T H E O F F I C I A L M A G A Z I N E

A MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

ISSUE 224
TITAN EDITORIAL
Editor / Christopher Cooper
Assistant Editor / Louis Yamani
Group Editor / Jake Devine
Editorial Assistant / Ibraheem Kazi
Art Director / Oz Browne
Designer / David Colderley
“Emperor Palpatine may have been a galactic despot, hell-bent on
power and domination and the crushing subjugation of the light side LUCASFILM
of the Force, but at least he got the hyperspace lanes running on Senior Editor / Brett Rector
Art Director / Troy Alders
time,” is an excuse for his tyrannical reign you’re not likely to hear in Creative Director / Michael Siglain
a Star Wars story any time soon. (I’m not sure you can even make a Asset Management /
hyperspace lane run “on time,” because they’re essentially tunnels Chris Argyropoulos, Gabrielle Levenson,
through space-time that bend the laws of physics purely for plot Bryce Pinkos, Sarah Williams, Jackey Cabrera,
Shahana Alam, Elinor De La Torre
expediency, but don’t quote me on that and Michael Trobiani
—a magazine editor isn’t much more than an interpreter.) Story Group / Pablo Hidalgo,
Running a galaxy must be a complicated business, though, even Leland Chee, Emily Shkoukani,
with an endless army of stormtroopers at your disposal. Ultimately Phil Szostak, and Kate Izquierdo
the Emperor lost control and more progressive leaders like Mon CONTRIBUTORS
Mothma and Leia Organa faced their own mountain of problems as Mary Fan, Lydia Kang, Melissa Miller, Mark
they tried to rebuild the galaxy after he was gone. In this issue of Newbold, Amy Richau, Jay Stobie, Brandon
Wainerdi, and Dan Wallace.
Star Wars Insider, we profile the kind of individuals who either strove
to rule the galaxy far, far, away; were thrust into such a position; SPECIAL THANKS TO
or struck their own paths leading crime gangs and other nefarious Lucy Goldsmith, Erich Schoeneweiss
groups. Not that this editor has delusions of grandeur, but it’s best to at Random House, Holly McIntosh,
Joseph Taraborrelli, Andrea Towers and
be prepared for any eventuality. Jim Nausedas at Marvel Comics, Lizzy Draeger,
On a brighter note, this issue we get arty with creature concept Tracy Cannobbio, Greg Grugsby, Ian Kintzle,
designer Jake Lunt Davies; meet Ethan Sacks, the writer behind Lillian Noble, and Kylie Walker at Lucasfilm.
Marvel Comics’ thrilling Bounty Hunters series; and get the Max Kevin P. Pearl, Samantha Keane,
and Eugene Paraszczuk at Disney.
Rebo Band back together to remember their heady days on the set
of Return of the Jedi as the biggest music act in the galaxy. We also TITAN MAGAZINES
begin a two-part retrospective of The Bad Batch with the creative Production Controllers /
Caterina Falqui & Kelly Fenton
team behind its three-season run, and speak to the showrunner and
Production Manager / Jackie Flook
writers of Young Jedi Adventures, the animated series for younger Sales & Circulation Manager / Steve Tothill
audiences that mixes high adventure with no end of charm. What Marketing Coordinator / Lauren Noding
better way to herald in a new year? Publicity & Sales Coordinator / Alexandra Iciek
Publicist / Caitlin Storer
Digital & Marketing Manager / Jo Teather
May the Force be with you. Head of Rights / Jenny Boyce
Head of Creative & Business Development /
Duncan Baizley
Publishing Director / Ricky Claydon
Publishing Director / John Dziewiatkowski
Executive Vice President / Andrew Sumner
Publishers / Vivian Cheung & Nick Landau

DISTRIBUTION
Christopher Cooper U.S. Newsstand / Total Publisher Services, Inc.
John Dziewiatkowski 630-851-7683
Editor U.S. Newsstand Distribution /
Curtis Circulation Company
U.S. Bookstore Distribution / The News Group
U.S. Direct Sales / Diamond Comic Distributors
U.K. Distribution / Marketforce

SUBSCRIPTIONS
U.S. subscriptions / 1-800-261-6502,
email: [email protected]
Canada subscriptions / 818-487-4575
U.K. subscriptions / 01778 392085
email: [email protected]

For more info on advertising contact

Lydia Kang Jay Stobie Melissa T. Miller Mark Newbold Amy Richau Brandon Wainerdi
[email protected]
@LydiaYKang @StobiesGalaxy @melissatruth @Prefect_timing @amyrichau @ActuallyBrandon (USPS 003-027) (ISSN 1041-5122)
Poet, practicing Writer, media Scientist and A writer for U.K. Amy is a regular Brandon is a
Star Wars Insider is published eight times per year
physician, and consultant, and science writer sci-fi magazine contributor to writer, digital (January/Feb, Mar/April, May/Jun, July/August, September/
author of young Wookiee fan, Jay Melissa visits Starburst and a StarWars.com, strategist, and October, November/December) by Titan Magazines,
a division of Titan Publishing Group Limited,
adult and adult is a regular Star Comic-Con every Star Wars Insider and is the author podcaster, with 144 Southwark Street, London SE1 0UP.
fiction, Lydia’s Wars Insider year to purchase contributor since of Star Wars: I a talent for Contents © 2024 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM.All Rights Reserved,
Titan Authorized User. TMN14334
The High Republic contributor, and new Star Wars 2006, Mark is an Love You, I know: crossword puzzles
novel Cataclysm commentator for paraphernalia for Honorary Friend of Lessons in Love and a love of the PUBLISHER’S U.S.AGENT
Star Wars galaxy. 2819 Rosehall Lane, Aurora, IL 60503. Periodicals
is available now. many sci-fi outlets. her pet dog. the 501st Legion. and Friendship. Postage Paid at Aurora IL and at additional
mailing offices.

Email us: POSTMASTER

Star Wars Insider Send address changes to Titan Publishing,
starwarsinsider titanemail.com Star Wars Insider, PO Box 147, Lincolnshire, IL 60069
is also available online. U.S. subscriptions $49.99 per year; Canada $64.99 and U.K. £31.99.
Write to us Call us Find us To download, visit: U.S. edition printed by Quad.
UNITED STATES UNITED KINGDOM To subscribe in the U.S. please WWW www.titanmagazines.com/
WWW.TITANMAGAZINES.COM
Star Wars Insider, Star Wars Insider, call toll free on 800-261-6502. digitial © 2024 Lucasfilm Ltd. and ™ All Rights Reserved.
Titan Magazines, 144 Southwark For U.K. and all other Used Under Authorization.
FACEBOOK.COM/STARWARSINSIDER
2819 Rosehall Street, London destinations please call
Lane, Aurora, IL, SE1 0UP, 01778 392085 or Visit www.starwars.com
60503, U.S.A. U.K. +44 (0) 1778 392085
 32
The Bad Batch
As the series enters it’s third and
ÅVIT[MI[WVInsider speaks with the
UISMZ[WN\PMPQ\,Q[VMa[PW_QV
XIZ\WVMWNI\_WXIZ\QV\MZ^QM_

4
 Subscribe
to Star Wars
Insider
Page 58

06 32 52
Launchpad Behind the Batch AW]VOTQVO[QV<ZIQVQVO
Insider ’s roundup of multimedia, Part one of an exclusive two-part The creative team of Star Wars: Young
publishing, and collectibles news from look at the creation of the hit animated Jedi Adventures talk about the animated
across the Star Wars galaxy. series, The Bad Batch. series for younger fans.

20 40 60
2ISM4]V\,I^QM[1V\MZ^QM_ -\PIV;IKP[1V\MZ^QM_ )+MZ\IQV8WQV\WN>QM_
The talented Star Wars creature concept The writer of Marvel Comics’ ?I[\PMZMIVa[QOVQÅKIVKM\W\PMIZUWZ
designer talks about his process and his Bounty Hunters series on creating stories worn by the rebellious Enfys Nest? Our
work on the movies and TV series. for the galaxy’s scum and villains. resident holocron keeper investigates.

26 46 74
?PW¼[\PM*W[[' ¹0Q\Q\5I` º <PM0QOP:MX]JTQK
What does it take to rule a galaxy? Insider speaks to the puppeteers -`KT][Q^M.QK\QWV
Insider looks at the most powerful—and and performers who brought the The Adrens board a derelict Nihil
LQ^Q[Q^M¸ÅO]ZM[QVOITIK\QKPQ[\WZa Max Rebo Band to vivid life. ship in “Survivors” by Lydia Kang.

39 64 70 80
8ZQbM/Q^MI_Ia ?WZTL_QLM The Star Wars)ZKPQ^M Jedi Master’s Quiz
Win a copy of Star Wars: The Heroic cosplay, a marriage proposal, Our visual history of the making of Test your knowledge of
Mandalorian Collection from Titan! and TK-101 tries tabletop gaming! Star Wars pictures’ podracing pilots. Star Wars: Visions Volume 2!

5
 5IVLW"<PM5W^QM
Beskar Battles on the Big Screen
ollowing three hugely

F successful seasons on
Disney+, heroes Din Djarin
and Grogu are to embark
on a new mission, this time in a
theatrical movie to be directed by
series creator Jon Favreau.
Due to go into production in 2024,
The Mandalorian and Grogu will be
produced by Favreau alongside Kathleen
Kennedy and Dave Filoni, who was
promoted to chief creative officer at
Lucasfilm last year.
“I have loved telling stories set in the
rich world that George Lucas created,”
Favreau said when the announcement
was made in early January. “The
prospect of bringing the Mandalorian

6
and his apprentice Grogu to the big
screen is extremely exciting,” he added.
Kathleen Kennedy, president of
Lucasfilm, said of the movie, “Jon
Favreau and Dave Filoni have ushered
into Star Wars two new and beloved
characters, and this new story is a perfect
fit for the big screen.”
The Mandalorian & Grogu will
lead Lucasfilm’s ongoing feature-
development slate, including films
helmed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy,
James Mangold, and Dave Filoni, who
is also currently developing Ahsoka
Season 2, among those in the works.
Filoni also revealed a sneak peak in
sketch form (right), with the caption,
“The story continues....”

7
 LAUNCHPAD

OutstandinO Stunts
The Mandalorian bags another Emmy asset
he annual awards season recognized with 30 Emmy nominations

T got underway on January

6 and 7 at the Creative Arts
across the Creative Arts, Children &
Family, and Primetime categories at the
Emmy Awards, where 75th Primetime Emmy Awards. “I am so
Star Wars: The Mandalorian walked proud of everyone who worked on these
away with the Outstanding Stunt productions,” said Lucasfilm president
Performance honor for the second Kathleen Kennedy last summer, “and
year running. the acknowledgment each one of them
Stunt performers Lateef Crowder, has so dearly earned for their dedication
Paul Darnell, JJ Dashnaw, and Ryan and hard work.” More Star Wars
Ryusaki collected the statue, which shows are also in the running at other Meanwhile, Star Wars: Visions Volume
recognized the stunt work for Chapter prestigious ceremonies, including The 2 had nominations across six categories
24: “The Return.” In all this year, Bad Batch, which was nominated for at the 2024 Annie Awards, which took
Lucasfilm, which includes Industrial Outstanding Children’s Programming place on February 17, after this issue
Light & Magic and Skysound, was at the Producers Guild Awards. went to press.

8
 LAUNCHPAD

<PM.WZKM PRODUCTION DIARY

=VTQUQ\ML
Star Wars movies and television programs coming from
a galaxy far, far away....

NOW STREAMING
New trading card game unleashed

Season Three
Starring Dee Bradley Baker and Michelle Ang
Disney+

COMING SOON
NOW STREAMING

Starring: Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-Jae, Manny

Jacinto, Dafne Keen, Jodie Turner-Smith, Rebecca
Henderson, Charlie Barnett, Dean-Charles Chapman,
and Carrie-Anne Moss
Disney+

antasy Flight Games and Asmodee are releasing

F an all-new Star Wars gaming experience in

which players decide the destinies of the
most famous (and infamous) characters in the
galaxy far, far away. Starring Jude Law, Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Ryan Kiera
Star Wars: Unlimited launches on March 8, 2024, with the Armstrong, Kyriana Kratter, and Robert Timothy Smith
Spark of Rebellion two-player starter and Disney+
Spark of Rebellion booster packs (sold
separately). The Starter Kit provides an
exciting and easy to play entry point
IN DEVELOPMENT
into the game in which making
the right strategic decisions could
bring you ultimate victory. Decks
included feature leaders Luke
Skywalker and Darth Season Two
Vader, figures that can Starring Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka Tanoi.
turn the tide of battle in Disney+
your favor as you strive
to defeat your opponent.
Additional Booster Packs
contain a leader, a base,
a mix of common and
uncommon cards, and
at least one Rare or
THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU
Legendary card, plus a Directed by Jon Favreau.
collectible foil card too.
Learn more about the
game at starwarsunlimited.com

9
 LAUNCHPAD

<PM5IZ[PIT¼[5M\\TM
Mos Pelgo’s most devoted protector
ong before its citizens voted to rebrand their

L settlement as “Freetown,” Mos Pelgo relied on

Marshal Cobb Vanth and the beskar armor he had
acquired from local Jawas to guard the region from
bandits, mercenaries, and krayt dragons.
Hot Toys’ Cobb Vanth Sixth Scale Collectible Figure is based on
the marshal’s appearance when he first encountered Din Djarin in
Season Two of The Mandalorian. Standing at 12.2 inches tall, this
figure features an incredible head sculpt with a highly accurate
facial expression, an interchangeable Boba Fett helmet, a detailed
costume with removable Mandalorian armor pieces, and a host of
other accessories. Head over to Sideshow.com, where you can
grab your own Cobb Vanth figure for $300.

THE LIGHT SIDE By Jamie Cosley

10
 LAUNCHPAD
The
StarWars
.WZOe the Future DotColumn
Fascinating features and
Impress the Armorer with your own Mandalorian creations articles from the digital vaults of
StarWars.com

in Djarin called upon his covert’s favorite weapons, including the Darksaber Add StarWars.com/Insider to
D beskar specialist to outfit him with
an arsenal capable of handling
itself, an electro-bayonet, and a vibro-blade,
each featuring lights and sound effects. The
your browser bookmarks to enjoy
Insider’s pick of the best of the
any assignment, and the Armorer 7-piece set can be combined with other official Star Wars website.
also instructed him on the intricacies of products from the Lightsaber Forge line to
Ahsoka Tano Trivia
the Darksaber. Hasbro’s Lightsaber Forge create thousands of unique configurations.
Are you merely a Padawan
Ultimate Mandalorian Masterworks Set This light-up lightsaber set retails for $49.99
of Tano trivia, or a Master of
allows you to assemble some of Din Djarin’s on shop.hasbro.com. knowledge about the Jedi
warrior? Find out with the
latest StarWars.com quiz!

High Republic Catchup

A Tracker’s Pack
StarWars.com’s essential
guide to everything you need
to know about The High
Republic storytelling.
Carry all your gear on your next voyage
hether searching for
W a bounty or avoiding
Imperial warlords,
Din Djarin and
Grogu learned that sticking
together gave them their best
chance of surviving any ordeal.
BoxLunch’s exclusive Grogu
& Mando Mini Backpack from
Loungefly has an exterior Tasty Tauntauns
adorned with appliques that It’s cold outside, so put some
highlight the duo, as well as the spring in your step with Jenn
Razor Crest and three lurking Fujikawa’s recipe for sugar
Jawas, against an imposing cookie snowlizards that taste
desert landscape. The 9-inch great on the inside.
wide, 11 ½-inch-high bag
includes a Grogu zipper pull
and a matching interior lining.
This polyester and polyurethane
pack retails for $74.90 on
BoxLunch.com, where
you’ll also find an astounding
selection of Star Wars exclusives.

11
 LAUNCHPAD

5MV\WZ[ TakinO an
Apprentices -_WS?ITS
Navigate the galaxy and Bundle your furry
learn from these iconic duos buddy in these
Forest Moon of
in Djarin and Endor accessories
D Obi-Wan Kenobi
lived vastly Statue (8 inches tall) depicts he loyalty Ewok Dog
different lives,
but each found themselves
the Force-sensitive duo as
they evaded Imperial forces. T exhibited by
the Bright Tree
Leash ($20)
and Ewok
unexpectedly guiding young Every exquisite piece is made Village’s Ewok Dog Collar ($20)
wards through trying times. in polystone with details residents turned the tide are both made with durable
Iron Studios’ Din Djarin that have been expertly at the Battle of Endor. nylon material and feature
and Din Grogu 1:10 hand-painted. Such unwavering loyalty is printed “Yub Nub” details,
Scale Statue (8.3 inches Available to order on also associated with some while the durable vegan
tall) showcases the Sideshow.com, the furry friends in our own leather Ewok Cosplay Treat
Mandalorian and Din Djarin and Din galaxy, where dogs have Bag ($20) and Ewok Cosplay
his adopted son Grogu Statue retails established reputations Mini Backpack Dog Harness
as they stand for $205, while for their loving bond with ($45-$55, depending on size)
defiantly against the Obi-Wan humans. Loungefly’s line of incorporate a jovial Ewok face
their opponents, and Young canine accessories reflects into their designs. The entire
while the Obi-Wan Leia statue this intergalactic connection, collection can be secured for
and Young Leia is priced at supplying Ewok flair to your four-legged best friend
Deluxe 1:10 Scale $210. everyday necessities. The on Loungefly.com.

)UQLITI1V[pired )5WZM+Q^QTQbML)Oe
Attire The strongest collections have hearts of kyber
Gather bi-Wan Kenobi
the perfect
ensemble for
O emphasized the
elegance and
importance
aggressive of a lightsaber to Anakin
and Luke Skywalker, and
negotiations RockLove Jewelry’s new line
of lightsaber-inspired rings
s Padmé embodies that very same level

A Amidala
once said acknowledges
of grace and prestige. Crafted
from nickel-free sterling silver each lightsaber’s blade color,
to a young Padmé’s time as and affixed with square-cut the rings measure 4mm at
Anakin Skywalker, a senator as well, Austrian crystals to represent their widest and 3mm at the
“Space is cold.” Her Universe’s taking cues from her Battle of blade. Black rhodium-plate
Padmé Amidala Ombré Geonosis garb in its Padmé accents the signature hilts of
Cardigan will warm you up Battle Dress. Made from Darth Vader, Mace Windu,
for any occasion, as its rayon, polyester and spandex, the Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Luke
polyester, and nylon blend dress comes complete with Skywalker, with the latter
sports a Naboo emblem, a mock neck and side seam three also plated in 14K
front and drop pockets, and pockets. The Ombré Cardigan yellow gold. These lightsaber
a motif patterned after the ($64.90) and Battle Dress rings are each priced at
robes worn by the Queen’s ($54.90) are now available on $75, and are available on
handmaidens. Her Universe HerUniverse.com. RockLove.com.

12
 LAUNCHPAD
PAD

ACCESSORIES
A Throwback Attack
Bolster your battlefield with this
Ahsoka Tano retro figure
Pursuing Morgan Elsbeth to the Far
Galaxy was a tall task, but Ahsoka
Tano and her allies demonstrated thatt
they were up to the challenge. Gentlee
Giant LTD’s Ahsoka Tano Jumbo Figure re
captures the former Padawan’s colossal al
deeds in a retro style based on the
classic Kenner action figure line, but at
a supersized scale. Measuring 12 inches es Chopper’s Charms
Ch
tall with five points of articulation, the
he
collectible is modeled after Ahsoka’s Let a mischievous astromech
appearance during her first duel with upgrade your style
Elsbeth in The Mandalorian. Equipped d Ahsoka Tano and Hera Syndulla relied
with two lightsaber accessories and on Chopper’s ingenuity, attention
packaged on a retro-style cardback, to detail, and colorful commentary
this oversized figure retails for to help them through their mission
$80 and is available to order to Corellia’s shipyards in Ahsoka,
on GentleGiantLtd.com. and BoxLunch’s Chopper Silhouette
Charm Earrings are giving you the
opportunity to apply the droid’s
Brace for Hyperspace unparalleled intellect to your jewelry
box. The hook earrings boast intricate
Travel between galaxies with
die-cut silhouette charms of Chopper.
this ornate weekender bag Sized at approximately 1 ¼-inches,
The Ahsoka Convertible Weekender the all-metal earrings are priced at
Bag is a versatile on-the-go travel $12.90 and can be found exclusively
option with a detachable cosmetic on BoxLunch.com.
pouch, water-repellent nylon exterior, r,
and faux leather panels.
nel This luxuriousus
Ahsoka-themed bag g is available from
fro Lekku
Le
ekku Lounging
g
HeroesVillains.com,
HeroesVillains.co om
o m, priced $150.
$150 Co up in this Ahsoka-style
Cozy le
oversized hoodie
ov
F
From Clone Wars skirmishes to
Peridea’s plains, Ahsoka Tano’s
P
exploits proved to be so profound
nd
that they even earned notorietyy and
ns!
admiration for her lekku patterns!
Her Universe has now harnessed d
those famous design elements intonto
their Ahsoka Tano Oversized Hoodie,
oodie,
a comfortable garment with an
oversized fit, a drawstring hood,, and
a special Star Wars logo embroidered
dered
ing
on the kangaroo pocket. Featuring
a 60% cotton-40% polyester blend,
end,
the hoodie can be purchased on n
HerUniverse.com, where it can an be
added to your closet for $54.90..

13
 LAUNCHPAD

*WWS+T]J
The latest Star Wars books take readers to the High Republic and points beyond.

*M5QVLN]TWN\PM4Q^QVO.WZKM 
The Jedi Council faces its greatest test in Star Wars: The Living Force
Just in time for the 25th anniversary of Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi goodwill mission to help Kwenn, and
the theatrical release of Star Wars: round out the ranks of this ensemble- to remind the galaxy that the Jedi are
The Phantom Menace, veteran author focused adult novel, in a story that as vital as ever.
John Jackson Miller returns to the saga opens with the Council on Coruscant Yet not all of the people of Kween
for the first time in more than a finding itself increasingly detached greet the arrival of the Jedi with open
decade, with an original adventure set from galactic affairs. arms, and warring pirate factions unite
one year before Qui-Gon Jinn finds Shortly after Qui-Gon Jinn pleads under the goal of assassinating the
Anakin Skywalker on Tatooine. with the Council to take a stand to visiting Council members, not caring
Star Wars: The Living Force, from counter the Jedi Order’s increasing how many innocent lives may be lost
Random House Worlds, brings us a isolation, the decommissioning of a in their venal pursuit of power.
thrilling new adventure featuring all Jedi outpost on the planet Kwenn Star Wars: The Living Force is on
twelve members of the Jedi Council, gives them the perfect reason to step sale April 9, published simultaneously
from Adi Gallia and Saesee Tiin to in. At the suggestion of Mace Windu, in hardcover, audiobook, and ebook
Mace Windu and Grand Master Yoda. the entire Council embarks on a editions.

14
 LAUNCHPAD

02

01
03

01
02 03
Star Wars: Thrawn, The Art of Star Wars: Star Wars: The
Thrawn: Alliances, Jedi Survivor High Republic:
Thrawn: Treason
Star Wars: Jedi Survivor, the Tales of Enlightenment
Following his appearance in Disney+ acclaimed videogame sequel to This hardcover anthology from
series Star Wars: Ahsoka, Grand 2019’s smash hit Jedi: Fallen Order, Titan Magazines reprints the series
Admiral Thrawn’s popularity is at an follows Jedi Padawan Cal Kestis of short stories that were originally
all-time high. That’s good news for in the aftermath of Order 66 as he published in the pages of Star Wars
fans as Random House Worlds have stays one step ahead of Imperial Insider, all of them set during Phase
Inquisitors while the Empire II of The High Republic publishing
released paperback reprints of three
tightens its grip on the galaxy. The initiative and written by Sunday
of New York Times bestselling author
Art of Star Wars: Jedi Survivor is Times bestselling novelist George
Timothy Zahn’s Thrawn novels.
stuffed with rare concept art and Mann. The collection centers on
Beginning in 2017, Zhan’s second
exclusive creator commentary, life at the Enlightenment cantina
trilogy of tales about the Imperial
collected into an intimate chronicle on Jedha, where regulars and
tactical genius opened with Thrawn,
of the development of the Respawn passing visitors trade tales of high
followed a year later with sequel,
Entertainment game, from its adventure and strange experiences.
Thrawn: Alliances. 2019’s Thrawn: earliest design stages to its final Readers can enjoy six original
Treason marked the series’ game renders. The deluxe edition, adventures shedding new light on
conclusion. With a plot that links to available February 20 from Dark the era, plus a bonus story exclusive
Thrawn’s arrival in the third season of Horse Books, features metallic to this special edition, behind-the-
Star Wars Rebels, the story reveals printing treatments and comes with scenes interviews with the creators,
how the infamous character became a protective slipcase, as well as a and a complete guide to every
one of the Emperor’s most trusted folio which contains an archive- publication from The High Republic
strategists and allies. On sale now. quality lithograph. Phase II. On sale March 19.

15
 LAUNCHPAD

+WUQK[:W]VL]p
Bounty hunters, Imperials, and Jedi stake their claims in this month’s Star Wars comics

Just a
;QUXTM
Man
The beskar-armored
hunter stalks new
prey in Star Wars:
Jango Fett #1
Last year’s one-shot, Star Wars:
Revelations, provided a glimpse of
what’s in store from Marvel in
2024. This March, Star Wars: Jango
Fett stands ready to fulfill the
wildest fan expectations, as the
armored gunslinger who packs
twin blaster pistols embarks on a
brand-new mission.
Ethan Sacks, writer of the
recently concluded Bounty
Hunters comic, heads up this new
miniseries. Luke Ross (Dark
Droids) handles the interior
pencils, while Leinil Francis Yu
contributes the cover artwork
for the premier issue.
This limited series sees
Jango Fett return to his roots
as a tracker of wanted
fugitives: someone who has
earned his elite rank thanks to
his no-nonsense approach,
deadly weapons skills, and the
explosive seismic charges he
keeps aboard his starship.
But in a career governed by
the Bounty Hunters Guild, into the mix, treaty between
Jango isn’t the only hunter complicating two warring
on the case! Jango’s hopes for a clean parties hangs in the balance based
Fellow hunter Aurra Sing— extraction and an easy payoff. But on the outcome of the fugitive
seen briefly on-screen during there’s still a mystery to solve and capture. Star Wars: Jango Fett #1
The Phantom Menace’s Boonta a bounty to claim, and if that from Marvel Comics is in stores on
Eve Podrace—soon throws herself weren’t enough, a long-standing March 20.

16
 LAUNCHPAD
Incoming
Don’t Miss These
Upcoming Releases
Star Wars #44
Marvel’s ongoing Star Wars series
continues with one of its most
shocking twists to date—the trial of
Lando Calrissian! Following the events
of 2023’s Dark Droids crossover,
Lando finds himself at a crossroads.
His efforts in saving his friend Lobot MARCH
from the droid scourge came with a Darth Vader #44
price, since both Admiral Ackbar and Marvel Comics
Mon Mothma have found cause to Writer: Greg Pak
place him on the witness stand. Writer Artist: Adam Gorham
Charles Soule and penciller Madibek Cover Artist: Leinil Francis Yu
Musabekov are joined by cover artist
Stephen Segovia on this issue, which Obi-Wan Kenobi #6
Marvel Comics
explores how the trial might impact
Writer: Jody Houser
the war between the Rebellion and
Artist: Salvador Larroca
the Empire. Star Wars #44 is on sale
Cover Artist: Phil Noto
March 6.
APRIL
Star Wars #45
Marvel Comics
Mace Windu #2 (of 4) Writer: Charles Soule
Even before the Clone Wars, Mace Artist: Madibek Musabekov
Windu was one of the most disciplined Cover Artist: Stephen Segovia
members of the Jedi Order. In this
Marvel miniseries by writer Marc The Mandalorian
Bernardin and penciller Georges Jeanty, Season Two, Part Two
a scientist’s discovery threatens the Marvel Comics
galactic balance of power and sets Mace Writer: Rodney Barnes
Artist: Georges Jeanty
Windu down a treacherous path.
Cover Artists: Various
To stop an incendiary secret from
falling into the wrong hands, Mace Star Wars by Kieron Gillen
teams up with Azita Cruuz, a pirate & Greg Pak Omnibus
with a deadly secret that the Republic Marvel Comics
and the Hutts both want to suppress. Writers: Kieron Gillen
But who is following them—and what and Greg Pak
exactly is coaxium ultra? Featuring a Artists: Various
cover by Mateus Manhanini, Mace Windu Cover Artist: Phil Noto
#2 is on sale March 13.

Thrawn Alliances #3 (of 4)

Star Wars: Thrawn Alliances adapts
Timothy Zahn’s bestselling 2018 novel,
with the author joined by writer Jody
Houser (Star Wars: Age of Republic)
and artists Andrea Di Vito and Pat Olliffe.
In this penultimate installment, which
chronicles Thrawn’s expeditions in the
years prior to the destruction of the first
Death Star, past and present collide as
Thrawn is revealed to have worked
alongside both Anakin Skywalker and
Darth Vader! What are the Separatists
hiding, and how does Padmé Amidala
get involved?
Featuring a cover by Rod Reis, Thrawn
Alliances #3 is on sale March 20.

17
 INCOMING
4]UQVW][4WZM COMICS
Shining a light on Star Wars: The High Republic.

;\WZU.WZKM
The Jedi battle to break through the Stormwall!
Jedi Knight Vernestra Rwoh returns to the
fray in Defy the Storm, the latest The High
Republic Young Adult novel by Tessa Gratton
and Justina Ireland.
The galaxy remains in chaos thanks to the
Nihil and their Stormwall, an impenetrable barrier The High Republic #4
that has split the galaxy in two. Rwoh joins forces Marvel Comics
with scientist Avon Starros in an attempt to forge Writer: Cavan Scott
Artist: Jim Towe
a path into the Occlusion Zone as they undertake
Cover: Phil Noto
a desperate mission to save those trapped on On sale: February 21
the other side. But with the dreaded nameless
creatures still posing a threat to the Jedi Order,
and the Nihil growing more dangerous, it seems
the battle for the future of the galaxy is only just
beginning. Defy the Storm, published by Disney
Lucasfilm Press, is on sale March 5.

:MX]JTQK:W]VL]X (Excluding Comics & Manga)

Tempest Runner Quest for the Hidden City

Writer: Cavan Scott Writer: George Mann
Light of the Jedi Random House Worlds, Disney Lucasfilm Press,
Writer: Charles Soule Audio original novel Middle Grade novel
Random House Worlds, The High Republic Adventures
Adult novel Showdown at the Fair Convergence #4
Writer: George Mann Writer: Zoraida Córdova Dark Horse Comics
A Test of Courage Artist: Petur Antonsson Random House Worlds, Writer: Daniel José Older
Writer: Justina Ireland Disney Lucasfilm Press, Adult novel Artist: Elisa Romboli
Disney Lucasfilm Press, 8x8 storybook
The Battle of Jedha Cover: Harvey Tolibao
Middle Grade novel
Mission to Disaster Writer: George Mann On sale: March 13
The Great Jedi Rescue Writer: Justina Ireland Random House Worlds,
Writer: Cavan Scott Disney Lucasfilm Press, Audio original novel
Artist: Petur Antonsson Middle Grade novel
Disney Lucasfilm Press, Cataclysm
8x8 storybook The Fallen Star Writer: Lydia Kang
Writer: Claudia Gray Random House Worlds,
Into the Dark Random House Worlds, Adult novel
Writer: Claudia Gray Adult novel
Disney Lucasfilm Press, Quest for Planet X
Young Adult novel The Battle for Starlight Writer: Tessa Gratton
Writer: George Mann Disney Lucasfilm Press,
The Rising Storm Artist: Petur Antonsson Young Adult novel
Writer: Cavan Scott Disney Lucasfilm Press,
Random House Worlds, 8x8 storybook
Adult novel
Midnight Horizon
Race to Crashpoint Tower Writer: Daniel José Older The Eye of Darkness
Writer: Daniel José Older Disney Lucasfilm Press, Writer: George Mann
Disney Lucasfilm Press, Young Adult novel Random House Worlds,
Middle Grade novel Adult novel

Out of the Shadows Escape from Valo The High Republic Adventures
Writer: Justina Ireland Writers: Daniel José Older #1 “Crash Landing”
Disney Lucasfilm Press, Path of Deceit and Alyssa Wong
Dark Horse Comics
Young Adult novel Writers: Justina Ireland Disney Lucasfilm Press,
Writer: Daniel José Older
and Tessa Gratton Young Adult novel
Artist: Rachele Aragno
Disney Lucasfilm Press, Cover: Michael Atiyeh
Young Adult novel On sale: March 20
DISCOVER THE WARRIORS OF
MANDALORE... AND BEYOND!
NOT FINAL COVER

THE MANDALORIAN CHARACTERS OF THE STAR WARS GALAXY EXPLORED

IN ONE DELUXE HARDCOVER VOLUME!
Includes interviews with Pedro Pascal (Din Djarin), Temuera Morrison (Jango and
Boba Fett), Katee Sackhoff (Bo-Katan Kryze), and lavishly illustrated with concept art,
photography, and more!

AVAILABLE IN ALL GOOD STORES AND ONLINE

TITAN-COMICS.COM © & TM 2024 Lucasfilm Ltd.
 01 Concept sketch of Rio Durant
from Solo: A Star Wars Story,
by Jake Lunt Davies.

JAKE LUNT DAVIES’

STAR WARS
SKETCHBOOK
Every creature, costume, and droid begins life as a series of sketches,
courtesy of talented concept artists and designers. Jake Lunt Davies, who
has worked on numerous Star Wars projects since The Force Awakens, has
visualized numerous iconic Star Wars creations from porgs to B2EMO.
W O R D S : M E L I S S A T. M I L L E R
 16<-:>1-?"2)3-4=6<,)>1-;

02
ake Lunt Davies’ trajectory
from doodling Star Wars ships
as a young boy in England to
being one of Neal Scanlan’s
first hires for The Force
Awakens creature shop was a
long and winding road. Insider recently talked
with the artist to learn more about his process
and inspirations, and how he planned for a
career in filmmaking from an early age.

Star Wars Insider: Have you always

been artistic?
Jake Lunt Davies: My parents and my How did you go from doodled starships
brothers were all very artistic, and we always to working as a concept designer in Neal
had pens and paper at hand when I was young. Scanlan’s creature shop?
I drew a lot of cars and monsters. When I was As a child, I would look at special-effects
around 10 or 11 years old, I wrote a long list magazines and behind the scenes articles, but
about me and all the things I liked and disliked: despite Star Wars having been shot here in
height, favorite color, favorite food, favorite England I didn't really think working in effects
films, et cetera. One of the last headings on was an achievable career goal, so I kind of forgot
the list was “Ambition.” Previously it had been about it and went to art college to study graphic
things like car designer and stunt man, but design. After college, a friend got me a job on a
after I saw A New Hope for the first time, in a TV show as a runner, literally running errands
double bill with The Empire Strikes Back, I wrote and making cups of tea. After a while, I started
02 Designs for D-O “special effects designer for Lucasfilm.” Which going into the art department and went about
by Jake Lunt
Davies. is sort of what I've done, in a way. I'd forgotten selling my artistic skills. I ended up painting
about it until a few years ago, when my mom sets and making models. Years later, that same
03 Jake Lunt
found the sheet of paper amongst various early company phoned me up and asked, “Would you
Davies (right)
with Neal drawings of mine. It was quite emotional. like to do character design for some puppets for
Scanlan (left) My brother and I had all the Star Wars action a kids TV show pilot?” I said yes. They had hired
and J.J.Abrams
(center). figures, but we couldn’t afford the bigger toys, so we Neal Scanlan, who had worked for Jim Henson
used to make spaceships out of cardboard that we’d and won an Oscar for Babe (1995), to make
04 Early concept designed—C-wings, D-wings, E-wings… I probably their puppets. The pilot never went anywhere,
sketches for
Qi'ra. drew a ship for every letter of the alphabet. but I worked for Neal on and off for about four
years on various projects. One of the last things
I did with him before our career paths diverged
“We couldn’t afford the bigger toys,
so we used to make spaceships out 04
of cardboard that we’d designed.”

03

22
 16<-:>1-?"2)3-4=6<,)>1-;

were some concept designs for Charlie and the B2EMO

Chocolate Factory (2005). One of Star Wars: Andor’s most endearing characters was the battered
After that I did storyboards for commercials droid B2EMO, which, as it turns out started life as a guard dog.
and started to direct, and then in 2013 I got a “The directive was he was this loyal salvage droid with bulldog tenacity, and
phone call from Neal, out of the blue. We hadn’t had tools like a Swiss army knife,” says Lunt Davies, whose initial sketches
really been in touch for five or six years. He said, gave the droid a dog-like shape. As for the details of B2EMO’s backstory and
character arc, Lunt Davies learned all of that as he watched the show, just like
“Guess what? I've got Star Wars, and I'd like you
the rest of us. “I didn't even know he had a voice,” the concept artist reveals.
to work on it.” “He is also a heartbreaking sort of character, which I didn't know about.”
It wasn't a done deal, though, as I then did
a week-long test in which I was set the task of
creating some concepts for Maz Kanata, who at the
time was known by the code name “Rose.” Rose
Gilbert was an amazing teacher who’d taught both
J.J. Abrams and production designer Rick Carter.
She was incredibly inspirational, and they wanted
Maz to embody elements of her. The following
week I started at Pinewood Studios, where I
imagined I would be joining a huge bank of artists,
but for the first few weeks it was just me and a
sculptor called Julian Murray sketching ideas. Soon
another 3 concept artists had joined the team but
it would be another year before we reached a point
where J.J. Abrams said, “That's it!

How much guidance were you given for

character designs?
It is always dependent on whether they are
featured characters, for which we got a brief, or
general background creatures, where we had a for the director to choose from. Neal only had a
freer rein. For instance, with D-O we were told he budget to build a certain number of aliens, but
should be like a little duckling that has hatched we always designed way more than the director
and latched onto BB-8 as a sort of mother figure. could use, so they created what was called the
But the focus that character got over the course of B-list, which would be whittled down to the
his design was intense. We submitted dozens and A-list, the final choices.
dozens of ideas. It took months to get to the point Sometimes background characters find
where it was a wheel with that cone head. I did themselves elevated to more prominent roles.
variations on the end of his snout, the dimensions For instance, there's a character called Margo in
of the cone, the volume of his head, how Solo, who was the majordomo to Dryden Vos.
wide it was, the tire treads. The porgs I 05 She originally started out as an idea for Qi’ra,
hit much quicker. I did a drawing, but I repurposed the design and submitted her 05 Numerous color
literally on day two or three, which into the general background creature pool. combinations were
looked like a porg. It didn’t have It’s great when unused ideas are given the applied to Lunt
Davies' porg design
feathers, but the silhouette was opportunity to resurface. before a final look
there. Rian Johnson loved it, but was decided upon.
even then it took another few Have any of your other
months to go through many designs been repurposed
iterations. We did hundreds of or resurrected?
color combinations. All those L3-37 took months to get right,
decisions really mattered. and that was cross-departmental,
While the design process with visual effects and costumes
for main characters is lengthy involved, all generating hundreds
and involved on any project, of droid designs. Some of them
the approach to background became droids elsewhere.
characters was completely R0-VR in The High Republic
different with Star Wars. We comic was based on an unused
had the amazing opportunity to just doodle design I had done for L3 that
and come up with cool-looking creatures. appears in The Art Of Solo book.
Every few weeks we would put up these big Cavan Scott, one of The High
displays with hundreds of different designs Republic writers, loved it. Now

23
 16<-:>1-?"2)3-4=6<,)>1-;
07
06 A droid sketched by
Lunt Davies for Solo 06
became The High
Republic comics'
R0-VR.

07 "The Oracle"
was an unused
concept for The
Rise of Skywalker.

08 A creature Lunt
Davies initially
designed for
The Last Jedi
turned up in
The Mandalorian.

it's a droid in one of those story arcs. You

CREATURE never know where things will reappear.

CONCEPTS When my child was seven years old,

they were very inspired by what I was
Lunt Davies looks for doing and would give me little sketches
inspiration in everything of their own. Occasionally I would work
and anything from nature
documentaries to dog them up into finished concept art and put
toys. Having designed them onto the big wall of creatures for the
background critters like directors to choose from. Auromae Iselo
the steelpecker birds and was originally submitted for the casino in
rathtars for The Force
The Last Jedi but the design only made
Awakens, the thala-sirens
for The Last Jedi, and the the B-list, so I redressed it as a bounty
horse-like orbaks for The hunter and showed it again for Solo. The
Rise of Skywalker, all with producers liked the design, and he joined
real-world animal traits, he Enfys Nest’s gang, only wearing a mask.
was also responsible for
conceptualizing Boolio, I was pleased when the same creature
the ill-fated spy voiced by popped up in The Mandalorian; it then
Mark Hamill in The Rise proceeded to appear every week until 07
of Skywalker. The script I think the Mandalorian shot him. Whereas digital paint is very easy to undo. So,
called for Kylo Ren to
my work is half digital and half analog.
unceremoniously deposit
Boolio’s decapitated head What is your design process? I find vehicles fun because I don’t do
on a First Order conference Does it differ depending on enough of them. Droids are brilliant. What
table. “The design directive whether you’re working I like about doing the creatures is trying to
was that his head had to on a droid, a creature, find crazy ways to hide performers. I love
be portable and could sit
on a table,” Lunt Davies or a vehicle? designs where you can't quite work out
explains. “So, he was given Most of the stuff I've done how it's done. I started doing that with
horns purely as stabilizers, is drawn on paper. I prefer Bobbajo on The Force Awakens. He's
so his head wouldn’t roll off holding a pencil; I enjoy the this itinerant tradesman wandering
the table.”
interaction of pencil on paper. the deserts of Jakku,
It's something I've done all carrying little cages of
my life. Then I will scan animals on his back.
the drawing and color in The performer is
Photoshop. I don’t have inside the cages and
the confidence for painting he's operating the
traditionally. It's all or creature. I love that
nothing—if you mess it sort of thing. I keep
up, you have to start again. trying to do that
08
 16<-:>1-?"2)3-4=6<,)>1-;
09

with droids, with the performer in the costume

facing backwards so that their legs walk back to
front. Things like that are really good fun. I found
the AT-STs in Return of the Jedi hugely inspiring.
They had so much bird influence. That process
of design is what I find intriguing.
I am always aware that my designs might
be overstepping a performer’s limits, so that is a
consideration. It’s a collaborative affair, as performers
have an opinion and might show me a pose they can
do, which I could then play with and think, “How
can we put a costume around that?”
What was brilliant about working in Neal's
department was that I was part of this bigger
team. Once I'd done a design, I got to art direct, and hundreds of background artists.
answering questions asked by the sculptors and I also shoehorned my way onto screen
fabricators. I got to work on the eyes or the hands for that scene. I’d suggested Snaggletooth
or the teeth or the tongue. When I’d go to the as a background creature because he
sculpting room and saw how some highly skilled was a favorite action figure when I was a
10
sculptor had transposed my sketch into 3D, the child, and I even volunteered to play him.
reality of seeing something that I’d drawn being It’s a wide shot in the film, and I'm next to a
made by another person was surreal. tent pole hundreds of yards away.
People often ask me if it’s amazing to
Speaking of surreal, what was it like being see my designs on the cinema screen. It is,
on-set with the Aki-Aki that you designed? but the strangest thing is when I see a kid's
I had the opportunity to join Neal in Jordan for drawing of something that I designed. This
a while on The Rise of Skywalker set because I had idea that started off in my head and has
worked on a lot of the elements for that shoot, been filtered through all these other talented
like the Aki-Aki and various other creatures. artists into three dimensions, put on set and lit,
I went partly as a sort of overseer of “the look,” and then some child has soaked that up and 09 Jake Lunt Davies
but also as an extra pair of hands to literally help gone away and drawn their own version. (third from right)
during production
people get into costume. There were hundreds I find that so inspirational. of The Force
Awakens.

“The reality of seeing something that I’d drawn 10 Droid concept

art for The Force
Awakens by Jake
being made by another person was surreal.” Lunt Davies.

11 Aki-Aki concept
art by Jake Lunt
Davies for
The Rise of
Skywalker.

11

25
 ?07¼;<0-*7;;'

What does it take to rule in the galaxy far, far away? Insider investigates
the most powerful—and divisive—figures in galactic history.
WORDS: AMY RICHAU

hroughout every Star Wars era, there were prominent individuals who embraced leadership positions in order to

T enact change, whether on behalf of their homeworld, the galaxy as a whole, or for their own means. Some rose
to the top in search of power, wealth, influence, and control, while others took charge searching for peace or to
preserve their people’s history. Star Wars Insider looks at what motivated such galactic leaders.

Whether dominating a galaxy through war and subterfuge, running a crime

syndicate, or nurturing a resurgent Republic, three notable figures
stood out during a tumultuous period in galactic history.

the Force. By wiping the Jedi out of the eternal life led to many experiments
memory of Imperial citizens, Palpatine, with cloning technology on Exegol
his apprentice Darth Vader, and the where Sith cultists and his most loyal
Inquisitors would be the only Force subjects plotted for his return.
users in the galaxy, without rival.
Palpatine’s Empire spoke of order
and power to recruit new stormtroopers
and convince politicians to aid his
cause. Darth Vader, Palpatine’s enforcer,
spent years trying to appease his master
and prove his loyalty as Imperial

S
heev Palpatine, first a senator from governors took control of systems
Naboo, then supreme chancellor, across the galaxy—in many cases to loot
and later Emperor of the Galactic them of their resources. But Palpatine’s
Empire, was a master at playing the interests remained focused
long game. Plotting slowly over the solely on his power and
course of many years, Palpatine slyly a sinister quest to cheat
manipulated people and events to death. While Palpatine’s
bring about the fall of the Galactic officers and minions
Republic and the Jedi Order. To ensure worked to strike down
his power, Palpatine attempted to any signs of rebellion, he
wipe out his greatest rivals, the Jedi, worked on a contingency
by both killing those who survived plan in the event of this
Order 66 and outlawing the study of death. His obsessions with

26
 ?07¼;<0-*7;;'

F
or decades, anyone who wanted enslaved workers to incite fear among
to do business in the Outer them. Quick to use violence, the Hutts
Rim had to keep an eye on one did not negotiate with opponents and
individual—Jabba the Hutt. Jabba was believed they were superior to many of
a leader of the Hutt Clan, a powerful their criminal syndicate peers.
criminal syndicate that used slavery Jabba and the Hutt Clan used their
and piracy to seize wealth and control. influence to control hyperspace lanes
The epicenter of Jabba’s power was the so any smuggling of goods, illegal or
desert world Tatooine, where he held otherwise, was under their control.
court in his remote palace. No one The spice trade and trafficking Twi’leks
was safe in his palace as he regularly as slaves brought Jabba great wealth
threatened or killed visitors and his and even more power. During the

Clone Wars, both the Separatists and

the Galactic Republic sought Jabba’s
support. His power and resolve only
increased during the reign of the
Empire, but his desire for revenge
against the smuggler Han Solo would
eventually lead to his demise. After
Jabba’s death, Bib Fortuna took
control of his palace, until the former
majordomo was killed by Boba Fett,
who sought to rule Tatooine with
respect instead of fear.

to prevent another galactic-sized war.

She pushed through the Military
Disarmament Act—legislation to

A
fter the Battle of Endor, the reality Empire with the Axis network and was retire 90 percent of the New Republic
of a galaxy free of Palpatine and the public face of the Rebel Alliance, Defense Fleet, with the hope that this
what a new Republic might look was elected as the first chancellor action would increase the chances of
like began to set in. Mon Mothma, who of the New Republic. As the New long-lasting peace.
for years secretly worked against the Republic’s government did not have Mon Mothma’s government,
the resources to supply aid to every centered on her homeworld
cause, Mon Mothma was forced Chandrila, was faced with dozens
to make decisions that angered of challenges from appeasing
some friends and allies, as New Republic factions that
she worked to recruit new didn’t agree with her
planetary systems to join decisions, to the complex
her government. problem of what to do with
Eager to distance herself the thousands of citizens
from Palpatine, Mothma who had previously served
worked to remove the the Empire. While under her
emergency powers Palpatine leadership the New Republic
had granted himself as made many positive
supreme chancellor. changes, they were
A strong unable to stop
proponent of the future
democracy, she formation
was also greatly and rise of
motivated as the First
chancellor Order.

27
 ?07¼;<0-*7;;'

Upsetting the status quo was paramount in the minds of some leaders,
who sought power through sowing the seeds of anarchy across the galaxy.

as her quest for power. She recruited

some members of the Children to steal
valuable Force artifacts and gather

T
he Mother of the Path of the weapons, including eggs of the Nameless
Open Hand, Elecia Zeveron, came creatures she knew could harm the
to the group as a refugee before Jedi. Zeveron also recruited agents who
convincing its members she was sent helped to sow violent conflicts and
by the Force to lead them. Zeveron used chaos across the galaxy, many times to
the structure of the Path—the Elders, the distract the Republic and the Jedi away
Children, and the Littles, each playing from her plans. While Elecia did not
their own roles—to grow the cult’s survive the Battle of Dalna, the Path
influence. While the Path preached would eventually lead to the creation of
peace by not using (or, in their words, the Nihil, a deadly group of mercenaries
abusing) the Force, Zeveron hid her own who would weaponize the Nameless
Force abilities from her people as well creatures against the Jedi.

M
embers of the Ro family, the pirates with rankings including Storm,
masterminds of the Great Cloud, and Strikes. Marchion made
Disaster, bridged the Path of the sure that his three Tempest Runners
Open Hand to the creation of the Nihil regarded one another as rivals so they
marauders. Marchion Ro’s father Asgar would be too busy fighting amongst
was Eye of the Nihil, but Marchion had themselves instead of setting their
bigger plans and didn’t hesitate to take sights on him. To further protect his
his father’s place when the opportunity position as head of the Nihil, Marchion
arose. Under Marchion Ro, the Nihil kept Mari San Tekka—a woman with a
grew into a deadly mercenary group mysterious ability to locate hyperspace
who counted the Jedi and the Galactic paths—a secret from his underlings. He
Republic as their enemies. manipulated Mari so she would keep
Under the Eye, the Nihil included creating paths for him as he recruited
three Tempest Runners who ran their Nihil spies in positions of power, such as
own Tempest. Each of them included Hosnian Prime Senator Ghirra Starros.

he first took from Bo-Katan Kryze

on Mandalore during the Night of a
Thousand Tears, and to capture the

D
uring the early years of the Force-sensitive youngling, Grogu. To
New Republic, Gideon retained aid him in his cause, Gideon used dark
his Imperial title of Moff as troopers, upgraded battle droids that
he led a remnant of the Empire’s took the human element out of Imperial
forces. While Gideon was part of stormtroopers. Gideon was ruthless
the Shadow Council—a secretive in his pursuits, quick to strike down
group of surviving Imperial anyone who stood in his way. Like
commanders—he spent much Palpatine, Gideon became obsessed with
of his time and effort on his cloning technologies. He attempted to
own obsessions. create Force-sensitive clones of himself,
Gideon sought to regain but his efforts were thwarted by Din
the powerful Darksaber Djarin and Bo-Katan.

28
 ?07¼;<0-*7;;'

Call them selfless, reckless, or even ill-advised, some became leaders

solely because they believed in a cause bigger than themselves.

the galaxy could thrive. To help

topple these powerful Sith, Qi’ra
brought together an eclectic group

A
fter a lifetime serving crime similar to Maul’s Shadow Collective,
bosses, including White Worm each with a variety of skills and
leader Lady Proxima; the public knowledge. It included The Knights of
face of Crimson Dawn, Dryden Ren, Chanath Cha and the Orphans,
Vos; and Shadow Collective the Nightsister Deathstick, Ochi of
Leader, Maul; Qi’ra Bestoon, Qi’ra’s advisors Margo and
brought a new version Trinia, and the Archivist, who studied
of Crimson Dawn out all aspects of the Force.
of the shadows, with Qi’ra orchestrated Crimson Dawn
herself as to sow chaos in different parts of the
their leader. galaxy to distract Palpatine, including
Qi’ra’s end starting a war between many criminal
goal was syndicate leaders. Qi’ra’s Hidden
secret but Empire was not successful in defeating
simple— Palpatine and Vader, but her actions
to destroy distracted Palpatine enough to allow
the Sith rebel fleets to expand their numbers.
Lords Sheev Two of her agents—Bevelyn and
Palpatine and Melton—delivered vital information
Darth Vader so about the construction of the Empire’s
that, in her words, second Death Star to the Rebellion.

L
eia was never afraid to speak her Order. As general of the Resistance, Leia
mind. During her last years, Leia led was joined by old friends Gial Ackbar
the Resistance—an unauthorized and Amilyn Holdo, as well as children
military fleet—to counter the threats of Rebel Alliance heroes, such as Poe
of an emerging regime known as the Dameron. Much of the work of the
First Order. Despite Leia’s heroic actions Resistance was done in secret, with Leia
during the reign of the Empire and the monitoring missions from different
Galactic Civil War, Leia’s role in the New groups, working to recruit allies,
Republic Senate greatly diminished when gather supplies, and impede
Darth Vader was revealed as her father. First Order incursions.
Rather than simply retiring from Despite a lack of support
public life, Leia continued to sound from the New Republic
the alarm over the threat from the First government, who did not Luke Skywalker to rejoin the
take the First Order threat fight to save the galaxy
seriously, and even from the return of
from her own family, Emperor Palpatine.
Leia pressed on. Her While Leia did not live
efforts led to a new to see the galaxy after
generation of leaders the Battle of Exegol,
including Rey and her last act helped
Finn, and inspired turn her son Ben
her husband Han back to the light
Solo and brother side of the Force.

29
 ?07¼;<0-*7;;'

her sister, Bo-Katan, who

initially sided with Death
Watch. She also chose to
push aside the romantic
feelings she felt for Obi-Wan
Kenobi so she could focus all of
her energy on leading her people.
Satine’s death at the hands Maul,
who would later take control
of Mandalore, ignited a fire in
many Mandalorians, including
Bo-Katan Kryze, to work
together and bring Mandalore
back under the control of

D
uchess Satine Kryze ruled to choose a side in the Mandalorians.
Mandalore during the Clone war. Refusing to appease
Wars. A pacifist, Kryze believed either antagonist, Kryze
that the moment a side committed led the Council of
to fighting, they had already lost the Neutral Systems, which
war. Krzye wanted her people to move represented more than
on from their warrior past to create a a thousand planets that
peaceful and prosperous Mandalore. wished to not take part in
Some Mandalorians, including a the Clone Wars.
group called Death Watch, violently Satine’s fierce
disagreed with her beliefs. Kryze was devotion to her bold
also heavily pressured by both the vision for Mandalore
Separatists and the Galactic Republic put her at odds with

D
uring the Clone Wars, Count forces who would later battle each
Dooku’s public image was as the other during the Clone Wars. To
leader of the Separatists, but his further his chances of success, Dooku
true loyalty lay with Sheev Palpatine. leaned on two agents, General
Dooku retained good relations Grievous and the Nightsister
with many Jedi after he left the Asajj Ventress, as he secretly
Order as they were blind to met with Palpatine as his Sith
the fact that he had turned to apprentice. While Dooku
the dark side. To help steer would not survive to see
Palpatine’s war plans, Dooku the formation of Palpatine's
founded the Confederacy of Galactic Empire, his actions led
Independent Systems, whose directly to the fall of the
members took issue Jedi and the revenge
with many Galactic of Palpatine.
Republic actions.
To aid his cause,
Dooku launched
the creation of
the Separatist
battle droid
army and
the clone
army on
Kamino—

30
 Lavishly illustrated with behind-the scenes images and stunning production art from
Sony Pictures Animation’s next chapter of the Oscar®-winning Spider-Verse saga,
Spider-Man™: Across the Spider-Verse. With writers and producers before Phil Lord and
Christopher Miller, along with the cast and crew, reveal the secrets behind the creation of
the incredible blockbuster!

AVAILABLE FROM ALL GOOD BOOKSTORES, COMIC STORES & ONLINE.

© 2023 MARVEL
© 2023 SPA & CPII. TITAN-COMICS.COM
 BEHIND
THE BATCH
Part One: Every Story has a Beginning
With the adventures of Clone Force 99 coming to a close, Insider speaks with
Star Wars: The Bad Batch creators in the first part of an extensive look back at
the making of the show where they discuss the origins of the series, the themes
that drove it, and its varied cast of characters.
WORDS: BRANDON WAINERDI

Jennifer Corbett: Executive Producer, Head Writer Brad Rau: Executive Producer, Supervising Director
Athena Portillo: Executive Producer Alex Spotswood: Senior Producer
Andre Kirk: Art Director Keith Kellogg: Animation Director

he Bad Batch Star Wars Insider: What was plays the role of mediator, the glue
extended and the initial impetus for The Bad to instigating missions for the good

T transformed
Star Wars
storytelling
Batch as a standalone show?
Athena Portillo: George Lucas
created Clone Force 99, and we
of the galaxy. It was a story worth
telling because, at its heart, it’s
about family.
in a way finally had the opportunity to
that fans could never have officially introduce them to the Jennifer Corbett: When the team
expected. In an animated Star Wars audience during Season was finishing the final season of
series aimed primarily at Seven of The Clone Wars. The Clone Wars, we started having
a young segment of the Dave Filoni loved the idea of the discussion of what was going to
audience, it approached going in depth into telling the story be the next animated series. Fans were
complex issues that would of each clone, as well as introducing already into the animatics that had
trouble the minds of many Omega who became a key force been released, so the thought process
adults, wrapped up in into keeping the Batch together. became that while The Clone Wars was
an exuberant and often Although Omega looks young, ending, the clone story still had more
amusing run of exciting she’s older than all of them and to be told. It was a great opportunity to
space adventures. talk about the fall of the Republic and
Having arrived with a the rise of the Empire.
bang in the seventh season
of Star Wars: The Clone Wars,
“It was a story Alex Spotswood: One of my favorite
the Batch’s turn as supporting worth telling things about The Clone Wars was how
players was in part a back-
door pilot for their own series, because, at its we were able to explore the unique
personalities and stories of the clones.
set during a dark time for
the galaxy. It took an army
heart, it’s I think that was a big part of what
made the show so special. To have the
of incredibly talented people
across the globe to make it
about family.” opportunity to make The Bad Batch
series, where we got to focus on the
happen, led by the creative Athena Portillo, clones in the post Order 66 galaxy,
team at Lucasfilm Animation. Executive Producer was really fun and exciting.

33
 01

01 Clone Force 99 How did the story of Clone Force 99 evolve

made their first
over the three seasons?
appearance in
Season Seven of JC: The first season was us trying to get the show
Star Wars: The on its feet and understanding the strengths of
Clone Wars.
everybody on the team. As we progressed, we fell
into this natural rhythm, and then in Season Two,
we had the opportunity to explore deeper into
Star Wars lore and got to do more character stuff,
which was great. And while Season Three is the
same, we took it all a step further.

What themes were important for the Those were some of my favorite moments in
show, and how did they develop? the show.
Brad Rau: The family dynamic became
incredibly important. What are the ties that bind, Were there any significant challenges to
what is the importance of forgiveness, and how telling the story about the true formation
do you let go? All of those things were in place of the Empire, in the immediate aftermath
very early on, but started to intertwine into the of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith?
stories in a bigger way through the performances JC: We always knew we couldn’t defeat the
of Dee Bradley Baker (Hunter, Wrecker, Tech, evil Empire. But this show was always meant
Echo, and Crosshair) and Michelle Ang (Omega). to have the Empire as its backdrop, and we
And we reacted to that and let the story go where refocused on what was personal to these
it needed to go. characters and what their own journeys were.
These clones were created and trained for one
AP: For me, the themes that were important purpose, and when you take that away from
were the same things that resonate in my life: them, who are they? What is their purpose in
kindness and consideration, innocent until the galaxy, if not to be soldiers?
proven guilty, strength in inheriting unique
personalities, making compromises, being BR: We knew that in those dark times the Empire
accommodating, and forgiveness. was as mighty as ever, and growing mightier.
We knew that we were not going to have a huge
AS: We were given the opportunity to explore victory, there were not going to be any Death Stars
02 uncharted Star Wars territory with this series. in this show. So, we needed to find ways to have
The clones aren’t running smaller victories.
around during the original That’s why, when we’re talking about character
trilogy, so we were able to motivations and their emotions, it was so key to
delve into what happened to make sure the audience cared for these characters
them and what the political and their bond, that they cared about every little
landscape was at that time. thing that the clones did.

02 Omega, voiced
by Michelle Ang.

03 Wrecker, voiced
by Dee Bradley
Baker, met
Anakin Skywalker
in The Clone
Wars, Season
Seven, Episode
4: “Unfinished
Business.”

03

34
 04
BEHIND THE BATCH

SEASON I
16 EPISODES
MAY 4—AUGUST 13, 2021

Clone Force 99 find clone sister Omega,

themselves in a but the Empire is never 04 The team met Omega
the Batch. And Michelle Ang is absolutely amazing
changed galaxy as the far behind. Destiny for the first time in
as Omega. They both became like a family to us. The Bad Batch series
Empire begins to exert leads them back to
authoritarian control. Kamino, a world now Jen and I would meet with them before the premier “Aftermath.”
The Bad Batch go firmly in the Empire’s pandemic in the recording booth, and then
on the run with their firing line. we had so many discussions over Zoom. We
constantly talked about all of these themes and
stories, and really took their input to heart. With
Dee, he immediately asked, “How do we make
these extremely different characters as unique
as possible?” It came out in not only the changes
in his voice, but in his performance, in his acting.
He made them each fully dimensional.
On the first day of recording, we asked,
“Who do you want to record first, Dee? Hunter?
Crosshair?” And he said, “No, no. I’m gonna do
The Batch was a family, and the audience fell them all in a row.” And he did that for the entire
in love with them. How did you make sure recording of the series, performing a complete
that familial bond came across on screen? run-through of his scenes. It was really wild.
JC: When the Batch were introduced in The
Clone Wars, they were just the guest stars in
another story arc. Our challenge became really
taking the archetype of these characters and
developing them further. I think what helped us
“WHEN THE BAD BATCH
a lot was the inclusion of Omega, because the WERE INTRODUCED IN THE
way that the Batch interacted with each other
was different when all of a sudden there was CLONE WARS, THEY WERE
a kid in the mix. We were able to explore how
they grew and related to her, which changed the
JUST THE GUEST STARS IN
squad completely. ANOTHER STORY ARC.”
BR: The casting was huge. Of course, famously, Jennifer Corbett
Dee Bradley Baker plays all of the clones and all of Executive Producer

35
 BEHIND THE BATCH

05
it a Bad Batch show, first and foremost. We wanted
to play with the Captain Rex “action figure” so
badly. He’s such a fan favorite and we love him.
But we had to be also very careful that he didn’t
take over the show, because it’s not the Rex show.

JC: It was also wonderful to have Vanessa Marshall

back as Hera Syndulla because, especially in the
first season, Omega didn’t really get to interact
with a lot of children. So, to meet another
character who was around her age and had the
same sort of adventurous spirit, and to have them
act off of one another, was great. It gave Omega a
05 Vanessa In addition to the voices, were there other different dynamic.
Marshall played
a younger ways to make every clone feel unique and I don’t think Brad (Rau) or I ever thought we
version of Hera recognizable to the viewer? would be able to use Commander Cody, but we
Syndulla in the Keith Kellogg: Stylistically, we obviously tried got the opportunity and he was able to play a
Season One
episodes, to make sure there were little quirks for each pivotal role in Crosshair’s journey. We were able
“Devil’s Deal” character so that they were recognizable. For to use that character so effectively, and really
and “Rescue
on Ryloth.”
Wrecker, for instance, you see him mostly with propel Crosshair forward.
his hands and fists across his chest to give him
that really strong kind of look. Hunter always What surprised you about these characters,
has his chest back, in that sort of leadership as they grew through the series?
position. Echo has a little bit of a robotic JC: When we started, we had a general idea of
tendency. We also tried to throw little nuances where we wanted to go. But of course, things
in their walk cycles, and the way they move. change, and you pivot. It is such a testament to

Andre Kirk: For a series like The Bad Batch,

we were also getting to know these characters
through working on the show. It almost makes it
easier when you’re designing, perhaps an outfit
for a character, because you could say, “Oh, Tech
wouldn’t wear that.” We got to know them like
06 Captain Rex you would a friend.
became a
regular point of
contact for the Were there any ancillary and guest-star
Bad Batch.

07 Commander
characters that you felt had to be in
the show?
SEASON 2
16 EPISODES
Cody had a big BR: It was very tricky figuring out how to come
impact on JANUARY 4—MARCH 29, 2023
Crosshair in across characters that we knew and loved already,
Season Two. while still serving our story. Our aim was to make Months after the But the Trandoshan
destruction of Tipoca can’t be trusted, and
City, the Empire the Batch are soon on
believes the Bad Batch the run again. While
died along with it. Crosshair struggles
Instead, the Batch are with his choices, the
attempting to make Batch are about to
a life for themselves lose another founding
in the employ of Cid. member.

06 07

36
08 Promotional artwork for
The Bad Batch Season Three.

37
 09

09 Crosshair found
himself doubting
his decision to
the cast because the way that they were able
to own these characters really gave them so “WE ALWAYS
follow Imperial
orders during
much depth that, as a writer, made me excited
to develop them and those situations.
KNEW OMEGA WAS
the second
season. However, I will say that I’ve always been
surprised by Crosshair and the journey that he
GOING TO BE A
went on, because it did shift a little bit. I never
thought that I would want to root for him, but
BRIGHT BEACON
that changed during Season Two—he became OF POSITIVITY.”
a very complex character.
Brad Rau,
BR: We always knew Omega was going to be Executive Producer
a bright beacon of positivity, but that’s tricky to
convey. Michelle did such a great job at making
her a believable, realistic character, and that was
really fantastic. There are moments, especially in
Season Three, where even though the crew had
seen a particular Omega moment in an episode
literally hundreds of times, we were all still
cheering for her.

SEASON 3
16 EPISODES
FEBRUARY 21—MAY 01, 2024
In the epic final threats from all
season, the Bad directions, they
Batch will have their must seek out
limits tested in the unexpected allies,
fight to reunite with embark on dangerous
Omega as she faces missions, and muster
10 Omega made
challenges of her everything they
a shattering
own inside a remote have learned in
discovery in the
Imperial science lab. order to finally free
climactic final
With the group themselves from
episode of
fractured and facing the Empire’s grip.
Season Two,
“Plan 99.”
10

38
 /1>-)?)A

Five
Copies to
Give Away!
<PQ[Q[\PM?QV
Star Wars: The Mandalorian Collection from Titan to be won!
Clad in beskar armor and armed to content collected for this very special On which planet was Jango
the teeth, the legendary Mandalorians edition are interviews with Star Wars: Fett slain by Mace Windu?
have played a pivotal role in galactic The Clone Wars supervising director
history for generations. Now their Dave Filoni, stars of The Mandalorian A. Genesis
on-screen and behind-the-scenes story Pedro Pascal and Katee Sackhoff, B. Geonosis
is told in Star Wars: The Mandalorian Temuera Morrison, and the first actor C. Genentechia
Collection from Titan Magazines—and to don the famous armor on screen,
we’ve got five copies to give away! the much-missed Jeremy Bulloch. Also Send your answer via email to
This specially curated souvenir included are companions to The Book [email protected]
edition is packed with interviews and of Boba Fett and all three seasons of The or our usual postal address (see
articles exploring every aspect of the Mandalorian, as well as short fiction ‘Contact Us’ on page 3), marked
Mandalorians, from the very first starring bounty hunter Jango Fett! “FOR MANDALORE!” by May 15,
appearance of Boba Fett in the infamous To be in with a chance of winning 2024. Terms and conditions are
Star Wars Holiday Special, to live-action one of five copies of this excellent available at titanmagazines.com
TV series The Mandalorian and The collection, just send us the correct
Book of Boba Fett. Among the incredible answer to this Star Wars trivia question: May the Force be with you!

___\Q\IVKWUQK[KWU
© and TM 2024 Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

39
 01

Writer Ethan Sacks reveals how he joined the ranks of Star Wars
bounty hunters for the hit Marvel Comics series.
WORDS: MARK NEWBOLD
 02

fan of the saga since

childhood, comic-book

A writer Ethan Sacks nurtured

Marvel’s Bounty Hunters
from its launch in 2020 to its
climactic instalment this year.
Featuring all-new characters and the infamous
scum from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back,
the series also resurrected well-remembered
villains from Marvel Comics’ original 1970s
and 80s run, with the title becoming one of
the most essential monthly reads.

Star Wars Insider : How did you get into

writing comics?
Ethan Sacks: I was a reporter at the New York
Daily News for 20 years, where I got to cover
everything from comic books to sci-fi, Game of
Thrones to The Walking Dead, and along the
way I became friends with Joe Quesada, artist
and former Marvel Comics editor-in-chief.
I’d interviewed Paul Blake, the actor who
played Greedo in A New Hope, and we were
talking about who shot first and his memory of
it being Han, and I had this idea that someone
should do the murder
investigation into Greedo.
I couldn’t get the idea out 03
of my head, so I ended up
writing a comic-book script,
which I’d never done before,
based loosely on the Akira
Kurosawa film Rashomon
(1950). It’s a film about a
murder in feudal Japan told
by several eyewitnesses,
but all of their accounts are
completely different. I asked
Joe if he’d mind if I sent him
a spec script, which I did, and #1 in 2018, which paired 01 Bounty Hunters
didn’t hear back for a week. me with editor Thomas #18 cover art
by Giuseppe
Then I went to Japan Groneman, who was also Camuncoli.
to visit my in-laws with the assistant editor for
02 Age of Republic
my wife and turned on my the Star Wars line, and he
Special #1 cover
phone after getting off the brought me into the fold. art by Rod Reis.
plane, and there was an My first Star Wars story was
03 Star Wars
email from Joe that changed my life, saying a ten-page Mace Windu story (“The Weapon” in comic writer
“Never mind Greedo, you can actually write Age of Republic Special #1). That paired me with Ethan Sacks.
and do this for a living!” I thought, if I’m artist Paolo Villanelli, who became my creative
going to start a new career, this is my chance. soulmate on Bounty Hunters.
So, Greedo, of all beings, is the one responsible
for me breaking into comics. How satisfying was that collaboration?
We had a great time. Something I’d learned from
What was the first comic you worked on? Charles Soule after reading an early version of his
My first big comic for Marvel was Old Man script for what became War of the Bounty Hunters,
Hawkeye, which was a prequel to Old Man was that he would write a direction like, “Here’s
Logan. It was about Hawkeye on a quest for an action beat, and this is what I need to happen.
vengeance in an apocalyptic wasteland, and that Have fun!” Charles could teach a masterclass on
was my first big hit. I wrote Silver Surfer Annual how to write a script. He was tapping into the

41
 16<-:>1-?"-<0)6;)+3;

04

04 Bounty Hunters artist, the visual expert, to choreograph the action

#1, published by
scenes. From then on, I started doing the same
Marvel Comics
on March 11, thing, which got Paulo very excited.
2020. Cover art I would also Skype Paulo regularly to let him
by Lee Bermejo.
know where I was thinking of going with the
story. When he told me Darth Vader was his
favorite character, I spoke with Greg Pak and
Mark Paniccia (Star Wars line editor) and we
gave Vader several appearances in the book.
You can tell Paulo loves him, he draws this
kinetic version of Vader, so letting him thrive
in the action scenes, having longer discussions,
and sounding him out meant it was more
collaborative than you often have the chance
to be in this kind of comic-book process.
After Paulo left the project, artist Lan Medina
came in for issues 35 and 36, and Davide Tinto
took over until the penultimate issue. To have
written 42 issues of characters that you love what I was doing and told me about four core
has been an honor, and we went out with a books that would be set during the period right
bang. Issue 42 is a huge bombastic adventure, after The Empire Strikes Back. There was going
so much so that I needed two artists. We have to be a main book featuring the lead characters
Jethro Morales, and Paulo Villanelli returned for except Han Solo, who was obviously otherwise
the final issue. It tied up storylines we’ve been indisposed; Darth Vader; Doctor Aphra; and a
telling since 2020, and it’s my favorite. bounty hunters title. Beilert Valance—Valance
the bounty hunter from the original Marvel
05 Galaxy’s Edge How did the concept for Bounty Hunters Star Wars run—had just been reintroduced, and
#1 cover art by come about? because he was a fan favorite, they were really
Rod Reis.
I’d done a couple of other miniseries for the excited to do something with him as a point-of-
06 Bounty Hunters Star Wars line, including Galaxy’s Edge which view character.
#35 cover art
was tied to the Disney themed land, and then The original idea was to have Valance be
by Marco
Checchetto. Star Wars: Allegiance. Mark Paniccia liked more like a Punisher-type character, an action
badass, but I saw him as more of a veteran
with PTSD. Here’s this guy who’s physically
and emotionally shattered by the war, who
rebuilds himself physically but is still a work-in-
progress emotionally, so I wanted to make him
more vulnerable. Physically he’s such a kickass
character, but I really wanted him to suffer
emotionally during the course of the book.
They also wanted to use as many of the
bounty hunters from The Empire Strikes Back
as possible, while at the same time building an
ensemble cast of new characters.

You gave Valance a detailed backstory

that ties into the Solo: A Star Wars Story
era. Were there limits to what you could
do with more familiar characters?
The benefit of focusing on characters that were
from the old comics, or ones that I created for

05 06

42
 16<-:>1-?"-<0)6;)+3;

07 07 Beilert Valance,
as drawn by
artist Paolo
Villanelli, who
illustrated the
first 34 issues of
Bounty Hunters.

the series, rather than on the established heroes resentment well. He got his butt kicked by
where you know most of their arcs, was that Valance back in issue three, and he believes
I could leave readers guessing. I could kill or he could take Valance down, whereas Valance
completely dismember Valance, but obviously just wants to be left alone, so it’s an interesting
I couldn’t do that to Boba Fett because he has dynamic to play with. 08 Lee Bermejo’s
cover art for
to be around at least until The Book of Boba Also, while a lot of these characters are issue #3 of
Fett ! But I did enjoy the balance of having well-known and have existed for more Bounty Hunters.
these recognizable characters that I’d had as
action figures as a little kid, while also creating
my own that hopefully a new generation of
fans like just as well.

How do you combine your Star Wars

storytelling with your sensibilities as
a Marvel writer?
I’m always thinking of Star Wars. My internal
north star is that these characters exist in a galaxy
that’s completely war torn, with rebels on one
side and Imperials on the other, but you know
that whoever wins the war, the bounty hunters’
lives will remain largely unchanged. They’re just
trying to get by, and they’re not part of this larger
saga happening around them. There’s a little
bit of a Marvel element to that because they’re
flawed. They’re neither pure good nor pure evil,
just like the classic Marvel anti-heroes. I feel
Valance is more Wolverine than Punisher, but at
the same time Star Wars is such a unique exercise
in world building—maybe the best that’s ever
been done, just because of its completeness and
hold on so many generations.

The characters certainly like to butt heads.

Bossk and Valance are always sniping and
fighting, for example.
I patterned that on when the Avengers and the
X-Men get together—they’re all good guys but
there’s always a misunderstanding and there’s
always a fight. It seemed natural to me that
there would be ego and resentment, and Bossk
is a character who probably doesn’t handle

08
43
 16<-:>1-?"-<0)6;)+3;

09 10

09 Bounty Hunters than forty years, they’re not as fully defined as How closely did you work with your fellow
#32 cover art
by Giuseppe other characters from live action. I could tell Star Wars writers to ensure plot threads
Camuncoli a story about Zuckuss’ home planet; and since overlapped to make a unified story?
that lore didn’t exist, I got to create that little It all started with the editorial leadership from
10 Variant cover
art for Bounty thumbprint. That’s a gift for me, as a nerdy kid, Mark Paniccia. Mark and the other editors led a
Hunters #1 by to know that I’m having a small role in forging weekly Zoom call with all the writers including
Michael Golden.
the mythos further. Charles Soule, Greg Pak, Alyssa Wong, and Marc
Guggenheim. That was the most fun I had all
Did you have any temptation to bring
in other characters from that era of
Marvel Star Wars?
I’m constantly putting in Easter eggs, but
not necessarily from the comics. I brought in
Dengar’s girlfriend, Manaroo, from “Payback:
The Tale of Dengar” in Tales of the Bounty
Hunters, and I brought in Inferno Squad from
the videogame Star Wars: Battlefront II, so I’m
always thinking of things I want to include. It
grounds the story as part of a larger galaxy. I
do admit that the original comic-book run is a
little dated, four decades on, as is the original
Valance. He was a tragic villain, and as a kid I
remember he was a bit of a jerk because he was
just so anti-droid. Now he’s grouchier when it
11 Inferno Squad,
from the 2017 comes to droids rather than homicidal. He hated
Star Wars droids because he hated himself, and I didn’t
videogame
gravitate towards that. I wanted him to be trying
Battlefield II,
took on the to improve himself and find his way. To me that
bounty hunters was more noble and interesting and exciting
in issue 34.
Cover art by than simply rehashing. I don’t want to reboot or
Ken Lashley. retell stories that were already told.

11
44
 16<-:>1-?"-<0)6;)+3;

12 13 14 15

do with Darth Vader. He’s not a 12 Giuseppe

ETHAN SACKS’ character who’s going to stand Camuncoli’s
STAR WARS around and deliver a monologue,
cover art for
Bounty Hunters
STORIES so it’s hard to come up with new #31.
storylines and get inside the helmet, 13 Empire
”The Weapon” and I think Greg does it fantastically. Ascendent #1
Age of Republic Charles is writing for characters cover art
Special #1 by Riccardo
that have had hundreds of stories Federici.
Marvel Comics, 2019
written about them, but still finds
14 Halcyon Legacy
Galaxy’s Edge new ways of telling fresh ones, and
#1 cover art by
5-issue miniseries Alyssa is doing such a great job with E.M. Gist.
Marvel Comics, 2019 Doctor Aphra. She might be the
15 Jabgo Fett #1
week. Charles was the leader of coolest original Star Wars comic-book cover art by Leinil
Allegiance
several of these crossovers, and character. I’m happy to be Ringo in Francis Yu.
4-issue miniseries
he was very big on making sure that supergroup.
Marvel Comics, 2019
everybody had something meaty My next project is Star Wars:
to chew on. That’s one of the “Two Sides to Jango Fett, which is out in March
reasons why the crossovers worked Every Sortie” 2024. It’s a mini-series with
so well. We were working together Empire Ascendant #1 artist Luke Ross and it’s going to
every week and trading emails. Marvel Comics, 2019 be amazing. There’s a little bit
It has been such a unique of mystery and intrigue, a lot
Bounty Hunters
privilege to be a part of, because 42-issue series of western, and I can’t wait for
I’ve been telling stories that are Marvel Comics, everyone to see it.
literally part of the same story as 2020-2024
A New Hope, about characters who
intersect with those heroes, and Halcyon Legacy
2-issue miniseries
occasionally I get to write about
Marvel Comics, 2022
them too. It’s been an amazing
experience.

With Bounty Hunters now coming to

an end after three years, what have you
learned from the experience.
When we started, we hoped we’d make it to
twelve issues. In my naivete, I dropped certain
breadcrumbs that I hoped we would get to pay
off, so I feel lucky that it was successful enough
to still be going years later, to the stage that
I could tie up the loose ends I kept leaving.
It could have gone the other way and ended
abruptly. I’m very grateful that readers liked
the story enough to keep it going.
I also had a lot more freedom than most. 16 Galaxy’s Edge
#4 cover art by
Greg probably has the hardest job, as there are Tommy Lee
very strict guardrails on what you can and can’t Edwards.
16

45
46
 rmers
e r sp ea ks to se veral of the perfo
Insi d mber in Star Wa
rs
est m usic al nu
of the bigg ose,
isto ry : Sim o n J. Williamson,Tim R
h
, Nelson Hall and
Michele Gruska
Woodard.
TaMara Carlson
ERDI
NDON WAIN
WORDS: BRA

M aking the band

uring early ster Shop
The stateside Mon
creative for many of
was responsible
conversations that would
D for Star Wars:
Return of the
the grotes qu
populate Jabba’s
barge, in clu
e

din
ali

g
en
pa
th
s
lac
os e
e and sail
who would
Jedi, a call went m e th e three
eventually beco
to In du str ial Li ght & Magic’s ate s. M ax Re bo began life
out bandm
burgeoning “Mon
ster Shop” a stunning blue
e as “Red Ball Jett,”
that the villaino
us Ja bb a th by the Shop’s
made maquette sculpted
a ho us e ba nd pe tt. The naming
Hutt needed leader, Phil Tip ts
up of creatures
wh o wo ul d from visual effec
m be r to inspiration came wh o
us ica l nu Joh ns to n,
perform a m art director Joe
s Figrin D’an on the base of
rival the infamou saw the red balls
and the Mod el No de s’ M os d associated them
the maquette an
Eisley Cantina tu
ne . 60s shoe brand.
the with a famous 19
On Jedi’s in itial rel ea se, an d, eventually,
d The name stuck
Max Rebo Band
wa s co m pr ise e of Max’s organ
res : became the nam
of three bran d ne w cre atu Jet t” keyboard).
(the “Red Ball
de r M ax Re bo , a floppy, blue pe tt also scu lpted the initial
lea Tip
ke yb oa rd ist; Sy e ba nd’s singer
elephant-like maquette for th
tles, a ye llo w, long-legged err ed to as “M s. Sy” or
Snoo Droopy (also ref
d ho rn pla ye r As he rem embered
crooner; an
Sp ec ial “Ms. Snooty”). re is
19 97 w, “T he
McCool. For the in an early intervie e of
th e m ov ie, th eir th e film m ad
Edition of
ng wa s a little band in wh o play
k” so onste rs
original “Lapti Ne di stupid-looking m e the
th e jaz zie r “Je um en ts. I lik
replaced by
s ex pa nd ed ridiculous instr ks like an
tri o wa . She loo
Rocks,” and the icians. lead vocalist a lot ese big,
of tw elv e m us an d sh e ha s th
to a group
r W ars egg on stilts,
Sta
Forty years later, red lips that sing.”
some of the e big red lips
Insider talked to nd , The idea for thos
key creatives behi
nd th e ba ovie’s executive
to bring came from the m
x
finding ou t wh at it to ok he n George saw
mson portrayed Ma producer. “W
01 Simon J. WIllia
rs: Return of the Jedi. is ou tra ge ou s, intergalactic rock ari on ett e da ncer in the
Rebo in Star Wa th the m
group to lif e.
 ¹01<1<5)@ º

The Bandmates workshop, he said, ‘Oh, she’s got

02

to have some Mick Jagger lips,’”

Max Rebo revealed Jedi director, Richard
Ortolan band leader Marquand at the time. “So now she
and keyboard player
has these amazing lips that are just
incredible.”
Sy After this tweak, the long-legged
Snootles design was then turned into a rod
Pa’lowick singer puppet and marionette, under the
watchful eyes of technician Mike
McCormick and, eventually,
Tim Rose.
Droopy McCool
Kitonik reed player As Rose now recalls, “I got a
call from Mike McCormick in
California, who I had worked with
on The Dark Crystal (1982). He had
Joh Yowza* been working with Phil Tippet but
Yuzzum lead singer now couldn’t carry on doing the
job, and he had built a character
named ‘Sy Snootles’ as a classic
marionette.
Barquin D’an* “The problem was the puppet
Bith horn player was 5 feet tall and weighed over 60

Doda
Bodonawieedo*
Rodian horn player

Rappertunie*
Stage name of Huttese to “Fancy Man.” While the
Shawda Ubb, growdi voice of Sy Snootles was eventually
player credited to Annie Arbogast, who
was a technician at Skywalker
03 Sound and an aspiring reggae
Ak-rev* singer, Sy’s initial singing voice
Weequay drummer
came from Michele Gruska, who
pounds, so she toppled him off 02 Rehearsals can still be heard on the recorded
for the Special
the testing scaffold and he fell Edition of version of the song.
Umpass-stay* and broke his arm. I took his Return of “Joe Williams was holding
place, both as an animatronics the Jedi. auditions for a plethora of things
Klatooinian drummer
designer and a performer, when 03 Phil Tippett and told me about this part. I went
the time came.” painting the to 20th Century Fox and John
Greeata* original Max
The final addition to the Williams was there in the studio,”
Rodian dancer and Rebo costume.
back-up singer crew was the pale and puffy says Gruska, “I sang a song that
Droopy McCool, expertly Joe had written the lyrics for in a
designed by the late Wesley Seeds, language that didn’t exist, and it
Lyn Me* chief moldmaker on the film.
Twi’lek dancer and
back-up singer Behind the Music
The band’s lead single, “Lapti Nek,”
was created by the father-son team
Rystáll*
Half-Theelin dancer of John and Joseph Williams. The
and back-up singer younger Williams, who would
eventually become the lead singer
of the band Toto, worked with
*introduced in the
his composer father on the
Special Edition of Return of the
Jedi melody for the galactic hit, the
04 Sculpting Sy
title of which translated from Snootles’ head.
04

48
 05
direction, with a pair of ruby red lips
at the end that I could control to do
the mouth sync. I held her over my
head and danced around underneath
to keep her body in motion.”
It was around this time that Max
Rebo’s performer, puppeteer Simon
“They’re just a whim that George has really J. Williamson, was also brought
pursued and has a lot of fun with, although onto the project. Williamson says,
“Originally, I was given a character
they occupy one line in the script that says called ‘6-Eye’ (later named ‘Sic-Six’),
something like, ‘And then the band started up.’” who was a sluglike character with
six red eyes and six arms; it was
Phil Tippett, Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi (1983) eventually cut from the production.
So, then Phil Tippett took me to the
was really tough. I thought, ‘Oh, my a rod that held her weight but also creature room, which was up some
God, what did I get myself into?’ controlled the pitch, her ability to stairs on the side of the studio and
“I had the sheet music in front look up and down. said, ‘Oh, there’s another puppet
of me since I certainly wasn’t “I also built a close-up, half body you can play that you might quite
going to memorize those lyrics. version of Sy,” adds Rose. “She had like.’ And there, before me, was this
It was only two or three takes, a ‘Spiny Norman’ mechanism in her bright blue vision of loveliness. And
and they told me I had the gig. nose that allowed it to point in any I thought, ‘Yes, I must play him.’”
Pretty soon after, I flew out to San
Francisco and recorded it. I didn’t
see the character until I got to the
studio, but it was truly magical,
and I really put myself into her.”

“A Keyboard Man
Who is the Blues”
When it came to filming, Rose
remembers, “I rebuilt Sy and
made her what I later called a
‘reverse string marionette’, with
05 Tim Rose
her weight suspended from above operated
on a bungie cord. I then placed Sy Snootles
in Return of
myself under the floor with the Jedi.
catcher’s shin guards that were
attached by rods to Sy’s feet. Mike 06 Testing the
unfinished Sy
Quinn was on a scaffold, gripping Snootles puppet.
06

49
 07 Shop for Jedi) was sort of directing
the new sequences. He had Richard
Miller re-sculpt one of Judy Elkins’
original maquettes for the Yuzzum
creatures, which was turned into
Joh Yowza, one of the new lead
singers for the Max Rebo Band. I
was then given the opportunity to
paint it, with Lisa Smith, another
model maker, adding fur to it.”
While Joh Yowza (and an updated
version of Sy Snootles) was added
to the sequence using computer
generated effects, the rest of the
sequence was filmed on the ILM
07 The Max Rebo main sound stage, with Hall taking
costume prior to
his talents from painting creatures
being painted with
his iconic blue hue. to becoming one.
Hall joined the band’s horn
08 ”Rappertunie” was
a new addition to section, donning a mask as Doda
the band for the Bodonawieedo, a new Rodian horn
Special Edition. player for the group. On the newly
09 Droopy McCool, recreated set of Jabba’s palace, Hall
played by Deep Roy. was joined by a variety of other

The process of bringing Max Getting the Band

to life required some additional Back Together
effort on set. As Williamson More than ten years later, the Max
remembers, “I was basically inside Rebo Band was reunited, and this
Max. He was not a puppet; I wasn’t time their role would be expanded.
operating his head with my hands. During the production of the
My head was somewhere sort of Star Wars Trilogy: Special Edition,
behind the trunk and my arms many changes were made to the
were in his legs. The top part of existing original
me was level with the bottom films. Armed with
of Max himself, because he was new technologies
sitting on a cushion, and the and a fresh set of
bottom half of me extended down creatives, Lucas 08
below the set.” began the process ILMers and performers, as well
Droopy McCool was played of expanding as members of the San Francisco
by Kenyan-born Deep Roy, who the courtesans Smuin Contemporary Ballet troupe,
had also worked on The Empire of Jabba’s palace, who portrayed new backup singers
Strikes Back, performing in second completely and dancers. It was now a full
unit wide shots of Yoda walking retooling the production number.
through the swamps of Dagobah. original “Lapti “It was a super-hot day and we
Upon the release of the film, Nek” sequence were in these rubber suits,” says
the trio was given their own special by getting jazz Hall, “The dancers were all trained,
Kenner three-pack of action figures, musician Jerry Hey but I had missed the rehearsal day,
featuring their equipment and a to create a new so I had to rehearse later with Don
startling change. As Williamson song entitled “Jedi Rocks”. 09 Bies (performer of another new
says, “When all the toys came A new song meant new band member, Barquin D’an) at one
out, I was a little disappointed bandmates, and ILM was put of our houses. It was very exciting,
that they made Max a four-legged to work on creating these new with George directing, and Rick
creature. I played him as a two- additions. ILM model maker Nelson McCallum and Dave Carson on set.
limbed musician, with him playing Hall recalls, “When they were first I had never been able to work on
the keyboard with his feet, as the conceiving it, Dave Carson (who the original trilogy, so this was my
maquette and original plans show.” had worked in the original Monster closest opportunity.”

50
 TaMara Carlson Woodard,
who performed the role of
Max Rebo in The Book of
Boba Fett, reveals how she
approached playing the
musical legend.
“Every Disney+ show I’ve
worked on has been an
amazing experience, and
playing Max Rebo was no
exception!” says Woodard. “He
is such a unique character, and
10 getting to bring him to life from
the inside was really fun!”
The new Max Rebo
costume built for The Book of
Boba Fett was much the same
as the one Simon J. Williamson
wore for Return of the Jedi—
an all-encompassing suit that
cut the performer off from
the outside world. Was this a
problem for Woodard?
“Usually as a puppeteer, I
can adjust movements based
on what I’m seeing on the
monitors,” she says. “When I
was performing as Max, I just
11
had to give it my all, and trust
that my performance was what
the directors wanted to see!
And the Band 10 The expanded lover, eventually killing him on “His unique design makes
Max Rebo Band
Played On of the Return
Jabba’s orders. Further stories have him a bit tricky to move in. He
After Jedi, more of the band’s opf the Jedi suggested that Sy, Droopy, and Max is very squat and, with his nose
story was told in the Tales from Special Edition. escaped the destruction of Jabba’s and flippers hugging his body
Jabba’s Palace anthology book sail barge, with Rebo appearing, so closely, he’s locked into a
11 Sy Snootles in
(as well as a previous Insider The Clone Wars alive and well, in the post-Jedi certain way of moving. I tried
article called “Jabbapalooza” animated series, The Book of Boba Fett. to incorporate as much finger
series. movement as I could. I threw in
in Issue #67, celebrating the Recreated by Legacy Effects
a few finger twirls too, just like
20th anniversary of the film), 12 Max and Droopy (the team responsible for creatures
in Star Wars: in the original.”
both now deemed “Legends.” Droids.
such as Grogu), Max also managed Director Robert Rodriquez
They also briefly appeared, to survive the fiery destruction composed a song for the scene,
in animated form, in the Star 13 Max Rebo of Garsa Fwip’s Sanctuary in Mos which Woodard played on
returned in
Wars: Droids episode, “The The Book of Espa, so it remains possible that a loop in her car for three weeks
Lost Prince,” playing a gig in Boba Fett. band reunion could one day still prior to filming. “It was the
Doodnik’s Café. be in the cards. only song I allowed myself to
Sy was given an animated listen to,” she laughs. “I played
backstory in The Clone Wars, piano when I was younger but
had to stop when I developed
appearing as Ziro the Hutt’s
performance anxiety,
so getting to perform as
Max felt like a huge,
full-circle healing
moment
for me.”

12 13

51
 Kŧ Ť 2 K Ů Ť
M N
ũ  8 VŜŤ N Iũ g
YoU2
The first Star Wars animated series aimed at preschoolers,
Young Jedi Adventures is an engaging introduction to the
galaxy for younglings new to its thrilling possibilities.
Insider talks to Josh Rimes, Lucasfilm’s vice president of
animation development and production, and executive
producer and showrunner, Michael Olson, about the creation
of the series, along with episode writers Christian Streaty,
Katie Kaniewski, and Cavan Scott.
WORDS: MARK NEWBOLD & CHRISTOPHER COOPER

Welcome, Younglings the setting would allow us to really scripts and animation, Rimes
“Finding a natural entry point into lean into reestablishing Jedi values brought in Michael Olson (Puppy
the Star Wars galaxy that a very for this very young audience. And Dog Pals) to serve as showrunner
young audience could call their own there were bad guys too, the Nihil, and executive producer, and
is something we'd been thinking who were pirates and marauders,” Elliot M. Bour (Elena of Avalor)
about for some time,” says Josh adds Rimes. “It meant we could as supervising director and
Rimes, explaining the rationale frame the show in a way that we co-producer.
behind the Disney+ and Disney didn’t have to deal with a scary “It was a process of finding
Junior animated series Star Wars: galaxy under the thumb of an evil folks with a strong point of
Young Jedi Adventures. “Our goal Empire, so it worked out really view who also understood the
was to make Star Wars specifically for well for us.” storytelling values of Star Wars,”
the youngest fans as well as would-be With the period and setting for says Rimes. "Michael exudes a
fans. One of the first elements we the series established, it was time to youthful enthusiasm we just
looked to for inspiration was the Jedi solidify the premise, and what kind knew was perfect for the show.
Training Academy that used to be of stories Lucasfilm wanted to tell. He's a passionate Star Wars fan
in the Disney parks, and how kids "We also went back to the and father of three young kids;
really flourished in that Jedi fantasy; original movies and thought through his body of work, he
putting on a robe, picking up a about what it means for a kid to really understands the youngest
lightsaber, facing off against the bad take their first step into a larger audiences. Putting Michael
guys and learning the values of what world," explains Rimes. "Taking together with Elliot M. Bour,
it means to be a Jedi.” inspiration from Obi-Wan Kenobi's whose work goes back to classic
It just so happened that teachings to Luke Skywalker, Disney animation and current
The High Republic publishing the creative team set out to craft shows like Elena of Avalor,
initiative was launching as Rimes stories that communicate ideas was magical.”
and his team were collaborating like making good choices,
with Disney Junior on the being selfless, and being
concept, and the era seemed a good friend. These
a perfect fit for the new show. 01 Nubs, voiced are core values of
“It’s a bright, colorful, optimistic by Dee Bradley Star Wars."
Baker in
time, and a period when the Jedi Young Jedi To develop the
were at their height. We thought Adventures. concept into exciting

“Ť H6IŜ0PŴ[Ŝ2XŠ(ů3Ũ%OŠ
%ū6IŮ'ţo3P7XŜ6Ų%VŮ
7ţo;Š:IŭWŤ2GŠşŤ7RŠ= 01

%GŬ9Ť6Işŧu'EŮ*Ť0QŐ
1-ŞL%ŠP3PŮ3R)<ŠG9ů-:ŠTŭSş9G)ŭ
 02 03

The High Republic the broader framework of The 02 The a classic moment from Charles
For Michael Olson, contributing to High Republic,” says Olson of younglings Soule’s novel Light of the Jedi and
raise their
a Star Wars project aimed securely their approach. “We incorporated lightsabers the first issue of the Marvel comic;
at youngsters had been a long-held some visual elements from the to Light and it was a visual that I was keen to
Life.
ambition, and he worked hard to books and comics too, such as make sure we got into the show.”
secure the role of showrunner. “I clothing, ships, and droids, and 03 Kai alongside For some members of the cast,
poured my heart and soul into the we were able to include cameos his hero the series was their introduction
Bell Zettifar
pitch,” he says. “I'd really wanted for the third and fourth batch (Marcus to the decades-old saga itself. “Juliet
to make a preschool Star Wars of episodes. We get to see Bell Scribner). Donenfeld, who
show ever since Disney acquired Zettifar and Chancellor Lina plays Lys Solay,
Lucasfilm, and when I got the call, Soh, and lightsabers being raised hadn’t seen the
it was a dream come true. We’ve for 'Light and Life.' That was such original trilogy
been working on the show since until after she
2019, and it has been amazing.” started working
Realizing the High Republic era on our show,” reveals
on screen for the first time proved Olson. “She saw all the thematic
to be both a privilege and connections between the original
a challenge for Olson and the trilogy, the prequels, and our show
production team. “The show and it blew her mind, she was so
was always meant to be excited. I just hope other kids get
an introduction to to have that same experience. I got
Star Wars for little to see the delight on her face as she
kids, to be an easy started putting the pieces together,
entry point for and really appreciated Star Wars in
youngsters and for a new way."
whom it might be “The series was specifically
their first exposure to crafted so there’s no barrier to
the era, so we wanted entry,” Rimes explains. “It’s not
to make sure the series heavily serialized, although our
felt like a standalone within characters do remember lessons and
so they learn and grow. There are
friends and foes that pop up that

ŏXţ)WŠEŭ)ű)VŴŨu'L 04 our kids know, and some of those

villains might grow and change

%Hű)Rů9VŠ7o*ů,I
;IŠ/ů,EůEũ=oNe
'EũťU1T-Rů3Ő
.SŮ,ŭ-QŠ7:-ŞIūV)ŮI(ŠR8
S*%2ŤQ%ů-3ũHŠZ)ŧS4ŨI2ů
%2şTŭSH9ŞXŤ3R09ŞE7š-0Ũ 04 Kai Brightstar,
voiced by both
Jamaal Avery Jr.
and JeCobi Swain.
along the way, but these are very to young kids. So, we had to find
much adventures of the week that a way to explore those characters
anyone can jump into.” and locations while also making
“The challenge that we had is sure that our show feels suitable for THE YOUNG JEDI
that The High Republic is filled with the whole family. There are some Josh Rimes reveals how
a lot of tragedy, things that maybe episodes that tackle emotional the four lead characters
aren’t necessarily appropriate for themes that will resonate with the of Young Jedi Adventures
kids; but Young Jedi Adventures older kids and even adults, but we were devised.
is where we’re able to tell lighter definitely don’t want to ignore the “Kai is a very special
stories.” Olson continues. “I don’t younger end of our audience. I’ve character,” says Rimes. “We
think it would be Star Wars without relished it. I think it’s given us some wanted our version of Luke or
getting a grasp of the harder unique opportunities.” Anakin Skywalker, a kid who
things in life, like the dark side, Did Olson expect to reach such could make mistakes or make
05 Lys Solay,
but we wanted to make sure voiced by Juliet a wide demographic of viewers? the wrong choice. That’s such
Donenfeld, an important part of the show,
everyone was entertained. The with the “That was definitely a hope
that it’s okay to stumble and
challenge for us was to find an mardorsh of mine,” he says. “It was my
Diggles. get back up. It’s okay to make
age-appropriate way to show this intent to have adults, parents, the wrong choice. Finding that
06 Starlight and caretakers be able to sit down point-of-view character was
Beacon. with the kids and enjoy the show something we focused on right
with them, and it’s really nice to away, and putting together
07 Nash Durango,
voiced by see people online commenting the team around him was also
Emma about the show. Fans who are very important.
Berman. “We have different
starting to discover Young Jedi
Adventures and realizing that it’s personality types. Kai Brightstar
a little bit more than just your is ambitious and a real go-
average preschool kids show. That getter, and Lys Solay has an
amazing mind and is incredibly
there’s something in it for them
patient, which is a good balance
as well.
for Kai, slowing him down when
“In order to honor the Star Wars he needs to take a beat to
legacy, we wanted to have some think about something.”Nash
sort of arc for the characters, and Durango is our mechanic and
it was the plan from day one that pilot. We talked at length about
the show revolved around Taborr having a point-of-view character
and Kai, and how their relationship who knows nothing about the
evolved over the course of the Jedi or their values, because
05 episodes and hopefully through a lot of our audience may have
additional seasons. We have plenty never seen Star Wars before.
We have Nash say things like
more stories to tell,” confirms
‘the little green guy,’ because
Olson. “I have a lot of exciting
she doesn’t know who Yoda is
ideas for what might come in
and doesn’t understand what it
the future.” means to be a Jedi. She’s such
great comic relief with her little
droid RJ-83.
“And then there’s our
breakout star Nubs, our Pooba
Jedi youngling. He was just
so adorable from the start
and a testament to the
artists who created his look,
the animators, and Dee
Bradley Baker’s voice work.
Nubs is also adorably cute in
his own way. He’s not overly
saccharine or overly scary.
I think we hit the bullseye
with Nubs—a cute little furball
who’s a good friend. That’s
07 why he’s captured the hearts
of audiences. Some fans even
created #NubsNation to share
their love for Nubs.”
06
 I =SŰ2K.Iş-Ŝ(ZŠ2XŰ6IŮ
;VŤ8ũ+ KATIE KANIEWSKI
Katie Kaniewski found her path to
Young Jedi Adventures in part due
to the restrictions of the COVID
-RŮ-HŠ6Wū3OŠXŪ pandemic. “During lockdown I
7Iű)VŜ0Ū*ů,I wrote freelance animated scripts
;VŤ8Iŭ7Ū*ů,I and had meetings via video

7Iŭ-IŮEŝ3Yů chats.” She tells Insider. “I still

remember trying very, very hard
8LŠV-Rū9X3R
I to act professional while I was
8LŠWţ3[%Rş internally freaking out about the

8LŠ-V*Eű3VŤ8I prospect of working on a Star Wars

project. When I got the job offer, I
'LŜ6EŞ8Iŭ7 nearly fell out of my chair.”
08
Kaniewski drew inspiration
from her own life for her episodes.
“One of the great joys has been
08 Nubs has
become the to mine my own experiences and
CHRISTIAN STREATY breakout to put them into the show. For
Christian Streaty, who wrote star of example, in 'Clash' [the second
Young Jedi
three episodes of Young Jedi Adventures. part of Episode 16], Kai is at a loss
Adventures, started working after Djovi bests him in a duel.
at Lucasfilm in 2019 as a He grapples with the reality that
production assistant casting for just because he wasn’t the best
animated shows. “Fortunately, at something one time doesn’t
I had a great support system mean he’s suddenly bad at that
that knew I wanted to write,” thing, or unworthy in some way.
Streaty reveals. “I worked my I had the same problem as a kid:
way up to coordinator, then if I wasn’t automatically great at
script coordinator, and then a new activity I instantly wanted
writer, which has given me a to give up because I thought I was
wide perspective of everything ‘bad’ at it.”
that goes on in animation. It’s
a huge collaborative effort, so if Favorite Character: Favorite Characters:
I’m ever stuck, I know I have a Kai Brightstar Nash and Taborr
million people to lean on. “As a character, Kai is so “Nash is very close to my
“I grew up in the prequel pure and has the best heart, and the one I would
era, and then with shows like intentions, even if he’s 09 RJ-83, have connected with most
Star Wars: The Clone Wars, so a little too over eager voiced by as a kid. She’s as spunky and
Jonathan
being able to contribute back to sometimes. He’s someone brave as I still hope to be.
Lipow, and
the galaxy I grew up with—and you really can’t help but Nash. But my favorite character
see kids latch on to characters root for. I see a lot of my to write for is Taborr. I love
10 Taborr Val
that I’ve written for—has been younger brother in him.” Dorn, voiced pirate stories, so when I
really cool.” by Trey found out our main villain
Murphy. was this pirate kid with a
chip on his shoulder, I knew
09 he’d be my favorite.

10
 11 13

12

CAVAN SCOTT
One of the architects of The
High Republic, Cavan Scott
had written numerous audio
dramas before he embraced the
opportunity to write for Young
Jedi Adventures.
“Michael Olson asked if I’d
11 Master Zia like to pitch several springboards Favorite Character:
Zaldor Zanna, for potential episodes, and I Kai Brightstar

THE YOUNG JEDI

voiced by Nasim replied with a question of my “When I first saw the
Pedrad, with
Master Yoda, own: Could at least a few of description of Kai
Michael Olson pays tribute voiced by Piotr them feature established High Brightstar, I just knew he
to the cast of Star Wars: Michael.
Republic characters?” Scott had to meet Loden and
Young Jedi Adventures.
12 Master Loden recollects. “The answer was an Bell,” says Scott. “Kai is
“Jamaal Avery Jr’s training the emphatic ‘yes,’ so I got to work a youngling who cannot
performance as Kai is younglings.
and submitted ten ideas, about wait to be a Padawan, and
stunning,” Olson says. “From
13 Lys, Nubs, half of which included various here he has a chance to
the very first episode, he has and Kai find
brought so much heart to THR characters from the books meet not only one of the
themselves in
our favorite youngling." In trouble again. and comics. I was over the moon greatest Jedi of the era
the latest episodes out this when they went with Loden but the personification of
14 Kai faces
month, Kai will also be voiced off against
Greatstorm, Bell Zettifar, and everything he wants to be.”
by JeCobi Swain. "Both he the pirate Zettifar’s charhound, Ember.”
and Jamaal did an incredible Taborr.
job bringing the character
to life, making him very
relateable for fans," Olson 14
continues. "Juliet Donenfeld
is incredible as Lys, and Emma
Berman is hilarious—she
continues to find new ways
to make Nash Durango so
funny. What we get to do
with Taborr is really fun. Trey
Murphy has stepped up to
make his character something
really special.
“And of course, Dee
Bradley Baker is the best, he’s
a legend. Any chance to get
him to be a part of the show
and add some Nubs we take
it, so we’ll get to see lots
more of Nubs dancing and
being silly.”
 BECOME AN INSIDE R &
SAVE OVER 30%!

YOUR
EXCLUSIVE
SUBSCRIBER
COVER

Your #1 source for EVERYTHING Star Wars !

• SAVE $20! 6 issues just $39.99 Newsstand price: $59.94
• EXCLUSIVE subscriber cover!
• FREE home delivery! – never miss an issue!

U.S. Canada U.K. Europe Rest of the World

$39.99 $54.99 from £29.99 £47.99 $59.99

GET THE BEST PRICE – SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

TITAN-COMICS.COM/INSIDER
U.S. 1 800 261 6502 or 847 559 7339 • Canada & ROW 847 559 7339 • U.K. & Europe +44 (0)1778 392085
 EXPLORE THE
STAR WARS INSIDER
ARCHIVES
Check out these Star Wars Insider back issues...

Complete your collection, buy a gift,

pick up a rare cover!

FIND THESE ISSUES AND MANY, MANY MORE AT

TITAN-COMICS.COM/INSIDER
Our resident Star Wars expert, Jay Stobie, consults
his library of holocrons and ancient Jedi texts to
answer your questions about the events, people,
and places of the galaxy far, far away….

Concept art by Vincent Jenkins.

“Despite her rebel connections, Enfys Nest However, Enfys Nest’s helmet and attire carried
concealed herself behind a helmet and armor, both a different meaning and served an important
almost like a stormtrooper. Was there any special purpose that set her apart from stormtroopers.
significance to what Enfys wore?” Culture and family played a pivotal role
Donald Jones, Delaware, USA in the story of Enfys Nest’s helmet, as such
headgear was typically passed down from
The stark, white armor of Imperial stormtroopers was mother to daughter. Enfys inherited the helmet,
the perfect embodiment of the authoritarian regime as well as leadership of the Cloud-Riders,
that the highly trained soldiers served, and it became upon her mother’s death. The young woman
associated with ruthless and violent subjugation on clearly felt a strong attachment to it, as she
every planet in the Galactic Empire. The Emperor’s personalized the object by writing a poetic
faceless minions wrought destruction and sorrow stanza upon it, which read, “Until we reach the
across the entire galaxy, and their implacable masks last edge, the last opening, the last star, and
were key to maintinain an element of fear. can go no higher.” Additionally, the reverse

Headdress Heritage
Queen Apailana Logray Tusken Chief
Elected to become Queen of Naboo While many Ewoks donned leathery As with other Tuskens, the chief who
toward the end of the Clone Wars, brown hoods, Bright Tree Village’s eventually welcomed Boba Fett as a
young Queen Apailana performed tribal shaman and medicine man member of his tribe wore a distinctive
the solemn duty of attending Padmé displayed his status by keeping a mask that was synonymous with
Amidala’s funeral. Having received Amidala’s Churi skull atop his head. Additionally, his people. The signature Tusken gear
support during her campaign, Apailana wore a Logray’s staff of power revealed the fact that he provided much-needed protection from Tatooine’s
traditional feather-crested Shiraya fan headdress during used to be a warrior, and it was adorned with harsh desert environment, as well as the twin suns
the procession as a tribute to her predecessor. trophies and the remnants of old enemies. which blazed upon the barren sands.

60
eclipse emblem above the visor represented
a shining spotlight through eclipsing
darkness, yet another nod to Enfys Nest’s
position as a freedom fighter.
Steeped in tradition, the helmet also
came in handy for practical uses, such as
protecting Enfys in battle, and it concealed
transmission antennae that enabled her to
communicate with her comrades. The rest
of her ensemble was equally kitted out with
hidden tech, which included the gauntlet
shields worn on her forearms that had the
ability to fan out and deflect blaster bolts.
Incidentally, those gauntlets were made of

The Armorer Babu Frik

An adherent to the ancient Mandalorian Whether working for the Spice Runners of
belief system known as the Way, the Kijimi or High Magistrate Karga on Nevarro,
Armorer refused to remove her helmet Anzellans were notorious for their skills as
and guided other Children of the Watch droidsmiths. While it might not be cultural
who wished to follow the same tradition. attire in the strictest sense, Babu Frik’s
The Armorer employed a forge to mold and shape welding mask was a common accessory
rare beskar metal into helmets and armor for the among his people and reflected their species’
Mandalorians in her covert. technological expertise.

61
 MEANINGFUL
MASKS
Shand, and Zorii Bliss, were all people 22 BSW4:
with questionable pasts who eventually Clone troopers, wearing their
distinctive white helmets with
made positive contributions to society. T-shaped visors, first saw
The list grows exponentially when you action on Geonosis, fighting
factor in Bo-Katan Kryze working with the alongside Jedi Masters Mace
Windu and Yoda.
Jedi, Sabine Wren standing against the
Empire, and the Bad Batch doing good 22 BSW4:
deeds after Order 66. Upon Jango Fett’s death,
On a lighter note, many of the saga’s Boba Fett inherited his father’s
helmet and armor. Jango’s son,
Mandalorian beskar! Nest’s handmade most recognizable heroes were not above an unaltered clone, did not
electroripper staff had a blade lined hiding their faces, especially when they claim to be a Mandalorian, but
with a glowing energy ribbon that could needed to go undercover. Obi-Wan the suit held a special meaning
for him.
incapacitate an opponent rather than kill Kenobi disguised himself as the bounty
them, thus demonstrating its design was hunter Rako Hardeen; Han Solo stole a 10 BSW4:
intended for defense. Kessel guard’s uniform; Luke Skywalker As Tobias Beckett’s gang
and Solo pretended to be stormtroopers attempted a coaxium raid on
Vandor, Enfys Nest and her
Hidden Identity on the Death Star; Lando Calrissian
Cloud-Riders intervened in an
Enfys Nest’s gear was both symbolic and infiltrated Jabba’s palace as a skiff guard; effort to steal the hyperfuel
practical, but there was another reason and Leia Organa wore Boushh’s gear to for themselves. The Cloud-
her band concealed themselves behind rescue her future husband. So, while Riders’ masked appearances
and aggressive tactics gave
helmets and armor. As part of a burgeoning Enfys Nest maintained a culturally credence to the rumor that they
rebellion set on toppling an overbearing relevant style unique to herself, she were lawless marauders.
Empire, they did everything possible to was not the only force for good who
prevent their enemies from learning their took advantage of the benefits supplied 9 BSW4:
When Din Djarin first
true identities. With her helmet, a cape by a helmet and armor. encountered Bo-Katan Kryze
and bantha fur that obscured her physical on the moon of Trask, the
form, and a built-in vocoder distorting her bounty hunter felt that Kryze
and the Nite Owls betrayed the
voice, Enfys Nest gave herself an advantage. Creed by casually taking their
Neither Crimson Dawn nor the Empire helmets off.
knew Nest’s name, age, gender, or species,
thus making the skilled warrior even 9 ASW4:
Din Djarin and his allies
more elusive. boarded Moff Gideon’s light
On Savareen, we learned that Enfys cruiser to rescue Grogu from
Nest’s true goals involved protecting Imperial imprisonment. Djarin
willingly removed his helmet
the innocent and bringing freedom to
for a second time (having
the galaxy. Yet we must remember that previously been forced to do
she was not the only person dedicated so on Morak) to say goodbye
to justice who donned a helmet. Some to Grogu as he left to train as
a Jedi, an act which made the
individuals, such as Din Djarin, Fennec bounty hunter an apostate in
the eyes of the Armorer and
her Mandalorian covert.

The
Cloud-Riders
Enfys Nest’s Cloud-Riders took a cue from
their leader and donned helmets to hide
their true identities. Weazel, formerly
employed by the Hutts on Tatooine, wore
an ensemble very similar to Nest’s that
incorporated a rangefinder from the planet WHAT DO YOU
Kalevala in the Mandalore system.
Benthic “Two Tubes,” eggmate of
NEED TO KNOW?
Edrio, wore headgear alongside his Send your in-galaxy queries to
breathing tubes while following Enfys, [email protected]
with the subject header,
though he later abandoned the helmet
“A Certain Point of View.”
during his time serving in Saw Gerrera’s
partisan group. Other unique garb-wearing
gang members included Chussido of Rodia
and Waydurk of Mimban.

62
 TM

www.pktmags.com/swi224

© & TM 2024 Lucasfilm Ltd.

 “I
have always found joy in the
films, books, games, and
more,” say Mark Edwards,
a fan of the saga since childhood.
“However, it wasn’t until I became
a member of the Rebel Legion,
cosplaying as Cassian Andor, that
my love for Star Wars began to
evolve into something more.”
Mark, who had encouragement
from fellow cosplayers to build his
Andor costume, was inspired by
the rebellious character when he
first appeared in Rogue One: A
Star Wars Story. “The power of
positive representation in media
is something that I didn’t fully
comprehend until Diego Luna’s
fantastic portrayal of Rebel
Alliance hero Cassian Andor.
Suddenly I felt seen within the
Star Wars galaxy,” Mark explains.
The Cassian cosplayer has since

64
 We want to hear from you! Tell us about your
Star Wars experience. What made you want
to become a fan? What have you done in the
name of Star Wars? Tell us your Star Wars
story by sending your photos, art, and
letters here:

[email protected]
Or via regular post:
UNITED STATES UNITED KINGDOM
Star Wars Worldwide, Star Wars Worldwide,
Star Wars Insider, Star Wars Insider,
Titan Magazines, 144 Southwark
2819 Rosehall Lane, Street, London,
Aurora, IL, 60503, SE1 0UP,
U.S.A. U.K.

“I have been a
participated in character at
fan of Star Wars
numerous fundraisers. “I have
for as long as I
entertained crowds at various can remember,
events where we get to use our and figures like
love for Star Wars to raise money Ralph McQuarrie
for various charity organizations in and Doug Chiang
our local communities.” have inspired me
Attending the red-carpet to pursue art as
premiere of Star Wars: The Rise of a profession,”
explains Daniel
Skywalker in Hollywood was just one
Headen. “As an
of many exciting opportunities Mark
African-American
has enjoyed through his charitable
artist, I enjoy
activities. “I had the honor of illustrating
inducting actor Carl Weathers, pieces that are
who plays Greef Karga in The reflective of me,
Mandalorian, as an Honorary so spotlighting the
Member of the Rebel Legion,” High Magistrate,
says Mark. “I have also met some Greef Karga, was
amazingly creative and talented a no-brainer.”
cosplayers and prop makers, and
made friends who have become like
family to me. All of this has
happened while being able to
cosplay as a character whose Steven Legge was inspired to create his
portrayal represents me, a Latino, Leia artwork after enjoying Vivien Lyra
in a positive way among arguably Blair’s performance in the role in the
the most popular media franchise Obi-Wan Kenobi series. “I felt like it might
on the planet. It’s safe to say that be a good visual idea to place her among
Star Wars, and Cassian Andor, has different ages of Leia portrayed by Carrie
Fisher.” Legge also envisioned Leia’s father
changed my life. I only hope that
Anakin in his Darth Vader armor with
my cosplay can help to inspire
Emperor Palpatine watching over him.
others in the way this character,
and this positive representation,
have inspired me,” shares Mark.
“After all, rebellions are built
on Hope…”

65
 Meet the stars, show the evidence,
win the bounty! Bounty Hunters is
sponsored by Kotobukiya.
Each issue's winner will receive
a fantastic Kotobukiya Star Wars
statue kit! To see more, visit
www.facebook.com/kotobukiyaofficial.

F
or Charlie Degasperi and
Tristan Jackson, a trip to
Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney
World Resort in Orlando, Florida
became the first day of the rest
of their lives.
“I got to pilot the Millennium
Falcon on the Smuggler’s Run
attraction and throw her into
hyperspace. That was one of my
dreams as a kid,” beams Charlie.
Meanwhile, Tristan was busily
preparing the proposal of a lifetime.
Having primed a photographer
and other guests at the park what
Aaron Cohen poses with Ahmed Best, who portrayed
was about to take place with the
Jar Jar Binks in the prequel trilogy and Kelleran Beq
in The Mandalorian. help of their friend Flo, Tristan
sprang his special surprise right As with the Force, balance is an

F
or Aaron Cohen, dreams became beside the life-sized recreation of important part of any marriage.
reality when he had the chance to the famous smuggling ship that “Although he may not be
meet Ahmed Best, known for takes pride of place just the biggest Star Wars
playing Jar Jar Binks in the prequel trilogy outside Smuggler’s Run. fan, my now-husband
and Kelleran Beq in The Mandalorian. “I remember looking up at has fully embraced the
“We did a photo op, and I got to chat the Falcon in all its glory and Jedi Knight that I am.
with Ahmed for a few minutes when I got when I turned around, Tristan From going to movie
the photo signed by him later on,” was on one knee holding up premieres, to staying up
a glowing box that had a and binge watching the
describes Aaron. “He was so warm and
Mandalorian engagement shows on Disney+, to
gracious, and very happy to meet and
ring inside,” recalls Charlie. “I building lightsabers at
interact with his fans.”
took a couple of steps back Savi’s Workshop at
The moment was particularly special for
to process what had just Disney World. I could
Aaron, who has always appreciated Best’s
happened, and when I said not ask for a better
Gungan character. “I’ve been a Jar Jar Binks
‘Yes,’ and he rose to put person to have
fan since he first appeared onscreen in The the ring on my finger, the walked into my life
Phantom Menace, and my appreciation for crowds that surrounded when I needed him
Mr. Best has only grown as he’s taken on us began cheering with most and now
other characters within the Star Wars thunderous applause. to spend the
galaxy,” says Aaron. “Meeting Ahmed Best It truly was our ‘I love remainder of
was definitely a great experience!” you, I know’ moment.” my life with.”

66
 WORLDWIDE

Skywalker, as he empathizes with

the concepts of determination and
love that are at the heart of the
character. “That’s why he’s my
favorite,” says the cosplayer, who
identifies strongly with the Jedi.
“Luke isn’t good because it is his
‘duty,’ or because he ‘wants’ to be.
It’s just natural for him. Luke is all
about love and empathy, and I try
to share that through my love for
my friends and family.”
DeShawn perceives love and
support from family and friends as
a distinctive tie to Luke, who relied

‘‘S
tar Wars brings people on Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and
together throughout the others during his Jedi journey.
world, whether you “I personally want to thank all
express your fandom by watching my friends and family who have
the movies, cosplaying, or making supported me through everything.
a podcast about your favorite I like to think they’re my inspiration,
character,” says DeShawn, who because they know that when I start
has recently cosplayed as Luke something new, I intend to finish it,”
Skywalker training Grogu as says DeShawn. “They keep me going
seen in The Book of Boba Fett. through love and support, even
“There’s always an opportunity to though I can be a handful, but no
connect with other fans and make matter what they will always love me
new friends.” and know I will support them as well
Along with the ships, blasters, be there for them. Thank you to all
lightsabers, and stories that fuel his my family and friends, every single
imagination, DeShawn feels a one of them is the real deal, and I’ll
particular connection to Luke love them always and forever.”

67
 WORDS: CHRISTOPHER COOPER

T
hey may be played with games like Legion and Shatterpoint, generic buildings for your battles
miniature figures and and painting them is an art in itself, that won’t look out of place
landscapes, but Star Wars but TK-101 is more interested in the whatever the location, and other
tabletop roleplaying games are a environments we can make for those pieces of terrain that capture that
big deal—as TK-101 discovered at tiny Star Wars characters to fight in. essential Star Wars vibe.
Star Wars Celebration Europe The possibilities are endless—we’ve With the average miniature figure
2023, where an entire area was seen countless planets in the saga, standing at about 1.7 inches tall,
dedicated to the hobby. from the graceful beauty of Alderaan TK-101’s main priority was scale.
In games as varied as Star Wars to the mines of Kessel, to the grotty Taking a lesson from Industrial Light
Armada, X-Wing, Legion, and underbelly of Coruscant. But while & Magic’s modelmakers, we made a
Shatterpoint, players can engage in every world has its own visual couple of foamcore figures at just the
vast space conflicts, recreate famous identity, there are certain architectural right size and set about sketching
land battles from the movies, or features that scream “Star Wars” out some ideas for the essential
create their own skirmishes, but the from the screen, wherever the action terrain pieces we would need, based
hobby also offers the chance to get takes place: think metal doors with upon familiar Star Wars locales.
creative with worldbuilding—literally— ridged doorframes, domes, greeblies, Learning the actual rules of the
and that’s where TK-101 comes in. random pipes, vaporators, and dirt. game is something we’ll just have
Miniature figures are huge part of Lots of dirt. This means you can craft to worry about later.

In tabletop gaming, buildings add an extra level of

variety and fun to gameplay, with interiors and multiple
levels making battles more challenging.
Light-weight and easy to cut, foamcore card is a good
material to create the form of a building, but carboard
and even product packaging (as TK-101 used in our
building) are also great sources for interesting shapes.
For scale, use a standard miniature to determine the
height of a door, and work from there. A mixture of PVA
glue and sand will give walls a gritty texture, while applying
repeated panels cut from thin card give a building an Imperial
look, and can also make the kind of doors that wouldn;t look
out of place on Nevarro.
Be sure to plan your construction to include interior
spaces to enhance gameplay. Remember to ensure your
greeblies are appropriately scaled.

68
 WORLDWIDE

The area of engagement in tabletop

gaming is one of the fundamental
parameters of the hobby. A game
of Star Wars: Shatterpoint, for
example, takes place on a 36-inch
by 36-inch tabletop—a great size
for a coffee table, but tough to fit
into a backpack if you’re traveling
to a pal’s house to play.
Conveniently, a standard vinyl
or carpet floor tile is 12-inches by
12-inches, so gather nine of these
handy squares and you’ve got yourself
a very portable and configurable base
for your game. Vinyl tiles are often
textured to resemble stone, which is Scatter cover is another tabletop element that should
handy for recreating the Jundland not be forgotten. Using similar materials, construction
methods, and painting techniques employed for our larger
Wastes of Tatooine, while a green
terrain, smaller pieces like piles of scrap, walls, and other
carpet tile is ideal for the grassy
obstacles can be easily constructed from plastic bottle
plains of Naboo. Flip them over and
tops and other trash, then decorated with the Star Wars
the reverse side offers a flat surface look and deployed across
that can be painted with a more your tabletop.
industrial landscape.

Jawas and Tusken Raiders like nothing more than to hang out in rocky
escarpments, and such outcrops are a lot of fun in tabletop gaming too,
offering hiding places, general cover, and vantage points that can be
rearranged for every game. Rocky landscapes are also very easy to make
(you can even use real rocks if you like!).
Create a base from a piece of foamcore card in a suitable size and
shape, add height and levels with further, smaller layers of foamcore cut into
interesting, rocky forms, and cover with air-drying clay or ready-mixed plaster
with added sand. Use a scuplting tool to blend the clay and add detail. Glue on
small stones and grit for realism, then paint. A dark paint wash will bring out
detail in the cracks and crevices, and dry brushing with a lighter color will bring
out highlights. Soft artists pastels can also be used for the same purpose. Grass
and flocking from a hobby shop will help bring your terrain to life.

69
 01

<PMJMPQVL\PM[KMVM[
[\WZaWNIOITI`aNIZ
NIZI_Ia

The high-octane thrills of the

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
podrace didn’t leave audiences
with much time to get to know
the daring pilots at the controls of
each vehicle, but it was clear that
they were creatures of a kind not
seen before in the Star Wars galaxy.
The concept behind the unique
look of each pilot was that their
species had evolved a specific
advantage that made them ideally
suited to a career as a podracer.
A feature common to many was their
aerodynamic, almost bird-like head
shapes, suited to moving at speed.
The design process for the podracers
involved the creation of maquettes—
small, highly detailed sculptures that
interpreted concept art into three
dimensional form—which served
the dual purposes of seeing how a
design would work on camera, and
as reference for the digital versions
that would pilot the CGI vehicles in
the movie.
 01 A physical maquette of
02 04 podracer Ratts Tyerell,
photographed outside for
real-world lighting
reference.

02 Wan Sandage maquette.

03 Boles Roor maquette.

04 Aldar Beedo maquete.

05 Mars Guo maquete.

05

03

71
06
 THE STAR WARS):+01>-

07

08

Dud Bolt (named on several pieces

of concept art as “Bozzie Barada”)
was one of two puppet pilots made
for The Phantom Menace, with
the remaining podraces all being
09 06 The Dud Bolt puppet, built
by Danny Wagner, was used realized digitally.
for close-up shots of the The character’s podracer—a
character seen briefly during
Vulptereen 327—was constructed
The Phantom Menace podrace.
full-size for scenes shot in Tunisia
07 Costume concept sketch by Jay and at Leavesden Studios in London,
Shuster showing how Dud Bolt’s
headgear would be applied to the based on concept art by Jay Shuster
puppet podracer. (see below) and a miniature reference
maquette built at 1/24th scale
08 The puppet without its leather
armor and goggles. (above).

09 A physical maquette of Dud

Bolt, based on a design by
Terryl Whitlatch.
 TA LES FROM TH E
OCCLUSION ZON E
74
“Survivors”
By Lydia Kang Illustration by
Jake Lunt Davies

75
 ;<):?):;"<0-01/0:-8=*41+

Previously, in a galaxy far, far away…. into the cockpit wall. The taller Nihil seemed
confused, and Joss stepped forward, striking
Trapped within the Occlusion Zone, the marauder’s blaster hand to one side
Joss and Pikka Adren have discovered and punching him hard in the faceplate.
a seemingly abandoned Nihil ship, The Nihil fell to the ground, moaning and
littered with corpses and the spoils clutching at his Gran-like helmet. Joss kicked
of war. But not all aboard are dead… his blaster safely into the shadows.
“Awww, flark! That really hurt!” he
lick, click. whined. “What’s the point of a helmet if it

C
That odd sound doesn’t protect you?”
continued to “Who are you?” The female asked,
echo from the nursing her stinging hand.
silver protocol “We’ll be asking the questions now,” Joss
droid’s chest. said as he yanked the taller Nihil to his feet.
Right now, it felt In doing so, a piece of flimsy armor pulled
as loud as a gong away from the man’s shoulder. The pauldron
in the cramped cockpit. clattered to the floor. On the gray fabric of
“Drop your weapons,” said the Nihil his upper arm were loose threads in a familiar
with the horned helmet in a female rectangular pattern, just like the emblem
voice. Scuffed armor covered her torso, they had carefully removed from their own
with chain mail protecting her legs. uniforms.
"Drop your “Don’t make me repeat myself.” “You’re RDC?” Pikka asked.
The other Nihil was taller and slimmer, The tall Nihil shrugged and pulled off
weapons," wearing a helmet with three eye holes and their helmet, revealing the face of a human
wide ear covers, as if made for a Gran. This male, so young that he appeared to be barely
said the one seemed far less confident than the out of his teenage years. “We are,” he said.
other Nihil, and kept looking towards their “Elping!” The female Nihil snapped in
Nihil with companion, as if questioning whether her frustration at her companion.
commands were appropriate. “What?” The young man protested.
the horned “I would strongly recommend you “They’re the ones holding the blasters now!
follow her orders,” the silver protocol droid And, you just told them my name,” he added.
helmet in a stated, dryly. Click, click. “She hasn’t eaten
today and she’s quite cranky.”
“Plus, I think they’re RDC, too.”
Pikka glanced at Joss, who tipped his
female voice. “Shut up, Six-En,” the female Nihil
snapped.
head. Might as well show their hand now.
And like the kid said, they had the blasters.
"Don't make The taller Nihil cocked their head,
motioning with their blaster towards a faded
“Yeah. We’re RDC,” Joss admitted.
“Captain Joss Adren.”
me repeat area on Pikka’s upper arm, right where her
Republic Defense Corps patch used to be. She
“I’m Captain Pikka Adren,” Pikka said.
She relaxed her stance a little, but only a little.

myself." and Joss had removed them weeks ago, as a

precautionary measure in case they were ever
“Want to tell us who you are, and how you
got here?”
captured. RDC prisoners would be valuable to The female Nihil pulled off her helmet,
the Nihil, in the worst possible way. revealing a grim-faced Arkanian woman. She
“What’s that?” asked the tall one. They possessed the telltale white eyes of her species,
had a soft-spoken male voice that lacked the and her snowy hair hung in waves around
hard edge of their companion. her neck, contrasting against amber skin. She
“Aren’t you a little young for a Nihil?” tucked the Nihil helmet under an arm and
Pikka said, raising an eyebrow. stood to attention.
“Enough. Identify yourself,” the female “Lieutenant Visma Tarko,” she said, tilting
interrupted, her blaster still aimed at Joss. her chin up. She was proud of her name,
The Adrens said nothing. though it meant nothing to Joss. “This is
“Very well. If you won’t do as you’re Corporal Elping Tsoo.”
told…” She turned her blaster towards Pikka. The young man raised a hand, almost
Joss’s heart raced, but Pikka raised a single sheepishly. “Hi. Sorry about that blaster
finger, a sign to Joss that things were about to business.” He slouched a bit, as if to make
go sideways—on her terms. himself smaller next to his senior-ranking
“Drop your…” colleague. She glared at him, and he
Pikka dropped to one knee, firing her immediately straightened up and pulled his
blaster simultaneously. The bolt struck the shoulders back.
female Nihil’s weapon, sending it spinning Joss finally let his blaster fall to his side—
out of her hand, and she staggered backwards but he didn’t trust them, not by a long shot.

76
 -@+4=;1>-.1+<176

Trust had to be earned, even if they were Six-En. Joss and Pikka’s first priority was to
fighting on the same side. “So. How did you find out more about this broken Nihil ship.
find yourselves in the O.Z.? Are there more “How functional is the engine?” Pikka
of you?” asked, as Visma casually stepped over a
Elping shook his head. “Just us. And Six- dead Nihil. She pulled off a metal panel to
En,” he said, gesturing to their protocol droid. reveal a tangled jumble of wires.
“See-Zerosixen. Protocol droid for the “Barely,” Visma said. “It works, but the
Tarkos family. I am temporarily at your Path drive is broken. We can’t use any of
service.” Six-En tipped his head forward. the hyperlanes here.”
“For as long as we are stuck in this death trap Pikka’s face, which held a hesitant
situation together.” optimism, drained of color. “You mean
Visma rolled her eyes, and Elping cringed. to say, we can’t get past the Stormwall in
“That’s temporarily generous of you, Six- this ship.”
En,” Pikka said dryly. Elping nodded. “Whatever advantage
“You’re quite welcome. Though I must we gained capturing this ship doesn’t add
mention I am far more likely to survive up to much. But we do have this.” He led
however long we spend together, being them to a room off the cockpit that was
altogether far more useful to both sides of the lined with metal boxes fitted with wires,
conflict.” pointing to one that was oddly shaped.
“Thank you, Six-En. That’s quite enough,” “This thing sends out some kinda signal
Visma snapped. The droid bowed graciously. that protects the ship against scav droid Joss finally let
“He’s why we’re stuck here,” Elping said. scanners. We’re not sure how it works,
“Visma and…” but we’ve not had trouble from those his blaster fall
Visma cleared her throat, and Elping mechanical rats since we got stuck here.”
corrected himself. “I mean, Lieutenant Tarko “Anything else?” to his side—but
and I had been assigned to a station near “Lots of war spoils, if you’re into that
Yerbana. We were on a transport with Six-En sort of thing,” Visma said. “The next step he didn't trust
when our shuttle was attacked by Nihil. We is going to be ditching these corpses and
got out in an escape pod.” loading your supplies on here as soon as them, not by
“We’ve been running ever since,” Visma we can, so…”
said. “Hiding out on one of Yerbana’s
moons. We stowed away on a ship that got
“Whoa,” Joss said, holding up his
hands. “Who said we’re moving off
a long shot.
recaptured, escaped again, hid again. We
managed to steal a shuttle but were attacked
the Aurie?”
Visma threw him a look, and not a very
Trust had to
and taken aboard this Nihil ship.”
Pikka swiveled her head. The cockpit had
nice one.
“That is Lieutenant Tarko’s way
be earned, even
the body of a fallen Nihil in the corner. It
looked like the man died of a blaster shot to
of saying that your circuits must be
malfunctioning if you disagree with her,”
if they were
the gut.
“So, you’ve been in the O.Z. for how long?”
the droid explained. Click, click.
“I figured that, thanks Six-En,”
fighting on the
“Months,” Elping said.
Joss noted that he had hollows under his
Pikka said.
Visma took a step forward. “Isn’t it
same side.
eyes, and his Nihil disguise hung loosely on obvious that we have a far better chance of
his thin frame. survival on this ship, hiding from the Nihil
“Sounds like you’ve had a hard time of it,” in one of their own, rather than on your
Pikka said. Her eyes were sympathetic. Elping Longbeam?”
was just a kid yesterday, it seems. But Visma “The Aurie has survived this far pretty
shrugged it off. well,” Joss said. “It can outmaneuver any
“Every Nihil we came across on this ship is ships they have by a mile. And Corporal
dead. What happened?” Joss asked. Tsoo says this ship doesn’t offer us any
Visma crossed her arms in defiance. Elping advantages.”
rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his eyes looking “I’ve been out here longer than you
elsewhere while nonchalantly pointing with have,” Visma said, bristling.
his finger at Visma. “We,” Elping said quietly.
Pikka and Joss exchanged a quick glance. “What?” Visma retorted.
They were both very glad they weren’t Nihil. Elping seemed to regret his small vocal
rebellion but repeated himself anyway. “I
said, ‘We.’ We’ve been out here this long.”
Visma rolled her eyes.
Whether they liked it or not, they were “Let’s take an inventory,” Pikka said.
now a party of four. Five, if you included “See if there is any real worth in keeping it.

77
 -@+4=;1>-.1+<176

And then Captain Adren and I will make on the goal right in front of us.”
the decision.” Visma opened her mouth to “Winning the war against the Nihil?”
argue, but Pikka firmly stared her down. Elping asked as they set down the crate in
“As higher-ranking officers, what we say, the Aurie’s main hold.
goes. Got that, Lieutenant Tarko?” “Survive living in the Occlusion Zone,
“Yes Captain,” Visma conceded, one day at a time,” said Joss, grimly. “Help
though Joss was pretty sure her teeth were people when we can. And, eventually, get
clenched as she spoke. out of here.”
“Lieutenant Tarko outwardly agrees but Elping nodded. He seemed relieved to be
internally thinks you are filled with…” on the Aurie, Joss thought. Who wouldn’t
“Interpret this, Six-En. I’m shutting you be, after spending months surrounded by
down for a while.” Visma reached out and the corpses of the enemy on a disabled ship.
deactivated the protocol droid. “Just be Six-En didn’t seem like particularly agreeable
glad I don’t yank out all your core circuits company, and Visma wasn’t the kind of
permanently while you’re napping.” person who could provide solace under
life-threatening circumstances. It was clear
from the state of the Nihil crew that she was
a formidable individual.
The Nihil The Nihil ship was in terrible shape. That After several days of pulling what they
Visma and Elping had been able to navigate needed from the Nihil ship, they finally left
ship was in it into this asteroid field without getting the asteroid and put the field of tumbling
obliterated was a miracle. The engine was rocks behind them. Pikka had wired the scav
terrible shape. cobbled together with slickplast and hope. droid-evading tech into the Aurie’s systems,
“At least this Nihil communications the hope being that it would keep them
That Visma decryptor should come in handy,” Pikka safe from any roving droids that might be
said, detaching the device from a cockpit flying out ahead of any Nihil ships in the
and Elping control panel. region. But with two new RDC members on
“We should gather up what loot we can,” board, they’d soon be out of rations if they
had been able Visma suggested, holding a box that was didn’t find more supplies in the next few
spilling over with sparkling Naboo jewelry weeks. Ryloth was probably a month away
to navigate and statuettes carved from purple stones.
“Since credits are useless over here, we can
if they flew straight there and didn’t get into
trouble. A big if.
it into this trade them for goods.”
“We should really return them to where
With the Aurie on autopilot, the new
companions finally sat down for their first
asteroid they were stolen from,” Pikka said. “We can
trade work, instead.”
collective meal together. Rehydrated tubers
and a pormork stew, with a side of wuli nuts
field without Visma said nothing to this.
Joss and Elping lifted a crate at both ends,
for Pikka. Joss wondered if their future child
would be part wuli nut when it finally made
getting loaded with potentially useful items, and
started to make their way back to the Aurie.
its entrance into the galaxy, in just a few
short months. But he didn’t like to think on

obliterated Joss noticed the young man wincing.

“This too heavy for you?” Joss asked.
it too much. The fact that they were here,
and not in safe space, worried him to no end

was a miracle. “It’s not the weight,” Elping answered as

they maneuvered their way past yet another
so he simply did what he’d told Elping to do.
Think survival first. One day at a time.
inert body, a Nihil corpse lying face down in Visma sat ramrod straight in her chair
a pool of dried blood. and ate her meal like it was a mission.
Joss instantly understood. “War is a Quickly, efficiently, and without any
terrible thing,” he said. apparent enjoyment. Elping ate voraciously,
“When I signed up for the RDC, I as if he’d only eaten scraps for months on
thought I could help,” said Elping. “I didn’t end. He’d also brought the Nihil comms
expect… this!” he admitted. decryptor to dinner and was adjusting the
“What’s your background?” dials between bites.
“I’m an… I was an ecologist,” Elping said “Mmf,” he mumbled. “This is so good,
regretfully. “I was cataloging native species even if it’s all Republic rations. Thank
and researching interplanetary evolution you.” He looked at Visma, encouraging her
in the Outer Rim. Like when a scrap rat to say something.
stows away on a ship and ends up living on Visma rolled her eyes and sighed. “This
Mandalore. I guess I’m more interested in meal has the appropriate ratio of protein to
that sort of thing than killing anybody.” carbohydrates, fats, and nutrients.”
Joss laughed. “I’m sure your expertise will This time Elping rolled his eyes. “She
come in handy. In any case, we have to focus means, ‘Thank you.’”

78
 ;<):?):;"<0-01/0:-8=*41+

“I guess it’s been pretty slim pickings, Starlight Beacon, or am I imagining things?”
food-wise,” Pikka said. Joss said. “What in the stars is going on in
“It was…” Elping started to speak, that ship?”
but Visma shot him a warning glance. “They are in great distress,” Six-En said.
“It was fine.” “That’s obvious, and it sounds like
“We have performed as per our RDC
we should steer clear of whatever trouble
guidelines given our arduous circumstances,”
they’re in,” Visma insisted. “It could take
Visma said.
us down too.”
Joss leaned closer to the Elping, who
“But there’s a prisoner on board,”
continued to tinker with the decryptor.
“You don’t have to work during the meal, Pikka said. “Probably one of us. They said
you know.” ‘Republic.’”
“In circumstances like this, time can’t “One?” Visma said, nearly laughing.
be wasted,” Visma stated, flatly. She pushed “Versus risking the lives of the four of us?
away her empty plate and stood. “I should Plus, we’ve got barely enough rations to
be double-checking the inventory.” get us to civilization as it is. We can’t risk
“Why don’t you sit for a while longer,” a side mission. Tactically it would be wiser
Joss said. “Tell us about yourself.” to ignore the transmission and continue to
“There’s not much to tell,” Visma Ryloth. Get supplies, weather the storm, and
said formally, as if interviewing for a new make it out of here alive.”
position. She sat down stiffly. “I’ve risen
“We’re that prisoner’s only hope. We
through the ranks of the RDC faster than
any other Lieutenant. If not for being behind
have some basic protective wear and
respirators,” Joss offered, but his suggestion
"This is
the Stormwall, I’d be a Captain commanding
my own ship by now.”
masked thoughts that were a mess of largely
negative outcomes. What about Pikka? What
prison
“I see,” Pikka said. “That is admirable.
And what about your family?” if whatever was taking down the Nihil, went
for her? Or him? Was it worth the risk?
transport
“The Tarkos have been one of the most
illustrious families on Arkania, for centuries. “Boarding a functional Nihil ship would
give us access to a Path engine. We could
7X-533. Are
There have been Generals, Governors, and
top scientists in our family. Even Jedi.”
Joss nodded appreciatively, keen to put
leave the O.Z.,” suggested Elping you receiving?"
Everyone went quiet.
her at her ease. “What do you miss most
about Arkania? I’ve never been,” he asked.
“It’s a risk, but that ship is in trouble, crackled a
and we have a good chance of overtaking
Visma’s expression changed, a subtle
transformation. For a moment, Joss saw
it,” Pikka said. “A Path engine could change worried voice.
everything.”
a young girl before him, not the severe
lieutenant.
“Lot of good that did us when we tried "Casualties
the same tactic,” Visma said. “The engine on
“I don’t understand the question,” Visma
replied, confused.
that Nihil wreck was barely functional and are growing."
“Hey,” Elping suddenly interjected its hyperdrive was toast.”
excitedly, as an even tone replaced static on “Not all Nihil ships are going to be in
the decryptor. “It’s picking up a transmission.” the same state,” Pikka said. “Plus, this one’s
Visma seemed relieved to not have to a prison transport. It’s likely to be in much
answer Joss. They all leaned in to hear the better shape.” She paused. “I think we
garbled voice coming through the speakers. should vote on this one.”
“This is Prison Transport 7X-533. Are Six-En waved a hand. “The frown on
you receiving?” crackled a worried voice. Lieutenant Tarko’s face suggests she would
“Causalities are growing. We have only a rather dive head-first into a sarlacc pit than
skeleton crew left and more are succumbing. go after that prisoner.”
Please respond.”
“Thanks, Six-En,” Joss said, shaking
Joss and Pikka looked at each other.
his head. “But we need a real vote, not
Elping adjusted some dials above the NEXT ISSUE:
your interpretations right now. All in favor
small display.
for intercepting that ship and saving the "Tales from the
“It’s local. Very close. But the signal is
weak and on an old wavelength, which is prisoner, raise your hand.” Occlusion Zone"
Pikka did so. Elping followed her lead
probably why it’s not reaching other Nihil
and, surprisingly, Visma raised her hand too.
continues, only in
right now,” Elpin said.
More static, then “…only one prisoner But Joss did not. Star Wars
left alive…Republic…Starlight…” “I’m sorry Pikka… I just can’t.” Insider !
“Did he just say something about the TO BE CONTINUED

79
 Star Wars: Visions
delivered unique and
diverse takes on the galaxy
far, far away. Explore the
saga from a different point
of view in this issue’s
visionary quiz.
Compiled by
Jay Stobie

“A STORM IS APPROACHING.”

THE DARKNESS THE LIGHT THE GALAXY’S CITIZENS

1: How did the Sith Mother 11: How did Lola pass the time
communicate with her future prior to an eclipse?
apprentice? A/ Dancing
A/ Using a B/ Acting
hologram C/ Singing
B/ By sending D/ Painting
a messenger
C/ Via a 12: Which transports did Baython
protocol droid and his friends steal to travel to
D/ Through a pendant Screecher’s Reach?
A/ Starfighters
2: Where did Bichan engage in B/ Walkers
a duel against a Jedi? C/ Speeders
A/ The sands of destiny D/ Shuttles
B/ The islands of doom 9: Where did Rugal conceal a
C/ The hills of fate secret escape tunnel for Force- 13: Who hosted the Hanna City
D/ The statues of prophecy sensitive beings in Golak? Flight Academy’s annual
A/ Under a reflecting pool race day?
3: Who accompanied an Inquisitor B/ Inside a cave A/ Snap Wexley
to Golak during his search for C/ Behind a wall B/ Biggs Darklighter
Force-sensitive children? 6: Why did Koten infiltrate the D/ Within an attic C/ Poe Dameron
A/ Bounty hunters Imperial facility on her planet? D/ Wedge Antilles
B/ A Sith Lord A/ To retrieve intel
C/ Purge troopers B/ To find water 14: Why did Hétis’ mother prevent
D/ A grand admiral C/ To join the detachment her from blasting an Imperial
D/ To locate a ship officer at their show?
4: Kyber crystals had been A/ He was a Rebel spy
poisoned by the Sith on which 7: Who did the Jedi Council B/ He was her brother
planet? dispatch to the hidden temple C/ He was unarmed
A/ Ryloth on Dolgarak? D/ He was a former Jedi
B/ Korba A/ Toul 10: What happened to Livy’s
C/ Trask B/ Leesagum kyber crystal after she escaped
D/ Kamino C/ Duta from the mining pit?
D/ Moru A/ It was lost
5: What language did Aau use to B/ It crumbled
purify mined kyber crystals? C/ It was taken by the Empire
A/ Bocce D/ It turned blue
B/ Shyriiwook
C/ Mandalorian
D/ Sith 15: How did the stormtroopers react
8: What item did Rani use the Force when the locals freed Livy and the
to obtain while riding on a train? pit’s other prisoners?
A/ A lightsaber A/ They retreated
B/ A helmet B/ They opened fire
C/ A flute C/ They arrested them
D/ A code cylinder D/ They called an airstrike

80
“NO NEED TO FEAR.”

1.

“MOM HAD A GREAT

2. 4.

STRENGTH. SHE ALWAYS

SAID THAT WE HAD IT TOO.”
3.

“THIS NEW MINE SHAFT HOLDS

5.

SOME OF THE DARKEST BLED

KYBER I’VE EVER SEEN.”
“THERE ARE OTHERS LIKE YOU HERE.”

1 2 3

4 5

“THERE ARE OTHERS LIKE YOU HERE.” 1. Loi’e, 2. Crux, 3. Charuk, 4. Daal, 5. Anni Kalfus. HOW DID YOU DO?
“NO NEED TO FEAR.” 1. Ara, 2. Tichina, 3. Kratu, 4. Kalina Kalfus, 5. Abat. Were you able to master Visions Volume 2 and answer our questions correctly?

13. D, 14. B, 15. A. 0-9: You there, hold it! You’re going to need some more practice.
ANSWERS QUIZ: 1. D, 2. D, 3. C, 4. B, 5. A, 6. B, 7. A, 8. C, 9. A, 10. D, 11. D, 12. C, 10-19: Don’t be afraid, there’s always room for improvement.
20-24: We always knew you were meant for bigger things. Well done!

81
 6-@<1;;=-

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE | ISSUE 225

225
100-page
Special!
25 years of
Star Wars:
The Phantom Menace
• Insider recalls the anticipation
for the biggest movie event of
the decade.
• Industrial Light & Magic’s
Hal Hickel talks about the film’s
groundbreaking animation.

Star Wars: Ahsoka

Season One Companion

Star Tours
The complete history
of the Disney Parks attraction

Interviews:
Billy Dee Williams
The real Calrissian chronicles
John Jackson Miller
Author of Star Wars: The Living Force

Exclusive Fiction:
The High Republic
All-new Phase III fiction
by Lydia Kang

Subscribe today at www.titanmagazines.com

U.S. 800 261 6502 | U.K. 01778 392085
COMPLETE YOUR STAR WARS COLLECTION!
COMMEMORATIVE MOVIE & TV EDITIONS

Star Wars: Star Wars: Star Wars: Star Wars Insider Presents: Star Wars Insider Star Wars: Star Wars:
The Clone Wars: The Skywalker Saga The Mandalorian Star Wars: The Mandalorian Presents: The Rise of Skywalker The Last Jedi
The Official Companion Book The Official Collectors’ Edition The Guide to Season One Season One: Volume One The Mandalorian Collection The Official Collector’s Edition The Ultimate Guide

Star Wars: Star Wars Insider Presents: Star Wars: Star Wars Episode IV: Star Wars Episode V: Star Wars Episode VI: Star Wars:
The Mandalorian Star Wars: The Mandalorian Age Of Resistance A New Hope The Empire Strikes Back Return of The Jedi The Book of Boba Fett
The Guide to Season Two Season Two: Volume One The Official Collector’s Edition The Official Celebration Special The 40th Anniversary Special The 40th Anniversary Special Collector’s Edition

THE BEST OF STAR WARS INSIDER

The Best of Star Wars Insider The Best of Star Wars Insider The Best of Star Wars Insider The Best of Star Wars Insider Star Wars Insider: Star Wars Insider: Star Wars Insider:
Volume One Volume Two Volume Three Volume Four The Galaxy’s Greatest Heroes The Galaxy’s Greatest Villains Aliens, Creatures and Droids

Star Wars Insider: Star Wars Insider: Star Wars Insider: Star Wars Insider: Star Wars Insider: Star Wars: Star Wars:
Rogues, Scoundrels and The Original Trilogy Icons of the Galaxy Fiction Collection Fiction Collection The High Republic: The High Republic:
Bounty Hunters Volume One Volume Two Starlight Stories Tales of Enlightenment

STAR WARS INSIDER SOUVENIR SPECIALS

Star Wars Insider: Star Wars Insider: Star Wars Insider: Star Wars Insider: Star Wars Insider: Star Wars Insider: Star Wars Insider:
Special Edition 2022 Special Edition 2021 Special Edition 2020 Special Edition 2019 Special Edition 2018 Special Edition 2017 Special Edition 2016

AVAILABLE IN ALL GOOD STORES AND ONLINE

TITAN-COMICS.COM © & TM 2024 Lucasfilm Ltd.
 ORIGINAL STORIES BY THE
SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR
GEORGE MANN

Step into Enlightenment, a cantina located in Jedha City,

where every patron has a story to tell.
This special edition contains six short tales, including a bonus story exclusive to this collection,
as well as a complete guide to the award-winning second phase of The High Republic!

FIND OUT MORE AT

TITAN-COMICS.COM © 2024 Lucasfilm Ltd & TM. All rights reserved.