Lucasfilm has once again given us an advanced look at this week’s episode of The Clone Wars.

I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am to see this next episode pulled off. I wrote about it at length in my review for last week’s episode, but here’s an excerpt:

Cartoon Network has a preview of next week’s episode, The Shadow Warrior, here. Between the clip and the title, I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am. In 1980, George Lucas produced an Akira Kurosawa film called “Kagemusha” (literally The Shadow Warrior) about a feudal samurai leader who is killed in battle but knows that his family and kingdom will perish if anyone discovers it. His dying command is that his double fill in for him until the danger has passed. It’s a heartbreaking, beautifully told story about the double. It was Kurosawa’s first color Samurai film and paved the way for the masterpiece Ran. Based on the clip for the next episode, it’s pretty obvious that Jar Jar is the shadow warrior.

Kurosawa homages are my favorite. And so far the Jar Jar episodes have all been top-notch, too. If you love this show, do yourself a favor and watch Kagemusha before the next episode. Something tells me this episode will be twice as good with that knowledge.

This could end up as one of my favorites.

Here’s the synopsis from the Press Release:

In “Shadow Warrior,” this week’s episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the peace and unity that followed the defeat of the Trade Federation blockade seen in Episode I are shattered as the Gungans inexplicably march towards war against the Naboo city of Theed. Padmé Amidala rushes to investigate, discovering that General Grievous and his droid army stand poised to invade the planet. An unlikely imposter standing in for an injured Gungan leader may help stop the growing conflict, while Anakin Skywalker’s search for answers takes him into the shadowy lair of the enemy. There, the Jedi hero enters into an epic battle against his sworn enemy, Count Dooku, at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT Friday, September 23rd on Cartoon Network.

Lucasfilm has been kind enough to once again give us a sneak peek at this week’s episode of The Clone Wars.

There is little more to say about this than I can’t wait for the conclusion of this arc and see what’s coming next.

And did Kit Fisto just drop an Indiana Jones reference? I think so.

From the press release:

In “Prisoners,” the must-see conclusion to the epic two-part season opener of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, all appears lost as the Republic army and its allies the Gungans have been captured by Riff Tamson and his seemingly invincible Karkarodon forces. The future looks as murky as the turbulent undersea battlefields of Mon Calamari, but there still are holdouts. Now all depends on Ahsoka Tano helping young Prince Lee-Char find the internal strength to unite the fractured races of his planet to drive out the Separatist invaders in a pulse-pounding battle airing at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT Friday, September 23rd on Cartoon Network.

Though the panels for Star Wars: The Clone Wars are tomorrow, Entertainment Weekly got a sneak peak at Season 4, starting with the character Katee Sackhoff is playing. She’s a female Mandalorian, which marks the first time we’ve seen one in Lucas-level canon of the Star Wars mythos.

You can click over to their site to see the clip, but it’s pretty spectacular. I feel like I should be sick of saying this by now, but they’ve kicked the animation up another notch for the new season.

I’ll be interviewing some of the crew tomorrow before the panel and will have a full report up from San Diego as soon as the panel is finished.

I’ll be posting plenty of Star Wars news up this weekend as well, including my piece about the Blu-ray presentation I attended this evening.

It’s been really super-crazy the way comic book movie teasers have been leaking the last few days, hasn’t it? Well, we’ve got another one for you today, I’m not sure which movie this trailer is attached to (one would assume Captain America), but it’s pretty long for a first trailer, clocking in at about two and a half minutes. Have a look at the muffled, slightly shaky footage and I’ll share some thoughts after ward.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWP8TdXdFZg

So, the first obvious thought is: Really? You’re going to tell the origin again? Why? the Raimi movies aren’t that old, everyone and his uncle knows how Spidey got his abilities. If they’re tying it into Curt Connor’s story, or to explain mechanical web-shooters I guess it’s justified, but it shouldn’t take more than 5-10 minutes tops.

Also, we’re actually going to get a glimpse into Peter’s parents? That’s pretty cool. Too bad that Spider-Man is kind of off to the side with other Marvel movies, because using the “Red Skull killed Richard and Mary Parker” would be a cool way to tie them together.

Gwen is brainy Gwen. That’s cool, I suppose.

I know Spider-Man can be a brooding character, but he can also be fun-loving and bombastic. The Raimi movies barely had the type of Spidey-brand humor that I’m talking about, and it seems this one is going to follow suit.

The end sequence is admittedly cool. It’s like an FPS (First-Person-Spidey)! It also is a good way to convey Spider-Man’s moveset without the CGI looking super-fake.

The bottom line of course is that I love Spider-Man and I’ll watch this movie regardless of the quality, but if anything else, I am more cautiously optimistic rather than gung-ho over this movie now.  Who knows? Maybe when it’s officially released, it’ll wow me a bit more. Until then though…

UPDATE: Of course we’ve got the officially released trailer now.

Six issues this week from a bunch of different weeks.

Trailblazer (One-Shot)

This is a cool little story about an assassin who travels back to the old west to become a sheriff. It’s a short story and a fun one. There’s something to be said for short stories in comics. You don’t really find them too often because you tend to need strong selling series, but I’m liking that there are more one shots now a days. Good read.

When does this come out: July 6th
Cost: 5.99
Will I read on: No need
Will I buy it: Yes

Reed Gunther #2: In a Stalac-Tight Spot!

We have Reed Gunther and Sterling’s second adventure as they ride into an old west town to hear there’s treasure in them there hills. A out of town prospector is looking for volunteers to go get the treasure and our boy Reed decides he’s up to the task, but there’s something fishy going on. Plus Starla comes to help out and it seems she’ll probably be joining the misfits through their adventures. I am loving these books, they have a great mix of humor and adventure and some good artwork taboot. Plus the Houghton brothers seem to know where they want to go with the story so it’s looking to be a good series going forward. Each story can be told as a one off so if you can’t find the first issue go ahead and start with the second.

When does this come out: July 6
Cost: 2.99
Will I read on: Definitely, I’m hooked.
Will I buy it: Most definitely

Super Dinosaur #3

Usually I don’t try and start series unless I’m able to get a hold of the first issue but when I saw that this comic was being done by Robert Kirkman I thought I might want to give it a try. I don’t think I’ve missed much but basically it’s about a boy named Derek and his pal “Super Dinosaur”, a T-Rex which can communicate with humans and has special robot suits it can put on to fight against the other evil super dinosaurs. Apparently Derek’s father and his partner found a way to give dinosaur’s mental abilities but the partner turned evil. I may not have that exactly right since I didn’t read the first two, but the comic does make sense and it’s a good combination of fun and intelligent.

When does this come out: June 29th (It apparently sold out)
Cost: 2.99
Will I read on: Yes
Will I buy it: Probably will wait for the Trade.

50 Girls 50 #2

In this second installment from Frank Cho and the gang the women find themselves in even more trouble. There’s a great gag at the very beginning when they announce the trouble and the main woman looks at the audience and says “Is anyone surprised at this point? I mean, really?” The series is still strong and it’s still selling very well so you might as well jump on the train. The art is fantastic and the women’s curves are very well done.

When does this come out: July 6th
Cost: 2.99
Will I read on: Indeed
Will I buy it: Probably will wait for the trade.

Samurai’s Blood #2

I had hoped very much that the second issue would be better then the first, however I was wrong, the second was worse then the first and even though this is only 6 issues long I don’t think I’ll continue reading. The book seems very self important and that is where the flaw is, all of the characters are incredibly one sided and do everything you expect them to do.

When does this come out: July 13
Cost: 2.99
Will I read on: Probably not
Will I buy it: No

The Red Wing #1

I love time travel, I just do, and as long as the writer has some sense of what he is doing then I usually like where they are going with it. The Red Wing is set in a world where Time Travel ended up leading to lots of Wars. Time Travel is just used to help fight the fight against the unknown danger. It also follows the travels of one particular man who goes through the army system to become a time traveler. The best thing I can say for this book is the overall pacing. The overall feel of the story is very strong and it makes me very excited to see where this is going. Plus this is the first part of a four part series and I love short series. I recommend this to any time travel fans.

When does this come out: July 13th
Cost: 3.50
Will I read on: Very likely
Will I buy it: Quite Possible

Marvel is giving a look at the relaunch of Ultimate X-Men. The title originally ended in a pretty lackluster way in the wake of Jeph Loeb’s less than stellar Ultimatum. I’m going to pick this up because, for the most part, I love the Ultimate Universe and this doesn’t look bad to me. And I love what Bendis did with Kitty Pryde and Bobby Drake.

Marvel is pleased to present your first look at Ultimate Comics X-Men #1, from rising stars Nick Spencer & Paco Medina! Iceman, Kitty Pride and the Human Torch discover the true history of the x-gene as the divide between Mankind and Mutantkind grows deeper than ever before! Who are the X-Men and how will they handle the fallout of this universe shattering discovery? Find out in Ultimate Comics X-Men #1 this September, as Ultimate Comics Universe Reborn continues!

ULTIMATE COMICS X-MEN #1 (JUL110608)
Written by NICK SPENCER
Art by PACO MEDINA
Cover by KAARE ANDREWS (POLYBAGGED)
Variant Cover by PACO MEDINA
Rated T+ …$3.99
FOC – 08/22/11, ON SALE – 09/14/11

Slated to run with the latest Harry Potter flick, someone has already grabbed shaky-cam footage of the teaser. It’s pretty boss, despite the dubious quality. We’ll certainly update when a nice, crisp, HD video comes out. Until then, if you can’t wait, watch it now before WB makes us take it down!

Yeah. I believe the appropriate phrase is “I’m all in.”

In this Anime Update we bring you news and an Episode One review of the soon-to-be hugely successful Mawaru Penguindrum. The show is already gaining momentum in Tokyo and (hopefully) will get picked up for U.S. distribution very soon.

Episode One of most of the Japanese Summer Anime Series aired this past Friday in Tokyo, and I got the chance to watch two of the shows that are very likely to get picked up for U.S. Distribution later this year. The first show I want to talk about this week is the fun and original Mawaru Penguindrum. (Soon I’ll be reviewing Usagi Drop as well!)

Penguindrum revolves around Sho, Kan, and Himari – three orphaned siblings living in a cute and wildly colorful Tokyo house (Many Japanese homes tend to favor modest coloring when it comes to walls, tiling, etc., but this home is full of cheery decor!) Everything about the house tells us that these young adults have probably been living alone for a long time – but have taken care to keep the house in relatively good condition considering their situation. The walls are lovingly decorated with photos from the past and colorful trinkets most likely from memorable trips. Himari (the sister) has been ill and unable to attend school for quite some time, but the brothers still somehow are able to attend and it is unknown how they manage to afford groceries and daily life.

In a whirlwind of events (that you should definitely see for yourself), there are soon three adorable penguins helping the teens around the house, and we find out that the brothers are now tasked to go out and find something called the Penguin Drum. (This is, of course, after a scene in which Himari undergoes a magical-girl-esque transformation into a penguin goddess…thing…Let’s just say that in this regard it is definitely on par with other crazy-but-awesome anime plots I’ve seen in the past.)

These helpful Penguins are so cute!

So far the show is fantastic. What pulled me in from the beginning was the characters – who actually give us a good amount of depth and emotion within the first ten minutes of the episode (and it’s not cheesy, over-acted emotion…something that honestly tends to get on my nerves in anime after a while!). These are believable characters going through totally unreal circumstances. I rarely find characters in anime that I will really become attached to in the first few episodes of a series, so this is definitely a break from a standard series opener.

Penguindrum is also fairly original for a fantasy/drama anime of this nature. (I’ve read that people are comparing to an updated Utena, but I think it may go even beyond that in terms of originality). I’m definitely looking forward to upcoming episodes and I fully support any company that decides to bring this to the States. If you’re living in Japan – go watch! If not – start talking about it and it will soon show up in the U.S.!

I wish I had an adorable penguin to spray the Gokibukuri (cockroaches) for me!

For more reviews of the newest anime coming out of Tokyo and to North America – stay tuned to Big Shiny Robot.com!

Oh, and before I go: How crazy is this new Hatsune Miku Toyota Corolla commercial about Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs?!?!?

Marvel has given us a first look at the next issue of Fear Itself:

I need to catch up on this book, it looks like.

Marvel is pleased to present your first look at Fear Itself #5 from the chart topping creative team of Matt Fraction, Stuart Immonen, Wade Von Grawbadger, & Laura Martin! This is the brawl you’ve all been waiting for – Hulk & Thing vs. Thor! Plus, when the dust settles from a war being fought on all fronts – a critical blow is dealt to Captain America that not even he can withstand.

Prepare for a battle of epic proportions as the blockbuster event of the year ratchets it up a notch August, only in Fear Itself #5!

FEAR ITSELF #5 (of 7) (JUN110581)
FEAR ITSELF #5 (of 7) IMMONEN VARIANT (JUN110582)
Written by MATT FRACTION
Pencils by STUART IMMONEN
Inks by WADE VON GRAWBADGER
Colors by LAURA MARTIN
Cover by STEVE McNIVEN
Rated T+ …$3.99
FOC – 7/18/11, ON SALE – 8/10/11

Our friends over at the HUB network have sent us an exclusive clip to share with you from this week’s episode of Transformer’s Prime. If you haven’t had the chance to check Prime out yet, watch this clip and head on over to the Hub’s website! It’s a really fun show and definitely in the spirit of the classic Transformers.

**TUNE-IN ALERT**

All original episodes of TRANSFORMERS PRIME now air on Saturdays at 7:00PM EST.

An epic battle between Ratchet and Megatron

WHAT: “Metal Attraction”: The Autobots and Deceptions race to claim a magnetic weapon. In the ensuing battle, the Bots are forced to fight while stuck together!

WHERE: The Hub cable TV network. To find the channel in your area, please visit www.hubworld.com and check the Channel Locator at the top of the page.

WHEN: July 9, 2011 –  7:00PM EST.

BSR recently got the chance to interview the voice of Starscream from Transformers Prime – legendary anime, video game and all-around awesome voice actor Steve Blum. You can check out the interview here.

For more exclusive clips, sneak-peeks, announcements, and geek news from around the world, keep surfing on BSR!