Smuggler's Bounty: Death Star Unboxing

This month's Smuggler's Bounty box, the only Official Star Wars subscription box by Funko, was possibly one of the most anticipated boxes for subscribers yet! The box includes exclusive merchandise featuring two Funko Pops along with a handful of other items with a Death Star theme. Check out my video below and then be sure to sign up for the Rogue One box by November 15th. It is the last box of the year and it's going to be amazing!

Smuggler's Bounty costs $25 for each box (not including taxes, shipping, and handling) and is shipped out every other month!

Star Wars ComLINKS: Favorite Droid

Welcome to the thirteenth Star Wars ComLINKS! The purpose of this link up is to inspire fans to write/talk about various topics (which are assigned each month) pertaining to our favorite fandom. Each link up will take place on the second Wednesday of every month. You will be able to share a link to your Website, Blog, YouTube, Podcast, etc. on a special widget here on AAHA and also view other posts from fans!

The Topic for September is "Favorite Droid" and begins today through September 28th!

In honor of Kenny Baker, the brilliant man who brought R2-D2 to life, September's ComLINKS topic will be focused on our favorite droids. So many of our beloved heroes and villains would be lost without their loyal companions. Like humans, droids each have a unique personality with special abilities that deserve recognition and celebration! So, who's your favorite droid and why?

GUIDELINES

1) Your Website, Blog, YouTube, Podcast, etc. does NOT have to be SW related.
2) Your entry must be family-friendly.
3) Please include a link to (or mention) "Star Wars ComLINKS" in your entry and don't forget to use the hashtag #starwarscomlinks when applicable!

An InLinkz Link-up

(Outtake from my Star Wars OOTD: Hera Syndulla post.)

I remember watching the Chopper introductory video before the first episode of Star Wars Rebels aired and just knowing that this expressive and grumpy droid was going to hold a special place in my heart. He's short and stout (I'm all about the "chub" factor), and although he does have a bit of a temper, he truly is a caring and venturesome droid who is always there to help his friends of the Ghost Crew no matter the risk.

Below are just a few of my favorite Chopper moments...

There's something undeniably adorable when someone as cute as Chopper has an attitude and partakes in mischievous things. Like the time he pushed the courier droid off the Ghost ship and into outer space for no apparent reason other than he didn't like him in Rebel Resolve. I was so shocked but couldn't help but laugh! He certainly does what he wants to.

Chopper excels at taking control. I think everyone rooted for him when he hopped into the TIE Advanced VI in the first part of Twilight of the Apprentice. He bravely aided his friends Kanan and Ahsoka in their battle against the Fifth Brother by piloting the TIE and blasting the Inquisitor's double-bladed spinning lightsaber right out of his grip. Go, Chop Chop!

He is also full of surprises! We got to see some of his smooth moves when he whipped out two blasters and went after crime lord, Azmorigan, while doing his equivalent of a wheelie in Brothers of the Broken Horn. Moments like these make me wonder what else he's got up his sleeve. Season 3 is just over a week away!

Chopper has made me laugh, cheer, and squeal with delight. But he has also made me cry on multiple occasions. One of them being when he befriend AP-5 in The Forgotten Droid and held his hand while he died. Of course, I cried all over again when he sacrificed his newly acquired leg to use for parts to replace AP-5's damaged thermo sensors so that he could live. The sweetest!

Do you love Chopper as much as I do? Tell me, who's your favorite droid?

Photo Credit: Screencapped.org

Star Wars OOTD: Hera Syndulla

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WHAT I WORE

Jumpsuit: Forever 21
Turtleneck: Top Shop
Ankle Boots: Forever 21
Sunglasses: Sunglass Spot
Headband: Forever 21
Nail Polish: Maybelline's Green With Envy

GUEST APPEARANCE

Chopper
(The most adorable droid plush from Think Geek.)

I knew I wanted to create an outfit inspired by Hera Syndulla from Star Wars Rebels as soon as I tackled First Order Agent, Bazine Netal back in April. Hera is one of my favorite characters from Rebels. I admire her leadership abilities, piloting skills, and the love and devotion she has for every member of the Ghost Crew. I thought her species and costume would be fun to interpret into an everyday Fall ensemble and I couldn't be happier with the results!

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I've never owned a jumpsuit and wondered if finding one in a close enough color to Hera's would be obtainable. After a lot of shopping around, I found one I was pleased with from Forever 21 and it just so happens to be one of the most comfortable pieces of clothing I own! I also found the perfect grey ribbed turtleneck from Top Shop to wear underneath. While asking my family's opinion on the pieces I had found so far, one of them asked me if I'd wear the outfit out. I replied, "Yes!". Part of creating these Star Wars character inspired outfits is challenging myself to find tangible ways to wear and represent a character I love in my day-to-day life.

Notice the mint green nails? I wanted to have something that resembled the beauty of Hera's skin color in this look.

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Originally, I was going to wear my hair in two "high" pigtails, which would have better depicted Hera's lekkus (aka head tails). But I had to remind myself that I was not cosplaying and questioned whether I'd actually wear my hair out that way. In the end, I was quite satisfied with how my hair turned out and felt that the headband (Forever 21) and low pigtails still paid homage to Hera in a modern-day way.

The over-sized glasses are one of my favorite parts about this outfit. Hera's large round goggles are such a prominent accessory and I knew that I had to find the perfect pair (Sunglass Spot) to do them justice!

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The boots were the very last purchase made, and goodness did they take long to find! I ended up purchasing them on sale for $10 at Forever 21 and as soon as I tried them on, I knew my outfit was complete. I brought out a lot of the grey in Hera's outfit in this look, but I felt a grey boot would be too much. I also didn't feel brown boots would compliment the rest of the pieces so I opted for a much lighter hue within that same color family. It's a very neutral colored boot that can be paired with almost anything!

I hope you enjoyed my newest Star Wars OOTD! Tweet me or leave a comment below and let me know what you think. If you're interested in more Star Wars fashion, hit the "Style" tab on the navigation bar above.

Special Thanks: I'd like to thank my husband for always supporting me and taking my photos, Ryan Baxter from Force Cult for assisting me in photo editing, and Vanessa Marshall for bringing the character of Hera to life in such a beautiful and valiant way.

Rogue One Funko Pop Glam Shots

We've known for a while now that the characters from Rogue One would take Funko Pop form in time for September 30th, the debut day for all Rogue One merchandise to appear on store shelves. The question was, when would we start seeing photos of them? On the evening of August 30th we got the first preview of two figures, then a few more were revealed the next day, and now today we have the full line of 18 figures (look below for the variant run-down after the glam shots) that we can find and consume in stores later this month.

I'm completely blown away by the beauty of these figures! The sculpts and paint jobs are so outstanding that it makes it especially difficult to choose a favorite. Are you able to choose? Tweet me or leave me a comment on this post.

VARIANT RUN-DOWN

There are three Jyn Erso figures in total. The first is of her in her main outfit, the second a Hot Topic Exclusive which is also of her in her main outfit but with her hood up, and the Target Exclusive is of her in Imperial disguise.

There are 2 Captain Cassian Andor figures in total. The first is of him in his main outfit, and the Target Exclusive figure showcases him in his brown jacket with fewer accessories.

There is only one Saw Gerrera and he is a Wal-Mart exclusive! There's no doubt he will be high in demand considering there isn't a regular release of this figure.

There are two Scarif Stormtroopers. The main figure without a stripe, and the Walgreens exclusive with a stripe.

There are two Imperial Death Troopers. One main figure, and another that has a shiny chrome finish which is exclusive to Wal-Mart. I'm going to be all over this one!

Lastly, there are two Darth Vader figures. The main figure showcases Vader in a regular stance while the Game Stop exclusive gives us some flowy cape action along with his hand up ready to force choke an opponent.

Darth Vader #24 Review

I wondered if diving into issue #24 of the Darth Vader Comic Book Series would be a bad idea considering I hadn't read any of the previous issues. However, the cover alone drew me in enough to decide for me. After a first and second read through, the events were made rather clear to me and I couldn't help but discuss the Vader and Padme aspects of this issue.

***MAJOR SPOILERS BELOWS***

The entirety of the story is centered around Vader's visions of the past due to being deactivated by Cylo, a scientist who had in possession a remote that could control the cybernetics of Vader's suit. We get a glimpse of how, what I presumed, he thought his battle against Obi-Wan should have gone and what he truly thinks of Anakin Skywalker. Darth Vader battles a determined Anakin who clearly hates the Dark Lord and is infuriated that he killed his Master. Which makes me wonder if there was a very minuscule part of Vader that was perturbed after killing Obi-Wan? Only because we see two versions of the same man both equally convicted of their beliefs and fighting to the death over it. Either way, he was wrestling with himself, a reoccurring event that often took place, I'm sure.

The battle concludes with Vader mocking Anakin and referring to him as a "child" before he finishes him off like he did Obi-Wan. The Dark Side of the force was undoubtedly present.

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The visions that are portrayed throughout the story are very dark and probably the most sinister version of Vader I have yet to experience. Even the brief moment he had with Padme was just as tragic as the events that actually took place on Mustafar. As suspected, no one at this point could save him, not even his angel. The image of Padme standing next to Vader and then leaning in close asking him to stay is truly haunting and is a perfect depiction of her undying love for him. But he is too far out of reach, too far down the path of destruction. The fact that he had this specific vision of Padme leads me to believe that his memory of her had not faded. She was resembled here as pure, hopeful, and always fighting for their marriage.

In the end, the hatred for the Tatooine-raised Jedi Vader experienced through his visions give him power and enraged him so much that he was able to overcome the control Cylo had over him and the shackles that bound him. Unsurprisingly, he didn't waste any time to clearly make known to his opponent that, "Nothing is impossible for the force."

Overall, I really liked this issue. Vader's struggles, though saddening, are some of the most interesting to me because of his character complexity and history. I find digging deeper into his mind truly fascinating! This issue was also a nice throwback to the Prequels, and of course, I'm a sucker for anything Anakin and Padme, or Vader and Padme in this case. I've always admired that she never gave up on him and I believe she still would've pleaded with him had she been there after he donned the black suit.

Have you read this issue? What did you think?

Photo Credit: Primary Ignition, Comic Newbies and Read Comics

Huge "THANK YOU" to Brittany for sending me this issue!

New International Rogue One Trailer

A new International Rogue One Trailer has surfaced which includes a new line spoken by Captain Cassian, a couple of new shots, and an additional line spoken by Jyn Erso from the Rogue One Celebration Reel. These changes are great but there are also some shots that have been removed, including the best one of Director Krennic. See for yourself and watch it above! Below are a couple of screen caps of the new scenes.

Thanks to Michal Lee and Comicbook.com for the heads up!