ThePunisherX493
2 months agoRising Novice
Rumors of JML lifter
I’m trying to put the word out there on this before CG makes it official. There’s only one correct choice on who should be Jedi Master Luke’s lifter, and that is Jedi/Knight Mara Jade!
I've spoken about this before, but Mara Jade is unique in that Timothy Zahn holds a rights interest in the character and nothing can be done with her without Zahn's approval. At the time I first wrote about this complicated intellectual property issue, I incorrectly predicted that Jade was dramatically unlikely ever to come to SWGOH. As we know, she did come.
I based that prediction on the fact that Zahn had previously announced he would disallow use of her in any media if she didn't get a storyline that respected the complexity and original nature of the character. Since SWGOH doesn't have storylines per se, and doesn't provide complex characterization, I took this to mean that Zahn would oppose her use in SWGOH. That was incorrect. I can only guess now that it's because he understood that the game doesn't have storylines, and depriving her of a storyline or of complex characterization in a collectible game doesn't mean taking her less seriously than other toons. She's entirely equal in no character getting a "story" in SWGOH.
But while that was incorrect, the extra hurdle remains. Unless the contract permitting CG to use MJ for the original MJ toon we already have contained an open-ended provision about future uses as well, they might have to go back to Zahn, have more discussions and potentially sign another contract.
Now we don't know if this is true. That depends on the details of any deal inked with Zahn the last time round, and those have not been shared.
BUT it's fair to say that using MJ is not as simple as using other SW toons bc of the specific and complicated intellectual property interests that have been formed over time.
My advice to you is, never expect another MJ toon, and if you get one to celebrate it as a particularly valuable gift that CG had to work on a little extra to bring to you.