Our coverage continues of the Marvel Star Wars comics published between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi! In this episode, Jim Beard joins The Irredeemable Shag to discuss Marvel STAR WARS #46 (April 1981), by Wally Lombego (sort of), Carmine Infantino & Tom Palmer! In this issue, entitled “The Dreams of Cody Sunn-Childe”, Lando & Chewie cross paths with a Rebel legend turned pacifist cult leader… but what happens when the Empire crashes the party? Finally, we wrap up with YOUR listener feedback from the previous episode!
- 00:00:30 – Introductions
- 00:19:05 – Guest’s origin with Star Wars comics
- 00:27:35 – Guest’s favorite Star Wars expanded universe character
- 00:31:25 – Star Wars #46 cover discussion
- 00:38:30 – Star Wars #46 interior discussion
- 01:43:40 – The Golden Plif Award
- 01:49:45 – Your listener feedback from the last episode
- 02:08:35 – Sign off
- Have a question or comment? Looking for more great content?
- Leave comments on our website: http://fireandwaterpodcast.com/podcast/swe2j-02/
- Email the show at: EmpireToJedi@gmail.com
- JM DeMatteis’ commentary on the issue and the changes imposed by Lucasfilm:
- https://www.jmdematteis.com/2010/09/dreams-of-wally-lombego.html
- https://www.jmdematteis.com/2010/10/star-warsagain.html
- Follow Jim Beard:
- Flinch Books: https://flinchbooks.com/
- The Jim Beard and Becky Books Page: https://www.facebook.com/thebeardjimbeard
- Jim Beard’s Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jim-Beard/author/B004UWVOPE
- Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/writerjimbeard.bsky.social
- Subscribe to the MARVEL STAR WARS: FROM EMPIRE TO JEDI Podcast:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marvel-star-wars-from-empire-to-jedi/id1812325155
- Don’t use Apple Podcasts? Use this link for your podcast catcher: http://feeds.feedburner.com/empiretojedi
- Also available on Spotify, Audible, and Amazon Music
- Follow MARVEL STAR WARS: FROM EMPIRE TO JEDI on social media:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmpireToJedi/
- Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/empiretojedi.bsky.social
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/EmpireToJedi
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empiretojedi/
- Threads: https://www.threads.com/@empiretojedi
- This podcast is a proud member of the FIRE AND WATER PODCAST NETWORK:
- Visit the Fire & Water website: http://fireandwaterpodcast.com
- Like our Fire & Water Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FWPodcastNetwork
- Follow Fire & Water on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fwpodcasts.bsky.social
- Follow Fire & Water on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fireandwaterpodcast/
- Support The Fire & Water Podcast Network on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fwpodcasts
Thanks for listening! May the Force be with You, Always!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Sing along! “This is the dawning of the age of SUnn-Childe! The age of Sunn-Childe!”
You gentlemen are absolutely right. Space hippies, beings with unlimited psychic powers. A story with a social message. This is Star Trek. I can even hear Spock telling Sunn-Childe how illogical is actions are. I believe in pacifism. I truly admire those who are able to turn the other cheek. “Give peace a chance.” Unfortunately there are those who will only back down in challenged with violence. Evil succeeds when good men do nothing. Sunn-Childe was correct to try peace, but he was wrong to stand by when he could have prevented death and destruction.
I LOVED Brian Daley’s Han Solo trilogy. Han Solo at Stars End was the first novel I ever read. I still have my original set of hardcover copies my mother bought me from one of the book club catalogs a long time ago in the galaxy we reside in. I’ve never read Splinter in the Mind’s Eye, and have no plans to. Because Han Solo isn’t in it.
As a kid, even though I couldn’t put my finger on it, I always sort of recognized which new creatures/characters in the comic looked like they truly fit in the established SW world, and which ones look like they wandered over from another Marvel comic. The big magenta demon on the cover just screams to me “demon who maybe fought Dr Strange.”
My rule of thumb was, any character that got their own Kenner action figure wasn’t too obscure to lead their own story. I had the Imperial Dignitary figure (I think I gave him Jedi powers back in the day) so it’s a shame Jim never got to tell his story!
The term “ansible” as a technology enabling interstellar communication was first coined by sci-fi author Ursula K. Le Guin, and used extensively by Orson Scott Card in his Ender books.
I’ve mentioned before I collected the whole set of 107 SW comics and 3 annuals and still have the set. This issue is one I’ve read maybe twice and never revisited. Sounds like you guys and I are on the same page about it.
Lando as a soldier of fortune…yeah, I’m not sure about that either. He’s certainly an extremely capable marksman, strategist, and starship pilot and gunner, but those always struck me as pragmatic skills he picked up along the way to stay alive, not that he hired himself out as a mercenary ever. One of the newer Marvel comics (maybe the Lando limited series) had some enemies underestimate him, writing him off as “just” a gambler and Lando makes them pay for underestimating him, saying something to the effect of, “Fighting is not my first choice but I’m very good at it.”
Lando abandoning the Imperials in the dimensional rift seems callous, but I see it as in character for him and Chewie. Those are fewer Imperials to menace the galaxy later. That same thinking shows up later in the battle of Endor “Get as close as you can, and engage those Star Destroyers at point blank range!” Taking serious damages and losses against superior numbers and vessels, but staying in the fight by negating the advantage of the devastating super laser of the Death Star. Admiral Ackbar was incredulous but the strategy paid off.
Jim’s take on post-ROTJ comics in this series reminds me how much diversity of opinion there is about his series and it’s great. As you say, find your joy! For me, there is a lot to like about the post-ROTJ comics (the Luke vs Lumiya trilogy is one of my favorite comic stories with Cynthia Martins full talent on display. Lumiya’s design in those issues is one of my favorite villain designs ever. I admired how she veered away from making a Darth Vader looking person and made it unique while still menacing.
It’s fun to hear about Lando and chewi’s first adventure. Also I own the Christmas special on DVD . My bro loves it I plan to watch this year with him and try to get my hand on the documentary about the Christmas special so double feature be starting a Christmas tradition. Random question shag have seen the Mike Douglas show episode that is essentially a Star Wars special? If not check out 70’s tv .com . I think you’ll find. A lot of stuff there to like including Captain Eo tv version .
Secret question: would rather have spend a day as lando’s side kick or be able to build a working droid in real life out of spare parts in your house that is alive and works like in the movies a R-2 s-8
Hmmm, I think I’d build the working droid bc it would repair things for me and bring me drinks. Being Lando’s sidekick seems like a good way to get chased and shot at. No thanks!
So being a new reader, I saw the cover and thought “A genie? Really? Ooooo-kay.” So I’m glad my confusion wasn’t unique. This was a strange one for sure, seeming more like a Starlin Warlock. But I agree about Tom Palmer’s inking elevating the art. As a longtime fan of his Avengers work, it was great to see him on this issue.
But here’s the crazy thing. I post the covers of the digital comics I read as I go on Threads and Bluesky. Normally, I average 5 likes for any given comic. This one? On Bluesky, it got 7 reposts and 76 LIKES! Now, was the general liking of the Marvel Star Wars comics or Star Wars in general? I wouldn’t think so, because that didn’t happen for the previous issue or the Empire issues. So it’s either “ironic” likes as in they liked a post about the comic but not the comic itself, OR they actually liked the cover or the comic. I don’t know what that means, but this was fascinating results to me. I suppose I could ask why people hit “like”, but not sure if I want to engage any further because it could get weird quickly. Anyway, crazy stuff!
The two Han Solo trilogies work well together. I’m pretty sure at some point in the A.C. Crispin books, Han and Chewie head off to the Corporate Sector to have their Brian Daley adventures. Then they come back in the next chapter.
In late 1989 or early ’90, my friends and I were getting into the West End Games RPG and having a sort of Star Wars renaissance in our lives. This was pre-Zahn books, so it was amazing to find the Han Solo books in our local library. I didn’t know about them when they came out (too young), so it was spectacular to suddenly have new (to me) Star Wars content. It was particularly great to find out it was by the writer of the radio drama, which I fondly remembered, but only had two episodes saved on cassette.
Another great episode! I was 10 when I picked this up and remember being pretty underwhelmed. It took a bit for Marvel to get it into gear post ESB. I’m looking to some of the even weirder ones.
Once everything clicked, it was an incredible run. Amazing that it was done minus 1 major character, and basically not allowing ANYTHING of consequence to happen.
As a 10 year old, I remember being more excited reading the letters page of these issues for ANY news pre internet.
Also, Marvel quality control was high with excellent art and writers, despite not alway clicking or feeling “ Star Warsy” LOL. Big Jim Beard fan as well and you guys did great on a lower tier issue. Happy holidays!!
Aww, thanks, man! I have a fan! That’s one! 🙂