Star Wars, Geek Culture, and Power Converters
I cannot talk about Heir to the Jedi without revealing spoilers. I’m too emotionally invested in Luke Skywalker’s life. If you’d like to read a non-spoiler opinion, let me direct you to Bria’s review over here. However, if you’ve already read the book, or just don’t care about being spoiled for the end, proceed at your own caution.
(I’m serious.
Major spoilers abound after the cut.
You’ve been warned.)
Season 1 of Star Wars Rebels has come to a close in a spectacular fashion. The three-part arc paid off in a huge way, with the return of some fan favorite characters and setting up high hopes for Season 2. Because it’s the season finale, all three reviewers are getting on the recap fun this week. Our spoiler-filled thoughts under the cut!
This week on Tosche Station Radio, we’re joined by Sabine: My Rebels Sketchbook artist Annie Stoll!
Kicking off the show, the hosts highlight what’s New on the Blog. Bria reviewed Heir to the Jedi and we also had a spoiler-free Go/No-Go. Bria reviewed Darth Vader #2. Bria also did a write-up of the cosplay she saw at Katsucon. Brian reviewed Rebels Resolve, the second to last episode of Rebels. Nanci started her Dark Force Rising retrospective. There’s also a Go/No-Go for Jupiter Ascending.
In Fixer’s Flash, both hosts enjoyed the ever-loving daylights out of Agent Carter. Rebels wrapped its first season, and the hosts also loved that. Nanci’s been working on her short story. Brian’s eagerly anticipating the return of soccer.
Deak’s Dirt starts with sad news, Leonard Nimoy passed away. Meanwhile in Star Wars, Sarah Michelle Gellar will be doing a voice on Season 2 of Rebels. A bunch of new names added to the Celebration guest list, including Ian McDiarmid! Finally, Mary Franklin is leaving Lucasfilm for ReedPOP
In Biggs’ Bull$&#@, perhaps a name for Maisie Richardson-Sellers character. Also, an Interview with Chris Weitz over at Slashfilm, the new screenwriter for the standalone, that reveals a whole lotta nothing except that they’re still using Gary Whitta’s draft.
We’re excited to have Sabine: My Rebels Sketchbook artist Annie Stoll joining us on this week’s Camie’s Concerns! The hosts and Bria discuss the book, Rebels, and art with Annie. Be sure to also check out her webcomic, Ode and follow her on Twitter.
Tosche Station Radio is the official podcast of Tosche-Station.net and a part of Majestic Giraffe Productions. If you like what you hear, please leave a review on the iTunes Music Store. We can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.
Nanci and Brian are the co-founders and writers of Tosche-Station.net. You can find Nanci on Twitter with the handle @Nancipants and you can find Brian with @LaneWinree.
This podcast has been brought to you in part by Her Universe and Audible.com.
Remember back in August when I wrote about what I hoped for with a Mark Waid Leia comic? Yeah, he nailed it. I won’t beat around the bush here. I loved this issue. Go to your comic store right now and pick up Princess Leia #1 by Mark Waid with art by Terry Dodson, inks by Rachel Dodson, and colors by Jordie Bellaire. Need another reason why? Well read on for a mostly spoiler-free review.
The book picks up immediately after the Battle of Yavin with the medal ceremony and Leia giving a very brief speech commemorating the losses of all those who gave their lives fighting the Empire and especially Alderaan. There is no time for sorrows though as the Rebels must immediately dismantle the base and flee. Leia, however, wants to embark on a mission of her own: to find and protect all the remaining Alderaanians in the galaxy… with or without the Alliance’s approval.
Welcome back to Go/No-Go, Tosche Station’s regular feature where we offer our spoiler-free opinion as to whether or not you should spend your hard-earned money on a book, film, or other entertainment. Today on the launch pad: Star Wars: Heir to the Jedi. It’s the first novel written in first person since I, Jedi and stars the one and only Luke Skywalker. To mission control for the verdict!
Even Baymax came to Katsucon!
Another February and therefore another Katsucon have come and gone. Two weekends ago, geeks from around the country descended on National Harbor, Maryland for a very frozen convention weekend. The convention didn’t play host to the US’s round of the World Cosplay Summit this year but that certainly didn’t seem to put a dent in attendance numbers. In fact, the convention seemed bigger this year both in terms of attendance numbers and the scale of the con itself. There was a nice variety of programming that ran through a good 2/3 of the day if not more. One of the best programming selections were the various cosplay construction lectures that covered everything from basic cosplay advice to how to build armor. There’s always something for everyone.
The dealer room was especially good this year and much larger than in years past both in terms of the number of vendors (or so it seemed) and there being enough aisle space to move comfortably. One of the best additions though was definitely the space set aside for the Men at Arms: Reforged folks. They have a YouTube show in which they recreate fictional weapons, often with a twist. One of their latest was the scissor blade from Kill la Kill which they decided to make out of actual melted down scissors. How cool is that? They even brought the blade with them and let con-goers pose with it.
Unfortunately, registration continues to be an issue. The lines to get badges seemed to be an eternal fixtures on the lower level with the line usually going to the other end of the corridor. Wait times were measured not in minutes but rather in hours. It is my hope that for the sake of the con goers that Katsucon sits down and reevaluates their badge system.
On the cosplay front, the costumes worn by so many attendees were amazing as always. The best costume of the con was, without question, this gorgeous La Muerte from The Book of Life. The pictures don’t even do her work justice.
Picture by Rich and Strange Photography
Kanan’s captured, the Ghost crew is trying to track him down, and Ezra takes the lead on the penultimate episode of Rebels season one.
It is with great sadness that we tell you the news that Leonard Nimoy, the great Spock, died earlier today from the end stages of COPD.
We can only say this: lines from Spock’s funeral from The Wrath of Khan:
We are assembled here today to pay final respects to our honored dead. And yet it should be noted, in the midst of our sorrow, this death takes place in the shadow of new life, the sunrise of a new world; a world that our beloved comrade gave his life to protect and nourish. He did not feel this sacrifice a vain or empty one, and we will not debate his profound wisdom at these proceedings. Of my friend, I can only say this: Of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most… human.
Major League Baseball gets into celebrating Star Wars each year with Star Wars nights at selected ballparks. This year, Cincinnati Reds fans can get this R2-D2 bobblehead with a view level ticket for $25. The night also features Star Wars music and firework show, character visits, and (usually) an appearance from the Ohio Garrison of the 501st.
Star Wars nights at MLB ballparks also help support the charity StandUp2Cancer. Other teams hosting Star Wars night during the 2015 season include the Mets, Dodgers, and Cardinals. Keep an eye on your team’s schedule to see if they’ll be hosting a similar Star Wars night (and ticket deal).
How do you follow up a solidly good first issue that teased at plenty of future plot points? By focusing the second issue on just one of them. Darth Vader #2 by Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larroca is out today in which the creative team does precisely that. After the disaster of the Death Star’s destruction, Vader is in disgrace and now must follow the commands of Grand General Tagge as a part of the grand plan to strike back against the Rebellion… one corvette at a time. (Spoiler Alert: Vader does NOT win Coruscant’s Next Top Model in this issue. Sorry.)
Surprisingly, this series is turning out to be very character driven which is something I wouldn’t necessarily expect from a book about Darth Vader. As proven with the previous issue, Gillen definitely knows what he’s doing with Vader but the character that really stood out to me in this issue was Tagge. (That’s Grand General, by the way, not just General.) With the exception of Palpatine, it floors me that anyone in the Empire would have the balls to speak to someone as imposing as Darth Vader like Tagge did. If you thought how Tarkin acted in A New Hope was impressive… just read issue #2. This is a characterization that seems like it will pay off further down the line along perhaps before Vader discovers more about the Rebel pilot’s identity…
On the art front, Larroca continues to draw a pretty darn good Vader. He’s got a great eye for detail that translates to not just the iconic costume but also to things like holograms or distant ships through a viewport. Also, I’m not sure who’s having more fun with all these explosions: Gillen writing them or Larroca drawing and Edgar Delgado coloring them. Artistically speaking, having Larroca on interior art and Adi Granov on covers is a winning combination for this book.
Can we start spelling poor Kieron Gillen’s name right in the opening credits though? This is two issues in a row now where they’ve gotten it wrong.
Darth Vader #2 is another solid showing from the creative team and I’m definitely excited for the next issue.
