What's Got Everyone Talking This Week

So it’s been a pretty busy week in the nerdy geeky world. A lot has been going on in a number of different areas. So what’s everyone talking about? Well the blogverse, Twitterverse, and other websites have picked up on a number of things; therefore, I’m only going to highlight the top five. Here’s a look:

The New Mutants Trailer

Part horror movie cut and part superhero trailer, the first trailer for the 20^th Century Fox film “The New Mutants” has managed to get people talking. Are they talking good or bad? Well, that largely depends on how you take the two minute trailer (I’ll add a duh right there). For me, the trailer seems cut in a way that puts the movie on par with some sort of 1980’s horror movie, and that might just be a good thing. Check it out for yourself:

Another Walking Dead #100 Variant

Yup, it happened. Just when you think things couldn’t get any more confusing in the Walking Dead comic book collecting world, now seventy some issues later another variant of the first appearance of the man with the bat wrapped in barbed wire has made an appearance. With the release of the “Here’s Negan” book, Barnes & Noble has managed to score an exclusive variant ofWalking Dead #100. The hardback book is available at the website for under $19, while the comic enclosed with the book is selling on eBay in the $40 range. Amazing, eh?

The Last Jedi Trailer

No matter how you feel about Star Wars, there is little chance anyone in this particular circle has escaped the latest trailer for The Last Jedi. So what’s up? Well, if you missed it here it is, hold on:

Hard to say how to judge this one, but like most Star Wars trailers, it looks EPIC.

Marvel Lenticular Covers

Marvel has found a way to alienate comic book shop owners by putting some really strange buying requirements on the Marvel Legacy Lenticular covers. What this has done is forced stores to sell the books above cover price (unlike DC that simply charged a little more cover price for the lenticular books BTW). If you are a comic book collector, the 3D or Lenticular covers are pretty cool, but with the books failing to really strike a chord on the secondary market most of these books look to be dead on arrival. That is if your local comic book shop even ordered any to begin with. Look for more on this topic over the coming week.

Disney Epcot 35 Figment Funko

Hey, Disney is cool, and that little purple dragon that inhabits the World of Imagination is pretty popular. So when you combine the 35^th Anniversary of Epcot with a pretty cool Funko Pop of Figment, you get mass hysteria. Well, you get a lot of folks cashing in is what you get. Despite costing $19.99 retail, the Figment Funko has been ringing up twice that on secondary markets. That number was really crazy over the course of the Epcot anniversary with some sales approaching the $75 range. Things seem to have toned down for now, especially with fans waiting until the next shipment from the manufacturer. Still, if that ship doesn’t come in, buyers can expect a nice bump in price (on the secondary markets that is) prior to the holiday.

Hey, that’s the rundown on what has gotten everyone talking this week. Who knows what the next week holds, but I’m betting a certain God of Thunder or a Prince from Wakanda will be at least mentioned in the next few.

Reviews of Star Wars: Ahsoka Fills In Some Gaps & Offers a Fun Read

Well, I just finished of Star Wars: Ahsoka by E.K. Johnston. The story bridges some of the gap from the point where she jumps out of the Clone Wars animated series and reappears in Rebels. To say the least, Ahsoka has been pretty busy. To put in bluntly, the book serves fans well. The focus on the former Jedi Padawan as a main character has really been too long in coming, and these 350 or so pages really help round out the character. In case you are wondering, there will be no spoilers here so read on with little fear. (that would be the Dark Side)

The story catches up with Ahsoka shortly after her abandonment of the Jedi Order, which as many already know came at pretty much the right time, as Order 66 pretty much caused the death of every Jedi in the galaxy. What Johnston demonstrates several times throughout the story is the pull Anakin Skywalker’s former pupil still feels for the Jedi despite not technically being one. Got to say, I’m not a fan of the storyline that saw Ahsoka tossed from the Clone Wars series, but I can respect someone’s vision. I don’t have to agree with it either.

That being said, Ahsoka Tano has other things to do. After pretty much growing up in some pretty big shadows, the young girl has found herself questioning any number of things. Since she’s not a Jedi, exactly what is she supposed to do? Johnston decides to give her something worthy of her skills. The story explains just enough of what happened to help any reader unfamiliar with the character understand exactly what is going on. That’s a pretty impressive feat for any author, and let’s face it, the Star Wars fans are not always forgiving when it comes to messing around with characters.

The one issue with the book might center on pacing. I kind of felt like I was waiting for something to happen in a few cases, which was strange because there was plenty actually going on just nothing that particularly, interested me. I wonder if this story could have been done as six or ten issue limited series in the comic book world where some incredible art could have accompanied a fabulous story with a familiar face. Well, maybe Marvel and Disney will get together on that.

What seems readily apparent is that Ahsoka has the ability to carry a story by herself. Hard to imagine that many did not like her when she first appeared, but her quick wit and pretty much fearless banter have helped endear her to a generation of fans. The character has come a long way, and with the Star Wars Universe going back through to dot the i’s and cross the t’s, I would not be totally shocked to see Ahsoka Tano pop up again.

Star Wars: Ahsoka is definitely worth the time. It’s not a hard read, and it’s a pretty entertaining affair. Give it a chance, and never forget the words of Master Yoda “Do or Do not, there is no try.” 

Classic Comic Book Cover of the Week: Star Wars #42 First Boba Fett

Star Wars Vol. 1 #42

A few years ago you could walk into just about any comic book shop and pick a bunch of the original Marvel Star Wars comic book run. Then, something tremendous happened, a new movie came out. A new comic series was released, and then another, and then another. Then another movie came out, and now another movie is due to come out. See the trend.

Star Wars is one of those entertainment properties that spans genres. Just about every type of memorabilia or collectible you could shake a stick at has some type of value. As far as comics book go the popularity of the original 1977 Marvel Comics series is pretty much unparalleled throughout all of the Star Wars books.

A few of the issues have experienced a tremendous uptick in price and demand, and one of those issues in particular is the first appearance of Boba Fett in Star Wars Vol. 1 #42. Granted, it’s not the first appearance of the famous bounty hunter, because he made his debut in “The Empire Strikes Back” in May of 1980 (that would be a movie ladies and gents) and wouldn’t grace the comic book world until December of that year. Still this issue has climbed into the $100 club, according to Comic Book Realm. Toss in a CGC grade and prices go further north from there.

With cover art by Carlos Garzon, the issue has become a hotly traded commodity among collectors. The white background is especially prone to yellowing and general discoloration issues, which makes higher grade copies very scarce. A quick look at the CGC population report reveals 737 versions in the 9.0 to 9.6 range, but only 167 in the 9.8 grade and there is even one with a ridiculous 9.9.  What that really means is there are a little over 900 copies of this book graded out at VF/NM. That’s actually pretty impressive. Please note that those totals include signed copies that have been slabbed with the yellow "Signature Series" plate.

The popularity of Boba Fett helps sell this book, because he is after all on the cover. The interest in bounty hunter with few actual lines in the movies has soared to heights for a lot of different reasons, and this is as close as collectors can get to one of the first real limited release collectibles of the character. There’s that equation again of popularity versus limited supply, which equals a higher price.

In the end though, it’s a cool cover that can have major condition issues, which is one reason why discerning collectors might be able to argue down a price or avoid a purchase altogether. That background and the white pages are key to solid investment grade book, anything else loses that 9.0 possibility for the most part.

The 1977 Star Wars Volume 1 is set to heat up the charts for years to come. In you or anyone you know is a fan of the Fett you should probably check this book out.

Rogue One Olympic Trailer Delivers on the Build Anticipation Checklist

The pretty obvious elephant in the room when it comes to geek culture is this December’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” Now that a freshly cut trailer has made its debut during NBC’s coverage of the Rio Olympics, fans have been trying to gauge whether or not the force is strong with this one.

Well, if you spared the two minutes or so already, you probably have your own conclusion. In my humble opinion, this trailer looks pretty well put together. I mean, my one complaint about the Star Wars Universe was that there simply were not enough characters, so it made sense to add a few more (read: sarcasm).

That being said, Rogue One looks like it will have pretty common Star Wars elements. Distant planets? Check. A dude that looks like Morgan Freeman? Check. An annoying droid that just might steal the show? Check. Massive fight sequences? Check. A cameo from Darth Vader? Big fat check.

The last few seconds with Vader are perhaps the most titillating few seconds for Star Wars fans since the whole “Chewie, We’re home” statement. The Sith Lord looks like he is ready to make sure the Death Star goes operational at best (we all know how the story ends).

It’s always hard to gauge a film from the trailers, because the comic book and geek set has been somewhat let down this year from film makers and even television show creators. There have been wins as well, and that means there should be at least a little bit of confidence in Rogue One.

If any fictional universe can make stand alone stories happen, it is Star Wars. The simple reason is the amount of characters. Let’s face it, there are a lot of riveting characters that can be explored in their own right. Opening the non-timeline films with the story of how the rebels got their hands on those plans in the first place is actually a stroke of pure genius.

The story takes place just before Star Wars: A New Hope, which means there will be plenty of Easter Eggs for fans.  Just don’t call it a prequel, because that ship has sailed.

The success of the film will draw on the nostalgia and interest from the current massive fan base, which is not really a surprise. Star Wars fans should flock to Rogue One, it’s the repeat business and the chance to draw in additional eyeballs to the entire franchise that generate the huge box office grosses.

Worries about reshoots and changes to what was first intended to be are both good reasons for concern. However, the new trailer, which likely will not be the last, should be enough to satisfy the curiosity of even the most concerned fan. Of course, just like Superman and Batman will tell you, making a great trailer is one thing, making a great movie is something altogether different.