First off, let me update on the new cartoons curently airing. There is some good news. As with the previous Episodes, StarWars.com is posting smaller versions of the Clone Wars cartoons for those who don't have Hyperspace. You can watch Episode 21 HERE, and Episode 22 HERE.

Also, stay tuned as we'll have summaries and reviews of the new cartoons very soon.

Now for the big new! Yesterday, all 20 of the previous three minute Clone Wars cartoons came out on DVD. It's an awesome experience sitting down for an hour and watching them all at once!

Also, TheForce.net reports that there is a cool Easter Egg on the DVD. See that story HERE

In other news, comic fans will be pleased to know that Republic #74 and Obsession #4 finally hit the shelves today! Stay tuned for the usual summaries and reviews.

Got news or questions? E-mail us at Clonewars@starwarz.com. Discuss these stories at The Galactic Senate.

Tommorrow at 7 P.M. (E/P) Clone Wars Volume 2 will premiere on Cartoon Network!

The five new episodes, each twelve minutes long, will all air all this week starting on Monday! Each episode will be on Cartoon Network at 7:00 PM. Then at 7:20 they will become available online for members of Star Wars Hyperspace.

Got news or questions? E-mail us at Clonewars@starwarz.com. Discuss these stories at The Galactic Senate.

Thanks to author Karen Traviss and the people at Insider, we have exclusive information and artwork from the short story Omega Squad: Targets, appearing in Insider #81!

The art is by Robert Hendrickson.

Below are Karen's thoughts on the story. But before you read that, be sure to order your Official Episode III Souvenir Guide from IDG Entertainment if you already haven't. The folks at IDG worked tirelessly on this book and I'm sure it will be a great collector's item loaded with Episode III content. You can only get it online so click HERE to order yours.

Karen Traviss had this to say about the story:

The title is "Omega Squad: Targets" and it takes place a few weeks after the squad's return from Qiilura. This time they're tackling an urban mission, trying to end a terrorist siege at a Coruscant spaceport. It's not just a matter of rescuing hostages, though, because sieges can be very tricky politically if things don't go as planned.

This time the point-of-view character is Fi. You get to see what goes on inside his head (he's an interesting lad, really he is...) and why he behaves the way he does. And you get to meet Kal Skirata at last, and a new ARC captain. Fi discovers something about himself that makes him more than a little uncomfortable.

It's always a challenge to balance the needs of fiction against my fixation with military accuracy, but siege-busting in real life is often a long, patient game that ends very, very suddenly. I've tried to be as true to that reality as I can. Those who are familiar with special forces operations can have fun spotting the parallels with real-life events!

There's a limit to how much you can cram into 8,000 words, but I decided to add a little more flesh to the Republic Commando continuity, tidy up a loose end or two from hard Contact, and start to look at what the relationship might be between RCs and ARCs on a mission.

And the ARC captain is a little bit different...but I'd better stop there or I'll be spoiling it for everyone. One thing I can say is that the artwork is fabulous. Robert Hendrickson has really brought Kal Skirata to life.

Star Wars Insider #81 starts shipping to subscribers on March 11, and begins shipping to newsstands on March 28.

Got news or questions? E-mail us at Clonewars@starwarz.com. Discuss these stories at The Galactic Senate.

Huge news update today!

Huge news update today!

The big news today is about Revenge of the Sith! StarWars.com has released the offcial poster for the move HERE. As part of the online Insider supplement for Hyperspace members they have posted an excerpt of the Revenge of the Sith novelization HERE. And finally there’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for: the full Revenge of the Sith trailer! If you have Hyperspace watch it HERE, or go see the new movie Robots.

A few sites have gotten their hands on the much-awaited Clone Wars Animated Series DVD. Check out TheDigitalBits’ review HERE, TheManRoom’s review HERE, and GenreOnline’s review HERE. Also, Ain’t It Cool News opines about the DVD and a bit more about the rumored Mark Hamill-based TV series; read that HERE.

TheForce.net has posted the UK showtimes for Clone Wars Animated Season 3 (or 2, depending which classification system you use) HERE as well as a link to a downloadable version of the UK teaser ad HERE.

Some sources indicate there will be a fourth wave of Clone Wars Animated Figures. Read more on that HERE and HERE (for the second one you need to scroll down a bit). However, keep in mind that this is still rumor at this point.

Among numerous cool collectibles, ToyFair 2005 saw the debut of Clone Wars Edition Risk. See a great photo HERE and read a little more about it HERE and HERE.

StarWars.com reveals a Fossil watch based on the CW Animated Series. Read the full story HERE.

StarWars.com also updated with another entry in their Star Wars Artists Series, this time featuring Brian Ching. Read all about it HERE. Also note the link to Brian’s new blog at the very end of the article.

And the Kids sections of StarWars.com has a story on the “kiddie” books for Episode III. While the whole article is cool, the relevant part is at the bottom of Page 1: two Clone Wars storybooks, Galactic Crisis and Star Pilot. Sue Rostoni confirmed that these will be new tales, not just retelling stories from other sources.

IGN.com reviews the highly anticipated Republic Commando video game HERE. Rebelscum.com reports on a Republic Commando tie-in CD single; read about it HERE. And FilePlanet has a demo HERE.

GalacticHunter.com reviewed Labyrinth of Evil HERE and posted updated comics information HERE, including great cover images for General Grievous #3 and Republic #77.

DarkHorse.com has updated its Downloads section with fantastic wallpapers based on the Clone Wars trade paperbacks Vols. 1 – 5. Check those out HERE, and while you’re there, take a gander at their other cool wallpapers such as Darth Maul and Republic.

Current release information for upcoming Clone Wars comics, with informational links and previews:

Tales #22, featuring a story about the Republic Commandos: Available now

Clone Wars Adventures Volume 3: Available now

General Grievous #1: March 16

Republic #74: March 23

Obsession #4: March 23

This isn’t Clone Wars related, but the team responsible for the fanfilm George Lucas: Legend of the Force is working on a new production called Prime of the Jedi, a saga that takes place many years after the Jedi Academy trilogy with special guest appearance by Boba Fett. Two teasers are available for download HERE and HERE.

Note: This was a big update so if there are any broken links or big news items that I missed, please let me know. Also, the move to www.theclonewarz.net will be delayed a bit because I want to fix the issue with the StarWars.com headlines first. That's all for now. May the force be with you.

Got news or questions? E-mail us at Clonewars@starwarz.com. Discuss these stories at The Galactic Senate.