Customizer, toymaker, and all-around nice guy Joe Amaro has a new custom you ought to see in the works.  The artwork has been posted for R2-22, a droid inspired by Ralph McQuarrie's work on the Masters of the Universe movie and pushed through the lens of Star Wars.

Gentle Giant reveals a second exclusive minibust for San Diego Comic-Con. The Ralph McQuarrie Stormtrooper minibust is based on the master concept artist's early design and pre-production illustrations for A New Hope.

Over on the newly-launched Goddard Group Blog, check out part 1 of Ralph McQuarrie's Masters of the Universe artwork.   While not all of you may be He-Man fans, it's still worth seeing because there are some vehicles on there which look like they belong in Star Wars.

This past weekend a light went out in the universe as Ralph McQuarrie passed away at the age of 82.  The concept artist of the original trilogy, the artist took Lucas' words and created visions of a galaxy far, far away that would inspire generations of artists to come.  It is to the memory of this great visionary that Marjorie, Arnie, and the crew of Star Wars Action News dedicate our latest podcast.  He will be missed.

News was released today that the great Ralph McQuarrie, the artist whose brilliance left an indelible mark in shaping and creating the Star Wars universe, has passed at the age of 82. Thank you for your genius and galactic vision, Mr. McQuarrie. May The Force Be With You. Click here to visit his official site and here to pay your tribute on his Facebook page.

Gentle Giant and StarWarsShop bring you this awesome Ralph McQuarrie Vader bronze bust. Measuring about 8 inches and limited to only a scant 100 pieces worldwide, this ultra limited edition collectible, with the ultra limited price of $1,499 each, isn't for everyone's wallet, but would make a worthy centerpiece for any collection.

Gentle Giant has a lot planned for Comic-Con featuring plenty of the expected activity in their booth and a couple of nostalgic/vintage awesome Star Wars exclusives!