Archive for ‘WonderCon’



Report from WonderCon 2009: Lucasfilm Presentation (Part III: The Ryloth Trilogy)

February 28, 2009

You’ll excuse me if this next blog post gets a little meta and breaks a fourth wall or something. See, for better or for worse, I volunteered to go head-to-head against Steve Sansweet with the new Uncle Milton Force Trainer. It’s the much buzzed about toy that scans brainwaves to activate a fan within an acrylic tube, that then levitates a Force remote (or, ping pong ball to you terrestrial laymen) to various heights. I tried it out on Friday and, after some practice, got the hang of it.

fail.jpg

Not nearly enough practice for the big show on Saturday, though, as I went up against a venerable Jedi Master like Sansweet. He had perfected its performance, launching the remote into the stratosphere while I apparently failed to unlearn whatever it was I had learned. My Force remote barely budged. It’s as if I had a pocket full of ysalamiri jerky or something. And if you get that, you’re as big a geek as I.

Anyway, this was really a lead-in to showcase some of the online Clone Wars comics we have been doing since the launch of the show. I introduced Tom Hodges and Katie Cook, who were in attendance in the audience, and also was able to give a sneak peek (note, correct spelling of peek – you’re welcome) into next week’s webcomic, “Curfew,” by Katie, which introduces the Twi’lek girl character of Numa.

katie_comic.jpg

We then segued into discussing the Ryloth Trilogy — the series of episodes that we’re now in the thick of. “Storm Over Ryloth” debuted yesterday. “Innocents of Ryloth” and “Liberty on Ryloth” are still to come.

(more…)

Report from WonderCon 2009: Lucasfilm Presentation (Part II: Meet Cad Bane)

February 28, 2009

Sansweet next moved the subject to Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The smash hit series is now running in 166 countries, and translated into nearly 30 different languages. Sansweet reminded the audience that, in addition to a compilation of four episodes being released on DVD in March, this year will bring the entire season in a deluxe boxed set complete with value-added bonus material (and a Blu-Ray release!). Sansweet explained that the audience at New York Comic-Con selected, via their applause, some of the bonus material that ended up on the DVD, and screened the winning piece — a “Show Reel” made very early from rough concept art and paintings that helped explain what The Clone Wars could be.

showreel.jpg

But that was the past. Fast-forward to the present — and future — of the series. An edgy preview of the March 20th season finale then screened — clips of a bounty hunter-filled episode called “Hostage Crisis,” which introduces a new character — Cad Bane. Supervising Director Dave Filoni took to the stage next to discuss the evolution of Bane.

cadbane_blog.jpg

 

 

(more…)

Report from WonderCon 2009: Lucasfilm Presentation (Part I: Celebrating 10 Years of Star Wars Renaissance)

February 28, 2009

In the Esplanade ballroom at the Moscone Convention Center South, Star Wars fans gathered for the annual Lucasfilm presentation, hosted by Steve Sansweet. What follows is a partial transcript of the event, divided into three parts. See part two here, and part three here.

trailer.jpg

The hour-long presentation began with a viewing of something most people have not seen on a big screen in 10 years: the original teaser trailer for The Phantom Menace. That set the stage for a retrospective of the fan resurgence that accompanied the release of Episode I. With the rise of the Internet and the fan community, a worldwide gathering of Star Wars fans was ready to usher in the return of the saga, proving that Star Wars could indeed last forever.

(more…)

WonderCon Update: Star Wars Invasion

February 28, 2009

At WonderCon (currently underway in San Francisco), Dark Horse Comics director of publicity Jeremy Atkins unveiled new cover art by Jo Chen for the forthcoming New Jedi Order-era series, Star Wars: Invasion (see the original New York Comic-Con story here.)

invasion2_cover.jpg

We caught up with Dark Horse editor Randy Stradley to ask him some quick questions about the new series (below the cut).

(more…)

WonderCon 2008 Recap

February 25, 2008

We came, we saw, we blogged the heck out of WonderCon 2008 in San Francisco on Feb. 22-24!

(more…)

Report from Wonder-Con: Lucasfilm Presentation (Part 3)

February 23, 2008

Steve Sansweet: On August 15th, Star Wars returns to the theaters in all new animated feature film, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, to be followed this fall by a new weekly series of the same name airing on Cartoon Network and TNT. We’ll be announcing international dates for the movie and international partners for the series over the next couple of months. Star Wars: The Clone Wars has an entirely new look and feel and combines the broad scope of Star Wars and the saga with state-of-the-art computer-generated animation. Each week, viewers are going to see really a very exciting half-hour “mini-movie” created by the talented artists at Lucasfilm Animation. From what I’ve already seen, we are in for one heck of an exciting ride. But don’t take my word for it. Take the word of Dave Filoni, Supervising Director for the Clone Wars project.

clone_title.jpg

(more…)

Report from Wonder-Con: Lucasfilm Presentation (Part 2)

February 23, 2008

After Brett Rector left the stage. Steve Sansweet turned to the subject of The Man with the Hat– Indiana Jones and his return to adventure this year. First, Sansweet reminded audiences about the final installment of The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones coming to DVD on April 29th. He then screened the trailer for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (in theaters May 22) as well as the trailer for the LEGO Indiana Jones video game before turning the subject back to Star Wars… From a certain point of view.

ss_only1.jpg

(more…)

Report from Wonder-Con: Lucasfilm Presentation (Part 1)

February 23, 2008

Despite the winter rains and gusty February winds, fans of comics, sci-fi and fantasy crowded into the Moscone Center in San Francisco for Wonder-Con. The spacious and drafty Hall A was the setting for Steve Sansweet to present some of what’s coming in the world of Star Wars. What follows is a partial transcript of the hour-long presentation, divided into three parts. The first deals with The Force Unleashed.

ss.jpg

(more…)

Star Wars Fan Guide to WonderCon 2008

February 21, 2008

So many panels and events at Wondercon, so little time. But we’re here to help! The Starwars.com team will be at Wondercon reporting about the latest news, toys, comics, celeb sightings and more. Be sure to check back here on the Official Starwars.com Blog and the Official Starwars.com Flickr Photo Blog for ongoing WonderCon 2008 coverage!

Check out this handy link for the full list of WonderCon programs and panels. But to get you started, here’s a listing of our picks of things not to be missed!

—–

(more…)