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Related:

• Doctor Who: The Name of the Doctor — Love Hurts … (Spoilers!)
• Doctor Who season finale: A prequel
• The Name of the Doctor: Some spoiler-y season finale images
• BBC America shares promo artwork for Doctor Who’s 50th
• Video: 2 Doctor Who stars chat on set of 50th anniversary special

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Disney and Lucasfilm Animation announced Monday that production has started on Star Wars Rebels, an animated series set between the two existing film trilogies, which will premiere in fall 2014 as a one-hour special on the Disney Channel that will lead to a series on Disney XD.

Spanning almost two decades never-before explored on-screen … Star Wars Rebels takes place in a time where the Empire is securing its grip on the galaxy and hunting down the last of the Jedi Knights as a fledgling rebellion against the Empire is taking shape.

Casting has not been announced. Fans attending Star Wars Celebration Europe will get an exclusive first look at Rebels.

Simon Kinberg — reported to be consulting on the script for the next Star Wars movie – is executive producer and wrote the pilot. Star Wars: The Clone Wars supervising director Dave Filoni is serving as executive producer, as is Greg Weisman (Young Justice, Gargoyles).

The full official Disney-Lucasfilm statement appears below:

Production has begun on Star Wars Rebels, an exciting, all-new animated television series based on one of the greatest entertainment franchises of all time.  Scheduled to premiere in fall 2014 as a one-hour special telecast on Disney Channel, it will be followed by a series on Disney XD channels around the world.

Leading the development of the series is a creative team of exceptional talent. Screenwriter/producer Simon Kinberg (X-Men: First Class, Sherlock Holmes, Mr. & Mrs. Smith) is an executive producer on Star Wars Rebels and will write the premiere episode. He is joined by Dave Filoni as executive producer, who served as supervising director of the ®Emmy nominatedStar Wars: The Clone Wars since 2008. Executive producer Greg Weisman brings with him a wealth of animation experience with credits such as Young Justice, The Spectacular Spider-Manand Gargoyles.

Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer, Disney Channels Worldwide, said, “The entire team at Lucasfilm has provided extraordinary creativity and innovation for over three decades, and we’re thrilled to be bringing the expansive and imaginative world of Star Wars to Disney XD’s viewers.”

“I couldn’t be more excited to explore new corners of the Star Wars universe,” said Kathleen Kennedy, president, Lucasfilm. “I think Star Wars Rebels will capture the look, feel and fun that both kids and their parents love about Star Wars.”

The action-filled series is set between the events of Episode III and IV – an era spanning almost two decades never-before explored on-screen. Star Wars Rebels takes place in a time where the Empire is securing its grip on the galaxy and hunting down the last of the Jedi Knights as a fledgling rebellion against the Empire is taking shape. Details about the show are a closely guarded secret at this point.

Star Wars Rebels will be produced by Lucasfilm Animation, featuring many of the key talents that made Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Fans attending Star Wars Celebration Europe (http://www.starwarscelebration.eu/) will be the first to get an exclusive look at the new series. Casting will be announced at a later date. More information about this developing project will be found on www.StarWars.com and on Facebook at facebook.com/starwarsrebels.

Action Comics #400 – May 1971

Cover art by Neal Adams and Dick Giordano

Action Comics #400 – May 1971

The legendary Neal Adams is going to be attending the 2013 Phoenix Comicon and this is one artist you need to ensure you visit during the big event. Mr. Adams is responsible for some of the most iconic and “relevant” comic book art of all time – especially during his run on the DC Comics’ Green Lantern/Green Arrow series of the early-seventies.

So you are probably asking yourself, “If the Neal Adams Green Lantern/Green Arrow books are so iconic, why are you showcasing a Superman comic with an ape?” Ah, first, because I love ape covers! Second, because it leads in to my mentioning that Mr. Adams (together with renowned fantasy artist Boris Vallejo) was also responsible for a series of Tarzan paperback book covers in the late-seventies and that he is one of the greatest Ape-Man artists ever.

So behold the classic “anniversary” comic cover of Action Comics #400, with the story titled, “My Son… Is He Man or Beast?” A question I’m sure every parent of a young boy has asked at some point. In this case Supes is actually only the “guardian” of the young man, but dealing with an angry teen is still a heroic task nonetheless.

If you are interested in more of Neal Adams incredible art, you can visit his official page at NealAdams.com or check out a library of his DC Comic covers at their Wiki Page. Plan to meet Mr. Adams at Comicon and tell him NERDVANA sent you!

Following the season finale of Doctor Who on Saturday, BBC America released a promotional image on Twitter for the 50th anniversary special episode, set to air Nov. 23.

Beasts of the Southern Wild won the Ray Bradbury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation at the Nebula Awards on Saturday, beating out The Avengers, The Cabin in the Woods, The Hunger Games, John Carter and Looper for one of science fiction’s most prestigious honors.

Kim Stanley Robinson’s 2312 was named best novel, Nancy Kress’ After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall best novella and Andy Duncan’s Close Encounters best novelette.

See Tor.com for a more complete list of winners in other categories.

What happens when a time traveler crosses his own personal timeline and goes where he should never, ever go? In “The Name of the Doctor,” the Doctor’s greatest secret is revealed (though it isn’t what you think), and the stage is set for the Nov. 23 50th anniversary special episode of Doctor Who.

Several spoilers ahead!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Doctor Simeon, aka The Great Intelligence, forces the Doctor’s hand by drawing him and his friends to the ominous fields of Trenzalore and asking him the ultimate question. Victorian misfits Vastra, Jenny and Strax return to move the plot along, as does the dataghost of River Song. Alex Kingston and Matt Smith have one of their most powerful moments together here — possibly the greatest since her character debuted with David Tennant in “Silence in the Library” — and we are left to believe their great time-crossed love story may finally have reached the end. But her role is crucial and complicated, as usual.

Saying the last Time Lord’s true name is the only way to open his tomb, which Simeon (played again masterfully by Richard E. Grant) wants very badly. He is willing to die to destroy the Doctor, whom he calls “the slaughterer of the billion,” and his revenge involves destroying every incarnation of his foe by retracing his long and stories path from Gallifrey to Trenzalore.

The Silence didn’t want the Doctor to live to see this moment. Does that mean they were the good guys after all? Or was it a bluff, an elaborate use of reverse psychology?

Here, the nature of Clara’s mysterious ubiquity is revealed. It is a surprisingly simple, sweet and heroic destiny driven by a sacrifice that more than matches the cold motives of The Great Intelligence. Following her outstanding performance in the previous episode, Jenna-Louise Coleman dials it back a bit to let Smith shine, showing possibly the most human emotion the Doctor has ever experienced in one episode. We see Clara’s effect on every incarnation of the madman in a box, but her fate isn’t sealed — not yet, anyway.

And now we know why the grand multigenerational reunion was ruled out for the anniversary in November, though of course Ten(nant) will be there – and we learn that his upcoming return is to be part of a trinity of sorts with a very special guest star: “John Hurt as The Doctor!”

What did you think of this monumental episode?

In the same breath, SyFy is trumpeting the renewal and announcing the cancellation of Warehouse 13, the whimsical adventure series now in the latter half of its fourth season.

According to Deadline a fifth and final season of six episodes will be produced this summer.

On wonders whether the network is still in the business of producing television series. They seem more focused on ending them.

Fun Find Fridays is my series on the strange comic book related paraphernalia I’ve found at comic book shows, antique shops, swap meets, or buried in my closet.

The Monster Squad (1987)

Like pirates? How about old-school monsters? Get in touch with your inner-80s-child this Saturday evening, May 18, 2013, as Cult Classics presents a double-feature film screening of genre favorites The Goonies and The Monster Squad. They’ll have themed prizes, art prints and other Cult Classic fun in addition to the movies. Get more detailed information and a link for tickets at cultclassicsaz.com.