Tag: the force unleashed

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It’s a Legends-heavy crowd for Hasbro’s 2016 fan choice figure poll

Black series Mara Jade (Yakface.com)The Star Wars Fan Figure vote finalists are in, and it’s a Legends-heavy field this year: Jaina Solo, The Force Unleashed’s Starkiller, Darth Talon from the Legacy comics and even our own namesake Mara Jade. Rounding out the choices are The Clone Wars’ Captain Rex and bounty hunter Dengar.

(Were certain Legends zealots doing some targeted ballot-stuffing to ensure this outcome? Oh, definitely. Yet in the grand scheme of things, they clearly followed the rules, and there’s no malice to be done here. An action figure hurts no one, so let them have their fun.)

Mara won this a couple years back, and even the resulting figure was something of a disappointment, I don’t really feel tempted to vote for her again. (That Fan’s Choice was her third Hasbro figure, and every single one had to be wearing that silly catsuit, apparently.) Having three women in the finals might be unprecedented, but I don’t find any of the choices all that exciting. Vote as you will: The winner will be announced at Hasbro’s SDCC panel on Friday.

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Out this week: Heir to the Empire 20th Anniversary Edition and more

On Sale Today!Today is the release day for the 20th anniversary of Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn. As Erich points out on Facebook, this new edition contains:

  • Special annotations from author Tim Zahn and editor Betsy Mitchell
  • Crisis of Faith, Zahn’s new novella featuring Thrawn
  • Foreword by Lucas Licensing President Howard Roffman, an Afterword by Betsy Mitchell, and an introduction by Zahn

Also out today: Paperback version of Sean Williams’ The Force Unleashed II.

Comics: Out this week (check your store for possible Labor Day-induced shipping delays): Dark Times: Out of the Wilderness #2

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William’s The Force Unleashed II up for tie-in award

The Force Unleashed II novelization by Sean Williams is a nominee for Best Speculative Original in the International Association of Media Tie-in Writers’ Fifth Annual Scribe Awards. (Shouldn’t it be in the adapted category?)

In his blog entry on the nomination, Williams also says that he’s working on a Star Wars short story – for the Insider, perhaps?

The Scribe Awards have previously nominated one Star Wars novel, Karen Miller’s The Clone Wars: Wild Space for Best Speculative Fiction Adapted (…it wasn’t adapted) in 2009, though the prize ultimately went to the novelization of Hellboy: The Golden Army. They also named Alan Dean Foster, who ghostwrote the original Star Wars novelization, a Grandmaster in 2008. Foster also wrote two Star Wars novels under his own name, 1978’s Splinter of the Mind’s Eye and 2002’s The Approaching Storm.

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Out this week: Clone Wars S2, TFUII, Invasion

It’s a good week for releases – or a very bad week for your wallet, depending on your foci.

With plenty of folks being bored with what we’ve seen of S3 so far, it’s a good time to pick up The Clone Wars Season 2 on DVD and Blu-Ray. (StarWars.com has a bonus feature and virtual trading cards.) If you’re looking for a less passive experience, there’s also The Force Unleashed II – the actual game – sailing into stores today.

As for books, Death Troopers is now out in paperback.

Comic fans won’t go home empty-handed on Wednesday, either. Both Blood Ties #3 and Invasion: Rescues #5 – as well as the latest Star Wars Insider – should be in comic shops.

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Out this week: The Jedi Path and everything else

This is a big week for releases, which I guess is understandable seeing as all we’ve had for the rest of the month is a reprint. Hunker down, kids: I got a lot to go through.

The biggest item (literally) is Daniel Wallace’s The Jedi Path, the wildly anticipated “in-universe artifact” that will teach you to be a Jedi. Or so they claim. (I am skeptical. Of course, that’s my job.) It does have a neat case, though. Also out on Tuesday is Drew Karpyshyn’s Darth Bane: Dynasty of Evil in paperback.

Also of interest is The Art of Drew Struzan, which TFN has graciously reviewed.

As for Wednesday Dark Horse (or their printers) are making up for lost time with Blood Ties: A Tale of Jango and Boba Fett #2 and Invasion: Rescues #4, while those who prefer TPBs can pick up The Force Unleashed II adaption and the second volume of the A Long Time Ago… omnibus.

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Out this week: The Sounds of Star Wars, probably

No comics, but you shouldn’t have to look too hard to find The Sounds of Star Wars, which I’ve been seeing in stores for few weeks now. (Your mileage may vary, but Amazon is shipping it.)

Also, if you’re looking forward to The Force Unleashed II (out October 5,) there’s an excerpt. (Also Dynasty of Evil, an odd choice seeing as it’s been out for a while, but there’s a paperback imminent and I suppose they’re trying something new..?)

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Celebration V book and comic news: Wraith Squadron, Fate of the Jedi, Crimson Empire 3 and more

Del Rey brought plenty to the table for Celebration, but the biggest EU news is without a doubt the reveal that Aaron Allston will be writing a brand-new Wraith Squadron novel. It’s too early for details, but expect a spring/summer 2012 release date.

We also learned that Thrawn will appear in Zahn’s Hand of Judgment, Drew Karpyshyn will be writing a third Old Republic novel, Jeff Grubb’s 2012 paperback will feature Hutts, and Han Solo will appear in the Dash Rendar/Holostar novel. And TFN reports that something is in the works for the 20th anniversary of Heir to the Empire, to which I say: Damn straight.

As for Fate of the Jedi, we learned that the final book will be titled Apocalypse. Cheery! Also addressed was the heightening of drama, Vestara’s role, and (sigh) the whole Jacen/Tahiri thing. Except, not really. (I do love the Mando quote, of course.)

Meanwhile, the comic fans got a surprise of their own: Crimson Empire III is a go, for real this time. The 6-issue series will begin in March with Mike Richardson and Randy Stradley scripting and Dave Dorman on covers.

Knight Errant got a big push, complete with a costumed representation, but if the EUC report is anything to go by it’s too soon for much of a reveal.

As for Legacy, there are currently no plans for anything after the War mini – Ostrander and Duursema will “will be working on something entirely different.”

The rest of the news rehashes much we’ve already heard, but a hardcover edition of Dark Empire will commemorate the comic’s twentieth anniversary. And the return of Dark Horse Presents may yield some Tales-like stories.

Also getting some love at the con (but not enough for their own entry) was The Force Unleashed (Yoda? Really? That Muppet needs a better agent.) and The Old Republic.