Star Wars Celebration Coverage!
Up to date coverage of all the literature news at Star Wars Celebration Chicago!
Apr 10, 2019
MONDAY 4/15
Project Luminous
During the Lucasfilm Writer's Roundtable Panel on Monday, we were introduced to the mysterious Project Luminous!
Project Luminous will bring together Cavan Scott (Dooku: Jedi Lost), Daniel José Older (Last Shot), Justina Ireland (Lando's Luck), Charles Soule (Darth Vader: Lord of the Sith), and Claudia Gray (Master & Apprentice) for a HUGE project in 2020, but other than that, details are unknown.
So naturally, we have some theories.
Is this an entire event series of books/comics like the New Jedi Order?
Is this a book anthology similar to From A Certain Point Of View?
Is this a publishing initiative based solely around Jedi Master Luminara?
We can't know any of this for sure, but one thing is certain:
"Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter..."
SUNDAY 4/14
While Sunday was full of amazing panels and announcements from The Mandalorian and Clone Wars, we weren't given more news about publishing, so instead, check out this trailer for Season 7 of The Clone Wars that gave me chills.
New Series Announced: Target Vader
A new 6-issue miniseries called Target Vader was announced by Assistant Editor Tom Groneman. With the series coming up in July, here's what we know.
"It's all about Valance and his crew pulling an impossible mission hunting down Dark Lords of the Sith.”
The series stars Valance, a cyborg bounty hunter with a vendetta against Vader. He was originally introduced into the Canon back in Star Wars #16.
Previously, Valance was seen extensively in the 1970s Star Wars comics.
Robbie Thompson will be writing the new series with Marc Laming tackling interior art. Nic Klein will creating covers for the run.
Valance is said to be a "match for Vader in a way we haven't seen before."
Del Rey Panel
Update: If you followed along with our Twitter coverage, then you unfortunately know that there were no big announcements at this panel! While that is undoubtedly disappointing for all of us (Who knows when we'll get details about the Journey to IX series?), we did learn a lot about the authors, themselves. Here are some of our highlights from the panel. For full coverage of what we saw, check out the Twitter link below.
Delilah S. Dawson points out that independent novels (like her phenomenal Phasma) can be a great introduction to the canon for new fans - we agree!
Cavan Scott, writer of Dooku: Jedi Lost, got into Star Wars for the first time through reprints of the old Star Wars comics!
Claudia Gray and Cavan Scott traded notes while writing Master & Apprentice and Dooku, respectively, about a new character named Rael - an "interesting and new" Jedi Knight.
Obi-Wan will be about 17 years old at the start of Master & Apprentice.
Dooku: Jedi Lost will start when the Count is only 10 years old. This produced an audible gasp from the crowd.
Before working on Dooku, Cavan Scott worked on Doctor Who audio dramas in the UK!
Before writing Alphabet Squadron, Alexander Freed had to learn how pilots and military folks communicate and carry themselves since he has no military experience.
Despite not having visited Galaxy's Edge, Dawson informed us that Batuu smells like “Mud and Meat.”
Cardinal (from Phasma) is officially BACK in Black Spire!
We are going to get a little more of a glimpse into Chiss culture in Thrawn: Treason. Zahn wants to write more books to further flesh that out.
Zahn says he choreographs combat scenes in his mind and will sometimes even draw them out. He sometimes even asks his wife to try to hit him in a certain way to see how it works. “It scares the cat.”
Zahn says he was totally surprised by Dave Filoni asking him to help bring back Thrawn. His exact words that day were “The internet is going to melt.”
The panel was a TON of fun despite the lack of new announcements, and it reminded us just how lucky we are to have these folks crafting our universe.
Check out the Youtini Twitter Feed for the rest of the panel updates and more info as the weekend continues!
FRIDAY 4/12
Lucasfilm Publishing Panel Updates
Friday brought something that we are all marvelously excited about at Youtini - the Lucasfilm Publishing Panel! Here's what we found out about the future of the Extended Universe!
Previously Announced Books!
Alphabet Squadron - Alexander Freed
The squadron is full of traumatized pilots after the battle of Endor led by General Syndulla.
Freed's favorite ship is the B-Wing
They'll be fighting "Shadow Wing" - a "super bowl squad" of TIE Fighters.
The novel will include comic book pages from Marvel's Companion TIE Fighter series wrtitten by Jody Houser.
Master & Apprentice - Claudia Gray
Gray connected to Qui-Gon intensely and jumped at the opportunity to write the novel.
This book explores Qui-Gon's decision not to join the Jedi Council.
Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon are "not doing so great" at the start of the book.
Queen's Shadow - EK Johnston
Johnston always wanted to do a Padmé book (Phantom Menace came out on her 15th birthday)
She loves how the handmaidens always outsmart everyone by taking advantage of perceptions about them.
Thrawn: Treason - Timothy Zahn
Mainly involving Thrawn, Tarkin, and Krennic
Thrawn gets "suckered in" to Tarkin and Krennic's plans.
The grysk from Thrawn: Alliances return
Galaxy's Edge: A Crash of Fate - Zoraida Córdova
Comparable to Lost Stars - old friends have a "meet cute" against all odds
Cover reveal!
Galaxy's Edge: Black Spire - Delilah S. Dawson
Fan favorite Cardinal from Dawson's Phasma returns!
Dawson confirms that Vi's mission is to create a Resistance base on Batuu
New Book Announcements!
Be More Leia: Find Your Rebel Voice and Fight the System by Christian Blauvelt (from DK)
Be More Lando: How to Get What You Want (And Look Good Doing It) by Christian Blauvelt (from DK) - releasing this Fall
Thrawn: Treason News!
After their fated meeting on Thursday, Corey visited Timothy Zahn's interview panel where the following bits of information was dropped about this summer's trilogy conclusion, Thrawn: Treason. Here are some of our favorite bits!
Thrawn's protagonist, Eli Vanto is back as a major character.
In stark contrast to the multiple eras of Thrawn: Alliances, Treason takes place during a very short time span - potentially even a few hours? (Corey: That could be a joke by Zahn)
In addition to the treturn of Eli, Orson Krennic is also a major character
While not necessarily a major character, Tarkin does have some scenes
“Thrawn probably would have taken out Thanos before he got the stones” - a direct quote from Zahn, himself
Thrawn: Treason will be released on July 23, 2019
WE HAVE A TITLE
If you somehow haven't watched the teaser yet...
Corey also proved that you can never tell who you'll run into in the hallowed halls of Celebration when he met the man who started it all, Timothy Zahn!
As Star Wars Celebration progresses, we’ll be updating this page with all news relating to Star Wars books, comics, and more! Stay tuned...
Eric Eilersen is a Senior Writer at Youtini and co-host of The Youtini Show. He loves collecting Star Wars Funkos, lightsabers, and LEGO as well as playing video games, reading Brandon Sanderson novels, watching the Dallas Cowboys, and spending time with his partner and pets. You can follow him at @EricEilersen.
