TJW Podcast - Super Megafest Megacast!

Hey there travelers of the Jundland Wastes! Happy holidays to all of our podcast listeners! It's a great time of the year and we hope you are enjoying the holidays with friends and family. The holiday season started a little early for us here at the TJW Podcast by our attendance at Super Megafest in Framingham, Massachusetts this past Sunday. What a great time!

We met up with some great Star Wars artists, chatted with some legends from the comic book industry, caught up with some friends in the 501st Legion New England Garrison and even had a chance to shake hands with the great David Prowse aka Darth Vader. So start off your holiday season and Black Friday with our special coverage on the TJW Podcast-Megacast!

TJW Podcast Host Mark Leibowitz and a 501st Biker Scout

TJW Podcast Host Daniel Gil feeling his Chicago roots
in front of the infamous Blues Brothers police car

R2D2 is always a hit at conventions!

The gracious and soft spoken Dark Lord of the Sith
David Prowse aka Darth Vader

Stay tuned for our next episode! And be sure to send us your thoughts about the podcast at: jundlandwastespodcast@gmail.com.

All the best,

Mark
Co-host of the TJW Podcast

More Thoughts on Star Wars Episode 7

Hey there Jundland Wastes Travelers! It's that time of year when the fall starts to wind down and the Hoth-like winter conditions are just around the corner. But it is also the start of the winter holiday season which is just a lot of fun. People start to get into better spirits, lots of tasty treats seem to be in abundance at the work office and school classrooms and the first snow of the season is always exciting to see.

But for a Star Wars fan, I think it's is even a more special time of the year. For some reason, I have always associated the winter with Star Wars. With days off from work, there seems to be more time to crack open a new Expanded Universe novel, break open some action figures to add to my display case or take a couple hours to throw in a Star Wars movie into the DVD player. And of course with all the winter holidays, there are bound to be gifts from that galaxy far, far away that brighten the season for a special Star Wars fan.

Personally, I think the holidays started a little early this year with the BIG announcement made by Lucasfilm and Disney this past week. Facebook, Twitter, emails and all social media was exploding this past week with news of the acquisition as well as the numerous mock-up pictures combining our favorite themes from Stars Wars and Mickey Mouse. But it wasn't until last night that it really hit me...and I'm not talking about the head cold that I have been fighting all week either. But around 4:00AM this morning it finally sunk in that a new Star Wars movie will be out in 2015.

A new Star Wars movie! Episiode 7! A movie that will take place after the events of Return of the Jedi! I began to imagine what it will be like to stand in line at theaters on a spring afternoon or evening to get a ticket to see Star Wars again! Just imagining being there as the lights dim and the words come across the screen, "A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away..." And then hearing that booming beginning of the classic John Williams theme song as the Star Wars logo fades off into the blanket of space and stars.

But we know that the usual buildup to the movie will include trailers, posters and images. And novels, comic books and new figures will of course have to be part of the campaign as well.  But what will the storyline of Episodes 7, 8 and 9 entail?

My first hope is that we get to see our heroes again. Can you imagine seeing Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher reprising their classic roles of Luke, Han and Leia? The story could easily take place at a time when their actual ages match the timeframe for a post-Jedi story. And if that were the case it would be easy to include characters from the Expanded Universe that have become fan favorites over the years.

I would love to see Mara Jade in a Star Wars movie! Her character was developed incredibly well by author Timothy Zhan. And seeing Luke and Mara together as our favorite Jedi couple would balance out the tragic Anakin-Padme storyline in a sense. How great would it be seeing a movie where true love becomes an essential component to being a Jedi!

But, the possibility still remains that what Expanded Universe fans take as Star Wars cannon may not be the vision of the writers and directors of this new set of movies. Part of me would love to see some of the Expanded Universe make its way to the silver screen. But the other part would be disappointed if I did not see something new that has not been given over in a Star Wars novel or comic.

As I mentioned in my previous post, there are just too many questions right now and we will all have to wait for the answers. But the TJW Podcast and Blog are here to stay and we are really looking forward to journey ahead! The Star Wars franchise is alive and well! Star Wars movies are on there way! And regardless of the storyline, there will be undoubtedly some great Expanded Universe tales to tell as well.

Let us know your thoughts! Email us at: jundlandwastespodcast@gmail.com

Keep safe on the Wastes!
Mark
Co-host of the TJW Podcast

STAR WARS EPISODES 7, 8 AND 9 IN 2015!

The Star Wars world has been abuzz for the past 24 hours with the news that Disney has acquired Lucasfilm. And in addition, Star Wars episodes 7, 8 and 9 will be a reality in movie theaters come 2015.

I was just home from work when Dan called me with this breaking news. I was flabbergasted to say the least. I always thought that Lucasfilm would be that independent film company (granted, a multi-billion dollar independent film company) that would stay hold to the ideas that they are the only ones who know how to make Star Wars great and epic. It has been known for a while that George Lucas was planning on retiring in the coming years and his successor Kathleen Kennedy would be someone he trusts who can keep his vision of the Star Wars universe alive.

It does appear that Kennedy will be the person who will be heading up the production of these new Star Wars movies. And if there is anyone who can fill the shoes of George Lucas, I think Kathleen Kennedy is the person to do it. Her work on Raiders of the Lost Ark proves that she knows the recipe to make a good movie. And if she can do that with Indiana Jones, I am certain she will be able to step up to challenge with these new Star Wars movies.

I still am unsure how I feel about Disney taking the reigns at Lucasfilm. Granted, if any company knows how to make movies the right way, it is Disney. They have had a connection with Lucasfilm since the days they acquired Pixar and brought us movies like Wall-E, Toy Story and Cars. And from a merchandising perspective, there are many crossovers between Disney and Star Wars as well.

But the questions remains, what will be the story-line of Star Wars Episode 7? And how does this play into the exisiting Star Wars Expanded Universe stories and timeline? With Disney taking design control of all aspects of these new movies, how will that affect the final product we will see in the movie theaters in 2015?

As a host of a podcast and blog that is dedicated to the discussion of the issues, ideas and the imagination of the Star Wars Expanded Universe, it would be a little tough to imagine that characters and story-lines from the classic Timothy Zahn novels not finding there way onto the silver screen. I began thinking of what it would be like to see those Zahn novels coming together in a movie. Who would play Mara Jade? What would Grand Admiral Thrawn look like?  How would the story of Han and Leia play out? Would they in fact be married? Would the love story develop between Luke and Mara?  Or will these movies be acting as a major reboot of the Star Wars timeline as Star Wars Expanded Universe fans understand it?

This coming January we are going to see the first issue of the new "Star Wars" comic book from Dark Horse. The hype behind this comic book series is that it is set in the original trilogy era (probably between Episodes 4 and 5) and it will have all the characters we are familiar with in an era that we know well. Could this comic book series be a primer for events that are going to eventually play out in the new movies? And what about the upcoming book called Crucible that shows Luke, Leia and Han on the cover with more white and grey hair that I had ever envisioned? It obviously takes place after the events of the Fate of the Jedi series but will anything in this book have any impact on the new movies?

We have quite a long time before we have any concrete answers to these questions. We still are following the events in The Clone Wars animated series, many story-lines in books and comics are still in motion and we are not certain what other breaking news might appear in our inbox's in the coming weeks.

But I am very optimistic about this news. I am thrilled that new Star Wars will be on the big screen in the coming years. I am even more excited that my kids will be at an age that they can enjoy these movies and go with me to the theaters to see these movies. And a new movie will obviously trigger the usual merchandising campaigns that will offer fans those collectibles that make this new Star Wars experience even more enjoyable.  If anything, this announcement has solidified that idea in my mind that the ideas, moral lessons, adventures and fun that stems from that galaxy far, far away is in fact going to last forever!

Dan and I will chat more about this breaking news on the next podcast.  Let us know your thoughts! Email us at: jundlandwastespodcast@gmail.com

Keep safe on the Jundland Wastes! And let us know if you spot Mickey Mouse hanging out with Jawas or Tusken Raiders! :)

All the best,
Mark
Co-host - TJW Podcast

TJW Podcast - Episode 7

Hey there travelers of the Jundland Wastes! Darth Dan and I are back in the studio for another episode of the podcast. As many of you already know, Dan and I are fans of the tales and stories from the Old Republic days. We have both played Knights of the Old Republic, have enjoyed the Tales of the Jedi comic and have kept up with the latest offering under The Old Republic banner.

One of the biggest items to hit this year was Biowares long anticipated MMO PC game called Star Wars: The Old Republic. Darth Dan was lucky to be chosen as a beta tester for the game and has been spending some time exploring the galaxy far, far away during the times of the Old Republic with this new game.

Listen to his analysis of the game and join us as we get a taste of the Old Republic here on episode 7 of the podcast! Let us know your thoughts on the game as well as the comics and books from this time period! Send us your email at: jundlandwastespodcast@gmail.com 

All the best,
Mark and Dan
 Hosts of the TJW Podcast

TJW Podcast - Episode 6

Hey there Jundland Wastes Travelers! Darth Dan and I are back in the studio for another episode of the Traveling the Jundland Wastes Podcast. While we are not going to be at Star Wars Celebration 6 in Orlando, Florida this week, we are still excited about all the happenings in the Star Wars universe.

In this episode we discuss Expanded Universe titles we are reading, the great Star Wars Celebration 6 art prints and Dan shades some new light on how to watch all six Star Wars movies. And who would have thought that this revelation would have occurred while recovering from lyme disease (you'll have to listen to the podcast to understand what we mean :)

Let us know if you're going to C6! And we would love to hear your feedback on the podcast!  Send your comments to: jundlandwastespodcast@gmail.com

And stay tuned for our in depth podcast analysis of The Force Unleashed! We will be discussing both video games, the comic trade paperbacks and the action figures that were all part of this amazing chapter in the Star Wars Expanded Universe!

Travel safely friends!

Mark and Dan

Hosts of the TJW Podcast  

Post Star Wars Celebration 6 Thoughts

Hey there Jundland Wastes Travelers! Star Wars Celebration 6 is in the books! For those who were able to make it to Orlando, it seems like it was a blast! The news coming off Star Wars fan sites, podcasts and social media has been fast and furious. It seems like it was the best Star Wars Celebration yet! And it seems like the party is going to continue next summer in Germany for Star Wars Celebration Europe II.

For the TJW Podcast, it looks like we will have to wait a couple more years for C7. But all of us here at the podcast are determined to make it happen the next time occurs.

Even though I was disappointed in not going, I was able to bring some of the convention home with the help of many dedicated Star Wars fans who were in the convention hall. 

My biggest score of the convention was getting two autographed bookplates from Star Wars authors Timothy Zahn and Drew Karpyshyn. In addition, my self addressed stamped envelope came back to with an official USPS time stamp made specifically for Star Wars Celebration.  Thanks to fellow podcaster Jay Shepard of Jedi Journals on the Forcecast who took the time to make these great bookplates and got them signed by the authors!

Other items I am awaiting to see come through my mail box are a Chris Trevas autographed C6 badge, a great 4 card postcard set from the guys at Jedi Temple Archives, an autographed 8 x 10 photo of Garrick Hagon who played Luke Skywalker's buddy from Tatooine Biggs Darklighter and a gorgeous 11 x 14 black and white 3 shot photo of Ian McDiarmid as Darth Sidious/Emperor Palpatine. One day I will have to get this autographed.  And I think I may even have a C6 patch to add the offical TJW Podcast jacket as well.  All in all, not a bad catch for someone who had to miss the convention.

We are busy preparing for our special The Force Unleashed analysis podcast! So stay tuned! Plus, Dan and I will be back on the road in November for Super Mega Fest in Framingham, MA! We cannot wait to meet the man who played Darth Vader....the one and only David Prowse.

Plus a lot of expanded universe to discuss as well. Stay tuned for more updates and more shows!

Travel safely on the wastes!

All the best,

Mark and Dan
Co-hosts of the TJW Podcast

Not Going to C6? No Worries! There is Still Lots of Star Wars Fun to Have!

Hey there Travelers of the Jundland Wastes! Yes, it has been a while since I last posted a blog or a podcast episode. I am hoping that I will be able to post more as the summer ends and the autumn season begins. Life tends to be pretty "non-routine" during the summer and I hope to have a more consistent routine as it regards the podcast by the time the leaves begin to change color.

But it is the summer season and it means going out and enjoying the weather, maybe going to the beach, getting a good swim in and having some tasty summertime treats like ice cream and lemonade. But it is also the prime season for comic conventions! This past weekend was the ever famous San Diego Comic Con. I watched some footage on G4 thus past Saturday night. It really is one of those experiences that needs to be tried even once. The panels, the costumes, the comic book culture and the general fandom cannot be duplicated anywhere. It is the grand-daddy of conventions and I do hope to make it there one day.

And in a couple weeks, Star Wars fans will be flocking to Orlando, Florida for Star Wars Celebration 6. The TJW Podcast really wanted to find a way to be there this year. But it is an experience that will have to be put on hold at least for this year. Perhaps when Celebration 7 is announced in two years or so the TJW Podcast will have a better opportunity to attend.

This got me thinking about fans who (for whatever reason) are unable to make it to a convention this summer. Granted these events do require some financial planning and family coordination which can make it impossible at times. But just because one is not able to attend a San Diego Comic Con or a Star Wars Celebration does not mean that a devoted fan of the franchise cannot have some "geek" fun.  Here are some suggestions that I have done in the past month or so to cure those comic convention doldrums.

Podcasts - It is probably not a big surprise that I would list this as my first choice. While podcast have exploded in the last few years, I think the fandom community has benefited most from the democratization of blogging and podcasts. There are more first hand reports compiled on blogs and podcasts that take us right into the convention hall. As fans, we get to hear the background noise of the convention and the ambience of the event. Actors, artists and fan interviews on podcasts have connected us more with the conventions then any other medium in my opinion. Yes, you can find news about these on G4 or E! but there is a sense excitement balanced by the normalacy of the everyday fan logging his or her journey at a convention.  Do a websearch or search through iTunes and see what podcasts are available for comic con fans! And then pour yourself a tall glass of lemonade, plug in your Mp3 player and pretend you are at the event.

Virtual Artist Alley - One of the best times I had at the Boston Comic Convention this past spring was getting to spend a LONG time walking through the artist alley. I met many artists that have inspired me to draw again as well as those that I have admired over time. And while nothing replaces the experience of being there, the internet has allowed us access to see (and order) great pieces of art from some very talented artists. Check out the official Star Wars Celebration site (www.starwarscelebration.com) and see who has a print for sale. Then go to the artist website. You get to see many prints from past conventions and celebrations. There is actually a print from a past convention that I am planning to purchase. The great thing about this is that I can budget for a print because I am not attending the celebration where I need to pay for hotel and other expenditures. So it is sort of a consolation to be able to get a fantastic work of art.

Autograph Hunting - Just as one has a little more to budget for an art print, the same can be said for those who are looking to get an autograph. Conventions and celebrations are famous for the meet and greet opportunities.  These lines can be long and it can sometimes take a big chunk of time out of the convention depending on the actors fame. So another great consolation is the fact that many conventions have mail in or ordering services so you can purchase an autographed photo and at times even personalized autographs. There are a couple I am looking to get from the C6 show and it never fails to put a smile on my face when I get them in the mail. Plus, it is a good time to find those actors who will sign autographs for free through the mail (as long as you have enclosed proper postage and a self addressed stamped envelope). Do some research and you will find that many actors who you would suspect are "too famous" will in fact take the time to sign an autograph.

Crafts and Cooking - This might sound a little silly but there can be a lot of fun had with making Star Wars art crafts and cooking. I have always been a big fan doing dioramas. And if you have children they will also delight in being able to transform an ordinary shoe box into a great scene from the movies. And by all means, USE YOUR LOOSE ACTION FIGURES! They are meant to be played with and look great as part of a diorama. The possibilities are endless and if you are doing this with your children you will see their eyes light up when you can put together the Battle of Hoth, Yoda's swamp home, the famous Lars Homestead or a speeder bike chase through the forest of Endor. And if you do a web search you will find many resources for Star Wars fans who like to make dioramas. Some even include cut out templates which can really make your diorama stand out! And don't forget to check out many Star Wars themed recipes that can be great to make and delicious to eat. My kids love making giant Death Star cookies and get a kick out of these 6 inch cookies!

Expanded Universe Titles - As a podcast dedicated to exploring the issues, ideas and the imagination of the Star Wars Expanded Universe it should be no surprise that I list this as a way to cure the blues of not attending a convention or celebration. In addition to the many titles out there, you can also catch up on Star Wars video games that might have fallen through the cracks and were missed. If you are looking for a great game that does not take a long time to play, try The Force Unleashed 2. It is an older game but the graphics are incredible and it is a good story. Even for those who have played it, the fun is still there!

Have a Mini-Con - You can't possibly be the only guy or gal who did not manage to make it to a convention or celebration. A great way to have some fun this summer is to have a "Non-Con" party. You can easily mention this to people on forums in places like www.rebelscum.com and see if anyone is interested. Have an informal gathering at a beach, a lake or even a nearby park. Make it pot luck and share in bringing snacks and drinks. And then the skies the limit to what you can do. Maybe you want to have some things to trade from your collection. Perhaps bring the DVD's of the movies to watch together on a laptop or portable DVD player. If there are any 501st member in the area ask them if they would like to "troop" at your party.

These are just a couple of ideas. But I would love to hear your ideas as well. Send us an email with your ideas to: jundlandwastespodcast@gmail.com.

Stay tuned for another episode of the TJW Podcast!

Mark
Co-host TJW Podcast

The Official TJW Podcast Denim Jacket!

Hello Jundland Wastes Travelers! So what does a podcaster like myself prefer to wear at live shows and comic conventions and celebrations? The answer is my favorite Levis denim jacket with some great Star Wars patches and pins!

Some may think I am stuck in the 1980's but I will always believe that the Levis denim jacket is a classic and will never go out of style. It is comfortable and perfect for patches and pins.

At Boston Comic Con this past April I actually had people checking out my jacket and asking about the patches and pins that I had on it. I was proud to show my jacket and get word out regarding the podcast and my admiration for the Star Wars franchise.

I thought it was about time to take a couple pics of the jacket and let everyone in on the official jacket of the TJW Podcast! 

Jedi Starfighter Patch (from The Jedi Path by Dan Wallace) and a Droids P

in

Biker Jew Crew Patch and Star Wars Celebration 5 Pin

Star Wars Celebration 5 - Five Piece Boba Fett Patch

Do you have a denim/jean jacket that you have updated with some fantastic Star Wars patches or pins? Send us a pic and we will post it to the blog!

And stay tuned for news about an official TJW Podcast patch that you will be able to own!

Stay safe on the Jundland Wastes!

Mark
Co-host of the TJW Podcast and Blog

TJW Podcast Interview - Star Wars Artist Katie Cook

Hello Travelers of the Jundland Wastes - Here is the other interview we did while at Boston Comic Con this past April. We were honored to have a moment to speak with Star Wars artist Katie Cook! She is also doing an art print for Star Wars Celebration 6 in Orlando, Florida this August. Katie has worked on many comic books, the Star Wars Galaxy series sets and has her own original comic called The Gronk. Check out our interview with her and we hope to speak to her again before Star Wars Celebration 6!

And be sure to check out Katie's website at: http://katiecandraw.typepad.com/

Stay tuned for more podcasts and blog posts!

Mark
Co-host of the TJW Podcast

TJW Podcast Interview - Star Wars Artist Doug Cowan

Hello Travelers of the Jundland Wastes! The TJW Podcast was on the road last month for Boston Comic Con! As you can see from previous posts it was a lot of fun for both Dan and I. We had a great time roaming Artist Alley and getting to meet many comic book artists and illustrators.  We got a chance to chat with Star Wars artist Doug Cowan. Doug has done many Star Wars illustrations including work on the Star Wars Galaxy card sets and prints for Star Wars Celebration. And yes, Doug will have a new print for Star Wars Celebration 6 in Orlando, Florida this August. We hope to chat with Doug sometime after his Star Wars Celebration 6 art print is revealed. Stay tuned for updates!

Click here to listen to our interview with Doug Cowan!

And be sure to check out Doug's website: http://dougcowan.net/

Stay safe on the Jundland Wastes!

Mark
Co-host of the TJW Podcast and Blog

A Fun Month for the TJW Podcast!

Greetings Fellow Travelers of the Jundland Wastes! This has been a pretty fun month for us here in the Jundland Wastes. So many new Expanded Universe titles and a couple fun events.Back in March we had our first live show with Star Wars author Ryder Windham. We also had some of the troops from the 501st Legion New England Garrison present as well. It was a great evening. We chatted with Ryder about his latest books and Star Wars in general. And we had some great fans of the podcast in attendance.

Ryder Windham on the TJW Podcast

The Traveling the Jundland Wastes Podcast also inducted Ryder and the 501st Legion New England Garrision as Honorary Travelers of the Jundland Wastes for their contributions to the Star Wars universe and their fans. We presented certificates of honor to Ryder and the 501st and are proud of their efforts and support for our podcast.

Ryder named an Honorary Traveler

Tusken Raider John Dressel

After the interview, Ryder signed autographs and met the fans. And the 501st troops stuck around to take pictures with our fans as well!Everyone had a great time and I cannot wait to do another live show. Stay tuned for details about our next appearance!

Ryder signs autographs for Star Wars fans

TJW Podcast Hosts Dan and Mark with the 501st Legion New England Garrison

501st Sandtrooper at Boston Comic Con 2012

And this past Sunday, Dan and I were on the road again as we traveled to the Boston Comic Con at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Massachusetts! The first table we saw at the event was the 501st Legion New England Garrison who had a "Shoot-a Trooper-For-Charity". Fans delighted loading up Nerf blasters and taking their best shots at Stormtroopers, Snowtroopers, Sandtroopers and Biker Scouts. The 501st raised $1700 for Shriners Hospital! Gotta love these guys! It was great seeing many of the troops who came to the podcast event last March. We are proud of the 501st and look forward to doing another event with them!

We spent a lot of time in artist alley. My only regret is that we did not have enough time to meet every artist in attendance. So many great artists, illustrators and members of the comic book community were in the house giving the fans a great opportunity to meet with them. I was even able show my sketchbook to many of the artists in attendance and received some very valuable drawing advice. My dream is to find myself in an artist alley alongside many of the friends I made at Boston Comic Con.

Star Wars Artist Doug Cowan - www.dougcowan.net

We interviewed two Star Wars artists making their mark in the Star Wars universe; Doug Cowan and Katie Cook. Audio from these interviews will be posted soon! Both Doug and Katie have done prints for past Star Wars Celebrations and will have new prints for Star Wars Celebration 6 this August in Orlando, Florida. In addition to being great artists, Doug and Katie are some of the nicest people you will meet. Be sure to take the time to meet Doug and Katie at C6 and purchase their prints! 

Star Wars Artist Katie Cook - www.katiecandraw.typepad.com

And you cannot go to a Comic Con without purchasing something special. I bought a great set of postcards from Doug Cowan, a sketch card from Katie Cook and a great drawing of Darth Revan and Bastila Shan from artist Taylor James. Stay tuned for pics of these great works of art. And stay tuned for a regular edition of the podcast coming soon. We have a lot to discuss. Revan! The conclusion to the Fate of the Jedi series! Comics such as Crimson Empire III, Agent of the Empire and the upcoming Boba Fett and Darth Vader comics. Let us know if you were at our podcast event with Ryder and the troops or if you went to Boston Comic Con! We'd love to hear from you.

Boba Fett at the Boston Comic Con with TJW Podcast Host Mark

Send your emails to: jundlandwastespodcast@gmail.com Stay safe on the Jundland Wastes!
All the best,

Mark Co-host TJW Podcast

TJW Podcast - An Evening With Ryder Windham

Hello Travelers of the Jundland Wastes! Here for your listening pleasure is our interview with Star Wars author Ryder Windham!

Stay tuned for pictures of the TJW Podcast staff and our guests from our first live event!

If you were at the event last night let us know what you thought of it! Add a comment below are send us an email.

All the best,

Mark
Co-host of the TJW Podcast

TONIGHT! COME TO THE TJW PODCAST EVENT! WITH RYDER WINDAM AND THE 501ST LEGION!

Hello Travelers of the Jundland Wastes! Tonight is the night! Our live podcast event with Star Wars author Ryder Windham and joining us will be members of the 501st Legion New England Garrison!

The podcast interview will start at 6:15PM and be about 35 - 45 minutes. Ryder will then sign autographs for our fans! And you will be able to meet members of the greatest Star Wars costuming group of all time, the 501st Legion!

Here's the info you need to know!

March 27, 2012
6:15PM - 7:45PM
Sharon Public Library
11 Main Street in Sharon, Massachusetts

Please keep in mind that books WILL NOT be sold at this event.

See you there!

Mark
Co-host of the TJW Podcast

Revan - TJW Book Review

Ever since I began playing the Knights of the Old Republic on my original Xbox, I became fascinated with the characters that were introduced into this time period of the Old Republic. And anyone who knows me, has listened to the podcast or read my posts on the blog, know that I am intrigued with the characters of Jedi Knight Bastila Shan and former Sith Lord Darth Revan.

Much like the Han and Leia in the Original Trilogy, Darth Revan and Bastila Shan are that couple that play off each other so well in their dialogue. Just when you think these two characters are going clock the other with a gaffe stick, you find these special moments in the game (if you are basically playing the light side path) that remind you of those moments that Han and Leia had with each other throughout the three original movies.

In the novel Revan by Drew Karpyshyn, we see a little less banter between Bastila and Revan but a lot more emotion and seriousness in their dialogue. Without giving away the plot and circumstances of these two characters in the novel, I will say that there is a feeling uncertainty between Bastila and Revan.

We know that the canonical story of the original Knights of the Old Republic video game shows the redemption of Revan and his ability to redeem Bastila after she temporarily goes the dark side. The second installment of the Knights of the Old Republic known as The Sith Lords, includes cameo appearances of Bastila, Malak and Carth Onasi. And even though Revan is mentioned throughout the game, he never makes an appearance. At this time, we are uncertain of what happened to Revan and Bastila following the events of the first game. There is a lot of speculation as to his fate. Mystery shrouds the main character of this second game and we are uncertain what connection this character has with the Revan and Bastila story line.

While we have all been given the opportunity to do our own bit discovery in the new Star Wars The Old Republic video game, for those that want a clearer understanding of how the loose ends are tied up from the first two video games, I highly recommend reading the Revan novel. It is one of best expanded universe novels I have read!

Drew Karpyshyn knows how to write Star Wars and is, in my opinion, the best expert of the Old Republic era. He has proven it not only through his scripts for the Knights of the Old Republic video games but also with his Darth Bane trilogy of novels. And Revan is the best example of bringing this era of the Star Wars Expanded Universe to life. The novel is enhanced even more with a new Sith Lord named Scourge as well as meeting some old buddies we know from the video games such as Canderous Ordo.

This book is a page turner all the way. The descriptions of battles, environments and interactions between the characters are solid! It is a great book and one that needs to be on bookshelves of Star Wars Expanded Universe fans!

Let me know what you think of the novel! Or let us know your favorite characters from the Old Republic era! Email us at: jundlandwastespodcast@gmail.com

See ya on the Jundland Wastes!
All the best,

Mark
Co-host of the TJW Podcast

TJW Podcast Event Flyer!

We look forward to seeing you at our podcast event!



See ya soon Jundland Wastes travelers!

Mark

Breaking News! Live Show Info!

Hello Travelers of the Jundland Wastes! The Traveling the Jundland Wastes Podcast will record a live show with a public audience on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 from 6:15PM - 7:45PM in the Cynthia B. Fox Community Room at the Sharon Public Library, 11 North Main Street in the center of Sharon,MA. TJW Podcast host Mark has the honor of interviewing New York Times best selling Star Wars author Ryder Windham.

This will be Ryders first appearance on the podcast. He will discuss some of his more recent titles such as The Wrath of Darth Maul and the upcoming conclusion to his four part Secret Missions series titled Star Wars The Clone Wars: Guardians of the Chiss Key. We will also discuss his phenomenal reference books The Complete Vader and The Millennium Falcon Owner's Workshop Manual.

In addition, the TJW Podcast will also welcome members of the New England 501st Garrison! We are thrilled to have the support of these Stormtroopers and I cannot wait to see them at the event! Come and celebrate the Star Wars expanded universe at this live event!

Please take note that books will not be sold at this event.

Stay tuned for more updates!

All the best,

Mark
Co-host of the TJW Podcast

A Little Bit of Tatooine on my Wrist

Hey there Travelers of the Jundland Wastes! Yesterday I opened the mailbox and found my Save the Lars Homestead limited edition watch. This watch was made as part of the fundraiser to help restore the actual "igloo" Lars homestead as seen in Episodes 2,3 and 4. This watch has the iconic "igloo" along with a moisture vaporator and the binary suns. And the coolest part of the watch is the capsule behind the timepiece which contains actual sand from Tatooine,uh,er, Tunisia. And to cap it off, I have my name engraved on the back and am listed at an "Expedition Colleague".

Of all the locations in the Star Wars universe, I have to say that Tatooine has always been my favorite. Perhaps it is because that is where the saga started back in 1977. And who can forget that iconic image of Luke standing outside the homestead staring off at the binary suns-set and wondering where life was going to take him.

And I just love the special edition version of Episode 4 and how Tatooine is enhanced. The sandtroopers on their dewbacks looking for the droids, Obi Wan's homestead and the approach into Mos Eisley is just spectacular. And for the first time this month, we are going to have the opportunity to see Tatooine in 3D with the re-release of Episode 1.

If you are looking for a great Tatooine Expanded Universe title, check out The Life and Legend of Obi Wan Kenobi by Ryder Windham. There are some awesome scenes from Tatooine that tie in many of the events from the movies as well as expand on some secrets hidden in the sands of Tatooine.

I am very honored to have my name attached to the expedition that will be restoring the Lars homestead. As a fan of the saga and the Expanded Universe, I think it will be fun knowing that the "igloo" was restored with the help of fans who find so much enjoyment from the stories taking place in that galaxy far, far away.

Keep traveling with us on the Jundland Wastes! And if you have received a watch, let us know and we'll mention it on the podcast!

All the best,

Mark
Co-host of the TJW Podcast