‘Lost Tribe of the Sith’ is Back. In Comic Form!

USA Today with the news that Dark Horse heavy hitter John Jackson Miller will be bringing the Lost Tribe onto the pages of a five-issue comic series.

Writer John Jackson Miller is just one of many guys who digs that galaxy far, far away, and he’s going way, way back in it for his new five-issue Dark Horse Comics series Star Wars: The Lost Tribe of the Sith, launching Aug. 8.

The comic removes three aspects that are some of the most essential of the Star Wars films — technology, starships and Jedi knights — and focuses on the Tribe, an ancient group of Sith believers stranded on a remote planet for 5,000 years. (The Sith, by the way, tap into the dark side of the Force.)

The Lost Tribe of the Sith project began three years ago with the Fate of the Jedi novel series, which found this group escaping their prison in the time of Star Wars hero Luke Skywalker and threatening the galaxy.

For more, head over to USA Today.

Star Wars Official Site Releases ‘Scoundrels,’ Other Expanded Universe Goodies

May the Fourth be with you indeed.

The official site has gotten their hands on a whole boatload of Expanded Universe shininess including a nifty Essential Guide to Warfare art timelapse video, an essay from the Fate of the Jedi authors, and a cover and preview from the new Darth Maul: Death Sentence comic from Dark Horse.

Most importantly, however, is the entire second chapter from one of the year’s most anticipated novels: Timothy Zahn’s Scoundrels.

For more, head on over to the official site.

Carrie Fisher, Jeremy Bulloch, Daniel Logan Confirmed for Celebration VI

Brace yourselves, the news drought appears to be ending today.

The official Celebration VI website has confirmed that Princess Leia herself will be in attendance this year. Also in the fold are two incarnations of Boba Fett, Jeremy Bulloch and Daniel Logan.

Expect more news to drop, as today is the Somewhat Randomly Selected Day of Star Wars Celebration That Has Been Highly Influenced by a Pretty Awful Pun.

The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports

That’s right, ladies and gentlemen.  Pull out your wildest hats and crush up some mint for that julep, because this weekend is the first weekend in May and that means only one thing: The 138th Kentucky Derby.

So who should a Star Wars fan root for?  After all, none of this year’s horses have anything to do with Star Wars. Unless, that is, like with all things thoroughbred, you take a look at the pedigrees.  I knew there was a horse named Star Wars (son of horse Star Trek).  Looking through his pedigree, I saw a name I knew: Northern Dancer.

For those of you not inclined to go running through the pedigrees of all the horses racing in the Kentucky Derby, Star Wars is related to these four horses slated to run in the Kentucky Derby through Northern Dancer: Union Rags (9-2 odds), Alpha, (15-1), Gemologist (6-1), and Done Talking (50-1).

As for Shane and I, I hate to say it, but we’ll be rooting either for Dullahan or Optimizer, since they’re Kentucky-bred and so are we.

The 138th Kentucky Derby airs May 5th on NBC from 5-7 pm EDT.  Post time is 6:24 pm EDT.

Girls’ Guide to Star Wars: What You Need to Know If You Know Nothing

Dreamy.

As your boyfriend—or brother or father or uncle—probably told you, Return of the Jedi is hitting theatres this Friday. And you, dutiful girlfriend—and sister and daughter and niece—are attending. But you hate sci-fi movies and practically fell asleep during the previous two Star Wars films. (How have they possibly made a third? It’s so boring! You don’t care that Star Wars is the biggest grossing film of all time. You liked Annie Hall so much better.

But don’t fret, ladies. This is the last of the Star Wars films, so after this, you can stop pretending to care about this effects-laden piece of “cinema.” But to get you through Return of the Jedi without having to ask a ton of questions (just in case you’ve managed to stay awake the entire time), we’ve created a streamlined girl’s guide to the galaxy far, far away. (That’s nerd speak for the Star Wars galaxy.)

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Tosche Station Radio #15: Writer’s Toolbox with Mike Stackpole

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This week on Tosche Station Radio, we’re excited to feature our first ever interview on the show.

Kicking off the show, we highlight what’s new on the blog. We asked you to tell us what kind of attractions you would like to see at a Star Wars theme park and you delivered some delightful suggestions. New blogger Maggie posted a spoiler-free review of the Avengers, Marvel’s latest entry into their successful film franchise. We’re not jealous that she was in the UK to see it a week early or anything. Meanwhile, we’re holding a contest. We’re sick of Mara’s awful catsuit, so we’re asking costumers and artists to replace it with something more appropriate.

In Fixer’s Flash, Nanci’s been reading a neat young-adult novel called Across the Universe and is looking forward to completing the series. She’s also been rewatching firefly, something Brian ought to do. She also announced that she’s launched a new blog of her own devoted to her writing projects. Go check it out! Brian’s been keeping himself busy with Marvel’s comics and a rewatch of their films leading up to the Avengers. Unfortunately, he’s been too busy with midterms to do much beyond that. Boo midterms.

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Lucasfilm Departure From Lucas Valley Could Hurt For Years To Come

A few weeks back, Lucasfilm eighty-sixed plans to build a brand new movie studio in Lucas Valley in San Rafael, California. Citing too much pushback from estate homeowners in the region, Lucasfilm abruptly pulled up stakes and shifted their efforts towards finding a new home elsewhere in the state.

The victory for homeowners may ultimately prove to be tragically short-sighted, reports the North Bay Business Journal.

Several professional firms had been contracted to work on Lucas’s Grady Ranch project during its development, providing services such as environmental consulting and architectural planning. Including the indirect economic activity for restaurants and other local businesses, the two-year construction phase was expected to add nearly $134 million per year into the local and regional economy, according to an impact study released last month by the Marin Economic Forum.

That phase was also expected to generate 690 new jobs in Marin County during construction, and nearly $5 million in combined annual state and local tax revenue, according to the study.

Yet with the announcement on April 10 that George Lucas and his real estate company, Skywalker Properties, would no longer proceed with the project, the possibility of direct and indirect economic stimulus for the region’s economy has evaporated.

In efforts to keep a movie studio out of their estate communities, the residents of Lucas Valley may have cost the region countless potential jobs and a staggering influx of hard cash. According to the article, for every 100 employees Lucasfilm brought in, Marin County businesses could have generated as much as $82 million in revenue and $3.8 million in combined state and local taxes.

Via Parker Publicity

Rogue and Wraith Squadron Fanfic-A-Thon

There hasn’t been an X-Wing novel in thirteen years.

That’s an awful long time for fans of the Rogues and Wraiths who have been wondering what shenanigans they’ve been getting up to while the Jedi have been dealing with the weekly galactic apocalypse of certain doom and terror. While, thankfully, we’re finally getting a new book this August, there’s another way fans have managed to fill the void over the last decade and change: fanfiction.

Over at the Rogue and Wraith Livejournal comm, members have put together a starfighter jockey-themed fanfiction marathon. If you’d like to read some great stories about Wedge, Tycho, Wes, Hobbie, the Rogues, and the Wraiths, head on over and read the entries.

Her Universe Teases New Products

I hate May the 4th. While I don’t mind puns in general, basing “Star Wars Day” around a lispy pun is lame, IMO. In my personal canon, Star Wars Day will always be May 25, the day the original Star Wars premiered in 1977. (May 14, the Maker’s birthday, is also acceptable.)

However, I will tolerate May the 4th shenanigans for one reason: new products from Her Universe! Ashley Eckstein has been busy teasing several products on Twitter and Facebook, and my wallet is already crying.

Princess Leia hoodie

Day of the Dead t-shirt

Racerback tanks