With the upcoming release of LEGO Star Wars 75347 TIE Bomber comes a rather special minifigure. Blocks is taking a look at how Rae Sloane is adding to a recent trend.
LEGO Star Wars celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2019 and in over two decades the theme has included hundreds of different characters as minifigures. In a galaxy as expansive as Star Wars, there is so many to choose from, whether it’s fan favourites or obscure background aliens. However, in order to stay relevant it seems that the theme might be branching out beyond the movies and television series. Where do you find more Star Wars inspiration?
Blocks, the LEGO magazine for fans, is taking a look at some special Star Wars minifigures setting a new trend…
It appears that the LEGO designers are possibly taking inspiration from the world of Star Wars literature. This is actually an incredibly rich source, including novels, comics and manga, with many fan favourite characters actually coming from the literature rather than on-screen. It’s a world very much worth exploring because there’s explanations for some things vaguely mentioned in the movies, as well as background information on beloved Star Wars characters. Some, like Grand Admiral Thrawn, who was originally created by Timothy Zahn in 1991, have migrated onto the screen, but others have firmly stayed on the page.
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Case in point – Rae Sloane. She’s included in the upcoming 75347 TIE Bomber set, and has left many fans baffled with her inclusion. Who is Rae Sloane? Now, while she’s had a cameo in the video game Star Wars: Squadrons, her origins are within the Aftermath trilogy of books. Sloane is an Imperial Grand Admiral who attempts to regroup the Empire after Palpatine’s defeat at the Battle of Endor. Her inclusion with 75347 is then probably linked to From A Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back, where she’s involved with the TIE Bomber pursuit of the Millennium Falcon alongside Darth Vader.
Sloane is not the first character to appear as a minifigure from the books though. That accolade goes to Vi Moradi in 75293 Resistance IT-S Transport. Vi is a spy working directly for Leia Organa in Black Spire by Delilah S. Dawson, and she’s as lethal with a knitting needle as she is with a blaster. Her minifigure perfectly captures her brightly dyed hair and practical Resistance garb, capturing the look of a character who has also turned up n ‘reali life’ at Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland and Disney World.
With more and more Star Wars characters being adapted from the literature for the screen, it seems that the LEGO Group is going both ways. Creating minifigures of characters who originated in the literature, like Aayla Secura, and also taking characters straight from the page like Rae Sloane. It’s really helping to keep the theme fresh, rather than just updating the printing of minifigures slightly, while also putting fans’ Star Wars knowledge to the test.
Rae and Vi are some of the first minifigures setting this trend, however, it’s highly likely they won’t be the last. Do you like these unusual Star Wars minifigures? Is there a character from the literature you’d like to see? Let the Force guide you to tell Blocks on any of our social media channels!