Showing posts with label Ewoks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ewoks. Show all posts

Friday, September 5, 2014

Star Wars Kidscast Episode 11: Small Screen Themes

Star Wars Kidscast is back with a fun, new episode. With the recent release of the the theme music to the upcoming Star Wars Rebels series we thought it would be interesting to look back and listen to EVERY intro to every Star Wars TV show (so far). Which show had two different theme songs? Which show didn’t have a theme song at all? Find out here!

Also, we look at new releases on the bookshelf including Star Wars Workbooks, Star Wars Rebels tie-ins and Tom Angleberger’s latest (and final) Origami Yoda book: Emperor Pickletine Rides the Bus.

All that and more on this episode of the Star Wars Kidscast!

Twitter @SWKidscast


Sunday, March 16, 2014

6 Adventures in 1 Book with Star Wars Omnibus: Adventures

Dark Horse Comics’ Star Wars Omnibus: Adventures gathers six Star Wars Adventures graphic novel digests into one hefty 456 page paperback volume.


The adventures are smaller in scale than what you'd see in the movies and don’t directly impact the larger Star Wars saga. In fact, the only story to directly connect to any movie events is the final story Luke Skywalker and the Treasure of the Dragonsnakes. While training on Dagobah with Yoda, Luke learns a lot more about that water creature that tried to eat R2-D2 and spit him out!


Each story focuses on a key character (though Princess Leia and the Royal Ransom feels like it’s really more about Han Solo) and are mostly set between the events of Episode 4 & 5. Chewbacca and the Slavers of the Shadowlands is mostly a flashback from the young wookiee’s childhood. Since they are not connected the stories can be read in any order.


Boba Fett goes treasure hunting!
With different creators for each story, Star Wars Omnibus: Adventures offers a variety of artwork that may be jarring from story to story. The styles range from traditional comic book art to wildly stylized digital paintings. The cutest artwork is in Chewbacca’s story, which is oddly the most violent story of the whole book. 

That raises the question: who are the Adventures books intended for? Dark Horse Comics created this series with younger readers in mind, but they are not for all children. Dark Horse correctly suggests that these books are for ages 8 and older.



Leia shares the spotlight with Han in her story
Star Wars Ewoks: Shadows of Endor was part of the Adventures series so it is not included in this Omnibus collection, though it would fit in here.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Star Wars Kidscast Gift Guide for Younglings & Padawans: Part 2 "Star Wars Reads"

Got a few younglings or Padawans on your Christmas list? Here's Star Wars Kidscast's recommendations for gifts big and small.

Ages 8 & Up 

Enjoy the Star Wars movies in a whole different way, anytime and anywhere. For each Star Wars film there's a junior novelization of the whole story, written at an age-appropriate reading level. A strong young reader may want the "grown-up" versions, but most kids would do better with these. (Scholastic Books)







Star Wars Complete Vehicles - Gathering the best of several Incredible Cross Sections books into one beautiful coffee-table sized hardcover book. If your younglings are as into visuals and details as reading then this is an amazing book. (DK Books) Read our review here

 Origami Yoda series by Tom Angleberger: Set on Earth in the present day, these funny and occasionally touching Star Wars-infused novels will entertain many older kids and even adults!  There's a new book coming in Spring 2014 but a great start would be the first four books in this box set: The Origami Yoda Files.

Included are The Strange Case of Origami Yoda (2010), Darth Paper Strikes Back (2011), The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee (2012) & The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppett (2013). (Abrams/Amulet Books)




Star Wars: Ewoks - Shadows of Endor : Fun, fast-paced story to engage Star Wars fans young and old. Endor never looked this good or was this exciting in comics! (Dark Horse Books) Read our review here 

Fun fact: Shadows of Endor artist/writer Zack Giallongo was the first guest ever on the Star Wars Kidscast podcast! Have a listen here!





Star Wars Folded Flyers - You gotta know when to fold 'em...An activity book that takes paper airplane-making to a whole new level, and a whole new Galaxy! (Klutz Books) Read our review here







More gift ideas to come including Clone Wars books, Young Reader books, clothes, toys & stocking stuffers!


Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Star Wars Kidscast Episode 3: Ewok Talk!

Are Ewoks cute & cuddly characters for kids or fierce warriors? Hop on a speeder bike, sharpen your spear and get ready for some Ewok talk! Zack Giallongo, writer & artist of the new Dark Horse comic digest Star Wars: Ewoks - Shadows of Endor becomes the very first guest on the Star Wars Kidscast! Join us as we chat about Ewoks' image problems, The Clone Wars, art and of course Star Wars! www.ZackGiallongo.com


Also enjoy our regular features including News Updates, Kids' Questions and an ongoing Contest!

Download this episode (right click and save)

Friday, November 1, 2013

Read, You Must: Star Wars: Ewoks - Shadows of Endor

What were the Ewoks up to shortly before they tied up Han & Luke and worshiped C-3PO? How did the Ewoks know about a secret entrance into the Death Star's deflector shield generator? Star Wars: Ewoks - Shadows of Endor tries to answer these questions in a fun adventure that works for kids and adults. It also sets up the Ewoks' encounter with the Rebellion in Return of the Jedi.

Written and illustrated by Zack Giallongo, with gorgeous colours by Braden Lamb, this digest-sized (like many Clone Wars titles, or Archie!) graphic novel from Dark Horse Books tells the story of how a group of Ewoks must trust an old enemy to get through many troubles and even face Imperials!

If all you know of the Ewoks is Return of the Jedi, then you're in for a treat as Giallongo shows us a much more diverse and dangerous "Sanctuary Moon" of Endor. The Empire is sometimes only a MINOR threat compared to some creatures there.

However, if you have ever read the Marvel Star Comics Ewoks series or remember the Saturday morning cartoon shows from back in the mid-1980's, you'll see plenty from those. Visually and story-wise, Shadows of Endor works as a clever and modern continuation of both of those Ewoks stories, but has it's own style and ties into the two 1980's Ewoks live action made-for-TV movies and even some stories from The Clone Wars TV show!

Don't be fooled into thinking this is just soft-and-cuddly cuteness though - these Ewoks have teeth...and spears! There's violence and bloodshed here, darkness and creepiness too. Endor is not as safe and sweet as it seemed on TV! However, there's no more graphic or violent content than The Clone Wars, it just jumps out a little more here.

I don't want to spoil anything by going into the storyline much. Let's just say I really enjoyed reading this story and look forward to more Star Wars: Ewoks tales if this is what they're going to be like!

For the Star Wars Kidscast interview with creator Zack Giallongo click here.

More info:
The entire original Ewoks (and Droids) Marvel Star Comics series have been recently reprinted in one book. Unfortunately the Ewoks cartoon TV show has never been released on DVD or Blu-Ray...yet.

Friday, October 11, 2013

Celebrate UN Day of the Girl Child today!

Today is an international UN celebration of The Day of the Girl Child, a celebration and recognition of the importance of respecting the rights young girls throughout the world. Some very active girls put together the website DayOfTheGirl.org 

There's an image on their website that looks remarkably like a certain Hutt you may recognize...



One of the themes of Star Wars is the importance of everybody having rights and having a voice. From the Galactic Senate that had countless alien species gathered to the fact that seemingly unimportant creatures like Gungans & Ewoks can change the course of history, everybody can make a difference.

Add to that how vital woman like Leia, Padmé, Ahsoka are to the overall Star Wars story and The Day of the Girl is clearly something Star Wars fans can & should support!

For more info and ideas of what you can do visit http://dayofthegirl.org

Monday, October 7, 2013

Preview : Star Wars Ewoks: Shadows of Endor

From the Dark Horse Comics this week comes Star Wars Ewoks: Shadows of Endor! 80 pages of all-new Ewoks adventures! Here's a preview...

"Until now, the Ewoks had been able to ignore the arrival of the Empire’s stormtroopers on Endor. But when they discover their rivals, the Duloks, have been enslaved and a legendary beast has been awakened, the Ewoks realize they may have to prepare for war—as soon as they figure out how to survive the beast!

* Leads directly into the events of Return of the Jedi!
* Ties into the beloved Ewoks TV series and movies!"
Preview :: Dark Horse Comics

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