It’s been a while since I’ve written about our favorite slacker nerd-turned-hero, so I thought we could delve back in to it. In the Saving Sarah series of posts, I wrote about Chuck Bartowski as the soteriological hero. Basically, that means that Chuck is a hero that saves the world on an ontological level. He not only saves the world from material dangers, but saves the people around him by making them whole. In Chuck vs. the One Ring, I tried to draw a correlation between Chuck and Frodo, and the carrying of the Intersect and the One Ring. Now, let’s talk about another facet of this particular Hero’s Journey. Let’s talk about the insignificant significants. Let’s talk about Morgan and Sam.

As much a part of the Hero’s Journey as the Call to Adventure or the Descent into the Underworld, the hero must have the faithful companion; the one to stick close through thick and thin. The hero must have a sidekick, but not merely a sidekick to fight crimes with. I’m not talking about Robin here. The sidekick here is also an ontological sidekick. By his presence, his words, his actions, he helps the hero become. Frodo had his dear Sam, and Chuck, Chuck has his Morgan. It’s not always an easy relationship, but there is no hero without it. Let’s look at some of the similarities.

”I think you should know he’s always been supportive of our fake relationship, and he’s never found it remotely unbelievable that a guy like me could be dating…ahem…you know…you.”

- Chuck, “Chuck vs. the First Date”

There is great significance in this line. Even before trials and tribulations that come with the Intersect or the One Ring, there is a love and devotion here that is critical to the heroic development of both Chuck Bartowski and Frodo Baggins. Sam knows without material evidence that Frodo can carry the Ring. Oh sure, he knows it’s dangerous, he fears it will most likely end in disaster for his friend and master, but he knows Frodo is the hero, even if he is afraid for Frodo’s life. Likewise, Morgan has always known that Chuck was meant for something greater than working at the Buy More. Morgan has believed that Chuck could change the world, and he, Morgan, will be right beside him when he does it.

Morgan certainly begins the story as the more slacker of the two. He doesn’t have Sam’s industry, love of work, or common sense. But then, Morgan is not a hobbit. But that really isn’t important for the comparison here. What is important is that, like Sam, Morgan knows that Chuck is different, special, heroic. He constantly encourages Chuck. Early on, we are told by those outside the friendship (i.e. Big Mike) that Morgan will drag Chuck down, keep him from accomplishing anything significant, but that is not the case. Even the first season Morgan, who, I think we can all agree, is just about useless, doesn’t drag Chuck down in an ontological sense, but rather continually affirms who Chuck is. He is faithful to Chuck’s personhood. Faithful Sam. Faithful Morgan.

”You know what we need here? A Thanksgiving miracle. Chuck and Sarah are gonna walk through that door as happy as can be, and everything’s gonna be fine.”

- Morgan Grimes, “Chuck vs. the Gravitron”

But this faithfulness to the hero is not the only similarity between Sam and Morgan. There is a prophetic optimism to both of them as well. What I mean by this is that both tend to see the positive outcomes that await the hero. And I don’t mean here that they’re always looking on the bright side of life. They know the positive outcome. It is a certainty, if they can stay true to the course set before them. Whenever Frodo slides into a melancholic stupor, Sam is there to remind him of home. He’s there to remind Frodo that they just might make it back home after all. He brings to mind images of peace, of the world being saved and set right. He’s there to tell Frodo that Frodo will indeed come back after his metaphorical descent into the Underworld in the Hero’s Journey. All will be well.

It is the same with Morgan. Morgan tells Chuck that he, Chuck, is meant for greatness. He tells Ellie that Chuck and Sarah will walk through the door. In “Chuck vs. the Beard,” when Chuck finally comes clean with Morgan about being a spy, about the Intersect, and all of it, Morgan reminds him of Sarah. He tells Chuck that there are some things Chuck cannot possibly hide. He forces Chuck to speak the truth, to recognize his love for Sarah, to go after her, to fight for her, win her, and save her. This prophetic optimism is nowhere more clearly demonstrated than in the final episode. Casey and Ellie have told Chuck that Sarah is gone. Even Sarah tells him that though she believes they were in love, got married, and the whole bit, that she just doesn’t feel it anymore.

So Casey leaves to find Verbanski. Awesome and Ellie move to Chicago. Jeff and Lester leave to tour Germany and be adored by men and women. The one who doesn’t leave is the one who would never leave: Morgan. And again, showing the prophetic optimism, Morgan helps Chuck to see where Sarah is, not with a map, not with super-spy tech. He simply tells Chuck that in Chuck’s heart, he knows where Sarah is. Not only that, but Morgan is the progenitor of the magical kiss theory. Just as Sam was right that they would see the Shire again, so Morgan is right about the kiss, not necessarily that there will be an instantaneous remembrance of Chuck and Sarah’s love, but that the kiss will put things right. It will be the healing. And he’s right.

“Come, Mr. Frodo!” he cried. “I can’t carry it [the ring] for you, but I can carry you and it as well. So up you get! Come on, Mr. Frodo dear! Sam will give you a ride. Just tell him where to go, and he’ll go.”

- “The Return of the King”

The last facet to compare with Morgan and Sam is the carrying of the Ring, or rather, the Ring Bearer. As the Ring is analogous, though not strictly so, to the Intersect, so it is analogous that the sidekick carry the burden for the hero for a little bit. Yes, the circumstances are different. But what is the same is that each one, Morgan and Sam, carry their friend’s burden, and it is unnatural. It is not the task of Morgan or Sam to carry the burden. They serve a different purpose: they carry the hero.

When Frodo is incapacitated, the Ring falls to Sam and he carries it. When Chuck is incapacitated via Decker’s jack-holery and the theft of the Intersect, a faulty version falls to Morgan. Sam saves the Ring from discovery and recovery by the forces of Mordor by secretly carrying it, thus saving Frodo’s life. Morgan intercepts the faulty Intersect meant for Chuck, and thus saves Chuck’s life and memories. So, each one in turn experiences what the hero does. Each one goes through their own fall, their own descent into the underworld. And each ultimately relinquishes the burden.

But more important than Sam or Morgan carrying the Ring or the Intersect, is what they do for the real Ring/Intersect bearers. During the whole time of his carrying the Ring, Frodo sinks deeper and deeper into its influence. He is physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted. So, what does Sam do? Sam picks up his master and friend, and carries him, helping Frodo to fulfill his role. So too does Morgan carry Chuck. Throughout the entirety of the series, Chuck bears the Intersect, all of that information, all of that responsibility, and all of that power.

Morgan carries it for a time, sure, but he is far more effective, far more of who he is when Chuck has the Intersect and Morgan carries him. Morgan carries Chuck by his faith in his friend, by his unwavering loyalty, and his continual quiet (or not so quiet) presence in Chuck’s life. Morgan’s very existence and participation in the life of Chuck Bartowski enables Chuck to become the hero and save Sarah, Casey, and the whole world. No, Morgan is not the hero. He carries the hero.

No one is perfect. No one begins completely whole, not even the hero. In terms of story and myth, Morgan and Sam are not the heroes. They are the insignificant significants. They are the pillars the heroes must lean upon. They live to make it possible for the hero to be the hero, and they become heroic in the process. Sometimes, in the glory of getting the girl, or saving the world, these unsung can be forgotten. There are these people in our own lives, yours and mine, that sustain us with their presence and encouragement. They carry us when we can go no further. They tell us we will see home again. They reveal the truth of things to us, and will never leave us. In truth, these` are the Significants.

I’ve been thinking a lot about you lately. There have been Superman logos everywhere with the Man of Steel movie coming out next month, and I have no problem with this, to be honest. I love me some Superman, which is probably why I love you so much. As a child of the nineties, you were my first Superman. My dad was into comics, so I knew who Superman was, but you were the living embodiment, and you are what I compare all Supermen, and men in general, to. As such, you’ve kinda set me up for romantic failure.

No man I date will ever be as charming as your portrayal of Clark Kent: wholesome, smart, with just a dash of vulnerability. Superman is the symbol of truth and justice, but your Clark Kent was always a symbol of goodness, despite his desires and motivations constantly being tested (Lois being under the influence of potent pheromones and doing the dance of the seven veils comes to mind). And there was always a sense of fun in your character’s interactions with others. One of my favorite episodes is the one where Lois and Clark go undercover in a honeymoon suite. Clark keeps trying to make Lois say goodnight to him, to her chagrin, and instead of “Goodnight, Lois,” I imagine you’re saying, “Goodnight, Angie” and smiling that boyish smile of yours. You were a good role model for men because your Clark Kent showed them that strong independent women are more worthy to pursue and worth the wait. You also showed them that men of the nineties could have awesome hair. I remember there being a lot of bad man hair in the nineties, and I’m pretty sure you had the tousled McDreamy hair down pat before Dempsey did.

No man I date will ever look as good as your Superman in briefs. “Holding Out for a Hero,” the song set to the costume finding montage in the pilot episode, has become the theme song to my love life, and because of you, I will settle for no less than a good man who looks good in briefs. Ma Kent said that no one would be looking at your face, but I still did. Your Superman just looked like America, which makes sense because I know you were a pro-football player before you became a professional actor. I also think on some kind of unconscious level I knew that you were ethnically-mixed, and as a mixed-race American child, I literally needed heroes to look up to.

And the theme song? I mean, that was basically a theme song about you, let’s face it, and it sounds like America and superheroes. It’s in my top three TV theme songs of all time. I digress. The point is, though you ruined my expectations of men, you are special to me and to many people of my generation, and not just because of how amazingly you pulled off red briefs. You were amazing as Superman, and I’m certain you’re probably still amazing. Though you hung up your cape and red briefs years ago, just know that we still think you’re super.

Have you fallen behind on your nerd news? Don’t worry; we’re here to help! Here are a few stories to bring up at the water cooler this week:

Yahoo is buying Tumblr for $1.1 billion. It is the largest acquisition of a social network, surpassing Facebook’s purchase of Instagram last year. Yahoo promises the blogging platform will only change for the better, especially considering many people are worried about ads on their dashboards, promising faster page and video loads.

Rumor is Microsoft is in the process of making many changes to its platform in preparation for its next generation console. First up, they will be phasing out their Points system and replacing it with currency and gift card options. Word is the company is also considering changing the look of users’ dashboards, incorporating their new Live Tiles and possibly making themes darker or lighter. Public beta is said to be available in late June or early July.

In news that is surprising to no one, Star Trek Into Darkness won the weekend box office. The film made $84.1 million in the U.S. and $164.6 million worldwide, beating the haul taken in the 2009′s Star Trek. Overseas, it made the same amount of money as Iron Man 3 ($40 million), though The Great Gatsby, which made $42.1 million, bested both.

Mass Effect could possibly be getting a spin-off. However, creators are torn about which character it would follow. High on the list seems to be Shepard’s Turian pal Garrus, but Javik, Aria, Kai Leng, and The Illusive Man have their hats in the ring as well. The next Mass Effect game is currently in development.

Sony has won distribution rights to produce an animated Angry Birds film, which is planned for release July 1, 2016. The game has enjoyed much success since its 2009 release, with crossovers including Star Wars and Rio. The distribution deal lends itself to the idea of a collaboration with Rio 2, coming out in 2014. No details about the film have been made known, but perhaps with its release, we’ll find out why those birds are angry in the first place?

A new Star Wars animated series is coming to TV and is set to bridge the gap between episodes three and four. Star Wars Rebels will premiere in fall 2014 on Disney Channel as a one-hour special, before moving over to Disney XD. The show will explore the 20-year period between films, showing the Empire’s tightening grip on the Rebels. Watch a behind-the-scenes video here!

Spoilers.

When Elementary was announced as a part of CBS’s new lineup last fall, many Sherlock Holmes fans were outraged. They couldn’t believe the showrunners would even think to turn Sherlock’s right-hand man into a woman, making the classic John Watson become Joan Watson. A lot of people even said they would boycott the show because of it. The joke’s on them, however, because Elementary became CBS’s number one new show of the season, thanks in part to the exact reason many said they wouldn’t be tuning in – the show’s portrayal of women.

In the original Sherlock Holmes, there weren’t many fleshed-out females. In this reimagining, Joan’s history has made her a capable, strong, and smart character, while altogether disregarding her gender. She’s just as apt to lend a hand as the original’s John Watson. Joan’s background as a sober companion was what developed her relationship with Sherlock, but it was her intelligence that promoted her to become his partner.

In multiple cases, Joan’s observations have been the catalyst that solves the mystery. The show creators have set her up to be talented all on her own, many times multitasking an assignment and babysitting a Sherlock who gets into everything he shouldn’t.

Because of the partnership Joan and Sherlock share, they will never be romantically involved. Will-they-won’t-they relationships have been more than played out on television and it’s nice to finally have a show where it’s known they will never go there.

In the last three episodes of the season, Irene Adler was introduced. She only appeared in one story in the original book series, but is widely regarded as one of the few people who can beat Holmes at his own game. On Elementary, that was taken one step further when she was revealed to be the villain – murderous criminal mastermind Moriarty. She even speaks to the fact no one would ever expect a woman capable of going toe-to-toe with the brilliant Sherlock Holmes. She considers herself superior to him, though her feelings for him from their past turn out to be her downfall. Despite that fact, she leads him and the police on a good chase, keeping them on their toes until the very end.

To gender-swap these well-known characters was a risk, but one that paid off. The portrayal of women on Elementary is one of the best on network TV, due to their representation being equal to that of their male counterparts. They are multi-faceted people who stand on their own. By taking traditionally male characters and turning them on their heads, the show’s creators have broken through expected stereotypes, proving initial detractors wrong and producing a show that is a unique, worthy additional to the Sherlock Holmes legacy.

When you first experience something perfect, it’s a forgone conclusion that you’ll do it again. In Hollywood, if a film is hugely successful, then you can almost bet there will be a sequel to build off that momentum. After all, Hollywood is show BUSINESS, and they are here to make money. In 2009, director Todd Phillips brought to the screen something fresh with a cast of characters who were virtually unknowns at the time. The film was The Hangover, and it went on to be a financial goldmine. So they went back to the well with The Hangover II; however, they recycled the same script, putting the plot in Thailand, and the result paled in comparison to its predecessor. Todd Phillips has returned with The Hangover III, the final chapter of the trilogy, and thankfully, an original script for our beloved Wolf Pack.

Alan (Zach Galifianakis) has gone off of his meds and isn’t doing so well. The family asks the Wolf Pack, Alan’s only true friends; Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms) and Doug (Justin Bartha) to intervene. They want to send Alan to a rehab facility in Arizona to get help. Unfortunately, on the drive down, they are run off the road in the middle of the desert by a mobster named Marshall (John Goodman). Apparently, Chow (Ken Jeong) has stolen millions of dollars in gold bars from him and he wants the Wolf Pack to get it back as they are the only ones who really know Chow. To ensure they do get the gold back, he’s taking Doug (poor Doug) with him as collateral. The Wolf Pack has three days to locate Chow, get the gold, and return it to Marshall or Doug is dead. What’s the worst that can happen?

As I mentioned before, this is a completely different film with good and bad qualities. On the positive side, it’s a completely new adventure for our characters. We couldn’t have our cast wake up another morning with no idea of what happened the night before and go through the day trying to put the facts together while looking for someone they “lost” somehow. This time everything is right in front of us as the crew searches for Chow in order to get Doug back. On the down side, this film is mostly the Alan and Chow Show with Phil and Stu more or less sitting on the sidelines. And while Alan is hilarious, he’s also a different character this time around. He’s not the same lovable, goofy guy we had in the first film. Maybe it’s because he’s off his meds, but he’s more crass and just plain mean sometimes, with varying effects on the comedy. Chow, well he’s still Chow, and it’s fun with him having more screen time. But Phil and Stu were the characters that most resemble “adults,” people we can all relate to, and them being second stringers this film takes a little away from how great it could have been.

As a cast, they all work great together. From the initial film, each actor brings something different to their character. They are so mismatched as friends that it just works out. It’s like some weird yin-yang thing. However, this time around, there isn’t any alcohol involved or drugs leading to their shenanigans. Zach has really been given the reigns this time around, and for the most part, he hits the mark. Ken Jeong, with a bigger role, takes the character of Chow and amplifies him (if that’s possible) from the previous films. Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms are still true to their characters, and they each have their moments of hilarity. Maybe Todd Phillips designed the character balance that way on purpose. We couldn’t have four main characters being extremely outrageous the entire film, could we? We needed some balance, right? In The Hangover? No, probably best to go all out. I mean, that’s how you get a hangover, right?

In terms of supporting characters, John Goodman’s Marshall is more of a one note player without much depth or variety. He’s a mobster, plain and simple, and he wants his money back. Something nice Todd Phillips did in this film was bring back some of the old characters–Mike Epps returns as the drug dealer Doug, and Heather Graham returns as Jade, doing well for herself I might add. Also, baby Carlos is now grown up and has a very funny moment alone with Alan recounting their first meeting. Justin Bartha, once again, isn’t in the film for very long. I think he’s had maybe thirty minutes of screen time in all three movies combined, if that. New to the franchise is Melissa McCarthy, who is absolutely hilarious in her cameo role. The chemistry she has with Zach in their scenes is great and one of the many highlights of the film.

It’ll be interesting to see what the public thinks of this final installment to the Hangover trilogy. While the film is a different approach, it doesn’t come close to delivering the excitement and originality that the initial film provided. But let’s be honest, a film as new and epic as the first Hangover, no other sequel would match that. And to be fair, it’s much better than The Hangover II. And while the plot is a little convoluted and linear, and we don’t get as much as we may have liked from Phil and Stu, the film is still hilarious in its own right and fun to watch from the beginning to the end credit scenes. The Hangover III provides a fitting end to the story of the Wolf Pack and this is one that we can all hold up our cups and drink to that.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Slowly but surely, Defiance is delving further into each of its character’s pasts. A ghost from Nolan’s wartime past appeared, and ironically, Luke’s ghost appeared as well. The political theme intensified in “Brothers in Arms” as Defiance was caught in the middle between the Earth Republic and the Votanis Collective.

Warning: Spoilers ahead.

The driving force behind this episode was the introduction of Nolan’s wartime buddy Eddie. He is now a bounty hunter looking to find Pol Madis, a fugitive weapons designer that escaped into Defiance. Of course, they began to butt heads when Nolan and Eddie wanted different things with Pol Madis. In the end, Nolan killed Pol and Eddie took the fall for him with the Earth Republic. Hopefully Eddie appears again later on, because it was implied that he escaped custody.

Datak wanted nothing to do with the Pol Madis situation, but he was pulled in anyway. It was fun to see him unwillingly be dragged into something, since he is usually the instigator in all of his adventures. Also, his involvement opened up a political dialogue regarding the Votanis Collective.

He made a vague promise to do more to help the Collective, but what might that entail? And will he even help them now since Pol died? It didn’t seem as if he wanted to help them since he made himself a large part of the Defiance community and didn’t want to betray his new found status. Hopefully we get to see and hear more about the Collective, just like the series continues to develop the Earth Republic.

Speaking of the Earth Republic, another representative showed up in Defiance looking for Pol. The representative and the mayor seemed to know each other, since their conversation had an acquainted vibe.

Defiance is becoming a city caught in the middle of the Earth Republic and the Votanis Collective and their opposed goals. It should create a great and slow burning conflict for the remainder of the season.

Quentin McCawley, Rafe’s middle child and possessor of the gold artifact, had a small subplot during the episode. He continued his research on the history of the city and what the artifact might be. His storyline even boasted the reappearance of former mayor Nicky Riordan. She was absent in the last couple of episodes, which made it feel like her storyline had fallen to the wayside. Also, it was amusing to see ghost Luke pop up and egg him on while killing the former mayor’s henchman, Mr. Birch.

Poor Mr. Birch. We hardly knew you.

There was an interesting line that peaked my interest about Doc Yewell. Pol Madis made a passing comment about her scientific achievements during the Pale Wars. Could she be a war criminal hiding out in Defiance? It sure seems as if she has something to hide. She denied being the person he was talking about and looked visibly distraught at the mention of knowing who she was. I am excited to see what the series does with this.

I have been wary about how the series is handling their ensemble cast. I like that each episode is focusing on a specific character, but it alienates the rest of the cast. In “The Serpent’s Egg,” the Tarrs and McCawleys were nowhere to be found.

Finally, this episode addressed my concerns had a fully working ensemble cast. Almost every major character was seen at one point or another. Sure, some like Rafe only had a scene, but it was a major step in the right direction. It allows the show to have more character interaction, which leads to more storyline possibilities.

What did you think about the episode? Are you excited for Doc Yewell to step out into the spotlight? Will Quentin be able to get away with murdering Mr. Birch?

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Warning: Spoilers ahead.

A replacement for Leena was provided by the Regents. Abigail was sent to take over the bed and breakfast and to be a therapist to Artie. By having someone new talk to Artie about his guilt over killing Leena, it gave the show a breath of fresh air. Artie was shutting everyone out, so this gives him a better chance to work through his feelings.

Also, Abigail didn’t seem to budge when Artie was being difficult. Their future scenes should be a fun tug of war match.

The team was split into two pairs to track down different artifacts. Jinks and Claudia were sent to England to investigate jockeys that had fallen into comas, while Pete and Myka were sent to Las Vegas to investigate people falling from the sky.

The younger duo discovered a stable boy was putting Sitting Bull’s riding blanket on the horses in order to punish the jockeys from mistreating the race horses. Their scenes felt more like an afterthought in the episode. It was as if the writers needed Jinks and Claudia to do something, so they put in this investigation.

On the other hand, Pete and Myka’s investigation took up a good amount of the episode. The granddaughter of an aging magician was using Cupertino’s medal to levitate anyone she chose. The side effect: the next time she used the medal, the last person she levitated would float away. Of course, Pete was levitated at a show and was in danger of flying away.

Pete’s stroke of competency from “The Big Snag” vanished in this episode. I mean, he fell for Myka telling him she hid cookies in the glove compartment. Really? Is he four?

Charlotte, the Count’s former wife, reappeared in this episode. She was last seen in the season finale bickering with her ex-husband and discovering he stole something of value to her.

I was somewhat confused as to what Charlotte was doing. First she showed up at the warehouse and was on the phone with someone and said she knew “how to get to him.” Later in the episode she popped up at the race track where Claudia and Jinks were investigating the jockeys. But after interacting with an unaware Claudia, she sent a text saying she was the target.

It sounds like she is trying to get to someone through hurting Claudia. Could it be someone from the Warehouse team like Artie or Jinks? Or could Charlotte be trying to get to the geniuses’ older brother, Joshua? Hopefully it’s the latter because the show could always use more Joshua.

And does anybody have any idea what that bolt of lightning was? At first I thought it was because Charlotte is now targeting Claudia, but how could a random lightning bolt get in the locked down Warehouse?

On another note, Warehouse 13 was renewed for a fifth and final season last week. How do you want the series to end?

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

After five amazing and critically-acclaimed seasons of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, a new animated series has been announced by Lucasfilm, Star Wars Rebels. Set to premiere in Fall 2014, this new action-adventure series will take place between Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Episode IV: A New Hope. According to the Star Wars press release, “Star Wars Rebels takes place in a time where the Empire is securing its grip on the galaxy and hunting down the last of the Jedi Knights as a fledgling rebellion against the Empire is taking shape.”

Color me excited! As a big fan of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, I was highly disappointed when the cancellation was announced back in March 2013. Since then, fans have gathered together to write letters, sign petitions, and show their undying support and love for the series. Although this truly seems like the end for The Clone Wars, fans should remember that the show was instrumental in bridging the gap between Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, inspiring a whole new generation of Star Wars fans, and rekindling the love for Star Wars within older fans.

So why should you be excited for Star Wars Rebels? Let’s start off with the production team. The creative minds behind the new series include supervising director from Star Wars: The Clone Wars and now as an executive producer Dave Filoni, screenwriter/producer Simon Kinberg as an executive producer, and executive producer Greg Weisman. Also returning are key collaborators from The Clone Wars, including art director Kilian Plunkett and CG supervisor Joel Aron. Needless to say, the show is definitely in good hands.

What else should you be excited to see? In a video interview, Dave Filoni and Joel Aron confirmed that the series will visually encompass the color palette and essence from the much beloved concept art of the late Ralph McQuarrie, who designed the original Star Wars trilogy. Star Wars: The Clone Wars also drew inspiration from McQuarrie’s work as seen in the fifteenth episode of season one, “Trespass,” when the design process turned to McQuarrie’s concept paintings of Hoth. The incorporation of those elements will surely attract old trilogy fans and introduce younger fans to the phenomenal artwork of a legendary artist.

Could it also be possible that fans of The Clone Wars might see characters from the 2008 series? At the end of the fifth season, there are various characters left roaming through the galaxy: Hondo Ohnaka, Cad Bane, Asajj Ventress, Darth Maul, Boba Fett, and fan favorite Ahsoka Tano. Although there are some bonus content arcs that fans are still waiting to see, we really do not know what adventures these characters have taken up after the end of the series. The possibilities are endless and nothing is better than an unexpected appearance of a character from a different era.

Lastly, although there are no details yet about casting, this fan of The Clone Wars hopes that some talent from the 2008 series returns for Star Wars Rebels. James Arnold Taylor did an amazing Obi-Wan Kenobi for the past five years and we all know Dee Bradley Baker is a man of immeasurable talent. So many wonderful voice actors to choose from and here’s hoping we hear some familiar voices.

Fans attending Star Wars Celebration Europe this July in Messe Essen, Germany, will be the first to get an exclusive look at the new series. If you are a new fan looking to get into the Star Wars fun, this is your chance to jump in and become part of a world-wide family full of Jedi, Sith, Wookiees, Padawans, scoundrels, pirates, bounty hunters, and more! Current fans already know the deal: tune in and may the Force be with you.

Star Wars Rebels will premiere in Fall 2014 as a one-hour special on the Disney Channel, followed by a series on Disney XD.

Skyward #1

Remember the old-school JRPGs? Lufia and the Fortress of Doom? Breath of Fire? Those games that featured wide-eyed youths tasked with saving the world? They had a great feel to them that modern RPGs have lost. Fortunately, a new book called Skyward #1 from Action Lab Comics is stepping in to fill that void. The issue is written and illustrated by Jeremy Dale, colored by Steve Downer and lettered by Thom Zahler.

Corin is a “retired” warrior, living an idyllic life with his wife Taryn, son Quinn and dog Jack. They’re the perfect nuclear family for a less civilized time, making their way in the forest amidst all manner of natural creatures and plants. An old friend of Corin named Herod interrupts their happy lives. Herod feels that Corin is wasting his talents as a warrior playing the role of father and homemaker, a fact that leads Quinn to end up on the run.

Dale’s story is very well-paced and presents a solid foundation for an interesting series. Most of the old-school JRPGs started in a similar fashion, with a child (destined, fated, circumstances) taking to the road towards a destination. That’s what really makes Skyward #1 work very well; it recognizes that Quinn’s quest will be fun to follow and goes with it. Herod is set up to be the perfect bad guy and there’s even a hint of fantasy with his two goblin henchmen.

Dale pulls double duty on the art as well and it works great with the story. Again, the characters and setting are very reminiscent of the look of the aforementioned JRPGs. There’s a fantastical feel to the characters, with both Corin and Herod mountains of men, Taryn a doting housewife and Quinn a rambunctious youth. Panel layouts are fairly standard, with a few pages pretty crammed with rectangles. There is a great panel towards the end that amplifies the action depicted in the surrounding environment, which was a very cool effect.

There’s a lot to like about Skyward #1. As a child main character, Quinn is presented with just enough naivety and curiosity that things won’t be easy for him. Surely, he’ll tap into something from his father considering his past occupation as a military man. Herod’s exact motivations for his actions are still a little unclear, but it’s expected that they’ll reveal themselves as the series proceeds.

Skyward #1 is in Previews now and should be in stores soon.

Edgar Allan Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher #1

Edgar Allen Poe was a very troubled yet interesting man. His commitment to the macabre was legendary, lending itself to a variety of creative and dark works that are still referenced today. It only makes sense that a story like Fall of the House of Usher gets adapted into a comic and that’s what Dark Horse is doing in Edgar Allan Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher #1. The title is written and illustrated by Richard Corben, with letters by Nate Piekos.

Young Allan is venturing over the river and through the woods to visit his friend Roderick Usher. Roderick has come a little more unscrewed since they last saw one another, living in a house littered with family corpses, a scared sister and a burly assistant who doesn’t like when people snoop. A sickness resides in the house of Usher. Its history is cursed, its tenants plagued by abominable love and it’s hallways lined with coffins and the rotted dead.

Corben has a knack for amplifying the morbid and he spares nothing in Edgar Allan Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher #1. The tale is equal parts chilling and equal parts intrigue, the sum of which is something that feels both coarse and terrible. Allan quickly realizes he may be in over his head and his friend Roderick might be losing his. There is some instances in the story that feel a little over-narrated, but Corben manages to make sure there’s enough of an unknown that the reader isn’t having their hand held.

Corben’s art is fantastic here, blending disfigured corpses and somewhat disfigured humans. The residence is completely eerie and there are some panels of Allan struggling through the landscape that aren’t fully shown; the fact that Corben can do this and the reader still feels the death in the house is the sign of a great artist. Panels are full of imagery that depicts sorrow, sadness and death, fueling the story’s despair.

If you’ve ever read Richard Corben before, you have a good idea of what you’re going to get. Fortunately, he doesn’t disappoint here, taking a classic by someone who could have easily been his best friend in life in Edgar Allan Poe. Edgar Allan Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher #1 is the start of a great adaptation that will have both Poe and horror fans ready for more.

Edgar Allan Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher #1 is available in stores now.

Charismagic Vol. 2 #1

Magic is a finnicky thing. If you can control it, you can control anything. If you can’t control it, things could get out of hand very quickly. It’s also got a habit of attracting all manner of being, including those of the mammoth, invading monster variety, like in Charismagic Vol. 2 #1. The issue is written by Vince Hernandez, penciled by Vincenzo Cucca, inked by Mark Roslan, colored by Emilio Lopez and lettered by Josh Reed.

Portals are opening up all over the world and magical creatures are making their way through. That doesn’t bode well for humanity, but at least there’s Hank, Sudana and Sparkles on the case. A possessed Hector and Alle are shepherding through the monsters and Kon is behind the scenes, joined by a new character named Esheera. Everything’s shaping up to be a lot crazier than the first volume.

Hernandez picks up right where the first volume left off, thrusting readers smackdab in the middle of everything. There’s really no need for introductions, as all the players are fairly familiar at this point. The magical monster invasion feels a little flimsy though, as they’re invading Earth for reasons unknown in a fairly formulaic manner. It’s not a bad story, just doesn’t really feel very original. It’s likely that their motives will be explained in future issues, but right now all the reader knows is that Sudana feels a great disturbance in the force so to speak.

Cucca’s pencils are very sharp. The invading monsters are indeed monstrous, with their size adding to the story. The book’s illustrations have an almost cartoonish feel to them, blending some elements of anime and comic book illustration to present powerful art. The art really helps the story flow very well and might be the strongest part of the first issues.

Things are only going to get more, ahem, magical in the second volume. Hank has a better grasp on his abilities, which should make the fighting a tad easier for them. Sudana and Kon appear just as powerful and this time Hector and Alle are sort of wildcards in the whole thing, with their motives unclear and an army of monsters behind them. The second volume is shaping up to be something solid though, assuming the monsters want to invade Earth for reasons other than simply wanting to invade another planet.

Charismagic Vol. 2 #1 is available now.