There’s nothing quite like being helpless and knowing it. Okay, I didn’t fall on top of 4-LOM in a compromising position, but I’m sure many of us can relate to a point in our lives where we could do little but wallow in our dependence and powerlessness. On top of that, add having to put up with the ramblings of some jerk who suddenly thinks you’re their friend!

As we move forward with the Shadows parody, Leanne and I have noticed the significant drop in activity in terms of reader feedback. It seems that general enthusiasm for the project is at its highest when the subject matter is better known. Basically, Shadows doesn’t seem to be capturing much interest and at our current rate of detail, we’ll be at it for at least two more months…

We’ve therefore decided to heavily abridge the three quarters or so of remaining story so that we can wrap up Shadows promptly and move on to Return of the Jedi. It is, after all, the 30th anniversary of Return of the Jedi on Saturday. I was therefore inspired to mark the anniversary with this Blue Milk Special Return of the Jedi free poster…

It’s not 100% finished and needs some tweaks, but we will probably offer it as a competition prize in the near future for some lucky BMS reader.

I’ll try to wrap things up in the next 6 strips so we can end Shadows and get back on track. The continuity will get choppy as a result, but there are less than half a dozen moments that really cry out for a BMS skewering anyway.

On to more serious matters now…

Want to win a Light Saber Medal?

The Jedi Challenge Virtual Run is a charity run to benefit The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This virtual run is available in 5K, 10K, Half-Marathon, and Full Marathon distance. Entry includes a 2″ Die-Cast Medal. Proceeds got to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training. They also have the event listed on Facebook.

DO or DO NOT,

there is no try.

Understand that you can make a difference for a child like Gideon. He is in the middle of his battle with Leukemia and is having a spinal tap and started another round of chemo on Thursday.

So, what is a virtual run? You can run anywhere at anytime you choose before August 1st. More details at The Jedi Challenge Virtual Run If you can’t run, you can still register and donate!

As it so happens, she is also a reader of this webcomic! Crazy! Mark asked if he could commission Leanne to sketch Han and Leia dancing (in BMS style) so that he could then use it to spring the question. We both loved the idea and Leanne put together the picture you see on the right, sketching it on 9×12 bristol art board. Is it any surprise that Marina said yes?

“Well Princess, wadya say?”

“She loved it, she said yes immediately, and just sat there staring at it for a while. I gave it to her when we were in the team pits for our robotics team at the world championships in St. Louis (that should explain the strange attire and background in the picture that is attached). Thank you both so much for helping me make this happen. She absolutely loved it. We love your comic and will always be checking for new ones.”

In fact, they really went for it with the Star Wars prom theme! Check out these photos of their excellent prom costumes. This is such a cute story I’m so glad BMS could be a part of it! Having a hobby or fandom in common with your partner is a great foundation for a long lasting relationship, especially when it’s on the geeky side and you’re both cool enough with it to not shy away from expressing it together. Oh, the other secret to a long lasting relationship is to be willing to compromise, but lets not get all serious right now.

I am so glad she chose Bespin Dress Leia. Ceremonial Leia would have been too much, and Slave Leia… well… too little!

Uh oh! Looks like Darth Vader is about to crash their date!

This is the awesome side of fandom. Glad we could share, in a small way, with you guys! All the best!

~~~Rod and Leanne.

I think 4-Lom is actually a lot more cute than he is menacing. Although you only see 4-Lom’s legs in this strip, it’s better than what you get in the Shadows of the Empire trading card series where the Hildebrandt brothers mistook Zuckuss for 4-Lom! Thus, they help to confuse casual fans by polluting Google search results with the wrong bounty hunter image or name.

Hey! I know these are minor characters and I know the Hildebrandt’s still did a nice painting! I’m just pointing it out for anyone vaguely interested… that’s all! Sheesh. What’s that? I’m having a conversation with myself? Yeah… yeah, I am. Wat? <-- that's a Vader "What?" from the Trench Run.

Shadows of the Empire trading card #092 – “4-LOM Tries His Luck Against Fett” It’s the wrong bloody character!

We’ve been holding off announcing this for a while, kind of in the hope that somehow it might still happen, but we have had to cancel our plans to appear at Celebration Europe. We had a great little deal worked out with Jedipedia to join them at their booth and cross promote, as well as a gracious offer of a place for us to stay, but sadly a number of personal considerations have made the financial risk of traveling over there too great for us at this time.

I really regret it already. We can’t do two huge trips within 6 months of each other, but if we could raise the money it would still be a possibility… I just I don’t really know where to start. There are, as ever, job uncertainties as well, and we’re pretty sure that in a few months we will have to tighten our belts and adjust to a reduced income. The one perk could be that some of our original projects might start to move forward.

However, I do wish our buddies at Jedipedia all the best and we still plan to provide them some visual goodies to sell or give away at their booth. Also, to everyone else who is attending, go and have a force-tastic time! Take lots of photos and make memories! We’re so glad that European fans, who couldn’t travel to the USA Celebration shows, now have their opportunity to experience it closer to home.

For anyone that was actually excited about us being there, I’m really sorry. However, Leanne and I still really want to visit Europe for a vacation and would love to time it around a Star Wars related show in the future. Maybe if Leanne and I can work some small miracles with our original creative projects in the next year, we might actually have the option of traveling at last.

Some of you may have missed this, but I added two new Dash Rendar strips on Wednesday. They follow after the Lazy Mandalorian strip (which I also happen to have tweaked). I had to insert the scenes or else I would have been forced to insert them seriously out of sequence. I also had to shuffle several of the strips that have already been posted so that the scenes match the chronological order of events in the multi-media continuity nightmare that is, Shadows of the Empire. More like Nightmare of the Empire.

Seriously, I’d like to kick the guy in the nuts who decided to split Shadows across three separate mediums. If it was a chick, I guess I’d get Leanne to do something appropriate on my behalf. Trying to keep the scenes in the right order when there is no single complete source is more challenging than it may sound. Especially when you’re trying to find gags and characters to play off without compromising a scene that takes place elsewhere in the video game, or the Boba Fett limited series, or the novel, or the Dark Horse abridged Graphic Novel adaptation, or the audio adaptation, or the trading cards, or the toyline… or the line of Xizor underpants…

These three strips are meant as a sequence explaining how Dash came to encounter Boba on Gall prior to Leia and the gang returning with him to kick the bounty hunter’s ass and rescue good ol’ Han.

We want to thank the 501st Legion for welcoming us to their worldwide family. Specifically, we want to thank the Old Line Garrison and Eric Grubb for nominating us and putting together the ceremony that made it all official.

We’ve seen the 501st Legion’s charity work all over the world, sweating it out in heavy, multi-layered costumes for the thrill it brings to people young and old; fundraising and supporting good causes wherever and whenever they can. When BMS first rallied support for Emily’s battle with Moyamoya disease we realized how much we could do with our readership, but it was the folks of the 501st that really showed us what a great service Star Wars fandom can be in aiding people who really need it. Now we’re doing what we can to help make people aware of how they can help Morgan, the 8 year old Star Wars fan that lost her two younger sisters in a tragic house fire here in our home state of Maryland.

You guys, the 501st and the Rebel Legion, are OUR inspiration. I’d also like to thank Tom Boone, his wife and everyone who has helped put A N S Sci-Fi & Comic Con together for a second year. I know the benefits from the show are appreciated by the Archbishop Neale School and the larger La Plata community. This is our backyard, so it is the least that we can do to be there and support fellow Star Wars fans and unite as a greater geek community.

We’ve been trying to bring a smile to the face of readers for over 4 years now, with 450+ strips and five translations, we still haven’t reached Return of the Jedi, but we know the project won’t last forever. So a special thank you to everyone who came out to support us at the Friends of the Legion milestone.

Here are a few pictures that will help us remember what was, for us, a very special day!

While Leanne signs some of her work, “Muggy” sits on the table waiting for Vader to return…

Oh look! That’s not Vader! But “Muggy” is happy to be held! Who is the idiot pointing at the shirt? It is a cool shirt though… I bet you want one too!

People just love “Muggy”, even the Star Trek haters can not resist…. it’s futile!

“Making Comics” panelists: Joe Carabeo & Carolyn Belefski, Leanne & Rod Hannah, Christopher Rizzo, Jimmy & Liz Reed, (Sarah Hoppes not pictured).

Some guy named Frank Cho who was sitting beside us.

The Old Line Garrison’s finest, along with a cool Rebel Pilot.

A pretty plaque and our shiny badges!

Thanks to Thomas “Muggy” Gatto, Geoffrey “3D Render assistance” Padilla, Michael Stipp, Gennady, Vicent Torres, C. Gutiérrez, Mih Paese, Jedipedia, A Toca Do Hutt, A Few Maneuvers & WampaTown for supporting and contributing to the greater Blue Milk Special experience!

There will be a very special Blue Milk Special event tomorrow, May 11th!

Leanne and I will be at the at the ANS Sci-Fi & Comic-Con in La Plata, Maryland where the Old Line Garrison will be honoring us as Friends of the 501st Legion!

Wow! This is something we are very excited about as we have made friends among the Empire City Garrison during New York Comic Con back in 2010 and have got to know many 501st Legion Blue Milk Special readers from all over the world. The Old Line Garrison is in our neighborhood and it’s a great feeling being a part of a geek community that put their hobby to use so it benefits those in need. From fundraising to simply putting a smile on someone’s face, it is a great cause to be associated with.

Obviously, we would truly appreciate the attendance of any supporters who can make it to the show. Leanne and I will also be part of a panel called “How to Make Your Own Comics”. The discussion is intended to cover topics that might be of interest to young creative people who are interested in getting into the comics business, or would like to self publish their work. I’m not sure how much I will get to share with the audience, so I expect I will end up putting a blog together at my professional website that goes into juicy detail.

Along with ourselves, guests at the ANS Sci-Fi & Comic-Con include Frank Cho and the 501st Legion’s Old Line Garrison. This is a small, single day show — Saturday only. Doors open at 10am and close at 3pm. Between ourselves and the Old Line Garrison we will ensure that there is a strong Star Wars presence at the show. Come on down and get a photo with Star Wars characters, or Leanne and myself. Get a sketch of your very own. Pick up a free glossy full color BMS promo card or two!

If you’re in the region and don’t have plans for Saturday then round up your friends, jump in a car and come see us. We’ll make sure you leave with something special!

Oh, and I made this little Motti strip the other day after contemplating what a great job Richard LeParmentier did in the role. It’s a sad loss for everyone who had never met him, including ourselves. This new strip is now part of our Blue Milk Special Death Star conference room scene parody. Click to see it full size.

We also had our photo taken with the piece of art that we worked on for Morgan, the little girl from Frederick, Maryland who lost both her younger sisters in a tragic house fire last month. Morgan is just 8 years old and happens to be a Star Wars fan. When Eric Grubb, a friend of ours from the 501st Legion’s Old Line Garrison let us know about their effort to rally up Star Wars goodies to donate to Morgan, we not only wanted to help pass along the message to our readers, but give something to Morgan of our own. The illustration is of four of her favorite characters from Star Wars. We hope she will like it.

Please, if anyone out there has anything they would like to donate, and can get it to the Old Line Garrison within the week, please do so by contacting the coordinator, Emily Zalewski.

Here I am, sporting Eric’s AT-ST driver helmet! One of the highlights of the day!

There will be a very special Blue Milk Special event this coming Saturday, May 11th! Leanne and I will be at the at the ANS Sci-Fi & Comic-Con in La Plata, Maryland where the Old Line Garrison will be honoring us as Friends of the 501st Legion!

We would truly appreciate the attendance of any supporters who can make it to the show and promise special goodies!

Leanne and I will also be part of a panel called “How to Make Your Own Comics”. The discussion is intended to cover topics that might be of interest to young creative people who are interested in getting into the comics business, or would like to self publish their work.

Along with ourselves, guests at the ANS Sci-Fi & Comic-Con include Frank Cho and the 501st Legion’s Old Line Garrison. This is a small, single day show — Saturday only. Doors open at 10am and close at 3pm. Between ourselves and the Old Line Garrison we will ensure that there is a strong Star Wars presence at the show. Come on down and get a photo with Star Wars characters, or Leanne and myself. Get a sketch of your very own. Pick up a free glossy full color BMS promo card or two!

Show your support!

Blue Milk Special just happens to be a FREE online comic, so in a way, it’s an excuse for you to celebrate Blue Milk Special too! And if you happen to be able to make it to Waldorf, Maryland than you can not only pick up free comics, but celebrate Star Wars at the same time by meeting Leanne and myself. We will be sketching and chatting to fans and new readers. Come and meet us, we don’t bite! We’re just fans of Star Wars like you!

Meet Rod and Leanne at Free Comic Book Day!
When? May 4th, 10am-6pm
Where? House of Pop Culture, Waldorf, Maryland

Blog continues below…

Probably one of the few truly compelling elements to Shadows of the Empire is the part that chronicles Boba Fett’s roundabout journey to Jabba the Hutt (see Dark Horse Comics Shadows of the Empire limited series and Shadows of the Empire Adaptation TPB).

One of the cool scenes is when Boba meets Zuckuss and Bossk on Gall, a planet / moon where he is making repairs to his ship. The two bounty hunters (along with IG-88) and others from Empire Strikes Back have not given up on the idea that they can be the ones to deliver Han Solo to Jabba and claim the reward and prestige. Boba is not interested in a cooperative arrangement, but then neither Zuckuss nor Bossk were serious to begin with…

We will see on Monday that they were not alone.

I can only imagine the disappointment of fighting your way through the mini-boss AT-ST to confront Boba, finally to lower his health to the point that he retreats to SLAVE 1, only for him to escape in the ship. Yeah, you got to fight him, but all that hard work and he got away! *Sigh* Video games…

I should add that Rendar’s comment about using a hand blaster to defeat the AT-ST boss in the video game was an anecdote given to me by Michael Stipp. There is in fact a rocket pack and a rocket launcher hidden in the room for use against the AT-ST, but they are of no use unless you find them!

Notice anything a little different? Yes, the logo is now in our very own font, thanks to a determined little Leanne who, like myself, wanted to be able to offer T-shirts for sale for those readers who would like to support us. I think its even easier to read and has those sexy little wings on the sides of the letters. But more on that shortly…

On April 15th, Richard LeParmentier passed away aged just 66. He portrayed the best known of the Death Star’s war room generals in the original 1977 classic. His death came as something of a shock to many of us who were unaware of any illness. His funeral is being held today in Texas.

LeParmentier gave Motti exactly what was needed onscreen, an arrogant, cocky upstart, bookish and conniving, outspoken and ambitious. For many audience members, myself included, Motti was one of the first characters of this type that I encountered as a child. I haven’t seen any of LeParmentier’s work outside of Star Wars, which I can’t help but feel is my loss. For example, how many Star Wars fans realize what a wealth of entertaining cinematic gems lie among Peter Cushing’s extensive body of work?

LeParmentier was interviewed by Jeremiah Michael Stewart for Retro Star Wars podcast last December and now seems a fitting time to listen to the man who was both gracious and good humored about his work in Star Wars.

I’ve written about our stance on copyright before, so I wont go into it all over again. Just know that your support helps us keep going even when life pokes its fingers in our eyes.

Click here to support Blue Milk Special by buying a T-shirt!. Tees are available in many different colors!

All products are copyright to Blue Milk Special and make no use of LucasFilm / Disney characters or trademarks. Blue Milk Special font copyright of Blue Milk Special.

See if you can spot Richard LeParmentier in this Xbox Star Wars Kinect commercial!