SWCPod | This Week in Podcasting
It has been a big week in Podcasting for the Star Wars Commonwealth! Sit back, relax, and catchup on all the recent Star Wars news, Force Friday II stories, and insights into the Star Wars: Rebels Season 4 trailer brought to you by the Star Wars Commonwealth podcasters!
It has been a big week in Podcasting for the Star Wars Commonwealth! Sit back, relax, and catchup on all the recent Star Wars news, Force Friday II stories, and insights into the Star Wars: Rebels Season 4 trailer brought to you by the Star Wars Commonwealth podcasters!
SEPTEMBER 4TH-8TH: Find this weeks podcasts from the Star Wars Commonwealth Podcast Network below!
#SWCPod
Monday
Talk Star Wars | Ep. 85
It's episode 85 of the Talk Star Wars podcast and Marc, Steven, Rob and Paul talk about Snoke using mind control, Obi-Wan leaving Tatooine and Rey returning to Jakku. They take a look at the new image of Luke Skywalker from The Last Jedi, an image of Rey training with the staff and Donald Glover with a beard as Lando in the Han Solo movie. All that and much, much more...
San Diego Sabers Podcast | Ep. 34
This week, you are about to enter another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land of imagination. Next stop, HOME ONE HANGOUT! We have Mike Moriarty on from the Home One Hangout podcast where we talk about Star Wars memories, The Last Jedi predictions – and somehow pulled porg sandwiches keep coming up?
Tuesday
TumblingSaber | Ep. 91
We’re here to throttle the daylights out of your Tuesday with a near three-hour podcast full of the latest from the Star Wars galaxy! On this week’s show, we tackle:
- The biggest Star Wars Lego set ever known
- Revealing info on the First Order Executioner Stormtrooper
- Phasma’s helmet staying put
- A striking new image of Luke
- Snoke’s mega Star Destroyer
- Paul Bettany stepping in to Han Solo
- and who could forget the latest Rebels trailer.
Wednesday
Generation X-Wing | Ep. 124
With Jamie still away moving into a new place, Anil and Rob are joined again by Vincent Chou (@stuff99 on Twitter) to talk about Time Travel in movies, TV and comics. We also discuss the rules of time travel. Does it suit the Star Wars world? What would we do if we had the ability to go back in time?
Thursday
TSW Monthly Episode
TSW Kessel Run | Bonus Ep.
This month, as a bonus, we are releasing the VIP Exclusive podcast called the TSW Kessel Run, an episode that we recorded at the midnight opening of Toys R Us for Force Friday II. The audio was recorded on mobile devices so apologies for the rawness of the sound. We had a great time at the event, where we met up with some local listeners/VIPs.
If you would like to be a part of the VIP community and participate inmate ups, giveaways, get the TSW Kessel Run every day and take part in facebook live sessions, head here and sign up for as little a £1 per month.
Friday
Skyhopper Podcast | Ep. XIL
This week, Ben and Ash are joined by Ash's sister Maggie! You may remember her from the episode where we did a commentary for the Holiday Special (if you deigned to even listen to it). Ostensibly, this episode is about looking back at the first two seasons of Rebels, but the hosts spend a lot of time discussing the big news with Colin Trevorrow, as well as the Rebels Season 4 trailer. This is just a fun episode done in the classic Skyhoppers style!
Daily
Talk Star Wars - Kessel Run
A TSW VIP exclusive daily podcast hosted by Marc G.
Become a TSW VIP!
Get early access to what's happening at Talk Star Wars, access to unique downloadable content, including an almost daily podcast, entry into our monthly giveaway, access to the VIP Facebook Group and exclusive coverage of events like Star Wars Celebration.
TSW Toybox Daily
A daily podcast from Marc Airey, a short form podcast looking at collecting news and toy reviews available directly through the main Talk Star Wars website.
Thank you for reading,
Tim
The Nerd Room Episode #86: Force Friday II & Rebels S4 Trailer
Join hosts Tim and Troy to discuss the huge week in Star Wars, including our Force Friday II stories, Episode IX director change, Star Wars: Rebels Season 4 trailer and much more!!
03:38 - Star Wars: Episode IX Director Change
10:37 - Force Friday II (THE HUNT)
49:09 - Is there a Death Star in The Last Jedi?
57:13 - Star Wars: Rebels S4 trailer
Check out our NEW WEBSITE - thenerdroom.net
Be sure to check out more from the Star Wars Commonwealth and follow Talk Star Wars, Tumbling Saber, Generation X-Wing, Rogue Squadron Podcast, Skyhopper Podcast and the San Diego Sabers!
Star Wars Commonwealth Podcast Network | Weekly Programming
Podcasts coming this week from the Star Wars Commonwealth! A new show each day of the week talking about every angle of Star Wars!
#SWCpod
Monday
Talk Star Wars
Features Marc, Rob, Steve, and Paul; a quartet of awesome blokes from the U.K. who break down the news and themes of the movies, books, games, toys, and more. These guys are laid back, knowledgeable, and very welcoming of everyone to their vast ecosystem!
Rogue Squadron Podcast
Star Wars, cold beer, video games, and deep discussions; just a few of the things that help the Rogue Squadron Podcast stand out from the rest. Join your co-hosts and engage in lively conversation about your favourite Star Wars moments, and feel like you’re “in the room” for each episode.
San Diego Sabers Radio Podcast
San Diego Sabers is the premiere lightsaber combat training group in the San Diego Area! We get together on-air to talk about saber fighting, combat techniques, and lots of Star Wars geekery! For the full archive of podcast episodes, and also more information on San Diego Sabers, go to;
Tuesday
TumblingSaber
TumblingSaber podcast features the Star Wars-loving trifecta of Kyle, Cory and James; three Canadians who sling their special blend of insight and ridiculosity to bring you a unique slant on the news and rumours from the galaxy far, far away. They also love being put on the spot by listener input, so jump into the fray and set your questions to stun!
Wednesday
Generation X-Wing
With Star Wars in their hearts, but retro pop-culture on their minds, Rob, Anil, Josh, and Jamie deliver a weekly dose of nostalgia. From movies, music, television shows and hobbies, if you spent any time as a child in the 80’s or 90’s, these guys deliver a podcast that will leave you longing for the days before podcasts were even a thought on the cultural radar!
Thursday
The Nerd Room
The Nerd Room is a weekly podcast bringing you the latest comicbook, movie, and collecting news and reviews. Hosted by Tim, Troy, and Sunjay, a trio of hosts dedicated to bringing their unique brand of enthusiasm to podcasting about Star Wars, Marvel, and DC! Enter The Nerd Room every Thursday for the latest on all things comics and movies! Join them every Monday for TNR: Star Wars Rebels Aftershow!
TSW Monthly Episodes - Thursdays
TSW Toybox
Each Thursday TSW features a monthly show, starting with the TSW ToyBox, the show, hosted by Rob Wade, Marc Airey and Jeremy Rowling, is dedicated to the world of collecting, vintage and modern acton figures ships and play sets.
TSW Comics
The second Thursday of each month is home to the TSW Comics show where Marc Godsiff and Robert Cast discuss the latest Star Wars comics news and look at some of the new titles on offer.
TSW After Darkside
The third Thursday of each month will feature the TSW After Darkside, a short format, slightly more adult, clip show that features audio from before and after the recording of the main Talk Star Wars podcast. TSW After Darkside is not necessarily Star Wars focused, but is a lot of fun.
TSW Roundtable
The last Thursday of each month will be dedicated to the Talk Star Wars listeners and Star Wars Commonwealth hosts as Robert Cast puts together a super group of podcasters called the TSW Round Table. The Round Table sees Star Wars Commonwealth listeners pitch questions to the hosts who have to think on their feet and bring their A game in a round table discussion about the GFFA!
Friday
Skyhopper Podcast
The Skyhoppers Podcast features the dynamic duo of Ben and Ash, two Star Wars mega fans who take of their favourite topics from the Star Wars universe and discuss it in detail every week. They can guarantee their will be many tangents, but it will definitely be a good time.
Daily
Talk Star Wars - Kessel Run
A TSW VIP exclusive daily podcast hosted by Marc G.
Become a TSW VIP!
Get early access to what's happening at Talk Star Wars, access to unique downloadable content, including an almost daily podcast, entry into our monthly giveaway, access to the VIP Facebook Group and exclusive coverage of events like Star Wars Celebration.
TSW Toybox Daily
A daily podcast from Marc Airey, a short form podcast looking at collecting news and toy reviews available directly through the main Talk Star Wars website.
Force Friday II | Top 5 Picks
Although I won’t exactly be out on THE HUNT at this years Force Friday midnight rush, I certainly will be clawing my way through the stores this weekend to find a few key collectibles for my Star Wars collection.
Although I won’t exactly be out on THE HUNT at this years Force Friday midnight rush, I certainly will be clawing my way through the stores this weekend to find a few key collectibles for my Star Wars collection.
Here are my Top 5 picks for Force Friday II toys!
5. Funko Pop!
Pop! collecting has become much more of a pick and choose line for me, I am a fan of the sculpts but the line is just too big to be a completist. That being said, The Last Jedi Pop! line looks fantastic and I will definitely be starting the collection with Luke, Porg, and Snoke!
4. 3.75" Action Figures
The 3.75" action figures will always have a place in my collection. The 5 POA figures are at a great price point and the sculpts and card art from the previous two film releases have drawn me back into 3.75" collecting! I will slowly pick these up as the waves drop and save my FF cash for some of the bigger pieces (but I'll definitely be grabbing the Luke!)
3. Disney Store Elite Series
The Elite Series has slowly become one of my favourite lines and is the single Star Wars collectible line I am seriously considering displaying out of the box. I'll be picking up the Snoke, the Praetorian Guard, and the Execution Trooper and wait on some of the others to see if they are discounted the same way TFA and Rogue One lines were.
2. Lego
I have recently made the decision to scale back some of my lego collecting and only purchase ships and large vehicles in the Star Wars line and The Last Jedi lego is delivering on my collecting focus! I am anticipating The First Order Heavy Assault Walker to be one of my favourite Lego sets in recent years! I can't wait to get my hands on it!
1. The Black Series
Fortunately Sunjay was able to find both Troy and I the entire first wave of The Last Jedi Black Series on the shelves at Walmart earlier in the week, taking a lot of pressure off of us, especially for the Hera and Thrawn! Now my sights are set on the Gamestop/EB Games 6" Snoke exclusive! Hopefully I am able to grab this before they sell out! If past EB Games exclusives have been any indication I shouldn't have any issues because they will be stacked deep on the shelves.
6" Gamestop Exclusive Snoke
What are your top picks for Force Friday II? Let us know in the comments below!
Thank you for reading and good luck on THE HUNT!
Tim
DCEJA VU
Why the DCEU and Star Wars Prequels are worth your time.........
Why the DCEU and Star Wars Prequels are worth your time.........
I admit, I’m very new to the Star Wars game. In the lead up to the release of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, I still hadn’t watched a single Star Wars movie. I know, I know, settle down people, I have since rectified that by watching all 8, so please put down the pitchforks. When I finally decided to watch the movies, I had asked Star Wars fans for their opinion on the correct order in which to watch the movies. The majority of people told me to “watch the original trilogy, ignore the prequels” (except Tim and Troy).
So, I took their advice, ignored the prequels, and only watched the original trilogy. This blockade of the prequels lasted until just this week when I finally decided to watch all 3 of the prequels. My ignoring of the prequels may have lasted forever if it wasn’t for a small vocal minority which had actually praised the prequels (Tim, Troy, and the SWC!). With that said, I’m very glad I took a chance as I ended up greatly enjoying the prequels. The prequels had some amazing fight scenes and a great narrative (including the origins of Darth Vader). I even believe that it’s one of the few trilogies out there that gets better with each film. Did the films have flaws? Of course, most films do. Were they as good as the original trilogy? No. However, since the original Star Wars films were released, can you name any Sci-Fi franchise that can match it in terms of quality, critic & audience adoration, and cultural impact? Of course not, because none exist! Don’t get me wrong, there have been some great Sci-Fi movies since Star Wars; Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan, Independence Day, The Matrix, and 2009’s Star Trek, but they all failed to maintain that quality throughout their respective franchises. Although they were excellent one-off films; they all fall short when compared to Star Wars. However, each of the films I previously mentioned are seen as brilliant cinema and are some of the most popular films ever made. Part of the reason is when they were released audiences judged them as their own separate film, with no pre-conceived notions of what to expect.
The hype before Star Wars Episode I was so enormous, given that 16 years had passed between Return of the Jedi and Phantom Menace, that fans would buy movie tickets to movies that were showing trailers for the Phantom Menace and then leave the theatre once the trailer played. I admit, upon first viewing of the Phantom Menace, that there are obvious flaws with the film. It’s my least favorite of the entire Star Wars franchise and I’m sure I’m not alone in that thinking. The film was expected to be perfect because in fans heads the original trilogy is perfect. Fans had seen each of those 3 films numerous times, memorizing dialogue, scenes and characters to the point where every little detail had been dissected and analyzed. Anything short of brilliance and The Phantom Menace would be seen as a letdown. Upon release of the other two films in the prequel trilogy, we got more of the same, and over time everything associated with the prequels became toxic, and some fans wanted the films swept under the rug and forgotten. They failed to see the fun and excitement that these films brought. The prequel films, in their own right, are imaginative, brilliant works of Sci-Fi, which should be watched by all Star Wars fans.
Now, what does all this Star Wars talk have to do with the first 3 films of the DC Extended Universe (Man of Steel, Batman V Superman, and Suicide Squad)? Let’s go back in time to 2012, with the release of The Dark Knight Rises which capped off the brilliant Batman trilogy from director Christopher Nolan. That trilogy would go on to re-define the superhero genre, make over $2 Billion worldwide with ground breaking movies, that still stand the test of time today. As well, this trilogy gave us what is perhaps the greatest character portrayal in any superhero film ever with Heath Ledger’s Joker. With Nolan vowing to never make another Batman film, WB thought it was finally time to build their own connected universe of films similar to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Starting with Man of Steel, the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) had taken shape, crafting out a universe in which it can spin into multiple movies and finally compete with Mavel in theatres. Anticipation was high before Man of Steel was released, as Christopher Nolan had worked on the screenplay with David Goyer (the same writer of the The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises). Much like the reaction from audiences with the Star Wars Prequels, the DCEU films did not receive the same box office numbers or acclaim as the movies that came before it. Fans began touting that the movie as awful, the character portrayal was not true to Superman, and the action in the film was overly destructive.
Zach Synder's "BATMAN & R2BIN"
Those who listen to our podcast know that I’m a big supporter of the DCEU and love each film, as I believe they do a great job giving us a realistic depiction of a world where Superman exists. These films are dark and gritty and have a different feel than the bright and fun Marvel Cinematic films. I’m not saying one style is better than the other, but I am saying having two distinct styles is better for everyone. It gives viewers a choice of different tones and they are not forced to watch the same thing. Do these 3 DCEU films have flaws? Of course! Were they as good as the Dark Knight trilogy? No. But can you name any Superhero trilogy that can match the Dark Knight in terms of quality, critic & audience adoration and cultural impact? No? Again didn’t think so. That’s because none exist. The Superhero genre is still new but we have already been spoiled with some fantastic films like Captain America The Winter Soldier, The Avengers and Logan. These films are all unique and brought something different to the genre, but all fail in at least one area when being compared to the Dark Knight trilogy. While The Winter Soldier and Logan did fairly well at the box office, neither film approached 1 Billion dollars. And The Avengers certainly didn’t have any Oscar winning performances. Just like the Star Wars prequels, we are getting the same swift and negative reaction with the DCEU. Everything about the first three films is now considered awful and people want us to forget them and sweep them under the rug to be forgotten by history. I can already hear people say if you want to catch up with the DCEU start with Wonder Woman and ignore the first three films.
Zach Snyder's "SuperJedi"
Part of the reason popular opinion labeled both trilogies as a failure is because of what preceded them. Instead of comparing to previous installments, I advise to watch these films in isolation as their own universe. It’s only when watching these films in isolation and free from comparison that we begin to see what each offers. I found both introduced us to engaging characters used to spin a narrative which spans vibrant locations and unique settings. They each tell an engaging story as they each set up their own unique universe. The prequels are all about Anakin Skywalker and they do a good job portraying his turn to the dark side and humanizing one of cinemas greatest villains in Darth Vader. The first 3 DCEU films are all about Superman, and his journey to the light. They did a good job portraying his rise, death and the world’s reaction to his death. In the prequels we get some spectacular light sabre fight scenes, fighting against a backdrop of energetic colors and an underrated score, even Episode I brings us a spectacular light sabre battle to end the film. The end battle in Episode III between Anakin and Obi-Wan on Mustafar, is one of the most beautiful fights ever on film, set against a backdrop of pulsating reds, yellows and orange which serve to enhance the fight. In the DCEU, for the first time we get a Superman who doesn’t hold back, fighting General Zod across Metropolis in an epic final battle that literally brings down the house. We also get something that Christopher Nolan never gave us; the greatest Batman fight ever recorded, in what is simply dubbed the warehouse scene. In the Prequels we get great villains like Darth Maul and Emperor Palpatine, and in the DCEU we see great heroes like Batman and Wonder Woman. Each trilogy is essential watching if you want to dive deeper in each respective universe.
I’m glad I finally gave the Prequels a chance, watching them helped me to gain a deeper understanding of Star Wars mythology and it makes me more excited to re-watch Star Wars Episodes 4, 5 and 6 now. Your experience at Wonder Woman is made more enjoyable after seeing her kick ass debut in Batman V Superman. I’m not saying all 6 films are masterpieces, or you will enjoy each film (honestly I didn’t enjoy Episode 1 or Jar Jar Binks and I recognize the short comings of Suicide Squad and Enchantress), however, they are still worth a watch. If you give them a chance, you will certainly be entertained and hopefully pleasantly surprised.
Now who’s ready for a DCEU marathon before Justice League?
Thanks for reading,
Obi-Wan Kenobi - A Star Wars Story Idea
What will the inevitable Obi-Wan Kenobi movie be about? Will he stay on Tatooine or will he go off world? I just recently listened to the audio book of Kenobi by John Jackson Miller, and I have a few ideas about what I'd like to see in a Kenobi movie. Read on for more…
What will the inevitable Obi-Wan Kenobi movie be about? Will he stay on Tatooine or will he go off world? I just recently listened to the audio book of Kenobi by John Jackson Miller, and I have a few ideas about what I'd like to see in a Kenobi movie. Read on for more…
So in John Jackson Miller’s Kenobi, we see an Obi-Wan who has recently arrived on Tatooine. A man who is getting used to being alone. A man trying to explore the Force and connect to his former master, Qui-Gon Jinn and a man feeling the intense loss after the events of Star Wars Episode III Revenge Of The Sith. These are some of the things id like to keep, albeit in a slightly different form.
Here is what id like to see…
The cold open should be the closing scene of Star Wars Episode III Revenge Of The Sith reshot with the original actors. Obi-Wan handing over baby Luke to Owen and Beru, before riding off on his eopie (kind of a Tatooine horse). I'm not sure howling we should spend with Obi-Wan in the cold open, perhaps long enough to see him in his home, the small abode we see in Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope. Maybe even a scene of him trying to reach deep into the living Force to reach Qui-Gon. Then we cut to the opening logo…
After the logo, we need to introduce some new old characters. Maybe Bail Organa, which would be a great excuse to get Jimmy Smits back into the movies. This could take place on Coruscant and give us a peek into the Empire some years after the events of Revenge of the Sith. I'd suggest ten years feels like a nice amount of time to elapse, but that would be dictated by some of the other characters I'd like to include. If ten years passes then Ahsoka Tano will have been working with Bail Organa as Fulcrum for some time. I'd suggest Ahsoka would ask Bail for Kenobi’s location so that she can reach out to him for assistance in addressing the Emperors Jedi Purge.
Sith Inquisitor
Every Star Wars movie needs a cool villain and if they sport a red lightsaber, all the better. This is where I'd enjoy a little fan service. I would live to see Starkiller brought into canon as a Sith Inquisitor, hell bent on taking down a high-value Jedi target in order to impress Darth Vader. Maybe we will get to see Vader via hologram, or maybe he only allows the Inquisitors to talk withVaneé at this point in time. Starkiller heads out into the galaxy to hunt some Jedi and heads to Coruscant.
At some point, Starkiller will need to become aware of Ahsoka and her place in relation to the Jedi. He follows her as she seeks out Obi-Wan.
When we head back to Tatooine we meet an Obi-Wan Kenobi, now very comfortable in his new life as Ben Kenobi, as he helps some local farmers chase off some invading Tusken Raiders. I have this image of a rugged looking Ben Kenobi in utility clothing, riding his eopie at speed across the desert, blaster rifle slung over his back, working alongside the farmers from the area, including Owen. The two men are close, good friends who trust each other. This will give us an opportunity to see a happy Obi-Wan. A man who has found a place he belongs.
Then a mysterious outlander starts to ask around about Kenobi.
Ben, fearing the worst goes in search of the mysterious visitor from off world and encounters a cloaked and hooded figure in a bar in a local town (Mos Eisley or Mos Espa seem a nice fit). The cloaked stranger soon reveals herself to be Ahsoka and the two old friends are reunited after years apart. Ahsoka visits Kenobi at home and pleads with him to return with her and help establish the Rebellion with Bail Organa. Obi-Wan will not reveal why he is on Tatooine but simply tells her that he has taken the Barash Vow and will only return when the time is right. At some point Owen should arrive at Ben’s home, thinking his friend is in danger. Ben introduces Ahsoka to Owen and all head to the Lars homestead to eat. Ahsoka meets a young Luke and plays with the child whilst the group of friends eat and trade stories of simple life on Tatooine.
On the ride back to Ben’s home, Ahsoka reveals that she sensed who the boy was and understands why Obi-Wan must stay. She asks Ben to share what happened to Anakin. Ben tell’s her that he killed her former master on Mustafar because he had fallen to the dark side. This will add weight to the moment where Ahsoka learns of Vader’s true identity. She will long to tell Obi-Wan the truth about Anakin. We should see the Skywalker lightsaber, and he should show that to Ahsoka as if to prove that their friend is in fact dead.
When Ahsoka tries once more to convince Ben to return with her, and she mentions the Emperor’s purge and Darth Vader, we should get the impression that Obi-Wan realises this Sith Lord is Anakin.
Then another mysterious visitor arrives on Tatooine…
When Starkiller arrives in pursuit of Ahsoka, he should leave a trail of bodies in his wake. Word travels across the wastes to the homesteads, and Owen once more rides out to help his friend, Ben Kenobi.
When Starkiller arrives in the desert to confront Ahsoka, it should be a call back to Star Wars Visionaries. When Maul tracks Obi-Wan to the Lars homestead and realises there is more hidden in the desert than just the old Jedi. In this movie, we should first get the reveal that Starkiller is on the trail of Ahsoka and the presence of Obi-Wan Kenobi is simply a bonus. Ahsoka will use the Force and her white bladed lightsabers to engage the Inquisitor. Ben and Owen watch on as the two do battle, Starkiller taunting Obi-Wan as they fight.
It's not until Starkiller senses an extraordinary presence in the Force that Ben is provoked. Starkiller reveals that he knows the presence is the son of Anakin Skywalker, a powerful gift for his Emperor. Owen enters the fight with his blasters, showing no fear, just fury as he defends his “son” from this fearsome warrior. Pushed to his limit, Ben ignites his lightsaber and joins Ahsoka in during the highly skilled warrior. Owen takes off on his speeder bike back to the homestead and Starkiller follows with Ben and Ahsoka in pursuit,
The fight resumes at the homestead where Beru takes young Luke to hide in the garage. Ultimately Obi-Wan, now complexity enraged, gets the better of the Sith Inquisitor and ultimately kills him right next to the entrance to Owen and Beru’s home.
Furious that Ben could have brought this Sith Inquisitor to their home, Owen tells Ben never to return and banishes him from Luke’s life. This could be made to tie into the events of the comic books and take place prior to the great drought that had Obi-Wan protecting the Lars from Jabba the Hutt’s men, in secret. An act that would lead to Owen insisting Obi-Wan keep his distance.
Ahsoka, keen to return to the Rebellion and inform Bail about the Inquisitor, makes one last attempt to recruit Obi-Wan to the cause. He refuses, asking her never to return.
When the movie ends we should witness Obi-Wan connect with Qui-Gon through the Force. Qui-Gon reassuring Obi-Wan that Luke is safe and Ben must remain a distant guardian for the child, that he has a great destiny.
I think a movie like this would allow Obi-Wan to remain on Tatooine throughout, but can still have some high stakes for the characters. It will allow for the live action introduction of Ahsoka Tano and explain how Ben fell out of favour with Owen. It will allow for some clarification about who knew Anakin was Vader, how Obi-Wan mastered the living Force and it introduces the concept of the Inquisitors so we can hold back Vader for the later films.
Thank you for reading,
Captain Rex 6" Black Series Exclusive
We got our first look at the Clone Wars Era Captain Rex 6” Black Series figure at this years SDCC and now we know it will be available as a convention exclusive this fall!
We got our first look at the Clone Wars Era Captain Rex 6” Black Series figure at this years SDCC and now we know it will be available as a convention exclusive this fall!
The fan favourite character was the leader of the 501st division serving under the command of Anakin Skywalker during the Clone Wars and can be seen fighting alongside the Ghost Crew in Star Wars: Rebels. Most recently Captain Rex was confirmed to be a rebellion trooper on Endor in ROTJ and will now be immortalized in the Black Series!
Forbiddenplanet.com revealed the figure and exclusive packaging for the Clone Era Rex late yesterday. The exclusive packaging is very reminiscent of the SDCC 2016 exclusive Jyn and 2015 First Order Stormtrooper. For me, the return to more exclusive packaging makes this much more desirable as it sets it apart from the standard BS card backs and makes it more of a display piece.
The figure is a standout amongst the many other iterations of 6" BS Clone Troopers, with its superior facial sculpt, armour details, and removable helmet the figure has versatility in display beyond a normal trooper.
I will definitely be chasing this figure when it drops later this year. Recently we have seen the exclusive figures find their way into retail shops (just without the exclusive packaging) so I wouldn't be surprised is this figure shows up on the pegs in a standard BS card back sometime in 2018.
2015 SDCC Black Series Exclusive - First Order Stormtrooper
2016 SDCC Black Series Exclusive - Jyn Erso
The 6” Black Series Captain Rex figure will be available as a convention exclusive at Rhode Island’s Hasbro HASCON (September 8-10, 2017) and MCM Comicon (October 27-29, 2017). The figure will then be made available on forbiddenplanet.com.
Thanks for reading and good luck in THE HUNT!
Tim
The Nerd Room Episode #83: Star Wars Commonwealth Questions
This week join hosts Tim, Troy, and Sunjay to answer some Comicbook and Collecting questions from a few of the members of the Star Wars Commonwealth.
This week join hosts Tim, Troy, and Sunjay to answer some Comicbook and Collecting questions from a few of the members of the Star Wars Commonwealth.
Thanks to Kyle and Cory from the Tumbling Saber and Rob from Generation X-Wing for sending across some questions for the crew to discuss!
Check out our NEW WEBSITE - thenerdroom.net
Be sure to check out more from the Star Wars Commonwealth and follow Talk Star Wars, Tumbling Saber, Generation X-Wing, Rogue Squadron Podcast, Skyhopper Podcast and the San Diego Sabers!
The Last Jedi | Funko Pops!
The Last Jedi merchandise continues to find its way online in the lead up to Force Friday II, and we now know what the main wave of The Last Jedi Funko Pops! will look like!
The Last Jedi merchandise continues to find its way online in the lead up to Force Friday II, and we now know what the main wave of The Last Jedi Funko Pops! will look like!
First Wave
#190 - Rey (Jedi Training)
#191 - Finn (First Order Disguise)
#192 - Poe Dameron
#193 - Luke Skywalker (Dark Ahch-To)
#194 - Kylo Ren (with Scar and no Helmet)
#195 - Chewbacca with Porg
#196 - BB-8
#197 - Rose
#198 - Porg
#199 - Snoke (Gold Robe)
#200 - Praetorian Guard
#201 - First Order Executioner
#202 - BB-9E
I'm not able to post any unofficial images but it looks like we will be getting new sculpts of Rey and Luke from TLJ Jedi training sequence and not just re-issues of the first meeting Ahch-To Rey and Luke from TFA. The Snoke Pop! appears to be the same head sculpt as the convention holographic exclusive, although with the flesh tone and golden robe. It is great to see that almost half of the first release Pops! are new characters from TLJ!
Funko has become a bit of a pick and choose line for me, but I'll definitely be chasing the Porg, Snoke (Gold Robe), Praetorian Guard, and First Order Executioner Trooper once they hit the shelves.
As with every Funko Pop! line expect there to be an extensive list of exclusives, including a set of Smugglers Bounty Pops! We will keep you updated on the latest official images and exclusive announcements once they are released closer to Force Friday II!
Which Last Jedi Pops! will you be on the hunt for come Force Friday II? Let us know in the comments below!
The Force Awakens Ahch-To Rey
The Force Awakens Ahch-ToLuke
The Force Awakens Snoke - COnvension Exclusive
Thanks for reading,
Tim
The Nerd Room Episode #82: Star Wars Force Friday II & Marvel Legacy
Join hosts Tim, Troy, and Sunjay to catch up on all the Star Wars, DC, and Marvel news in the weeks following SDCC 2017!
The crew takes a close look at the leaked images and lists of TLJ Black Series and 5 POA figures that will be dropping on Force Friday II. They also discuss the success of Wonder Woman, Marvels latest relaunch Marvel: Legacy, and much more!!
Join hosts Tim, Troy, and Sunjay to catch up on all the Star Wars, DC, and Marvel news in the weeks following SDCC 2017!
The crew takes a close look at the leaked images and lists of TLJ Black Series and 5 POA figures that will be dropping on Force Friday II. They also discuss the success of Wonder Woman, Marvels latest relaunch Marvel: Legacy, and much more!!
05:46 - TLJ leaked Black Series and 5 POA Figures - Force Friday II
21:46 - Leaked image of Snoke
27:09 - Star Wars Rebels return date
30:24 - The success of Wonder Woman
45:49 - Josh Brolin IS Cable
48:49 - Marvel Generation & Legacy Comic Events
Check out our NEW WEBSITE - thenerdroom.net
Be sure to check out more from the Star Wars Commonwealth and follow Talk Star Wars, Tumbling Saber, Generation X-Wing, Rogue Squadron Podcast, Skyhopper Podcast and the San Diego Sabers!
Luke’s missing Lightsaber
The lightsaber is an iconic symbol of Star Wars and has seen a continued reimagining of style and colour throughout the Saga. Given the importance of the lightsaber to the Jedi story, I was intrigued when the first Last Jedi Luke Skywalker figure images hit and there was no lightsaber in any of the Jedi Master's packaging
The lightsaber is an iconic symbol of Star Wars and has seen a continued reimagining of style and colour throughout the Saga. Given the importance of the lightsaber to the Jedi story, I was intrigued when the first Last Jedi Luke Skywalker figure images hit and there was no lightsaber in any of the Jedi Master's packaging. I have never been one to read too deep into things but the reason this has my attention is simply because of how all of The Force Awakens Rey figures where initially released in 2015.
Rey figures from the Disney Elite Series, Black Seres and 5 POA lines were all initially released without a lightsaber, and at the time this aligned with what we knew about the film. Now in hindsight, this was done to protect the major plot point of Rey being force sensitive and wielding a lightsaber.
After The Force Awakens hit theaters, all figure lines released a version of Rey with a lightsaber. The Disney Elite Series simply just re-release a direct repack of the Force Friday figure, only with the blue lightsaber.
With the release of the first images (the Black Series SDCC 2017 exclusive and leaked 5 POA figure) of Jedi Master Luke without a lightsaber, I immediately thought of the initial Rey 2015 release and that Lucasfilm was again protecting a major plot point. One of the more convincing clues, outside of precedence, is revealed if you look closely at the hand of the Black Series figure, you could convince yourself that it is moulded to hold a lightsaber!
Luke HAD to be amongst the first wave of TLJ figures, so satisfying both the fandom and the desire to keep a film secret was going to be a difficult task, but one that could be accomplished with a temporary subtle omission of something like a lightsaber.
Disney/Lucasfilm has a history of tenaciously protecting their film secrets as showcased by #ReyGate in the build up to TFA. Disney was so adamant in keeping TFA Rey reveal contained that they issued a copyright infringement claim when a Rey (Resistance Outfit) figure was accidentally released prior to the film and a fan/podcaster posted it to Facebook. We know Disney/Lucasfilm will go to great lengths to protect the secrecy of the films, so its not out of the question that the absence of Luke's lightsaber actually means something bigger.
Initial Force Friday release of Rey & BB-8
Rey (Starkiller Base) release in the first wave of 5 POA figures (Force Friday) with out a lightsaber.
Re-Release post TFA of Rey with the blue lightsaber
Rey (Resistance Outfit) released in wave 3 with a lightsaber and the figure behind #Reygate
What could Lucasfilm be protecting in The Last Jedi? Is there an epic lightsaber duel between Luke and Kylo or maybe even the Knights of Ren? Has Luke sworn the Barash Vow, as suggested by Marc over at TSW on the latest TWS Comics? My personal feeling is there is something big being kept in the shadows of The Last Jedi as it relates to Luke and his lightsaber and I will make the prediction that we are going to get another release of the Luke figures with a lightsaber. We may have to wait until December 15th to find out what the secret is but until then, let the speculation begin!
Let us know in the comments below if you think there is something more to Luke and his missing lightsaber or am I just reading to much into it?
Thank you for reading,
The Last Jedi | Black Series Waves 1 & 2
Using a proprietary Star Wars enigma machine the crew over at yakface.com have deciphered what the first 2 waves of The Last Jedi Black Series will look like! The first wave will be hitting shelves on September 1st, 2017 at Force Friday II!
Using a proprietary Star Wars enigma machine the crew over at yakface.com have deciphered what the first 2 waves of The Last Jedi Black Series will look like! The first wave will be hitting shelves on September 1st, 2017 at Force Friday II!
The Last Jedi Black Series wide release cards will likely have the same silver/black look as the Rey and Luke SDCC 2017 exclusive (just not connected). The first wave maintains the diversity of eras we have seen in the past and includes two repacks from the 40th Anniversary (in standard BS cards), two highly sought after Rebels characters and three new TLJ figures.
WAVE 1:
2x Darth Vader (Episode IV – 40AC repack)
1x Rey (Episode VIII)
1x Luke Skywalker (Episode VIII)
1x Kylo Ren (Episode VIII)
1x Grand Admiral Thrawn (Star Wars Rebels – SDCC repack)
1x Hera Syndulla (Star Wars Rebels)
1x Stormtrooper (40AC repack)
WAVE 2:
1x Snowtrooper (Wave 9 repack)
1x AT-AT Driver (Wave 9 repack)
1x Poe Dameron (Episode VIII)
1x Kylo Ren (Episode VIII) – wave 1 carry forward
1x Chewbacca?
1x Elite Praetorian Guard (Episode VIII)
1x General Leia (Episode VII)
1x Finn (Episode VIII)
Photo Credit: Hasbro
The only figure from the first wave we have not seen a version of is Kylo Ren. I would expect the appearance of the Kylo Ren figure to be very similar to the unmasked version we got in the TFA wave, only with his new scar and Vader-like cape.
The first wave case ratio is a bit interesting with the Vader repack being double shipped. My guess here is that Hasbro has a warehouse full of Vader stock from the 40th Early Bird pack and this is a retooling of the release to cut losses. Vader is always a sought after figure but I can see this repack being the peg warmer of the first wave.
If Hasbro maintains there shipping patterns I would expect to see Rey and Luke repacked in later waves, the same way Kylo will be in wave 2. I am actually surprised that Rey or Luke are not the wave 2 carry forward, given they will be highly sought after figures. My prediction is that Thrawn and Hera will be the difficult to find figures of the first wave as we may not see them repacked in later releases.
The 2nd wave of TLJ release has a much higher ratio of Ep. VIII figures with General Leia (seen at SDCC 2017) and the Praetorian Guard being that standouts! The repacking of Snow Trooper and AT-AT Driver is an odd choice but again we might be seeing this wave filled out with old stock as I'm still seeing these figures on the pegs.
This is very exciting news and hopefully you have been saving for Force Friday II as it is only a month away! Between the 6” Black Series and the 3.75” leaked 5 POA figures, its starting to look like Force Friday II is going to be another epic day for collectors!
Happy Hunting and thank you for reading,
Star Wars Comic Adaptations
The announcement of the Thrawn comicbook adaption at SDCC 2017 was met with a lukewarm reception across fandom, especially for those hoping for new in-Universe material from Marvel. This will be the first comic adaption of a new canonical novel and will stand alongside adaptions of TFA and Rogue One, but this is far from the first time stories from Star Wars novels have been adapted to comics.
The announcement of the Thrawn comicbook adaption at SDCC 2017 was met with a lukewarm reception across fandom, especially for those hoping for new in-Universe material from Marvel. This will be the first comic adaption of a new canonical novel and will stand alongside adaptions of TFA and Rogue One, but this is far from the first time stories from Star Wars novels or films have been adapted to comics. The entire Legends Thrawn trilogy was put to panels by Darkhorse in 1995, each OT film found an an adaption in the first run of Marvel comics (1977), and the Prequels saw their own comic iterations.
New Canon Marvel Comic Adaptions
Star Wars: Thrawn
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Comicbook adaptations in their simplest form offer a more visual type of storytelling and allow artists to translate written descriptions to the panels. Star Wars has always been a visual experience with a huge part of the story expressed through careful attention to world building details and state-of-the-art special effects. The novels are a fantastic addition to the Universe but I still find I’m craving more cinematically from the stories, and this is where comics come in.
What could be; an image of Ceina Ree drawn for Star Wars Fantasy Flight Game, Armada.
The next step in the the evolution of bringing these stories to life is an artist interpretation of the characters and scenes in the books. How could you not be excited about seeing Lost Stars or Aftermath adapted to comics or a full series worth of artist interpretations of characters like Ciena Ree, Thane Keyrell, Rae Sloane, and Norra Wexley?
With the current run of Dr. Aphra giving fandom the confidence in Marvel to create new and exciting characters in the Star Wars Universe, I understand the angst behind what could be interpreted as hesitation to produce fresh content, and maybe even double dipping. But, I really see this as an opportunity to enrich the novels with the visualizations that add an another layer to the Star Wars stories. I don’t want the adaptions to take the place of other comicbook stories but I fully support them being apart of the new canon and I'm looking forward to more announcements of comicbook adaptations!
To leave you with a tease, images of Norra Wexley and Rae Sloane drawn by Steve Thomas for the Barnes & Nobel release of Empires End give us a little more insight into what could be with more comic adaptions.
Norra Wexley
Rae Sloane
Marvel's next adaptation, Star Wars: Thrawn will hit shelves in February, 2018 starting with an oversized 30 page issue and will run for 6 issues.
What are your thoughts of Marvel adapting the new novels to comicbooks? Let us know in the comments below!
Tim
The Nerd Room Episode #81 P2: Star Wars at SDCC 2017 & D23
Join hosts Troy and Tim to discuss all of the Star Wars news and reveals from SDCC 2017 and D23! The guys touch on announcements from Hasbro, Lucasfilm Publishing, Disney Parks and breakdown the BTS reel from D23.
Join hosts Troy and Tim to discuss all of the Star Wars news and reveals from SDCC 2017 and D23! The guys touch on announcements from Hasbro, Lucasfilm Publishing, Disney Parks and breakdown the BTS reel from D23.
05:29 - Hasbro Panel - SW Black Series Reveals
22:51 - Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge (SW Land) & Hotel
29:16 - Journey to TLJ books announced
41:04 - The Last Jedi BTS trailer & new posters
Be sure to check out more from the Star Wars Commonwealth and follow Talk Star Wars, Tumbling Saber, Generation X-Wing, Rogue Squadron Podcast, Skyhopper Podcast and the San Diego Sabers!
SDCC 2017 | Highlight Panels
San Diego Comic-Con is upon us! Here are some of the key panels from Star Wars, Marvel, and DC to keep an eye on over the weekend!
San Diego Comic-Con is upon us! Here are some of the key panels from Star Wars, Marvel, and DC to keep an eye on over the weekend!
For those looking to experience more of SDCC you can stream most of the SDCC Marvel Panels right HERE!
All panel times are PST
**Streamed Panels
Thursday July 20th
20th Century Fox (11:30PM–12:30PM PT, Hall H)
One of the big three Studios opens the convention with their keynote panel. Kingsman: The Golden Circle, Deadpool 2, New Mutants, X-Men: Dark Phoenix will all be on display as Fox tries to find their place in a crowded CMB world!
JAKKS Pacific: Fall 2017 Sneak Preview (12:00pm - 1:00pm, Room 29AB)
Join JAKKS Pacific for a preview of all the new figures, collectibles, and RC vehicles they will be releasing in the coming months. Attendees will get an exclusive first look at new items for Nintendo, DC Originals, Justice League, Marvel, and Star Wars. Following the preview will be a Q&A with members of JAKKS's development team and special giveaways of their premium DC Originals Tribute Series figures.
Marvel: Next Big Thing (4:00pm - 5:00pm, Room 5AB)**
Get a sneak preview of what the rest of the year holds in store for your favorite Marvel heroes, as well as the upcoming Generations weekly series featuring the heroes of today teaming up with their counterparts from yesterday! Editor-in-chief Axel Alonso and editors Nick Lowe and Sana Amanat will be on hand with Cullen Bunn (Generations: The Phoenix) and Margaret Stohl (Generations: The Bravest) for a look forward (and backward) toward some of Marvel's greatest heroes.
Marvel Television: Marvel’s Inhumans (6:15PM–7:15PM PT, Ballroom 20)
The Inhumans have landed in San Diego! Special guests of the highly anticipated Marvel's Inhumans unveil an explosive panel moderated by executive producer Jeph Loeb. This event series will premiere a version of the first two episodes exclusively in IMAX theatres for a two-week window prior to the debut of the full series on ABC.
Friday July 21st
Marvel: Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (10:30am - 11:30am, Room 24ABC)**
Swing by this panel to see what's in store for all of your favorite spider-heroes! Join editor-in-chief Axel Alonso, Spider-editor Nick Lowe, writer Cullen Bunn (Venomverse), and other mighty Marvel guests for a spectacular discussion about Spider-Man, Venomverse, and more.
DC Universe Rebirth (11:15AM–12:15PM PT, Room 6DE)
DC Universe Rebirth has taken the industry by storm. The universe has been restored with hope and optimism, engaging storylines, and dynamic characters. Come discover more about your favorite DC superheroes, plus hear from the talented teams bringing these stories to life!
Lucasfilm Publishing: New Star Wars Stories from a Galaxy Far, Far, Away (12:00pm - 1:00pm, Room 7AB)
Get ready, rebels! Bestselling, fan-favorite authors Christian Blauvelt (Star Wars Made Easy), Cullen Bunn (Star Wars: Darth Maul), Christie Golden (Battlefront II: Inferno Squad), Claudia Gray (Leia: Princess of Alderaan), Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Star Wars Jedi Academy: The Force Oversleeps), Cavan Scott (Star Wars Adventures), Beth Revis (Star Wars: Rebel Rising), and Landry Walker (Star Wars Adventures) discuss their latest stories set in a galaxy far, far away. Also featured will be exclusive sneak peeks at upcoming stories, surprise guests, and giveaways exclusive to SDCC. Moderated by Lucasfilm's Michael Siglain.
Marvel: Secret Empire (12:30PM–1:30PM PT, Room 5AB)**
Hail Hydra! Things are heating up as Secret Empire races toward its startling conclusion. Join Mark Waid (Avengers), Humberto Ramos (Champions), and Matthew Rosenberg (Secret Warriors) along with Hydra double agents (and editors extraordinaire) Nick Lowe and Alanna Smith for all the latest news about the blockbuster series!
Hasbro: Star Wars (1:00pm - 2:00pm, Room 7AB)
Members of the Hasbro team discuss the popular Hasbro Star Wars line. Attendees will get an in-depth look at Hasbro's latest action figure offerings. Word on the HoloNet is that there may also be a few surprises, including a special product reveal!
Netflix’s Marvel's The Defenders (5:15PM–6:15PM PT, Hall H)
Daredevil. Jessica Jones. Luke Cage. Iron Fist. Four iconic superheroes. One stage. Nuff said! Jeph Loeb and surprise guests of the highly anticipated Netflix original series Marvel's The Defenders band together for a panel you do not want to miss! Be the first to get an exclusive look into the superhero team-up that everyone is talking about before its August 18 global launch on Netflix.
Saturday July 22nd
Warner Bros. Pictures (11:30AM–1:30PM PT, Hall H)
Warner Bros. will light up Hall H with a presentation showcasing some of its eagerly awaited upcoming releases, with exclusive footage and revealing conversations, helmed by master of ceremonies Chris Hardwick. The lineup includes director Steven Spielberg's Ready Player One,based on the hugely popular Ernest Cline novel, with stars Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, and T.J. Miller, author/co-screenwriter Cline, co-screenwriter Zak Penn, and Spielberg on the panel; the long-awaited Blade Runner 2049, Alcon Entertainment's sequel to the cult classic, which takes us 30 more years into the future, with stars Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford as well as Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks, Robin Wright, Lennie James, and Mackenzie Davis, writers Hampton Fancher and Michael Green, and the film's director, Denis Villeneuve; and the greatest superheroes of the DC universe, united for the first time on the big screen, with stars Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller and Ray Fisher talking all things Justice League, as well as an early look at director James Wan's Aquaman.
Netflix’s Stranger Things (3PM–4PM PT, Hall H)
Join the cast and creators of the pop culture phenomenon Stranger Things for an in-depth discussion on the acclaimed series, the journey to Season 2, and be the first to experience never-before-seen footage of what's to come this October.
Marvel Cup O’Joe (4:00pm - 5:00pm, Room 25ABC)
Here is your chance to ask Marvel's chief creative officer Joe Quesada about anything and everything Marvel. Got a question about your favorite hero? Want to hear the latest developments on Marvel's Legacy or our up-and-coming heroes? This panel has you covered! Also featuring executive editor Nick Lowe, director of content and character development Sana Amanat, and creators Kris Anka (Runaways), Ryan North (The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl), and Rainbow Rowell (Runaways)!
Hasbro Marvel (5:00pm - 6:00pm, Room 25ABC)
Hasbro and Marvel product experts will discuss some exciting news around Hasbro's ever-popular Marvel Legends product line. Attendees will also get a sneak peek at upcoming, never-before-seen Marvel action figures, followed by Q&A.
Marvel Studios (5:30PM–7PM PT, Hall H)
Marvel Studios president and producer Kevin Feige and special guests provide an inside look at the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe. With Infinity War taking centre stage at D23 look for Thor: Ragnarok and Black Panther to stand tall! Hopefully we get that Infinity War teaser trailer released to the public!
Sunday July 23rd
Marvel: ResurrXion (11:15am - 12:15pm, Room 5AB)**
The ResurrXion is upon us! The X-Men have been catapulted back to the forefront of the Marvel universe, and there's still more to come! join editor-in-chief Axel Alonso, executive editor Nick Lowe, and writers Sina Grace (Iceman), Marc Guggenheim (X-Men Gold), and Christina Strain (Generation X) for an X-citing discussion about the past, present, and future of all things X-Men!
Star Wars: The Last Jedi BTS Video
Lucasfilm delivered an amazing Star Wars: The Last Jedi BTS video at this past weekends D23 Expo! In true Lucasfilm fashion they teased a plethora of details but didn't give away much more about the plot than we could squeeze out of the first trailer.
Lucasfilm delivered an amazing Star Wars: The Last Jedi BTS video at this past weekends D23 Expo! In true Lucasfilm fashion they teased a plethora of details but didn't give away much more about the plot than we could squeeze out of the first trailer.
What are you thoughts on the BTS video? Do you like this style of release or would you have preferred a proper trailer? We will be discussing all of this in great detail in Episode #81 of The Nerd Room Podcast! Until then, let us know your thought in the comments below!
Thanks you for reading,
Tim
Star Wars: Forces of Destiny | Episodes #1-6 | Building Continuity
The first 6 episodes aired on Disney’s YouTube channel and the series will continue to air on the Disney Channel starting July 9th.
These shorts are carefully crafted to add little details to Star Wars continuity, and as someone who loves the details, I couldn't ask for more out of this new series!
Star Wars: Forces of Destiny is a canonical animated miniseries that spans all eras of the Star Wars universe, telling stories of our female heroes in 2-3 min episodes. The first 6 episodes aired on Disney’s YouTube channel and the series will continue to air on the Disney Channel starting July 9th.
These shorts are carefully crafted to add little details to Star Wars continuity, and as someone who loves the details, I couldn't ask for more out of this new series!
Here is some of the expanded continuity built in the first 6 episodes of Star Wars: Forces of Density.
Episode #1: Sands of Jakku
Timeline: Star Wars: The Force Awakens after Rey rescues BB-8 from Teedo
Official Synopsis: Rey fends off a creature that wants to devour her new friend, BB-8.
Significants to canon:
- Rey unknowingly uses the Force, not unlike Anakin during the pod races in TPM.
- First full appearance of the Nightwatcher Worm (partial appearance in TFA, named in Star Wars: TFA The Visual Dictionary).
Episode #2 | BB-8 Bandits
Timeline: Star Wars: The Force Awakens right before Rey and BB-8 journey to Niima outpost.
Official Synopsis: Rey and BB-8 take off on a speeder to flee scavenger thugs who want to steal BB-8.
Significance to canon
- The return of Teedo! This episode answers the question of why Teedo gave up an extremely valuable droid like BB-8 without a fight, it turns out he didn’t.
Episode #3 | Ewok Escape
Timeline: Star Wars: ROTJ after Leia meets Wicket.
Official Synopsis: Leia and Wicket work together to help Ewoks escape from stormtroopers.
Significance to Canon
- Stormtroopers prove to be even worse shots than we all thought.
- Its revealed that Wicket gave Leia the Ewok dress she is wearing during ROTJ.
Episode #4 | The Padawan Path
Timeline: Between episodes ‘Hunt for Ziro’ (S03 E09) and ‘Heroes on Both Sides’ (S03 E10) of Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 3
Official Synopsis: On her way to a Jedi ceremony, Ahsoka leaps into action to stop a malfunctioning droid.
Significance to canon
- The earliest chronological appearance of the Force-sensitive tree (first appearance in S5 E20 ‘The Wrong Jedi’ of the Clone Wars).
- Yoda gives Ashoka an extension to her Padawan braid.
Episode #5 | Beasts of Echo Base
Timeline: Before the events of Empire Strikes Back
Official Synopsis: Leia and R2-D2 must free Chewie from the clutches of a ferocious wampa.
Significance to Canon
- Brings the Wampa's presence at Echo Base into canon, a direct nod to the deleted Wampa scenes from ESB.
- The door that the Wampa is trapped behind might be the same one that C3P0 removes a warning sign from that leads to a Snowtrooper being attacked in a deleted scene from ESB. The scene was partially made canon in the reference book Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know.
Empire Strikes Back - Blu-Ray deleted scenes
Empire Strikes Back - Blu-Ray deleted scenes
Episode #6 | The Imposter Inside
Timeline: Based off of Ashoka's age potentially sometime during Season 5 of Clone Wars?
Official Synopsis: Ahsoka and Padme face off against a shape-shifting bounty hunter.
Significance to canon
- The shape-shifter appears to be the bounty hunter Cato Parasitti who made her first appearance in S02 E01 ‘Holocron Heist’ of The Clone Wars. This would be the second encounter between Ahsoka and Cato.
- This is the first mention of the Arthurians.
Look for my next summary for Episode #7-12 of Star Wars: Forces of Destiny coming soon.
If there is anything I missed, let me know in the comments below!
Thanks for reading,
Tim
The Nerd Room Episode #77: The State of the Cinematic Universe
Join hosts Tim and Sunjay to discuss the state of the Cinematic Universe in film. The Cinematic Universe is a relatively new concept to film and the guys take a deep dive into what has made it successful, where it has failed, and what new Universes we expect in the future.
Join hosts Tim and Sunjay to discuss the state of the Cinematic Universe in film. The Cinematic Universe is a relatively new concept to film and the guys take a deep dive into what has made it successful, where it has failed, and what new Universes we expect in the future.
They also discuss the bombshell news that Phil Lorde and Chris Miller have left the Han Solo film, fandoms hesitation with Star Wars: Episode 9 director Colin Trevorrow, Batman’s film anniversaries and much more!
02:55 - Star Wars Commonwealth Announcement
06:50 - The hesitation of Colin Trevorrow directing Ep. 9
20:31 - Phil Lorde & Chis Miller leave the Han Solo film
33:10 - Batman’s film anniversary
38:12 - Comic talk and picks of the Week
Sunjay - Action Comics #979
Tim - Secret Empire #4
48:13 - Venom in the MCU?
54:08 - The State of the Cinematic Universe
#enterthenerdroom
Be sure to check out more from the Star Wars Commonwealth and follow Talk Star Wars, Tumbling Saber, Generation X-Wing, Rogue Squadron Podcast, Skyhopper Podcast and the San Diego Sabers!
First Look at Marvel's Captain Phasma #1
Marvel has released the first look at the 4-issue comic series JOURNEY TO STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI – CAPTAIN PHASMA #1, a story that will bridge the gap between The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi!
Marvel has released the first look at the 4-issue comic series JOURNEY TO STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI – CAPTAIN PHASMA #1, a story that will bridge the gap between The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi!
The duo of writer Kelly Thompson (Hawkeye, Star Wars Annual) and artist Marco Checchetto (Star Wars: Shattered Empire, Star Wars: Screaming Citadel) bring us the story of how the chrome clad Stormtrooper escaped the trash compactor in the final moments before the destruction of Starkiller Base. The mini-series will more than likely lead into her appearance in The Last Jedi.
There are no words associated with the released panels, but they appear to depict the final moments of TFA from the perspective of Phasma. The art from Marco Checchetto looks fantastic and will certainly be one of the highlights of this mini-series.
Captain Phasma's back story will also be explored in the novel Star Wars: Phasma from Delilah S. Dawson (The Perfect Weapon), due out September 1st, 2017.
Thank you for reading,
Photo Credit: Marvel
The Black Series 40th Anniversary Wave 2 Case Ratios
The second wave of the 40th Anniversary 6” Vintage Card Back figures is slated to hit shelves in early June with some collectors finding them on the pegs right now! With that in mind, it's time to start thinking about how you are going to attack this next wave of Black Series figures.
The second wave of the 40th Anniversary 6” Vintage Card Back figures is slated to hit shelves in early June with some collectors finding them on the pegs right now! With that in mind, it's time to start thinking about how you are going to attack this next wave of Black Series figures.
When preparing for a Toy Run, which includes budgeting, I always start with a little prep work to make sure I am making the best choices in a fairly crowded collecting market. Spreading out your purchases by slowly picking up figures can go a long way if you are trying to budget your collecting funds. A strategy I often use is to try and predict which two figures are going to be the most elusive and concentrate on them when they first hits shelves. This strategy worked well on Force Friday when there were limitations on how many figures you could buy.
Other than pure luck, one of the important things to keep in mind when prepping for a Toy Run is case ratios (how many of each figure is shipped per cases of 8). The case ratios for the first wave of the 40th anniversary Black Series figures seems to have played a part in creating the difficult to find figures in wave 1, with R2-D2 and Han Solo being short packed with only 1 figure shipping per case.
Unlike the first wave in the 40th Anniversary series, which consisted almost entirely of repacked figures (Vader was the only new figure), we are getting three unreleased figures in wave 2: Jawa, Death Squad Commander, and Tusken Raider. All of these figures will move directly to the top of collectors must have lists but the 2nd wave has a much more favourable case ratios with two of the three new figures being shipped 2 per case.
Here is the case pack ratios for wave 2 of The Black Series 40th Anniversary figures:
(2) 40th Anniversary Jawa
(2) 40th Anniversary Death Squad Commander
(1) 40th Anniversary C-3PO
(1) 40th Anniversary Tusken Raider
(1) 40th Anniversary Stormtrooper
(1) 40th Anniversary Chewbacca
The Jawa and Death Squad Commander shouldn’t be too difficult to find but they are brand new figures so they will be highly sought after. Hopefully the higher shipping numbers will match the demand from collectors.
The C-3PO is a repack of the EB Games/Gamestop exclusive that is still kicking around on the pegs at my local shops. Completing the set with R2 is a must, but I don't expect this figure to be too hard to find.
Chewie was one of the peg warmers from the first TFA wave and he might end up carrying that distinction again with this wave. This version of Chewie was last seen in the first phase 2 wave of the Black Series (#04 - Blue Card) with a slight variation also found in the in the first TFA wave.
The Stormtrooper is a repack from an early Black Series wave (#09 - Orange Card) that may prove to be a difficult to find figure in wave 2. Collectors that missed this figure in its initial release may pick up more than one to complete both loose and carded collections. The Stormtrooper could be the wild card of this wave so make sure to pick it up if you see it!
It looks like the Tusken Raider will be this waves R2-D2 as it is the only new figure shipping 1 per case. It has been reported that this figure will be re-released with the Emperors Royal Guard/Lando wave in standard Black Series packaging later this year, but if you see the vintage card back version buy it!
A lot of collecting comes down to luck and being in the right place at the right time but having a plan never hurts, especially if you don't have endless funds. My priority for this wave will be the newest figures, especially the Tusken Raider, but I may grab the Stormtrooper up front and not take the risk of missing it!
Which figures in wave 2 do you think will be the most elusive? How do you attack The Hunt? Let us know in the comments below!
Thank you for reading,