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Artist Clinton Felker has given some of the Star Wars universe's most iconic characters a bushido makeover. Check out his takes on Darth Vader, Yoda, the stormtroopers, and that notorious ronin Boba Fett. The only thing we're missing here is Oni The Hutt.

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We've seen kaiju inserted into yard sale paintings and vampiric 1800s facsimiles of Nicolas Cage. In the spirit of such portraiture comes Alex Gross' series of science fiction cabinet cards, in which he takes poor dead bastards who kicked it 100+ years ago and repaints them as pop icons. Gross will be presenting a new batch of cards in Los Angeles next month. Here are some of our favorites.

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Who knew Darth Vader was secretly hiding a twisted mound of quivering muscles under his cape? Behold Anakin Skywalker, spread-eagle and plenty disrobed. This veiny rendition of the Sith Lord is brought to you by Deviant Artist Ornia. You're welcome, internet. More »
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How do you show your allegiance to your side of the Force? Is it with your deeds? Your affinity for wearing black cloaks? Putting the title "Darth" before your name? A French burger chain wants Star Wars fans to choose their side of the Force by choosing their burger. More »
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You may not know that Darth Vader lives a very questionable lifestyle off-camera. When not making Star Wars films, the Sith Lord has been known to rob banks and exploit ill-conceived Ukrainian property laws. The intergalactic ne'er-do-well's latest imbroglio takes us Orlando, Florida, where an intoxicated Vader attempted to take a nap...in the middle of the street...at 2:45 AM yesterday morning. More »
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Courtesy of Dark Horse Comics, here's an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at how artist Chris Scalf digitally illustrated the upcoming cover of Star Wars: Blood Ties – Boba Fett is Dead #3. Watch as the Sith Lord and the carnage he's wreaked appear right before your very eyes! More »
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After Odessa city authorities okayed an initiative to parcel out land by the Black Sea to citizens, Darth Vader trotted down to the mayor's office to capitalize on this opportunity to expand the Empire. Explains Reuters: More »
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Star Wars fans have been a cynical lot as of late, given the rather dubious changes to the films' Blu-ray release. But this video of YouTube user BashTheMonkey's four-year-old son reacting to Darth Vader's paternity reveal should brighten your Monday morning. Unless you're George Lucas, of course — you're already scheming to make Dengar Luke's poppa for the 3D re-release. More »
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It's the showdown that you've been waiting for your whole life: Darth Vader vs. Superman. Except that this isn't a test of strength, dexterity or willpower — it's who had a worse week. More »
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George Lucas is not satisfied with turning the puppet Yoda in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace into a CG creation. Or just fixing some of the wonky lightsabre effects in the original trilogy. He's going a bit further. More »
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Who needs a Magic 8-Ball when you can ask a Sith Lord about your problems? We're exclusively announcing the launch of two new "digital experiences" Fox is rolling out in celebration of the Star Wars Blu-ray release, including a digital catalog where you can vote for the best Star Wars out of the entire six-movie saga and "Ask Vader!" Check it out now. More »
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Is that a bearded, lightsaber-wielding Han Solo?! You bet your ass it is. This t-shirt features early concept art drawn up by none other than legendary concept designer Ralph McQuarrie — the man behind much of the look and feel of the original Star Wars trilogy. This is just one of over 20 new Star Wars tees being sold for $25 apiece over at Welovefine.com, so check out the gallery for a sampling of our favorites, then go drool over the rest of them. More »
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As a counterpoint to Leia's omnipresent chain mail bikini, comic artist Phil Noto drew up this dapper depiction of the princess in her dad's work uniform (she jettisoned the respirator). More »
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Is Darth Vader a skilled uni-questrian? How does his riding style compare to that of Boba Fett? Artist Mike Joos explores the mythical beasts, and weird bicycles, that our favorite superheroes (and villains) love to ride. More »
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Watch as one brave young Padawan publicly pledges her allegiance to Darth Vader, causing a befuddled Mace Windu to escort her off stage and send her to the "Sith Academy." I think we've just found the next Secret Apprentice! More »
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Yesterday we discussed at what age it's appropriate to allow your children to watch darker science fiction classics. And once your kids get over their fear of Spock's eyebrows, you can chart their height on this nifty poster. More »
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Earlier this week. James Earl Jones was coerced into reading Justin Bieber lyrics on national television. His bemused performance was strange enough, but then an intrepid YouTube remixer spliced his spoken word onto The Empire Strikes Back's big reveal. This video isn't that much different from reality. Darth Vader was spontaneously conceived thanks to midichlorians; Bieber — the genetic amalgamation of Tevin Campbell, Jordy, and one of those puppets from The Dark Crystal — was brewed in a laboratory somewhere. More »
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University of Amsterdam students Daniel Karavolos, Sicco van Sas, and Maarten van der Velden hacked an Xbox Kinect to create this Superman virtual reality game. The player's body movements control Superman onscreen — stretching one's arms causes Superman to fly faster, and tapping the sides of the VR goggles activate his heat vision and frost breath. There's also a famous boss who appears pretty imposing, but he's deceptively easy to kill. More »
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You've seen Lord Vader's transformation from charred stump to cyborg in Revenge of the Sith. But what's the day-to-day maintenance for his life support armor like? Darth Vader And The Lost Command takes us inside the Sith Lord's painful upkeep. More »
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Too long have we gone without some quality Tusken Raider or Darth Vader upskirt. Well wait no more — this odd collection of Star Wars pinups will finally answer that nagging question, "What do Admiral Ackbar's wife's legs look like?" More »
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What if you redesigned Darth Vader, but you only had a few sentences of description from the script to go on? Artist Carlos Villagra (and a few others) tried. Here's what they dreamed the Dark Lord could have looked like. More »
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Advertising agency H-57 Creative Station have worked a little letterpress magic to render characters from Star Wars with nothing more than typographical symbols. They're perfect for those times when you need a formal Vader-themed invitation. [via Neatorama] More »
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In 1978, David Prowse, better known as Darth Vader's body, spoiled The Empire Strikes Back to a cheering crowd in Berkeley, California...two years before Empire came out. But did Prowse actually know the ending, or was this sheer coincidence? More »
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This is one astromech droid that will keep you flying. This incredible R2D2 pumpkin is the work of Noel Dickover, the undisputed champion of science-fiction pumpkin carving who gave us the Death Star pumpkin. And check out pumpkin Darth Vader! More »
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Here is a little lesson that any cosplayer could have taught our would-be thief: Put the costume on BEFORE you walk on stage. More »
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Spotted on the convention floor: even Sith lords and bounty hunters get dressed up for Comic Con. More »
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At 11:30 AM yesterday, Darth Vader robbed a Chase bank in Setauket, NY. Brandishing a pistol and camouflage pants, Vader tussled with an incredulous customer and left with an unknown amount of cash. Hey, Death Stars don't grow on trees. More »
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It's a typical day in New York. Leia Organa's doing some light reading on the subway, when suddenly a cadre of Imperial trooper enters. One stop later, a Sith Lord is using public transportation. Yes, Improv Everywhere has struck again. More »
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When not trolling the galaxy for his latest bounty, Boba Fett likes to kick back in this casual hoodie/jacket combo. He's joined on the high-fashion runway by his dear old dad, Stormtroopers, and even Jar Jar Binks. More »
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It sounds like a good idea, at first: programming your GPS with the Sith Lord's dulcet tones so he can tell you when to turn and when to stop. But how long before all that heavy breathing gets insufferable? More »
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Both Tony Stark and Anakin Skywalker took to a suit of armor to live. Both came around to becoming heroes. And both are at the center of a massive franchise. But Darth Vader falls short in almost every other way. More »
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Darth Vader is doing a little image-control by sponsoring WWF's Earth Hour. He even taped a little video confession about how he's not really a bad guy. So turn to the "dark side" and turn off the lights. Get it? More »
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What would world history look like if superheroes were real? Probably something like Agan Harahap's Photoshopped-revisionist images that place Superman in WWII and Batman alongside Castro in 1959. Here're some of the best, and more can be found here. [Flickr] More »
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There are leaders, and then there are masters. You've got the archetypal Master in Doctor Who, but masters include anybody in a black cape whose minions say "yesssss, master." How can you get some master action? Let us show you. More »
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It looks like Wall Street is getting a little boost from the Dark Side of the Force. Darth Vader and a team of Clone Troopers arrived at the New York Stock Exchange this morning to ring the opening bell. More »
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Captain America wasn't the only superhero to fight the Nazis. Agan Harahap offers his own superpowered alternate history of WWII, by adding costumed heroes (and one notable villain) to famous photographs from the war. More »
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Who doesn't want to pick at the giant scab that was formerly Anakin Skywalker's skull? Now we all can, with the "Birthing Vader Battle Pack." More »
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The story of Battlestar Galactica may be finished, but the merchandising potential will continue forever... even if the products seem a little familiar. For example: A new version of last year's Cylon Toaster, but new(ish) and improved! More »
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Who knew Lisa Simpson was such a gifted little fanfic writer? With the help of her new bestie, Emily Blunt, Lisa imagines a world of two-horned ponies, and uncovers one character's secret Star Wars fetish. More »
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Ever wondered what Star Wars was originally going to look like, back when Luke Skywalker still called himself Starkiller? These images from early storyboards for the 1977 movie let us glimpse a time when the Millennium Falcon was half the ship that we've come to know and love, Darth Vader wore mittens, and Star Wars still had a definitive article in its title. Click through to see the world we didn't grow up on. More »
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