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Today we come to the end of our little dive through the modern Star Wars comics, as Doctor Aphra finds herself under the control of a new master--the murder-crazed Triple Zero. And for once, he has more than just murder in mind. Murder is involved, don't worry. It's just not... the only thing he wants. Next Time Star Wars: Zero Company (Through Dark Waters & Trick's first mission) Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social) Produced by Michael Hermes Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

Not only is Doctor Aphra back... she's BACK. This week we get a joyous arc that frankly feels like a re-take on some of the best ideas of the big crossover. No, there aren't any Hot Topic vampires this time, but there is a huge soiree, a really fun rogues gallery, an exploration of Aphra's moral center, and the return of a major character from the Star Wars universe. Only this time... it all just sort of works. Lucky us. Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized! Next Time: Star Wars: Doctor Aphra Vol. 3: Remastered Show Notes   Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social) Produced by Michael Hermes Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

What if Doctor Aphra had to team up with Luke Skywalker and they both had to dress good as hell? And what if they had to go to a gothic planet run by sexy vampiric queen and her coterie of stylish and evil thralls? And what if two of the most interesting parts of the last arc of Aphra was here, too? Sounds pretty cool, huh? Well, what if I told you that a premise this fun hasn't been undercut by the limits of an artistic style since the earliest days of Clone Wars? What if I told you that the nature of the comic book crossover haunts this book more than any supernatural force does? What if I told you that the most horrific faces in this book don't belong zombified aliens but to heroes we know and love, traced by a hand driven to a sort of malicious indifference normally reserved for otherwordly nightmare beings.  Ah well, there's always next time. Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized! Next Time: Star Wars: Doctor Aphra Vol. 2: Doctor Aphra and the Enormous Profit Show Notes https://x.com/SW_Moment/status/1584521456977063936   Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social) Produced by Michael Hermes Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

It's time to answer the question we've had for months: Does Aphra really have a doctorate, and if so, what type of doctor is she, really? In this episode, we learn a lot about her history, both academic and otherwise.  Next time: Star Wars: The Screaming Citadel (trade paperback) Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized! Show Notes   Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social) Produced by Michael Hermes Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

Pivot! We'll be back in two weeks with Part 1 of our Aphra coverage, but today we'll delve into our early hours with Bit Reactor's Star Wars: Zero Company. It's seemingly an excellent debut for the studio, marred only by the sale of EA to Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and a pair of private equity company's, including one run by Trump son-in-law and general ghoul Jared Kushner.  Enjoy us talking about the tactics, the blorbos, and the question of these nightmare contexts.  Show Notes Video game maker EA bought by Saudi-led group for $55bn No Games for Genocide   Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social) Produced by Michael Hermes Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

This week we wrap up the 2015 run of Star Wars: Darth Vader! With the ore barons of Shu-Torun leashed and Cylo drawn out as a traitor, Darth Vader can finally address what really matters: Locating the missing Doctor Aphra, facing whatever truths Inspector Thanoth has found, and telling the Emperor that his manipulations are all too obvious.  Next Time: Star Wars: Doctor Aphra Vol. 1 — Aphra (Doctor Aphra 2016 Issues 1 - 6 Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized! Show Notes Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social) Produced by Michael Hermes Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

This week, we have escaped from the gravity of of the comic book crossover  and returned back to the day-in-the-life tale of Darth Vader. Still hurting from the Death Star's destruction, the Empire badly needs ore to build back its strength. One key supplier: The world of Shu-Torun, a lava filled, mineral rich world of ore dukes, magma submarines, and mining citadels. The only problem is, this world has decided to rescind its deal to the Emperor. Enter: Vader.  Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized! Show Notes Star Fox Video Mentioned "What's Going on in Utah?": an Oral History of Brian Windhorst's Viral Monologue   Caleb Hearon's Funniest Bit Okay actually maybe this is Caleb Hearon's funniest bit. Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social) Produced by Michael Hermes Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

Our dip into the mid 2010s Marvel Comics Star Wars universe continues, and this time, we've got a bona fide crossover event! "Vader Down" jumps between issues of Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larroca's Darth Vader (which we've been reading for the past few eps) AND Jason Aaron and Mike Deodato Jr's Star Wars. Which means we've got an extended stay with the comics version of Han, Luke, and Leia. Can they live up to their movie counterparts? Next Time: Darth Vader Vol. 3 — The Shu-Torun War (Darth Vader (2015) Annual 1 and issues 16 - 19) Show Notes Yasiin Bey on Drake Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social) Produced by Michael Hermes Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

We will, eventually, get to the second set of Vader comics. But first, the gang imagines how they're going to react to The Mandalorian and Grogu. Because of course our patrons have already heard our reaction! Then they discuss how Vader has to sabotage yet another investigation into his own treachery, and Dr. Aphra's character arc as well as her academic credentials. Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social) Produced by Michael Hermes Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

Today we begin a journey into the Dark Side as we begin our reading of Marvel's 2015's Darth Vader comic,  Written by Kieron Gillen with art by Salvador Larroca! It has a high reputation, not least of which is due to its introduction of the beloved character Doctor Aphra, but can it do what so few attempts to fill in the blank spaces of the films pull off and actually be good on its own merits Let's find out together! Next Time: Book II: Shadows and Secrets (Vader (2015) issues 7-12) Show Notes Catherine Zeta-Jones Laser Scene in Entrapment   Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social) Produced by Michael Hermes Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

We come at last to the grand finale of the original Star Wars trilogy, and it, too, is haunted by the past. Once again, in space, a one time scoundrel must trust his gut and swoop down to the pits of a cataclysmic, moon-sized weapon to save the day. Once again, aboard that station, a Jedi must come to the realization that striking down his opponent is not the path to real power. And once again, on a small world below, a rag-tag group Rebels from across the galaxy can do nothing but watch and hope as... wait, sorry, I'm taking another look. What are those little furry guys. They didn't have those at Yavin, I'll tell you that much. Seems like a group of difference makers if I've ever met one. Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized! NEXT TIME: Marvel Comic's Darth Vader (2015) Issues 1-6 Show Notes The Vader Yule Log   'Weesa Free' Moment   Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social) Produced by Michael Hermes Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

Return of the Jedi is a haunted movie. It is haunted most obviously by the ghosts of the past films: droids walking across desert wastes, fateful holograms delivered in desperation, deflector shield substations, robotic hands, and a Death Star hanging above the world.  But it is also haunted by the future of the franchise: further reliance on ambitious CGI, a subtle sanding down in humor and character, dozens of little creatures whose names are never said but whose identity marketing has taught you before you ever see the text start rolling across the screen. Star Wars, as we know it, has arrived. Show Notes Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas - Outtakes Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social) Produced by Michael Hermes Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

The heroes of the rebellion have fled Hoth and found themselves in new environs unlike any we've seen in Star Wars before. Bespin's Cloud City is the first real metropolis in the series, and while Yavin was covered in trees, it was nothing like the damp swamps of Dagobah, home to creepy crawlies of all sorts. As our heroes meet their respective contacts, one has to wonder, which of these new worlds is home to the more trustworthy sort of person? Trick question. You can't trust either of these m***********s. Show Notes Episode 1 Yoda Comparison Video How the Famous 'I Love You/I Know' Scene From 'The Empire Strikes Back' Really Came Together Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social) Produced by Michael Hermes Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

Three years after Luke turned off his targeting computer, Star Wars returns. Indeed, one might even ask "Is The Empire Strikes Back the actual 'start' of what we know as Star Wars?" Maybe! It's here that Star Wars begins to take the shape of a franchise (without any of the bloat yet), Industrial Light & Magic performs even greater special effects miracles, and the story begins to effortlessly blend fairy tale and melodrama. Plus, we get to see the original little green freak in his natural habitat. NEXT TIME: The Back Half of Empire Strikes Back Support the show by going to Patreon.com/civilized! Show Notes Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social) Produced by Michael Hermes Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)

We return with the back half of a little movie called Star Wars. We can finally talk about some of the most foundational moments in the franchise. The very first lightsaber duel--and its relationship to a little tv show called Obi-Wan Kenobi. The series' three protagonists finally sharing screen time. The Death Star trench run and its relationship to the Force and Technology. But we also get to talk about some of the stuff that gets lost along the way. Like about just how funny Star Wars has always been. How the Empire is already a bit of a send-up of bureaucrat sci-fi baddies. And how whether Lucas knew the particularities of their history or not, Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi show up with enough ambiguity and depth to carry years and years of storytelling to come. Show Notes George Lucas: The Wizard of 'Star Wars' | Rolling Stone REBEL SCANNERS: Preserving Star Wars (with Rob of TEAM NEGATIVE 1) Hosted by Rob Zacny (robzacny.bsky.social) Featuring Alicia Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social), and Natalie Watson (nataliewatson.bsky.social) Produced by Austin Walker Music by Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social Cover art by Xeecee (xeecee.bsky.social)