Lucasfilm has been kind enough to offer us this exclusive clip of next weeks episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, featuring fan favorite Quinlan Vos.

Tonight’s episode, 3.8, is a prequel to the season 1 finale, next week, featuring Quinlan, is a sequel.  I gather that Obi-Wan and Quinlan are on the hunt for Ziro the Hutt after Cad Bane breaks him out. Also, a big tip off is that the name of the episode is The Hunt For Ziro.

To my knowledge, this is also the first time we’ve seen Anakin’s original owner, Gardulla the Hutt in action.

Analyzing the scene further, the background has a lot of cool stuff to see, including Gammoreans and humanoid female dancers with Hutt headdresses. The extras on the show are getting filled out more and more to the point where it feels like we’re in Star Wars more and more. The ambience by music and lighting is getting better and better and this clip is a sterling example.

UPDATE: Some have pointed out that Gardulla the Hutt was killed in the EU.  8 years ago.  In a video game no one has ever heard of. (Bounty Hunter.  See?  You’d never heard of it either.)   It looks like a cool game, but seriously?  For one, Expanded Universe continuity wonks should get used to the fact that George Lucas is the one person completely willing and allowed to stomp all over the fan-fiction desert of the EU.  For two, you really took something that happened in a video game so seriously that you’re holding it sacred?  Things happen in video games all the time that have no bearing on the reality of a series.  Did it become canon that Luke Skywalker had to fight the Jawenko monster in the belly of the sandcrawler because that’s what happened in Super Star Wars?

No.  Please, don’t take it so seriously.  This clip is great and I’m glad at the opportunity to learn more about Anakin’s original owner on Clone Wars.  It will be interesting to see if Anakin actually interacts with Gardulla.

In any case, enjoy the clip:

“>Be sure to check out the clip of tonight’s episode, too.

This first appeared on Huffington Post here.

DC Comics, through their Vertigo imprint, has once again given us an incredible book, this time in the form of the autobiographical How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less by Sarah Glidden.

The entire situation in Israel/Palestine is a complicated one. I don’t think anyone on either side of the issue will argue that. There are so many shades of gray to the issue that you want to put on rose colored glasses just to add some color into things and try making sense of it. I had my feelings and my limited understanding of the issues and I must say they were all challenged by Glidden’s book.

The book revolves around Glidden’s decision to take “Birthright Israel” tour and all of the things she learns there. She leaves with an informed idea of what she thinks the situation is, but it’s always so much more hazy when you’re there.

Glidden takes us from her departure to her return in panel after gorgeous, water-colored panel and we get just as confused about how we should feel by the reality of the situation as she does.

This book is not pro-Israel or pro-Palestine. It’s not anti-Israel or anti-Palestine either, it’s pro-reality. And in reality, nothing is ever really in black and white. I enjoyed the fair, even handed nuance it took to bring us this book, and I think it should be required reading for anyone who waxes philosophical on the subject of Israel or anyone who wants to know more about the increasingly muddled situation abroad.

DC Comics has been kind enough to provide us an exclusive preview of the book below and I think you’ll agree with me when I say that it’s written in an insightful manner and drawn with an attention to detail you could only acquire by living through it.

It comes out November 9th, but you can preorder it here on Amazon.

Head to the Huffington Post for the rest of the preview!

Bryan Young is the editor of the geek news site Big Shiny Robot!

We have two new clips from Clone Wars. These appear to follow the formula from the debut. This seems to be a prequel and a sequel to a season one episode (the finale to be exact.)

Of note is the appearance of Quinlan Vos, an expanded Universe Character of some popularity who has almost made it into the series in other forms before.

From the official press release:

In the middle of a routine shopping trip on Coruscant, C-3PO is abducted by bounty hunter Cad Bane. Soon, both Threepio and his astromech counterpart R2-D2 find themselves pawns in Bane’s plan to free Ziro the Hutt from a heavily guarded prison in the heart of the Republic. The hapless droids are once again integral in events that threaten to unravel the future of the galaxy in “Evil Plans” – an all-new episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars airing at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT Friday, November 5th on Cartoon Network.

Reprising his role from all six live-action Star Wars films and countless ancillary intergalactic appearances over the past three decades, Anthony Daniels returns to voice the prim and proper protocol droid for this special episode of The Clone Wars. Thrilled at the rare chance to explore Threepio’s expertise in etiquette, Daniels himself relished the opportunity to exercise the fan-favorite character’s strengths in ways that haven’t yet been seen on screen.

“Threepio’s whole life is focused on how to avoid conflict, and the basic premise is that he’s always out of place. But he doesn’t have to be the fall guy all the time,” says Daniels. “For once, we see him functioning as he was made, according to his programming. It’s a more domesticated storyline, without the shoot-em-up aspects of the Saga. His abilities are cerebral, not physical – and he finally gets to use his expertise in protocol and etiquette. In a way, he’s more relaxed than we’ve ever seen him. But of course nothing in party-planning ever goes exactly as planned.”

Having spent so much time ensconced in Threepio’s golden trappings for the big screen, live-action adventures, Daniels enjoys the opportunity to bring the character to life through vocalization alone. Less physically strenuous than on-camera appearances, voice work nonetheless requires a keen attention to detail, as well as an understanding of what makes the character tick.

“There are all sorts of funny little technical issues with keeping him human-like without human sounds. He doesn’t breathe; I have to be careful not to breathe,” says Daniels. “The aim is to keep him very much as he is in the movies. Some of it has become second nature; I’ve been pleased to realize that I can still create the voice and match the original character. It’s the genuine article. And I really do enjoy the animation. It’s a mutual support society; they do picture to voice, so it’s a physical representation based around my vocal performance. In the series, Threepio is as gravity-forced as always. It reminds you that he can be quite clumsy. I think The Clone Wars is animated in a way that is quite accessible – not just the wide-eyed, simple, Saturday morning fare. It makes you realize you are watching Star Wars.”

Though the episode is quintessentially Star Wars, Daniels notes that the droids tend to illustrate some of the lighter aspects of the space saga. Focusing on dialogue rather than danger, they represent the fun of the series, without relying so heavily on galaxy-shattering stakes.

“There are sides of Star Wars that can be quite humorous – subtle and more gentle. I think that’s why people enjoy the relationship between Artoo and Threepio,” he says. “You don’t expect them to exhibit these human qualities, and it’s really quite charming. For all the battles, there’s a benignity that gives [Star Wars] the winner’s cup; it’s an honorable enterprise, because there’s more to it than blasters and political concerns. It’s important to realize that not everything has to focus on the dark side. Life goes on, even when there’s a war going on. But Threepio would say that, wouldn’t he?”

And here’s the Quinlan Vos scene:

AMC has released a tease of the first five minutes of the highly anticipated show “The Walking Dead”. For those of you stationed under a rock somewhere, this show is based on Robert Kirkman’s book of the same name, which is a continuing series of survival horror.

Frank Darabont directed this first episode and it premieres on Halloween Night on AMC. (Be sure to check your local listings for the exact time and channel.)

For those of you in the Salt Lake City area, we’re co-hosting along with the Geek Show Podcast a presentation of this on the big screen at Brewvies. You can get more details on the facebook event page. It’s a free event and open to the public.

Without further ado, here are the first five minutes of The Walking Dead TV Show:

Add the Walking Dead on Facebook and Twitter!

Lucasfilm has been kind enough once again to give us a preview of the next episode of Clone Wars.  This one looks far more promising than the last couple of weeks, although they were good, we’ve been in a bit of  a dry spell.

This episode looks to break all that and take us back into the stratosphere we’ve been used to.  The look of this clip feels very “Manchurian Candidate” to me.

From the press release:

She’s BACK! Left for dead after her failed gambit at the end of The Clone Wars’ second season, deadly assassin Aurra Sing has returned – and she’s out to redistribute the balance of power in “Assassin,” an all-new episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars – airing at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT Friday, October 22 on Cartoon Network.

Tasked with protecting Senator Padmé Amidala during a political mission to Alderaan, Ahsoka Tano is plagued by recurring visions of Sing’s return. Unable to clear her mind, Ahsoka begins to worry that the stress of war is finally taking its toll on her – until the blood-letting assassin reveals herself with an attempt on Padmé’s life. And after their last confrontation left Sing humbled, humiliated and presumed dead, the lean and mean bounty huntress is only happy for a chance at a rematch with the young Padawan…

“Aurra never dies. She gives what she takes and she kind of enjoys it,” laughs Jaime King (My Bloody Valentine 3D, Sin City, The Spirit), who voices Sing in The Clone Wars. “She does have a bad taste in her mouth [after the events of Season Two], but rather than being bitter and angry, she is doing what she needs to do. It’s a very cut-and-dried thing for her. Everything that happens makes her more intense and ruthless. She says bring it.”

Sing’s cruelty and merciless methods have certainly made her a favorite among fans; fascinating audiences with her blink-and-you’ll-miss-it introduction in the live-action Episode I, she’s since been elevated into the upper echelons of Star Wars icons. Her distinctive appearance – creepy yet seductive – plays into that mystique, giving her a visual flair that complements her ruthless demeanor.

“She’s long and lean and lanky, but she has curves. She’s perfect,” says King. “She’s got those long fingers; they’re spidery like she is. Predatory. Her physicality is very much a part of her, and it’s sexy. There are so many people who aren’t inherently beautiful, but their qualities and gifts make them so stunning. It’s the It Factor, and Aurra’s got It. Men love her because she’s hot and badass, and women love her because she’s strong and badass. There aren’t a lot of strong female characters like Aurra.”

Still, while Sing may be “badass,” that doesn’t necessarily mean that she’s all bad, according to King. She may not necessarily be a friendly, compassionate type, but Sing nonetheless has a backstory that provides the drive behind her bad behavior, But don’t expect a comprehensive explanation of those motivations anytime soon.

“There’s a history we haven’t been told,” says King. “It’s up to George [Lucas] and Dave [Filoni] what they choose to show. I have my ideas, but those are secrets I like to hold on to; those are the layers that inform the character when I’m playing her. I’m never just pretending; it’s my job to understand why she does what she does, so that it comes from a place of truth. Each episode reveals more. It’s Star Wars; it touches lives, and I believe it will last forever. I love that.”

To catch up on season one, order that here.  You can preorder season two here.

Lucasfilm has once again given us a preview look at the next episode of Clone Wars (and the next!).

This episode involves a bunch of kids solving a mystery. I’m assuming this will be better than just about every episode of Scooby Doo combined.

From the press release:

Much to her chagrin, Ahsoka Tano is assigned to teach a class at the cadet academy on Mandalore. Soon after she arrives, however, some of her students are drawn into a treacherous plot.
“The Academy” finds its heroes not among the super-powered Jedi or even the ranks of the highly-trained clone everymen. Instead, the protagonists are intrepid youngsters on a principled quest –
to uncover the corruption that is poisoning their homeworld. Delving ever deeper into the dysfunctional social mechanics of Mandalore, it’s an all-new episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars – airing at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT Friday, October 15 on Cartoon Network.

The next clip, from next week, is a tease for an episode called “Assassins” that is pretty creepy. It’s very good looking stuff and I’m very excited for it.

It also features the return of Aurra Sing:

Here’s a guest post from what we hope to be a regular robot here, CupcakeTron.  She’s another Geek Grrl and would be a welcome voice around these parts.

Click here to watch the trailer to The Tempest at Apple in Glorious Quicktime.

The special effects in the trailer seem a little outdated, and I would’ve though that they would have altered any actor’s voice whose character wasn’t human. Since Julie Taymor is on board, and her past project seem to be laden with visual, I’m going to assume that it’s an homage to the “stage trickery” of when The Tempest was performed on stage. However, I think it’d be easier to not have to focus on the special effects, when there is such a wide range of character actors that should be able to convey the sense of mysticism through performance. I’m hoping, at least.

I can’t mention enough how much an ensemble cast like this should carry the movie. Using creative touches like casting Djimon Hounsou as Caliban and Russell Brand as Trinculo makes it interesting to see where they take their characters.

I have absolutely no complaints with changing the gender of Propero, if it means Helen Mirren gets yet another chance at a meaty role while flexing her classical stage muscle. I was rather hoping to see her in something asexual (ex: Tilda Swinton in Constantine), but I guess the character of Miranda has to be produced from somewhere. At least they let Mirren get some kind of masculine haircut and wax feminism all over the screen.

Lucasfilm has been kind enough to once again get us an advanced clip of the next episode of Clone Wars, this week, we’re brought back to Mandalore and are being treated to a very classic Western kind of story.  Outlaws have poisioned the well and it’s up to the leaders in town to figure it out.  Except the outlaws are probably Pre Vizsla and his Mandalorian terrorists and Padme and the Duchess Satine are left to figure things out.

From the press release:

On a diplomatic mission to Mandalore, Senator Padmé Amidala uncovers a sinister plot lurking beneath the pacifist planet’s serene façade. With the help of Duchess Satine, she investigates a mysterious illness spreading among Mandalore’s children, discovering corruption that extends into the highest levels of the Mandalorian government. An all-new episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, “Corruption,” airs at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT Friday, October 8 on Cartoon Network.

“Corruption” explores a system divided. Deep in the midst of an identity crisis made even worse by the widespread turmoil of the Clone Wars, the people of Mandalore find themselves torn between their violent past and their leader’s promise of peace for the future.

“It’s a fascinating culture at a really interesting time,” says Dave Filoni, Supervising Director of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. “Mandalore has a long history of violence, and they’re trying to move away from that. But this is all taking place in the middle of a galaxy-wide civil war, so it’s difficult for Satine to make a case for peace when there’s so much violence all around. And that’s exactly why peace is so important to her.”

While Season Two’s visit to Mandalore saw the schism reflected in the explicit aggression of the Death Watch, the latest plot indicates a far more subversive threat – reaching into the highest echelons of the Mandalorian power hierarchy.

“There are bigger threats to peace than the Death Watch,” says Filoni. “We’ve seen their approach in Season Two; they used violence as their message. But political corruption can be far more damaging in the long run. The scale’s so much broader here, and the stakes are system-wide. Ultimately, Mandalore’s allegiances are key to the Clone Wars, so every little transgression can have ripple effects throughout the war. Corruption can spread, and it’s threatening to poison Satine’s best efforts.”

Without the explosive threats of the Death Watch, the story necessarily takes an altogether different tone. Teamed with Padmé for the investigation Satine sets out to uncover the threat to her power – and to Mandalore’s peaceful future. Though they come under fire as the investigation heats up, the two women face dangers with far-reaching consequences even greater than mere threats to their own personal well-being.

“Whenever we visit Satine, we’re going to see a war of ideals,” says Filoni. “She’s very steadfast in her beliefs, and that’s what makes her a good leader. She’s got a tough job, though. She is often undermined by her own people, and her core beliefs are even at odds with the beliefs of the other Clone Wars heroes – including the Jedi and the Senate. Ultimately, they all want the same thing – peace – but they have different thresholds. With an endgame that is so important to the entire galaxy, compromises can be difficult – even when it comes to the means by which peace is achieved.”

From Shojo Beat and the mind of Kaori Yuki comes Grand Guignol Orchestra, a story following a troop of musicians through the events of a zombie apocalypse. Hitting shelves on October 5th right in time for the Halloween season, this new series will be sure to satisfy your inner Gothic Lolita.

The plot revolves around Lucille, head of an orchestra traveling throughout the world, entertaining the masses for some fame and a good chunk of change. However, when the Guignol Virus starts running rampant, turning people into mindless zombie killing machines, traveling becomes survival as they fight off this new menace.

When released, this title will go for $9.99 and should be available on amazon.com and at your friendly local Night Flight comics in special order form.

Artwork: UIGNOL KYUTEI GAKUDAN © Kaori Yuki 2009/HAKUSENSHA, Inc.

For anyone who hasn’t been reading regularly, I do a weekly breakdown of PS3 and PSN releases. Well, I’ve decided to help you with your shopping lists by hitting you with the hottest titles coming out in the next three months. This list will certainly have a Sony bias, but if it’s big I want to include it. Fourth Quarter is always huge because of the holiday season and this is no exception.

So why do we need this list? Because there are a lot of cool games and I like to see them in a row to help me decide where to put my gaming dollar. There is also a new trend over the last few years of having different preorder bonuses depending on where you buy your game and I want all our robot friends to get the best deal. Personally, I think Amazon’s pre-order bonus is hard to beat so I’ll link the games to them. Their release day delivery charge is about the same price you’ll pay for tax in a brick and mortar store, they usually have a discount of a couple bucks, and the $10 (or more) credit on future game purchases is tough to beat. Also, their “Wish List” feature makes not-so-subtle hints to loved ones about Christmas (or other holidays of your choosing) all too easy.

So here we go:

October 5:

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Limited Edition For PS3 and XBox, if you haven’t heard of Castlevania you haven’t played video games long enough. Stand-alone disc is $60, but fans will want the limited edition (soundtrack and art book) for $80. Preorder bonuses include a $20 gift card at KMart, a t-shirt at Gamestop and a redeemable code for Symphony of the Night on PSN or XBLA at Best Buy.

October 12:

Medal of Honor Limited EditionI’m not an FPS player so I can’t say much about this game but I know it’s anticipated. The limited edition (Battlefield 3 beta; MP7, TOZ194 and 870MCS in-game weapons; special ops skin; and Frontline) is only $60, but I don’t see a “regular” edition so it may just be marketing hype. Preorder bonus is Tier 1 Day 1 code from Gamestop and $20 credit at Amazon.

October 19:
Fallout: New Vegas Collector’s EditionThis one is a no-brainer. This is my most anticipated game this year. I rarely buy games any more because I use Gamefly but I’ve long since preordered the $80 Collector’s Edition (“Lucky 7” poker chips from each of the in-game casinos, “Lucky 38” platinum chip, custom-themed deck of cards, hard cover graphic novel by Chris Avellone and Dark Horse and a making of DVD). There are four different preorder outfits with bonus weapons and items depending on where you get it. Gamestop has the Vault 13 Classic Pack, Amazon gets you the Tribal Raiding Armor, the Caravan Pack comes from Wal-Mart and Steam, and the Mercenary pack is available at Best Buy. Mine is coming from Gamestop for no other reason than I had $60 in gift cards. If I can tear myself away from the game long enough to write it, I should have a review sometime after launch. But seriously, don’t wait for my review. The Collector’s Edition goodies are worth the price of admission alone. You could also try winning a copy here.

October 26:
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II Collector’s EditionIf I were writing this for a general gaming site I would have picked Rock Band 3 or Fable 3 for this week. But for Big Shiny Robot! it had to be Star Wars. I played the demo for this game at Celebration V and never stopped smiling. You can save $5 at Amazon on the Collector’s Edition (collectible steel book, three challenge levels, Ralph McQuarrie concept art skin, exclusive lightsaber crystal and designer Mimobot 2Gb thumb drive preloaded with a digital art book). They also get you two extra challenge levels for preordering. You can preorder from Gamestop for the “Maulkiller” skin or the Sith Acolyte skin and trading card from Best Buy.

November 2:
DC Universe Online Collector’s EditionTrue Crime and God of War: Ghost of Sparta are both out this week but if you’re reading this site you know this is the one you want. Don’t tell my wife, but this might be my first MMORPG. Make your own hero or villain and fight alongside, or against, your favorites from the DC Universe. PS3 only has the $60 game available but if you’re on PC you can buy just the game for $50 or the Collector Edition for $100. The Collector Edition comes with a limited edition Batman figure based on Jim Lee’s concept art, a back story comic by Geoff Johns, an art book by Wildstorm productions, and the Legends Issue #0 online comic. Preorders at Gamestop will get the online comic even if you don’t get the cool package, plus you get to play as Batman in arena battles and use the Joker’s Confetti Bomb in game.

November 4:

Kinect Sensor with Kinect Adventures!I don’t own a 360 and I don’t understand the motion gaming phenomena but this is a major release and I would be remiss to skip it. The basic package with the sensor and Kinect Adventures is $150 everywhere. Preordering at Gamestop or Best Buy nets you three extra levels for Kinect Adventures. Amazon gives you a $30 credit on a future game purchase, which seems like a way better deal to me. All retailers are encouraging preorders and may limit the number you can buy. They’re expecting early sell out.

November 9:
The Sly CollectionThat’s right. I’m skipping Call of Duty: Black Ops in favor of Sly Cooper. I’ve already covered one FPS and I don’t want to explain the difference between the basic, hardened and prestige editions. Besides, Sly Cooper is not just awesome, this collection is only $40 for three games – one of them in 3D. I haven’t seen any preorder bonuses but they might announce something small like an avatar for your PSN ID.

November 16:
Assassin’s Creed: BrotherhoodAdding multiplayer for the first time in the series, followers of the franchise have been watching for this game. I’ve played both prior entries on PS3 and Bloodlines on PSP. Preorder this from Gamestop soon and you can access the multiplayer beta starting October 4. They’ll also give you a Harlequin playable character. The $100 Collector’s Edition includes two in-game single player maps, a physical Rome strategy map, exclusive art book, bonus disc with extra media, and a collectible jack-in-the-box (Gamestop’s is the Harlequin version, everywhere else is a basic version).

A special note for Big Shiny Robot! readers, Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet is out today too. It’s for kids, but I bet it’s fun anyway.

November 23:
Nothing to care about this week. Unless you love Michael Jackson or have fond memories of Splatter House

November 30:
Disney Epic Mickey Collector’s EditionThis is the only Wii-exclusive making the list but it’s safe to say it would be here even if there were good games coming this week for PS3 or 360. It’s Mickey Mouse from Warren Spector. How can that not be awesome? No preorder bonuses yet, but Amazon will save you $5 on the Collector’s Edition (special package, 5″ vinyl collectible figure, bonus DVD, Wii faceplate and Wii remote skins).

The month of December is actually pretty weak, probably because everybody assumes Christmas shopping is done and there’s been enough awesomeness already. If you really need another new game this late in the year you might as well get TRON: Evolution Collector’s Edition