Star Wars out this week: Force Friday brings Spark of the Resistance and plenty more

It’s the week of Force Friday, which means that in addition to the usual Tuesday (five books!) and Wednesday (three comics!) releases, we also have two novels coming later than usual.

Our headliners, out Friday, October 4, are our first Journey to The Rise of Skywalker titles: Justina Ireland’s Spark of the Resistance and Cavan Scott and Elsa Charretier’s Choose Your Destiny: A Finn & Poe Adventure, plus all the usual sticker books and the like. And toys. So many toys, not just for TROS, but The Mandalorian as well.

But first up on, Tuesday, October 1, is the hardcover script of Cavan Scott’s Dooku: Jedi Lost, the audio drama that originally came out back in April. Then there’s illustrated storybook The Skywalker Saga by Delilah S. Dawson and Brian Rood. And it’s also time to nab Christian Blauvelt’s Be More Leia and Be More Lando and the charming Creatures Big & Small from Caitlin Kennedy, Calliope Glass and Katie Cook.

Then, on Wednesday, October 1, it’s time for Return to Vader’s Castle #1, Star Wars #72 and Doctor Aphra #37.

And that’s pretty much out book allotment for the month of October, but expect more comics, particularly the rest of Return to Vader’s Castle. This also gives us plenty of time to finish up Spark, since Del Rey’s JTROS offering, Resistance Reborn by Rebecca Roanhorse, isn’t coming until November 5.

Video: Star Wars Story Talk: ABC-3PO, LEGO Star Wars Days, The Freemaker Adventures

Star-Wars-Story-Talk-6-26-2016-title-card

The hunt for a new name for my video series is over! Since we mostly focus on the latest in new Star Wars storytelling in TV, films, books, comics, and events, Unboxing Star Wars is now Star Wars Story Talk! Yowie the skunk, Baby Jawa, and I review the latest book for the kid set: Star Wars: ABC-3PO, by Calliope Glass and Caitlin Kennedy, with illustrations by Katie Cook. We also flash back to LEGO Star Wars Days held earlier this month at LEGOLAND California and discuss the new LEGO Star Wars TV series, The Freemaker Adventures. For more details on the LEGOLAND event, check out my article on starwars.com: LEGO Star Wars Days. Plus random fun with a Jawa buddy, and then some Baby Jawa fun time!


Quick reviews
→ Star Wars: ABC-3PO – Two thumbs up! Love the Katie Cook illustrations and fun rhymes by Calliope Glass and Caitlin Kennedy. Great for fans whether kids or parents! (For ages 3-5)
→ LEGOLAND California: LEGO Star Wars Days 2016 – A lot of fun! In a year without any new permanent Star Wars additions to Miniland, the park still knows how to make a great Star Wars event with plenty of unique activities including photo ops with costumers from the 501st Legion, Rebel Legion, and Mandalorian Mercs; the really awesome Fan Gallery, showcasing amazing Star Wars-themed builds from LEGO fans; family build, trivia and costume contests; and a bunch of scavenger hunts. Plus sneak preview screenings of the first episode of LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures.
→ LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures. Thumbs up! If you’re a fan of the previous LEGO Star Wars series, this new show on Disney XD will delight! Maybe a little more kid-focused than some of the previous series, it still contains the great mix of Star Wars stories with LEGO humor, and introduces a new set of heroes!

Get more info on Wear Star Wars Every Day or make a donation at GoFundMe or sign up to make a per-day pledge.

Note: Disney-Lucasfilm Press provided a copy of Star Wars: ABC-3PO for review.

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!

Expanded Universe newsbits: Art, comics, e-books!

IMAGE: Mara and Luke by Katie Cook

Links for breakfast: Bite-size news

Step 1: An army of telepathic mice-men...With blackjack! And hookers!

Elsewhere in the media…

On StarWars.com