WIN A TRIP TO ANTARCTICA

Today through the end of the month, join National Geographic in celebrating the beauty and wonder of ourHOME with a chance to win an expedition to the southernmost continent. Experience the rugged beauty of this frozen landmass firsthand, alongside a team of experts eager to share their passion for this region of the world. Enter the sweepstakes once daily at natgeo.com/ourhomesweepstakes from April 15-30, 2025.*

The prize includes the following: 

•  One 12-day expedition cruise aboard the National Geographic Resolution or National Geographic Endurance to Antarctica for two (double occupancy); 
• Round-trip coach airfare and transfers upon arrival and departure; 
• All meals as indicated in the itinerary; 
• Daily activities and excursions as indicated by the itinerary, including kayaking or boating near icebergs, encountering wildlife, and visiting hard-to-reach places; 
• Access to biologists, geologists and undersea specialists to learn about wildlife throughout the trip.

The sweepstakes is part of the wider ourHOME campaign that The Walt Disney Company and National Geographic announced on April 1, spotlighting global efforts that help protect, restore and celebrate our shared home, and highlighting Disney and National Geographic’s shared legacy of storytelling that inspires a deeper connection to the natural world.

The sweepstakes is part of the wider ourHOME campaign that The Walt Disney Company and National Geographic announced on April 1, spotlighting global efforts that help protect, restore and celebrate our shared home, and highlighting Disney and National Geographic’s shared legacy of storytelling that inspires a deeper connection to the natural world.

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Enter Sweepstakes between 4/15/25 at 12:00 p.m. EDT and 4/30/25 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C., who are 18+ at time of entry. Limit one entry per person per day. Visit https://www.nationalgeographic.com/ourhomesweepstakes/ for full details on how to enter, eligibility requirements, odds of winning, prize description and limitations. Void where prohibited. Sponsor: National Geographic Partners, LLC., 1145 17th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20036.

DARKWATER VIDEO GAME

I normally don't write about PC gaming because my family mostly plays video games on Nintendo Switch, but there is one coming out from Playstack and Targon Studios that has me GEEKED! Darkwater is a cooperative extraction horror game for 1-4 players about a submarine trapped under the ice of an alien planet. It launches April 22nd on Steam.

Assemble an elite team of up to four submariners as you attempt to survive the icy depths of an alien planet. A mysterious disease has left the surface colonies ravaged and the government has frozen the ocean in response. Trapped below a sheet of thick ice you and your co-op crew must contend with all manner of adversity as you scavenge for precious fuel. Do what it takes to survive.

Engage in naval warfare with enemy submarines and tactically manage a variety of on-board systems as you attempt to gain the upper hand and sink your opponent. Upgrade and customize your submarine in real-time by adding new weapons, tools and rooms including:  

• A range of powerful torpedoes 
•  Harpoons 
•  Decoy mines 
•  Depth charges 
•  Sonar upgrades 

If your crew wants to survive, you’ll have to scavenge for all the fuel and credits you can carry. Dock your submarine to randomly generated deep-sea dungeons and face down what lurks below on foot. Infected divers lurk the halls of long-abandoned underwater hospitals waiting to strike, while alien creatures nest in forgotten factories. Each adversary responds to your presence in unique and unpredictable ways, so always keep your wits about you.

The combination of sci-fi and horror elements with a Fallout style aesthetic has piqued my interest. I also like that the cooperative play elements of the game where you need to work with other players instead of competing against them to beat the game. I just wish the game was on Switch! 

DARTH VADER TAMAGOTCHI

As May the Fourth approaches here is an entertaining way to have some Star Wars fun that you can carry around with you to enjoy throughout that special day. Star Wars Darth Vader Tamagotchi Nano is a pocket-sized game device which puts Darth Vader in the palm of your hand. Play out Anakin Skywalker’s transformation to the Dark Side! Available now on amazon.com

Yes, you get to guide his path. Depending on how you care for him, one of 10 character outcomes will be revealed. Train with a lightsaber, duel enemies, and catch iconic scenes from the films each hour. Plus, it comes with a removable silicone Darth Vader helmet case to store it!

Key aspects of Star Wars Darth Vader Tamagotchi Nano are:

• Your interactions with Anakin determine which light side or dark side characters you encounter in the game;
•  Train with the lightsaber or duel with an enemy;
• See 12 special scenes from the Star Wars franchise periodically appear on the screen;
•  Play 5 Mini Games: The LETTER CATCH: “STAR WARS”, LIGHTSABER TRAINING, TRENCH RUN, DUEL OBI-WAN KENOBI, and BATTLE WITH LUKE SKYWALKER 

Tamagotchi are a brand of digital pets from Bandai. Your pet's well-being and development depend on the care you provide it by interacting with a portable gaming device that the digital creature is housed on. Bandai has adopted this format to a template meant to delight Star Wars fans by interacting with a character from the franchise. In this case, your interactions impact Anakin Skywalker's transformation into Darth Vader. Is this a toy you'd be geeked about?

The Star Wars Darth Vader Tamagotchi Nano is recommend for ages 8+. It utilizes two LR44 batteries that are included. The Darth Vader Tamagotchi device hangs on an included chain and also comes with silicon storage case in the shape of the Dark Lord of the Sith's iconic helmet.

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OVERPOWER CARD GAME MAKING A COMEBACK

OVERPOWER a collectible card game originally produced by Fleer Corporation featuring characters from DC and Marvel comic books that was popular in the 1990s is making a comeback with new ownership and a licensing agreement with Skybound Entertainment to feature content from Invincible and The Walking Dead. Lazarus Rising Games (LRG) is bringing the game back from the dead utilizing the same superhero theming of the game but departing from its past Marvel and DC connections.

OverPower is a two-player tabletop game in which each contestant utilizes a deck of cards which includes four representing characters to serve as a team doing battle with your opponent. The rest of deck consists of fifty-one cards representing offensive and defensive actions that can be taken by a player's characters. Each player also chooses a set of 7 mission cards, that represent their team's goals. Each player also selects a homebase or battle site to serve as an arena space. The goal of the game is to either eliminate all of your opponent's heroes or be the first to complete all 7 mission cards. 

Skybound inclusion within OverPower game starts in 2026 featuring characters from Invincible and The Walking Dead. The roster joining OverPower’s decks will include Invincible characters Omni-Man, Atom Eve and Battle Beast, as well as The Walking Dead fan favorites Rick Grimes, Michonne, Negan and Maggie. 

Keep an eye out this summer as rebirth of the OverPower card game arrives at retailers this Spring and Summer. The 2025 release of the game will start off featuring characters from Top Cow Productions, Inc. and Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. which will include Top Cow’s Witchblade, Darkness and Cyberforce, as well as Burroughs’ iconic Tarzan of the Apes® and John Carter of Mars®. These characters will be joined by content from the Skybound licensing agreement in 2026. OverPower cards will feature original artwork from some of today's best comic book artists including Jae Lee, Jim Cheung, Raymond Gay, Phillip Tan, and William Santos.

Are you geeked about OverPower making a comeback? 

DIRECTORS CUT OF KINGDOM OF HEAVEN BEING RELEASED IN 4K

The grit and drama of Ridley Scott’s epic Kingdom of Heaven makes history come alive again when it plays out in a Directors Cut edition being released in 4K high definition. The Kingdom of Heaven Directors Cut will be available from digital retailers (Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Fandango at Home) and on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc on May 27, 2025. This marks the 20th anniversary of the film's theatrical release. Originally released in 2005, Kingdom of Heaven is one of Scott’s most revered creative endeavors, having crafted a world rich in history, adventure, and visual splendor in which to tell an epic tale.

Ridley Scott crafted a passionate and perilous tale of the Crusades that has made its mark on audiences for decades, but never before has it been shown in such high-definition sight and sound, deepening the experience for longtime fans and a new generation alike. Orlando Bloom stars as the courageous Balian, a young Frenchman in medieval Jerusalem during the Crusades. Having lost everything, Balian finds redemption through a heroic fight — against overwhelming forces — to save his people and fulfill his destiny as a knight.

The 20th Anniversary Blu-ray disc release of Kingdom of Heaven is a three-disc set encased in a collectible SteelBook® that honors the remarkable weaponry and masks featured in the film. Behind the scenes footage includes a look at the creation of spectacular visual effects, a retrospective of world premiere excitement, deleted scenes and insightful filmmaker reflections so that fans can appreciate and remember it as the brave and beautiful film Ridley Scott intended it to be.

TWILIGHT IN CONCERT NATIONAL TOUR COMING TO DETROIT

Coming to Detroit in November will be a showing of the film Twilight accompanied by a 12-piece orchestral ensemble that will perform the movie's score live for audiences at the Fisher Theatre. Detroit is one of 60 cities that will be hosting a performance of the Twilight in Concert tour. Tickets go on sale today at broadwayindetroit.com.

Set in an enchanting candlelit setting, Twilight In Concert offers a unique opportunity for audiences to relive the film that started it all in a cinematic live-to-film experience with a sensational live band. Musicians will take the stage to perform the beloved film score in perfect synchronization with the original movie, presented in its entirety on a massive cinema screen. Audiences will be completely captivated by the magical atmosphere with more than one thousand twinkling candles illuminating the grand stage, creating an ambiance that sets the tone for a truly romantic evening.

The Twilight Saga is one of the most successful young adult film franchises of all time. The five films (Twilight, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Parts 1 & 2) have grossed more than $3.3 billion at the worldwide box office. The films were adapted from “Twilight” creator Stephenie Meyer’s acclaimed series of books that won multiple awards, sold over 160 million copies worldwide and were translated into 49 different languages. Lionsgate’s TV adaptation of Stephenie Meyer’s novel “Midnight Sun” has been picked up to series at Netflix.

As the Twilight film adaption of Stephenie Meyer's novel celebrates its 20th anniversary, the Twilight in Concert experience featuring the original movie accompanied by rock and orchestral musicians on stage will transport audiences on a journey deep into the heart of this romantic story. Whether you’re Team Edward, Team Jacob, or Team Bella, Twilight In Concert promises an unforgettable evening for fans of the beloved The Twilight Saga film franchise -- and music enthusiasts alike.

THE ESSENTIAL PEANUTS: THE GREATEST COMIC STRIP OF ALL TIME

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the publishing of Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts comic strip, Abrams ComicArts is publishing a commemorative coffee table book honoring its legacy. Award-winning comics writer and historian Mark Evanier examines the cultural and historical context of Schulz's work through the viewing of reprints of some of the most iconic Peanuts strips to be published in newspapers. THE ESSENTIAL PEANUTS: THE GREATEST COMIC STRIP OF ALL TIME will also feature an introduction by MUTTS creator Patrick McDonnell, a foreword by Jean Schulz, design by Chip Kidd, and a portfolio of collectible Peanuts ephemera that includes: 

• 8 ready-to-frame prints 
• 5 vinyl stickers
•  8 postcards 
• Iron-on patch 
• Full-color comic book and more!

The book is being released on October 7, 2025 but you can preorder it now on Amazon.com. Timed for its 75th anniversary, The Essential Peanuts underscores how and why the comic strip transcends cultural, generational, and linguistic barriers to remain relevant and beloved. By exploring the creative ambition of Charles M. Schulz, his wry commentary on childhood struggles and triumphs, and his enduring influence on art, literature, and everyday life, Evanier not only celebrates an incomparable legacy but also reveals the universal appeal at the heart of Peanuts.

In addition to comic strip reprints and text by Evanier, The Essential Peanuts includes commentary and contributions from Robb Armstrong (Franklin), Derrick Bang (Vince Guaraldi and A Charlie Brown Christmas), Rob Boutilier (The Snoopy Show), Paige Braddock (Schulz’s pen line), Alberto Brambilla (Peanuts in Italy), Benjamin L. Clark (Peanuts paperbacks), Alexis E. Fajardo (selecting the Essential Peanuts), Ben Folds (the sound of Peanuts), Sarah Gillespie (editing Schulz), Chip Kidd (design of Peanuts), Amy Lago (editing Schulz), Mike Massimino (Snoopy and Apollo 10), Akio Matsunaga (Peanuts in Japan), Jeff Morrow (scoring Peanuts), Hilary B. Price (Peppermint Patty and Marcie), and Shuntarō Tanikawa (Poet laureate and translator of Peanuts in Japan).

Since the first Peanuts strip made its debut on October 2, 1950, it has made a lasting impression on the world. From the introduction of Franklin (the first Black character in a major syndicated newspaper strip) to holiday special viewing that has become family traditions to a modern-day animated movie that created a new generation of Snoopy fans, Peanuts has had a lasting influence that few works of art or literature can claim. The loveable loser Charlie Brown, had adventurous canine companion Snoopy, and their gang of neighborhood school buddies are truly beloved.

“Not many cartoons live into the next generation, and that probably is the best definition of art, isn’t it? Does it speak to succeeding generations? Real art, real music, real literature, speaks to succeeding generations.” –Charles M. Schulz

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