Interview: Tom Hodges on The Clone Wars webcomic

With the start of the third season of The Clone Wars webcomic this week, fan-favorite Star Wars artist Tom Hodges has broken some new ground – adding the role of the story writer on top of the art work. Tom took the time to answer a few questions from Club Jade about this season’s webcomic, “The Valsedian Operation” and the creative process. Continue reading “Interview: Tom Hodges on The Clone Wars webcomic”

The Clone Wars returns with lots of hot trooper action

Hey! Apparently the new season of some Star Wars TV show starts up on Friday. Have you heard? (Ha.)

Yes, The Clone Wars returns with ‘Clone Cadets’ and ‘Arc Troopers.’ Also back is the webcomic, which relaunches for the new season with ‘The Valsedian Operation’ from Tom Hodges and Pablo Hidalgo.

The clip above is courtesy Big Shiny Robot, who had several folks in San Francisco attending the red carpet premiere… And discovering some possible censorship on the part of Cartoon Network. In less controversial news, Ashley Eckstein revealed that Imperial logo earrings and Yoda pajamas are on the way from Her Universe. (What’s been getting the biggest ink is Seth Green and Matt Senreich, but been there done that.)

Check out a critical mass of red carpet photos on the StarWars.com Flickr.

If you have a craving that can’t wait, the official site has some videos featuring Dave Filoni answering your no-doubt burning questions on Leia Troopers, Plo Koon (naturally,) MASH Troopers and the fate of Rumi Paramita. Plus a profile of Anakin. Oh, Matt Lanter, you are so much prettier than that other guy.

EU newsbits: TFU demo, comic, Karpyshyn interview

Soul Calibur IV/The Force Unleashed comic illustrated by Tom Hodges

  • Gaming: Gamers can now get their hands on The Force Unleashed demo – an early level of the game that takes place at a TIE Fighter Construction Facility – from either Xbox Live or the PlayStation Network.
  • Comic: StarWars.com has an original comic, Visions of the Blade, that ties into both Soul Calibur IV and The Force Unleashed. It’s illustrated by Tom Hodges.
  • Interview: The EUCast has a Cantina Chat with author Drew Karpyshyn.

The Clone Wars weekly web comic is coming

Grant Gould broke the news last night (at least online) that he, Tom Hodges, Katie Cook, and Jeff Carlisle will be working on a The Clone Wars web comic for StarWars.com to accompany the tv series. Hodges revealed more this morning on the TFN boards:

The quick version is each week, we’ll be given a story leading into that weeks episode. Now it could be a direct tie-in or peripherally connected from a distance because some episodes have story arcs not connected to each and every episode. Keep in mind, the series will not always be about Anakin, Obi-Wan and Padme. It will flesh out characters we’ve only seen bits and pieces of.

This will also NOT be “web-strip” format. It will be full color, comic format and each story will be 5 pages in length.

More as we get it!

CIV: The Expanded Universe

First things first: all the EU fans were scrambling for the early copies of Sacrifice, which promptly sold out before noon on Thursday morning. I was working all morning and thus missed out, but enough CJers grabbed copies that I was able to borrow one and check on a few spoilers. The second shipment came in Saturday morning, and I was finally able to grab a copy of my own. I only hope that next time the hotly anticipated book can come out a few weeks before the con, if for no other reason than…

Friday’s Legacy of the Force panel was the major EU event, at least for those of us with a focus on the books. All three series authors, both editors, and Pablo moderating. No Sacrifice spoilers allowed, which is a shame. I can understand the reasoning, but how long will it be before fans have access to that entire lineup again, with the pivotal book of the series hot on everyone’s mind? Hrrm. We did learn that the final LOTF book is titled Invincible. There were the usual allotment of questions regarding Jaina’s harem and the oh-so-hot topic of traditional Mandalorian dance. Quite a few Mando questions, actually – enough to warrant a dedicated panel next time, I’d say. (Please.) There was also some sort of recording going on during the panel, so it may be that audio will go up on the TOS in time.

Saturday was the Publishing/Continuity and Dark Horse panels. Continuity was sparsely attended, but whether that was due to it being the first panel on a day where folks were having trouble getting in or a general lack of interest I’ve no idea. The folks who did show up were quite enthusiastic, and the Wookieepedians were excited to get a look at the mighty and mysterious Holocron. And we learned that Plagueis is still a Muun, even with his book canceled. (Curses!) They also may reprint the Making of books for ESB and ROTJ, adding new photos and material.

The Dark Horse panel, later in the day, was packed, but they’re holding back any big announcements until later in the year. Something big is planned for 2008 and 2009… Let’s hope it’s not just TFU tie-ins. They did, however, talk about reviving the Tales concept as an annual… And there were a lot of Legacy questions, but nothing particularly groundbreaking.

Other EU news

And of course, the Clone Wars footage…