Recommended music: John Williams – Into the Trap
This #WhateverWednesday, we’re looking ahead to the 10th anniversary of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story in December. Check out these trading cards from Topps Star Wars: Rogue One: Mission Briefing!
Since my action figures are still packed away, waiting for a new display, the cards keep coming out to play.
Topps launched the Rogue One: Mission Briefing trading card set in September 2016 to build excitement for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The main set includes 100 cards that cover stories from Episodes I to VI and the animated series from that era, including the creation and destruction of the Death Star.
The Heroes of the Rebel Alliance insert set has nine cards featuring well-known leaders and Alliance members from the Original Trilogy and early Rebellion era. They came in 1:6 packs, about four per hobby box. The companion “Rogue One: Series 1” standalone set released later that year continued this concept and design. That 14-card set focused on new characters like Jyn Erso and Cassian Andor instead of the Original Trilogy.
Today, I’m showing the next four base cards, which wrap up the story from 1980’s Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back and continue into Return of the Jedi.
Facing Darth Vader in Cloud City’s carbon-freezing chamber, Luke Skywalker fights valiantly despite his incomplete Jedi training. Vader overpowers him, severs Luke’s right hand, and reveals he is Luke’s father. Refusing to join the dark side, Luke leaps into the reactor shaft to escape… without the severed hand.
First, Lando tried to infiltrate Jabba’s Palace (Plan A), then the droids had their turn (Plan B), then Princess Leia disguised herself as the bounty hunter, Boushh, to free Han Solo from carbonite (Plan C). But there was also a Plan D of a captured Luke Skywalker leading a bold rescue on Jabba’s sail barge above the Great Pit of Carkoon, destroying Jabba’s court, and escaping. Even if this sequence is a bit wild, the opening of Return of the Jedi has always been one of my favorite parts of the Star Wars saga.
On the Death Star II, Emperor Palpatine goads Luke Skywalker into unleashing his anger against Darth Vader. As the Rebel fleet battles Imperial forces outside, Luke fights Vader, worried about his friends. He gives in to his emotions, defeats Vader, and cuts off his cybernetic hand. Luke immediately realizes he’s following the same dark path as his father, so he stops, throws away his lightsaber, and declares himself a Jedi, refusing the Emperor’s temptation just before Palpatine strikes back.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is smashing records in theaters, becoming the second-fastest movie to make $1 billion overseas. If you’re looking for summer movies at home, you can watch The Mandalorian and Grogu on Premium Video On Demand, or check out Masters of the Universe, which is still one of the top movies on Amazon Prime!
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