On This Day: September 9, 2015

By Ciaran Duggan,

The first issue of the Marvel Comics miniseries Shattered Empire was published on this day back in 2015.

The series is set between the event of Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi and Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens and was written by Greg Rucka.

This was the first comic series in the new Star Wars canon to journey of new heroes after the end of Return of the Jedi  - and the front cover illustrates as much.

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On This Day: September 8, 2015

By Ciaran Duggan,

A story retelling Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith as if written by William Shakespeare as released on this day in 2015.

The non-canon book William Shakespeare's Tragedy of the Sith's Revenge: Star Wars Part the Third , was one of a series of novels written by Ian Doescher.

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On This Day: September 7, 1993

By Ciaran Duggan,

American actor Taylor Gray, who voices Ezra Bridger in the animated TV series Star Wars: Rebels, was born on this day in 1993.

Taylor's involvement in the series was first announced in a preview video for Ezra which was released on February 14, 2014.



Speaking to IGN about finding out about when he got the role, Taylor said: "The first reaction was, 'Oh shoot, I've got to catch up on my Star Wars!'

"Then my second one was that this is the coolest thing every because it's Star Wars! It already has a built in fanbase, which is different than, say, another show that you get and you kind of have to build it up and hope people accept you along with the whole thing.

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On This Day: September 6, 2011

By Ciaran Duggan,

The first entry in the Thrawn Trilogy - Heir to the Empire - was republished for its 20th year anniversary on this day in 2011.  The 20th anniversary edition included a new cover and annotations from author Timothy Zahn.

Heir to the Empire was first published by publishing company Bantam Spectra in June 1991.  It was later adapted into a comic in 1995 by Dark Horse Comics. The narration for the later abridged audio book was provided by Denis Lawson, the actor who portrayed Wedge Antilles.

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On This Day: September 5, 2000

By Ciaran Duggan

A book which delved into the 'art' of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace was published on this day back in 2000.

The Art of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, which was published by Del Rey, featured conceptual illustrations, sequential art and fully executed paintings from the first film of the Prequel trilogy.

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On This Day: September 4, 2015

By Ciaran Duggan,

A Star Wars merchandising event named Force Friday was held for the first time on this day back in 2015.

The original event was set up as part of a celebration of the release of Star Wars: Episode VII  - The Force Awakens and featured the dispatch of the film's toy and action-figure line.

A number of new novels and reference books were also published as part of the Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens initiative - book and comic series which featured content related to Episode VII.

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On This Day: September 3, 2009

By Ciaran Duggan,

A young-readers book based on a story arc from Star Wars: The Clone Wars TV series was released on this day back in 2009.

The Clone Wars: The Holocron Heist was based on a season two episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, an episode by the same name.

It was released a month earlier than the TV episode which aired on Cartoon Network  on October 2, 2009.

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On This Day: August 4, 1992

By Ciaran Duggan,

Dark Horse published the first issue of the Classic Star Wars comic series on this day in 1992. 

This particular Classic series was reformatted and colored reprints of the Star Wars daily newspaper strip by Archie Goodwin and Al Williamson from the early 1980s.

The events in this first edition take place between Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope and Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back and each of the issues was jam-packed with action.

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On This Day: August 3, 1955

By Ciaran Duggan,

Voice actor Corey Burton, who voiced Count Dooku and Cad Bane in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, was born on this day in 1955.

The American voice actor, who has claimed in the past to enjoy playing villains, voiced a range of characters in George Lucas' hit animated TV series including the Sith Lord Darth Tyranus, the bounty hunter Cad Bane as well as Ziro the Hutt and San Hill.

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On This Day: August 2, 1994

By Ciaran Duggan

Dark Horse Comics published the first issue in the Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi - The Freedon Nadd Uprising series of comics. 

The 24-page comic book is one of two issues, which were later adapted into audio form, which follows the stories of two Jedi Knights called Ulic Qel-Droma and Nomi Sunrider in the Old Republic era.

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On This Day: August 1, 2015

By Ciaran Duggan,

A canon young readers book called Star Wars in Pictures: The Original Trilogy was published on this day in 2015.

The novel, written by Ryder Windham and illustrated by Brian Rood, was released in Australia on August 1, 2015.

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On This Day: July 31, 2001

By Ciaran Duggan,

Del Rey's second novel of the Edge of Victory duology, written by Greg Keyes, was published on this day in 2001.

The book is set in the era of New Republic and Jedi Order, headed by Luke Skywalker, and follows several different stories of characters such as Anakin Solo, Leia Organa Solo and Han.

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On This Day: July 30, 2015

By Ciaran Duggan,

The annual Star Wars Rebels reference book was published by Egmont UK Ltd on this day back in 2015.

Star Wars Rebels Annual 2016 is a reference book in the Star Wars Rebels series and takes readers on a journey with Ezra, Hera, Kanan, Zeb, Sabine and Chopper.

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On This Day: July 29, 2015

By Ciaran Duggan,

The seventh comic book issue of Marvel's Star Wars, written by Jason Aaron, was published on this day back in 2015.

Star Wars 7: From the Journals of Old Ben Kenobi: The Last of His Breed is a one-off adventure story featuring Obi-Wan Kenobi during his exile on Tatooine, as excerpted from his journal that was discovered by Luke Skywalker.

It is set 11 years before Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope and is classed as a part of the new official canon.

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On This Day: July 28, 2013

By Ciaran Duggan,

The Star Wars fan convention, Star Wars: Celebration Europe II, came to an end on this day back in 2013. 

The convention served as a followup to Celebration Europe, the first European official Star Wars convention, which was held in London in July 2007.

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On This Day: July 27, 1963

By Ciaran Duggan,

Donnie Yen, who played Chirrut Imwe in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, was born on this day back in 1963.

The Hong Kong action star appeared in the stand-alone film as one of the principal hero characters alongside Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Ben Mendelsohn, Forest Whittaker, Mads Mikkelsen, Jiang Wen, Riz Ahmed and Alan Tudyk.

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On This Day: July 26, 2013

By Ciaran Duggan,

The first day of Star Wars: Celebration Europe II commenced in Essen, Germany, four years ago today. 

The Star Wars fan convention was held from July 26 to July 28 and served as a follow up to Celebration Europe, the first European official Star Wars convention (which was held in London in July 2007).

More than 20,000 Star Wars fans were in attendance to celebrate the first Disney-led Celebration, which was hosted by Warwick Davis. The English actor portrayed the Ewok Wicket in Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi.

The show floor at Star Wars: Celebration Europe II

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On This Day: July, 25, 1969

By Ciaran Duggan,

James Arnold Taylor, the voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, was born on this day in 1969.

The 48-year-old voice actor is the only actor (voice or otherwise) to have portrayed Obi-Wan Kenobi more than four times in various Star Wars media.

He has even been considered an official "audio double" for Ewan McGregor, who played the Jedi Master in the Prequel Trilogy.

James Arnold Taylor voiced Obi-Wan Kenobi in George Lucas' Star Wars: The Clone Wars

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On This Day: July 24, 2012

By Ciaran Duggan,

Star Wars Insider released their 135th issue which celebrated 30 years of Star Wars video games from The Empire Strikes Back to The Old Republic.

The article Game On! was written by Tony Rowe and detailed video games from The Empires Strikes Back arcade game all the way to The Old Republic MMORPG.

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On This Day: July 23, 1961

By Ciaran Duggan,

Woody Harrelson, who set to star as Beckett in the upcoming untitled Han Solo film, was born on this day in 1961.

The American actor has described his role in the film as a "mentor to Han Solo" and "a bit of a criminal."

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