This article contains major spoilers for The Last Jedi. Proceed at your own risk.
Book Wars Pod, Episode 30: Speaking of Queer
This week, we’re continuing our read of FROM A CERTAIN POINT OF VIEW, a collection of 40 stories related to A New Hope, by looking at “Change of Heart” by Elizabeth Wein through “Time of Death” by Cavan Scott. We discuss what new information we learn about Imperials, characters we already know and love, and the weird side of the Force. Also, we recorded this the day before The Last Jedi premiered, so we’re extra punchy.
This podcast is NOT spoiler-free!
Book Wars Pod explores the Star Wars universe through the franchise’s non-screen media: the canon novels, comics, and video games. Check out our guide to past episodes, and subscribe on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, and wherever else you cast your pods. You can also subscribe to the Tosche Station Radio Mega Feed on iTunes or Google Play for more great shows from our podcast network.
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr for episode updates! Hosted by Kristen Sereci, Chris Sedor, and Kate Sedor. Art by Joe Butera. Music by Podington Bear.
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Review: Poe Dameron #22
Poe Dameron #22 is masterful.
When I first started reading it, I figured that perhaps this issue would hit me a little harder after seeing The Last Jedi. After all, much of who Poe Dameron was in the latest film made so much more sense when you had this comic run in the back of your brain. While that level of realization was there, that wasn’t the start of the show. No, that would be Charles Soule’s writing.
It seems fitting that an issue released so close to the anniversary of Carrie Fisher’s passing features Leia narrating a plan as a framing device. Of course she has a plan to get Lor San Tekka out: this is Leia Organa we’re talking about here. Her plan is a heist because a woman picks up a thing or two thanks to being married to a notorious smuggler and being part of a rebellion since she was a teenager. And yeah, it’s a good plan.
Aside from the masterful weaving, the other great part about this issue is that it gives everyone a minute to shine. Yes, it’s definitely Leia’s show but it won’t succeed without them. Admittedly, I’d like to slap Snap for his continuing self-pity over being dumped by Karé but I’m hardly alone there. (Seriously buddy, this is not how you get a girl back.) The OTP that I’m truly invested in is Jess getting a droid who sticks around. Even Poe gets a particularly good role in this plan.
I won’t spoil any of the twists and turns for you but needless to say, Poe Dameron #22 is a comic issue that you need to read.
Poe Dameron #22: Charles Soule/Writer, Angel Unzueta/Artist, Arif Prianto/Colorist, Joe Caramagna/Letterer, Jordan White/Editor, Heather Antos/Assistant Editor
Review: Doctor Aphra #15
I can’t say I was expecting to yelp “Aphra!” while reading this issue and yet I did.
Thankfully, I seem to be getting my wish regarding more Tolvan as she makes Imperial bureaucracy work for her and finds her way into more trouble than she probably wanted. That’s just a side effect of being intrigued by the one and only Chelli Lona Aphra. I could write an entire essay about how Tolvan literally dreams about Aphra rescuing her but I’ll spare you. (But Tolvan, honey, you have to know that this won’t end well.)
Unfortunately, Aphra has way bigger problems to deal with and by bigger, I mean more metallic and homicidal. Triple Zero is blackmailing her into working for his mob and if she doesn’t, he’ll let Vader know that she’s still alive. It’s a crazy script flip on the Aphra and the Murder Droids dynamic that we grew so used to during Darth Vader and the early part of this series. Admittedly, I wasn’t sure what to think when Gillen and Spurrier put the idea before us but it’s growing more and more on me as a way to keep the book fresh and not just a continuous series of wacky shenanigans. (Not that I would have been terribly opposed to that.)
I’m liking Emilio Laiso’s art more and more especially since we got so many different aliens and characters in this arc. If we don’t get to see more of the droideka, I’m going to be very disappointed.
Doctor Aphra seems intent on bringing Tolvan and Aphra back together and I can’t wait to see how that happens in future issues!
Doctor Aphra #15: Kieron Gillen and Si Spurrier/Writers, Emilio Laiso/Artist, Rachelle Rosenberg/Colors, Joe Caramagna/Letterer, Heather Antos/Assistant Editor, Jordan D. White/Editor
Redemption and The Last Jedi
Editor’s Note: The following is a guest post by Sarah K. You can find her on Twitter @theevilsarah.
The Last Jedi spoilers are after the jump.
Continue reading
Representation and Rose Tico
Representation matters.
I know. It’s something you’ve heard a lot and it’s something you’ve heard me say more than a few times about Star Wars. Yes, the franchise has been getting better about featuring more diversity over the years from the films to the comics to the books and more but it’s hardly reached parity. That’s why I’ve been lowkey losing my mind over Rose Tico since they first announced Kelly Marie Tran would be prominently featured in The Last Jedi. (And by losing my mind, I mean excitedly hugging my friend Lin in a freezing gas station parking lot because we were finally going to see ourselves in Star Wars on the big screen.)
That excitement only steadily grew as the months passed and Kelly Marie Tran herself certainly had plenty to do with that. Her own enthusiasm for the character was practically tangible in every interview she did about The Last Jedi and she definitely seemed to grasp what a big deal she was in terms of Asian representation. Her red carpet appearance for the premiere was the first time I’ve genuinely and unironically wanted to tell someone, “Sweetie, you’re doing amazing!”
Despite all of this, I didn’t expect to cry multiple times when I saw Rose Tico on screen in The Last Jedi. Continue reading
Holonet Blast #39
So uhh… there was a Star War that came out last weekend. You may have heard of it. A little indie film called The Last Jedi. Needless to say, we’re all losing our minds over it still. Because of said film, there wasn’t actually much in terms of news this week as it was essentially press junket after press junket but hey! We found a few things that you might have missed.
To start, The Last Jedi is currently on target for a $220 million opening weekend which is second only to The Force Awakens. Apparently people like Star Wars!
Cobalt Squadron by Elizabeth Wein is now available for purchase but if you’d like a taste of it first, you can read an excerpt over on StarWars.com.
And finally… Walt Disney is acquiring 21st Century Fox for $52.4 billion. So… uhh… yeah. That’s something.
If anyone needs me, I’ll be alternating watching The Last Jedi and playing Battlefront II for the rest of my life and crying over both.
The Last Jedi cast gets silly
In the lead up to The Last Jedi, much of the world is interested in what the actors have to say about the movie and the characters they play. I, on the other hand, would rather watch these videos all day long. (No spoilers in any of them, FYI. And yes, I might be posting them all here so I have them in one place and can watch them over and over again.) While you go crazy waiting for VIII, please enjoy the cast being silly.
Of Dice and Droids Episode XII: For Whom the Bell Tolls
THE END OF ALL THINGS
EPISODE XII: FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS
The Cast:
- Brian the GM
- Kiera Lex played by Rocky
- Diya Barron played by Nanci
- Perceval played by Jay
- Shoto played by Sho
- Gin played by Saf
As you may notice on this episode, Tom is not in the GM’s seat. Unfortunately scheduling issues and Tom being completely awesome at his job have forced him to step away from GM duties for Of Dice and Droids, but don’t worry. He’ll still be around and we may even talk him into guest playing and GMing from time to time. Brian is sliding behind the GM’s screen in Tom’s place. We want to sincerely thank Tom for helping us launch this show and getting it off the ground.
This podcast has been brought to you in part by your support on Patreon. Be sure to subscribe on iTunes/Google Play to hear all of the adventures! You can also subscribe to the Tosche Station Radio master podcast feed (iTunes/Google Play) for even more great Star Wars and geek culture content.
Review: Star Wars #40
I’ve decided that all I want from Kieron Gillen’s Star Wars is more Skywalker twin interactions.
Queen Trios and the Empire continue their efforts to drill all of the kyber out of Jedha and the rebels continue to have somewhat strained relations with what’s left of the Partisans. However, things are slightly less than harmonious between even some of our heroes…
Spoilers after the cut. Continue reading