Episode #459 -- End of the Line

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
You're listening to Star Wars splash Page Comics in review.

Speaker 2 (00:05):
This is episode number four hundred and fifty nine. I'm
soaked with rain. Jeff's been soaked with rain? Jeff, how
are you.

Speaker 1 (00:14):
Meet me?

Speaker 2 (00:15):
Oh?

Speaker 3 (00:15):
No, jets stage made. I'm hum gonna be as beer
found park On.

Speaker 4 (00:26):
Don't want sets running the gas seas.

Speaker 2 (00:37):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (00:38):
Man, it's it's been pretty wed here, as you may
have seen in the news, and we had had a
lot of rain over the weekend as well, which is fun.
Which is fun because now that it's July and Texas,
it's making it even more humid, so it's like walking
through putting when you go outside.

Speaker 2 (00:56):
I can't attest to that, but I will say that
even here in Philadelphia today it's like walking through pea soup.
It's yep, humid, and it's only going to get worse
through the rest of the week.

Speaker 1 (01:06):
Well outside and it feels like a sweaty, fat guy's
is hugging you very tightly.

Speaker 2 (01:12):
I resemble that remark as do I.

Speaker 1 (01:15):
Well, folks, we do have three books to discuss this week,
so we'll get started here pretty quick. We have from
dark Horse. We have High Republic Adventures Volume three issue
number twenty, which we've been told is the last of
this series. We also have from Marvel Star Wars issue
number three, the main title, and also from dark Horse.
We're gonna sandwich Marvel. In between the dark Horse we

(01:37):
have Hyperspace Stories The Bad Batch Ghost Agents number five
of five.

Speaker 2 (01:43):
Yeah, yeah, sad to see this one then, me.

Speaker 1 (01:45):
Too, But it sounds like there's more to come. Matt.
What kind of news do we have?

Speaker 2 (01:49):
Well, speaking of the High Republic, High Republic Phase three
will be getting an omnibus release next year. No surprise there.
It's called Star Wars the High Republic Phase three Trials
of the Jedi Omnibus and it's going to collect Star
Wars the High Republic from twenty twenty three one through ten.

(02:09):
Star Wars Revelations number one, the one shot the High
Republic story the Acolyte Kalnaka, one shot, the four issue
Shadows of Starlight mini series, the five issue Fear of
the Jedi mini series, and the releasing at the end
of the month one shot the High Republic the Finale

(02:34):
aka The Beacon. So look for that probably March or
April of twenty twenty six, you know, definitely gonna add
that to my order list for sure. They play a
waiting game and see if it goes down price Verst
and Foremost to go to our Facebook page of Blue
sky Feed, you can see a couple of panels from

(02:56):
October's Star Wars Jedi Nights number eight by matebec musabek Off.
This comes courtesy of that series writer Mark Gugenheim and
his Legal Dispatch newsletter, and he was asked, you know,
you know, is how long is Jedi Night's going to be? Consider?
Apparently we have two trades already solicited, which brings us

(03:21):
to the tenth issue. Mark doesn't know, you know, it's usual,
that's Marble's call. It's a publishing call on how long
the series lasts. And a lot of the stems from
the fact of what we talked about, I guess a
week or two ago about how the current Star Wars
series looks like it's going to be collected. Well, it
doesn't look like it is. It's it's going to be

(03:41):
collected into a ten issue trade paperback, which has got
the appropriate and inappropriate people pontificating that perhaps it will
only be a ten issue Max series. However, not necessarily
a fuel to that fire. I do know that Marvel

(04:02):
tends to make a judgment call on whether or not
to extend a series by the time the fifth issues
rolled out. You know, they look at sales figures, et cetera,
et cetera, et cetera and make the call. All right,
we expanded We also know that, you know, and Marvel
has said before you know that they're kind of doing
stuff in five to ten issue arcs now, you know,

(04:24):
because it makes sense, you keep people's interests. Uh, you know,
it makes it, you know, very compact and easy to
go through. Uh, what's the things you to collect as
a trade.

Speaker 1 (04:36):
That's what I was gonna say. An's an easy entry
point for readers as well. I'm a big fan. We
talked about it before. The way Mike bg Nola does
Helbowy in the bpr D books, I love Star Wars
goes that route. I'm all for it.

Speaker 2 (04:46):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (04:47):
So it's like doork course maybe doing that?

Speaker 2 (04:49):
Yeah, And I and I have always maintained that, you know,
just you know, do do five to twelve issues and
then do a new outing. So I mean, you know,
to me, it's the Baber way do it. It's not
to say that you know, I don't like long series.
I mean, goodness, great trips. I wish Bounty Hunters will
still going for example, or you know, for that matter, Podammer.

(05:10):
But yeah, we'll see how it goes, so be interesting
to see what happens. We've got a couple of cover
reveals on the Facebook page on the Blue Sky Feed,
including the final cover for the November twenty fifth Star
Wars Diar Vader Modern Era Epic Collection Vader Down, which
collects twenty fifteen Stars Vader thirteen through twenty five, Vader
Down one, and twenty fifteen Star Wars thirteen, third, fourteen,

(05:36):
and then looking ahead into July of next year, Marvel
is going to be paying or playing about collecting rather
Star Wars Modern Era Epic Collection Volume three, The Screaming
Citadel that was a popular arc if I recall memory

(05:56):
serves and a lot of people really enjoyed that. That's
going to collect Star Wars thirty one day through forty three,
Star Wars Annual number three, The Screaming Sentadel number one,
and Doctor Aphras seven and eight. So keep an eye
after that. We'll probably see that solicited later this month
when Marvel drops its solicits Leap for gosh, and then

(06:21):
in March we get the Empire. Empire Era is concluding
with the Omnibus. That's gonna be very cool looking forward
to this one. This is the Star Wars Legends the
Empire Omnibus Volume four, and that's you know, that's gonna

(06:41):
be a good one. That's you know, a lot of
Star Wars, Empire X Wing, Rogue Squadron, Star Wars, some
stuff from Star Wars Infenities. Thus Star Wars which was
you know, the original the addoptation of Lucas's original script,
which was a lot of yeah, oh yeah, I love
that one, so you know, so look for that in March.
You can find all this lists of details on the

(07:01):
basebook page. As always. A couple of years back, we
had talked about Billy's comics. You know, they did the
Boba Fet you know sort of you know, Boba Fet
Predator book and everything like that. They've got a new
book coming out called Secret War. It's number three, if

(07:22):
you will, and that's it's sort of a take on
thoor So and Doctor Doom. So it's apparently part of
a three issue limited series. So I'll put a link
on the show. That's definitely were checking that one out
for sure.

Speaker 1 (07:39):
All right.

Speaker 2 (07:40):
First up, we have Star Wars The High Republic Adventures,
Phase three, issue number twenty. This is it. This series
comes to its conclusion, and it's satisfying to me at
least because it brings this Phase three to a close,
leaving only the High Republic. The finale aka the Beacon

(08:03):
one shot coming at the end of this month to
hold us and tide us over at least until Phase
four or Phase more. We'll see what happens, especially with
the summer announcements. I don't know, but anyway, this issue,
of course is called The Beginning, written by Daniel jose Older,
illustrated by Harvey Tolabau. Color art is by Michael Attia.

(08:24):
Letters are by Comic Crafts Tyler Smith and Jimmy Baitencourt.
The main cover is by Elisa Romboli and the varia
cover is by Daniel jose Older with Kevin Tolibau. Congratulation
is Daniel jose Older on your very first comic book cover.
Dark Horses publisher is Mike Richardson. The editor is Spencer Cushing,
the assistant editor Joe Kavanav. The designer is Rebecca Shee.
The digital art technician is Anne Gray and the pay

(08:46):
pre press technician is Jake Johnson. And for Lucasfilm we
have created director Michael Siglane, Editor Grace Rris, senior editor
Robert Simpson, art director Troy Alders, creative art manager Phil Shostack,
and from the story group we have Matt Martin, Pablo
Hidalgo and Emily Shpukhani. So I don't want to do
a page by page because this is a good one.

(09:08):
But the Battle of Ariadu has ended. The war is
one Light and life have defeated the nile. The occlusion
zone exists, no more Marchion Rose. Surviving forces are seeking
mercy or fleeing, and they misspelled flee by the way,
it should be fl ee to the darkest corners of

(09:28):
the galaxy. So what's time. The time is now for healing.
The resistance on Naradu needs to pick up the pieces
and they need to rebuild. And that's essentially what this
issue is. But it serves as a wider end piece
to not just Phase three, but indeed almost all of
the High Republic, because all of our familiar faces are there.

(09:50):
Far Azala Court, Zeen Lula sav Mangala and so many more,
you know, the Tarkans, and they are surrounded by death
and destruction and debris and despair. They have come to
honor Master torben Buck, and then doing so, they are

(10:11):
honoring the sacrifices made by everyone in the Jedi and
those associated with the Jedi. And you know, Zine delivers
a to me, I think is a very compelling line
on one page, and she is She and Lula are
backed by Jedi. We've lost, including you know, just you
know Stellen, loading grade Stone, so many more. He died

(10:33):
so that we could live. So many gave their lives
here in Ariagio as well, all for us to live
in freedom, says Zene and Lula as And so that's
exactly what we'll do, not live filled with guilt or
inconstant mourning. Our future is not shadowed by the ones
we lost. It's brightened by them every single thing we
do from here on out. And they start singing, memories

(10:54):
are what make me, those one hundred thousand lights you see,
and inside each raging sea of memories, forgive my singing voice.
And what we get is this wonderful two page bread
have everybody gathered together celebrating light and life, mourning those
who've passed, but looking to the future, a bright future,

(11:16):
and we see so many familiar faces from from all
of these issues that Daniel jose Older has lovingly caretaker
since the very beginning, and you know the same with
Harvey Tolabau, who was there from the beginning. Back. The
art is wonderful. It's it's expansive, and it's just it's
a nice no, it's not nice. It's a stirring, caught

(11:40):
a soul to this series and to this indeed entire epic.
And you know, nights Patawans are nighted, you know, And
and the future is bright, at least for a moment,
because this is Star Wars. And you know, as Star
Wars is prone to show when you got something good,
it don't last, which is a shit. But this series

(12:02):
does so and makes it wonderful. And I'm gonna miss it.
And it's a wonderful goodbye, a long, lingering goodbye with
hugs exchanged, kisses made, and celebration and dancing and singing,
and we get this wonderful ending in the last two pages.

(12:24):
My name is Lula Morala Calisola. My name is Zene
Marala Calisola. No more secrets, no more hiding, no more disguises.
The rest of our life begins now in they exchange
a big smooch, and that's where we get the end.
So really wonderful story. It just again, We're gonna miss

(12:46):
this one a lot, all right. Star Wars number three
potentially of ten. We don't really know yet, but I
am imagine we will find out.

Speaker 4 (13:02):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (13:02):
This, of course is written by Alex Sagora. Art is
by film Noto. Letters are by virtual calligraphies. Clayton Coles.
Phil Notto is the main cover artist. There are variants,
including one by Carlo Bagulian, Jason Poz and Ryan Barreto.
Chris Sprouse carry Carl's Story, and neirojmun And have a
Force Awakened tenth Anniversary. John Tyler Christopher has an action
figure variant, and Lionel Francis Hugh and Romula Foharder Junior

(13:24):
also have a variant. The assistant editors are mikey Jabasso
and Drew Baumgartner. Mark Benicia is the editor. C. B.
Sebalski is the editor in chief. Again for Lucasfilm, we
have Robert Simpson Grace Arris, Michael Sigline, Troy Alders, Phil Shostack,
Matt Martin, Papolo Hidalgo, and Emilie Schucanni. This one is
called Complications. Uh. While Luke is trying to figure out

(13:49):
what's going on with the Nagai rebellion, uh, you know,
and to go to gadjulamb Uh he found you know
which he did. He found the Crown of Verity, which
would help reveal the truth of what is happening to
the people. Luke learned about a man named Garlov who
is leading the group of freedom fighters there. And this
issue is set on Cloud City investment. So interesting parallel

(14:14):
Star Wars twenty twenty number three Cloud City, Star Wars
twenty twenty five, number three Cloud City. So that's twice
now that it's happened. So perhaps I think it should
become a tradition. So whenever there is another Star Wars
comic book, every third issue should somehow someway find their
way to vestment in Cloud City. And so we opened

(14:35):
up with this gorgeous, gorgeous full page spread of Cloud
City with a ship coming in hot smoke out of
the engines and you know, radio traffic we've got something
coming up on short range HN identified and it's just
got The color here is so lush, it's just wow,
just you know, it's just amazing. And we see our

(14:57):
Cloud City Security Force. I love those you know forms,
love those hats. What do you mean identified? It means
I've never seen a ship like it. They're not responding
to hails either. And the way they're flying, it's not
like they're in for a safe landing and crash and
it hits the landing pad. Get a crew out to
East two eleven now, so they go out there. The
ship is not, thankfully a light in flames, but it's

(15:18):
about to be, but it's in bad shape. And then
we do it. We get a flashback and we are
in Karamena in the Outer Rim years ago, and it's Han, Orlando,
Chewbacca and Garlev than the guy they are firing. It's
something they're in a firefight. You sure that intel is

(15:39):
worth sticking our next out for you, Garlet. Han says
it's too late now, Solo, we either shoot our way
out and then we you know, this is a little
jarring because you know, this panel is in the past,
and then we cut to the present. In Cloud City.
We see the security guards going staleer. It could be
anything in there. Something's moving, you know, And the canopy
opens and we see the top of the the guy's
head and the ear, so we kind of assume this

(16:00):
is Garlett. And then we cut back to the past
or we embrace a shared darkness in hansets we're running
for our lives and this guy's riding Sonnets. Cut back
to the present. There's someone coming out and there's garlic.
Help me. I need too, I need to talk to
Lando Calrisian. I have to find Han. And then we
cut to the planet's submarine in the present and Han

(16:24):
is there with Balance. Han solo, you sure know how
to pick them. You ask for off the grid, and
here we are. Balance says kind of place that wouldn't
be caught dead in it's early Balance. I'd be worried
about that stuff rushing me from the inside out if
I were you that. You know, Balance drinks a fruity cocktail.
We all make our choices, all right, let's talk. You
knew not to pull me into this mess unless things

(16:44):
got really sticky, and they did it, says Balance. I
warned you about these antarctgoons and the trouble they've been closing,
and now you're complaining like I dumped up baby Dianova
on your lap. Things are different now, Balance, I just
can't just hop into the falcon fly off on adventure
whenever I like the old day gone. And he's not wrong,
so could have fooled me. General, the Santarks must have

(17:06):
prepped in from the path from past the southern regions
a few months ago, because none of my contacts or
the Pikes to the Spice Runners the Fortuna's crew saw
them coming. I don't have a read on what they're
gonna do, but what I do know about them worries
me plenty, and a few scuffs I've had with them.
It's a parent. They've got money, and they've got guns,
lots of guns, and more Imperial hardware than they know
what to do with. Han says, how do you move

(17:27):
that kind of weaponry without being seen? You tell me, smuggler,
or are you ashamed of your old life? Did I
hit you where it hurts? Solo Solo grabs fants balance,
his hand, knocks his drink over. You know as well
as anyone, how twisted and what complicated. This life can
be balanced. We do what we have to do to survive.
We make tough choices because those are the only ones left.

(17:47):
You scrape and crawl and fight to get by, and
that's what I did. Shame has nothing to do with it.
Nice speech, where'd you read it? Duty calls Lando, what
is it? I'm in the middle of Hello to you too, Hun.
We've got trouble on Cloud City. An old friend of ours,
Garlett just landed him. He's asking for you, Han for us,
says he has important information for the New Republic, but

(18:09):
there isn't much time. He's in bad shape. Someone didn't
want him get into Cloud City. He's dying and we
need to find out who's gunning for him and why.
Then me cut to the federal sector and Wren is
trying to find Luke, who has tore off you know,
much to Laya's chagrin. How do you lose a master Jedi?
Just ask Ace Pilot Wren's or not? Wren, you're being

(18:30):
hard on yourself as usual, am I predy? I thought
Luke and I her partners, but he left me behind
without a word. I'm sure he had his reasons. You
trust him don't you. And of course Wren is in
her ex wing and talking to Predy via the holographic transmission. Sure,
but try explaining that to Layah you do not want
her mount at you. I can still hear her voice
in my head. You lost, Luke, Wren. You're not some

(18:51):
wide eyed rookie pilot. You were a spice runner. You
serve the rebellion. Your entire life has been about complicated
choices and doing what you think is right. This is
one of those times I love you. Wrenn says, I
love you too, Pretty replies gotta go pretty. I think
our errant jedis found me and he has it is
her art too, Wren Skywalker, I just about giving up

(19:13):
on finding you. I'm glad to see your friend. You
sure have a funny way of showing it, and I
just I want to pause here and just denote that. Yeah,
we're seeing these exterior shots of the two in their
ex wings. God, they're so well drawn. I really like it.
And Luke said, look, I'm sorry. Look I can explain
it ties into the attacks on our trade ships, and
more's happened since you left. Luke. There's been another attack

(19:35):
and the federal sector is off limits to us now,
and Luke says, all right, let's get back to base
and pool our intel to see if we can make
sense of this nice so they tear off. We turn
the page and we're back in the past and there's
Garlev with Han and Chewy and Lando, and Garliff is like,
this way, I know where they have the rest. The
rest thought we were done here, Garlev. They're heading, you know,
and they're being chased by what looks like imperials. They're

(19:56):
heading into the data and that stop them, you know,
and everyone's firing at them. You got that, right, Hubaca.
These Karamene and thugs seem pretty worried. Garlic swiped it, Han,
we might need to head to the falcon and call it.
I think you're right, Lando, Garlic, let's go. And Girl's like,
I can't. I have to get this. It's not about loot. Han, go,
says Han. We'll cover you. Thank you, don't maybe regret this,

(20:17):
Han says, as a fire, you know, fire out covering shots,
and then we see Garlic make his way up into
the data and es and again it's really well drawn,
and the panels are are unique because you know, you
can tell that they're in the past because they have
sort of these rounded edges, whereas most, you know, the
present day panels are sharply edged. So Garlif comes in,

(20:38):
finds the data control holds up a holographic image showing
his family Mika Karastula, and Han comes running in. I
think we held those mud scuffers off for now. You
get what you need. He goes, no, no, no, not yet,
and then we cut to the present and Cloud City.
Han and Balance have arrived in the falcon. They've landed
in Cloud City, and Lando comes out to meet them,
so it's, you know, it's eerily reminiscent of that scene

(20:59):
in the Fire strikes back. This garlic must be important.
I didn't think we could hear that fast Ballance, says
Han says, believe you, Balance, I would have dropped you
off somewhere if I had the time. And Lando approaches
Welcome to Cloud City, gentlemen. I wish it were under
better circumstances. You know as well as I do. Lando.
It won't take much to improve on my first visit here,
and we get a nice ole flashback of hot and

(21:22):
carbonite with ug knots behind Lando. And Lando's looking over
checking to make sure he's alive. Hou'scarlet. It's bad, hon
follow me. He's in the infirmary. But he wanted to
talk to both of us, demanded it. Actually did he
say anything? And he hadea what he was running from?
Not a word. He was barely conscious when he got here.
Remember the last time we saw him must have been
over a decade ago. How can I forget? We stood

(21:44):
Hawkoon up to meet him, lost out on a sweet deal,
but Garlic was desperate to unload something. And then we
cut to the outskirts of the Morasians sector years ago.
I trusted Garlif, we all did so. If he said
he had some camp, miss score, I came that was
the business. And we cut to them inside the cock
and it's Garlass ship and you know it's a Corelian freighter,
but it's the kind it's like the outrider that dash

(22:05):
Rindar flew. We're taking some fire, Garlaff says, and Hans says,
you didn't say anything about company. Garliff, And I don't
make a habit of risking my life for junk, Rah says, Chewy.
My word is solid, Yubaka. You know this. I've got
a load of Morasian weapons in the loading bay. Weapons.
Are you kidding me? You know how hard it is
to unload that stuff with the empire breathing done? I

(22:26):
know that, Han, but I need help if I don't
sell off these guns, garl if the guns are the
least of our concerns. Now, if we don't shake these
Molraisian smugglers you robbed, and Lando Ads, and you know
the game. If you can't sell us your haul, you
get stuck with it. Hell, you might have to sell
it for a few plates of roasted min. Garlas says,
I'd never asked this if I didn't need it. Please

(22:46):
just look the goods over and Lando ads, don't do it, Han,
I can get the coordinates for the meeting with Shnella.
We can get back to the falcon and be on
our way. And Hans says, show me the loot kid,
and Orlando just puts his hand upon his foreard. Do
you ever listen? Jarles says, this way, you won't regret it.
And Lando ads, I already do. These Marasian weapons won't

(23:06):
show up anywhere, completely untraceable. But come on, Gar, let's
meet this up. I'm doing you a favor, no need
for the heart sell, just show me the wares and
the door opens and the three of them are there.
We see them standing, and Landa goes, what the blazes
is going on here? And it's one two, three, four, five, six, seven,
eight nine more than a guy. No, no, no, mart If,
I told you to stay, says gar We were under fire, Garla,

(23:27):
and Han grabs Garllef shoves them up against the wall.
I'm gonna give you one second to explain yourself, kid,
because my eyes tell me you're not running counterfor weapons,
You're running people. No, it's not that Han. I'm not
trying to sell these people. They're my people. I'm trying
to save them. We cut back to Cloud City present Balance,
Han and Lando were walking to the infirmary and Balances.

(23:48):
You weren't always you were always an easy mark Solo
soften that cybernetic card of yours. Balance. He was trying
to get his people out of a bad situation. What
was I supposed to do? And Lando ads? So we
didn't know much about where Garliff came from, but when
we saw the look on his face, desperate to get
his people of the safety, we knew he was a
good man. I just wish he could tell us what's
brought him running to Cloud City. Now we might be

(24:08):
able to help him. Orlando damn. And the door opens
and there is Garlev, the two medical staff and the
two Wine medical Joydan. They've all been shot through the
chest with the laser blasts dead. They got them, all

(24:32):
of them blaster fresh too. So Lando's got his gun out.
Han Han is running and he's wearing a white vest
I just wanted to point that out. Let's cut through here.
It's the only way they could have gotten in, and
the vestment. You know, the Cloud City security are tracking something,
some movement unidentified. Down this way. They're making their way
to the platforms. Hans says, we can't let them get
to a ship. He wanted to talk to us, needed us.
We should have gotten here sooner. Balance says, no time

(24:52):
for regrets, Solo. Only way to fix this is to
put a blaster between the eyes of the person or tagged.
Your friend over there, says landa poo, and they of
course miss the person runs, cut them down, keep him
alive at any costs. Pew, damn it. They're too fast
as Han Han hang back and Han says coverman. He runs,
He makes a you know, just a dash. Takes a
special kind of monster to come in to shoot someone
already on their death bed. He jumps the person, makes

(25:14):
me even more curious about who you are, perhaps another
time general and the person she smacks him under the chin,
kicks him off and escapes. Han, you hurt, forget about me?
Will you get after them? And she makes her run,
jumps in a cloud car. But it's an old cloud car.
It's basically one of the Ralph macquarie concept sketches, you know,
one that eventually became a toy. So very cool to

(25:35):
see that. Don't let them reach that ship. But they
reach that ship. Got to get to the falcon. We
can catch it. We have to. We can't, Han, it's
too late. By the time we get to your ship,
they'll be long gone. So the next day they're having
a funeral for gar and Lando is saying some kind words.
Garlab deserved a better end than this. He was a friend,
a good man, and Hans says he wasn't a good man.

(25:57):
He was a thief and smuggler, a killer. He was
omplicated like all of us. And Han places a hollow
disk hollow disc showing Gar's family. But he was a
savior too to his people, a lifelong criminal trying to
balance the scales, a bit to do some good after
the bad. We had more in common than I thought.
He died trying to reach us, and I'm going to

(26:17):
find out what he was trying to say. So that
sets up the next next issue, obviously the Meanwhile, we
turn the page and we are on Laura Dill, on
the edge of the funeral sector, and the crashed New
Republic cargo ship is you know, in the on the ground,
if you will any luck. Finch not sure. Cap can't
seem to get this distress signal out, can't tell if
this thing even works. Attention, this is the surviving curve

(26:40):
of the training vessel Neckrum's Wake. Repeat. We are stranded
somewhere in the Federal Sector and require I mean nothing,
damn it, keep trying. If the New Republic doesn't know
where we landed, we're as good as Roger Roger dead.
And they turn around and approaching them are battle Droids
prequel trilogy era of Battle Droids. Right, Roger Roger, Roger Roger.

(27:02):
We got it to be continued, Very intriguing so interesting
issues solid I enjoyed the pacing and it was nice
to see some of the past.

Speaker 1 (27:15):
All right, apologies, folks, we're having some technical issues. Of
those technical issues being Jeff's Internet that are keeping Matt
and I from recording together, so we're gonna kind of
split up our duties for this episode. For the reviews, Matt,
you just heard from him with the High Republic and
Star Wars, I'm going to talk to you now about

(27:37):
the bad Batch Ghost Agents number five, which I really enjoyed.
This is part five of five The Sands of Sapper
and this book was written by Michael Maurice. Pencil by
Rhys Hannigan, inked by Elizabeta Demico, colored by Michael Attier.
Letter by Comic Crafts Tyler Smith and Bobby Bradford. Cover

(27:59):
art is by Valet Valeria Favoccia, and I apologize if
I just butchered the name Valeria, and there is an
alternate a variant cover by French Carlo Magno. A publisher
for this book was Mike Richardson, Editor Spencer Cushing, Assistant
editor Joe Cavanaugh, designer Rebecca Gee. Digital art technician is
Conley Presler. Pre Press was done by Jake Johnson for Lucasfilm.

(28:23):
We have Michael Sigline editor, Grace Aris senior editor, Robert Simpson,
art director Try Alders, creative arts manager Phil Showstack, and
from the Lucasfilm Story Group Pablo Martin, Pablo Hidalgo and
Emily Shkukhani. I did that all one breath. So if
you recall where we're at here, the bad Batch is
looking for basically the knock List. If you remember the

(28:43):
first Mission Impossible Move from way back in nineteen ninety six,
there's there's a list of of undercover agents that that
Aris sing is after. She's been hired to go after it,
and the bad Batch has been tasked with getting to
it before her. And so they've landed on a planet

(29:04):
called Sapper, which is in the middle of a dust storm,
and of course Tech is trying to set them down
without incident, and they kind of land, but of course
Recor even is saying, I think I'm going to be sick,
So they land, and I really love the way this
book is drawn. The orange background to represent the dust
here is just really really great. And the sandstorms cannot

(29:28):
differentiate between a heavy gust of wind and an incoming ship,
so works to their advantage in this case. And we
find out that there used to be an entire city
here before the storm started. So these storms have been
going for a while. And they say, apparently there's a
tech says there's also a separatist waste station here. Supposedly

(29:48):
it's too risky for the Republic to attack it in
these conditions, and so Recor of course says, that's where
we come in. And he says, when I hear wage war,
they tell a record when I hear wadgear war. We're
here for one man, and it's bringing us up to speed,
the leader of the separatist operations on this planet, and
apparently a double agent working for the Republic. And so

(30:09):
we're talking about going deep under cover, and they say, yeah,
let's hope he hasn't gone too deep. Crossair says, so
right now, I say, right now, we have to find
him before Arsing does. So they set off and there's
a there's a they see that there's a tall tower
straight ahead, and uh. But then they realize that what

(30:30):
they're reading, they're reading something else that's closer than they think,
and it's a bunch of battle droids coming straight for them, uh,
and Clanker is never a problem, and they say, well,
it is a problem. We can't let them spot us
if they do with all the earther base, and we'll
never make it to their commander Record says, well, I
wanted to beat up some droids, and Crossair says, you
can record, you just have to do it quietly. And

(30:51):
I love the battle droids. There's you know, saying have
we done enough canvassing yet? The commanders said the monitors
might have picked something up. It was probably just saying,
you know, they're they're given these attitudes and it's it's
a lot of fun. They're kind of snarky, and reckor
you know, takes makes quick work of them without being
seen because of the sandstorm and everything, which is great.

(31:12):
And right as one is about to report back to base,
he gets he gets uh blastered right in the chest
and Tex says, according to my readings, there might be
some more good times coming after. Recker says, that always
a good time. So they head off for this large
tower and that looks like there is going to be

(31:35):
a lot of battle droids in this building. So they
have to blast their way through some clankers and they
come in and uh, and again make pretty quick work
of these for just four guys, and make pretty quick
work of the battle droids. We get some really good
action here for a couple of pages. And they finally
make their way into where they're going to go and uh.

(32:00):
They say, well, we're at the top. He's got to
be and these The guy says, stop right there. I
think you've taken this far enough. Who are you and
why are you here? And it's it's some guy. He
looks a little like Roy Kent from Ted Lass. I'll
be honest with you, he says. Uh. They say, listen,
we know you're here, we know who you are. We're
here to rechieve you. You have to come with us right now.
And the guy says, well, I know exactly who I am.

(32:21):
I'm a commander in the Separatist army. And you clones
have come to the wrong place at the wrong time.
You've made a mistake and it'll be the last you
ever make. And they say, you don't understand. The list
is in the open. You've been compromised. Rsing is coming
here to kill you. And he says, my apologies. But
it looks like the game is over and just shoots
one of his battle droids. There is droid to cause

(32:41):
and uh, Recker, you know, they all lay into them
and everything and he and the guy says, I meant
what I said. I am sorry. I was ordered to
never blow my cover. But if that assassin is on
our way, then they say she is, which means we
have to get out of here before and as if
on q r. Sing comes through a skylight and lands
on the ground in her her hero landing pose, and

(33:02):
she says, before what and they say, well, easy, now
let's choose our next steps very carefully. And she says,
why what's the matter do you to me? And my
friends make you boys nervous because she's flanked by some
battle droids, and so they tell Crosshair to keep her distracted.
Wrecker you know, takes in after and he says I've
got it, and she says, you get what exactly and

(33:23):
she hits him with the butt of her gun and uh,
and again we just get a really good some really
good action here. I like the way it's all done
because we can I can always tell what's going on,
and you guys know that I can be very simple
when it comes to reading action and so they're their
quarry who there to pick up hands them some devices.
Is to take one of these, and they say, well

(33:44):
to do what with? He says, what do you think? Jump?
And so they jump out of this window and UH
as their following record says, why did we And as
they grab on to the UH the handles of these
discs that they've got, propellers come out to just sort
of lazily drift them down to the ground. So they

(34:07):
hit the ground running and h Crossair says, let's maybe
let's move, Maybe we can get our ghost agent to
the ship before and Tech cuts them off. Hate to
be the bearer of bad news, Crossair, but my mission
wasn't just to save one agent. And they say text right,
we need we need the list, all of it. Hunter
says that, and he says now or never, this storm

(34:27):
gives us an advantage we can use. And so she
comes at our sing is caught up with them. They
start shooting after she says, I have a job to
do and I won't let a bunch of clones stand
in my wet and right as she says that, one
of them shoots a gun out of her hand and
it's crosshair. She says, I admire your skill, but where
are you? And uh? And she says, where you stop?

(34:51):
Stop hiding? And she wants she wants them to come
out and give her a fair fight as if and
she says, do you really think you could beat me?
He says, I don't need to beat you. I just
need to get close to you. And and there's one
thing's going on. These laser blasts keep coming in and
he gets the he gets the UH gets the data

(35:13):
card from her and and they get away, she says.
And they get on the ship and get ready to
get out of here, and they say we're out of
times and get us moving. He says, we still have
the storms between us in orbit, but I'm certain we'd
rather battle sand than a furious assassin. And I really
like this inset panel where she's She says, I have
news and you're not going to like it. This yellow

(35:34):
background here just looks very like mid to late eighties comics.
To me, I really like it. So back on Coruscant,
there the clones are talking to Mace. Windwy says, it
sounds like your mission took an unexpected turn dealing with
that enemy assassin. Is no small feet. And while I
can't completely endorse paying off a bounty hunter, I see
the strategic reasoning. Overall. I'm impressed. I said, well, thank you,

(35:58):
General webd Do. I'm sure they're so glad to have
his approval. Says, we prod ourselves in completing our missions,
regardless of the challenges they present. And he says, well
you beat impossible odds or you the type who don't
like knowing the odds, And of course Tech says, I
love knowing the odds. It's always good to understand what
our mathematical chances are, and May says, well, in that case,
you'll love what we have lined up for you next.

(36:19):
How you calculate your chances will be interesting. Go see
Master Kenobi. He has your next mission, assuming of course,
that you're ready for it. I said, General Sir, we're
always ready. We get this great hero shot of them
at the very end. It's great. I really really enjoyed
this book. It looks like in July twenty twenty five
we have some more Hyperspace stories coming in a Hyperspace

(36:39):
Stories number one coming called Tides of Terror, so we'll
have that to look forward to. Really really good book.
And Matt, I know, gave you the reviews for the
High Republican Star Wars. I really enjoyed the Star Wars
book this month, and that will bring us to our
solicits for next week. We only have a couple of

(37:05):
books coming out next week, and only one of which
Matt and I will be discussing. On Tuesday the twenty second,
we have a Star Wars Modern era epic collection, Yoda's War,
which collects Star Wars numbers fifteen through thirty and the
annuals one and two. It's gonna be a really good
collection if you want to pick that one up. And
next Wednesday, on July twenty third, we have Doctor Afra
Chaos Agent number two, and of course you know Matt

(37:27):
and I are excited about that, so we'll be back
next week to discuss that and anything else that happens
between now and then. If you haven't seen Superman, go
see it. The hype is earned. It's outstanding. And until
next week. For Star Wars Flash Page, I'm Jeff and
May of course the week always the Star Wars Flash

(37:49):
Page theme song is Mark Hamill can handle about Chris Cape.
Check Chris out at Chriscape dot com and on SoundCloud,
on Twitter at chris Cape, and on Facebook.

Speaker 2 (38:24):
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Episode #459 -- End of the Line

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