518: Classic Marvel Star Wars Comics #54 "STARFIRE RISING"
Skywalking Through Neverland: Keeping the Star Wars Magic Alive
Release Date: 06/05/2025
541: Skywalking Through 2025 and Beyond!
Skywalking Through Neverland: Keeping the Star Wars Magic Alive
It’s our annual year-end wrap-up spectacular!! We take a look back at 2025 - this year’s conversation is packed with personal fandom highlights, expectations that were met (and wildly exceeded), and a few things that didn’t quite live up to the hype. As always, the real joy of these episodes is revisiting the moments that made the year special—and it was even better doing it with friends. We were thrilled to welcome Bobby Robertson from and Jenn Diz from the to share their own 2025 standouts and pop-culture takeaways. From conventions to theme parks, 2025 was a huge year for fandom...
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540: The Force Awakens at 10 - Part 2 - Global Press Conference!
Skywalking Through Neverland: Keeping the Star Wars Magic Alive
Join us as we continue celebrating the 10-year anniversary of The Force Awakens with a holiday-themed trip back to December 2015! In this episode, we dig into the audio archives to relive THE FORCE AWAKENS Global Press Conference at the Los Angeles Convention Center, featuring cast and filmmakers including Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Kathleen Kennedy, and J.J. Abrams, with standout moments moderated by Mindy Kaling. We also revisit the Chinese Theatre forecourt, sharing original audio recorded straight from the line with friends like Matt Baird,...
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539: The Force Awakens at 10! Part 1
Skywalking Through Neverland: Keeping the Star Wars Magic Alive
“There has been an awakening - have you felt it?” We kick off our 10th anniversary celebration of Star Wars: The Force Awakens by traveling back 10 years to the excitement and anticipation of 2015. We’re joined by TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX line-organizer of and actor , who appeared in the film as the always-smiling Cratinus in Maz Kanata’s castle. Together, we reminisce about the anticipation surrounding Disney’s first Star Wars sequel and how The Force Awakens became a defining moment for modern Star Wars fandom and forged lifelong friendships along the way. This is Part 1 of our...
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538: Disney Investor Day 2020 - 5 Years Later
Skywalking Through Neverland: Keeping the Star Wars Magic Alive
We take a nostalgic trip back to the Walt Disney Company Investor Day in December 2020—one of the biggest reveal events in recent Star Wars history. That day, Lucasfilm unveiled a galaxy’s worth of upcoming Star Wars projects, from new series to feature films. Now that a few years have passed, it's time to look back with clear eyes and ask: What actually happened to all those announcements? In this episode, we break down every Star Wars project revealed that day and explore which ones successfully launched, which ones quietly faded away, and which are still somewhere in hyperspace...
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537: Wicked For Good Review - the Coven Goes to Oz
Skywalking Through Neverland: Keeping the Star Wars Magic Alive
It’s time to embrace our witchy obsession as we review Wicked: For Good, the long-awaited second chapter of Elphaba and Glinda’s story! Sarah is joined by , , and ; we head to Oz together for a spoiler-filled discussion of how this film expands on the stage musical while weaving more tightly into the events of The Wizard of Oz. With Elphaba in exile and Glinda rising as the “Good” face of the Wizard’s regime, the story explores friendship, perception, sacrifice, and what it truly means to be seen as “wicked” or “good.” We break down the emotional weight of the film — from...
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536: Star Wars Holiday Special Connections with Tom Spina
Skywalking Through Neverland: Keeping the Star Wars Magic Alive
Happy Life Day! A Celebration of the Star Wars Holiday Special It’s that time of year again — Life Day is here! We’re giving thanks to Lucasfilm and CBS for blessing us with the wonderful Star Wars Holiday Special. This episode, we’re celebrating in true Life Day fashion — by diving into the Holiday Special and exploring how it connects to the larger Star Wars universe in our own creative and humorous way. How did Mermeia influence the Clone Wars? How did Ackmena go from Naboo handmaiden to Halcyon bartender and end up working at the Cantina? Joining us is fellow Holiday Special...
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535: Creature from the Black Lagoon: Classic Horror Revisited with Gary Gerani
Skywalking Through Neverland: Keeping the Star Wars Magic Alive
The Creature From the Black Lagoon trilogy just celebrated its 70th Anniversary, so what better time to dive into this influential classic horror series than Halloween? Our guest, Gary Gerani—Topps trading cards editor and co-writer of Pumpkinhead—joins us to share his memories of seeing The Creature from the Black Lagoon for the first time, his insights into the enduring appeal of the Gill Man, and why this Universal monster continues to captivate audiences seven decades later. We kick things off with an overview of the Universal Horror legacy, then explore each film in the Creature from...
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534: Classic Marvel Star Wars Comics #56 "COFFIN IN THE CLOUDS" with Jason W. Christman
Skywalking Through Neverland: Keeping the Star Wars Magic Alive
In this episode, we’re diving into Classic Marvel Star Wars Comic Issue #56: “Coffin in the Clouds” — and we’ve been saving this one for the Halloween season for more than one reason. Originally released on November 24, 1981, Coffin in the Clouds follows Lando Calrissian as he returns to a mysteriously deserted Cloud City after the events of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. Joining us for this eerie adventure is Star Wars artist and our good friend Jason W. Christman, who helps us unpack the story, art, and legacy of this issue. Issue 56: Coffin in the Clouds Release date: November 24th,...
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533: Epic Universe’s Dark Universe + Halloween Horror Nights Orlando 2025
Skywalking Through Neverland: Keeping the Star Wars Magic Alive
We’ve been looking forward to experiencing Universal Orlando’s brand-new Epic Universe: Dark Universe for well over a year, and finally we made it! Walking through the fog into Darkmoor Village felt like stepping inside a classic monster movie. We rode Curse of the Werewolf and were blown away by Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. There’s a reason all the vloggers keep praising this attraction. We also share our thoughts on food, merchandise, characters, and atmosphere. Meeting the NEW Bride and Frankenstein in person was the perfect ending to an unforgettable visit. Next,...
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532: Star Wars Legends & Lore with Author Barbara Hambly
Skywalking Through Neverland: Keeping the Star Wars Magic Alive
We’re joined by legendary author Barbara Hambly, whom we met at Legacy Expo: A Star Wars Expanded Universe convention in Burbank (Sept 13–14). After seeing her on a panel hosted by Melissa Miller, we couldn’t resist inviting her on—what was meant to be a quick chat turned into a full conversation. Barbara shares stories from writing Children of the Jedi, Planet of Twilight, and her beloved short stories in Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina and Tales from Jabba’s Palace—and even answers fan-favorite questions about Luke Skywalker’s love life. 👉 Sponsor: SpiritJersey now has...
info_outlineThis episode marks the HALFWAY point in the original Classic Marvel Star Wars series that ran from 1977-1986! We break down Issue 54: “STARFIRE RISING” from September 1981, which serves as a continuation of repurposed JOHN CARTER, WARLORD OF MARS artwork created for the cancelled comic series. Not wanting to waste unused artwork which was done by the same artists as the Star Wars series, Chris Claremont was brought in to write a new Star Wars story based on that existing art. Then Walter Simonson adapted art to fit these issues 53 and 54, and Viola you have new Star Wars!
We are not sure why this issue is called STARFIRE RISING, but it should have been called CRUSH ON LEIA, since the story revolves around Aron Peacebringer (John Carter) having an existential crisis over his adulterous thoughts on Princess Leia. You can tell the moment the art switches from repurposed John Carter to Star Wars towards the end of the issue. Please enjoy.
Today in Star Wars History - May 29, 2019
After a thirty-three-year hiatus, Marvel Comics continues their classic Star Wars series with the release of issue #108 - Forever Crimson. We covered this issue in episode 495 since it was a direct continuation of issue #50: Crimson Forever which came out in 1981. Forever Crimson, published in celebration of Marvel’s 80th anniversary, encompasses five short stories that feature Jaxxon, Amaiza Foxtrain, and the droid-hating Valance the Hunter.
#54 “STARFIRE RISING"
Release Date: September 22, 1981
Writer: Chris Claremont
Artwork: Walt Simonson, Carmine Infantino
Coloring: Glynis Wein
Cover Art: Walt Simonson
Imperial General Sk'ar captures Aron Peacebringer and Princess Leia. As the two heroes struggle against their bonds, Aron discovers that his friend Delois, has turned traitor and joined forces with Sk'ar. Now Delois and Skar plan to bomb Aron’s government - The Calian Confederacy.
When all seems lost, Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, Lando Calrissian, and Aron’s best friend Kéral Longknife arrive to fight the Imperials. Leia finds Sk'ar's anti-matter bomb and begins defusing it, but will she diffuse it in time or will this world be wiped out just like Alderaan?
We take our Facebook Group Comments on the cover into account as we analyze this issue. Become a part of our Facebook Group to contribute!
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