Dungeons & Dragons Archives : The Retro Network

Penguin Random House Announces Massive Dungeons & Dragons Encyclopedia for 2026

A sweeping new Dungeons & Dragons Encyclopedia arrives this fall, gathering decades of realms, monsters, and legends into one definitive 320‑page volume crafted by some of the game’s most trusted historians.

Time Capsule: 1981 TSR Gateway To Adventure Catalog

The Retro Network

Go back to the golden age of role-playing and table-top gaming and browse through this TSR catalog from the early ’80s!

What Makes a Sidekick?

Brian Cave

The word sidekick is different in cartoons than it is in comics. Sidekicks in comics tend to be characters who act as younger versions of the main character, like Robin to Batman or Speedy to

History of The Satanic Panic

Karen Flieger

Before I get into the chronology of what got us from the 1960’s counter culture to the book, toy, and music bans of the 1980’s and 1990’s. I wanted to put into context why I

Check Out Those Ads! – Spelljammer #15

Pitfall Gary

Spelljammer isn’t my favorite Dungeons & Dragons setting. In fact it’s near the bottom of my list. I don’t know what it is about the setting but I never enjoyed playing it. I wasn’t opposed

Check Out Those Ads! – The Web #1

Pitfall Gary

In 1991 DC resurrected a group of Archie characters from the 1940’s for their Impact Comics imprint. It all started in July 1991 with Legend of the Shield and The Comet. In August The Jaguar

Check Out Those Ads! – Sleepwalker #1

Pitfall Gary

The late 80’s and early 90’s were a blockbuster time for comic books. Massive crossover events, tons of variant covers and lots of new titles coming to the market. In 1991 there were so many

Check Out Those Ads! – Armageddon 2001 #1

Pitfall Gary

Armageddon 2001 was a big crossover event held in the summer of 1991. The story line for Armageddon 2001 is interesting. It starts in 2030 with a tyrant superhero, named Monarch ruling the world with

Check Out Those Ads! – The Deadly Foes of Spider-Man #1

Pitfall Gary

The Deadly Foes of Spider-Man is a four issue limited series focusing on the Sinister Syndicate, a lesser-known group of villains. The group of villains consisted of Beetle, the leader of the group, Boomerang, Hydro-Man,

Top ’80s Cartoons that Deserve a Movie

Brian Cave

Last time, I wrote a post about Top ’80s Cartoons That Deserve a Reboot. Ever since then, I’ve been planning to write a second post about the cartoons that deserve a revival but would fit

Check Out Those Ads! – What If… #24

Pitfall Gary

What If… is a comic book anthology series published by Marvel starting in 1977. The series ran on and off for over 40 years. What If… explored stories in the Marvel universe if key events

Check Out Those Ads! – Spectacular Spider-Man #64

Pitfall Gary

Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man #64: Cloak and Dagger This year March has five Wednesdays, so we get a bonus issue of comic book ads! For the bonus issue I’ve reached a little farther back

Check Out Those Ads! – Darkhawk #1

Pitfall Gary

Dawn of the Darkhawk March is the start of spring, rebirth, new life. Thirty years ago in March 1991 Marvel brought to life a new superhero, Darkhawk. Darkhawk was an interesting comic I enjoyed reading.