Star Wars Rebels

Star Wars: Rebels is set years after the events of Revenge of the Sith, with the Emperor and his Galactic Empire continuing to tighten their grip during one of the galaxy’s darkest times. A new cast of characters including a Jedi in hiding, a thief, a pilot, a former bounty hunter, a droid, and an alien that kinda looks like a bald Chewbacca must learn to work together and attempt to survive. The show is pretty neat, and if you haven’t checked it out yet, hopefully, this collection of fan art for Star Wars: Rebels from around the web will inspire you to give it a try. So take a look, and, of course, may the Force be with you.

Hasbro's Star Wars Black Series figures are among the most coveted collectibles on shelves. You've got to time your toy hunts perfectly if you hope to find the latest additions to the continually expanding line. Stores just can't keep these characters on shelves... well except for Kylo Ren. Everyone else though? Good luck. It's been a struggle for many to keep their collections current, though the recent Blu-ray release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens saw a number of figures replenished across the country. Many figures were finally widely available for the first time just a few weeks ago. Even with all that replenishment, the most recent wave, featuring the very first Star Wars Rebels 6" figures, a revamped New Hope Luke, and a mass re-release of the Snowtrooper, has been hard to get. Fortunately, we were able to secure a set of 2016's second wave (thanks to Hasbro). Are these newcomers worth the time and effort it will take to track them down? Let's take a look.

We’ve already seen one major tie to the extended Star Wars universe resurfacing in this week’s coming Star Wars Rebels Season 2 finale, and a new clip goes a bit back to the future. See that crossguard lightsaber moment teased in earlier trailers, and meet a brand-new Inquisitor in “Twilight of the Apprentice”!

At last, Star Wars Rebels has reached the final outings of its second season, that all those Force-goodies from the midseason trailer have come home to roost. And where the trailer only teased it, see Darth Maul’s full return in a new clip and photos from Rebels’ Season 2 finale!

There wasn't much new on hand for Star Wars at Hasbro's Toy Fair preview event, which is becoming the status quo for the brand. Given that there's so much to be secretive about with a new movie coming out every single year for the rest of eternity, it's likely that will the be the case for the foreseeable future. What little Hasbro did bring to the convention did look good though, particularly insofar as Rebels in concerned. While we might not know what lies ahead for Rogue One, at least we've finally got more Sabines coming. That's not to say Hasbro didn't tease a little of its Rogue One plans. Like Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the Rogue One series will make its debut as an exclusive figure at San Diego Comic-Con this July. That's about all there is to say about that. Given that the Stormtroopers didn't look all that different in the suggested time period the upcoming anthology film takes place in, it's likely this will be an all-new character popping up for the first time. Don't hold your breath on any of the film's numerous leads making the cut though. Those are too important to be merely considered an exclusive figure.

Darth Vader may continue to menace Star Wars Rebels for as long as continuity dictates, but it stands to reason that the show’s third year might look to a baddie with more creative license. Enter a new rumor, that Star Wars Rebels Season 3 will revive a bit of expanded universe canon cast off by The Force Awakens, returning one of its most famous villains.

Welcome back to All For the Wookiee, where we take a look at the recent Star Wars universe offerings from Marvel and pick the most Star Wars-ish moments. From deranged protocol droids to mad alien queens to rogue troopers, we have it all in this last month's comics. In this installment, we're looking at Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larroca’s Darth Vader #4, Mark Waid and the Dodson’s Princess Leia #3, the Star Wars: Rebels spin-off comic, Kanan: the Last Padawan, from Greg Weisman and Pepe Larraz, and round it all off with Jason Aaron and John Cassaday’s Star Wars #4. As usual, spoilers follow. You have been warned.

Marvel is planning its first big cosmic event since the end of the Dan Abnett/Andy Lanning-penned Annihilation/War of Kings cycle that ran from 2006 to 2010. (Or last year's Infinity, if you count that, but that was all about Earth, so we don't.) Black Vortex will cross over between Guardians of the Galaxy, the space-bound All-New X-Men, Cyclops, Legendary Star-Lord, Nova, Captain Marvel, and more. Marvel also announced Operation S.I.N., by Kathryn Immonen and Rich Ellis, which serves as both a prequel of sorts to the recent Original Sin event and a tie-in to Marvel's Agent Carter TV show; and Kanan: The Last Padawan, a five issue mini series also written by Greg Weisman and illustrated by Pepe Larraz, tying in to the Star Wars: Rebels animated series.

Totally invigorate your Tuesday with today's links.