Club Jade

Here’s a one-two punch of some awesome art for the week:

Ever wondered what would happen when the First Avenger comes across a Dark Lord of the Sith? Dave Dorman has, and created this mash-up of Darth Vader and Captain America for Wizard World Chicago 2011. Who’s inside that armor – is it Anakin or Red Skull? Next time, get a shield made of cortosis, Cap!

Meanwhile, Matt Busch has produced an exquisite map showcasing the travels and artifacts of Indiana Jones, pulling from the films and other Indy sources (The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, comics, video games, novels, and theme park rides). Proceeds from this piece go to American Disabled Veterans. Now to drop hints that this would make a great gift for me.

Crimson Empire III. I’m sure we all have things in fandom whose popularity mystifies us. I have many – enough for a complete post, probably – but perhaps one of the oldest is the appeal of Crimson Empire. Is it the eternal love of Dark Horse’s fanboys for bland musclebound men kicking ass? Or that, for years, the third series was dead and the story of Kir Kanos unconcluded? I don’t know. I’m not sure I really care. But for those who do, it’s on now — and mere months away. On Friday, Dark Horse revealed Dave Dorman’s cover for Crimson Empire III #1 and two interior pages from the Dark Horse Presents story. Meanwhile, Mike Richardson and Randy Stradley talk about the series with StarWars.com

Deceived. Gotta love it when the author does their own review roundup. Got questions for Kemp? He’ll be doing a chat on the Star Wars Book Facebook page on Wednesday.

Historic! Shadowlocked takes a look at 20 years of the Expanded Universe. I have a few quibbles – Shadows of the Empire didn’t have a video game based on it because it was popular, but because the whole enterprise was a marketing test run for the PT… And I’m pretty sure Traviss never claimed to have Zahn’s blessing to kill off Mara – but it’s still a fairly interesting primer.

Interview. John Jackson Miller at MidSouthCon.

And finally… You can get an Insider subscription no matter where in the world you live. Handy!

Hasbro profits tumble after Lucas stock buyback, but sales are strong for Transformers and Spider-Man toys.

No Harry! I swear!

• Jim Ward interviewed by San Jose Mercury News.

• THX moves beyond theaters.
• Pablo on why you don’t want to fly too close to Luke or stand too near Leia.
• Dave Dorman profiled in local paper.
• German robot masters walking
• Hamill not SW trivia master.
• Another Slave Leia group photo planned at Comic-Con. Sigh.
• Chewbacca dies at age 26. (Warning! PDF link.)

John Alvin, Dave Dorman, Tsuneo Sanda and more in the third wave of artist announcements.

- Obi-Wan’s Jedi robe goes on sale
- George heads back for another round at the annual Toyota Pro-Celebrity Race.
- Star Wars illustrator Dave Dorman gives up appearances in exchange for being there for his family
- One collector loses his collection to thieves

Rebelscum has a scan of the ROTS adaption cover art. It’s by Dave Dorman, who I can’t recall seeing for a while. Extremely picky artist types will note the faces are slightly off, giving Anakin and Padme that Young Jedi Knights look.