Happy Star Wars Day 2011!
Mark Hamill, right, portrays the character Luke Skywalker in this scene from the initial " Star Wars" release, with the droll droid C-3PO in this undated photo released by Lucasfilm Ltd.
Happy Star Wars Day! The unofficial Star Wars holiday is based on a pun from the films –”May the Force be with you” becomes “May the fourth be with you.”
Mimoco (www.Mimoco.com) is celebrating by announcing new, limited-edition TIE Fighter Pilot MIMOBOTs, who will join fellow Star Wars MIMOBOT USB character flash drives.
Here’s the description from MIMOBOT:
A fierce starfighter, TIE Fighter Pilot MIMOBOT proudly serves the Galactic Empire in combat with the same 
authentic characteristics of other fan-favorite, classic Star Wars MIMOBOT characters. Protecting your data from Rebel attacks, he wears the sleek, black flight suit and helmet featured in the Star Wars movies – Remove the iconic helmet to reveal his determined face and the USB port. Plug your TIE Fighter Pilot MIMOBOT into your computer to unlock exclusive pre-loaded Star Wars content including wallpapers, screensavers, icons, avatars, and sound-bytes. The TIE Fighter Pilot character flash drives, part of the Star Wars Series 6 collection, are now available for $22.95 at www.Mimoco.com.
Click past the cut for more images and a video featuring Mimobot USB flash drives.
- Matt Price
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Star Wars: Crimson Empire takes closer look at Emperor’s Royal Guard
Of the “Star Wars” comics not featuring the stars of the original trilogy, this is one I’d always heard good reviews about. Now that I’ve read it, I’ll concur: “Crimson Empire” is a very enjoyable expanded universe story.
Marvel’s original “Star Wars” adaptation provided spark to 1970s comics
Star Wars #1-6 (1977)
The first six issues of Marvel Comics’ ongoing “Star Wars” series adapted the first film. Written by Roy Thomas and drawn by Howard Chaykin, they’re not only a good adaptation of the film, they also make pretty solid comics.
RIP “Empire Strikes Back” director Irvin Kershner
Irvin Kershner is seen during the making of "Robocop II." (AP)
NewsOK has the AP report on the death of “Empire Strikes Back” director Irvin Kershner.
Kirshner, who also directed the James Bond film “Never Say Never Again” and “Robocop 2” died at age 87. Kershner directed what is generally considered to be the best of the “Star Wars” films and told Vanity Fair in October he tried to bring more depth to the “Star Wars” saga.
Read the full report at NewsOK.
- Matt Price
Authentic Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Ewok mask to be auctioned
From Heritage Auctions:
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – Considering how many Ewoks trolled the moon of the gas giant Endor as the Empire re-built its Death Star in Return of The Jedi, it’s amazing that more authentic Ewok masks and costumes haven’t shown up at public auction. That, however, is precisely the case, as evidenced by the advance buzz being generated by hardcore Star Wars fans as the Star Wars Ewok costume mask worn by actor Lars Green – who passed away in 2003 – in Episode VI prepares for its auction debut in Los Angeles.
The mask is part of Heritage Auctions Beverly Hills Nov. 13-14 Signature® Music & Entertainment Auction. It is conservatively estimated at $3,000+.
The mask has been consigned to Heritage by Green’s brother, Dr. Glen Green, a middle school teacher of U.S. History in Arcadia, CA. According to Green, there used to be even more to the costume, but time, his own children, and many Halloweens led to the disintegration of several key parts.
“There used to be hands and feet that went with the mask,” said Dr. Green, “but my kids used to wear it for Halloween every year, and wore out the hands and feet.”
While highly prized as a gift from his brother, Dr. Green had no idea the mask was worth anything until his middle school students let him know that what he had carried more than sentimental value.
“I’d take it out and put it on at school in October and the kids would go crazy for it,” Dr. Green said. “Recently the kids started saying, ‘you know, Dr. Green, that mask is worth a lot of money. You should sell it on eBay.”
Rather than taking his chances online, Green took the mask to the professionals at Heritage, who have seen a decided spike in interest in the mask based on both the popularity of the Star Wars franchise and the absolute rarity of intact examples of these costumes.
“We’ve been pretty much overwhelmed at the response to this mask,” said Kristen Painter, Manager of Music & Entertainment Auctions at Heritage. “People have been coming into our Beverly Hills office off the street, absolutely freaking out over this thing.”
There are two distinct schools of thought around the little Ewoks: Those who love the fluffy little gibberish spouting warriors, and appreciate their contribution to ultimate triumph of good over evil in Star Wars, and there are those who think it was the first completely blatant sop to merchandising in the long line of such plays that were to follow.
“No matter where you fall in this pop culture debate,” said Painter, “it’s difficult to ignore the impact that just seeing this piece makes. Strangely, it’s quite a powerful costume.”
This mask is just one of many such masks created for supporting players and background artists portraying the primitive, fierce, three-foot-high Ewoks who appeared in the 1983 sequel to Star Wars, as well as the made-for-television movies Caravan of Courage: The Ewok Adventure and Ewoks: The Battle for Endor.
The latex mask is covered in thick black fur, has plastic teeth in the mouth opening and tinted plastic lenses in the eye holes. It’s padded on the interior for comfort and a secure fit and can be definitively placed on actor Lars Green in Jedi, coming to auction directly from his brother.
“I’ve always really enjoyed it and shared it with my own kids and kids at the middle school,” said Dr. Green. “I just think it’s time to share it with everyone else.”
Christopher Nolan confirms Batman 3; She-Ra turns 25; Star Wars coming in 3-Da
It’s the most gruesome NewsOK Comics Podcast in history, as Kyle reveals what happened to him in a recent football game.
Star Wars in 3-D
The Los Angeles Times reports that “Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace” will return to theaters in 3-D in 2012 and will be followed in the stereoscopic format by the five other live-action movies set a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.
She-Ra turns 25
She-Ra
It’s the 25th anniversary of “She-Ra,” the He-Man spinoff that featured his sister, She-Ra, protecting the realm of Etheria from Hordak.
Matt Price talked to Melendy Britt, who voiced She-Ra, about how she became the inspirational 1980s heroine. Look for the article in upcoming editions of The Oklahoman.
Nolan confirms Batman 3 involvement
It’s not a surprise, but Christopher Nolan tells Empire magazine that yes, he will be the director of the third Christian Bale “Batman” film. No word on who the villains will be, however.
“If I haven’t announced it, I think that people probably all know at this point that I’m doing it,” he told Empire.
This week’s reviews are Captain America Patriot 2, Captain America 610, and Time Bomb 2.
Al Williamson remembered at Comics Reporter
The Comics Reporter has a great remembrance of the life and career of Al Williamson, who died June 12. Williamson’s art – from Flash Gordon to Star Wars to Secret Agent X-9 to a host of Marvel Comics inking assignments – was fantastic throughout his long career. He was 79.
My first exposure to Williamson was his art on the “Return of the Jedi” adaptation from Marvel Comics. It was also either my first or nearly my first exposure to Archie Goodwin, the writer, who was from Oklahoma. I read 
and re-read those comics throughout the summer of 1984, and by summer’s end, I was not only a “Star Wars” fan, but also a fan of Archie Goodwin and Al Williamson. (And the Bill Sienkiewicz covers were pretty good, too.) While I don’t believe the “Return of the Jedi” comics are available online, fans can see Williamson’s art from the “Empire Strikes Back” adaptation, which many fans prefer, online at StarWars.com.
I’ve read many Al Williamson stories since, and even owned a bit of his original art, and am always amazed at the mastery of the craft that he had.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in the cartoonist’s memory be made to either The Joe Kubert School, 37 Myrtle Avenue, Dover, NJ 07801, Attn: Al Williamson Scholarship Fund; or Yesteryears Day Program, 2801 Wayne Street, Endwell, NY 13760.
- Matt Price
Happy Star Wars Day
Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford in "Star Wars."
Happy Star Wars Day, everybody. May the 4th be with you. (More on what I’m talking about here.)
- Matt Price
Natalie Portman: Nerdage’s #19 actress
Natalie Portman (AP)
Queen Amidala herself, Natalie Portman, takes the #19 spot in Nerdage’s list of actresses with geek appeal. She was Princess Leia’s mom, starring in the three “Star Wars” prequels, and starred in “V for Vendetta,” based on Alan Moore and David Lloyd’s graphic novel.
Last year, she was cast as Jane Foster in the Marvel Comics-based “Thor” film
“I just thought it sounded like a weird idea because Kenneth Branagh’s directing it, so I was just like, ‘Kenneth Branagh doing ‘Thor’ is super-weird. I’ve gotta do it’,” she told Superhero Hype.
Principal photography on “Thor” began in January. The movie is scheduled for a May 6, 2011 release.
- Matt Price
Han Solo, P.I.
Our friends at The Bat Blog point out this Nerdage-appropriate YouTube video, called “Han Solo, P.I.” It’s a remake of the Magnum, P.I. intro, this time with Han Solo in the starring role, using footage from the original “Star Wars” trilogy.
Want to see a side-by-side comparison with the original intro? Makes it even more impressive, I think:
Funny to see some of the Harrison Ford-Tom Selleck similarities when pointed out like that. And of course, as many know, Selleck was the original choice for “Indiana Jones,” which ended up going to Ford.
- Matt Price
