It is very hard to resist the lure of the dark side, and so too it will be hard to resist the new Kotobukiya Star Wars due for release next week. Firstly, from the pencil of Ralph McQuarrie to the talented Koto sculptors comes the two piece set of Luke Skywalker vs. Darth Vader. This duo captures the McQuarrie death star artwork form all angles and you can SAVE $25 if you preorder this week.

Following the duel theme, is the first part of the Utapau showdown of Cyborg vs. Jedi General, with the imminent release of the Kotobukiya Episode III Obi-Wan Kenobi. Poised in this saber combat posture he is ready to shape up against General Grievous (4Q07). Again, if you get your order in quick you can still snap the pre-order special price of AU$120 (including free Aussie shipping).

Also on sale are the final pieces of the past Kotobukiya items including R2-D2/C-3P0, Slave Leia, and Commander Bly, starting from $87.50. So it is last call on Koto!!!

How If you a lucky Star Wars Insider subscription holder, then the next Issue #95 will be arriving in your mail box this week with a nice big feature on the new Clone Wars CGI series. The article contains a  Meet the Makers QnA, a photo-heavy diary report on Celebration IV plus a heap of regular features. The inside cover has The Clone Wars poster with Anakin's mysterious Padawan Asoka.

How many bad deeds can be justified by one good deed? In order to help his friend Bomo, Jedi Jennir has been forced into a series of questionable actions--and none is more potentially destructive than the one he now contemplates. The dark times have barely begun, and already Dass Jennir is so engulfed in darkness, he wonders if he will ever find his way back! in Dark Times #4.

The Clone Wars have begun, and what it means to be a Jedi will be changed forever! Quinlan Vos has had more than his share of brushes with the dark side, which is why he is chosen to pierce the inner circle of Count Dooku. Yet to complete his mission, Vos must plunge headlong into the shadow of the dark side-a path from which there may be no return! 30th Anniversary Vol.5 Light & Dark HC.

The Star Wars video game saga continues with the next gaming title, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, which casts players as Darth Vader's secret apprentice and unveils an expansive story about the era between Episode III and Episode IV Players will help Darth Vader in his quest to eliminate the Jedi from the universe and possibly change the course of history.

The Force Unleashed takes full advantage of newly developed technologies that create gameplay perfect for the next-generation consoles, like characters moving, acting, and thinking like actual human beings, adapting their behavior to the given setting. The game (in its various styles) will be made for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PSP and Nintendo DS.

Check out the new Yahoo site for an Exclusive Video into the gameplay...Very Kewl!!!

A secret of tremendous importance to the Empire lies hidden on the planet Ahakista, and when a local civil war threatens it, Darth Vader will take its protection into his own hands! But Vader grows tired of this backwater planet distracting him from more pressing matters. For his adversaries this means one thing-death at the hands of the Sith Lord! in Rebellion #8.

Cade Skywalker has done some bad things in his life, but possibly none worse than turning over a captive Jedi--Master Hosk--to the Sith. Now he has come to Coruscant to atone for his sins, and hopefully set Hosk free. But Hosk isn't the only one Cade has crossed, and a chance run-in with a couple of old "friends" may send him on a new path.

Take note! This KOTOR #14 begins a story that will reveal the secret behind Legacy's most mysterious character, the new emperor of the Sith Empire, Darth Krayt

During the height of the Galactic Civil War, Leia Organa secured plans to the Empire's Death Star. Her mission was to contact Obi-Wan Kenobi, and bring both Kenobi and the plans to her adoptive father on Alderaan. Your mission is to track down the latest Mini Bust from Gentle Giant, the Obi-Wan Kenobi - A New Hope. Limited to only 5500 piece this will sell out very very quickly.

Along with Shaak Ti and Foul Moudama, Roron Corobb was entrusted with the task of protecting Supreme Chancellor Palpatine during the attack on Coruscant. This memorable Ithorian is now available as a stylized Roron Corobb Gentle Giant Clone Wars Maquette Statue. He stands 8" tall and has been released on a limited run of 2500 statues worldwide.

So don't be a big Hammerhead, click thru to CaseFresh.com.au, Australia's leading Star Wars Retailer and the best place for the latest in local release Gentle Giant items.

Well better late than never, or is it early? (since Star Wars was released in Australia in Oct 1977) but Australia's favorite movie magazine EMPIRE has four exclusive covers to help celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the greatest movie of all time. Empire’s latest magazine (available now at news stands) is stuffed with Star Wars plus they have created four special covers for you to collect.

Because too much Star Wars is not nearly enough, Empire Online has extra stellar Jedi jollies you won’t find anywhere else. They have got exclusive new interviews with George Lucas, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher. You can check out what was said about Episodes I to VI. plus a Star-riffic image gallery. Tell them Mousedroid sent you.

Well it is the start of a new financial year down under  also known to the little folk (kids) as Christmas in July, but between you and me it is JULY TOY SALE TIME. So, start looking in your letter box and on the internet for the many discount offers and new toy releases. And on that point several NEW Lego Star Wars items to keep a look out for appear to be Selected Toy Store Exclusives.

Appearing in July watch the shelves for  the Lego Naboo N-1 Starfighter  & Vulture Droid Set (rrp $59.99), Jedi Starfighter with Hyperdrive Booster Ring (rrp $99.99), Trade Federation MTT (rrp $179.99), Sith Infiltrator (rrp $59.99), and TIE Crawler (rrp $89.99). All were due for an August release but  have snuck in under the radar for early catalog specials.