Here’s a peek at a promotional poster for McDonald’s Happy Meal toys that tie in with the upcoming film Star Wars: The Clone Wars:

PHOTO VIA REBELSCUM.COM

I guess they’re taking the “super-deformed” concept from anime and running with it. All the way.

So judging from the poster, it looks like we’ll be seeing Luke, Leia,  Han and Chewie — and Ewoks — in this prequel?

I was hoping the first-ever Star Wars Happy Meal toys would be a little cooler. Now I’ll have make up a story for my kids to explain why Darth Vader flies around with his swollen head sticking up out of his TIE fighter.

At least there’s no Jar-Jar to be seen …

RELATED STORY:

• NYT: Toys ‘R’ Us plans midnight openings for ‘Clone Wars’ toys

If you caught Albert Ching’s June 20 Tribune story “More men seeking sneakers for shoe collections,” you know that acquiring massive piles of footwear is big business and no longer just the realm of fashionistas and Philippine politicos.

So it should come as no surprise that when Nike goes “future-retro” and releases a limited-edition pair of sneakers based on the self-lacing shoes worn by Marty McFly in the 2015 world of Back to the Future II, they would go for as much as $2,000.
(Source: Gizmodo)

UNIVERSAL PICTURES

But I still want to know: Where’s my hoverboard, Mattel?

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LUCASFILM/STARWARS.COM
The New York Times reports that Toys “R” Us stores are now displaying clocks counting down to July 26, when many will open at midnight to start selling the toys that tie in with the new Star Wars movie, The Clone Wars. That movie comes out Aug. 15. (Times writer Douglas Quenqua also mentions that McDonalds will have its first-ever Star Wars-themed Happy Meal.)

East Valley locations that will be a part of the midnight madness include 1516 S. Power Rd., Mesa, at Superstition Springs Center, and 12801 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix, at Paradise Valley Mall.

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In the spirit of Free RPG Day this Saturday (June 21), Nerdvana has a gift for readers: The first person to e-mail us by midnight Friday, June 20, with the correct answers to these five D&D trivia questions will collect some sweet D&D Game Day 2008 gear:

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Go to Toys “R” Us online now through May 17 and you can help choose the Star Wars scene that will be turned into a Toys “R” Us exclusive LEGO set.

The choices are: “The Arrest of Palpatine” (Revenge of the Sith), “Slave I and Cloud City Landing Platform” (The Empire Strikes Back) and “Mon Calamari Cruiser Set” (Return of the Jedi).

The winning set will be announced at the New York International Toy Fair in February.

I’ve got visuals from these scenes after the jump. (more…)

“Does this pic make my head look big?”

StarWars.com is at it again with its feature of all things Japanese and Star Wars, in advance of the Star Wars Celebration Japan event July 19-21.

Last month the site profiled the wildly different cover art that Star Wars novels had in Japan versus the U.S. This week we get a look at 10 cool posters from the Land of the Rising Sun, and why they’re so attractive to collectors.

Comic books began as a way for publishers to make money from idle printing presses by reprinting newspaper comic strips, but they have clearly taken on a life of their own. The industry celebrates this success each year and tries to bring new readers into the fold with Free Comic Book Day.

Free? Comic book? Day?

I’m there! And I’m dragging my little ones with me … or is that the other way around? (more…)

Four action figures based on the Spike TV show Afro Samurai were released this week. Created by DC Direct, the characters Afro Samurai, Kuma, Ninja Ninja and Justice are brought to life with amazing detail and capture the style of the hit anime in every possible way. The scale of each figure is also impressive, ranging from 7 to 8.25 inches tall. If you’re not familiar with the show, Afro Samurai (played by Samuel L. Jackson) is an epic tale of a black samurai’s hunt for Justice (played by Ron Perlman) who murdered his father. Composed by famed artist RZA (from the Wu Tang Clan) Afro Samurai blends traditional Japanese culture, funky technology and hip-hop to create a brutally fresh experience.

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A fandom phenomenon that’s near and dear to my heart is the collecting of Star Wars posters and book covers - specifically, when possible, the Japanese versions. OK, so I don’t have any yet but it’s a goal.

With the Star Wars Celebration conventions here in the U.S. in ruins due to litigation, the people from the Galaxy Far, Far Away are trying again elsewhere, this time in the Land of the Rising Sun with Star Wars Celebration Japan. And the folks at StarWars.com are taking the opportunity to showcase the Far East’s sometimes wildly fantastic visual take on Star Wars. You can check out Part I of their feature on Japanese cover art here, Part II here and Part III here. (The U.S. cover art is included in the lower right corner of each example.)

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Did you know …

• that Darth Vader had an apprentice? It’s you! In the upcoming video game The Force Unleashed, you assume the role of the Sith Lord’s “secret apprentice” on missions to hunt down those miserable Jedi … but the decision whether you take the path of light or dark is ultimately your own.
• Vanity Fair recently offered an in-depth look at the long-awaited game, complete with exclusive screen shots and video.

Did you know …

• that Anakin Skywalker had an apprentice too? He will in the new Clone Wars CGI series from Lucasfilm. Named Ahsoka Tano, the mysterious new character, pictured, is described as the Padawan learner of the ill-fated Jedi Knight.
• Speaking of Clone Wars, here’s a peek at the rather unique product packaging for the toy line that will shockingly accompany the television series.
• Interestingly, there are rumors afoot that the series will premiere in UK theaters before its small-screen debut. Lucky English people … I know they’re evil because all the Imperial officers in the Star Wars movies have British accents.

RIGHT: Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano prepares for battle!
BELOW: Packaging for the new line of Clone Wars action figures! (Lucasfilm images)