Good Morning Youtinians.  We have heard your feedback and appreciate it. Moving forward, the last newsletter before the new month will highlight our most anticipated releases for the upcoming month in Star Wars publishing. May is quieter when it comes to book releases, but there are still plenty of comics to look forward to.

— Corey Helton & JG Carse

Star Wars Publishing Releases in May

With May the 4th right around the corner and Free Comic Book Day coming up, we’ve got a lot of great Star Wars comics to look forward to this month! Here are the top three that we can’t wait to get our hands on:

• The Phantom Menace 25th Anniversary Special by Greg Pak and Will Sliney: This one-shot comic drops on May 1st and tells a story set “between the scenes” of Episode I. This story will bring together the aspirations of the young Anakin Skywalker and the circumstances of his fate in a way that is sure to give us more insight into the way this young boy experienced the injustices and wonders of the galaxy.

• The Mandalorian Volume 2 by Yusuke Osawa: This manga adaptation is the second volume of season 1 of The Mandalorian. Following the fun, cuteness, and adventure of Volume 1, this second installment is sure to be a great ride alongside Mando and Grogu. It will hit the shelves on May 2nd.

• Darth Maul: Black, White, & Red #2 by Mark Russell and Carlos Nieto: If you want to see more horror in Star Wars, you need to catch up on this 4-issue miniseries. And you’ve got plenty of time for issue 1, as this next issue comes out on May 29th. In this miniseries set before the rise of the Empire, Darth Maul faces his own personal nightmare while on a mission directed by Palpatine aboard a prison ship.

We're all fine here now — how are you? We can’t wait for these three comics, but there are many, many more coming out this month as well. Check out the Youtini Release Schedule to stay up to date on all things Star Wars publishing! And let’s talk about what you’re reading in the Youtini Discord!

Solo Developer’s Game Launches to Phenomenal Success

The build-up to the release of Manor Lords had been intensifying as its release approached. The wish-list numbers continued to grow, and forums buzzed with anticipation. Developed by Slavic Magic and published by Nordic Horse, the game not only met expectations at launch on April 26  but exceeded them. The game launched, and within a few hours on Steam, it soared beyond 100,000 players and eventually peaked at 173,000+ players, not including the other platforms the game launched on, including Xbox’s Game Pass. According to Nordic Horse, this player count is the highest for a city-builder, topping juggernauts like Cities Skylines and Civilization 6. 

Context: Yes, you read the title correctly: Slavic Magic consists of one developer, Greg Styczeń. While there was some outsourcing, Styczeń brought his vision to life over seven years. The game was released in an “early access status,” meaning that while people have purchased it, it is essentially a work in progress. This unique approach allows players to be part of the game's development, seeing progress over time and even contributing feedback that can affect the game in the lead-up to the official launch. 

Deeper Dive: Manor Lords is a medieval city-building and real-time tactics video game. Players have to manage their village, manage the families that reside there, gather resources, and build structures that give benefits. While there is a mode that focuses solely on the city management style of gameplay, in a standard or escalated conflict mode, players must defend against raiders and opposing forces. The game is customizable in how difficult you want the experience to be, making it accessible to many different styles of video gamers. 

We're all fine here now — how are you? We want to know if you have been playing it or if you are considering it. Maybe it’s not your type of game. Either way, we want to hear your thoughts in the poll. Join the conversation in the Younited Discord server where conversations about gaming are always happening.

2024 NFL Draft Recap

In a long-anticipated move, the Chicago Bears made headlines by selecting USC quarterback Caleb Williams as the top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The spotlight, however, was on the extraordinary rush for quarterbacks throughout the first round, setting an NFL Draft record with six quarterbacks chosen among the initial 12 picks. Notably, the first 14 selections favored offensive players, marking another draft record, with UCLA defensive end Laiatu Latu breaking the trend as the Indianapolis Colts' pick at No. 15.

Context: For the Bears and their loyal fanbase, Williams symbolizes hope for stability at the quarterback position, an area of persistent flux for the team. Chicago's decision to trade quarterback Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers last month paved the way for Williams. The franchise sought to provide him immediate support by selecting University of Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze with the No. 9 pick.

Offensive Dominance: This year's draft was marked by exceptional depth in the quarterback, offensive tackle, and wide receiver positions. This depth can be attributed, in part, to the unique circumstances of the pandemic, which led to players extending their college careers. The first round of the draft was a testament to this, with teams selecting nine offensive linemen and seven wide receivers out of a total of 23 offensive players, compared to just nine defensive players.

Looking Closer: As the draft unfolded, the top picks largely followed expectations, with quarterbacks dominating the first three selections. However, the Atlanta Falcons provided the first major surprise by picking Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8, defying earlier projections. This set the stage for more surprises, including the Minnesota Vikings' trade to acquire quarterback J.J. McCarthy and the Denver Broncos' selection of seasoned Oregon quarterback Bo Nix.

The NFL draft has concluded. Check out PFF’s full breakdown and grade of each team’s draft class. While this moves us closer to the start of the new season, there is still plenty of pre-season drama to unfold. 

🛰️ In the Youtiniverse

• The Youtini Show discussed the state of Star Wars in an early celebration of May the Fourth. The crew also talked about goat cheese. You just have to check it out yourself.

• Eric recently explored how to navigate the Star Wars fandom without losing one's passion for it. Whether dealing with backlash from new releases or finding one's place within the vast community, this video offers practical tips and personal insights to help you enjoy Star Wars on your terms.

• The Legend’s Lookback crew continues their journey in the New Jedi Order series discussing the sixth book in the series, Balance Point by Kathy Tyers. Before the roundtable, they also recap a very special weekend for one of the hosts. 

🚀 Ready for Dispatch

• The Lord of the Rings trilogy is returning to theaters this summer. The films will be extended versions and include the 4K remastered update received in 2020. Journey back to Middle Earth on the big screen once again, before the expected release of Amazon Prime’s The Ring of Power season 2 later this year. 

• Sony has delayed Kraven the Hunter and Karate Kid until December 13, 2024, and May 30, 2025, respectively. Kraven has been delayed numerous times, while this is the first for Karate Kid. The new date allows Karate Kid to follow Cobra Kai’s final season on Netflix. 

• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is now available on EA PLAY. EA PLAY access is a perk of Xbox’s Game Pass subscription, making the next chapter of Cal Kestiss more widely available. This is a great opportunity if you have yet to play the game. As Cal Kestis explores the untamed galaxy of Star Wars, players will discover new planets, face small and large threats, and master the skills of the Jedi.

• Leslye Headland explained to Total Film, “The Acolyte is a mystery. It’s similar to Russian Doll, which was really about giving the audience information episode by episode, this spiral of storytelling," With just a little over a month until the premiere, The Acolyte will take fans to the High Republic era for the first time in live-action. 

• The Traitors Season 3 will have more twists and turns to keep players and viewers on their toes. Hosted by Alan Cummings, The Traitors has been a success for NBC’s peacock, adding some competition to the dominant CBS reality TV lineup.