Via TeeFury.com (not Star Wars but pretty cool):
To celebrate the epic Super Bowl bet placed between Chris Pratt and Chris Evans, this tee is available for $11 until February 10th. A portion of proceeds will benefit the charities that the actors are contributing to – Christopher’s Haven and Seattle’s Children’s Hospital. Click Here or below to order!
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art has had a somewhat troubled history and constant hurdles have put the project behind; much like the construction of the second Death Star. The Lucas Museum is a dream from the inspiring creator of the Star Wars franchise, George Lucas, who aims to focus on narrative art to engage the public in his new venture. As a veteran storyteller, narrative art is something that Lucas is quite intimate with. Narrative art is the idea of using art to tell a story, either as a singular moment of an event, or a sequence that shows an ongoing story. Lucas has always had a passion for narrative art, and the Lucas Museum is the perfect outlet for him to share his passion with the world.
Unfortunately, the project has been met with many roadblocks (or blockades perhaps?) over the past year. Last summer, the city of Chicago won the bid to have the $300-million museum placed in it’s city, after Lucas was unable to obtain his desired city: San Francisco. Lucas acquired 17-acres of property on Lake Michigan, a location currently occupied by two parking lots. The image below shows the planned museum location, which is projected to be opened in 2018.
Map of planned Lucas Museum in Chicago, IL, via www.LucasMuseum.org
In 2015 Bandai will be releasing a very cool Lifesize R2-D2 3-D Wall Figure for around $33o USD. Check out the very cool video below:
The official teaser trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens was released this morning via iTunes Movie Trailers. Check out the video below or follow the link, here.
What are your initial thoughts of the trailer? Share your excitement with us on Twitter at @arybak89 and @YodasNews.
This past weekend marked the second annual Media Arts Convention in Charleston, South Carolina: Atomacon 2014. The convention is described as, “a nonprofit educational corporation dedicated to creating awareness of, and appreciation for science fiction, fantasy, and science through related literary and other popular art forms. This is accomplished primarily through a convention to celebrate the history of and on-going contribution of science fiction, fantasy, science and related genres to art and popular culture.” This year, our very own Alex Rybak of Yoda’s News was invited to not only cover the event, but to partake in several of the panels. Alex Rybak joined Atomacon guest of honor and legendary Star Wars author, John Jackson Miller, for many of these panels.
The convention kicked off on the afternoon on Friday the 14th of November. Alex Rybak moderated for John Jackson Miller’s main panel “Tales from a Galaxy Far, Far Away,” in which the two discussed Miller’s recent work in the Star Wars galaxy. They also were both panelists on another panel titled, “The Future of Star Wars.” On this panel, John and Alex talked about the state of the Star Wars franchise and fielded questions from the audience. The two were able to offer a wide variety of perspectives as John is heavily involved in the franchise and Alex has covered it extensively for years. They also talked in great detail about the recent retooling of the Star Wars Expanded Universe.
Both Alex Rybak and John Miller were also panelists on a variety of other panels outside the realm of Star Wars that covered topics such the history of comic books, podcasting, Star Trek, and creating alien societies. In addition, Alex Rybak got to help John Miller with his merchants booth this year.
In addition to Yoda’s News, the legendary 501st Legion and R2-D2 Builder’s club were present to entertain fans. Yoda’s News also was happy to support Atomacon this year via advertising in the program. We want to thank everyone at Atomacon, John Jackson Miller, and Janet Lannantuono for their hospitality.
Yoda’s News advertisement in the Atomacon 2014 program.
As Alex Rybak was very active during the convention assisting John Jackson Miller and running his own panels, we reached out to others at the convention for more photos to share. Some images above are shared, with permission, by City Light Studios “Section C” and Randy Richards. We appreciate their willingness to share their images here and encourage our audience to follow the links to see more photographs of the event. Check out the official Atomacon website, here, to find out more about Atomacon 2015. Were you at Atomacon this year? Share your experiences and pictures with us on Twitter at @arybak89 (Alex Rybak) and @yodasnews (Yoda’s News).
Tarkin, by James Luceno
With just a few short days until the November 4th release of Tarkin, Alex Rybak (a staff writer here at Yoda’s News) was excited to find his review copy of the upcoming book by James Luceno in the mail today. Tarkin will be the second book released by Del Rey Books in their new line of Star Wars adult fiction, following the September release of A New Dawn by John Jackson Miller. Miller kicked off the new line of stories set in the galaxy far, far away with a thrilling adventure (you can read our review here) that tied-in to the Star Wars: Rebels television show. James Luceno, like Miller, is also a veteran Star Wars author best known for his attention to detail and ability to weave intricate adventures. This time around, Luceno will be exploring Grand Moff Tarkin in the time period before we met him in A New Hope. Here is a description of the book from Del Rey:
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. . . .
Bestselling Star Wars veteran James Luceno gives Grand Moff Tarkin the Star Wars: Darth Plagueis treatment, bringing a legendary character from A New Hope to full, fascinating life.
He’s the scion of an honorable and revered family. A dedicated soldier and distinguished legislator. Loyal proponent of the Republic and trusted ally of the Jedi Order. Groomed by the ruthless politician and Sith Lord who would be Emperor, Governor Wilhuff Tarkin rises through the Imperial ranks, enforcing his authority ever more mercilessly… and zealously pursuing his destiny as the architect of absolute dominion.
Rule through the fear of force rather than force itself, he advises his Emperor. Under Tarkin’s guidance, an ultimate weapon of unparalleled destruction moves ever closer to becoming a terrifying reality. When the so-called Death Star is completed, Tarkin is confident that the galaxy’s lingering pockets of Separatist rebellion will be brought to heel—by intimidation… or annihilation.
Until then, however, insurgency remains a genuine threat. Escalating guerrilla attacks by resistance forces and newfound evidence of a growing Separatist conspiracy are an immediate danger the Empire must meet with swift and brutal action. And to bring down a band of elusive freedom fighters, the Emperor turns to his most formidable agents: Darth Vader, the fearsome new Sith enforcer as remorseless as he is mysterious; and Tarkin—whose tactical cunning and cold-blooded efficiency will pave the way for the Empire’s supremacy… and its enemies’ extinction.
Readers of Yoda’s News can expect a review in the next few days, hopefully before its release on November 4th, 2014. You can preorder the book now for only $19.53 on Amazon. Special thanks to Alexandra Coumbis and Del Rey Books for providing Yoda’s News with a review copy of this novel.
You can follow Alex Rybak and Yoda’s news via Twitter at @arybak89 and @yodasnews.
Last week, famed Star Wars author John Jackson Miller sat with Alex Rybak of Yoda’s News to converse in the ways of the Force. Miller recently released A New Dawn, the first book in the newly launched line of adult fiction in our favorite galaxy far, far away. Alex and John discussed the genesis of A New Dawn, the role of the newly formed Lucasfilm Story Group, and much more. Check out the full interview below.
A New Dawn cover via Del Rey Books
This past Tuesday, John Jackson Miller and Del Rey Books released the first Star Wars novel in the new line of adult fiction: A New Dawn. The book serves as a prequel to the upcoming Star Wars: Rebels (which premieres this October) and focuses on Kanan and Hera. You can check out our highly praised review on A New Dawn, here. Rebels will star Vanessa Marshall in the role of Hera Syndulla as she brings her talented repertoire of skills to the Star Wars franchise. In order to give fans a sneak peek of her upcoming performance in Rebels and to promote Miller’s A New Dawn, Vanessa read an excerpt of the book. Entertainment Weekly brought fan her exciting narration yesterday and you can check out the full feature, here.
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Here is the excerpt that Vanessa Marshall reenacted:
Hera wasn’t about to bring her ship into the Cyndan mining complex for an unauthorized landing. Joining the convoy, however, had gotten her close, and once out of sight of the Star Destroyer, she’d parked in orbit. Her ship’s small excursion vessel had taken her the rest of the way to a little maintenance outbuilding on the surface.
She’d studied just enough about the mining trade to know what to pretend to be: a maintenance tech for bulk–loader droids. The rest she’d thought up on the spot.
“This is the wrong entrance,” the guy inside the airlock had said.
“Oh, gosh, I’m sorry. It’s my first day, and I’m late!”
“And where’s your badge?”
“I forgot. Can you believe it? My first day!”
The man had believed it, letting her pass with a smile that said he hoped she’d keep making wrong turns in the future. People of several different species found Hera appealing to look at, and she was happy to put that to use for a good cause.
But as she walked carefully through the mining complex, she increasingly realized how difficult that cause had become. Gorse and Cynda produced a strategic material for the Empire, yes, but they were well away from the galactic center. And yet Hera spied one surveillance cam after another—-including several that the workers clearly weren’t intended to see. If Coruscant–level security had made it out to the Rim worlds, that would make any action against the Empire all the more difficult.
Another good reason to visit my friend on Gorse after this, she thought, darting lithely beneath the viewing arc of another secret cam. A rendezvous with any mystery informant was dangerous; she’d learned that quickly enough in her short career as an activist. But her contact had proven knowledge of Imperial surveillance capabilities, and she’d need that to get to the important stuff, later on.
Finding out more about Count Vidian’s methods, though, she’d have to do through old–fashioned skulking. He was on Cynda now, she knew: She’d seen him once already from afar, passing through the caverns with a tour group. It was tough to get closer. The transparent crystal columns were pretty to look at but lousy cover.
Darting through an isolated side passage, she thought she’d found a shortcut to get ahead of him. Instead, she found something else.
“Halt!” A stormtrooper appeared at the end of the corridor, his blaster raised.
Hera stopped in her tracks. “I’m sorry,” she said, putting her hand to her chest and exhaling. “You scared me!”
“Who are you?”
“I work here,” she said, approaching as if nothing was wrong. “I may be in the wrong place. It’s my first day.” She smiled.
“Where’s your badge?”
“I forgot.” Dark eyes looked down demurely, then back up. “Can you believe it? My first day!”
The stormtrooper studied her for a moment—-and then saw the blaster she was wearing. She moved before he did, delivering a high kick that knocked the blaster from the startled stormtrooper’s hands. Seeing his weapon clatter away, he lunged for it. She easily sidestepped him—-and pivoted, leaping onto the armored man’s back. Losing purchase on the crystalline floor, he stumbled, her full weight driving his head into the side wall. His helmet cracked loudly against the surface, and he slumped motionless to the ground.
“Sorry,” Hera whispered over the fallen trooper’s shoulder. “Charm doesn’t work on everyone.”
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You can share your thoughts with us on Twitter. You can find Alex Rybak at @arybak89 and Yoda’s News at @yodasnews.
John Jackson Miller has been a longtime Star Wars author since he began working for Dark Horse Comics back in 2005. Over the past decade, he has written several critically acclaimed works such as Knights of the Old Republic, Knight Errant, Lost Tribe of the Sith, and Kenobi. When Del Rey Books announced a “reboot” of the Star Wars Expanded Universe earlier this year, it only made sense that Miller would be brought on board. Miller (alongside James Luceno, Kevin Hearne, Paul S. Kemp, and Christie Golden) is a part of the team of talented writers tasked with authoring the new line of Star Wars fiction. Miller has always demonstrated both an understanding and genuine love for the Star Wars Universe. He has the ability to capture the essence of the original films and extrapolate them in new, refreshing stories. I have been fortunate enough to interview Mr. Miller before and he has always come across as someone who genuinely loves the franchise and has exciting ideas for it’s future. Suffice it to say, when it was announced that Miller would be writing A New Dawn (which will serve as a prequel to the upcoming Rebels television show), I was exhilarated.
John Jackson Miller alongside one of his creations, Marn “Gryph” Hierogryph
Don’t fall into the trap and overpay for these two, if you can’t find them locally (or just want to save the gas), as of this posting, this 6″ Black Series Stormtrooper and Boba Fett IN STOCK for $22.99 each with Free Shipping over $35.
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