Home : The Retro Network

Building a Universe: The Story of Valiant Comics in the 90s

Valiant Comics rose in the 90s with strong characters, tight continuity, and a universe that felt fresh and connected, becoming one of the decade’s most exciting and enduring comic book success stories.

Tales of the Gold Monkey: Looking Back at TV’s Forgotten Pulp Adventure Gem

Tales of the Gold Monkey brought classic pulp adventure to early 80s TV, mixing seaplanes, spies, and South Pacific mystery into a single season that still feels like a hidden treasure.

Atari: The Rise and Fall of the Company That Built Home Gaming

Atari built the home video game industry from the ground up, rose to unprecedented dominance, and then collapsed under market saturation, corporate missteps, and shifting competition, leaving a legacy that continues to shape modern gaming.

The Top Ten Moms in Television History

TV moms have always been the heart of the shows we love, offering comfort, chaos, wisdom, and warmth in every era. This list celebrates the unforgettable women who helped raise us from the living room couch.

How TaleSpin Blended Pulp Adventure With 90s Style

TaleSpin turned weekday afternoons into sky‑high adventures, sending kids soaring through Cape Suzette with Baloo, Kit, and the Sea Duck in a world where danger, humor, and pure imagination filled the skies.

When Nintendo Cereal Conquered the Breakfast Table

Nintendo Cereal turned breakfast into an adventure, splitting one box into two colorful worlds and giving late‑80s kids the thrill of starting their day with Mario, Link, and a bowl full of pure imagination.

The Retro Resurgence Podcast – Episode 40 | The ABC’s of Wrestling Show

Reach for Episode Number 40, and turn it up! The guys are back in this early May of 2026 release. It’s the Great ABC of Wrestling Show- a format they used once before with Toy

Racing Through Childhood: The Rise of Slot Car Tracks

Slot car racing turned living rooms into speedways, evolving from simple electric loops to wild themed sets that defined childhood play from the late seventies through the nineties and fueled imaginations for generations.

RIP Ted Turner: A Life of Bold Ideas and Big Impact

Ted Turner’s legacy stretches from Braves championships to the birth of 24‑hour news, a life spent reshaping how America watches, cheers, and connects. TRN reflects on his impact and honors a visionary who changed the media world forever.

The Wizard Files: Deanna Destito

Managing Editor of Comics Beat and co-host of Comic Book School on YouTube, Deanna Destito joins us to talk about her early days as an intern for Wizard magazine. Hear stories about interviewing Stan Lee,

Caped Crusader Classics: Essential Batman Stories for All Readers

Batman, the Caped Crusader is one of my favorite superheroes of all time. He fluctuates between the number one and number two spot with Wolverine depending on my mood. If you told me I could

Footage from the 1990 Nintendo World Championships

The Nintendo World Championships in 1990 was the first nationwide video game competition hosted by Nintendo. Throughout the year, the tournament visited 30 cities in America and gave players a chance to compete for a

The History of McDonald’s Shamrock Shake

McDonald’s Shamrock Shake had a unique beginning. Football teams, hospitals, and more combine to give this iconic shake it’s humble beginnings.

8 Movies Adapted From Shakespeare’s Plays

Many English teachers or instructors might have a sculpted bust of William Shakespeare, but I’ve always liked the feel of plush toys. I call the fellow seen above “Squishy Bill”. I particularly like his velvety

Our Favorite Old School Music Videos

Welcome back to another TRN Round Table. It’s where we get together and share our thoughts on the same subject. Earlier this week, the latest episode of the TRN Podcast featured Jason, Mickey, and Eric

How Pulp Fiction Changed the Way We Watch Movies

Pulp Fiction hit the nineties like a shockwave, blending sharp dialogue, bold style, and unforgettable characters into a film that didn’t just entertain but completely rewired how audiences thought movies could work.

Bottom Feeder: How T-Ray from the Tigersharks Failed to Become a Legendary 80s Villain

In the vast catalog of 80s animated villains, you’re bound to find bad guys better than others. Some are cooler than others, some are richer or more powerful, smarter or funnier. The differences could be

When Pat Sajak Took a Swing at Late‑Night TV

Pat Sajak’s late‑night experiment didn’t last long, but for a moment it offered a gentler, friendlier alternative in a crowded era of television giants and became a small, charming footnote in late‑night history.

The 5 Biggest Shifts Driving Innovationin Gaming Right Now

Gaming is evolving faster than ever. What we’re seeing isn’t just incremental updates. It’s a complete overhaul of how we think about interactive entertainment. I’ve been watching these shifts unfold, and honestly, some of them

The Birth of a Universe: Star Wars and Its Endless Impact

Star Wars didn’t just debut in 1977. It exploded, sending kids back to theaters again and again and launching a pop‑culture universe of toys, books, sequels, and memories that never stopped growing.

Fascinating Facts About Mr. T

One of our favorite pop culture icons of the ’80s is Mr. T. The man has done a lot in his life, and we celebrate that by bringing you 12 things you may not know about him.

Fascinating Facts About Mr. Wizard

Long before Bill Nye donned a bow tie or the MythBusters blew things up for science, there was Don Herbert, better known as Mr. Wizard, the calm, curious, and endlessly inventive host who brought science

Remembering Daffy Duck’s Quackbusters

We didn’t have a Blockbuster in my town until I was in high school, and until then, there were only two other ways to get a movie that you didn’t buy at the mall. You

Ben Cooper Halloween Costumes from the ’80s (and late ’70s)

Most of us who grew up during the ’70s and ’80s very likely have had the experience of wearing a Ben Cooper Halloween costume. You might not necessarily know them by the brand name, but

Angels With Filthy Souls: Home Alone’s Fake Gangster Movie

For many years, I never really considered Home Alone a Christmas movie. Of course, it takes place on Christmas and has nearly everything to do with the spirit of Christmas, but for whatever reason, my

The Televangelist, the Theme Park, and the Scandal That Ended It All

PTL rose like a television empire, built on big dreams and bigger promises, but the scandals that followed brought Heritage USA crashing down and ended one of the most unforgettable chapters in televangelist history.

The High‑Adventure Legacy of Jonny Quest

Jonny Quest burst onto TV in 1964 with globe‑trotting danger, bold design, and stories that treated kids like they were ready for real adventure, not just Saturday‑morning silliness.

Wide World of Toys | Episode 5 – Five Underrated Toy Lines of the 1980’s

Episode 5 of The Wide World of Toys Podcast is here! Join host Ken, as he travels through the 80s and dives into 5 toylines that didn’t quite reach top of the mountain status, but

How Retro Gaming Culture Still Influences Today

Rapid advancements in graphics and technology. Innovative gameplay mechanics. More choice than ever before. Despite these aspects, retro gaming continues to hold a strong influence over modern entertainment. From pixel art visuals to arcade-inspired mechanics,

Jolt Cola: A High‑Caffeine Icon of the 80s

Jolt Cola hit the 80s with a caffeine‑charged punch, becoming a cult favorite before shifting tastes and fierce competition pushed the once‑wild soda off store shelves.

Super ’70s

Awesome ’80s

Nostalgic ’90s