Tag: merchandise

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Star Wars is on the money, at the zoo, and more…

Chewbacca and Han Solo are looking to make a few more credits.These credits will do fine: The Pacific island nation of Niue will be issuing a series of Star Wars coins, starting in November. Ten $1 coins and eight $2 coins are being issued in this first part of their Star Wars series, which will continue with additional designs to be released in 2012, to coincide with the 3-D movie release, for a total of 40 coins. While they are legal tender on Niue (Queen Elizabeth II is on the obverse) and made by the New Zealand Mint, the coins probably won’t see much circulation on their island home as they will be minted in small quantities for sale on the collector’s market – no more than 50,000 of the $1 coins will be minted, while the $2 coins will be limited to only 7,500.

The $1 silver-plated coins sport the likenesses of ten classic trilogy characters: Yoda, Darth Vader, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, C-3PO, Han Solo, Obi-wan Kenobi, R2-D2, Chewbacca, and Emperor Palpatine. Each of these, shipped in a holder, will cost about $20 US.

You got an ATM in that torso Lite-Brite?The $2 coins will come in special four-packs with display cases – the dark side set of four coins (Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine, Stormtrooper, and Death Star) comes in a case shaped like Darth Vader’s mask, complete with breathing sound effects. The Rebel Alliance set comes in a Millennium Falcon case with hyperspace sounds and includes a Luke Skywalker & Princess Leia Organa coin, Han Solo & Chewbacca, Yoda & Obi-wan Kenobi, and C-3PO & R2-D2. Don’t expect to just pay 2 Niue dollars for these, as each of these coins is a whopping one ounce of silver!

Don’t feed the rancor! The Los Angeles Zoo will be having a Star Wars Day on August 27, including character visits, a sneak peek at the Blu-ray special features, and lots of comparisons between real world animals and the creatures and aliens of a galaxy far, far away. Just don’t pull a Jar Jar and accidentally let the animals loose!

Revelations decoded? Last week saw the release of two Star Wars comics, and launch of comics reviews on Big Shiny Robot by a familiar face. Check out GONK’s review of Invasion: Revelations #2 andThe Old Republic: The Lost Suns #3.

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Japanese-style Jaina Solo figure coming from Kotobukiya

Licensee Kotobukiya will be releasing a Jaina Solo Bishoujo statue, it seems. (More proof? Heard about it from @StarWars.) While I’m happy see an Expanded Universe character get some non-Hasbro love (and George knows that’s sparing enough,) I’m not really sure what to think of the whole Bishoujo thing, other than to be grateful she’s not flashing her panties.

Speaking of non-Hasbro EU love, did anyone hear anything about that Mara figure Sideshow has said is in the pipeline? Anything? Bueller?

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Comic-Con news: Book of Sith coming in 2012

Book of SithThe team of The Jedi Path now invites readers to delve into the Dark Side with Book of Sith, coming from Becker & Mayer through Amazon Publishing in January 2012.

At Comic-Con International, Epic Ink (part of Becker & Mayer) is showcasing the amazing (and large) Star Wars: The Blueprints by J. W. Rinzler, in its first public appearance, but is also spreading the word about the upcoming project, Book of Sith. Don’t want to shell out $500 for Star Wars: The Blueprints? Maybe you can win a copy in Epic Ink’s Comic-Con Giveaway! Or just drool over it virtually with the trailer.

You’ll also want to check out the cover art for Drew Karpyshyn’s Revan novel:

And in other Comic-Con news, check out Swank-mo-tron’s review of the Star Wars Blu-ray experience at Comic-Con’s Preview Night.

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Star Wars Shop is closing down: What now?

In the latest in a string of big changes for StarWars.com, it was announced today that the Star Wars Shop will be closing down on July 18th.

I must admit I’m kind of shocked by this news – when the site’s advertising went away, I had assumed that the shop’s success was part of the reason.

The announcement says they are looking at “new ways to showcase Star Wars merchandise” and that information would be shared “in the coming months.”

Matt Martin, the site’s buyer, is staying with Lucasfilm, “shifting into something new,” he said today on Twitter.

For that matter, we’ve had no official word on Steve Sansweet’s replacement, though he’s been officially retired from Fan Relations for several months now. Could a reworking of StarWars.com coincide with that announcement?

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Her Universe debuting Star Wars charm bracelet, Battlestar Galactica necklace at San Diego Comic Con

Ashley Eckstein took to her blog today to give us a first look at the latest additions to the Her Universe jewelry line – and their first Battlestar Galactica product.

The Star Wars charm bracelet comes with a Her Universe logo charm, and will launch co-currently with Imperial logo charm and Rebel Alliance charms, with a Jedi symbol coming in the fall. (And, presumably, more to come next year if the sales are good?) A Naboo charm will be made in limited quality and only available at San Diego Comic Con, Dragon*Con and New York Comic Con.

Her Universe’s first Syfy product – the first to be revealed, anyway – is an adorable toaster necklace. Like the Naboo charm, it will be exclusive to SDCC, D*C, and NYCC.

I like the idea of the charms – even if you’re not into the bracelet, the individual charms can still be used on a necklace alone for a more restrained look. And the toaster necklace is hilarious!

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Wacky merchandise du jour: Artoo Operation

Select members of Club Jade have long been creating custom Star Wars board games – it’s why we have a Games Night at every JadeCon – but no one has yet approached the game of Operation… But now there’s going to be an official version. Alas, perhaps in deference to the youthful audience, the ‘victims’ are droids. A lost opportunity!

Someday, we hope, some brave Wild Karrde or Star Lady will find it in them to create the game as it should be: With Extra Crispy Anakin Skywalker. Consider the gauntlet dropped.

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Catching up: Her Universe, Blu-rays and more

Audrey M. Brown interviews Ashley Eckstein about Her Universe and female fans. Meanwhile, the new two shirts and kids sizes that debuted at Star Wars Weekends are now available through the Her Universe website. (Be sure to check out what’s on sale – several shirts are going for half off!)

  • Lucasfilm and Fox hosted a private media event in New York last week, which means a handful of new Blu-ray details have made their way to us, via Big Picture, Big Sound. Looks like the Precious Moments-esque complete saga set comes in the form of a booklet.
  • Some fans are so put out by Sony shutting down Star Wars Galaxies that they’re actually considering suing? There’s also a petition: Apparently at least 2,500 are still playing the thing, which I would have sworn was put out of its misery ages ago. Go figure.
  • Greenpeace is using Star Wars to strike back at Volkswagen for opposing environmental legislation in Europe.
  • Star Wars is #5 and Empire #2 on Total Film’s list of the 50 greatest sci-fi movies. Who beat them out? Well, I can tell you one thing: It ain’t The Godfather.