There’s been a lot of talk this week on Omega-Level about the future of Star Wars. Arguments and counterarguments, both civil and passionate, flourished in the wake of JJ Abrams’ divisive entry in the Star Trek cannon. And now that he’s currently trekking across that universe towards a galaxy far, far way, most of the debating followed that trajectory by warping from Trek to Wars, going from what he’s done with his previous work(s) to what he will do with his forthcoming ones. In turn, it’s all become decidedly speculative and forward-looking, as we all try to get a read (and perhaps a grip) on what is to come. But before we can go forward, it’d be wise to examine why past Star Wars lent themselves to expansive and exciting storytelling—the stuff that truly made us want to go for the ride in the first place (and, ideally, attract us to the prospects of new installments). For this reason, let’s take a look back at the “long time ago” part of the Star Wars equation, principally by discussing the original trilogy in this week’s Opinions Vary.

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I’m really, really excited for Pacific Rim. And yet! You knew there was an “and yet!” coming, didn’t you? And yet, one of the few complaints I have with it is the contrived “two minds melding into one” trope. I mean, can’t we already see that moment in the movie coming where the two pilots – gasp – desynchronized have a falling out/one dies and the other has to fight by themselves? It reeks of forced conflict. You know, like that episode of EVA where Asuka and Shinji have to totally dance to the beat together. So yeah. I mean, like I said. I’m amped for this movie. I just cringe at this plot point.

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Pluto’s new moons have gotten themselves names. And if you’re a Star Trek fan who was making the push for Vulcan, you’re going to be disappointed. However, fans of Roman mythology are going to be tugging at their proverbial pink bits. Shit — maybe their actual pink bits. I don’t know how you fucks handle good news. Whatever floats your boat. Stirs your drink. Et cetera.

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Oh doubters. I’m namely speaking about myself. All you doubters thought that a Breaking Bad spin-off starring Saul was merely the blatherings of intrigued creators. Well you (me!) are looking more and more wrong by the passing moment.

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Friggin’ righteous. Come this October, Neil Gaiman, Dave McKean, and J.H. Williams III are handling the Sandman. The series will be a prequel to the One You’ve Probably Read, detailing the events that let up to the initial series. Oh, you could figure that out? ‘Cause that’s generally how prequels work? Fair enough, fair enough.

Hit the jump for more details.

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It must be “Hey, check out old as fuck Star Wars footage week.” You know, in honor of America. I don’t mind, though! Not one bit. The latest footage is from Boba Fett’s first screen test. From way, way back when. Prior to the days when Boba was just some annoying-as-fuck clone of Jango Fett.

Oh.

You Prequels.

Fuck.

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Holy Toldeo, Batman. Hot off of me lamenting the walled-in inaccessibility of digital comics just yesterday comes this news. Image is going to begin offering their digital comics as DRM-free PDF files. This is balls-out wank-worthy. Yep!

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Can you believe this shit? I mean — I’m shocked. Christian Bale says he isn’t playing Batman in the Justice League flick. But, I mean…the press surrounding TDKR where Nolan and Bale both repeatedly confirmed they were done with Batman…sort of left me thinking they may (totally not be) back.

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The best part about this video is the delicious irony of C-3PO lamenting the fact that he’s being use to promote something. It’s like, bro. Just wait thirteen years. You’re going to be a straight-up product pimping machine. (If he wasn’t already, I was three in 1986. Much like these days, all I remember from back then was crapping my pants.)

But whatever. Hit the jump for some groovy C-3PO rhymes.

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I’m with Brian K. Vaughan in thinking that digital distribution may be the best thing to happen to mainstream comics. However, it may also have been what plunged me into comic book-ennui for the first half of this year.

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