Marvel Star Wars Explorers: Recent Episodes
Brian Rudloff and Sam Stovold
Your two best friends, Sam and Brian, explore every issue of the original run of Marvel's Star Wars comics that started in April, 1977!
As Indy does battle with a sorcerer in the Scottish isles, Eric Ambler returns to the podcast for a triple play of an episode! That means discussion about the finales of Andor, Young Indy, AND The Further Adventures! Plus, Sam shares some recent Sky News, we get some more Ditko talk in, and the gang marvels at the Final Reckoning of it all.
As Indy finds himself dragged into a hunt for none other than Bigfoot himself, we find ourselves once again joined by Jake Beal, to discuss the unsettling parallels between the world depicted in Andor and our own, to enjoy the simple pleasures of corny German accents and aerial dogfights with Young Indy, and to ponder what exactly a "Baron of the Northwest" is.
As Indy finds himself on the trail of a misplaced Chinese mummy, we finds ourselves once again joined by David Robertson, who is more than happy to offer up some fresh takes on Andor, plus Sam describes novel additions to his recent rewatch experience, we discuss the inherent humor in water-proof pouches of dynamite, and we all marvel at some surprisingly Indiana Jones-like Chronicles in the South Pacific.
As Indy travels to Iran to investigate a tower or something, Sam's life falls apart as he struggles to pull together a broken episode. Plus, oh my god, Andor! Celebration! Richard Dunham!
As Buffalo Bill's granddaughter consults the State Department about stolen family heirlooms, we bring first-time guest Jacob Lee on to the cast to explain youth culture to us fogeys (and also to unveil some exclusive Batman Forever trivia), then we appreciate Young Indy's descent into supernatural madness, and a delightful Eastern European romp from regular-age Indy... then things get pretty nuts during e-Words.
As Jessie Hale finds herself saddled with the most irritating translator she could have asked for, we find ourselves once again joined by Lauren Petronaci, who has a surprisingly strong reaction to The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles episodes we watched this time. Plus, Brian has a controversial take on Steve Ditko, Bud-Arcs and bullwhips return, and Sam and Brian share some recent personal Indy news involving a treasured relic that belongs in a museum.
As Indiana Jones quietly relaxes in his study between adventures, your two best Star Friends reunite for their annual review of the previous year's films! This time, they're also looking back on some of their favorite comics of 2024, awarding an ungodly amount of honorary Hoojibs, and attempting a new twist on the traditional format to great(?) effect! And, of course, it wouldn't be The Hoojibs without our third best Star Friend, Kev Young.
As Indy finds himself roped into an ancient ritual involving a forgotten civilization, we find ourselves once again joined by Melissa Thiede, as we dive into Brian's blissfully solo experiences at Disneyland, Melissa's communal experiences with Skeleton Crew, and Sam's recent experiences with a genuine shrunken head.
As Indy lands himself a gig as stuntman to gain access to an artifact, Nate lands himself on the show to chat with us about watching Skeleton Crew with his children, watching Young Indiana Jones with his wife, and reading an Indiana Jones comic by himself. Plus, the Criterion Challenge, Alamo Drafthouse, Byrdie the Duck, and more! May the fizz be with you!
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As Indy travels to Cuba to clear Marcus' name, Barm and Jack both swing by to weigh in the Crimson Jack of it all in Skeleton Crew, to fight off a case of Indy Fever in Peking, to admire the unexpected charms of Steve Ditko in these comic pages, and to revel in the joys of the Smash Martians.
As Indiana Jones... fights a dragon, David Robertson returns to the cast to share with us his Skeleton Crew scribblings, to join us in a test of our collective Henry Jones Sr. knowledge, to determine at what point the supernatural becomes too supernatural for Indy, and to go Star Trekkin' across the universe... on the Starship Enterprise under Captain Kirk.
As Indy joins Marion on her quest to discover the truth about her father, Eric Ambler boards the Phantom Train of Doom to discuss an action packed Young Indiana Jones adventure, but ends up traveling in the wrong direction and arriving at our first reactions about the newest Star Wars show, Skeleton Crew, instead! We're talking Easter Eggs, eighties vibes and juicy, juicy skeletons before eventually reaching our final destination: a truly out there Indy comic that has us feeling nostalgic for the gonzo Marvel Star Wars days.
As Indy wages battle against an army of crabs, Sean stops by the podcast to chat with us about LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy, Agatha All Along, Where's Waldo controversies, and Young Indy's love life, plus Brian debuts a new regular segment!
As Indy and Marion pursue a disgruntled employee stealing cursed artifacts, Ryan Kasmiskie returns to the podcast to share his foggy memories of The Acolyte finale, to marvel at the feature-length sitcom antics of a young Indiana Jones, and to reminisce with us over an era of time when video games were stupidly difficult.
As Indiana Jones and his students embark on a field trip to exotic Arizona, Sam and Brian welcome Jeff Eckman back to the show to mourn the death of a true Star Wars legend... The Acolyte. Also, we dive deep into The Twilight Zone and Shyamalan, determine what soda jerks and Double Dip Tummy Teasers are, and talk too much about modern Star Trek.
As Indiana Jones arrives in Barcelona to search for a fabled piece of Christian history, Cam arrives on the podcast to help us wrap up our coverage of The Acolyte, to help us solve the mystery of what The Mystery of the Blues refers to, and to ruminate on our experiences with real live bulls.
As Indy and Sallah track down the Chachapoyan Fertility Idol once again in the city of Marrakesh, we welcome Ryan Davis back to the show to dive into the exciting and/or underwhelming reveals of the second big Acolyte flashback, mouth bullets and caimans of the Further Adventures, and an examination of the state of debate fans have had with Indiana Jones for decades.
As Indy travels with Marion to the African continent in search of a tribe rumored to have splintered from Atlantis itself, we welcome back John Parton to dive deep with us into the triumphs and failures of The Acolyte's writing, to marvel at the insane asshole that is Old Indy, and to bask in the undeniably strong Indiana Jones vibes of this two-part comic storyline.
As Indy attends the opening of the new nightclub, The Raven's Nest, in Manhattan, we welcome Nate Tapp back to the podcast to chat about Wookiee Jedi, Smilin' Kylos, and 80's-esque soundstages in The Acolyte, then we journey into the heart of darkness with Young Indy, before gushing over the introduction of Marion in these comic pages.
As Indy travels across the pond to investigate an ancient artifact discovered at Stonehenge, we welcome our Canadian Correspondent Geoff Clarke back to the pod to hear about his history with issue 5 of this series, to lament the death of Star Wars, and to Find Our Fate, with our uncle Indiana Jones.
Do you:
Listen to the podcast: Press play to listen to Sam, Brian, and Geoff discuss Indiana Jones television and comics. (Turn to page 135)
Skip this episode: Close your podcast app and reconsider whether listening to podcasts is something you want to continue doing with your life. (Turn to page 72)
As Indy parachutes into the dangerous hills of the American South and/or Scotland, Barm lands back on the podcast and right into our first impressions of the new hotness that is The Acolyte, an elderly Indiana Jones orgy, a kind of baffling Indy comic issue, and Sam's bowl that was stolen from his work break room.
As Indiana Jones investigates the mysteries of the Ikons of Ikamennen with the aid of former students Charlie and Edith Dunne, the Marvel Star Wars Explorers begin their own further adventures with the aid of Cam Siemer! That's right, we're back and we're kicking things off with the first two issues of Marvel's Further Adventures of Indiana Jones, as well as wrapping up the Bad Batch and taking a look at some further additional Indy Chronicles.
As Sam and Brian are just settling in to podcast semi-retirement, they're immediately called back into action for their annual look back at their favorite comic book adaptations, best new oldies, biggest disappointments and favorite films of 2023. All that, plus they're talking about New Coke and the MCU's latest, Echo!
As your two best Star Friends reach the 200th episode of the podcast, they find themselves joined by some of THEIR best Star Friends, Sean and Eric, for a nostalgic look back at some of their favorite memories, moments, episodes, and guests from Marvel Star Wars Explorers throughout the years. Plus, they address the latest Gina Carano news!
As Joruus C'Baoth and Grand Admiral Thrawn try to wrestle control of the Empire from each other, we welcome Daniel Borders-Ashe back to the pod to close out our coverage of the Heir to the Empire trilogy and reflect on the various strengths and weaknesses of these adaptations and their source material! Along the way, we're also talking about Darth Maul, Tomorrowland, and Pokemon moves that are super effective on humans in the real world.
As The New Republic's forces and Thrawn's Imperial fleet race to find the mythical lost Katana Fleet, John Parton joins the podcast once again to debate whether the announcement of a new Star Wars movie is something to react to with cynicism or elation, to share with us his experience of reading the novel Dark Force Rising for the first time, and to describe for us Roger Moore's weird, too-old James Bond face.
As Grand Admiral Thrawn enacts a plan to retake the galaxy in the name of the Empire, we enact our plan to cover the much beloved trilogy that ushered in a new era of Star Wars fiction in our own galaxy by inviting our old Star Friend Melissa Thiede back for a conversation about our recent holiday acquisitions, the magic of Mara Jade, the divine art of Olivier Vatine, and the induction of two new devotees to the Cult of Snyder.
As Henry Jones Jr. and Sr. join forces to find the Holy Grail, we welcome timeless hero Sean Davis back to the podcast to tell us about his recent exploits in New Hampshire, the Star Wars movie he watched that afternoon, and to help us round out our adventures with Indy.
As Indy pursues fortune and glory in India, we welcome David Robertson back to the podcast to hear Sam talk about a Star Wars Holiday Special documentary, to hear Brian talk about his adventures at LA Comic-Con, and to share with us his memories of reading UK Indiana Jones comics a long time ago, on a continent far, far away.
As Indiana Jones fights Nazis and hunts for holy treasures, we find ourselves joined by our most treasured guest, and a bonafide Indy-head, Eric Ambler, who helps us strap our whips onto the periscope that is our journey into the wonderful world of Indiana Jones comic adaptations! We're getting into the specific joys of Indy in comic form, lamenting the losses of some iconic moments from the film, and then gorging on a dessert of Hostess treats.
As "The Dark-Robed Lord" Vader shoots a high energy ray at the solar panel of Leia's spacecraft, John Parton returns to the podcast to dive into the the joys of Darth Vader riding a triceratops, the culinary magic of El Pollo Loco, and the history of 1980's China and lianhuanhua leading up to the creation of this unique Star Wars comic.
As Howard finds himself reunited with old friends in order to take on Bzzk'joh and the Emporium Imperium, Josh Lee finds himself back on the podcast to chat with us about McDonaldsland characters and our differening relationships with Marvel Snap, then the cosmic axis shifts and we all fall down a rabbit hole of Howard the Duck content. Waaugh!
As Emperor Palpatine's latest clone desperately tries to cling to life, we find ourself once again joined by Jack Stovold for a comprehensive examination of ALL things Ahsoka, a discussion of obscure radio dramas and air rage of the mid-nineties, and to finally close the book on the strange chapter of Star Wars history that is the Dark Empire saga.
As Luke and Leia find themselves marooned on the mysterious planet of Mimban, Jenny Rudloff finds herself back on the podcast to talk with us about Star Wars shows she isn't watching, the alternate timeline in which this story was the basis for the second Star Wars film, what exactly a splinter of the mind's eye even is, and to hear about a cricket that got trapped in Brian's house.
As the Star Warriors burst from their two dimensional prisons into the glorious world of 3-D, Sean bursts his way back onto the podcast to hear about the latest craze in online auctions, to get heated with us about Ahsoka, and to explore the oft overlooked and somewhat baffling Star Wars comics of the eighties put out by Blackthorne Publishing.
Your two best star friends turn their eyes to the world of 70's and 80's film, as they pit four different Star Wars rip-offs against each other in a true battle beyond the Star Wars! We've watched and will discuss the high highs and lows lows of Message From Space, Starcrash, Battle Beyond the Stars, and The Man Who Saved the World (better known as Turkish Star Wars)! And who better to join us for a discussion of low budget sci-fi cinema of the past than our Canadian correspondent, Geoff Clarke? All that, plus we're giving our initial impressions of Ahsoka! May the Varda be with you!
As Thrawn strategically maneuvers his way upward through the Imperial ranks, we invite Derek Lavender back to the podcast to get hyped about Ahsoka, to examine the ways in which this comic succeeds and fails as an adaptation of a novel, and to gush about how much we love all versions of Thrawn, be they Legends or Canon.
As Artoo and Threepio search endlessly for a new master, we welcome Cam Siemer back to the podcast to discuss whether droids should be seeking masters at all, to board the Star Tours shuttle for a lightspeed trip to nostalgia, and to finally, truly close the book on exploring Marvel Star Wars published comics of the seventies and eighties.
As Wicket, Teebo, and Princess Kneesa fight repeatdly to save Bright Tree Village from harm, we fight for our right to welcome Eric Ambler back to the podcast to talk too much about Ahsoka, not enough (or probably too much about) the eighties, and then to celebrate and/or overanalyze the nature of fandom through the lens of some comics that were clearly written for children,
As General Luke Skywalker and his Padawan Annikin Starkiller defend Aquilae from the New Galactic Empire, we welcome Jake Beal back to the podcast to dive into our first episode of Phase 6 of Marvel Star Wars Explorers! We're kicking things off by talking about The Star Wars, a comic book adaptation of the first draft of Star Wars, and in the process trying to understand the enigmatic mind of George Lucas.
As Luke and Han answer an Alliance distress call, Sean and Eric answer our own distress call to discuss the final storyline of the Star Wars newspaper strip! We're also chatting about upcoming Star Wars television and video game releases, Darth Vader's friend group, and whether this is a fitting end to this run of comics, before picking our favorite characters and arcs, and teasing the future of Marvel Star Wars Explorers!
As the Star Warriors suddenly find themselves in the clutches of Bossk and Zuckass, we find ourselves in the company of Barm for a discussion of Andor's enduring rewatchability, the insane final installment of the Star trek newspaper strip, Bounty Hunters of the Star Wars universe, and the filmography of one Zack Snyder.
As Luke and Han confront an old rival bent on collecting Jabba's prize, we collect two Star Friends, Ryan Davis and Jack Stovold, for a conversation about recent Star Wars television releases, Admiral Kirk's retirement, the return of a newspaper Star Wars favorite(?), and Jack's drunken scribblings.
As Luke finds himself facing the fearsome power of a Mind-Witch, we find ourselves welcoming first-time Star Friend Jeff Eckman to the podcast to talk Jedi: Survivor and Visions, why exactly it is that we do or don't like Star Wars, and to dive into a Star Wars comic that might be even more Star Trekky than the Star Trek comic we also read.
As the rebellion confronts the Imperial blockade during its evacuation of Yavin, we are once again confronted by Kev, who is here to talk with us about another strange live-action Disney film of the 80s, a horrific fireworks disaster, and the chilling deaths of high ranking members of both the Empire and the Alliance.
As General Dodonna's son grapples with his crumbling sense of self, we welcome first time star friend, and co-host of No One Can Know About This, to the show to chat with us about the three new not yet canceled Star Wars films that were just announced at Celebration, David Cronenberg and Final Fantasy, and a tragic, but enjoyable, new addition to our Star Wars canon.
As the Star Warriors attempt to rendezvous with a new ally of the rebellion, Sam and Brian rendezvous with their old so-and-so's Barm and Sean to discuss Dr. Pershing and Mandalorian culture, the unexpected presence of Star Wars in present day Ukraine, and the first appearance EVER of Admiral Ackbar, here in this very newspaper strip.
As Luke finds himself marooned on an ice world while evading Imperial pursuit, we find ourselves joined by new Star Friend Derek Buckley, for a discussion of the enduring magic of R5-D4, the introduction of Hoth within the newspaper strips, and some of our beloved childhood memories of Star Wars action figures.
As Luke Skywalker arrives in his X-Wing at Los Angeles to attend this year's Academy Awards, Sam and Brian welcome Kev back to the podcast for their annual examination and evaluation of the films of the previous year! Not only that, but they're also diving into the season premiere of The Mandalorian, the release of Quantumania, the gang's WORST new oldies, and Sam's current Marvel Snap deck.
As Han and Chewie venture to the outer rim in search of a legendary power gem, we are rejoined by the legendary John Parton to discuss Star Trek (a lot), movies about Mars, spacefaring cats, and just maybe to get to the heart of why it is that the Star Wars Universe is so damn cool.
As Luke investigates the mysterious reappearance of one Ben Kenobi, we investigate the mysterious reappearance of David Robertson on this podcast, to hear his red-hot takes on modern Star Wars, his memories of reading Star Wars Sunday strips printed in the backs of magazines, and to weigh in on the rumors from 1993 that George Lucas might begin development on a trilogy of Star Wars prequels soon.
As the Star Warriors struggle to fight off an awakened monster terrorizing the Massassi temple, we find ourselves joined by the Comics Curmudgeon himself, Josh Fruhlinger, for a conversation about a shady mustachioed man, the forbidden love between Luke and Leia, the forgotten joys of the syndicated Spider-Man newspaper strip, and the sad fate of a misunderstood guardian from Yavin's past.
And be sure to check out Josh's daily blog about newspaper comic strips at https://joshreads.com/
As Han tries his best to out Leia's new alliance ally as an Imperial Spy, Richard Dunham makes his debut on the podcast for a very special episode in which we break some exciting Star News LIVE! We're also talking about Ewoks with gambling problems, frustratingly expensive comic collections, and, more than anyone else in 2023 is, the Swamp Thing movie.
As the Star Warriors escape Imperial rule into a mysterious field of derelict spacecraft, Sean returns to the podcast to escape 2022 with us into the mysterious field of derelict spacecraft that is 2023! Along the way, we're talking about proto-Borgs, scrambled comic panels, and non-secret love triangles.
It's a special holiday treat! The good folks (and personal Star Friends) over at After the Credits had Sam and Brian on for a blowout episode about Andor, which you can also listen to right here in this very feed! Be sure to check out more from After the Credits at After the Credits (castos.com)
Are we just out for ourselves, or the greater Chunk cause? We'll have to band together for this lengthy Holiday episode of After the Credits. But thankfully the YumChunks won't be fighting alone, because we are joined by our best star friends, from the Marvel Star Wars Explorers podcast, Brian Rudloff and Sam Stovold! With our forces united, we can finally hit the Empire where it hurts- in our lengthy discussions of Mario + Rabbids: Spark of Hope, The Fabelmans, Sputnik Sweetheart, Nando's, and Nepalese scarves. But our ultimate mission means taking on the latest Star Wars show on Disney+, Andor. How much do we love this show? A lot. A lot a lot. It's basically just us gushing for 3 hours. But stars will you have fun listening in on us rave about all the characters, details, sights, and sounds, of this amazing television experience. May the force be with you and Happy Holidays!
As Luke and Tanith Shire find themselves marooned and captured by the Serpent Masters, Brian and Sam find themselves captured by Nate Tapp's charms, as he returns to the podcast to talk with us about Andor as a whole, his comic book focused curriculum, and the joyful sight of a dude in Stormtrooper armor riding a flying snake and holding a gosh darned LANCE.
As Luke navigates out of the Friendzone and into a conspiracy cooked up by Darth Vader and Admiral Griff, Eric Wheeler navigates back to the podcast to talk with us about the joys of newspaper comic strips, Hayao Miyazaki's disappointing son, the unexpected horniness of Fondor Shipyard's Supply Tug pilot, and which member of The Beatles would make the best Gandalf.
As Han Solo departs Yavin to rescue a stranded Luke and Leia, Cam Siemer returns to the cast to listen to Sam go on a tirade against the Jedi, to discuss the unique charms of a specific piece of 70's science fiction pop culture, to examine the similarities between Skorr and another antagonist of Ord Mantell, and to bask in the joys of a significantly better newspaper strip than the ones we've covered up until now.
As Han and Chewie find themselves becoming involved with a prison break in the Corporate Sector, Eric Ambler returns to the podcast to talk about Hot Mon Mothma and bacon, before diving into the differences and similarities between the novel and newspaper strip adaptation of this storyline, and admiring Brian Daley's command of plotting and Han Solo's character.
As Darth Vader enslaves the citizens of Kadril with the newest Imperial weapon, Pacifog, we welcome Rich Handley back to the podcast to chat about what makes Cassian an excitingly fresh presence in the Star Wars universe, to delight in the magic of Tulb in the Star Trek newspaper strip, and to discuss new lows, as we Star Wars Explore a truly baffling storyline about Kunda Stones and turtles.
As Luke and Boba Fett go snowboarding together on the frozen world of Ota, Sean Davis joins us for a super-sized episode in which we catch up on two months worth of Star News (including the first three episodes of Andor!), talk a bit about some of the comics we've been reading and investing in between recordings, and share our She-Hulk feelings, before diving into all the reasons we just can't get enough of our old friend Regular Jefferson.
As Luke argues with some businessmen at a trade show, we're excited to welcome new Star Friend John Parton to the show for a free-wheeling conversation that ranges from the contrasting philosophical viewpoints of the Star Wars and Star Trek properties, to the differing ways in which Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and The Rise of Skywalker fail their respective franchises, to the acting prowess of Tom Cruise! Along the way, we even fit in some conversation about this here newspaper strip, and its bizarre antagonist.
As Berd and Luke plan a daring rescue of the captured schoolchildren being held by Major Rahz, we welcome Ryan Davis to the podcast to hear about his (at the time of recording) recent trips to Nepal and Comic-Con, his thoughts on mutation in the MCU, and his feelings on the quaint and charming adventures of the Star Warriors in a very young version of the Star Wars Expanded Universe.
As Han, Luke, and Mira push the Falcon to its limits to save the citizens of Kessel (and set a new Kessel Run record), Jack returns to the podcast to chat with us about ducks within the Star Wars universe, the various Star Trek-adjacent concepts present in this storyline, and Luke's love life (or lack thereof).
As Leia tries to escape a mining facility controlled by Grand Moff Tarkin's widow, Jake Beal makes his triumphant return to the podcast to chat with us at length about the MCU, to learn more about the mysterious Buddy Helm, to dive into some science fiction classics of 1979, and to praise the strong characterization of everyone's favorite princess from a galaxy far, far away.
As Luke Skywalker reluctantly returns to his home planet of Tatooine on orders from the Alliance, we're thrilled to welcome author, editor, and Star Wars contributor, Rich Handley onto the podcast for a deep dive discussion on everything that makes these newspaper strips special! In addition to our discussion of Tatooine Sojourn, Rich also talks about the behind the scenes work that went into collecting these strips to be reprinted for IDW, some of his favorite personal additions to the Expanded Universe, his thoughts on the classic Marvel comics and much more!
Be sure to check out Rich's work at https://richhandley.com/
As Han and Chewie venture into the depths of Kazhyyyk on a mission to save Life Day, House Petro's very own Lauren Petronaci ventures onto the podcast to give us her thoughts on Obi-Wan, to join us for a discussion of iconic 1979 film, to shout out women in STEM in the Star Wars universe, and to gush with us over the artwork of Russ Manning.
This episode is sponsored by Letterboxd
As the Star Warriors work together to return Gamine to her home planet of Constancia, Andrew McNally returns to the podcast for our big journey into the Sunday strips and the second half of Obi-Wan Kenobi! We're also talking about the artistry of Calvin and Hobbes, some of the inherent pros and cons of the newspaper format, and a whole host of Wookieepedia-sourced oddities from the old Expanded Universe.
At last! Beyond the Marvel comics! Beyond the galaxy!
As Blackhole and his men race to capture Luke and Leia before they can make contact with a potential ally on Vorzyd V, Geoff Clarke returns to the podcast to make contact with us for our inaugural journey into new planets, new perils, and newspaper strips! Before that, we're talking about part three of Obi-Wan Kenobi and a classic album that Geoff grabbed out of his Geoukebox, then digging into the highs and lows of Russ Manning's first foray into the Star Wars universe! May the luck be with you!
Before diving into the next phase of Marvel Star Wars Explorers, Sam and Brian are taking a break to reflect on their recent journey to Star Wars Celebration! And joining them is fellow Celebration attendee and Star Friend, Melissa Thiede! Together, they're unpacking all the latest Star News announcements, weighing in on the first two episodes of Obi-Wan, and talking about some of their favorite moments, sights, and cosplayers from Celebration!
As a car accident sends Lazarus Jones into a coma, out of our known reality, and into an intergalactic war in the dimension of Urumm, Brian and Sam finds themselves outside their familiar reality of Star Wars and instead discussing the limited run comic series, The Light and Darkness War! Along the way, they're also talking about Disney Gallery and some of their favorite pop culture items from 1988 and 1989, before diving into the comic that landed Tom Veitch and Cam Kennedy their job of reintroducing Star Wars comics to the world with Dark Empire. Menteps! Teslas! NA! This one has it all!
As the Emperor's agents infiltrate New Alderaan in search of Leia's Jedi twins, Sean Davis infiltrates the podcast, and our hearts, as we wrap up our coverage of Dark Empire II! He's here to tell us about how much he wanted to see Forget Paris as a child, plus we're discussing what a Star Wars video game in the style of the Uncharted series might look like, heaping enormous praise on the work of Cam Kennedy, and pondering the many unknowable questions raised by Dark Empire II.
As Lando's soldiers and their Viper Automadons face off against the Emperor's deadly Chrysalis Beasts, our Canadian Correspondent Geoff Clarke returns to the podcast to talk sausage, hockey and 90s action flicks, while Brian gives his review of LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, and we all fawn over what may just be the nicest cover we ever did cover.
As the revived Emperor tours his new Galaxy Gun above the Throneworld, Cam returns to the podcast to tour Dark Empire II and weigh in on the superweapons, reused plot points and steampunk civilizations it contains, PLUS we remember the joys of Tommy Boy, ponder the mysterious death of a politician, and get excited about Christopher Lloyd. Also, more Batman.
As Two-Face unleashes a wave of crime upon Gotham City, your two best Batman Forever friends welcome Cam Siemer to the podcast to record an audio commentary track for everyone's favorite(?) Batman film of the nineties! That's right, it's finally here! Join our three intrepid caped crusaders as they marvel at the highs and lows of Joel Schumacher's take on Batman, share a litany of Batman Forever trivia facts, fawn over Chase Meridian, and generally shoot the shit while watching a very strange movie together. Queue up your copy of the movie and we'll tell you where to sync up so you can watch along too!
As Luke and Kam explore an ancient Jedi planet, Josh Lee rejoins the podcast to talk about his recent exploration of Batuu, while Sam explores Earth Mysteries, Brian explores Galactic Starcruiser videos, they all explore the new Obi-Wan trailer, and finally weigh in on the direction of Dark Empire II as they reach its halfway point. Plus, a special announcement about what's next for the podcast!
In a time honored tradition, your two best Star Friends are taking a break between issues 2 and 3 of a Dark Empire comic to heap praise upon their favorite films of the previous year! That's right, listeners. It's time for the 3rd Annual Golden Hoojibs Awards! Kevin Young joins, as we discuss at length our favorite recent comic book movies and TV shows, our biggest disappointments, our favorite old movies we saw for the first time, and our top 10 films of the year. Was 2021 the greatest year in MCU history? Will the subject of Star Wars come up at all during the conversation? How many different ways can we say that Spider-Man was cool? Tune in, for the answers to all these questions and more!
As Han and Leia find themselves on the run from a familiar bounty hunter, we find ourselves once again in the presence of David Robertson, who joins us to talk about Wedge's cousin, a one-of-a-kind piece of Dark Empire II memorabilia that he owns, and to compare and contrast The Book of Boba Fett with this comic book of Boba Fett.
As the remnants of the defeated Emperor's fleet prepare for a return to the Galactic Stage, Sam and Brian return to your podcast feed for the first part of their coverage of Dark Empire II! And joining us from a toppled clone tank is none other than Eric Ambler, who's ready to dive in with us as we examine the good, the bad, and the familiar, in Issue 1. Plus, we finally open The Book of Boba Fett! The Marvel Star Wars Explorers Strike Back!
Ho Ho Horliss-Horliss, and a Merry Life Day to you! Brian and Sam welcome Sean Davis back to the cast to close out the year and to close the book on Marvel Star Wars comics (of the 70s and 80s)! We're unwrapping three new tales this time, including a rumination on the belief systems of discarded droids, an origin story for the Millenium Falcon, and Luke's harrowing journey into the heart of darkness. We're also talking about the newly announced Star Wars: Eclipse, reflecting on the UK comics as a whole, naming our favorite characters, covers and storylines from the run, and considering what's next for the podcast. Thank you for another wonderful year of Exploring with us, listeners! We'll be back for more in 2022!
Sam and Brian enter new territory as they cover two different strange and surreal short stories written by Alan Moore. Fortunately, they have a guide in Jack Stovold, who shares his childhood memories of Cronenbergian Stormtrooper monstrosities, time paradoxes and childish godlike beings. Beyond that, there's pre-Return of the Jedi Vader characterization, our current feelings on Bor Gullet and Saw Gerrera, the latest and greatest Star Wars comics featuring Life Day and Hoojibs, AND we talk about a commercial for a hotel! Star Wars is money.
As Luke and Leia race across the surface of Jerne in search of a long lost crystal with time distorting properties, David Robertson makes his return to the podcast to talk with us about his recently published comic collection, to weather Sam's growing Star Wars cynicism, to offer up some history regarding Captain Britain, and to weigh in on the inclusion of time travel elements in Star Wars and other well-known properties. Happy Life Day, listeners!
As Han and Leia find themselves in the clutches of five evil-worshipping extra-dimensional fanatics, Sam and Brian find themselves in the charms of Josh Lee, for a discussion that covers the newest, hottest Book of Boba Fett trailer, our ideas for a Star Wars action figure-based sitcom plot, and our takes on famed comic book luminary Alan Moore's contributions to the Star Wars galaxy.
As Luke wanders through a frightening hellscape of horrors, your two best Star Friends celebrate Halloween in style, by inviting Barm back to the podcast for a demonic discussion of nightmare demons in Star Wars, to wickedly weigh in on Dune, and to celebrate the surreality caused by a little creature named Reist. Happy Wuhoween, everyone!
As all our favourite Star Heroes explore a vast underground lost city of space, we invite Sean Davis back for the thrilling conclusion of this epic tale, and to unpack Lego Star Wars: Terrifying Tales, to analyze what did and didn't work for us in this nine-part adventure, and to bid farewell to the newest Star Warrior, Mici Shabandar.
As Luke and Leia make their way across the harsh surface of Alashan with some unlikely allies, we find ourselves once again joined by our most likely ally, Sean Davis, to rank our top three episodes of Star Wars: Visions, to hear Sam's exciting new podcast announcement, to discuss the slow build of tension in these classic comics and to address listener mail about Star Wars video game remakes.
As the Star Warriors fly from Foundry in a stolen Imperial prototype, Sean Davis flies back onto the podcast to give us his thoughts on the latest Disney Gallery episode, to debate the canonicity of non-cinematic Star Wars works, and to welcome Mici into A Galaxy Far, Far Away. This episode gets 10 out of 10 rings. And is canon.
As Leia recounts the tragic tale of her training under the tutelage of Giles Durane to her fellow Star Warriors, we welcome Blythe Rudloff back to the cast to react to the end of The Bad Batch and the Firespray backlash, to fawn over our new favorite character, Gimlet, and to take a dive into our deep well of listener iTunes reviews.
As a certain Star Warrior, riding the highs of his recent victory, finds himself in a Space Duel for his life, we find ourselves riding the highs of having Eric Ambler rejoin us on the podcast to talk with us about our Tamagotchi memories, Star Wars trilogy novelizations, Chewie's medal, and the surprisingly deep characterization of Luke Skywalker in this story.
As Han Solo and Chewbacca complete the earliest version of the Kessel Run, we welcome Geoff Clarke back to the podcast to school us on the metrication of Canada, to hear about the latest news on Batuu, to wax nostalgic about the joys of Solo: A Star Wars Story, and to give us his two pence on British Marvel comics of the seventies.
As Luke and Leia attempt to unthaw communications with Colonel Odan on the ice world of Akuria, Nate Tapp keeps things chill by joining us to discuss our frosty feelings about Black Widow and the MCU, to see how many ice-cold instances of worms we can remember from the Star Wars universe, and to let us snow what he thinks about the old-school style of Marvel Star Wars comics in the seventies.
As Luke, Leia and the droids set off from Yavin 4 to contact another band of rebels, Sam and Brian set off on their latest explorations, starting with a storyline first printed in the pages of a children's magazine from 1977! Sean Davis joins to help them usher in the era, to weigh in on the great debate involving Boba Fett's Starship™, to talk about the myriad delights in the pages of Pizzazz, and to return to a time when the rules of Star Wars were not yet set in stone!
As Leia prepares for the ultimate confrontation with the revived Emperor, we revive our old Star Friend, Jack, for our final trip to 1992, a re-evaluation of Regular Jefferson, our dream role for General Hux in The Ninth Star Wars Film, and yet another excessive deep dive into the nature of THE FORCE.
As Leia and the Emperor chat about the future of her child, we chat with Cam Siemer about our pasts in the nineties, hear about Brian's present-day adventures at Disney's Avengers Campus and struggle to stay on topic as we repeatedly compare Dark Empire to the films of the sequel trilogy.
As Leia and Han flee Nar Shaddaa with Boba Fett and Dengar hot on their tail, we welcome new Star Friend Derek Lavender onto the show to have him share with us his deep knowledge of the old Expanded Universe, to reminisce on the cultural touchstone that was Batman Returns, and to hear his thoughts on The Bad Batch and the current state of the Star Wars world.
As Lando and Wedge attempt a daring rescue of the beleaguered Mon Calamari homeworld, we're rejoined by the daring Daniel Borders-Ashe to discuss some truly classic family movies of 1992, to hear Brian's thoughts on The Bad Batch and Sam's equally compelling thoughts on Star Wars: Biomes, and to discuss the Expanded Universe debut of the gritty underbelly of a Galaxy Far, Far Away.
Once again, your two best Star Friends are looking back on the previous year's films and discussing comic book movies, their biggest disappointments and what our overall favorite films were! In addition to that, we'll also be discussing some new(!) Golden Hoojib categories, looking back at The Falcon and The Winter Solider, tackling the latest Star News, and weighing in on this year's academy awards. It's a mega-size extravaganza and it wouldn't be complete without our de facto Golden Hoojib co-host, Kevin Young! We hope you enjoy and don't worry, we'll be back soon with more of the Dark Empire content you CRAVE.
The dead speak! Again! or... for the first time? As Luke Skywalker finds himself being transported to the dark center of the universe to confront a familiar nemesis, we find ourselves joined once again by best Star Friend Sean Davis to discuss Radio Flyer anecdotes, whether the return of Palpatine feels justified in Dark Empire or The Rise of Skywalker, and to dive deep into what it truly means to study the dark side of the force.
As Han and Leia brave a warzone in search of Luke and Lando, we welcome Chris Lantz back to the podcast as we bravely explore the new territory that is Dark Horse Star Wars and kick off our coverage of Dark Empire! Along the way, we're also taking our first steps into the larger world that is the 90s, (baby) in Earth History, weighing in on Obi-Wan Kenobi casting announcements and Jaxxon action figure releases and, of course, giving our thoughts on the bold new direction of Star Wars in the medium of comics.
As the Star Warriors race to the edge of the galaxy for a dark encounter with the foul lady, Domina Tagge, Eric Ambler and Sean Davis return to the podcast to discuss all of their favorite moments from a fan-service filled gift of an issue, to look back on some very recent Earth History, to reflect on the entire original Marvel Star Wars run and to prepare for the next exciting phase of Marvel Star Wars Explorers.
As an uneasy alliance of Star Warriors grapple with their own insecurities and conflicts while taking on the Tof menace, our Star Friends -- HOLY SHIT IT'S THE FINAL ISSUE! Jack Stovold joins us for one last journey to the 80's, baby, as we analyze the good and bad of a very unusual Star Wars issue, ponder what George Lucas' creative input in the current Star Wars universe might look like, rank our favorite covers, characters and issues of the comic, and look forward to the bright new future of Marvel Star Wars Explorers! All that, AND Sam tells everyone about the Oosterscheldekering.
As Luke and a party of Hoojibs and Hiromi infiltrate the orbiting Tof warship, frequent e-Word writer and first-time Star Friend David Robertson infiltrates the podcast to talk with us about his childhood experiences with these comics in the weekly Star Wars magazine, to weigh in on the Tofs as Star Wars villains, and to dive into the joys of the Special Editions and Prequels.
As Luke, Plif and the Hiromi plan their escape from the invading Tof, we welcome Melissa Thiede back to the podcast to chat with us about bad movies that we watched as children, to weigh in on the final Biggest Bad of the Marvel Star Wars comics, and for a deep dive into the physiology of Hoojibs.
As Nagai and Hiromi invasion forces both converge on Zeltros, Kevin Young invades the podcast to converse with us about the various versions of Legend, Dani's descent into hate, and Rainforest Cafés.
There wasn't an issue of Marvel Star Wars in November of 1985, but there was a FULL-BLOWN EWOK TV MOVIE, and we invited our Star Friends from What Were We Watching to come join us to dive into this strange, fantasy romp! Beyond that, we're also talking more Mandalorian, diving into some other iconic 80's films, pitching our own Ewok sequels, and loving Teek and Wilford Brimley. Happy New Year!
As Leia and her Zeltron companions debate the appropriate way to care for their Nagai prisoner, Sam and Brian welcome back Brian's Star Wife, Blythe Rudloff, to talk about CGI Luke, to educate Sam on the history of the Harlem Globetrotters, to discuss the compassion and empathy of Leia and to analyze the horniness (or lack of horniness) in the Star Wars universe.
What's that behind the Life Day tree? Could it be another gift? That's right, the Marvel Star Wars Explorers have heard Kathleen Kennedy's call and emerged early from their planned Winter slumber to address the deluge of Star Wars announcements from last week! New TV shows, new movies, new trailers! Not only that, but we're giving our thoughts on two more episodes of The Mandalorian (Grogu and Boba Fett, anyone?), reading some e-Words, and discussing which houses of the Wizarding World we belong in! All this, plus we brought along our good friend Sean Davis to join in the fun. Happy Life Day, Star Friends!
Happy Life Day! Your two best Star Friends have decided to get into the holiday spirit this year by inviting their favorite offworld Jawa, Cam Siemer, back to the cast to discuss the recently released Lego Star Wars Holiday Special! How do we feel about this deeply referential, time-traveling romp? The nature of the special gives us an excuse to explore all eras of Star Wars, including our first trip to a post-Rise of Skywalker galaxy. We're also diving deep into the first 4 episodes of the current season of Mandalorian (sorry, no Grogu or Ahsoka talk yet) and harnessing some of Cam's podcast energy to throw out our own pitches for Star Wars Holiday Specials we'd like to see. Happy holidays, listeners!
As Luke and Lando return to Iskalon to deliver the news of Kiro's fate to his people, Geoff Clarke, our Canadian Correspondent, returns to the cast to give us his thoughts on the first 3 episodes of The Mandalorian, to explore an exciting new season of 1985 television premieres (including two infamous Star Wars cartoons), and to get hyped with us about the debut of our new favorite character in the galaxy far, far away... Dania Francis.
As Han Solo wrestles with his feelings for Princess Leia on a far, far away and technologically-deficient planet, we welcome Barm back to the podcast to dive into our hot takes on the first two episodes of the new season of The Mandalorian, to soak in the glorious return of Fenn Shysa (and debut of Bey!) and to consider the romantic inner-life of everyone's favorite smuggler.
As the New Republic faces its first major conflict against the combined forces of the Nagai and the Empire, the Marvel Star Wars Explorers celebrate the big 100th issue milestone by welcoming back two of our favorite Star Friends, Eric Ambler and Sean Davis! It's a double-sized issue and it warrants a double-sized discussion, in which we tackle another gargantuan Summer of 80's Movies, learn about the cultural significance of Live Aid, react IN REAL TIME to the newest Mando trailer, weigh in on Bey's accelerated, but emotionally satisfying role in this issue and so much MORE! Thanks for sticking with us for 100 issues, Star Friends! Here's to 100 more!
As the Star Warriors race across the galaxy to save a planet on the verge of death, Gensho Tasaka races back to our podcast studio to weigh in on whether or not J.J. Abrams successfully landed the plane, to ponder the absence of Asian actors in American cinema of the 80s, and to react to the ICONIC debut of the latest addition to these pages, Bey.
As Han Solo finds himself in the unexpected position of babysitting two children and escorting them on behalf of a mining guild, we find ourselves in the unexpected position of having Eric Wheeler take over the podcast for an episode to unleash his thoughts on The Rise of Skywalker and The Mandalorian, to school us on the art of Gymkata, and to marvel with us at the long-awaited return of Archie Goodwin.
As Luke and Kiro attempt to rescue Dani from the clutches of the Nagai, we welcome a new Star Friend, Ariel Quist-Sprawls, to the podcast to discuss New Coke's effect on our lives, to compare what we all had for dinner, to discuss our favorite and least favorite interpretations of the force, and to debate which Nagai has the best hair.
As Kiro attempts a daring rescue of an injured Luke on the desolate world Kinooine, we welcome back two returning champions, Chris Lantz and Jack Stovold to talk about the shocking revelations regarding Lumiya's identity, the upcoming adventures of the Lego Star Warriors, and the states of the Star Wars world in 1985 and 2020.
As Luke finds himself on the hostile world of Kinooine, facing his most formidable foe since Darth Vader and the Emperor, we find ourselves facing some of our favorite Star Friends, Cam Siemer and Sean Davis, for a lengthy and spirited discussion covering such diverse topics as the rumored (and definitely real) Lucas Cut of Episode IX, the exciting reintroduction of the Dark Lady Lumiya and the incredible art of Cynthia Martin, plus we read an enormous e-Word that has us ranking the Terminators and delving into the nature of force sensitivity.
As the Alliance grapples with a potential civil war between its two most adorable members, we welcome Eric Ambler, Dark Horse Star Wars Explorer and the original Star Friend, back to the pod to weigh in on the uncertain future of Star Wars in the mid-eighties and today, to hear his thoughts on the stunning cinema of January 1985, to celebrate the debut of Cynthia Martin in these pages, and to address a bounty of e-Words.
As Luke, Han and Leia unravel a dastardly plot unfolding on Cantros 7, we're rejoined by Star Friend (and creator of our theme song!) Daren Sprawls to talk about whether or not cat-like aliens belong in the Star Wars universe, to find out which internet cat celebrities Sam follows on social media, and to dive into the dense mythology of Grimalkians, the fierce anthropomorphic cat people of a future South America. Cats, cats, CATS!
As Luke struggles to understand the meaning of the dreams that have been plaguing him, Sean Davis makes Sam and Brian's dreams come true by returning to the podcast to discuss A Nightmare on Elm Street's release, the thematic reflections of Kylo Ren in this issue, and the triumphant and long-awaited return of Flint and Barney.
As Han, Lando and Chewie uncover a sinister plot unfolding on Kazhyyyk, Sam and Brian welcome Eric Deutsch back to the pod to give their hot takes on Jedi Temple Challenge, to discuss the excitement of getting a post-Holiday Special glimpse at the Wookiee homeworld, and to examine just how much Wookiee "dialogue" is too much. They find that it's never too much. GRONK!
As Luke and Leia catch up and share their feelings about the state of the Alliance, Nate Tapp catches up with us to share his feelings on a post-Return of the Jedi world, to examine Luke and Leia's place in the Skywalker legacy and to tell us who his favorite Muppet is.
As Luke finds himself being tempted by the dark side of the force during a planetary revolution, we find ourselves tempted by Jack Stovold's wiles, as he joins us to talk about one of his favorite Marvel Star Wars issues, to warn us about the dangers of naturally occurring poison gas, to react to the rapidly expanding Star Wars television universe with us and to SEE US IN THE THRONE ROOM!
As Leia and Mon Mothma attempt to negotiate an alliance with the suspiciously peaceful world of Herdessa, we are joined once again by our Canadian Correspondent (and Marvel Planet of the Apes Explorer) Geoff Clarke, for an in-depth and super-sized discussion spanning Prince's 1984 film, Purple Rain, Geoff's memories of this issue from his childhood and our introduction to a new dark lord, the cyborg Lumiya.
As Luke, and a motley crew of castoffs, pirates, and a telepathic bunny, struggle to deactivate a doomsday device that they've accidentally triggered, we welcome Melissa Thiede back to the pod to hear about her experience seeing an early screening of The Rise of Skywalker, to imagine with us the unique life cycles of Hutts, to analyze this comic's take on nihilism and to finally find out what exactly is STILL ACTIVE AFTER ALL THESE YEARS.
As Leia Organa and an Alderaanian stormtrooper debate philosophy on the harsh surface of an alien world, Daniel Borders-Ashe returns to the podcast to debate which Indiana Jones movie is the best, whether fictional expanded universes are worth anyone's time, and whether princesses precariously hanging off of cliffs still feel high and mighty.
As Exar Kun lands on Coruscant to crash the trial of Ulic Qel-Droma, your star-friends Cam and Eric double down on the historical happenings of October 1995, then dig into this Dark Horse Comics classic to discuss the ways it reminds them of The Last Jedi, to revel in the high fantasy style of the Old Republic, and to celebrate the first appearance of a double-bladed lightsaber in Star Wars canon!
As Lando, Chewie and Han find themselves on the run during a diplomatic mission on Keyorin, Sam and Brian find themselves welcoming Kristina Kephart back to the podcast to discuss the long-awaited return of Jo Duffy, to weigh in on Back to the Future's careless take on international politics, to offer a plethora of casting options for fan-favorites Lemo and Sanda and to catch up on their bursting mailbag of e-Words.
The Explorers just finished their table read of the unproduced Episode IX script by Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connolly and they HAVE THOUGHTS! Joined by the rest of the crew who helped make this momentous event happen, Sam, Brian and the gang give their hot take reactions to what worked for them in this script, what didn't, which of our performances they enjoyed the most, and dig in to how this script compares to the one that was delivered in The Rise of Skywalker!
We're Star Wars Exploring new territory this week, as we sit down and do a table read of the original leaked script for Episode IX, written by Derek Connoly and Colin Trevorrow! Hear what could have been the continuing adventures of the Star Warriors, Rey, Finn, Poe and Rose in their battle for the soul of the galaxy against Kylo Ren, Hux and the mysterious Tor Valum! Featuring the additional vocal talents of Eric Ambler, Sean Davis, Cam Siemer and Kevin Young.
And make sure you listen to our follow-up episode afterwards for our thoughts on this unproduced script and this wacky table read!
As Han and Chewie venture to far reaches of the galaxy in search of fortune, Sam and Brian, with two hours of recording already behind them, dive into this THRILLING issue of Marvel Star Wars with their good friend Kevin Young. They're talking about the post-Return of the Jedi world, surprisingly forgotten trials and media frenzies of the 80's, the motivations of Han Solo and SO MUCH MORE!
2019 is over! Your two best Star Friends sat down to record an episode about issue 84 and ended up getting lost in the weeds heaping praise on their favorite films of 2019, so the Explories have become their own full-fledged episode! Tune in to hear us talk about our favorite comic book films, our biggest disappointment and our top 5 overall films of 2019, plus a look back on our favorite films of the decade. Reopening the Wormhole co-host and film-buff Kevin Young joins! And the conversation continues.... make sure you listen to today's second episode, featuring Star News, Earth History, comic book coverage and all of your other favorite Star Features!
As Lando finds himself tangled in a web of royalty and rebellion on Drogheda, our old Canadian Correspondent Geoff Clarke finds himself tangled in our web of first-hand experiences of Rise of the Resistance, piercing analyses of lighthearted Calrissian Chronicles and meandering Mandalorian diversions and sweetens the pot by also giving us a history lesson on a beloved prime minister from Quebec.
As Luke Skywalker returns to Iskalon to try to recruit members to a new federation of star systems, Kevin Young makes his return appearance on the podcast to discuss the exciting ways that Jo Duffy is choosing to follow up Return of the Jedi, to hear way more about lightsabers than any person would ever want to, and to speak further on The Rise of Skywalker.
The dead aren't the only ones speaking, as Marvel Star Wars Explorers finally tackles Episode IX: The Ninth Star Wars Film! A movie event this big requires a podcast event that's equally big, so Brian and Sam have assembled a team of MSWE all-stars for a sprawling, hours-long discussion that covers the few things they like and the many things they don't about this divisive installment in the Star Wars saga! Babu Frik! Zorii Bliss! C-3PO's RED EYES! It's all here!
As Han returns to Tatooine to deal with his debts, Barm returns to the show to analyze with us the baffling and delightful form of Boba Fett's return in these pages, to dive into the thoughts of a post carbon-freeze Han, to analyze the final pre-Rise of Skywalker Star News and to herald the triumphant return of some classic Star Features of this podcast. Come back in two weeks for our hot takes on Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker!
In an unprecedented move, Sam and Brian are taking a break from the 80's and exploring some modern Marvel Star Wars comics this week, as a special bonus episode lead-up to The Rise of Skywalker! That means we're continuing with our film adaptation streak and dipping into one of our favorite wells, The Last Jedi. Not only that, but we've brought along returning Star Friends, Barm and Sean Davis, for a wild, lengthy discussion ranging from our thoughts on Luke's added characterization in the comic, to the nature and philosophy of the force, to the meaning of Rey's mysterious vision and eventually to meditations on the nature of life and death itself. All that, plus more hot Mandalorian takes! Happy Life Day, listeners!
As the rebellion begins its offensive against the Empire's second Death Star, we welcome back Jack Stovold and Cam Siemer to finish out our coverage of Return of the Jedi, to voice our opinions on the first two episodes of The Mandalorian, to lament the inexplicable absence of some of the movie's most powerful moments in the comic adaptation and to examine why it is that we love Luke Skywalker so much! Maclunkey!
As the Rebel Alliance prepares for its assault on the Empire's second Death Star by travelling to the forest moon of Endor, Sam and Brian welcome returning guests Kristina and Melissa, as well as first time guest Jamie Kunkle, to the podcast to discuss the newest trailers for both The Mandalorian and The Rise of Skywalker, to examine the ways that the women of Return of the Jedi are short-changed in the comics adaptation, and to weigh in on the cuddly and sometimes frightening presence that is the Ewoks in the Star Wars universe!
As the star warriors fight to escape the clutches of Jabba the Hutt, first-time guest Jake Beal and our old so-and-so Sean Davis make their way to the podcast to talk about the complicated legacy of George Lucas, to hear Sam's pitch for a new Star Wars Holiday Special, to weigh in on Luke and Leia's familial attachments and to examine the many uniquely positive and negative aspects of Return of the Jedi!
As the Star Warriors begin to appear one by one in the vile gangster Jabba the Hutt's palace on Tatooine, Sam and Brian kick off their coverage of the four-part adaptation of Return of the Jedi by welcoming first-time guest Gensho Tasaka to the podcast along with our old Star Friend Eric Ambler to discuss the beauty of practical effects, the merits of Jedi Rocks, the thrills of seeing our heroes reunited and the special magical charm that lies within Episode VI of the Star Wars Saga!
As Luke and Leia finally uncover the whereabouts of Tay Vanis, Sam and Brian welcome Jack Stovold back to the podcast for the final pre-Jedi issue to talk about C-3PO in love (and heartbreak), to weigh in on a huuuuuge amount of Star News (The Mandalorian! Obi-Wan! Galactic Cruiser! DARK REY'S DOUBLE LIGHTSABER), to read a bevy of listener e-mail about Annual 3 and to rank their favorite covers, characters and issues from this era of Marvel Star Wars!
As Chewbacca and Lando infiltrate a gang of smugglers to confirm Han Solo's whereabouts, Cam Siemer returns to the show to consider the directions an Obi-Wan show might take, to elaborate on our favorite childhood starships and to enjoy the amazing fashion sense of Lando-as-Drebble.
As Leia, Luke and Balon listen to a record of Wedge retelling his harrowing days after the Battle of Hoth, Brian and Sam welcome Eric Deutsch back to the podcast to listen to how his complete media-blackout regarding The Rise of Skywalker spoilers is going, to fawn over some extremely unique alien creature designs and to marvel at the baffling inattention to detail regarding this issue's relationship with both Legends and Canon mythology.
As Luke, Leia and Plif head to Kabray Station to search for information tapes left by Tay Vanis, Kevin Young returns to the podcast to listen with Sam to all of Brian's adventures at Galaxy's Edge, to debate the actions (or lack thereof) of a certain male Zeltron and to consider what is and isn't problematic in the world of Star Wars circa 1983.
As two youths living under Imperial rule investigate the arrival of some familiar offworlders, Sean Davis returns to the podcast to talk about his and Sam's latest adventures at this year's comic-con, to ponder the origin and worth of Annual issues of comics, and to analyze this issue's unique approach to storytelling in the Star Wars universe.
As Luke, Leia and Kiro struggle to survive attackers from all sides in the ruins of Pavillion, Jack Stovold makes his triumphant return to the podcast to marvel at one of the final pre-Return of the Jedi issues to feature everyone's favorite Lord of the Sith in action, to analyze the ongoing results of the Iskalon Effect and to ponder the nature of hope in the Star Wars universe.
As Luke and Leia struggle to survive the devastation of The Iskalon Effect, we welcome Melissa Thiede back from Black Spire Outpost to finally give us an insider's peek into Galaxy's Edge! We're also recalling memories of Levar Burton and Reading Rainbow, enjoying the antics of the Star Warriors on Gamandar and STILL trying to determine what exactly The Iskalon Effect is.
As the Star Warriors follow the trail of downed Rebel pilot Tay Vanis to the ocean planet of Iskalon, Sam and Brian welcome Nate Tapp to the podcast to discuss some of their warm feelings of Return of the Jedi, to investigate the emotional and financial value of Porg glassware, and to guess as to what exactly "the Iskalon Effect" might be.
As Leia and Dani infiltrate a city on the planet Lahsbee in search of lost rebel data tapes, longtime Star Friend Chris Lantz makes his debut on the podcast proper to weigh in on the exciting world of upcoming Star Wars video games, to delve into his lifelong passion for comic books and to elaborate on why this issue holds specific sentimental value.
As three sets of Star Warriors make their towards a final confrontation with a duo of fearsome bounty hunters on Stenos, Sam and Brian welcome The ApeCast co-host Geoff Clarke back to the show to pick his brain about The Rise of Skywalker, to delve into a delightful world of IG-88 and Bossk toys and products, to take a deep dive into the nonsense that is IG-88's legendary backstory, and to delight in that truest of OTPs, R2-D2 and Chewbacca.
As Luke and Lando search for Bossk and IG-88 on Stenos, Sam and Brian find Kregg Castillo once again joining them on the podcast to discuss the opening of Galaxy's Edge, the reintroduction of beloved characters Rik Duel and Dani, and the bittersweet joy of seeing a Rodian frozen in carbonite.
As Luke Skywalker recalls an adventure from his past on the planet Stenos, Sam and Brian welcome Kevin Young and Jenny Rudloff onto the 'cast to learn all about new Star Wars scribe Mary Jo Duffy, to dive deep into the meaning of the words 'Zeltron lover' in this podcast's intro music, and to navigate technical difficulties as they do the Stenax Shuffle.
As a captured Leia and Threepio find themselves being transported to a slaver fortress located in an enormous skeleton, Brian and Sam capture a brand new Star Friend, Barm, to weigh in on Benioff and Weiss's upcoming contributions to the Star Wars franchise (and their recent work in Game of Thrones), to enjoy the weasel-y charms of the Suprema, and to speculate as to what exactly "Dengar in the back seat" could mean.
As Leia and C-3PO search for Dengar on Boba Fett's homeworld, Mandalore, Kristina Kephart makes her debut appearance on the podcast to examine the questionable additions to the franchise's lore that are introduced in this issue, to reminisce with us about our Boba Fett memories and childhood Star Wars pop-up books, and to help us unearth one of Charlie Chaplin's bones.
As C-3PO, Chewbacca and Plif descend into the caves of Arbra in search of R2-D2, Brian and Sam welcome Cam Siemer to the show to finally examine that trailer for Episode IX: The Ninth Star Wars Film (and BOY, do they examine it), to pay tribute to a beloved fallen Star Warrior and kind Wookiee soul, and to admire the fascinating, magical world that The Darker has trapped us in.
As Luke Skywalker finds himself battling a band of brigands on Beheboth to save a planet's water supply, the SoCal Scarf Boys reunite once again to figure out which sci-fi properties this storyline most resembles, to comment on this planet's unique atmosphere and cast of characters and to theorize one last time on what the true title will be for Star Wars Episode IX: The Ninth Star Wars Film.
As Leia and Giel face off in the abandoned Rebel base on Golrath, Sam and Brian welcome Sean Davis back to the podcast to dissect leaked imagery from Episode IX, to sing the praises of our new favorite Imperial officer and to examine the surprisingly deep thematic elements present in this story.
As Luke and Lando learn about the heroic deeds of a young Han Solo on the planet Ventooine, Sam and Brian welcome Andrew McNally back to the podcast to weigh in on the confusing plan of the tyrannical Satab, to struggle to determine when exactly this episode of the podcast releases and to ponder the very nature of the Force.
As Luke Skywalker trains for a jousting tournament under the tutelage of a wise old Serphidian, Jack Stovold returns for the second week in a row to discuss the lasting legacy of our rebel friends Berl and Cinda, to look back with a fellow listener who wrote in on the pulse-pounding excitement of Screams in the Void and to ask with us just what the hell went wrong with this hot mess of an issue.
As Luke Skywalker travels to an Imperial vault to uncover the mysteries behind downed Alliance pilot Shira Brie, Jack travels back to the cast to pick apart Darth Vader's wacky plan, to revel in the glory that is Admiral Giel and to hear some unique takes on the Dark Lord of the Sith from a couple of readers of the comic from 1982.
As Luke Skywalker struggles to deal with his apparent murder of a fellow Rebel pilot, Eric Ambler rejoins OUR rebellion to dive into the wonders of Star Wars novelizations, to examine the struggles and insecurities of a beloved Star Warrior and to help us determine who the biggest Star Hunk is.
As Luke Skywalker and a team of Rebel Alliance pilots infiltrate an enormous Imperial fleet, Lauren Petronaci infiltrates our podcast to dive deep with us into the deluge of news regarding Galaxy's Edge, to question with us just what exactly a Teezl is and to ponder the fate of certain rebel pilot named Shira Brie.
As Luke finds himself surrounded by hostile forces on Shavylane, we find ourselves surrounded by star-friends when we're joined by Star-Wife Blythe Rudloff for a discussion about Star Wars droids performing stand-up, our favorite beers to drink on and off podcast, and our thoughts on our first deep dive into the past of a Marvel Star Wars original character, Shira Brie.
As Lando and Luke duel a giant Watchbeast on the trash-filled world of Patch-4, Sam and Brian invite Kevin Young back to the podcast for an Oscars-inspired look back at the films of 2018, to discuss the exciting announcement of a new issue of this very comic coming out later this year, and to delight in the zany antics of a little creature that won't stop saying "skek".
As Leia puts into action a risky plan to hide the entire Rebel fleet inside Arbra's sun, Instagram superstar and Star Wars lover Melissa Thiede (@tk421andme) returns to the cast to drop some solar knowledge and science facts, offer up reactions to the newly revealed Will Smith genie and to give Sam and Brian her thoughts on droids, spacewalks and Kerts-Bhrg generators.
As Lando and the Lobot encounter a team of Ugnaught journalists on the surface of the gas planet Bespin, Brian and Sam welcome Sean Davis back to the podcast to out themselves as Adult Fans of Legos, to question and delight in the many strange creative choices in this issue and to revisit controversial statements made on this podcast about our evergreen favorite topic, The Last Jedi.
As Lando flees an insane and malfunctioning Lobot, Sam and Brian welcome first-timer Jonathan Ferguson onto the 'cast for a discussion about talking explosives, slimy Imperials, Canadarms and just about the greatest cover we ever did cover.
Marvel Stars Explorers Episode 55: Return of the Podcasters
The long wait is over and we're finally back! And we're kicking things into high gear this week as we welcome the Hoojibs into the world of Star Wars! As Leia and a pitiful band of rebels team up with an entire legion of Arbra's best troops to take on a winged space-beast, Sam and Brian welcome Jack Stovold (of The Apecast, Reopening the Wormhole and Jack's Silly Little Friendly Neighborhood Star Trek Discovery Podcast) onto the show to talk about all the exciting Star Wars events that will be unfolding this year, to relive the glory days of recording things onto VHS tapes as children, to discuss Proto-Porgs and the exciting direction this comic is taking as we enter 2019!
As the Star Warriors reunite with Leia on Shiva IV to combat the forces of the Galactic Empire, Brian and Sam welcome Eric Wheeler (of Text Before Calling) on to the show for a freewheeling debate over the merits and flaws of both the sequel and prequel trilogies, a ridiculously extensive look back at the filmography of The Mandalorian's very own Werner Herzog, an examination of the mind of George Lucas, and, very occasionally, a look back at the second part of this strange issue of the old Star Wars comics from the eighties. Happy Holidays, fellow explorers!
As Leia finds herself stranded on a world of warriors under attack from the Empire, Sam and Brian find themselves welcoming back to the show Daniel Borders-Ashe to dive into the strange origin of this two-part tale, to examine how well a John Carter-esque vibe does or doesn't mesh with the established Star Wars galaxy and to question the fate of thousands of air traffic controllers from the 80's.
As the Star Warriors each attempt to do their part to disable the Empire's mighty superweapon, Sam and Brian welcome Kevin Young (of Reopening the Wormhole) back to the podcast to discuss a bounty of Star News, some of their fond memories of amusement park rides (with an emphasis on Star Tours), and this, the Star Warsiest Star Wars issue that ever Star Warsed.
As the Star Warriors reunite to face a new imperial superweapon, we welcome Peter Goett, co-host of the Star Wars podcast Rebels Rebels, onto the show for a deep dive into the canonical backstory of Grand Moff Tarkin, the legendary backstory of the designer of the Death Star, a peek into the physiology of Gundarks, and our take on the freshest news regarding Disney's Galaxy's Edge.
As the Star Warriors race across the galaxy in search of a way to save a catatonic Luke Skywalker, Sam and Brian celebrate the 50th issue of the comic by welcoming back Eric Ambler (of What Were We Watching?) and Sean Davis (of After the Credits) to weigh in on the newly announced Diego Luna-starring television series, to examine the ways in which this issue pays respect to the stories of the past, while also potentially pointing in the direction they may take in the future and to say their farewells to the presenter of these comics, Stan Lee. Thanks to all of our listeners who've explored these first fifty issues with us and here's to another fifty more! Excelsior!
As Luke and Leia find themselves caught in a complex game of political intrigue on the world of Velmor, Sam and Brian welcome Eric Deutsch (of Flash Gordon Minute) to the podcast to discuss a very special Star birth, the rise of monster trucks and Bud Light in the eighties, and the wonder of the TRUE last jedi, Jedidiah.
As Leia is confronted by Darth Vader and his hirelings while trying to... procure a loan on a banking world...? Sean Davis (After the Credits Podcast) confronts Sam and Brian to dive deep into the many strange decisions made in this issue, to chat about the NPR Star Wars radio drama and to question what exactly a Bothan is in this day and age.
As R2-D2 and C-3PO find themselves in the middle of a droid revolution on Kligson's Moon, Geoff Clarke (The ApeCast) finds himself in the middle of a podcast about old Star Wars comics chatting about "the death of disco", musing on what a character like L3 might think of an entire Droid World and comparing this issue to the children's storybook that it was later adapted into.
As Lando debates philosophy with a former hero of the rebellion in an alternate dimension, Daniel Borders-Ashe makes his first appearance to talk about an impossibly bright future in which Werner Herzog could become a part of a galaxy far, far away, to weigh in on the Star Trekkiness of this issue and what belongs and doesn't belong in the Star Wars universe, to explore the writer's original intended ending prior to Lucasfilm's intervention and to examine with us the dreams of a certain Mr. Sunn-Childe.
As Luke Skywalker and Artoo find themselves battling an entire spaceship controlled by a super-powered probe droid, Sam and Brian welcome first-time guest Kregg Castillo onto the podcast to weigh in on the first episode of the latest animated offering in a Galaxy Far, Far Away, Star Wars: Resistance! They're also marvelling at some wonderful 1980-era reader predictions for Revenge of the Jedi, examining the strange choices this comic decides to make post-Empire and debating which is the best option for fast-food friend chicken.
As Luke Skywalker faces off against the Dark Lord of the Sith himself, we are joined by Crystal Beth (thecrystalbeth.com, The Fifth Eleminute, Unlimited Lives Podcast) to tackle the final issue of the Empire Strikes Back comic adaptation, to address the politically motivated attack on The Last Jedi, and to board the hypetrain to Jon Favreau's Star Wars newly titled TV series, The Mandalorian.
As the Star Warriors find themselves captured and imprisoned in Darth Vader's clutches, Brian and Sam find themselves captivated by What Were We Watchings?'s very own Cam Siemer and Eric Ambler in a rousing super-sized discussion about such classic Empire Strikes Back subjects as Cloud City, Lando's introduction and force ghosts, as well as a dive into the special features and deleted scenes from Solo: A Star Wars Story and a restrospective look back at all of our favorite Star Wars video games throughout the years.
This week, as Luke begins training under the tutelage of a wise Jedi Master on Dagobah, Sam and Brian are joined by Brian's star-wife, Blythe Rudloff for an examination of Han Solo's somewhat problematic behavior towards Leia, a discussion on the frequently changing (and shockingly small) size of Yoda and a variety of tangents regarding The Last Jedi.
As Han braves the dangers of an asteroid field to flee his Imperial pursuers, Sam and Brian welcome back both talking apes from The ApeCast, Geoff Clarke and Jack Stovold, for a super-sized discussion about Solo: A Star Wars Story, the development and creation of this six-part adaptation of the film, the increasingly complex character of Darth Vader, the pure magic of The Empire Strikes Back and... our childhood memories of crayons. For some reason.
As Luke, Leia and Han squabble in Echo Base and a group of Imperial walkers prepares to strike (back), Sam and Brian welcome Melissa Thiede to the show to hear about her amazing Star Wars-themed instagram account (tk421andme), to discuss the ecosystem of Hoth and the science of Bacta and to examine the murky issue of droid rights in a galaxy far, far away.
As the Rebel Alliance acclimates to its new base on the ice planet Hoth, Sam and Brian welcome Josh Lee and Sean Davis (After the Credits podcast) onto the cast to kick off their six-part coverage of The Empire Strikes Back! That means we're talking about Wampas and Tauntauns, forgotten scenes from the cutting room floor and new casting announcements in Episode IX!
As Luke and Leia find themselves stranded aboard a mysterious spaceship located an unfathomable distance outside of their own galaxy, Jack Stovold (The Apecast, Jack's Silly Little Friendly Neighborhood Star Trek Discovery Podcast, Reopening the Wormhole) finds himself stranded with Sam and Brian for a discussion of the unsettling dreamlike nature of this issue, fetishism in comics, Stanley Kubrick's filmography and a retrospective look back at our favorite covers, characters and issues that we've seen so far, before we begin our next journey into The Empire Strikes Back and beyond!
As Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader descend into the Crystal Valley for a final showdown, Jack Stovold (Reopening the Wormhole, The Apecast) joins up with us to weigh in on the hot new Resistance trailer (YES!), to debate whether R2-D2 is force-sensitive, to reminisce on all the landings of the Millenium Falcon throughout the entire saga (happy or otherwise) and to bid a teary farewell to our old friend Orman Tagge.
As Domina Tagge maneuvers the Dark Lord of the Sith and Luke Skywalker towards a Crystal Valley showdown, Kevin Young (Reopening the Wormhole podcast) joins Sam and Brian to talk about O.J. Simpson footwear ads, blue cougars (blougars?), a daring rescue from Princess Leia and a bevy of listener e-Words.
As Luke Skywalker comes face to face with Darth Vader on the planet Monastery, Sam and Brian field Sean Davis (of After the Credits)'s questions about inclusivity in The First Order, delight in the outlandish speech of Darth Vader and do their best to cast the entire Tagge clan.
As Han Solo leads the Rebel fleet into a trap laid out by Silas Tagge, Sam and Brian welcome back Sean Davis (After the Credits) to dive headfirst into the recent Episode IX casting announcements, to examine the inherent weaknesses of the Tagge line and to discuss which film of the entire franchise is their favorite.
As Orman and Silas Tagge lure Luke into a clash of sabers, Jack Stovold (The ApeCast, Reopening the Wormhole) joins us once again to talk about Jim Carrey-mania, to bid farewell with us to the seventies and to open the old mailbag for some Star Words (of the e- AND regular variety!). #SilasWasRight
As Luke and Han form a tentative alliance with a group of Jawas, Sam and Brian welcome a new star friend (and ACTUAL Marvel employee), Carlos Galan, to the podcast to discuss our love of Dewbacks, some treasured memories of old Star Wars video games, our experiences with the now legendary expanded universe and, of course, a delightful issue about Star Warriors and Jawas murdering Sandtroopers.
As a mysterious MAJESTRIX with connections to both Han Solo and Luke Skywalker's past draws our heroes into a trap, Sam and Brian welcome first-time guest and composer of the Marvel Star Wars Explorers intro theme, Daren Sprawls, onto the cast to talk about musical inspiration, some colorful theories about Lando's role in the future of Star Wars, The Last Jedi haters and, of course, a sexy blue man.
As Luke begins to uncover a mysterious Imperial plot underway on his home planet, Cam Siemer (What Were We Watching?) returns to the show to help us figure out just who the Tagges really are (and who their real world counterparts may be), to journey back to his middle school days when a young dreamer penned a complete Star Wars screenplay and to fill a vast fruit pie shaped void that has too long been a part of Marvel Star Wars Explorers.
As Princess Leia embarks on a daring solo mission at the factory world of Metalorn, Kevin Young (Reopening the Wormhole) returns to the cast to chat with the explorers about unsettling films like mother! and Antichrist, to weigh in on the recent rumors regarding future Star Wars Stories and to dive into some Star e-Words.
One episode was not enough to contain our Solo: A Star Wars Story Spectacular! In Part II we add a drop of coaxium (hyperfuel) to our engines to pick up at the Kessel Run and make our way to the end of the movie (including a heated debate about THAT cameo), then dive into some special features to rate and rank it, pitch our ideas for Solo sequels and more!
Featuring a dream team of podcasters: Eric Ambler (What Were We Watching?), Sean Davis (After the Credits), Cam Siemer (What Were We Watching?) and Kevin Young (Reopening the Wormhole)
Buckle up, baby, and prepare yourself for part one of our Hutt-sized Solo: A Star Wars Story Spectacular! Truly, we are leaving no thermal detonator shaped stone unturned in our six person roundtable discussion, as we tackle the film scene by scene and examine what works for each of us and what doesn't!
Featuring a dream team of podcasters: Eric Ambler (What Were We Watching?), Sean Davis (After the Credits), Cam Siemer (What Were We Watching?) and Kevin Young (Reopening the Wormhole)
Part II is available now!
As the half machine Hunter and the Dark Lord of the Sith race to find a rebel alliance deserter with invaluable information about Luke, Sam and Brian welcome Eric Ambler (What Were We Watching?) back to the show to discuss their favorite recent Disney movies, Kelly Marie Tran and toxic fandom, the future of the post-Solo Star Wars franchise and a surprisingly dark issue centered on Valance and Darth Vader.
As Han and Chewie are pinned down by blaster fire and facing an infestation of stone mites on the rainy planet Orleon, Geoff Clarke (of The ApeCast) makes his debut on the show to discuss whether or not he wants to see a Boba Fett movie, to go APE over Canada's own beloved superhero team Alpha Flight and to help us answer the age old question: What Ever Happened to Jabba the Hut?
As Luke and Threepio make their way to the outpost world of Junction to repair Artoo, Eric Ambler drops by the podcast for the second week in a row as we uncover John Wayne's surprising role in the Star Wars universe, gush over our love of poor, mistreated Polyp and peer into the mind of the sinister cyborg, Valance.
As the Rebel Alliance formulates a plan to counter Baron Tagge and his giant turbine, Sam and Brian welcome Eric Ambler (What Were We Watching?) back to the show to chat about what they'd like to see from future Star Wars anthology films, to debate the location of the engines in TIE Fighters and to weigh in on the characterization and artistic interpretation of Luke Skywalker throughout the comics so far.
As Baron Tagge wears down the Rebel Alliance at Yavin, Brian and Sam welcome Kevin Young (Reopening the Wormhole: A Deep Space Nine Podcast) back to the program to discuss the return of the actual star war in these pages, to offer up some casting choices for a few new characters and to see how many times we can say the name Jorman Thoad in one episode. Jorman Thoad, Jorman Thoad, JORMAN THOAD
As Leia recalls a tale of Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Old Republic days, Sean Davis (After the Credits podcast) returns once again to appreciate Ben's snappy clothing, to debate the merits of a Kenobi movie and to take a deep dive into the prequels and the shifting reaction to them in the Disney era.
As the star warriors attempt a daring escape and the Dark Lord of the Sith himself arrives to intercept them, Cam Siemer (of What Were We Watching?) arrives on the podcast to intercept Sam and Brian for a discussion about the newly announced Star Wars: Resistance, to cast his era-appropriate dream team for the Wheel gang, to pontificate on the thematic significance of Darth Vader's suit throughout the original trilogy and to sanction the buffoonery of Batman Forever-related listener mail.
As Han and Chewie prepare to face off in the zero-gravity arena, Sean Davis returns yet again for a deep dive with us into the insane world of Batman Forever, the controversial canon issues presented by that Solo movie Denny's commercial and the changing nature of comic book fandom from the 1970's to today.
As the mysteries behind Luke's trance are revealed, Sean Davis makes his stunning return to rap with us about the Solo trailers and TV spots, Darth Vader's exciting post-adaptation debut and force connections throughout the Star Wars saga.
As Greyshade and Strom's plans for the Star-Warriors unfold, Sam and Brian welcome Josh Lee back to the podcast to talk about that HOT NEW SOLO TRAILER, to cast our new set of characters in the current story arc and to exalt in the wonder of Master-Com.
As Senator Greyshade ominously monitors the Star Warriors navigating The Wheel, Sam and Brian gush about the bounty of special features on the blu-ray release of The Last Jedi, tackle each deleted scene from the movie one-by-one, take in the sights of the Crimson Casino and finally read some more vintage Star Words.
As the Star Warriors make their escape to the gambling space station known as "The Wheel", Sam and Brian welcoming returning guest Jack Stovold back to the podcast to discuss, among other things, the Empire's glorious return and the introduction of new villains, the upcoming release of Ready Player One, and the mysteries and legends surrounding Han Solo's past.
As a bored Luke's mind wanders back to his Tatooine years, special guest Andrew McNally wanders onto the podcast for a meandering discussion with Brian and Sam about Tusken Raider culture, an alternate, forgotten take on Anakin Skywalker and the evolution of alien races throughout the Star Wars galaxy.
As a mysterious and sinister hunter blazes a trail across the galaxy in search of the Starkiller Kid, Brian and Sam welcome Sean Davis, of Yumchunks, onto the show to discuss how Punisher-esque the new antagonist Valance is, to welcome Jaxxon back into the fold and to weigh in on Jon Favreau and the announcement of a new live-action Star Wars TV series.
As Han and Crimson Jack face off in the cold and unforgiving vastness of space, Sam and Brian debate whether or not Jolli's story is at all worthwhile, spend time appreciating the oft-forgotten Star Wars concept art of Colin Cantwell and enjoy how delightfully grumpy Harrison Ford is.
As an all-out war erupts between Governor Quarg and the Dragon Lords, Sam and Brian welcome Josh Lee onto the podcast to talk about Luke and Threepio's Three Stooges-esque tomfoolery, the trainwreck that is Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and their truly unique vision for Star Wars: Episode IX.
As Luke tries to adjust to life under the governor's rule, Sam and Brian welcome Kevin Young, of Reopening the Wormhole: A Star Trek Deep Space Nine Podcast, onto the show to discuss the origins of Doomworld and the dragon lords, to throw out casting ideas for Quarg and to try to figure out just what the hell is going on with Chewbacca at the end of this issue.
As Luke finds himself caught in the middle of a crossfire while adrift at sea, Sam and Brian have trouble putting into words their love of Governor Quarg's floating city, they speculate as to what might have happened to Charlie Chaplin's bones and they chat about some favorite Star Wars action figures.
As Han once again finds himself in the clutches of the nefarious Crimson Jack, Sam and Brian weigh in on the new trailer for Solo and announcement of a new series of films, read some listener-submitted casting suggestions and marvel at the fresh new look of the art in issue 11.
As Han and the Cloud-Riders both fend off the attacks of the behemoth from below, Sam and Brian ponder the nature of magic in the Star Wars universe, Sam falls down a rabbit-hole of information about Jaxxon's people and they throw out some casting possibilities for the Aduba 3 Eight.
As Han Solo’s pitiful band takes on high-hounds and Cloud-Riders, Jack Stovold joins Sam and Brian yet again to discuss the scantily-clad village girl Merri, Return to Oz creatures and an irate Star Wars fan from 1977’s Star Words.
As the Millenium Falcon's crew gathers a ragtag band of spacers to protect a beleaguered village, Sam and Brian welcome Jack Stovold, of Reopening the Wormhole, The Apecast and Jack's Silly Little Friendly Neighborhood Star Trek Discovery Podcast, onto the show to discuss Jaxxon the green rabbit (who is definitely NOT a rodent), Warto the thug and Han Solo's terrible sense of humor.
As Han and Chewie depart Yavin 4 with their reward in tow, Sam and Brian weigh in on Crimson Jack and his band of pirates, the desolate planet that is Aduba-3 and an insect priest on a mission.
As the blue boys begin their attack run, Sam and Brian welcome Eric Ambler back to the podcast to wrap up the adaptation of Star Wars and to discuss Luke’s fiery brush with Death, their feelings on Chewbacca, and the soul-shattering thrill of the trench run.
As Luke and the gang escape to the moons of Yavin, Sam and Brian are joined by Eric Ambler to discuss the first appearance of thought bubbles, Jar Jar Binks' role in the Galactic Senate, some important figures in the Rebellion and their first listener email.
As the Star Warriors escape the perils of the Death Star, Sam and Brian discuss a particularly passionate kiss for luck, Ben Kenobi’s gruesome death and the Five Fire Rings of Fornax.
As Luke, Han and Chewie make their way to the detention block, Brian and Sam discuss Luke's training remote, more poetic moments described by the narrator and their feelings about The Last Jedi and the ever-expanding modern world of Star Wars.
Brian and Sam venture into the cantina for some Greedo Talk! They're also taking a look at the introduction of Han and Chewie, dissecting the improved artwork in issue two and weighing in on their favorite versions of Jabba the Hutt.
Sam and Brian introduce themselves, explore their familiarity with Marvel Star Wars and marvel at Darth Vader levitating a beverage.