Dexter the Barbarian: Pure Cartoon Network nostalgia dose

Since my online avatar almost everywhere is a cute version of Dexter from Dexter's Laboratory, naturally, I decided my Steam profile needed a Dexter knight/warrior variation. I aimed for a Paladin in my searches, but no dice. Many minutes go by until I stumbled across Dexter the Barbarian, an image by DeviantArt artist EluSilimaure.

And I immediately stole it and put it on my Steam profile! But after a little more browsing, I'm surprised to realize these images are all based on an actual episode, one which I completely forgot I watched back when I was a kid and loved! Titled, unsurprisingly, Dexter the Barbarian, this has to be one of my favorite episodes ever!

Dexter the Barbarian Full Episode in High Quality

Clocking in at 6:54, this will be the best-spent 7 minutes of your life. A pure nostalgia hit of that old-school Cartoon Network, Genndy Tartakovsky style of animation, with Dexter and swords, battles, and hot Dee Dee. What more can you ask? Watch it for free here.

That was delicious, wasn't it? Now, before we go any further, I would like to thank a Facebook commenter who wrote that they would have also loved to see the "D & DD" episode. And that makes perfect sense!

D & DD Full Episode in High Quality

In this one, Dexter and his friends go on a pen-and-paper RPG adventure. But for Dexter, things don't go as planned, as usual! I kind of love the episode now, but I kind of low-key hated it when I was a kid. That's because I especially wanted Dexter to succeed in this episode: be a knight in shining armor and not a wimpy minstrel or whatever he was here. Enjoy this longer episode from here.

OK! Now let's see what the Dexter the Barbarian episode inspired in terms of fan-made art. Sources: EluSilimaure, Shayeragal, DaCommissioner.

I bet you weren’t expecting that last one! LOL! Neither did I… And now let’s see some stills and screenshots from the episode in case you want them as wallpapers or something.

Knights of The Periodic Table

In addition, did you know about this Knights of the Periodic Table 2003 book? Neither did I until I stumbled across it while researching this article. This is one of many books published by Scholastic Inc. for the Dexter's Lab series. I am unable to find it available in print in any store - you can check the links that Goodreads has on it by clicking on the above.

But if you sign up for an account on the Internet Archive, you can go through it digitally in around 10 mins. It's a fast and funny read, and the dialog and exposition are written in that specific medieval English way, which adds a lot of flavor. This book (I assume) also inspired a few fan art images on its own. Sources: adrianmacha20005, WildandNatureFan.

I know they are a little silly and childish. But when did that become obsolete or unenjoyable? I think perhaps we should (at least sometimes) go back to simpler times when just watching your favorite cartoon on a Saturday morning was everything you needed. A time when there was no need for the hustle and bustle, multiple espressos a day, and too much busyness. Don't you?