September's 'Galactic' Loot Crate Review

I like things. I like collectible things especially. Subscription services, such as Loot Crate, offer a chance to get random things for a set price.

I... well, I don't much like surprises. So these subscription services generally go unnoticed by me, with the minor pang of regret when I see something I missed (dat Groot POP! figure!). But mostly I ignore them.

This month, they done advertised right. The theme was "Galactic," and they said it'd include loot related to Star Wars, Star Trek, Firefly, and Alien. And more. But I don't need more, they had me at St--.

So I signed up. Used a coupon code. Total cost was about $16 for the month.

It came this weekend.

I'm happy with the loot included, but I also don't think Loot Crate is for me.

The Good:

1. The total value of the included items surpasses what I paid.
2. The packaging/presentation is spot on.
3. They had interesting things that I would not have purchased on my own.
4. The box included:

Even if they're not super interesting pieces, I do love me some Firefly, so the mini-Mal and the credit stack are fun. And the Han Solo poster looks pretty boss on my wall (featured in the most recent Never Split the Party Podcast episode...). The Tribble, surprisingly, was my favorite item in the box, however.

The Bad:

1. It kind of felt like someone got a discount at Newbury Comics, bought some random (related-ish) items, and threw 'em in a box. That's actually not an awful idea... but I'd rather just have the discount myself (or preferred things I COULDN'T find easily on my own).
2. There were several items I just didn't care about, and will create clutter (or trash):

To be fair, the "Galactic" book was interesting, but it isn't something I'm normally interested in keeping. And, as much as I love the Alien series, I don't care for this style of figure (I personally get the Alien, which was a small plus). As for the digital comic, meh. I dislike both Halo... and digital comics!

The Ugly:

1. There is no easy way to sign up for a one-month deal. You sign up for a subscription that bills you each month until you cancel, then have to send a written request through their website to cancel your subscription. This isn't unexpected, but I think they'd go a long way with offering a one-time purchase offer. That would entice me to try more. Now, knowing it's a bit more of a hassle to cancel, I'm less likely to try again, even if they advertise a theme that interests me.
2. Not every month is created equal. Some months have much rarer, more collectible items (that end up having more value in the long run). Last month's Groot figure is an example of this. This month offered nothing on that level of rare-ness. Not saying I don't love my mini-fig Captain Mal, there's just a clear discrepancy.



Honestly, I have similar issues with anything that includes a random element. Booster packs for card games or miniature games are the bane of my existence. But I know what I can possibly get in those, so I don't mind going back for more. Here, I really have no clue what I'm in store for, and it's entirely likely that a decent percent of the items simply don't interest me.

I'm happy with my loot crate, but this will probably be my last one. Unless they do a special "Maximum Carnage" themed one. Or maybe a Cthulhu theme...

The Nerd's Favorite Star Wars Characters

Between movies, comic books, novels, tv shows, video games, and any other format we can think up, Star Wars has many, many characters. Some everyone would be familiar with due to them being in the movie, while many more rest in obscurity, due to being introduced in the Extended Universe.

Here is my list of my favorite characters, spanning all formats.

1. Han Solo

I had to get this one out of the way quickly. Since everyone is familiar with this character (or damn well should be), I don't need to go into too much description here. I always love a good-hearted scoundrel, and Han was my first introduction to this archetype. Being played by Harrison Ford, there is nothing for me to not love about this character. He's cocky, good with a gun or ship, and wears the best outfits.

I suggest his origin novels, known as the Han Solo Trilogy.

Even his Bespin outfit is pretty awesome.

2. Darth Revan

Doesn't care for your republic.

Introduced in the game Knights of the Old Republic, Revan is another popular character many people may recognize. He was the big bad right before the game begins, and you spend your journey hearing about his achievements that nearly brought the galaxy to his knees. It almost seems a pity that his apprentice got uppity and shot him in the back... For those who've played the game, the plot twist is another big reason why I love this character.

Aside from the interesting story, Revan's Sith outfit is my favorite out of any character in the movies or EU. If I was to ever get into cosplay, my first project would be to make Revan's mask.

3. Dash Rendar

This character was released across multiple mediums at the same time, in the multimedia project titled Shadows of the Empire. I've talked about Shadows before, but want to reiterate that it also created one of my absolute favorite, yet still wildly under used, characters. Dash is a smuggler, like Han, but his heart of gold seems to have been plundered. There is no question that Dash always shoots first. He's Han if Han never matured or met Leia. He's a badass pilot and mercenary who will take on any mission for a price.

Currently, the character is still mostly found only in Shadows of the Empire material. There was a relatively recent novel, Shadow Games, that featured the rogue, but I didn't enjoy it overly much.

Ok, I hate his outfit. But he makes up for it!

Dash has two other points that work in his favor: a sassy robot sidekick, named Leebo, and his much-better-than-the-Falcon ship, the Outrider.

Being able to play the character in Shadows of the Empire went a long way to entrench this characters as a favorite, even if the game was light on the story elements.

4. Jaina Solo

This is one of Han and Leia's kids. If you're at all current in the Extended Universe, you'll know she's the only surviving one. Since the Young Jedi Knights series, she's been an interesting mix of a mechanic, like Chewbacca, and a Jedi, like her uncle Luke. I almost grew up with this character, being that I read the Young series when I was younger, and am still reading novels featuring her today (though I'm actually very behind on the Fate of the Jedi series).

Jaina Solo, solo.

She's had some of the more interesting twists and turns, trials and tribulations among the EU cast. And she's grown up to be both melancholic to some degree and a complete badass in others. It's a difficult balance, but both components I enjoy in literary characters -- the ability to be series and down to earth while still fighting the good fight.

She can be found in plenty of EU novels, not sure if she's ever branched out into the comics or not. The Legacy of the Force series, infamous for many reasons, has a her dealing with issues above and beyond what most would expect. And, unlike many EU characters, she rose to the challenge.

5. Corran Horn

Read it!

One of my favorite things about Star Wars was the dogfights. I love space battles in general. Therefore, interesting pilots always find a way into my heart. Throughout the (on my part) much beloved X-Wing series, Corran Horn is an interesting character that shows a lot of growth throughout the series. He's a member of Rogue Squadron and, appropriately, constantly giving the Empire/remnants a bad day. He's the star of the day many times, and makes down-to-the-wire situations still seem stressful -- most characters you can stay fairly safe knowing they'll make it through the day. The X-Wing series, and Corran's status as an EU-only character, didn't give him quite as much plot armor as other characters. This made him interesting.

Then, reading the novel I, Jedi, you learn more about his history as he eventually starts on the Jedi path. This novel is one of the most interesting EU novels I've read, simply because it spans a decent chunk of time and pulls in references to other big events as they occur. A lot of the EU feels as if it happens in a vacuum, where only one story is happening at a time, but I, Jedi actively interacted with the timelines it crossed, without seeming overly gimmicky.


There are more characters that I love, and I have to give an honorable mention to Wedge Antilles, but the above five are my absolute favorite from a universe that spans thousands of years and many different formats/genres. Are there any standouts for you? I've not included a single cartoon or comic character in this list, so I know I'm missing plenty!

Extra! Extra! Star Wars (Novels Edition)

So, I haven't been stormed out just yet. It's getting there, but I'll at least get today's Extra! Extra! posted. The missing Friday post will be delayed for next Friday, and after that I'm going to switch it up (because Friday at the Movies isn't cutting it for me).

For now, though, here's a quick rundown on my top 5 Star Wars novels (remembering that I do my best to never re-post a given title!):

Heir to the Empire This is an almost obligatory inclusion on every Star Wars Extended Universe (EU) list. It is the start of the beginning of The Thrawn Trilogy, one of/the best set of EU novels out there. This is not only because of the sweeping story that takes place after the films, but also because of the introduction/inclusion of so many fan favorite characters: Grand Admiral Thrawn, Mara Jade, and Talon Karrde. I don't want to spoil the plot for any of these novels, because they really do deserve to be read and enjoyed, so I'll simply say this is a great place to start -- it takes place five years after Return of the Jedi, where the New Republic has to deal once more with the vestiges of the Empire. And in no way will Thrawn, one of the greatest/most brilliant antagonists of all time, make it easy on them. The trilogy (and this novel) get a 9/10, missing the 10 simply because there are a couple of continuity errors they create or have been created since then.
I, Jedi This novel is a bit different. It is written from Corran Horn's, a character introduced during the X-Wing novels, perspective. That's right: it's written in the first person. Without going into too many details, it is an interesting story that occurs alongside some major events that occur after the films. Corran doesn't play the biggest part in all of them (as seen during the temporary revival of an ancient Sith Lord), but he is present and working towards his own goal, namely developing his Force powers and saving his wife, Mirax. I can't say it's the best written novel I've ever read, but I really enjoyed a different perspective of the Star Wars universe and some of its key characters. Also, I enjoyed Corran in the X-Wing series. I rate this an 8/10. Star Wars novels should probably remain in third person, but this was a good attempt.
Darth Bane: Path of Destruction This book is the origin of Darth Bane, who I believe is introduced in the Jedi vs Sith comic series. I was unaware of Jedi vs Sith when I first read this, however, so this was my introduction Bane. Due to this book alone, Bane become one of my favorite characters in the EU (probably coming right behind Dash Rendar). His back story is engaging, his path to becoming a Sith is a touch convoluted, and it all comes with an air of escape. The book takes you inside the character's head and you see his motivations and are able to understand them, something that isn't always easy with villains (especially the way Sith are generally written). In case you didn't know, Bane is the Sith that created the Rule of Two Palpatine followed(ish) in the movies. This is part of a trilogy, though you could honestly skip the sequels. They're not bad, but in no way do they compare to the first. I know some people don't love this novel, but I absolutely adore it. A 9/10 for me.
Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter Let me start this off by saying I really dislike Darth Maul. I dislike most things about Episode I, but Jar Jar and Darth Maul are characters I despise simply for who they are. Now, when I say Shadow Hunter is one of the few EU novels I've re-read multiple times, I hope you can understand how bizarre that is. The worst part is that I'm not sure why I enjoy this novel so much. The characters aren't particularly exciting, though I found the protagonists to at least be endearing, and it DOES feature Darth Maul, who I have already said I don't enjoy. I'll have to chalk it up to the quality of the writing, I guess. The story is simple -- Darth Maul has to intercept and kill folks to keep information out of the Republic's hands. The information eventually makes its way to our protagonists, Con-Man Lorn Pavan and Jedi Padawan Darsha Assant. Intense, novel-length chase ensues. That might sounds boring, but the tension in the novel is applied early and artfully maintained throughout the story. When our heroes meet Darth Maul, you're terrified -- you know in your heart what must happen, but you really, really don't want it to. And that's pretty damn rare for characters in the EU. I give this a 9/10.
The Paradise Snare Ok, this is in the sacred number five slot because I'm a terrible, terrible fan boy. The Paradise Snare (which is the first novel in the Han Solo Trilogy) is the story of Han Solo's origin. As I love Han Solo, these stories are especially interesting. We learn about Han's childhood as an orphan, some of his side jobs as a younger person, and then his eventual joining of the Imperial Academy as a young man. I can't speak to how well it's written, but the story is interesting for any Han Solo fan. The highlights of the series would have to be learning why Han saves Chewy (and why Chewy owes a life-debt), how Han gets the Falcon, and an appearance by Boba Fett. Because it's been so long since I've read the novel, I'm not comfortable giving it an individual rating. I do remember very much enjoying the trilogy as a whole (because I'm a huge Solo fan, of course), so it gets an 8/10 as a series.If you don't like Han... skip it. Seriously.

I have enjoyed other Star Wars novels, but I'd have to say these are some of my absolute favorites. I do want to give a shout out to the Young Adult series, Young Jedi Knights. I can't imagine their writing was all that great, but they did help get me into reading. I especially loved the Solo children, which is why recent novels have been a bit of a bummer for me.

Stay tuned for Wednesday's Hunting Game(s) post (considering I have power/survive Sandy), I've got two first impressions to write about! That's right, two for the price of one!

Star Wars: Machete Order Review (Part 2)

Sorry about the delay, this is in place of the normal Friday at the Movies post (there hasn't been much in theaters that has caught my eye, though I'll do some TV series reviews soon).

We are on to part 2 of 5 of my Machete Order review. Part 1 is right here. So far, nothing has deviated from the path of watching the Original Trilogy first -- that's not a bad thing, just means this post isn't going to be excessively long!

Episode V, The Empire Strikes Back, has always been my favorite movie in the saga, for several reasons: Hoth, AT-ATs!, Yoda, "I love you." "I know.", Boba Fett, the oft quoted reveal, and a darker tone overall with a MUCH darker ending than A New Hope.

As the second movie watched, it is a direct continuation of A New Hope. Our heroes continue their individual journeys (Luke continues his training while Han, Chewy, and Leia try to escape the clutches of the Empire) we meet new major characters (Yoda, Lando, etc...), and, biggest point of them all, we learn that Darth Vader is Luke's father.

For new viewers (who have lived under a rock -- or are young), this is still a major WOAH! point. And, like you did way back when, they will be wondering: how could Luke's father possibly be the vile Dark Lord of the Sith!? How could Mister Choke-You-With-My-Mind-At-The-Drop-Of-A-Hat (yeah, he had a hard time putting that on his SATs) possibly have had a kid? And wait... didn't Obi-Wan say Vader had KILLED Luke's dad? What IS this mess!?

Well, unlike you, they'll have a chance to find out much, much sooner than you did! The next film we'll be watching is Episode II, Attack of the Clones. As Luke stares off into space at the closing shot of Episode V, trying to understand their current predicament and Darth Vader's proclamation, we move on to what may be the longest "flashback" sequence in history (that's right Memento, you've been trumped!).

Next time we begin seeing the major changes Machete Order introduces -- we interrupt the Original Trilogy AND skip Episode I. No amount of Jedi Mind Tricks will help Machete Order if this transition doesn't go as well as I personally hope it does.

Things to keep in mind from The Empire Strikes Back:
Obi-Wan instructs Luke to find Yoda, Ben's old Jedi Master,
Luke actively uses the Force for the first time and we see it used more on Dagobah,
Bounty Hunters are introduced, especially Boba Fett,
We get a peek of Darth Vader without the helmet, seeing some serious damage,
We see the Emperor, but he is NEVER named, simply called "the Emperor",
First mention of Anakin Skywalker,
Yoda mentions that there is "another hope" if Luke should fail,
The lightsaber fight scene (which will feel extremely dated),
Luke asking, "Ben, why didn't you tell me?".

Some of these will come up next time!

To spice up this post a little bit (seeing as how V following VI is pretty standard fair), tell me what your favorite film in the saga is in the comment sections below! Some reasons why might be nice too!

Star Wars: Machete Order Review (Part 1)

A couple of weeks ago, I found this post that explained an order of watching the Star Wars movies that I had never heard of before: Machete Order.

I've always struggled between starting with the Original Trilogy versus the Prequel Trilogy when I re-watch the movies, and even more so when I'm showing them to someone new to Star Wars.

Starting with Episode I had many flaws:
It is the weakest film in the franchise, and therefore more likely to cause new viewers to stop there.
It doesn't explain the universe well at any point.
Jar Jar Binks.
A decent chunk of the characters are introduced and die off, leaving few returners for the following films.
Several of the main characters look drastically different from their future versions, which can be confusing to new viewers.
Etc...

Starting with Episode IV had a few flaws:
Beginning with "the fourth movie" is confusing in itself.
The movie is dated, which can dissuade some viewers from progressing in the series.
The jump from Episode VI to I is jarring.
Etc...

The article above introduced me to a new order, called Machete Order (honestly, I'm basing that title off of the blog I found it on -- I don't know if it has another name). It goes as follows: IV, V, II, III, VI.

In case you didn't notice, it completely removes Episode I and puts II and III in the middle of the series. Confusing yet?

Read the article if you want an in-depth explanation for the reasoning behind this order before watching it. After reading it, I found that it made perfect sense and, conceptually, I 100% agreed with it.

Now I'm putting it to the test. I'm going to watch and review each film in relation to where it is placed on the viewing timeline. I'll list pros and cons and key points to consider when a jump between two films occurs. If there are any glaring issues, I'll post them up here as well. This review will be broken into a series of five posts, starting with my review of Episode IV after the break.