Marvel Star Wars Explorers

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.