I have noticed that the interwebs and social media have done a fantastic job of making sure the if you hate something you have a ginormous soapbox to shout to the hills about it. Within seconds of something being announced there are critics telling you how horrible it is, and how it is the worst thing ever. Many “true fans” are the worst. I once heard someone say the only way to be a true fan of Star Wars is to hate it. Do fandoms have their ups and downs? Sure. Are some movies better than others? Yes. Is it all based on opinion? Yup. Does your opinion carry more weight than mine? Sure, fine, whatever .
As I think about it I just keep going back to taking things too seriously… Does it matter how one writer deals with the Star Trek Universe? Will the world change completely if another writer makes a change to Star Wars even if it was his story in the first place? (btw: Han did shoot first) Why should it matter what a movie’s box office was the first weekend, people could have had other things to do. Why take things so seriously? Can Star Trek have a musical episode? Sure, it was a hoot, and actually helped to build some of the characters. Can Star Wars make fun of itself? Probably not, unless it makes sense in the holy canon as approved by… whoever is now despised by Star Wars fans this week.
Yesterday the LEGO Group and Disney+ (the current studio hated by most Star Wars fans from what I understand) released Rebuild the Galaxy– a LEGO based cartoon set in the Star Wars Universe. The LEGO Group has been known to poke fun at Star Wars through various mediums. I’ll start off by stating of you are looking for serious Star Wars… nope. If you cannot laugh at yourself, you might not like this. I thought it was great.
I’ve been a fan of Star Trek since I was in elementary school and would watch it in reruns. I had the toys, the books, and then Star Wars came out. Most geeks of my generation look at Star Wars as a life changing event. Yesterday, Star Wars took a moment to laugh at itself while telling a somewhat compelling story. I’m not one for spoilers, but LEGO is notorious for giving things away especially when they release sets months ahead of movie release days. Which they did with Rebuild the Galaxy.
Spoilers Ahead, maybe, kinda sorta, but not really.
We are in the Star Wars Universe and Sig Greebling (our main character) loves to tell epic stories about the heroes he knows about (basically covering the entire approved canon). He’s a nerf herder -Which I thought was amusing and he might even be considered scruffy looking. His brother wants to leave their backwater planet and see the universe. Sig is fine with the way the world is, he seems to like telling stories, more than being a part of them.
As they are herding nerfs they stumble upon a lost Jedi Temple and go exploring. There we discover Sig has a connection to the Force. While exploring they find a glowing trans light blue 1×1 plate (element 3024). After some brotherly back and forth the piece gets removed, completely destroying the galaxy as they knew it. Yes, even Star Wars suffers from having a multiverse. Sig now must put things right and hopefully find his brother (Dev) in this crazy new galaxy. To help him he has Jedi Bob – a Force Builder his power droid, and the girl he kinda has a crush on. Oh my! Has the universe changed. Mon Calamari are now the base for Clone Troopers (Akbar Troopers) Yes, “It’s a trap!” and as we discover from the LEGO sets that have been released- Things are a bit backwards. Luke for example hangs out at the Mos Eisley Marina Cantina, and is a pod racer. The best was bringing Back JarJar Binks as a Sith Lord.
Current LEGO Sets:
The Dark Falcon Set 75389 Jedi Bob’s Starfighter Set 75388TIE Fighter & X-Wing Mash Up Set 75393
Addendum:
A Few (not all) Character Based Inside Jokes
Sig Greebling- Greebling is the term used to describe putting small pieces usually on a spaceship to add detail to it. It comes from a term used when people would “kit bash” plastic models to make their own spaceships.
Bobarian Afol– AFOL stands for Adult Fan of LEGO. “Jedi Bob” was the original Jedi minfig put into the Republic Gunship set in 2002, he didn’t have an official name, he was called “Jedi Bob” by many.
Yesi Scala – Scala was a theme LEGO had in the early 80’s and brought back in then late 90’s to appeal to girls.
It’s better than a lot of things on TV right now
There are four episodes with (of course) a cliffhangerish ending in hopes that we will return to this version of a galaxy far, far away. All I can say, is it was clever and I hope they do more episodes and more sets… I want to have a herd of LEGO nerfs. The trailer (like most trailers) gives you more information than I did- except maybe the nerf herding part – sorry.
If you have some time, I would recommend watching this, it is amusing even if you aren’t a Star Wars fan, just come at it with an open mind. If you are a Star Wars fan you might just take your first step in a larger, and less serious world. And remember when you post things ask yourself- Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? Many fans seem to forget these, then again in this season, most politicians do too.
I saw a recent comic dealing with the basic differences between Star Trek and Star Wars that I found amusing and enlightening…
I come from a weird time. I grew up with Star Trek in reruns, and was 11 when Star Wars came out in the theaters. As an adult I definitely see differences and understand that Star Trek is Science/Speculative Fiction and Star Wars is Fantasy with Science Fiction aspects (planets, spaceships, & rayguns). As pop culture has taken over society and it seems like for the most part, the fans are different.
I’ve joked that real Star Wars Fans really don’t like Star Wars, and that’s what makes you a true Star Wars fan. There is a lot of discussion online about how bad whatever the latest thing is. Then we get into things like the original releases vs. Special Editions vs. Prequels vs…. Did Han shoot first? Disney is ruining the Brand. George Lucas is ruining my childhood. This director or that director is ruining… Don’t even get started with casting decisions! There’s a lot of bad talk happening in Star Wars fandom, and a lot of people being just mean (embracing the dark side). This is all coming from the people who LIKE Star Wars!
I enjoyed how Star Wars sparked a change in the world. Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek Movies… it made science fiction popular and main stream. I recall my brother and I running around whacking each other with broomstick light sabers, while my mother wondered what happened to the broom and mop. Star Wars got me into reading as a middle schooler. “Splinter of the Minds Eye” by Alan Dean Foster was one of the first books I recall reading on my own.
You see, I’ve always loved Science Fiction from Flash Gordon serials to the 1950’s flying saucer movies… but I recall as a kid growing up in the Bay Area my dad taking us to a Star Trek fan club meeting and falling asleep the the episode “Arena.” I had starship plans, I still have the Technical Manual that I carried around as an elementary school kid. I could name off the various ships in the Federation. I had similar stuff for Star Wars- sketchbooks, The Art of Books I never really got into the toys for Star Wars since I was just old enough to not be as into toys, my neighbor had them. for the record: I preferred the Y-Wing to the X-Wing for the record. My favorite ship is the Enterprise (“No bloody A, B, C, or D”).
As a fan base one thing Star Trek has is the concept of IDIC (Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations) which helps when others talk about “best” and “worst.” In Star Trek they kinda accept everyone’s right to like even what you personally don’t. Which leads me to Prodigy. Canceled by the powers that be after one season. Paramount was able to sell the rights to Netflix after a massive online campaign to save the show. Kinda an internet version of what happened to the Original Series back in the 60’s. They are now trying the same thing to save Star Trek’s other animated series “Lower Decks” which they announced the next season would be it’s last.
The show was pretty much finished when Paramount decided to cancel it and make the show disappear from their streaming service. Netflix, this week, released season 2 of Prodigy in a 20 episode (about 10 hour) bingeable dump. Prodigy was the Star Trek franchise’s idea for a “kid show” co-produced by Nickelodeon. There are a lot of things to unpack from this series. I don’t want to give away any spoilers for either seasons. So I’ll start with where in the timeline does this happen? This isn’t much of a spoiler and because the first season has little to do with the Federation so it’s hard to tell. We know this happens after Kathryn Janeway is made an admiral. So sometime after Voyager’s return and during the time of the films. The second season tells us this all happened before the first season of Picard. So as the Romulans are being relocated (think the point in which the “Kelvin” timeline starts).
Season 2 actually ends with the Utopia Planetia shipyards being destroyed which was a flashback in Picard season 1. The crew of the Protostar is a bunch of misfits trying to escape slavery on a at that point unknown planetoid. A mix of young aliens with no idea about Star Fleet or the Federation. So this is an introduction to the universe of Star Trek with the main characters being like the companion in Doctor Who, the audience’s surrogate. Pretty much every detail is covered for a newbie even that none of the characters speak the same language, so how do you communicate?
A few spoilers, but with a second season you know problems from the first season have been sort of solved. The first season <spoiler> gets the crew and lost starship Protostar to the Federation and deals with what happens then, bad things, bad bad things. While the second season deals with how our characters figure out how to live in the Federation preparing to join the Academy and attempt to rescue someone mentioned in the first season who was lost in time… then hijinks ensue.
There are lots of twists and turns through both seasons, but my favorite possible episode 13 from season 1 which dealt with the crew landing on a planet that the Enterprise interacted with during their five year mission and a “minor” violation of the Prime Directive that impacted the civilization for some amusing results.
I have enjoyed this series and frankly all the various series for their own merit. IDIC. Have I liked every episode? Nope. I joke about the first season of most Star Trek series aren’t great. The actors need time to figure out their characters. The writers need to figure out the world. Around season three they get it. Prodigy like Lower Decks, being animation allows some freedom that would be difficult or expensive in live action. Season 2 is worth a watch and actually does a nice job of taking care of some complaints people had about season 3 of Picard. Not all the plot holes are addressed, but at least one is tidied up. I just wish they had episodes of Will Wheaton’s The Ready Room for these, or even each season… that would be amazing.
As for the final decision when it comes to the battle between Star Wars and Star Trek… I like both, but if I have a choice – I’ll watch Star Trek. I have kept up with Star Wars, and enjoyed my visit to Galaxy’s Edge in Florida (I made a droid & a lightsaber). Yes, Star Wars has books and various TV shows, but the core is really the movies, where the core for Star Trek is the television shows. I’ve invested untold hours in the Star Trek Universe and have the scars to prove it. Now if they would only build a Star Trek Theme Park.
Now to this Week’s Comics:
Public Domain #6 – I thought I’d lost contact with this one… The first arc was dealing with a family and the rights to a character the father had created… Now we get to actually doing something with this character. OK actually this is al the “Real World” stuff and the comic with the superhero will be coming out soon.
Black Radiant #29 & 29.5 – In the last two issues we had come close to the end, each version of Black Radiant was tasked with a challenge that could save the world… SO what happened? Who Lives? Who Dies? Which person is actually the better Black Radiant? Read it and find out.
Justice Society of America #10 – One of first Legion of Super Heroes Comics had the Legion go up against Mordru an evil wizard. With Huntress (Lost in the multiverse Helena Wayne) building a Justice Society from reformed villains we have a young Mordru coming in trying to change his future, and learning that while the end may justify the means… it isn’t always that neat and clean.
Batman #150 – I know a secret! So what happens if you know who Batman is? What would you do? This is the story of a small time crook (former henchman) who know Batman’s secret identity and what he does with the information… It is a bit surprising but fits with the newish direction of Batman.
Then, of course, theirs a short tie-in story for the summer blockbuster Absolute Power…
Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 – Another crossover taking control of a comic? Wha? Huh? This time it’s the “Infinity Watch” Which I guess, for an Annual issue isn’t too bad. Someone needs to study Temporal Mechanics 101.
Miles Morales: Spider-Man # 22 – Blood Hunt yipee! Yes, Vampires, yes, fights, yes, vampires. Sadly I see that there’s a DC vs. Vampires comic coming up, so more vampires! I really need to find other comics to read.
Rogue Sun #20 – Rogue Sun the immortal hero fighting to save the world again occult menaces, decides to start taking his role a bit more seriously as he plans to take out his big bad guy. At least he understands he has some work to do before hand. How does skipping school and heading off with a biker girl aid in his training?
Sons of Star Trek #4 – The end of the series, so no spoilers! Let’s just say I thought it was satisfying and still would like to know all the craziness that brought the universe together- Tuvix, Mariner, Morn… So many right turns in Albuquerque!
Rocketeer Jet Pack Adventures – I found this on the shelf of my LCS and picked it up… It is a book of short stories (so I won’t destroy my imagination by having to look at pictures… I can make the pictures in my mind). The book is actually 10 years old and I need to sit back and read it.
It seems that after the last Earth shattering finale for the merry Marvel mutants we are back with new team line ups and new titles. This teaser is to get me interested in all the titles and… it’s not doing anything for me.
I’m having enough trouble dealing with two Batman titles, two Superman titles, multiple Spider-Man titles (that at least have different Spider-Men in them), do I really need to be reading all these X-Men books? I watched X-Men ’97, but a dozen mutant books?!? Uncanny X-Men, X-Men, Exceptional X-Men, NYX, X-Force, X-Factor, Sentinels, Phoenix, Wolverine (also in Uncanny), Dazzler, Storm, Mystique, and let’s not forget the ad for Storm joining the Avengers!
Let’s not even get into the decades on continuity I need to wade through… If you love the X-Men (I do like the X-Men, but I really stopped reading them back when they had one title) this looks like it is a great time for you. New #1 issues, some new characters, and some cool stories. Enjoy! IDIC!
No, I haven’t seen The Force Awakens… so quit asking me. I had to work today. I am planning on seeing it now that Winter Break has started, I just haven’t decided when or where. What did I do today, the proclaimed “Star Wars Day”? I wore that unlicensed “Calvin & Hobbes t-shirt” with Han & Chewie, cleaned my classroom, and I did something very scary. I put in my VHS copy of Star Wars (Episode 4) that was the “enhanced version” which means the sound was brought into THX standards, and some of the specials effects were touched up… Nothing as drastic as the “Special Editions.” I saw the film pretty much just as I had seen it in 1977 (btw: Han shot first). Why was that scary? I hadn’t played that tape in probably over 15 years. I was afraid that it would disintegrate half way through (right before ‘Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid”) and it would be lost forever. I lucked out, and the school VCR along with our projector did a fine job.
I keep going back on Star Wars or Star Trek and there are days when I’m a trekkie and days when the Force is with me. I’m in that in-between age range that was influenced by both while growing up. Just as the prequels kinda soured me to Star Wars, I know there are Star trek films that were horrible, or worse. So all I can do is embrace the science fiction fan in me and get lost for a few hours in a galaxy far, far away- next year I’ll get lost where no one has gone before.
On a side note, I did pick up a BB-8 Sphero thanks to my sister Nancy. OK Sue’s sister, but we’ve known each long enough she’s my sister too. Now i watch it charge with Cecil watching and look forward to what tomorrow will bring. Isn’t that what Science Fiction is all about anyway?
Okay- so I know that in Star Wars VII that Threepio has a red arm… so what?!?! Who cares if the LEGO minifig now also has a red arm? After the prequels I’m going to reserve the right to draw my cybernetic monkeys the way they looked in 1977. If I actually like the new film I can always go back and “correct” this drawing, just like George “corrected” the first three films… ugh.
The big question usually asked of any “geek” is “Star Trek or Star Wars?” I believe I have said before, I’m torn on this topic. Both franchises are a part of my youth. I have fond memories of things related to each. Star Trek- I remember taking one Labor Day (or maybe Memorial Day) weekend and moving my TV outside so I could “catch some rays” without missing the massive Star Trek marathon- resulting in 2nd degree burns. Yes, it hurt. Yes I have scars to prove it. Would I do it again? Watch the marathon? Yes. Try to look like I actually lived in Southern California? Not so much. As for Star Wars- for those of us who saw it when it first was released… it was amazing. before that, science fiction and fantasy films had been kind of two dimensional- this just kind of made your mind go “Ka-Boom!” I was too old to get into the toys, but Star Wars was probably my first time attempting cosplay. Then, changes happened to both and while I still love them- each has had their set backs. Only time will tell if I will embrace either universe as I once had done. To quote Threepio- “This is madness!”
When news of Disney’s purchase of Lucasfilm first came out I remember drawing Obi Wan with mouse ears saying “I feel a great disturbance in the Force” I probably wasn’t the first one to come up with it, but I thought it was clever. Since that time we’ve seen what happens when the full might of Mouse is a part of something… They bought Marvel Comics & we end up with a bunch of good superhero movies. They bought Star Wars & we end up with the same feeling I had when I was waiting for Empire or Return… As Han Solo said in the trailer “Chewie were home.”
This doesn’t mean that I’m not scared. I waited in line to see Phantom Menace and was disappointed, with each prequel. Someone online recut all three films into one, and people said it was actually good. J J Abrams rebooted Star Trek and while some disliked the whole alternate timeline bit, it made some sense to be able to ditch all that continuity and return to the core. But if the Death Star goes into a wormhole to emerge at the beginning of Star Wars… I’m out.
This really isn’t about Star Wars, its about Disney’s influence over pop culture… While it causes kids to sing “Let it go!” for months, is it really that bad? Sue and I used to go to Disneyworld pretty much annually. My first Lilly Fellowship involved spending close to a month at Disneyworld learning the art of animation. We attended the first Mickey & MINI and few more after that. Anytime we felt down, we’d pick up the phone and call 1-407-WDISNEY and make reservations. Disney does it right, more importantly treats you right, and as long as you go with the expectation that things will most likely be overpriced, you can enjoy yourself. We slowed down on Disney trips when we came to the realization that you could fly to Europe for the cost of a Disney vacation. Does that mean we’ll never go back? No way. When the Star Wars Land opens I’ll be there, staying at whatever hotel they build close to the park, basking in the atmosphere created by Imagineers to help me forget the troubles I have in the real world and enter a galaxy far, far away…
For the next few weeks we are going to be following Cecil’s work on his Memoir… I won’t be writing much here since it is Cecil’s story… Enjoy!
Yes, it is late, but still before midnight where I am so it still counts as Wednesday’s comic. I hope everyone had a great May the fourth… Now I just have to come up with something clever for Towel Day.
.
