Details and an Excerpt from Disney Press’ All-New Original Trilogy Adaptation

Posted on June 5, 2015 by admin

The Official Site gave new details of Disney Press’ effort to bring the Original Trilogy saga to young readers with an all-new adaptation of the films.

In a new series coming September 22, fans will experience the original trilogy in an entirely different way, with Star Wars: A New Hope — The Princess, The Scoundrel, and The Farm Boy by Alexandra Bracken (theDarkest Minds series), Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back — So You Want to Be a Jedi by Adam Gidwitz (A Tale Dark & Grimm series), and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi — Beware the Power of the Dark Side! by Tom Angleberger (the Origami Yoda series).

But these are more than just mere retellings from this top talent; these are fresh interpretations — true to the films but filtered through each author’s vision. In each novel, the authors get inside the characters’ heads, tell us about the scenes between the scenes, and even teach us how to be a Jedi.

What’s more, they’ve released an excerpts from all three books. Head to the link above for more information!

Review: Princess Leia #4

Posted on June 3, 2015 by Bria

Did you think that Princess Leia #3 was too slow? Too formulaic? BOY DO I HAVE A COMIC FOR YOU THEN. Princess Leia #4 by Mark Waid and Terry Dodson is out in comic stores today and it DEFINITELY takes things up a notch.

Thus far, Leia’s mission to save her remaining Alderaanians have been successful with only a few bumps along the way. Problem is, they have an unknowing traitor in their midst in the form of young Tace and her sister Tula. Add in the reunification talks with Espirion and there’s a lot at stake for the remnants of Alderaan.

Waid manages to pack a lot into about twenty pages worth of story; enough that it’s rather impressive. This is one of those issues where we really get to see all the facets of Leia as a person and as a leader. It’s not hard to see the lessons learned from Breha and Bail about ruling by listening to your people and caring about them as opposed to being totalitarian. It’s fitting for a woman who carries the guilt of her planet’s destruction on her shoulders along with the responsibility for all those left.

Evaan has taken a bit of a more backseat these last two issues but she’s still definitely the standout new character in these books who will hopefully have a lot of staying power in this new canon. The evolution of her relationship with Leia has been absolutely fascinating to watch especially when contrasted with the other prominent Alderaanians featured in the book.

Terry Dodson’s art continues to be lovely and Jordie Bellaire’s colors elevate the book to whole new level of pretty. Everything about Tace’s hair and nails is just spot on perfection. Honestly, what else is there to say at this point?

Princess Leia #4 gets a strong 4/5 from me this month along with lots of anticipation for the finale issue.

Review: Darth Vader #6

Posted on June 3, 2015 by Bria

Last issue, I said that I wasn’t sure where Gillen was going with this but I was pretty sure I liked it. Good news. I liked it. Darth Vader #6 by Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larroca is in comic stores today and it should definitely be at the top of your pull list.

There will be spoilers for the issue in this review because it’s impossible not to discuss the issue without them.

Continue reading →

Review: Star Wars #6

Posted on June 3, 2015 by Bria

Happy Marvel Star Wars week! Star Wars #6 by Jason Aaron and John Cassaday arrives in comic stores today and heyyyyy look at that cover. Do you think Luke might be in trouble?

As a note, read this issue before this week’s Darth Vader.

Surprising to no one who read the previous issue, Luke’s definitely in trouble. The one and only Boba Fett has tracked him to Kenobi’s hut on Tatooine. Meanwhile, Leia and Han continue their scouting mission to find a new base for the Rebel Alliance. Unfortunately, things don’t quite go our heroes’ ways…

I feel like I say this about every issue but holy wow is this an issue where it’s incredibly apparently what a freaking blast Aaron and Cassaday are having with this book. It’s evident in every single panel and that elevates the book to the next level.

Fett Fans are going to love his fight with Luke. It’s refreshingly different then a lot of what we’ve seen before with either character. Plus, we also get to see Artoo being awesome. That little droid really is the hero the galaxy deserves. It’s storylines like these that make me so grateful for comic books as a medium because it’s awesome to actually get to see how the fight goes down between bounty hunter and the fledgling Jedi.

Han and Leia’s story takes a backseat again this issue but Aaron does throw in a few fun lines along with their banter. It’s also a great opportunity for Cassaday to draw a beautiful new planet that would’ve been a way better base then Hoth.

What intrigues me most about the book though isn’t so much what happens but rather how the fandom will react to the introduction of a new character. (Okay so I’m intrigued by the new character too.)

Star Wars #6 gets a 4/5 from me along with a continuing recommendation to pick it up.

TFN’s Jedi Council Forum Lifts LGBTQ+ Restrictions

Posted on May 28, 2015 by admin

Yesterday morning, first word came that the TFN forums were in the process of making a big change: finally ditching the ban on same sex relationships. Initially, there was concern that this change would only apply to original characters and not established characters. Later in the day, however, these concerns were put to rest thanks to one of the moderators in their communication forum.

I can now announce that MS has decided that the lifting of the same-sex romance ban applies to canon and EU characters as well as original characters — it’s a full lift, in line with the existing PG-13 rules about opposite sex romances. I’m sure we’ll have something official-ish soon, but we thought you all should know ASAP so there’s no uncertainty that this is a full lifting of the ban.

For better or worse and despite all odds (considering the competition from the likes of AO3 and Fanfiction.net), the TFN fan fiction forums continues to really be the hub for written fanwork in the Star Wars community.

It’s rather easy to be cynical about this and say that they’ve finally stepped into the year 2003, but you know what? I’m just not going to listen to that cynicism. One of the biggest touchpoints and indisputably the biggest written fanwork touchpoint has changed their rules to create a much more inclusive environment for fans.

On my Twitter timeline last night were folks who had left TFN ages ago or had never even bothered to join because of these rules. Those folks are now looking to to back or join for the first time. They feel welcome there.

Speaking for myself, I know I feel the same way. I may just start posting there with some frequency again.

Review: Star Wars #5

Posted on May 20, 2015 by Bria

The battle against the Empire is far from over as our Rebels continue their search for a new base planet. They’re not the only ones with a mission though as Boba Fett, tasked by Darth Vader, hunts for the pilot who blew up the Death Star. Star Wars #5 by Jason Aaron and John Cassaday arrives in comic stores today, bringing your own search for a new issue to a close. For this month at least.

This is an issue that will probably make the Boba Fett fanboys very happy. Not being a particular fan of the Fett myself, I can’t say for sure but this is definitely the most we’ve seen of him in the new canon thus far. That said, it does feel like a bit of a departure from the previous versions of Boba and like Jason Aaron is having fun with getting to really create and expand upon the characterization of a character who, quite frankly, didn’t do much more then stand there and look badass in the films. (Warning for the more sensitive: there are a few pages that get fairly violent.)

Bounty hunter aside, this issue does let us get another look at our favorite trio. Luke’s off on his own, headed back to Tatooine in search of answers while Leia convinces Han to be her co-pilot on her latest mission for the alliance. It’s fun to see the beginnings of the antagonistic banter between Leia and Han in the years before it fully develops into the routine arguments that fellow Alliance soldiers just walk through on Hoth. The relationships between all of the main characters are where Aaron really thrives with this book.

On the art front, I continue to enjoy Cassaday’s work and will definitely miss him when he leaves the book. There’s just something about reading a book where you can tell the artist is loving every minute of his work.

Star Wars #5 continues this book’s trend of being solidly enjoyable and gets another recommendation from Tosche Station.

Review: Darth Vader #5

Posted on May 13, 2015 by Bria

The owner(s) of the lightsabers on the cover of this issue has been the subject of conversation for weeks and now the time has finally come for all to be revealed. Darth Vader #5 by Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larroca arrives in comic stores today with the definitive answer to that debate.

Vader has an army. And two murderous droids. And the assistance of Doctor Aphra. And the location of this facility where he suspects Palpatine is training his replacement. It’s not difficult to predict his next course of action. But when Vader arrives, lightsaber blazing, not everything is quite what it seems…

Darth Vader #5 has the distinct honor of being the first issue of the new Marvel comics to leave me going “Wait what?” and scratching my head while I try and figure out what’s going on. Palpatine quietly training a new apprentice definitely seems logical and quite frankly, easy enough to hide in plain sight given that Inquisitors are a part of canon. Without going into spoilers, the last half dozen pages or so has definitely left me not quite tracking Gillen’s plan here. That said, this isn’t a black mark against the book. I have no doubt that more will be revealed in the coming issues and quite frankly if I could predict everything that happens in this book, I’d get bored rather fast.

We don’t get to see as much from Aphra or our murder bots this issue (although Triple Zero does have a few great lines) but given that this a book about Vader, I’m content to see him be the star for an issue. There’s actually not tons else to say about this latest issue though. Darth Vader continues to be an enjoyable book with great art by Larroca who’s the perfect fit for this series. Again, those final few pages left me both on the edge of my seat and scratching my head with confusion. The next issue’s going to be an interesting for sure!

In the mean time, go pick up a copy of Darth Vader #5 as this book continues to get my stamp of approval!

Moff Mors and the Importance of First Impressions

Posted on May 8, 2015 by Shoshana

April 28 saw the release of Paul S. Kemp’s Lords of the Sith, the fourth novel in the new story-group approved canon, of which you can read our spoiler-free reviews here and Brian’s more in-depth review here. Along with being the first of the new books to focus on Darth Vader, Lords of the Sith holds the distinction of introducing the new canon’s first LGBTQIA+ character, Moff Delian Mors.

I found Moff Mors to be an interesting character and a welcome addition to the Galaxy Far, Far Away. Unfortunately, her introduction is handled with far less care than one would hope. Continue reading →

Review: Kanan #2

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Bria

This is it. This is the issue we’ve been dreading since this time last month. Kanan: The Last Padawan #2 by Greg Weisman and Pepe Larraz hits comic stores today. It’s the follow up to an issue that had all of us still talking at Celebration so how does this latest issue hold up?

Continue reading →

Happy May the 4th: Vanity Fair reveals more character photos, names

Posted on May 4, 2015 by Nanci

Right after midnight, Vanity Fair posted their cover article for the June The Force Awakens issue, complete with a video and picture of Kylo Ren sans mask.