We have now officially begun the Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which began at midnight this past Friday, September 4, with Force Friday. Tons of toys and books were officially revealed and went on sale for the first time, with throngs of Star Wars fans lining up in queues of thousands, just for an opportunity to be among the first to own The Force Awakens merchandise. Often overlooked and undervalued in a global event such as this, is the promotional artwork for the film. Don’t get me wrong, many Star Wars fans thoroughly enjoy and even collect the film’s art and official movie posters, but usually, they aren’t high on the priority list…for most fans.
Thankfully, we were inundated with a veritable plethora of new Star Wars: The Force Awakens artwork, which has served to hype the anticipation for the film, even further…as if that was even a possibility. As I’m sure you can imagine, with a global event like Force Friday, many different countries had their own official Star Wars art, which makes the varying selection so much more interesting and larger.
First up, we have Kylo Ren in all his Dark Side glory. A dark warrior strong with the Force, Kylo Ren commands First Order missions with a temper as fiery as his unconventional lightsaber. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, J.J. Abrams revealed that Kylo’s last name was not actually Ren, but that it was the name of the order to which he belongs — the Knights of Ren. Kylo’s heritage is also a hot topic of debate among Star Wars fans, as many feel that the Dark Side warrior may be a Solo or Skywalker.
"“He is a character who came to the name Kylo Ren when he joined a group called the Knights of Ren.”"
With that reveal, Adam Driver’s character has even more mystery surrounding him, which will only be answered on December 18, when Star Wars: The Force Awakens debuts. A description of Kylo Ren from the officially licensed Star Wars costumes, gives us a little more detail.
"“One man, standing by himself in a snowy forest clearing, can feel it. The Force, and the powers of its Dark Side, are welling up within his body. He draws his lightsaber, and three red blades extend from the handle, ready for battle. From behind a shroud of black robes, beneath a shadowy mask, Kylo Ren knows that the Knights of Ren are one step closer to completing their mission.”"
This next poster reminds me of the intro to HBO’s True Detective, and I totally dig it.
This poster is very interesting, and I love the different looks of Kylo Ren as he wields his unique broadsword lightsaber, leading the First Order Stormtroopers.
Next: Captain Phasma steals the spotlight
Portrayed by Game of Thrones actress, Gwendoline Christie, Captain Phasma is as much a mystery as her First Order counterpart, Kylo Ren. Clad in distinctive metallic armor, Captain Phasma commands the First Order’s legions of troopers. A more indepth description of this shiny badass comes once again from the officially Star Wars licensed costume.
"The Empire has fallen, but new evils have awakened. As rows upon rows of Stormtroopers organize themselves for battle, an imposing figure enters the ship’s bay, clad in a shining suit of silver armor. Her face behind a dark mask, a black and red cape billows behind her as she inspects every solider in her Stormtrooper unit. Today, the First Order will command a decisive victory over the Resistance, and the powers that control the galaxy will be that much closer."
It will be interesting to see where the character of Captain Phasma’s loyalties lie. We’ve seen her standing next to Domhnall Gleeson’s General Hux, and she is shown standing near Kylo Ren in other posters and artwork. As we learned in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, the Imperial Officer corps does not respect what the consider an antiquated religion, in the Force. Who does Phasma answer to? The First Order? Or is she the puppet of a master of the Dark Side, like Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis).
Next: The Good Guys of The Force Awakens
Here we have Daisy Ridley’s Rey, John Boyega’s Finn, and Oscar Isaac’s Poe Dameron. StarWars.com gives us the descriptions of each character.
POE DAMERON:
An ace pilot, Poe Dameron is a leader in the Resistance’s fight against the evil First Order. He soars into battle behind the controls of a modern X-wing fighter.
REY:
Rey is a resilient survivor, a scavenger toughened by a lifetime of dealing with the cutthroats of the harsh desert world of Jakku.
FINN:
A trained warrior desperate to escape his past, Finn is plunged into adventure as his conscience drives him down a heroic, but dangerous, path.
Next: These are the Droids you're looking for
Our favorite droids, R2 and Threepio are joined by the newest trouble maker in the Star Wars saga, BB-8. This adorable rolling soccer ball of a droid has captured the hearts and minds of Star Wars fans all over the world. BB-8 is the spherical, loyal Astromech Droid of the Resistance pilot Poe Dameron, and it has long been rumored that this little ball of fun is holding something the First Order is looking for.
What we don’t know, is where R2-D2 is, in The Force Awakens. The second teaser trailer for the film showed the little astromech standing next to a hooded figure with a robotic arm — most likely Luke. C-3PO has had some adventures himself, since last we saw him. Now sporting a red arm, the protocol droid with a proclivity for getting himself caught up in R2’s trouble making ways, has a one-off comic, which will explain the mismatched arm.
Next: The First Order Troopers
The Stormtroopers are back, and better than ever…we hope. These troopers are considered to be the elite of the elite, as part of the First Order. And, their officer in charge — Captain Phasma — rules them with an
iron
chrome fist. The First Order employes several different types of troopers, in order to terrorize the galaxy.
FIRST ORDER FLAMETROOPERS:
Specialized Stormtroopers of the First Order, Flametroopers carry incendiary weapons that can transform any battlefield into an infernal blaze.
FIRST ORDER SNOWTROOPERS:
The latest generation of cold weather assault Stormtroopers, Snowtroopers wear advanced insulated armor and helmets that reduce the glare of icy terrain.
FIRST ORDER STORMTROOPERS:
Equipped with sleek armor and powerful weapons, the Stormtroopers enforce the will of the First Order.
FIRST ORDER RIOT CONTROL STORMTROOPERS:
Armed with specialized weapons, the First Order’s Riot Control Stormtroopers are trained to subdue crowds in the most ruthlessly efficient manner possible.
These troopers look amazing, and I hope for the First Order’s sake, they are a better shot than their predecessors. The new-look helmets and sleek, refined armor looks really cool, and the fact that Kylo Ren has his own retinu of troopers, as well as Phasma controlling her own squads, may mean that the First Order’s infrastructure is not as sound as we have been lead to believe.
Stay tuned to Dork Side of the Force, as we bring you all the news and reveals from Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Next: Star Wars: The Force Awakens Soundtrack Coming December 18