IS FUTURE OF STAR WARS IN TELEVISION?

As an '80s kid, Star Wars fanship was all about the movie theater experience of watching the original trilogy of films on the big screen during my youth. That was complimented by playing with Kenner action figures re-enacting your favorite scenes and imagining new adventures for the characters with the toys. All in all being a Star Wars fan was all about the movies back then.

Sharing my passion for Star Wars with my children though hasn't really been about the movies at all though. It has been about enjoying the Star Wars experience on television. They've grown up being excited each week when we spent time watching together as a family a new episode of one of the Star Wars animated series. The kids have gone from youngsters to teens watching The Clone Wars, Rebels and now the Bad Batch. My kids are more invested in the cartoon characters of Anakin Skywalker, Ezra Bridger and Omega than anyone from the movies.

In fact, they've told me they don't even like the three "Disney" movies or any of the characters from those films. My son even describes the adventures of Rey, Finn and Poe as "just a money grab" and "those movies kinda suck."  Yet he is excited whenever a new episode of the live-action Mandalorian or Boba Fett tv show are released. With the success of these Disney Plus shows and future Star Wars movie releases in limbo, you have to wonder did Kathleen Kennedy and J.J. Abrahams kill the future of the franchise when it comes to blockbuster theatrical releases? And if so, does it really matter with Star Wars having moved to new platforms for people to enjoy through streaming and video games?

Star Wars may be as popular as it has ever been based upon its television shows. While George Lucas prequel movies are still dreaded by many, the Clone Wars animated series have redeemed many of the characters from those movies. Darth Maul evolved into one of Star Wars best villains thanks to his role in Clone Wars and Rebels. When I think of Anakin Skywalker it isn't Hayden Christian's performance that comes to mind but rather the Clone Wars character voiced by Matt Lanter. And his padawan in Clone Wars, Ahsoka Tano has become a fan favorite with her own live action tv series on its way. She is more popular with my son and daughter than Princess Leia! 

Clone Wars wasn't just sci fi fluff; it had stories with real plots to them complimented with great action. It was a show that adults could appreciate just as much as kids. My son and daughter loved watching this show just as much as I did. While my Star Wars fanship began with the movie A New Hope, theirs originated through watching Clone Wars with their dad every Saturday for a number of years.

It continued with Star Wars: Rebels which we would always make a special effort to watch together on Thursday evenings when new episodes debuted on Disney XD. This show provided them with new characters to embrace separate from anyone from the movies. Ezra orphaned by the Empire sending his parents to a prison camp discovers he has a connection with The Force. He meets up with a former Padawan orphaned from the Jedi Order by the Empire's purge. Together with other colorful characters they begin a Rebellion. 

For my kids, not the new Disney movies but rather Rebels is the equivalent of what the original trilogy movies where for me. They are more excited about news of another season of the most recent Star Wars animated series, Bad Batch, rather than any announcements of new movies being produced. Bad Batch is further enhancing the cannon of the Star Wars television universe by connecting the time span between Clone Wars and Rebels. This follows a group of elite clone troopers finding their way through a changing galaxy at the end of the Clone Wars and protecting a very valuable and rare asset, Omega, a youthful female version of their kind.

In addition to the animated series, we now have live action shows in the picture. The Mandalorian with Baby Yoda was fantastic! And it is incorporating elements of the animated series creating a television cinematic universe that while related to the movies can essentially stand on its own merits. Seeing Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, Ahsoka Tano, Cad Bane, Din Djarin and Grogu together merging cartoons, live action tv and movies in a chapter of the Book of Boba Fett was so incredible! I have to say Cad Bane is one of my favorite Star Wars characters overall so I was geeked to see him.

With Disney investing millions of dollars into promoting their Star Wars movie characters in The Last Jedi films and new theme park lands, the question is will there be a conflict with the television shows that seem to embrace George Lucas' vision of a galaxy far, far away versus these other films which really don't seem to have been very well liked by mainstream audiences. How will this impact the Star Wars Lands that at Disneyland and Disney World that are branded around the new movies' characters? Do you think we've seen the last of Rey and her Resistance allies? 

Is the future of Star Wars stories now going to be television focused based upon a new generation of fans like my own children who are more invested in them or is there a future filled with new theatrical movie releases? Where do you see the franchise headed when it comes to future Star Wars adventures? 

PlayStation Television Ad Captures Nostalgia That Makes Fans Passionate About Star Wars

It's an exciting time to be a Star Wars fan!  A hit television series, Rebels, just kicked off its second season, brand new Star Wars video games are hitting store shelves (Disney Infinity 3.0 Star Wars Saga & Electronic Arts' Battlefront) and of course a new movie, The Force Awakens, premieres in theaters across the United States on December 18, 2015.  While there has been a lot of buzz about the trailers for the movie, I have to say that this television advertisement for Sony's PlayStation really has been the most impressive marketing piece I've seen so far as it really captures the nostalgia that fans have for Star Wars which really is "The Force" behind the ongoing success of the brand.  If you haven't seen this ad yet, check it out!



That orange '70/'80s era carpeting so hits home for me in the scene with the kids playing with their Kenner Star Wars action figures.  These new additions to the Star Wars saga are arriving at a great time for my family as my kids are just at the right age for me to share my passion for these characters and stories with them.  Things are a bit different now though as when I was their age I had pretend lightsaber duels with my friends using flash lights like in the PlayStation advertisement but now my kids have high tech light up light saber recreations that make sound effects when you joust them together.  Some things don't change though as just like his dad who took a Empire Strikes Back lunchbox to school my son carts a Star Wars: Rebels one to first grade with him every morning.  My daughter opted for a FROZEN lunch box but she does have a cute Chopper plush she hangs from her school backpack.

I've been a fan of the comic books, novels, toys and movies revolving around George Lucas' original trilogy of films since watching them as a kid when they originally came out.  My kids aren't as much into those characters but love the new generation of characters in the Star Wars: Rebels animated shows.  We really are looking forward to watching The Force Awakens when it arrives at theaters and sharing in enjoying it for the first time together as a family.  Who knows maybe The Force Awakens will become the favorite part of the Star Wars saga for all of us?!



So what are you looking forward to the most in the upcoming Star Wars film?  For my kids it is getting a better peek at BB-8.

While for me it is seeing the return of "old friends" on the silver screen.

Oh yes and I'll admit we've purchased the Disney Infinity 3.0 Star Wars video game and pre-ordered Battlefront for our PlayStation4 so we will definitely be in a Star Wars frame of mind when the movie opens!

A SciFi Book Review: LORDS OF THE SITH

 **Warning Minor Spoilers**

I recently finished the newest Star Wars novel, LORDS OF THE SITH, written by Paul S. Kemp and found it to be a thoroughly enjoyable read.  Most of the Star Wars books I've read over the last few years have been pretty underwhelming and disappointing so I began reading this story without high expectations, but found myself pleasantly surprised by how much I really enjoyed this action packed novel.  I guess it takes a fellow Michigander like Paul S. Kemp to pen a quality story that will appeal to an adult audience of Star Wars fans like myself.  The novel starts out with an action packed space battle that reinforces why Darth Vader is a villain to be feared and wraps up with a jungle trek that shows why a menacing foe like Vader still bows down on one knee to Darth Sidious (aka Emperor Palpatine) as his Master.

LORDS OF THE SITH takes place a few years after the fall of the galactic republic and has Emperor Palpatine preserving order and allegiance to his imperial rule through military might.  The public, nor his military establishment,  realize that he is the powerful Darth Sidious and perceive Emperor Palpatine as an elderly and fragile politician.  On the other hand, Vader is not in the public eye but rather lurks in the shadows as an enforcer of the Emperor's most important mandates.  Rumors of Darth Vader's immortal feats are beginning to circulate throughout the galaxy adding a sense of fear to the public that the Emperor's minion is not one you want to cross.  The public doesn't really know if Darth Vader is fact or fiction until he is coming for them and by that time it is too late.  With this stage set, the Emperor finds himself with a firm grip of control over his Empire with only one person who could potentially challenge his dominion, Darth Vader.  So Darth Sidious sets out to test Vader's loyalty and demonstrate why the Emperor is the most dangerous and powerful of the two.

While the title would make you believe this is the principal storyline of the book, the relationship conflicts between the Lords of the Sith play a secondary role.  The main plot revolves around a character that was originally introduced in the Clone Wars animated television series named Cham Syndulla.  Cham appeared in two episodes of the Clone Wars leading a band of Twi'lek freedom fighters when their home planet Ryloth is invaded by the Separatist army during its battle with the Republic.  Now these freedom fighters are standing up against the Empire which has taken control of Ryloth and is abusing its population as a source of slave labor and depleting the planet's resources as the Imperials mine it for a mineral known as Ryll Spice which is a favorite narcotic used by many species throughout the galaxy.

Cham's efforts to bring down Imperial control of Ryloth are one of the first significant "rebel" challenges to the Empire's power and a spark for things to come in the Star Wars universe.  While no characters from the Star Wars: Rebels television show appear in this story, LORDS OF THE SITH does a great job of establishing a canonical bridge between that series and Clones Wars.  You see Cham's daughter is named Hera, who is one of the main characters in Star Wars: Rebels, and what transpires during LORDS OF THE SITH plays a big part in how Hera Syndulla gets to where she is at when the Rebels storyline begins.

You know Cham isn't going to win in the end of this story because it takes place well before the events of A New Hope ( aka the original Star Wars movie) but he provides a thrilling story that kept me enthused about finishing the book.  True Star Wars fans will appreciate  how this book lays a foundation for future events within the franchise and does a nice job of linking references from the prequel movies and Clone Wars tv series to the Star Wars: Rebels show and the original movies.

John Jackson Miller's book A New Dawn was supposed to be the setup book for Star Wars: Rebels, but because that novel really wasn't very interesting or well written I'd recommend skipping over that book if you haven't already read it and stick with Lords of the Sith as a bridge between the Clones Wars years and the Rebels time period.  Kemp really does a nice job of referencing other Star Wars events into the book, but it was also refreshing that he adds new characters, monsters, locals and scenarios into his book.  Too often authors writing Star Wars novels rely too much on the same established characters, creatures and settings that for me makes those stories uninspired and boring...I'm so sick of Rancors being used as monsters and stops on Tatooine - give us some new original monsters and locals please it is a big galaxy...and I was pleased that Kemp has done a nice job of using familiar but not over used elements while also putting his own original touches into the story.

So how does Cham and his band of Twi'lek freedom fighters get Darth Vader and the Emperor stranded in a dangerous alien jungle fighting against vicious Ryloth wild predators, treasonous Imperials, and Syndulla's forces hunting them down?  You'll have to read the book to find out!

LORDS OF THE SITH gets A Geek Daddy nod of approval because for casual Star Wars fans it provides a fun action packed SciFi adventure and for die hard fans it adds some great foundational elements to the canon of the franchise further tying together the movies and television series.  This book is suitable for tweens and up.

Star Wars Celebration Roundup

This last weekend there was a huge gathering of fans at the convention center in Anaheim California celebrating all things Star Wars.  If you were like me and wanted to go but just didn't have the extra time and money for a trip to CA, here's a roundup of many of the exciting announcements and previews that came out of STAR WARS CELEBRATION 2015.  The rest of this year and into next year is going to be full of Star Wars thrills!

MOVIES

Disney's first feature film since acquiring the Star Wars franchise hits theaters on December 18, 2018.  THE FORCE AWAKENS is set in a time of the Star Wars continuum approximately 30 years after the events that transpired in the movie RETURN OF THE JEDI uniting George Lucas' original trilogy of movies with a new era of story telling under Disney's stewardship.  A new trailer for the film was released at Star Wars Celebration and it really has given me a lot of encouragement that Disney is getting this film right producing something that old school fans like myself will love and a new generation of movie watchers will adore.  Check it out!

Disney also hosted a panel discussion at Star Wars Celebration about another new Star Wars movie it is producing called ROGUE ONE that will be hitting theaters during the 2016 Christmas season.  The film's director Gareth Edwards presented the official plot for the movie: A rogue band of resistance fighters unite for a daring mission to steal the Death Star plans.  Edwards noted that the film which will take place between Episodes III and IV of the Star Wars movie timeline will have a focus on the WAR aspect of Star WARS.  "It is called Star WARS" he joked to the panel audience.  To add some grit and realism to ROGUE ONE's portrayal of warfare, Edwards has enlisted members of his production team that have worked on war movies such as Zero Dark Thirty, Saving Private Ryan and Black Hawk Down.

Filming for ROGUE ONE will take place this summer.  While the film hasn't been shot yet, Edwards did provide a glimpse at some concept art prepared for the movie and a teaser video of computer generated imagery to give people a sense of the vibe he wants for the Star Wars: Rogue One.  As the first stand alone movie, though it is somewhat tied to the others through the Death Star connection, this film really will have a big impact on Disney's long term viability for making more and more Star Wars movies.  Disney can't afford to have this movie be a JOHN CARTER type bust and it appears they are taking its production very seriously.  Just from the limited information I have on this movie already though I'm already excited about it and looking forward to learning more in the coming months ahead.

courtesy of StarWars.com

TELEVISION

DisneyXD's Star Wars: Rebels animated television series is returning this Fall for a second season.  When my 6 year old son thinks of Star Wars this TV series has really been his first exposure to these tales from a long time ago in a galaxy far far away.  This is a show that is very suitable for him to watch yet I also find very entertaining and interesting to watch as well.  The two of us have really enjoyed some bonding time together watching this show.  The trailer released at Star Wars Celebration shows that DisneyXD may be expanding upon a great first season with an even more incredible second season.

I really don't like the prequel movie trilogy -- it just stripped away too much of the magic and mystery of the original movies -- but found the Clone Wars animated television shows to be a decent program.  One of my favorite all time Star Wars characters actually is from the Clone Wars series, Cad Bane, a deadly bounty hunter that would give the legendary Boba Fett a run for his money. For my own personal viewing enjoyment, I just wipe out the prequel trilogies and the Star Wars timeline currently is made up of the Clone Wars and Rebels television shows, the original movies (Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi) and the upcoming Disney movies.  Because there is a large viewing audience that is younger than me that grew up watching Clone Wars on the Cartoon Network and a more "mature" group of fans like myself, Rebels is bringing some of these characters back.  Check out the trailer to see for yourself!

I'm really looking forward to watching with my son the showdown between his favorite Star Wars character, Ezra, and one of my favorite childhood villains Darth Vader. 

VIDEO GAMES

Electronic Arts showed off their first collaboration with Star Wars in its BattleFront video game.  I can't wait until November to load this game up on my Playstation4 and immerse myself in tackling the Empire from a speeder bike or x-wing.

COMIC BOOKS

I have to give kudos to Marvel because since taking over the brand they haven't just used it to cash in on the name, they've been publishing a great product.  I've read every issue they've published of their new series STAR WARS and DARTH VADER and have enjoyed every one of them.  Lando Calrissian will be joining these titles with his own mini-series STAR WARS: LANDO beginning in July which will feature a story that takes place between the events in A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back.  Also coming in September will be a mini-series titled SHATTERED EMPIRE that will share what happened after the Battle of Endor in Return of the Jedi and bridge some of the gap between the movies Episode VI and the upcoming Episode VII.

The current story arc in Marvel's STAR WARS will wrap up in issue #6 this summer and a new arc will begin with issue #8.  Star Wars #7 will be a stand alone story featuring Obi-Wan Kenobi during his exile on Tatooine. 

So there you have it! It looks like there are going to be a lot of thrills for Star Wars fans throughout the rest of the year and into next.  I for one am really going to be enjoying it!

#StarWars #TheForceAwakens

Star Wars Joins the Marvel Mashers Toy Line

My son spends hours playing with his Marvel Super Hero Mashers toys from Hasbro.  These action figures let kids take their favorite super heroes and mix and match body parts and accessories to create their own unique characters.  Create Spider Hulk wielding the power of Mjölnir, Iron Wolvernine carrying Captain America's shield or a variety of other mash-ups based upon the action figures you collect.

Based upon the popularity of these toys, Hasbro is adding Star Wars to its lineup of Mashers toys in the Fall of 2015.  The Star Wars Mashers will include characters from the original and prequel movies like Anakin Skywalker, Boba Fett, Darth Vader, and General Grevious plus a few from the new animated television show Rebels such as Kanan and Zeb.  Just think of the possible variations:  an android General Fett wielding a variety of light sabers, a Zeb trooper wearing imperial battle armor, or dare I say it Darth Jar Jar. 

I have a feeling that my son is going to be finding some Star Wars Mashers under the Christmas Tree this year.

Star Wars Command: The Battle of Hoth

Just before the first snow storm of this winter hit our town, A Geek Daddy Blog received a surprise box of goodies from our friends at Hasbro filled with the company's newest line of toys called Star Wars Command for us to play with and test out.  These Star Wars Command toys are like the little green plastic army men of my youth but instead of pretending to fight in World War II you are transported to the Star Wars Universe to play out  your favorite scenes from the franchise's movies or television episodes.  They have themed toy sets ranging from the brand new animated series Star Wars: Rebels (which is my son's favorite tv show) to Empire Strikes Back (which is my favorite movie).

So as the snow started coming down you know my five year old son and I couldn't resist going out in the backyard and recreating the Battle of Hoth.  My son's rebel troopers put up a valiant fight led by Chewbacca and Han Solo but they just were no match against Dad's powerful legion of AT-ATs and snow troopers.  In the end though a mysterious snow ball from outer space knocked out the approaching Geek Daddy armada allowing the rebels to slip away to battle another day.

My son had a blast playing with these toys and I was whisked back to acting like a kid myself for a few moments while we enjoyed playing Star Wars in the snow.  Then it was time for dinner and a return to the real world; but as we were packing up I took a moment to appreciate this moment of father-son fun and bonding that we often don't get enough time for in the everyday hustle and bustle of life.  Next I realized it probably wasn't the best move to play with white colored toys in the snow...we'll be finding a few of these figures after the snow melts.  Fortunately, a number of the rebels including Han Solo, Chewbacca and R2D2 were made of blue, brown and orange colored plastic and easily stood out in the frozen tundra of our patio.

For being small injected plastic molded figurines these Star Wars Command toys have some nice sculpts and detail to them.  Recommended age for these micro-figure battle sets are for children 4 years old and up.

#CommandtheForce with the Star Wars Command battle packs. They come in a variety of sizes ranging in price from $4.99 for a play set that includes 9 figures to $59.99 for the Star Destroyer set that includes a gigantic vehicle that shoots out energy blast balls to devastate your opponent's army.

While we had a great time playing out the Battle of Hoth together, the toy set that my son really wants to get his hands on is the Star Wars: Rebels - Jedi Duel battle pack.  This includes all his favorite characters from the tv show: Ezra Bridger, Kanan Jarrus, Sabine Wren, Zeb Orrelios, and C1-1OP "Chopper" plus bad guy The Inquisitor and a few stormtroopers to boot.  Plus it has two vehicles included the PHANTOM space ship and an AT-DP armored walker.  We've decided to hold this battle pack aside for a little while though because it is just too valuable to use as a reward, or bribe, when the need may arise.  My son doesn't know we have this in hand so he'll be thrilled when we eventually give it to him.

For more information about the Star Wars Command toys visit starwars.hasbro.com

DISCLAIMER:  Hasbro provided A GEEK DADDY Blog with complimentary Star Wars Command toys with an approximate retail value of $50.  These toys were provided with no obligation to provide a positive review regarding them.  The views and opinions in this post are my own.

Pay Whatever You Like to Receive A Huge Bundle of DarkHorse Star Wars Comics on Humble

Don't miss out on this great deal! The Humble Star Wars Comics Bundle lets you pay whatever you like to download a huge selection of digital comic books published by Dark Horse that includes Star Wars Omnibus Volume 1 (the first 26 issues of the Star Wars comics printed by Marvel alongside the movie in 1977), the first four issues of the Star Wars: Empire series, and the Star Wars: Jedi, Crimson Empire, Darth Maul - Death Sentence, and Blood Ties: Jango & Boba Fett mini-series.  Pay $1, $5, $10, $25 whatever you are comfortable with and can afford to purchase these great comics that are provided DRM-free and accessible in multiple formats (CBZ, EPUB, PDF).

To encourage people to spend a little more than a dollar or two there are some incentives for spending a little bit extra.  First of all you can designate some of the money that you spend to be donated in support of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF).  The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the First Amendment rights of comic book artists, consumers, retailers, and publishers. Since 1986, the CBLDF has managed and paid for the legal defense of individuals whose First Amendment rights are threatened for making, selling or even reading comic books.  One of CBLDF's more recent projects was successfully defending Ryan Matheson, an American citizen who was unlawfully arrested at Canadian Customs and wrongfully charged with importing child pornography for having digital comic books on his laptop computer which contained innocuous manga images.  Ryan's case cost the CBLDF $75,000 to defend.

Secondly, if you spend the average people are paying for the Humble Bundle (which is currently around $10) you will be provided an additional five selections which includes Knights of the Old Republic Volume 1 Blood of the Empire (11 issues),  Knights of the Old Republic Volume 1 Commencement (7 issues), the first six issues of the Star Wars Legacy series, the first five issues of the Dark Times series and the Darth Vader and the Lost Command (5 issues).  Plus if you spend more than $15 dollars total the first six issues of Brian Wood's "STAR WARS" series are included in your bundle.  So if you spend at least $15 dollars you will get a bundle of 89 Star Wars comic book issues with a combined value of $190 if you were to purchase them individually on the Dark Horse digital marketplace website.  The Brian Wood's Star Wars issues provided in the Humble Bundle for example would cost you $10.99 and the Star Wars Omnibus Volume 1 is priced $9.99 if you were to buy them directly from Dark Horse's website today.

I can testify that these are some great selections in the Humble Star Wars Bundle because I already own most of the issues included in this package.  So while unfortunately this deal isn't that great for me, I can say it really is an exceptional opportunity for anyone who would enjoy reading Star Wars comics and hasn't already collected these editions.

Don't wait to take advantage of this opportunity though as it ends on Wednesday, October 29th @ 11 am PT.  For more information, visit: www.humblebundle.com/books

Note if you are planning to view these comics via a tablet, e-reader or smart phone there are a few things you need to do to access your downloaded comics.  CLICK HERE for all the details.

Marvel to debut a Star Wars: Rebels comic book in April 2015 based upon the Jedi Cowboy

Following up on the recent success in the debut of the brand new animated television series Star Wars: Rebels, Marvel has announced that it will adding a new series to its upcoming lineup of Star Wars comic books coming out in 2015.  Marvel takes over the publication license for Star Wars comic books from Dark Horse in January 2015.  Star Wars -- Kanan: The Last Padawan will be a monthly comic serial that ties into the Star Wars: Rebels animated series being aired on the Disney XD cable channel. 

Kanan Jarrus, who is often described as a "Jedi Cowboy", is the leader of the rebels in the new Star Wars: Rebels television show.  Prior to the destruction of the Jedi Order in Star Wars Episode III he was training as a padawan.  The new comic book will explore the character's early life, depict his padawan training and relationship with his Jedi master Depa Billaba , and how he went into hiding after Order 66 and prior to the events in the novel Star Wars: A New Dawn and Star Wars: Rebels.  The comic book series will be written by Greg Weisman who is an executive producer for the first season of Star Wars: Rebels and illustrated by Pepe Larraz who is currently providing the artwork for Marvel's The Mighty Thor.

Check out this interview on Marvel.com with Greg Weisman about this upcoming comic book series.

Star Wars -- Kanan: The Last Padawan will be joining Star Wars (featuring Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and cast from the original movies) and Darth Vader themed monthly comic books and a Princess Leia mini-series in 2015.  Keep an eye out for all of these titles in 2015.

Third Annual STAR WARS READS DAY is on Saturday October 11, 2014

Disney Publishing Worldwide and its publishing partners will be sponsoring the third annual STAR WARS READS DAY on Saturday, October 11, 2014 to promote the franchise's literary portfolio.  Various libraries and book retailers will be hosting Star Wars events around the United States ranging from author appearances to book readings.  Many of these events will also have giveaways and prizes for attendees.  Participating libraries and retailers have also been provided an official event kit that is filled with arts and crafts taken from various publications for kids to do during STAR WARS READS DAY. Can't make it to an event?  Don't worry A GEEK DADDY has you taken care of ... just click on the following links to download a FREE copy of the STAR WARS READS DAY activity kit.   CLICK HERE to download a printable PDF in color or CLICK HERE to download a black & white PDF version.

The STARS WARS READS DAY activity kits is a 36 page booklet that has materials taken from various Star Wars books to provide kids with hours of entertainment.  Activities range from creating finger puppets like the ones pictured above to Yoda bookmarks to making a Millennium Falcon paper airplane among a bunch of other projects like origami dolls, coloring pages, puzzles and games.  Publishers joining Disney Publishing Worldwide in sponsoring STAR WARS READS DAY are Abrams, Chronicle Books, Dark Horse, Del Rey, Disney Book Group, DK, Klutz, Quirk Books, Scholastic, and Workman Publishing.

Check with your local library to see if they are hosting a STAR WARS READS DAY event.  Barnes & Noble is also hosting events at most of their retail locations.  CLICK HERE to find a STAR WARS READS DAY event at a Barnes & Noble near you.

If you are going to be out and about on Saturday, October 11th you may also want to swing by your local Toys R Us.  Between Noon and 2pm kids can build and take home their very own FREE LEGO Mini Ghost Ship.  Ghost is the name of the spaceship used by the band of Rebel heroes in the new Disney animated television show Star Wars: Rebels.  CLICK HERE for more information. 

Whether you head out to an event or stay home and print out the activity kits have yourself some fun this STAR WARS READS DAY.  With all the activities going on for those parents out there with younger children don't forget though to take a moment to just enjoy reading a story to your kids.  Any opportunity to get children interested and excited about reading is always a good thing.

Watch Disney's Star Wars Rebels for FREE on iTunes

Disney debuted the newest edition to the Star Wars saga when it aired a one hour special last week on Disney Channel titled "Sparks of Rebellion" to launch its new animated television show titled REBELS.  Half-hour episodes of Rebels will then begin airing on the Disney XD cable channel each week on Mondays at 9pm ET/PT beginning October 13th.  Can't wait until October 13th to watch the show's first new episode "Droids in Distress" or don't have access to Disney XD on your cable lineup?  Then you may want to visit iTunes which is providing FREE downloads of "Droids in Distress" for a limited time to promote Star Wars: Rebels and its iTunes season download passes that are being sold for $29.99.  For the time being though the price for the season's first episode is listed as FREE and you can download it at no charge. 

Disney's Star Wars: Rebels television series is set 5 years before the original 1977 movie (Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope) and fourteen years after the defeat of the Jedi Order and creation of the Empire (Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith) in the Star Wars story timeline.  The show focuses on the crew of a space freighter called the Ghost that has banded together to tackle the Empire in an effort to spark a rebellion against it.  CLICK HERE for more details about Disney's Star Wars: Rebels from a previous A Geek Daddy blog post.

While this is a new television show it has many of the features that so many people love from the original trilogy of movies.  There is a focus on the force as a mysterious power (rather than some midi-cholorian over explanation from the prequel movies) with one of the last Jedi taking on a new youthful and rambunctious apprentice; a beat up freighter akin to the Millennium Falcon; a quirky droid named Chopper similar to R2D2 but yet with its own unique personality; and lots of storm troopers and TIE fighters that are the images people most identify with when characterizing "the Empire."  While Disney's Rebels takes a lot of cues from classic Star Wars cannon it also sets itself apart with new characters and locations.  The crew of the Ghost isn't made up of established Star Wars characters but rather are all brand new creations to give the series its own unique identity and the principal villain isn't the figure that is often the face of the Star Wars franchise, Darth Vader, but rather the newly introduced Inquisitor.

Rebels succeeds where the prequel movies failed in that it embraces the heritage and elements of the original movies that my generation loved but still has enough new twists and angles to make it interesting to younger audiences.  I watched the one hour Disney Channel movie with my children and we both enjoyed it but for different reasons.  I enjoyed it for the sense of magic and unknown the show returned to the power of the force, the Ralph McQuarrie inspired touches that the artistic team added to the show, the John Williams Star Wars musical score and seeing TIE fighters and star destroyers flying across a screen again.  Meanwhile my kids enjoyed the comedic elements of the show, loved the baby wookiee rescue scene, appreciated the rebellious youth character Ezra who they could relate to, and were excited to share in something with their dad they know I have a passion and appreciation for.  This show did a nice job of bringing together two generations to mutually enjoy a science fiction space opera together.  Disney has done a nice job with Star Wars: Rebels and this animated series get A Geek Daddy nod of approval.

CLICK HERE to download on  iTunes the #FREE "Droids in Distress" #Disney 's #StarWars Rebels episode.

Droids in Distress Episode Description

The crew of the Ghost intercepts a shipment of weapons intended for the Empire.  Along the way they also inadvertently pick up C-3PO and R2-D2 who are are  on a secret mission sent by Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan to prevent the weapons from falling into Imperial hands.  Meanwhile the Ghost continues to be chased by Agent Kallus of the Imperial Security Bureau.  The story eventually wraps up with R2-D2 providing Organa with information about this motley crew of rebels that helps keep his faith in becoming one of the founders of the Alliance to Restore the Republic (aka The Rebel Alliance)

LucasFilm Brings Star Wars Clone Wars to a Conclussion

On the eve of the premiere of the new Star Wars: Rebels animated television show on the Disney Channel fans of the cancelled Clone Wars series can also get some closure as videos portraying the final four episodes of that series have recently been posted on the official www.starwars.com website.

When Disney acquired the Star Wars franchise the Clone Wars animated television series that was airing on Cartoon Network was cancelled before  it could air its final season.  Most of that season was eventually shown on Netflix but the final four episodes of the series story arc were never completed for broadcast. Disney has now released videos of these four episodes that feature a pre-broadcast quality story reel and voiceovers from the cast.  While these aren't as visually enjoyable as a broadcast quality product they do provide full 22 to 23 minute chapters that fans of the series can appreciate.  Some of the scenes really aren't that bad and others look more like stick drawing with art direction scribbles/notes etched on the screen but they do tell full stories with the voice talents of  Clone War's cast - the voices just don't match the characters lips the two key players in the episodes Anakin Skywalker and Obi Wan Kenobi both look like they have holes cut in their necks during most of their scenes.  That being said for production to have been shut down before these episodes were completed the piecing of parts together to create these videos isn't bad.

The four episodes are titled A Death On Utapau, In Search of the Crystal, Crystal Crisis, and The Big Bang.   The teaser that ties these four episodes together is they revolve around a giant crystal that will probably be used eventually for the planet destroying laser of the Death Star but none of the characters at this time realize that premise because it is mysteriously shrouded in Palpatine's master Sith plan to create an Empire he rules.  Here is summary of each episode and links to the videos:

A Death on Utapau

Obi-Wan and Anakin investigate a mysterious death of a Jedi Master on Utapau, and uncover a secret Separatist weapons deal the likes of which they have never seen before.  CLICK HERE to view the video.

In Search of the Crystal

 Obi-Wan and Anakin’s investigation on Utapau continues, and they allow themselves to be captured by weapons dealers who possess a focusing crystal of unspeakable power. CLICK HERE to watch the video.

Crystal Crisis

 Obi-Wan and Anakin must escape from Utapau with a kyber crystal before General Grievous and his droid army track them down. CLICK HERE to watch the video.

The Big Bang

Obi-Wan and Anakin must do all they can to prevent a powerful weapon from falling into General Grievous’ hands. CLICK HERE to watch the video.

Watching these four videos is a decent way to close out The Clone Wars television series and prepare to enjoy the upcoming Rebels show.  Disney's Star Wars Rebels debuts with a one hour special on October 3, 2014 at 9pm ET.  The show will than air weekly with 1/2 hour episodes on Monday evenings on the Disney XD cable channel beginning October 13th.