Week 3- 16th January 2026

 

In memoriam

Michael Henbury 25 November 1958 - 7 January 2026

Michael passed away recently after his battle with pancreatic cancer, and the news has left a real sadness across the fan community. He was a familiar and much‑loved presence at conventions thanks to his roles in Star Wars and Harry Potter, and he always carried himself with a kindness and humility that made every interaction feel special.

I was fortunate enough to share a stage with him in 2018 when I interviewed him at Drag‑Con. It remains one of my favourite convention memories. Michael was warm, generous with his time, and full of incredible behind‑the‑scenes stories. He had a sharp, playful sense of humour that instantly put people at ease, and he treated every fan — whether it was their first convention or their fiftieth — with genuine respect.

What stood out most was how much he enjoyed being part of these worlds. He never took the attention for granted, and he understood how much these stories meant to people. That sincerity made him a joy to work with and a joy to watch on stage.

His passing is a real loss, not just for the franchises he helped bring to life, but for the convention scene as a whole. He was one of those guests who made events feel brighter simply by being there.

My deepest condolences go out to his family, his friends, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. He will be missed, remembered, and celebrated by the countless fans whose lives he touched.

Con News

Monopoly Events:

Guest Announcements

For The Love Of Anime https://www.fortheloveofanimeuk.co.uk 

Liverpool Comic-Con HOME | Liverpool Comic Con | Comic Con UK 

For The Love Of Horror Horror Convention | For The Love Of Horror | Manchester

Ireland Comic-Con HOME | Comic Con Ireland

Scotland (Aberdeen) Comic-Con HOME | Comic Con Scotland Aberdeen

For The Love Of Wrestling HOME | For The Love Of Wrestling 

Kent Con:

Guest Announcements-Kent Comic Con 2026 - Phaser Events 

Showmasters

Guest Announcments: London Film & Comic-Con Spring: London Comic Con Spring - 28th Feb - 1st March 2026

People Con:  The Stranger Fan Meet Tour

Guest Announcement: The Stranger Fan Meet returns with 5 dates in 2026! ✨ – People Conventions  

EM-Con 

Guest Announcement: EM-Con - The biggest event in the East Midlands! - 13th & 14th June 2026 

Movie Review

Zootopia 2

Spoiler Alert – Loved It

After nearly ten years of waiting for this sequel, I’m happy to say it was worth every minute. The story picks up just a few weeks after the first film, with Judy and Nick pulled into a brand‑new case. This time, they team up with Gary De Snake, who’s determined to clear his family’s name, leading them into a mystery that stretches back a full century.

The returning characters are as strong as ever. Their relationships feel natural, warm, and completely believable. Fans of the original will enjoy the many callbacks and Easter eggs sprinkled throughout — they’re fun touches that never feel forced.

The story is engaging, funny, and full of heart. It’s easily one of the most enjoyable animated films to come out in a long time, and it’s something families of all ages can watch together. The new characters blend in seamlessly, and they grow on you quickly. Honestly, who would have guessed a snake would end up being the breakout character of the year?

The soundtrack is another highlight — catchy, uplifting, and perfectly matched to the tone of the film. It gives the whole experience a warm, feel‑good glow.

But the real standout remains the world‑building. Every detail of this universe is meticulously thought through, from how different species interact with technology to how the city accommodates animals of every size. It’s clever, imaginative, and endlessly fun to look at.

There’s even an after‑credits scene that hints at a possible third film. Hopefully we won’t be waiting another decade for it.

Verdict: 9/10.
A worthy sequel that may even surpass the original — repeat viewings will tell, but it’s certainly close.

Retro Review

Caddyshack

 

After watching the recent Chevy Chase documentary, I realised I hadn’t seen much of his earlier work. Since so many American films and sitcoms call Caddyshack one of the funniest movies of all time, it felt like the right place to start. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy it. I struggled to find the humour, and I’m still not entirely sure what the story was meant to be.

The plot loosely follows a caddy trying to earn a college scholarship, the club owner getting into a high‑stakes golf match with a prospective new member, and Bill Murray’s groundskeeper obsessively trying to kill a gopher. Chevy Chase is… sort of just there. The narrative feels more like an excuse to string together a series of sketches, showing the younger workers as cooler and more laid‑back than the stuffy older club members.

I recognise a lot of the lines that get quoted in pop culture, but without the context of nostalgia, they didn’t land for me. Maybe it’s a film you need to see when you’re younger, or maybe it’s simply a product of its time and comedy has moved on. Either way, it all felt surprisingly bland.

Bill Murray is oddly subdued for someone meant to be an unhinged groundskeeper blowing up the course. Chevy Chase doesn’t get much to work with, and none of his one‑liners or physical comedy shine through. Rodney Dangerfield seems to exist purely to fire off one‑liners, and the rest of the cast isn’t particularly memorable.

 

Verdict: 4/10. I can’t see why this is considered a classic, which is a shame — I genuinely wanted to enjoy it as much as so many others clearly do.

Tv Review

The Revenge CLub

This six‑episode mini‑series landed on Paramount+ a couple of weeks ago, and it centres on a support group for recently divorced people. What begins as a harmless attempt to help each other move on slowly spirals into something far darker, blending emotional recovery with manipulation, revenge, and eventually murder.

The early episodes keep things light, with the group plotting small, petty acts of revenge—scaring their exes, embarrassing them, or trying to reclaim a sense of power. But as the series progresses, those pranks escalate into something far more serious. The tone shifts into a full‑on mystery, turning the show into a “whodunnit” as bodies start dropping and trust within the group fractures.

One of the strengths of the series is its cast. They’re genuinely likeable, which makes the central mystery more engaging—you don’t want any of them to be the killer. The show plays with that tension well, throwing in red herrings, misdirection, and character moments that keep you guessing without feeling cheap.

Pacing is tight, too. At only six episodes, there’s no filler, and each instalment ends in a way that makes it very easy to hit “next episode” without hesitation. It’s the kind of binge‑friendly structure that works perfectly for a limited series.

I won’t spoil the ending, but the twists land, and the final reveal feels earned. It’s not groundbreaking television, but it’s consistently entertaining and keeps the mystery alive right up to the final moments.

Verdict: 7/10. A fun, twisty mini‑series that kept me guessing and never overstayed its welcome.

Toy Review

Age of the Primes – Beast Wars Quickstrike 

This latest figure marks only the second  rendition of Quickstrike since his original toy back in the 90s. He’s always been one of the more unique Beast Wars characters — a Fuzor combining a scorpion and a cobra, topped off with a loud, chaotic personality. Updating a design this distinctive is no small task, but this release does a strong job of modernising him while staying faithful to what made the character memorable.

 

Robot Mode

The original Quickstrike was already ahead of its time, with ball‑jointed articulation and a surprisingly expressive sculpt. Because of that, this new version doesn’t revolutionise the articulation, but it does refine it. The biggest improvements come from size, proportions, and paintwork.

  • He’s noticeably larger than the original toy, giving him more presence on the shelf.
  • The head sculpt is far more cartoon‑accurate, capturing the smirk and attitude fans remember from the show.
  • The colour palette leans heavily into the animation model, with a striking mix of greens and golds that really pop.

As with the original design, Quickstrike still lacks traditional hands, which limits posing options. It’s a faithful choice, but it does mean he’s not as dynamic as some of the other modern Beast Wars updates. Still, what he can do looks good, and the silhouette is unmistakably him.

 

Beast Mode

This is where the Fuzor concept really shines. Quickstrike’s beast mode blends the scorpion body with a cobra‑headed tail, and this figure embraces that hybrid design beautifully.

  • The cobra head can open and close its mouth, and there’s even a port inside for blast effects — a clever nod to the original toy’s water‑spitting gimmick.
  • While the water feature is gone, the blast‑effect option is a fun modern substitute.
  • The new cobra sculpt is much more cartoon‑accurate, and although the mouthpiece doesn’t articulate, the head itself has a full range of motion — a huge improvement over the static 90s version.

The scorpion legs remain fixed in place, just like the original. It’s a slight disappointment, as some articulation there would have elevated the beast mode even further, but visually it still looks fantastic.

 

Verdict 8/10.
A strong, long‑overdue update to a fan‑favourite Predacon. Quickstrike finally gets the modern treatment he deserves, and with only a few core characters left to complete the Beast Wars Predacon lineup, this figure feels like another big step toward finishing the crew.

View log 

9th-16th January 

New Movies Watched : Caddyshack, Five Nights at Freddie's 2, Bring her back, The Toxic Avenger, The Black Phone 2, The Life of Chuck, Borderline, Psycho/ Therapy

Rewatched Movies: 

New Seasons Of TV watched :FBI S1, High Potential s2, Traitors S4, Crunch Labs s1 & S2, Can You keep a secret s1,The Cockfields s1&s2, big fat quiz of telly, 

Rewatched Seasons Of TV: How I Met Your Mother s1, Dinosaurs s2, Boy meets world s7, Camp Cretaceous S1&S2, 

 

Total Movies watched: 13

Total Shows Watched: 17

Completed Seasons of TV: 11

Final THoughts

I had a couple of days off work so managed to binge a fair few horror movies and caught up on some shows. A lot of good names added to events coming up so my prep has begun. roll on con season !!

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