Category: Butler Confessions

A Midwest Goodbye: 2023 Star Wars Comics Year-In-Review

2023 Star Wars Comics Year In Review MynockManorb

I’ve lived my entire life in Wisconsin, so I know a “Midwest Goodbye” when I see one, as I’ve been stuck in them far too often (in fact, I may be writing this while stuck in one, they take that long). This year I did my best to bring one to a close over Thanksgiving, edging slowly to the front door, my feet getting frozen along the way as new conversation engagements came my way, but I still got to the door handle and, over the period of 5 minutes, managed to get it open and finally bring the process to an end. For the era between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, 2023’s Star Wars comics felt like that moment in the hallway by the door, as it’s clear we can’t spend that much more time in this era, but even if you spoke for hours at the event with everyone, suddenly 100 new topics need to be discussed despite you holding all the leftovers your fridge can handle, getting stuffy with a warm winter jacket on while the heat’s cranked up to 74, leaving one to wonder when this event will ever come to a close despite standing at the exit. The era was spiced up with a healthy side of horror by the end of the year, and a few series’ endings were announced, but it still seems like there’s no hope for the exit door opening in 2024 despite another round of goodbyes, though the promise of Prequel-focused stories is a nice change of pace for 2024. 2023 wasn’t all about an era we’ve been in for years now, though those series had some of the most memorable scenes of the year, as the High Republic brought a divisive Phase to a close and blew minds with starting the next, Dark Horse’s anthology explored favorites of all eras, Star Wars: Visions comics kicked off with an artful treat, and characters from Sana Starros to Yoda took center stage in their own series. A Midwest Goodbye only starts because one is with family and friends and, as much as every person involved wants the night to end, you don’t go quietly into the night if you didn’t enjoy your time together. So without further ado, here’s the Star Wars Comics 2023 Year-in-Review!

— Spoilers for comics released in 2023

Continue reading “A Midwest Goodbye: 2023 Star Wars Comics Year-In-Review”

“To Whom Do We Give Faces?” – An Analysis of “The Veteran” in FACPOV

veteran analysis return of the jedi from certain point of view

Spoilers for “The Veteran” Ahead

Over the past six years, From a Certain Point of View (FACPOV) has been an exercise in the margins. These anthologies were an opportunity to expand Lucasfilm’s author base and provide glimpses into the lives of characters who might only appear for a split second on-screen. New voices, new faces, brought to the forefront and given new interiority. Fandom has even made a game of trying to guess which characters would be so honored. An unexpected recipient of Return of the Jedi’s FACPOV was Dexter Jettster in Adam Lance Garcia’s “The Veteran.” Continue reading ““To Whom Do We Give Faces?” – An Analysis of “The Veteran” in FACPOV”

The High Republic – Phase II: Quest of the Jedi Retrospective

high republic phase 2 quest of the jedi retrospective

After a successful run, the decision was made not to pick up where the story left off, but rather dive further back, exploring how the galaxy got to where it was in the original story. To do so, George Lucas followed, much to fans’ chagrin initially, a young boy named Anakin Skywalker, preferring to go further back than many imagined to help tell a wider story of not only the fateful character’s life, but the machinations of those around him conspiring to the take over the galaxy, while still leaving a large chunk of time unexplored between trilogies. Prequels are nothing new to Star Wars, though that doesn’t mean it still wasn’t surprising to fans of The High Republic’s first Phase to find out Phase II: Quest of the Jedi, would actually jump a full 150 years backwards, leaving many fan favorites in the grips of the dreaded cliffhanger. With the second Phase all wrapped up, Chris and I (Ryan) explore its strengths and weaknesses like seasoned Pathfinders in our latest retrospective! Continue reading “The High Republic – Phase II: Quest of the Jedi Retrospective”

Attack of the Crossovers: 2022 Star Wars Comics Year-In-Review

2022 Year In Review Star Wars Comics MynockManor

2022 saw Star Wars comics commit to the bit of a truly interconnected era, as Qi’ra’s schemes permeated everything set in the same timeframe, to various results, both making the case for and against more highly interlinked on-goings. With different miniseries and one-shots, along with Dark Horse’s return to the fold, plus the end and beginning of different Phases for The High Republic initiative, the comics managed to find other eras and stories to tell for fans looking for something else. But as it doubled down on more stories to intertwine, did 2022 have enough to offer to keep fans eager for more or cautious about what’s next? The answer is up to the reader, but below in my 2022 Star Wars comics year-in-review you’ll find a fair discussion of what’s worked and what’s not regarding such grand schemes, hopes for how it can proceed, and plenty of excellent reminders of why fans come back to panels year after year: Qi’ra telling the galaxy to choke on her hidden empire, Doctor Aphra possessed by an ancient AI, T’onga and Losha pivoting their purpose, the High Republic diving 150 years more into a past meant to enlighten what’s already out and what’s ahead, the Rancor Pit hosting new frightening tales to huddle around a flashlight in the dark with, Obi-Wan regaling adventures in his journal is more exciting than that sounds, and so much more. Head on below for the 2022 Star Wars comics year-in-review now!

— Spoilers for comics released in 2022Continue reading “Attack of the Crossovers: 2022 Star Wars Comics Year-In-Review”

The High Republic – Phase I: Light of the Jedi Retrospective

high republic phase 1 light of the jedi retrospective

After a year of waiting, the secretive Project Luminous was revealed as The High Republic, a giant publishing initiative which would span different mediums and tell one big, connected story set some 200 years before The Phantom Menace. Even after a delay due to COVID-19, the hype for the era was real, and its opening salvo brought the new era to vivid and exciting life, fulfilling the promise of something new and different. By the end of Phase 1, almost a year and a half later, fan reaction could best be summed up to how the luminous codename for The High Republic turned into a loving nickname for the authors, and even in the months since it closed in March 2022, it’s clear the era has sparked its own part of the fanbase, filling up a Celebration panel about the upcoming Phase II even. Before the next Phase of the era starts, Chris and I (with some help from other fans), decided to look back at the initiative so far and the opening Phase, digging into what we enjoyed, had issues with, and found could be improved as the era continues, so head below for our big retrospective! Continue reading “The High Republic – Phase I: Light of the Jedi Retrospective”

Obi-Wan Kenobi and the Golden Rule

Obi Wan Kenobi Riding Sad

Editor’s Note: Since we are a Manor, we’ve been known to hosts Guests from time to time. Our latest visitor, C.W. McClain, offers his views and opinions on “show, don’t tell” moments from the Saga and the Obi-Wan Kenobi show! If you’d like to be a Guest, visit our submission page on how to start the process!

That moment in A New Hope when Luke Skywalker finds the burnt remains of his family and their moisture farm was painful to watch. Seeing the utter devastation wrought by the Empire upon an innocent family brought home a bitter reality: the Empire is ruthless and savage. This is a “show, don’t tell” moment. Beforehand, nobody bad-mouthed the Empire. Nobody talked about how bad they were. The audience is shown and that makes it all the more real. That, in turn, means we can connect with it better. It’s one thing to be told about a character or concept in a story. It is another thing entirely to experience it. Continue reading “Obi-Wan Kenobi and the Golden Rule”

To the Edge and Back Again: A Mynock’s Adventures to Galaxy’s Edge

Galaxys Edge Visit Mynock Manor

There’s not a clear point where it really hit me, and even weeks later it still feels more like a dream, that I was on Batuu, a planet in the galaxy far, far away of which I’d been dreaming of, reading about, and enjoying my whole life, when I visited Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney World with my wife and our friends in late February, but I left it knowing I’d love a chance to go back. In many ways, it lived up to my expectations (which weren’t too high), the rides really blew me away, the “citizens” of Batuu were integral to the experience, and I even cried making a lightsaber, but in the end it’s still unavoidable to know you’re in a park and you’ll likely need more than one trip to truly take it all in and fully enjoy it. Continue reading “To the Edge and Back Again: A Mynock’s Adventures to Galaxy’s Edge”

Rumor Reactions: 2023’s Star Wars Movie Revolving Door, The High Republic Edition

The High Republic Film Theories

I don’t normally cover rumors in their own post, though I often link to the rumor or leak in a related post if I feel it might be interesting to those reading said post, and even today I hesitated a bit talking about the latest: the revolving door of which Star Wars movie we’ll get in 2023. Officially, it’s still Rogue Squadron, directed by Patty Jenkins, but with trades like The Hollywood Reporter covering its delay (to help the director fill other obligations/get the film right), it seems less and less likely, but Lucasfilm seems set on filling the December 2023 with any film. Recent rumors have suggested first an Old Republic era set film, so think the still on-going MMO and Knights of the Old Republic games (with a remake on the way), and now also a The High Republic era one, coinciding with the publishing initiative that’s garnered widespread praise by fans and is about to finish the first Phase of it’s multi-year story. I can’t speak to the accuracy of any of these rumors, though they come from sources frequently trustworthy, but as someone who’s become a big of a fan of The High Republic era, the idea of a movie tying into its expansive story offers tons to consider. So let’s have some fun, assume this latest in the rumor-mill is true, and dig into what a live-action High Republic set film could cover! Continue reading “Rumor Reactions: 2023’s Star Wars Movie Revolving Door, The High Republic Edition”

So, You’re Going to Read Bounty Hunters Again…

Bounty Hunters Comic Coverage Update

My interest in Bounty Hunters, a new Star Wars comic from Marvel and writer Ethan Sacks in early 2020, was never very high, especially as I had zero attachments or interest in Beilert Valance, but I was mildly intrigued and ready to be wrong. A few issues in, the feeling didn’t change, especially after the pandemic paused the series, but then things turned sour and distasteful: T’onga, a female, queer, person of color was murdered for shock value so Boba Fett could have a “memorable” entrance. She would return, several issues later, but there were no steps from the editorial team or really the writer, beyond some random Twitter DMs, to mitigate the situation or speak to the outcry and outrage over the event and therefore the damage was already done. I’ve not covered the series on the Manor since the offending issue, besides to discuss the situation or mention its monthly solicitations, but as the mega-crossover War of the Bounty Hunters looms, Bounty Hunters is set to be important to the expansive story and I wanted to discuss this whole situation again, especially as things have changed to some extent, before I began covering the series again. Continue reading “So, You’re Going to Read Bounty Hunters Again…”

“Blasters I Know. But People…” – Doctor Aphra: An Audiobook Original Primer

Doctor Aphra Audiobook Primer by Mynock Manor

In July, Doctor Aphra gets the audiobook treatment, adapting and expanding on her initial introduction in the Darth Vader (Vol. 1) comic series. As a big Aphra fan, this is extremely exciting news for me and something I’m eager to listen to and enjoy! Also, I immediately began to wonder what exactly all the expanded content could include, especially since they teased more Sana Starros, so I went back and reread the opening arc of the Vader (Vol. 1) series, and more, to figure out what and how they could add to Aphra’s side of things. So if you want to see all the potential inherit in Doctor Aphra: An Audiobook Original’s expansions, head below for some ideas on what you might be able to expect! UPDATE: Now here’s my review! Continue reading ““Blasters I Know. But People…” – Doctor Aphra: An Audiobook Original Primer”