worth hanging around for, and shaking your head at the people who leave immediately - who even does that?

Some questions that you might have...

Will Spidey make it through the movie in one piece?
Does Venom eat lunch at Delmars?
Do we see Thor and the Avengers robbing ATMs again?
Do we see Man-Spider?
Does Ned turn into Hobgoblin?
Who is Sadie Sink playing?
Where else *do* those organic webs come out of?

For answers to these questions and more, book your tickets to see Spider-Man: Brand New Day... today!

Have you seen Spider-Man: Brand New Day? Let us know in the comments below.

The Mandalorian and Grogu at Steve Jobs Theater

Lucasfilm recently screened The Mandalorian and Grogu at Apple's Steve Jobs Theater.

Read the official description:

"Attendees were treated to a special screening of The Mandalorian and Grogu at Apple’s Steve Jobs Theater courtesy of Lucasfilm, Industrial Light & Magic, and Skywalker Sound. Before the screening, Senior Visual Effects Supervisor John Knoll joined Apple’s Alex Lindsay for a discussion about ILM’s legacy with Apple hardware and software and how the studio is developing new software and leveraging the latest Apple technology to streamline the filmmaking process. Watch the film at home on Digital now!"

Pre-order The Mandalorian and Grogu at Amazon (affiliate link).

Have you seen The Mandalorian and Grogu? Let me know in the comments below.

Star Wars Comics Library Volume 1

Marvel Comics' Star Wars Weekly was a staple of many Star Wars fans' (myself included) childhood. My earliest memory was borrowing a primary school friend's copy of Star Wars Weekly #2 featuring Tusken Raiders attacking Luke Skywalker on the cover!

TASCHEN has announced Star Wars Comics Library Volume 1 1977-1979!

The Greatest Space Fantasy of All!

The first journey into the Star Wars comic book universe

"In January 1976, as George Lucas prepared to shoot his new film, then titled The Star Wars, he asked Marvel Comics to publish a comic book for the film’s release. Marvel’s initial reluctance abated once they understood that Lucas was prepared to give the rights for free. Royalties would only be paid if the comic sold more than 100,000 copies.

Upon the movie’s release in May 1977, Marvel soon realised that they had a mega-hit on their hands. The first issues, scripted by Roy Thomas and drawn by Howard Chaykin, a young artist Lucas had spotted in the indie comic Star*Reach, sold over one million copies, four times the number of Marvel’s top superhero title: The Amazing Spider-Man. Hence, Star Wars became a monthly publication.

With no new film due to drop for at least a few years, and fans ravenous for more stories, Lucasfilm released several novels. But the only regular source of new material was the comic. It continued to outsell all Marvel’s other titles, thanks to the quality of the creators guiding the stories. Thomas and Chaykin were soon joined by writer Archie Goodwin and penciller Carmine Infantino, who took Luke, Han, Leia and Darth Vader all over the galaxy, exploring new worlds and introducing new characters.

The first 23 issues have now been digitally remastered to correct the original era’s inexpensive, imperfect printing, while still capturing the spirit and texture of the comics' historic first release, and collected in an XXL-sized edition: bigger even than a Death Star. This truly out-of-this-world collection includes an in-depth history by comic book historian Peter Sanderson."

Pre-order Star Wars Comics Library Volume 1 1977-1979 at Amazon (affiliate link).

Are you looking forward to Star Wars Comics Library Volume 1 1977-1979? Let me know in the comments below.

The Empire Strikes Back at the BFI IMAX

This August, Star Wars fans can see Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back at the BFI IMAX.

Read the official description:

"The Empire Strikes Back is not only one of the great film sequels of all time, it is the moment when George Lucas and Frank Oz introduced masterful Jedi knight Yoda into the Star Wars series. He takes young Luke Skywalker under his wing to teach him the ways of the Force. The resulting scenes between Hamill and Oz’s puppet are seamless and accomplished. Elsewhere, pioneering special effects are showcased to impressive effect, making for a perfect film in every measurable way."

The three screenings take place on Saturday 15th August, Friday 21st August and Monday 31st August.

Are you booking tickets to see Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back at the BFI IMAX? Let me know in the comments below.

Tomb Raider joins G.I. Joe at Comic-Con

Our friends at Hasbro have sent over details regarding G.I. Joe Classified Series Collaborative Lara Croft Tomb Raider at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC).

G.I. JOE CLASSIFIED SERIES RETRO CARDBACK COLLABORATIVE LARA CROFT TOMB RAIDER

(HASBRO | Ages 4 years & up | Approx. Retail Price: $44.99 | Pre-Order Thursday July 23 at 5 PM ET; Available Fall 2026)

G.I. Joe is a highly skilled, on-demand, special operations force of men and women from around the world. Lara Croft, the TOMB RAIDER, is a legendary truth seeker and adventurer whose globetrotting explorations have brought her fame and notoriety. It's only natural their paths would cross while exploring the jungles of Cobra Island in this amazing collaborative between Hasbro and Crystal Dynamics. New to the G.I. Joe Classified Series line, Lara Croft TOMB RAIDER comes ready for adventure, with multiple points of articulation for high poseability. This Lara Croft TOMB RAIDER figure contains 16 character-inspired accessory pieces including alternate head, 2 alt hands, 2 climbing axes, backpack, grappling hook with handle and rope, recurve bow and arrow, quiver, the Dagger of Xian with sheath, and dual weapon accessories; plus a removable bandolier.

Look for other G.I. Joe figures and toys to build your roster of heroic G.I. Joe’s and Cobra villains (Each sold separately. Subject to availability.).

Lara Croft is based on her appearance in the upcoming Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis video game coming to PlayStation 5 (PS5), XBOX Series S|X, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC on 12th February 2027. Tomb Raider: Catalyst, a sequel to Tomb Raider: Underworld, has been delayed until 2028.

Despite a premium price tag, Lara Croft quickly sold out on Hasbro Pulse and fan channels when she went up for pre-order. I managed to pre-order mine along with Action Man from Star Action Figures in the UK in time for Christmas.

Pre-order G.I. Joe Classified Series Collaborative Lara Croft Tomb Raider at Amazon (affiliate link).

Have you pre-ordered G.I. Joe Classified Series Collaborative Lara Croft Tomb Raider? What other collaborative crossovers would you like to see in the future? Let me know in the comments below.

LEGO celebrates 60 years of Star Trek

Today, the LEGO Group, in partnership with Paramount Products & Experiences, unveils the LEGO Icons Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 Bridge (11385), a 1,701-piece building set for adult fans. The model recreates two of the most recognisable locations from the original series Star Trek – the bridge and transporter room of the U.S.S. Enterprise.

Following the debut of the first ever LEGO Star Trek set, which recreated the iconic exterior of the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D from Star Trek: The Next Generation, the highly-anticipated new LEGO Icons Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 Bridge gives fans the opportunity to step inside the legendary starship from the original series for the very first time in LEGO form, with an impressive level of detail, interactive features and an all-star Starfleet crew.

The model focuses on the ship’s iconic bridge and transporter room, featuring computer stations, a viewscreen displaying a Klingon warrior, and a transporter platform for crew deployment. Once completed, the modular sections can be arranged into a display configuration.

Several interactive features that recreate familiar on-screen moments are included. Builders can rock the captain’s chair to simulate ship turbulence and battle sequences, turn a dial to activate the transporter and move crew between pads, and use a lever to open the turbo lift doors.

Eight brand-new minifigures represent the Starfleet crew: James T. Kirk, Spock, Nyota Uhura, Hikaru Sulu, Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy, Pavel Chekov, Christine Chapel and Montgomery “Scotty” Scott. It also includes four tribbles – the iconic, fluffy alien characters from Star Trek – along with accessories such as two Starfleet communicators, four phasers, Spock’s harp, two Vulcan Lirpas and a Trident Scanner. The Starfleet communicators are represented by a decorated 1×2 tile, while the phaser is an all-new LEGO element.

LEGO Icons Star Trek: U.S.S Enterprise NCC-1701 Bridge is available from LEGO AU, CA, UK and US (affiliate links).

Will you be adding LEGO Icons Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 Bridge to your collection? Let me know in the comments below.

LEGO Ideas The X-Files

The LEGO Group, in collaboration with Disney Entertainment, today unveils the LEGO Ideas The X-Files (21369) set, a 1,478-piece model that invites adult fans to celebrate the iconic ‘90s sci-fi drama.

To mark the reveal, Emmy Award-winning actor, Gillian Anderson, stars in a cinematic mini-film tribute to the beloved series. With a nod to FBI Special Agent Dana Scully, Anderson is drawn into an investigation that gradually leads her to uncover the LEGO set itself, piece by piece – bringing the world of The X-Files into brick-built form for the fans.



The LEGO Ideas The X-Files set recreates iconic moments from the series, centred on a detailed build of Fox Mulder’s office, paired with a forest clearing scene and a hovering UFO. The set includes 8 Minifigures: Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, Walter Skinner, Mr. X, Alex Krycek, Carl Busch, The Flukeman and a grey alien, allowing fans to recreate key investigations and encounters.

Anderson comments: “I didn’t expect to be stepping back into Scully’s heels to investigate a LEGO set… it has been so much fun revisiting that world all these years later. This set is a wonderful celebration of The X-Files, and the fans who have kept its mystery alive. The level of detail is brilliant - there are so many little nods that fans will absolutely recognise - and as a LEGO fan myself, I love that people can now quite literally build their own X-Files moments at home.”

LEGO Ideas The X-Files is available from LEGO AU, CA, UK and US (affiliate links).

Will you be adding LEGO Ideas The X-Files to your collection? Let me know in the comments below.

Masters of the Universe on Prime

Only a month or so after its release in cinemas, Masters of the Universe is coming home to Prime Video this Wednesday in time for San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC).

Read the official synopsis:

"After being separated for 15 years, the Sword of Power leads Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) back to Eternia, where he discovers his home shattered under the fiendish rule of Skeletor (Jared Leto). To save his family and his world, Adam must join forces with his closest allies, Teela (Camila Mendes) and Duncan/Man-At-Arms (Idris Elba), and embrace his true destiny as He-Man — the most powerful man in the universe."

Masters of the Universe is directed by Travis Knight (Bumblebee) from a script by Chris Butler. It stars Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam/He-Man, alongside Camila Mendes as Teela, Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn, Idris Elba as Man-At-Arms, Morena Baccarin as The Sorceress of Castle Grayskull, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson as Malcolm/Fisto, and Jared Leto as Skeletor.

Mattel launched Masters of the Universe with a toy line in 1982, followed by the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon from 1983-1985. The franchise now includes multiple animated series, toy lines, comics, video games, and books, along with a 1987 live-action film.

Only time will tell if the movie has enough of a second life on streaming to convince Amazon MGM Studios to take another journey to Eternia.

Masters of the Universe is streaming on Prime Video (affiliate link).

Are you looking forward to Masters of the Universe on Prime Video? Let me know in the comments below.