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Important note: Yesterday, I made another thread that is equal, word-for-word, as this one. I'm uncertain if the first one could be read by others or not, since it was a "sandbox" thread (something I didn't notice), but if it's readable, as well as this one, apologies, I didn't mean to make two equal threads.
Prelude
It should be noted, first and foremost, that this present discussion is not without precedent, asit has already found consideration in the revision thread"Star Wars Cosmology Revision - Part 1 of 4: Legends Cosmology Overview" (link here). Within that thread, the conceptual framework and interpretive stance which I now seek to articulate were, in broad terms, already proposed and discussed.
While the finer points and terminological exactitude may vary, the general thrust of the proposal here advanced aligns closely with the consensus—implicit or explicit—reached by many participants therein. It is thus with a view toward continuity, rather than divergence, that I wished to develop and refine this position further.
What is "Supernatural Encounters" and is it legitimate?
There has been, as is oft the case in speculative fiction, considerable controversy surrounding the eligibility of "Supernatural Encounters: The Trial and Transformation of Arhul Hextrophon" (henceforth "Supernatural Encounters", "S.E.", or simply "SE") to be employed as a source in powerscaling discussions in this wiki. Detractors have cited its complicated publication history, its unorthodox method of release, and its liminal canonical status as cause for dismissal. Yet upon closer scrutiny of both the legal, editorial, and intertextual dimensions of the work, it becomes increasingly clear that Supernatural Encounters is, in fact, qualified for serious consideration.
To begin, one must lay to rest the common but erroneous assertion that Supernatural Encounters is merely a fanwork. That is incorrect. The work was officially licensed by Lucasfilm, and its publication journey began long before the Disney acquisition. It was initially slated for serialization in Star Wars Gamer, and later Hyperspace—Lucasfilm’s premium content platform—under the editorial guidance of Lucas Licensing. Its author, Joseph Bongiorno, submitted the same W-9 and CA-587 tax documentation required of all official Star Wars contributors (see email correspondence and documentation). The novella’s overview was approved by Lucasfilm staff, and its inclusion within the broader tapestry of Expanded Universe lore was anticipated—before the corporate restructuring rendered the Legends continuity dormant.
The delays surrounding S.E.’s publication were not due to any lack of legitimacy or quality, but rather a confluence of external factors, chief among them being Disney’s purchase of Lucasfilm in 2012. The transition in custodianship effectively locked the gates on all pending Legends content. As a result, S.E. was cast into a kind of editorial limbo. Its contents had been mostly finalized; its connections to existing lore established; and yet, owing to policy, its formal release was suspended. In time, the author released the full work on his own platform and more recently, it was issued in print through Amazon for occasional commercial distribution (link).
Here is an important point of emphasis: the Amazon listing itself attests to SE’s legal status. Were it an unauthorized use of the Star Wars IP, Disney's legal team would have undoubtedly intervened, as they are notoriously swift in striking down infringing materials. Instead, the work remains freely and openly available, marked as an “Expanded Universe book” and adorned with similar aesthetic as other Legends entries (see for reference).
Yet for all this, one must be clear on a critical distinction—Supernatural Encounters is not “canon” to the mainline Expanded Universe, in the sense that the mainline EU stories do not presume SE's framework as binding. Rather, SE operates as an all-inclusive framework, one that incorporates the EU, Disney Canon, and Infinities into its own internal story. The novel treats all three continuities as mytho-historical reflections within its overarching schema, and the fact that the last two continuities are described as "other Universes" in the author's own site is indicative of such. There will be a link at the end of this thread to display this.
As such, SE belongs to its own category of Star Wars literature—works authorized, written under license, and composed by known contributors, yet existing outside the final editorial gatekeeping that would classify it as unambiguously canonical. Nevertheless, many of SE’s ideas and terms have permeated published works. Typhojem, the Left-Handed God of the Sith, appears in Book of Sith by Dan Wallace. Several obscure alien species (such as the Shimholt and Rozzum) first defined in SE are catalogued in The Essential Guide to Alien Species and The Knights of the Old Republic Campaign Guide.
As to the author’s credentials, Joseph Bongiorno is no stranger to the Star Wars literary landscape. He contributed to the Hyperspace webspace, edited Star Wars content for Sequart, and was long involved in efforts to harmonize the EU’s sprawling mythos. More on his background can be found on his Wookieepedia entry.
For those who remain in doubt, primary sources on all the aforementioned contents are available—emails with Lucasfilm, production histories, editorial endorsements, and more—can be consulted here:
Does SE meet the criteria for inclusion in the wiki?
As stipulated under Section: Inclusion of Verses, particularly Point 1, the Wiki accepts self-published works provided that they have attained a demonstrable level of notability. Supernatural Encounters is indeed self-published, yet this in no way undermines its legitimacy, as it is an officially licensed publication bearing the imprimatur of Lucasfilm's prior endorsement and oversight. The work is sometimes distributed commercially through Amazon (cf. Amazon Listing) and freely online in the author's website and has been recognized in the fandom. Its visibility and acknowledgment across various corners of the Star Wars community surpass the minimum bar of notability required of self-published sources.
Under Point 2 of the same section, it is prohibited to admit personal works authored by individuals from within the versus debating community unless said works have been officially published by a reputable entity with widespread recognition. While Joseph Bongiorno is known in fan circles, he has been formally engaged with Lucasfilm for editorial and archival purposes, and his other contributions—such as the Legends timeline and other canonical guides—are documented and verifiable (cf. Wookiepedia Biography). Furthermore, the emails between Mr. Bongiorno and Lucasfilm representatives (cf. Google Drive - Correspondence between them) further affirm the novel’s official licensing, prior editorial collaboration, and intended place within the Star Wars Expanded Universe. These factors distinguish Supernatural Encounters from works prohibited under Point 2, rendering it a legitimate case for inclusion.
Under Point 3, the rules advise a case-by-case evaluation of works from smaller publishers. Once more, it must be noted (since this is literally the most important thing in this whole proposal) that although Supernatural Encounters was eventually published under Joe Bongiorno’s imprint, it was originally sanctioned and greenlit within the corporate infrastructure of Lucasfilm Publishing prior to the Disney acquisition of the franchise. Its publication was delayed due to corporate restructuring and the EU/Canon split in 2014 (Explained in the first three paragraphs of Wookiepedia's article on "Legends"), but this delay does not negate the work’s licensure or its production under Lucasfilm's auspices. As such, Supernatural Encounters surpasses the notability threshold expected of minor-publisher works.
As to the Determination of Notability, Point 2 clearly demands that the work be “reasonably notable or popular outside of the versus debating communities.” In that regard, Supernatural Encounters enjoys recognition beyond powerscaling forums. It is actively discussed on long-standing lore preservation channels, such as Stupendous Wave, who has 1.67M subscribers (Examples found here), and referenced in association with other officially published materials like Book of the Sith, The Essential Chronology, and The New Essential Guide to Alien Species—all of which have incorporated elements from Bongiorno’s work and world-building.
As outlined in Point 4 of the Inclusion of Verses section, works created solely for powerscaling are to be excluded. Very clearly, Supernatural Encounters, is not a verse made for such, it is a "mythopoetic" narrative meant to elaborate the origin of the Star Wars mythos, and was in production far before the creation of the "formal" VS community. The story’s thematic and literary aims lie primarily in mythopoeia and philosophical lore expansion, not in tiering.
Finally, though Supernatural Encounters recognizes the entirety of the Star Wars Expanded Universe, Disney Canon and Infinities as canon to itself, the inverse is not true. The novel is not part of the mainline EU canon, nor does it force its narrative assertions upon the broader corpus. This posture of deferential compatibility ensures it does not introduce inconsistencies or usurp established continuity. As per clarification offered directly by the author and corroborated in FAQ sections and direct correspondence (cf. SNE FAQ), the work takes a "one Canon: three Universes" approach in relation to the verse and thus falls well within the purview of verses that may be scaled from, without contravening existing canonical structures.
Conclusion
Making a summary of all thus now said, Supernatural Encounters adheres to the formal Inclusion Rules laid forth by the VS Battles Wiki. Its formal publication, association with a historically significant franchise, recognition beyond the powerscaling communities, and lack of inherent contradictions with accepted rules of inclusion, render it a just and eligible verse for inclusion within the Wiki’s compendium of fictional universes. It's a singular lens through which a conjuction of the three continuities - Expanded Universe, Disney Canon and Infinities (the author himself considers the last two as part of the story) can be read. It is no more contradictory to the continuity than any other number of entries in the verse. If it has remained obscure, it is not for want of quality or licensing, but due to unfortunate circumstances tied to the corporate reconfiguration of the franchise. Its status is thus best described as meta-official: legally licensed, intertextually referenced, and comprehensive—yet not editorially ratified within the final EU timeline.
It is, as such, proposed that Star Wars: Supernatural Encounters be included in the VerSus Battles Wiki as a different continuity for the Star Wars verse that includes the content from the other two continuities without interfering in them.
Agree (6): god_cat, LordVader30, Kenny McCormick 0v0, ZTG0709, BestMGQScalerEver, TegamiBachi25
Neutral (2): Pluto321, Epyriel
Disagree (1): OTG0001
Prelude
It should be noted, first and foremost, that this present discussion is not without precedent, asit has already found consideration in the revision thread"Star Wars Cosmology Revision - Part 1 of 4: Legends Cosmology Overview" (link here). Within that thread, the conceptual framework and interpretive stance which I now seek to articulate were, in broad terms, already proposed and discussed.
While the finer points and terminological exactitude may vary, the general thrust of the proposal here advanced aligns closely with the consensus—implicit or explicit—reached by many participants therein. It is thus with a view toward continuity, rather than divergence, that I wished to develop and refine this position further.
What is "Supernatural Encounters" and is it legitimate?
There has been, as is oft the case in speculative fiction, considerable controversy surrounding the eligibility of "Supernatural Encounters: The Trial and Transformation of Arhul Hextrophon" (henceforth "Supernatural Encounters", "S.E.", or simply "SE") to be employed as a source in powerscaling discussions in this wiki. Detractors have cited its complicated publication history, its unorthodox method of release, and its liminal canonical status as cause for dismissal. Yet upon closer scrutiny of both the legal, editorial, and intertextual dimensions of the work, it becomes increasingly clear that Supernatural Encounters is, in fact, qualified for serious consideration.
To begin, one must lay to rest the common but erroneous assertion that Supernatural Encounters is merely a fanwork. That is incorrect. The work was officially licensed by Lucasfilm, and its publication journey began long before the Disney acquisition. It was initially slated for serialization in Star Wars Gamer, and later Hyperspace—Lucasfilm’s premium content platform—under the editorial guidance of Lucas Licensing. Its author, Joseph Bongiorno, submitted the same W-9 and CA-587 tax documentation required of all official Star Wars contributors (see email correspondence and documentation). The novella’s overview was approved by Lucasfilm staff, and its inclusion within the broader tapestry of Expanded Universe lore was anticipated—before the corporate restructuring rendered the Legends continuity dormant.
The delays surrounding S.E.’s publication were not due to any lack of legitimacy or quality, but rather a confluence of external factors, chief among them being Disney’s purchase of Lucasfilm in 2012. The transition in custodianship effectively locked the gates on all pending Legends content. As a result, S.E. was cast into a kind of editorial limbo. Its contents had been mostly finalized; its connections to existing lore established; and yet, owing to policy, its formal release was suspended. In time, the author released the full work on his own platform and more recently, it was issued in print through Amazon for occasional commercial distribution (link).
Here is an important point of emphasis: the Amazon listing itself attests to SE’s legal status. Were it an unauthorized use of the Star Wars IP, Disney's legal team would have undoubtedly intervened, as they are notoriously swift in striking down infringing materials. Instead, the work remains freely and openly available, marked as an “Expanded Universe book” and adorned with similar aesthetic as other Legends entries (see for reference).
Yet for all this, one must be clear on a critical distinction—Supernatural Encounters is not “canon” to the mainline Expanded Universe, in the sense that the mainline EU stories do not presume SE's framework as binding. Rather, SE operates as an all-inclusive framework, one that incorporates the EU, Disney Canon, and Infinities into its own internal story. The novel treats all three continuities as mytho-historical reflections within its overarching schema, and the fact that the last two continuities are described as "other Universes" in the author's own site is indicative of such. There will be a link at the end of this thread to display this.
As such, SE belongs to its own category of Star Wars literature—works authorized, written under license, and composed by known contributors, yet existing outside the final editorial gatekeeping that would classify it as unambiguously canonical. Nevertheless, many of SE’s ideas and terms have permeated published works. Typhojem, the Left-Handed God of the Sith, appears in Book of Sith by Dan Wallace. Several obscure alien species (such as the Shimholt and Rozzum) first defined in SE are catalogued in The Essential Guide to Alien Species and The Knights of the Old Republic Campaign Guide.
As to the author’s credentials, Joseph Bongiorno is no stranger to the Star Wars literary landscape. He contributed to the Hyperspace webspace, edited Star Wars content for Sequart, and was long involved in efforts to harmonize the EU’s sprawling mythos. More on his background can be found on his Wookieepedia entry.
For those who remain in doubt, primary sources on all the aforementioned contents are available—emails with Lucasfilm, production histories, editorial endorsements, and more—can be consulted here:
- SE Publication History and FAQ;
- Was SE seen by Lucasfilm?;
- SE as an Expanded Universe Work;
- Email and licensing documentation;
Does SE meet the criteria for inclusion in the wiki?
As stipulated under Section: Inclusion of Verses, particularly Point 1, the Wiki accepts self-published works provided that they have attained a demonstrable level of notability. Supernatural Encounters is indeed self-published, yet this in no way undermines its legitimacy, as it is an officially licensed publication bearing the imprimatur of Lucasfilm's prior endorsement and oversight. The work is sometimes distributed commercially through Amazon (cf. Amazon Listing) and freely online in the author's website and has been recognized in the fandom. Its visibility and acknowledgment across various corners of the Star Wars community surpass the minimum bar of notability required of self-published sources.
Under Point 2 of the same section, it is prohibited to admit personal works authored by individuals from within the versus debating community unless said works have been officially published by a reputable entity with widespread recognition. While Joseph Bongiorno is known in fan circles, he has been formally engaged with Lucasfilm for editorial and archival purposes, and his other contributions—such as the Legends timeline and other canonical guides—are documented and verifiable (cf. Wookiepedia Biography). Furthermore, the emails between Mr. Bongiorno and Lucasfilm representatives (cf. Google Drive - Correspondence between them) further affirm the novel’s official licensing, prior editorial collaboration, and intended place within the Star Wars Expanded Universe. These factors distinguish Supernatural Encounters from works prohibited under Point 2, rendering it a legitimate case for inclusion.
Under Point 3, the rules advise a case-by-case evaluation of works from smaller publishers. Once more, it must be noted (since this is literally the most important thing in this whole proposal) that although Supernatural Encounters was eventually published under Joe Bongiorno’s imprint, it was originally sanctioned and greenlit within the corporate infrastructure of Lucasfilm Publishing prior to the Disney acquisition of the franchise. Its publication was delayed due to corporate restructuring and the EU/Canon split in 2014 (Explained in the first three paragraphs of Wookiepedia's article on "Legends"), but this delay does not negate the work’s licensure or its production under Lucasfilm's auspices. As such, Supernatural Encounters surpasses the notability threshold expected of minor-publisher works.
As to the Determination of Notability, Point 2 clearly demands that the work be “reasonably notable or popular outside of the versus debating communities.” In that regard, Supernatural Encounters enjoys recognition beyond powerscaling forums. It is actively discussed on long-standing lore preservation channels, such as Stupendous Wave, who has 1.67M subscribers (Examples found here), and referenced in association with other officially published materials like Book of the Sith, The Essential Chronology, and The New Essential Guide to Alien Species—all of which have incorporated elements from Bongiorno’s work and world-building.
As outlined in Point 4 of the Inclusion of Verses section, works created solely for powerscaling are to be excluded. Very clearly, Supernatural Encounters, is not a verse made for such, it is a "mythopoetic" narrative meant to elaborate the origin of the Star Wars mythos, and was in production far before the creation of the "formal" VS community. The story’s thematic and literary aims lie primarily in mythopoeia and philosophical lore expansion, not in tiering.
Finally, though Supernatural Encounters recognizes the entirety of the Star Wars Expanded Universe, Disney Canon and Infinities as canon to itself, the inverse is not true. The novel is not part of the mainline EU canon, nor does it force its narrative assertions upon the broader corpus. This posture of deferential compatibility ensures it does not introduce inconsistencies or usurp established continuity. As per clarification offered directly by the author and corroborated in FAQ sections and direct correspondence (cf. SNE FAQ), the work takes a "one Canon: three Universes" approach in relation to the verse and thus falls well within the purview of verses that may be scaled from, without contravening existing canonical structures.
Conclusion
Making a summary of all thus now said, Supernatural Encounters adheres to the formal Inclusion Rules laid forth by the VS Battles Wiki. Its formal publication, association with a historically significant franchise, recognition beyond the powerscaling communities, and lack of inherent contradictions with accepted rules of inclusion, render it a just and eligible verse for inclusion within the Wiki’s compendium of fictional universes. It's a singular lens through which a conjuction of the three continuities - Expanded Universe, Disney Canon and Infinities (the author himself considers the last two as part of the story) can be read. It is no more contradictory to the continuity than any other number of entries in the verse. If it has remained obscure, it is not for want of quality or licensing, but due to unfortunate circumstances tied to the corporate reconfiguration of the franchise. Its status is thus best described as meta-official: legally licensed, intertextually referenced, and comprehensive—yet not editorially ratified within the final EU timeline.
It is, as such, proposed that Star Wars: Supernatural Encounters be included in the VerSus Battles Wiki as a different continuity for the Star Wars verse that includes the content from the other two continuities without interfering in them.
Agree (6): god_cat, LordVader30, Kenny McCormick 0v0, ZTG0709, BestMGQScalerEver, TegamiBachi25
Neutral (2): Pluto321, Epyriel
Disagree (1): OTG0001
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