Holonet Blast #54

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Welcome to a very video game and book centric edition of the Holonet Blast! I’d write some more stuff here but… EWOK HUNT MODE

That’s right, folks! There are updates coming to Battlefront II this week and while the appearances, ability tweaks, and all that are neat… YOU’LL GET TO PLAY AS AN EWOK. From the Community Transmission:

The ambush begins as the Ewok attacks the unsuspecting stormtroopers, using spears, Wisties, and whatever abilities they can muster to take down the intruders. Each defeated stormtrooper spawns as another Ewok, multiplying until the Empire’s forces have been completely eliminated, and the Ewok celebration can begin. Imperial forces will need all their training to survive until their evacuation arrives. Do so, and they’ll make it off of Endor and claim the win.

Our bodies are ready.

In further video game news, backwards compatibility is coming to Xbox One games on Tuesday including a bunch of old school Star Wars games such as Knights of the Old Republic and Republic Commando. If anyone needs me, I’ll finally be setting up the Xbox I got and buying KOTOR for a third time to play a game that’s well over a decade old.

Solo: A Star Wars Story products were revealed and (mostly) were made available for purchase on Friday so now you can go buy yourself a Black Series Lando and then take him to Denny’s with you for a Solo themed dinner.

Speaking of Solo, Last Shot will be released on Tuesday. If you can’t stand the wait, you can check out an excerpt or go look at the awesome character cards made by friend-of-the-blog Heath! (We’ll also have a review of Last Shot tomorrow but trust me… you’re going to want to buy it.)

Review: Doctor Aphra #18

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Hey Aphra? I hope you understand how lucky you are to be alive right now because holy crap, you should’ve died at least six times in this issue alone. Okay, maybe not six but a lot. At least twice.

One of the coolest things about this particular arc (and with so much going on, there’ve been a lot) is the combination of Aphra and Hera; two women who could not be more different. Even if they were on the same side of things, I highly doubt you would ever see them getting a drink together but wow are they fun to throw together. I particular enjoyed Aphra having a scientific interest in the abominations created by the Tarkin Initiative while Hera is horrified on moral grounds. My second favorite was Hera’s remark that “It’s lonely being you, isn’t it?” because WOW did she figure Aphra out fast.

This issue is making me think a lot about Aphra and what kind of person she is. The easy answer is that she’s not a good one but it’s always more complicated than that. Simultaneously, Aphra does what’s in her best interest and almost gets herself killed a lot. She’ll do the terrible thing but try and find a way around it. And she’ll flirt with an Imperial officer even though she knows it can’t end well. Aphra, you are a delightful and complicated mess and I love you more with every issue.

As Aphra’s allies dwindle, in part because of her own actions, her chances of surviving this arc are decreasingly rapidly… as are the chances for her allies. Seriously, I need that next issue now. Please?

Doctor Aphra #18: Kieron Gillen and Si Spurrier/Writers, Emilio Laiso/Artist, Rachelle Rosenberg/Colors, Joe Caramagna/Letterer, Heather Antos/Assistant Editor, Jordan D. White/Editor

Review: Poe Dameron #25

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When reading Poe Dameron #25, it feels like this could have very easily been the end of the series. Instead, it’s an end of an era within the comic as we reach the last issue set prior to the Sequel Trilogy. From here on out, everything’s clearly going to be different and you know what? They’ve earned it.

One of the best things about this arc has been the insight it’s given us into Lor San Tekka. If anything, he’s a character we should see more of in his earlier days because he’s clearly had quite a life and seen some things. His thoughts on the Force are of particular interest given that he’s studied the Force but cannot touch it. Perhaps it’s his conversation with Poe at the end though that has the most impact. After all, he’s right: the fate of the galaxy doesn’t just revolve around Force users and nor will Luke be quite the catalyst that his sister hopes. Characters who respect the contributions of non-Force users as much as the Jedi are the best.

I do have to say that even after all this time, I don’t necessarily buy Snap and Karé as a couple. It’s very nice that they’ve found each other and clearly care but… I don’t? (Sorry.)

It does, however, say something that Soule can make us care about a mere droid so much. Poor Jess Pava has had the worst luck when it comes to astromechs and brave Ivee volunteered to fly with her and then… well, I’m sure you can guess. One of the sweetest scenes in this entire series thus far takes place between Jess and BB-8 as they remember their friend together.

Poe Dameron #25 is a fitting end to this part of Black Squadron’s story. I’m not sure where the comic intends to be (aside from to Jakku) but I’m most certainly eager to keep reading and hope we get to see the adventures of all of Black Squadron for many months to come.

Poe Dameron #25: Charles Soule/Writer, Angel Unzueta/Artist, Arif Prianto/Colorist, Joe Caramagna/Letterer, Jordan White/Editor, Heather Antos/Assistant Editor

Book Wars Pod, Episode 45: Two Death Stars, One at a Time

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We’re discussing the last chapters of AFTERMATH by Chuck Wendig on the pod this week! What was the Galactic Civil War like for the average citizen? How is the First Order being salvaged from the remnants of the Empire? Plus, we give a quick rundown of our experience at Awesome Con! You can listen to audio of our panel right here on Tosche Station.

This podcast is NOT spoiler-free, and covers “Interlude: Theed, Naboo” through the end of the book.

Book Wars Pod explores the Star Wars universe through the franchise’s non-screen media: the canon novels, comics, and video games. Check out our guide to past episodes, and subscribe on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, and wherever else you cast your pods. You can also subscribe to the Tosche Station Radio Mega Feed on iTunes or Google Play for more great shows from our podcast network.

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr for episode updates! Hosted by Kristen Sereci, Chris Sedor, and Kate Sedor. Art by Joe Butera. Music by Podington Bear.

This podcast has been brought to you in part by your support on Patreon!

Holonet Blast #53

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It’s a Han Solo kind of week in the weekly Holonet Blast!

But first, some ship news! Here at Tosche Station, we’re known as being very anti-Y-wing. They’re ugly, clunky, and slow. The only thing worse are TIE Defenders. (Don’t @ me.) BUT, we also like LEGO, so we have a conundrum here. On May 4, LEGO is releasing the UCS Y-wing. Red Leader, this is Gold Leader!

In book AND Solo: A Star Wars Story news, Starwars.com released a second excerpt for LAST SHOT by Daniel Jose Older. This excerpt features Han, Chewie, and Sana Starros on the run from bounty hunters at Maz Kanata’s castle. I’m all about comic characters getting love in the novels, especially badass capable ladies, so count me in. The novel will be released on April 17 and also feature Lando and L3-37.

Remember back when Star Wars movies were released in May and premiered at Cannes Film Festival? Well, SOLO is returning to that trend! The special screening will take place on May 15, 10 days before the official release date of May 25, so adjust your spoiler shields to your preferences.

In the really big news, the first full-length trailer for SOLO premiered yesterday during American Idol (and was promptly uploaded to YouTube). My verdict? It looks fun, Lando is perfect, and give me more L3-37!

And finally, RIGHT AFTER I hit publish on the article, the official site revealed the new products coming for Solo: A Star Wars Story, including the obligatory action figures, Funkos, and LEGO. Products will hit stores starting this Friday, April 13.

Western Reaches #37

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We’re back! We discuss our love for Emilio Sandoz, sharing Assassin’s Creed with friends, and the weirdness of VanderMeer’s worlds with our main topic, Annihilation.
Games: 
Books: 
  • Cetaganda – Lois McMaster Bujold
  • The Animators – Kayla Rae Whitaker
  • Living By Fiction – Annie Dillard
  • Before Mars – Emma Newman
  • Silo Trilogy – Hugh Howey
  • Children of God – Mary Doria Russell
You can find Megan on Twitter with the handle @blogfullofwords and you can find Saf with @Wanderlustin. Be sure to subscribe to Western Reaches on iTunes/Google Play and subscribe to the Tosche Station Radio Mega Feed for more great shows, discussion, and commentary. This podcast has been brought to you by your support on Patreon!

Everything You Fear to Lose: Remembering Star Wars: Rebels

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1. Spark of Rebellion

“We should watch Star Wars Rebels.”

“Hmm.” I don’t look up from my phone. I’m scrolling through Twitter, words and images rolling along without my registering them.

My then-fiancé, now-husband, has made some variation on this request several times in the past few months. It’s 2016, somewhere during the hiatus betweens seasons 2 and 3, and the Star Wars renaissance is building momentum after the enthusiastic response to The Force Awakens and the curiosity surrounding the yet-to-be-released Rogue One. It’s before the election that changes everything, before Carrie Fisher’s death, before my Leia tattoo, before we start our podcast, before, before–

And my greatest problem, in that moment, is that I don’t know how to tell him that I’m not quite ready to let go of The Clone Wars, which we’ve recently binged on Netflix, not ready to make room in my heart for the Ghost crew’s stories yet. I don’t know how to say it because it sounds stupid. What sounds even worse is that I still smart when I think about Ahsoka leaving the order, or Fives’s death, or Obi-Wan’s loss of Satine. Continue reading →

Book Wars Pod, Episode 44: Boba Fett Peed on the Couch

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Our journey through AFTERMATH by Chuck Wendig continues this week! How have bounty hunters evolved over the course of the Skywalker Saga? What might these chapters tell us about the rule of the First Order in Episode IX? Plus, Weird Force Sh*t(TM), Dark Side Edition!

This podcast is NOT spoiler-free, and covers Chapters 18 through 28.

Book Wars Pod explores the Star Wars universe through the franchise’s non-screen media: the canon novels, comics, and video games. Check out our guide to past episodes, and subscribe on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, and wherever else you cast your pods. You can also subscribe to the Tosche Station Radio Mega Feed on iTunes or Google Play for more great shows from our podcast network.

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr for episode updates! Hosted by Kristen Sereci, Chris Sedor, and Kate Sedor. Art by Joe Butera. Music by Podington Bear.

This podcast has been brought to you in part by your support on Patreon!