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[Editorial] First It Was Star Wars, and Now It’s Doctor Who Changing Ships …

Two grand comic book licenses are making a transition from one publishing company to another. On one side of the spectrum, most fans are lukewarm at the news of Star Wars moving from Dark Horse to Marvel Comics. On another front, most readers may well wonder about Doctor Who’s transition from IDW to Titan Comics.

In the business perspective, the publishers are cordially appreciative of the time they had to grow the licensed property into new territory. But as for what will happen next, with a different publisher, what will become of both relicensed products is anybody’s guess. Perhaps readers should consider the following:

In a galaxy far, far, away, in a saga that Marvel Comics ran from ’77 to ’86, long-time fans will recall that the comic book had a few bright moments, namely issue #52, “To Take the Tarkin.” If Marvel Comics can recreate some of that magic, then the transition is in capable hands. Sadly, with the fact that thirty years have passed and that tastes have changed, not everyone is enthused. There are three generations of fans to satisfy. Dark Horse Comics had a great start with Dark Empire (1991). Tales of the Jedi was even better when it segued to look at the history of the original Sith Lords. For later titles, fans had to invest a fair bit of money in order to keep up with all the multiple titles.

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The Vintage Tempest’s Toy & Tech Wish-List for Santa

ed and zelda — By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Dear Santa,

I’ve been good. Really, I have. I hope it’s in your willingness to consider putting one of these wish list items under my Christmas tree. I want stuff to satisfy my love for toys or tech. I’ve boiled down my list down to five items.

Unlike my best-friend James, I have satisfied my anime craving a long time ago. There really is not much that I want (on video or otherwise) from Japan … well unless you can send me a full size operational Gundam for me to pilot so I can travel anywhere I want (around the world or in space). Or can you please give me an all expense paid trip to visit the Ghibli Museum at Mitaka Park and Fuji-Q Highland Park (I want the ability to spend a full day at each venue). That would be on top of what I really want.

I was there before, but those memories are over a decade old.

Alternatively, if you can find it in your heart to park an AT-AT at my home, well, my grin will be wider than the Grinch and the Cat Bus (from My Neighbour Totoro) combined. But in terms of being realistic, the following items are far more doable:

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A Force of Evil To Do A Power of Good

May the 5th is Children’s Day and the 501st Legion were at the Make-A-Wish in Kobe 2013 to help raise funds for children with life-threatening illnesses.

Revenge of the 5th (May 5th) struck hard in North America giving Star Wars fans yet another reason to wear elaborate costumes and attend hobby and toy fairs. But in Japan this day has more meaning than just a celebration of one of the coolest creations in geekdom. May the 5th is Children’s Day and the 501st Legion were at the Make-A-Wish in Kobe 2013 to help raise funds for children with life-threatening illnesses.

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LEGO Photograph Exhibit in Birmingham, England till Dec 21

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

LEGO’s you can build it approach to recreating life’s greatest moments has achieved new heights as perhaps a model for high art, if not at least modern art. Photographer Mike Stimpson’s recreations are on special exhibit in Birmingham, England at the Old Joint Stock Theatre. He is showcasing iconic moments in photographic history by using LEGO Minifigures. It will be on display until December 21st, 2013.

With characters meticulously posed, the body of emotion expressed is all in the shading. With LEGO figurines, there is only a handful of expressions that can be created from stock head pieces and body parts. But with careful lighting, the feeling of wonderment and whimsy can be admired. That is what separates Stimpson’s works from others. In the past, he has been contracted by the company to photograph images for LEGO’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

4301679010_10c68c67bb_b — Photography by Mike Stimpson

From the famous V-J Sailor and Nurse Kissing to Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima, that is but a small sampling of what can be found in this exhibit. There is even the famous First Moon Landing and the Lunch Atop a Skyscraper. Stimpson’s ability to control the camera’s focal length to create a subtle center of focus shows what made the original images unique. To photograph it in LEGO only reveals what he appreciates about about these images. Another work worth noting is the subtlety in how he made Old Joint Stock’s Rent tiled poster.

Stimpson’s works have toured the USA, Europe and Australia, and hopefully they will make a stop in Canada. No plans have been made to indicate if this will happen in the future, and for LEGO enthusiasts, fans can only hope. With puny-sized Stormtroopers gracing Stimpson’s online portfolio of photos, the idea here is not to move along. For arts enthusiasts, there is something to see here.

Mark Your Calendars for Star Wars VII! (confirmed) & Thoughts

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

December 18th is the day on the Calendar Year of 2015, Anno Domini for one of this galaxy’s greatest galactic battles to return. With the next chapter of Star Wars now set, the thrills are going to be great for some, but for others, its going to be a mad rush to get this done in time, and hopefully without some hiccups along the way. Budget movies can be done in under a year, but for Star Wars, is the three year development cycle going to be enough?

Filming is scheduled to begin Spring 2014 at Pinewood Studios, and casting calls are already out looking for new hopefuls to fill in some really big shoes. At least the people involved — J.J. Abrams (Super 8, Lost, Star Trek), Lawrence Kasdan (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Empire Strikes Back) and John Williams (with a resume too huge to list) — should get it right. The world will be according to what J.J. Abrams and Kasdan are wanting, instead of what Michael Arndt is intending. In a report by Slashfilm, “The script Michael Arndt was writing (likely based on George Lucas‘ original outline) is no longer in play.”

Whatever the plot will be, fans will no doubt flock to whatever is presented up. At least this time, Star Wars will not look like a tribute to lens flare-ology — one of J.J. Abrams trademark styles, which is thankfully being retired. Mercifully, the galaxy is not looking too bright; just like the film, it should be tailored to look just right.

Source: Slashfilm, theVerge

The Force Wasn’t Strong in this One

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

Like any film, television series or Broadway production, props don’t work the way actors expect them to. And actors don’t always work either. Like all human beings they make mistakes. Actors can slip, trip, stumble or occasionally flub their lines. The difference between being an actor on George Lucas’ original Star Wars or being a star on the stage is the star on stage is under more pressure not to screw-up.

Where a production company might share some gaffes and giggles, with LucasFilm there was silence…until now. Editor and author J. W. Rinzler was trawling through the Lucas archives, looking for material for his making of books on the original three Star Wars films, when what was caught in his net was a Star Wars blooper reel, it was too big to throw back. And like any normal fisherman he had to show off his monster of a catch. This catch though, he displayed at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con.

Rinzler’s find is now available on YouTube but it wasn’t made available by Rinzler himself. And readers take note, there is no sound until 49 seconds into the reel. According to fans, this is the way the reel was shown at Comic-Con.