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Almost Dead is a post-apocalyptic horror-drama adventure about triumph, growth, and the resiliency of the human spirit. With their cinematic comic book series which depicts vicious and visceral events in a raw yet beautiful way, Galaxy has redefined the genre and nearly invented one of their own. Infusing the perilous and unexpectedly exciting journey with absolute horror and an attention to detail that’s rooted in and dedicated to realism, the creator and writers have established a nexus point between exhilaration and terror.

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INSIDE OUR UNIVERSE

By Galaxy

Hello

In these pages you’ll find amazing and captivating visuals and articles all focused around one of the newest and biggest stories to come out of the Star Wars franchise. The Mandalorian is, understandably, a hit among our galaxyspanning story lovers - a demographic that includes our talented writers. As you dive into this edition of SPO!LER, you’ll be fed a full meal of Mandalorian based discussion, information, and entertainment. And it’ll be so good, you’ll still want more! We appreciate all of you who have chosen to join us on this journey to a galaxy far, far away.

Strap on your helmet and find your own Grogu as you traverse interviews with mainstay players in The Mandalorian universe, from Bo-Katan’s Katee Sackhoff discussing her journey from being the voice of her character and taking it on physically to The Armorer’s Emily Swallow elaborating on fan theories and her character’s growth over the past three seasons.

Amidst these amazing and unique interviews, you’ll find content covering every corner of this hit show - deep dives on characters and actors big and small, intricate discussions on plot and weapons, any and all things celebrating one of the best new shows of the decade!

As 2023 continues, we wish all of you nothing but success, health, and joy in the coming months. We also are happy to provide you with specific and unique entertainment as you go about your days and to participate in the Star Wars Fandom in such a deep and engaging way.

As always, we thank you for your unending love and support! We appreciate your loyalty and, most importantly, your fandom.

Have fun and stay safe!

Love you all,

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Greatest Writing Team in Our Universe

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“Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening”

- Galaxy

readers, both old and new! Welcome to our Special Mandalorian Edition of SPO!LER magazine!

BY ROBERT LOCKETT

THE MYSTERIOUS DARKSABER

may have made its live action debut on The Mandalorian television series, but it has a long and chequered history, with many dark and violent patches of bloodshed that would make even Lady Macbeth blush. One of the most intriguing aspects of the Darksaber is not just its aesthetic appeal when activated in Moff Gideon’s hands, but his assertion that the narrative behind it is what gives the weapon its true power.

It was created by Tarre Vizsla, the first of the Mandalorians ever inducted into the Jedi Order around 1050 BBY. Following Vizsla’s death, it was kept in the Jedi Temple for a spell until it was stolen by members of the Vizsla household during a large conflict with the Jedi in the final days of the Old Republic. From there, the mysterious Darksaber became an honored symbol of the house passed down from generation to generation by ancestors of Pre Vizsla who managed to possess the weapon long after the pacifist regime of the New Mandalorians surpassed the warrior ways of old.

Fast forward approximately a thousand years later and the Darksaber ends up in the hands of Pre Vizsla, leader of Death Watch, a notorious militia

of Mandalore that fought in The Clone Wars to restore rather than in restoring its warrior status. Fans of The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels would be privy to this back story. Vizsla used the Darksaber as one of his key weapons during the civil war to take over from the New Mandalorians. His violent coup was successful, and he quickly became the ruler of Mandalore. Unfortunately, his reign was brief and unceremoniously cut short by the infamous Darth Maul who challenged Vizsla in open combat. Maul killed Vizsla during the battle and claimed the Darksaber as his own, making Maul the new leader of the Death Watch.

This greatly angered Maul’s master, dark lord of the Sith, Darth Sidious, who

confronted his apprentice about this aggressive strategy. Maul attempted to kill Sidious in hand-to-hand combat using the Darksaber but was ultimately defeated and locked away in the Spire, a remote separatist prison on Sturgeon Prime where the Darksaber stayed for a period of time.

Maul was eventually rescued by order of Prime Minister Almec and soon united with the Death Watch, resuming command of the Darksaber. He used the weapon in several campaigns including the Battle on Ord Mandell, Vizsla

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Keep 09 and the second great battle on Dathomir.

It’s not completely clear why Darth Maul stopped using the Darksaber, though many believe the blade itself did not think of him as a worthy wielder, becoming heavy and difficult to use as a result. This makes sense for those who watched the Mandalorian episodes in The Book of Boba Fett. The Armorer explains this feature to Mando as he attempts to fight Paz Vizsla in an exhilarating sequence of events.

Fans of the show Rebels will know that it is eventually discovered by Sabine Wren, who retrieved the blade from the Night Sister lair on Dathomir. After some prompting and insistence by Fenn Arau and fellow Spectres, Sabine eventually agrees to undergo training with the Darksaber under the instruction of the wise and mystical Jedi Knight, Kanan Jarrus. She quickly learns to master the weapon and is finally put to the test when she goes up against Viceroy, ultimately defeating him in hand-to-hand combat thus making her the rightful owner of the Darksaber. Fans of Harry Potter could liken this to the ownership of the Elder wand and the connection such a weapon can have with its rightful owner.

She quickly puts the Darksaber to work, rescuing her father from the clutches of the empire and destroying the superweapon she had helped construct when she was an Imperial cadet. Sabine eventually offers the weapon to Bo-Katan, sister to the former Duchess whom she judged to be the right person to lead the Mandalorians in their rebellion against the Empire. Bo-Katan was reluctant to accept but with support from rather than with the support of agreed and accepted the Darksaber. She used it as a symbol to unite the often maligned Mandalorian clans.

Despite this growing resistance, the Empire soon vanquished The Mandalorians in the Night of a Thousand Tears. This is a key moment in The Mandalorian timeline as Bo-Katan, desperate and defeated, is given an ultimatum and swiftly surrenders the Darksaber to Moff Gideon. She’s hopeful that the Empire will put an end to the Great Purge of Mandalore. We soon learn, however, in Season 3 of The Mandalorian, the Empire ignored the surrender and continued with the Purge. The Empire was fearful that if the Mandalorians were

not decimated, they would return as very powerful agents of vengeance. Bo-Katan eventually fled the planet but continued to lead the Nite Owls, a group of fearless female warriors formed from a remnant of the Death Watch. We see part of this union in Season 2 of The Mandalorian as a formidable force that helps rescue Grogu.

Despite the horror of this defeat, Bo-Katan was intent on eventually reclaiming the Darksaber and Mandalore. By approximately 9 ABY, after the final defeat of the Empire, Gideon went into exile but was still in possession of the Darksaber. He’d bide his time as the leader of an Imperial remnant on the planet of Nevarro, continuing his greater plan. The Darksaber is finally revealed during the Season 1 finale of The Mandalorian. Din Djarin uses his jet pack to engage Moff Gideon in aerial combat, forcing the TIE fighter to crash. In the aftermath of this event, we watch as an eager Jawa tries to salvage parts from the destroyed TIE fighter only to be disturbed by the alien sound of the Darksaber cutting through the metal. Moff Gideon pushes through the neatly cut hole and stands on top

of the wreckage, holding the Darksaber with a fierce determination and leaving fans with a sense of curiosity about this mysterious weapon.

Mandalorian fans had to wait almost an entire season before the Darksaber is revealed once again. It was at the peak of his rescue of the beloved Grogu. Din Djarin is greeted by Moff Gideon holding Grogu prisoner in his cell and brandishing the Darksaber. Din Djarin produces the beskar spear, his payment for helping Ahsoka Tano, and uses it to win the Darksaber from Gideon in combat. Towards the end of the episode, he attempted to hand the Darksaber to Bo-Katan, but she declines, as Gideon explains, because she

needs to win it in combat. She does not want to taint the legitimacy of her claim to the Mandalorian throne. The Mandalorian keeps the Darksaber and continues to wield it in the cameo episodes of The Book of Boba Fett. He is later challenged by Paz Vizsla, a Mandalorian descendant of Tarre Vizsla, on the Glavis Ringworld. Djarin may have won the fight but was formally expelled from the Children of the Watch following the duel when he confessed to removing his helmet. Despite this setback, Djarin continues to wield the Darksaber as his own. It becomes a necessary aid in his next quest to earn his place back in the clan by bathing in the Living Waters in

the Mines of Mandalore. During this quest, Djarin was ambushed, rendered unconscious and captured. He is saved when Grogu seeks the assistance of Bo-Katan, during which she engaged and killed his attacker using the Darksaber while Djarin was restrained. Despite having potentially earned the Darksaber, Bo-Katan continues to allow Din Djarin to keep it. Its importance is finally restated again during BoKatan’s push to unite the Mandalorian clans following a mutiny by Axe Woves and his followers. After Bo-Katan’s defeat of Axe

Woves, Axe opposed her claim to leadership of all Mandalorians on the basis that only the wielder of the Darksaber could fulfill that role. Djarin presented the Darksaber again to Bo-Katan who initially rejected it. After Djarin recounts the events in the Mines of Mandalore to the newly united Mandalorians, they accept Bo-Katan as the rightful owner of the Darksaber since she defeated the opponent who had defeated Djarin. Djarin reminds everyone that he is merely returning it to its rightful owner, and Bo-Katan finally accepts her destiny, igniting the blade and her Mandalorian leadership at the same time.

The Darksaber’s final moment is shown in the season three finale of The Mandalorian. Moff Gideon destroys it by using the power of his reinforced Dark Trooper armor. Will the nefarious blade be restored to its former glory much like the shards of Narsil in Lord of the Rings? Or, will this be its swan song? Only time will tell.

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IN THE STAR WARS UNIVERSE, THERE HAVE

been numerous iconic characters, each with their own unique characteristics and histories. One such character is The Armorer played by Emily Swallow. The Armorer is a Mandalorian warrior who plays a significant role in the popular Disney Plus series The Mandalorian. Her character has quickly become a fan favorite with her distinct armor and impressive combat skills. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the history of The Armorer’s character, from her origins in the Star Wars universe to her current status as a beloved figure among fans.

The Mandalorians have a long and rich history in the Star Wars universe. They are a race of warriors who are renowned for their combat skills and distinctive armor. The Mandalorian armor is made of beskar, a rare and valuable metal that is capable of

withstanding even the most powerful blaster fire. The Mandalorians are known for their strict code of honor which includes a deep respect for family and clan as well as a fierce loyalty to their traditions and way of life.

The Armorer is a Mandalorian warrior who was first introduced in Season 1 of The Mandalorian. Her character is shrouded in mystery with little known about her past or motivations. She is a skilled fighter who operates as a mercenary taking on dangerous jobs for the right price. Her armor is distinct, featuring a black and silver color scheme and intricate designs unique to her character.

In the Star Wars canon, The Armorer’s character has roots that date back to the original trilogy. The Mandalorians were first introduced in The Empire Strikes Back and were

shown as a group of ruthless bounty hunters hired by Darth Vader to capture Han Solo. One of the bounty hunters, Boba Fett, quickly became a fan favorite and has since become one of the most iconic characters in the Star Wars universe. Boba Fett’s armor, with its distinctive green and red color scheme, has become instantly recognizable to fans of the franchise. The Armorer’s character has clear similarities

to Boba Fett. Both are Mandalorian warriors who wear distinctive armor and operate as mercenaries. However, The Armorer’s character is more complex than Boba Fett’s with a deeper backstory and more nuanced motivations. Her character is also unique in that she is one of the few female Mandalorian warriors shown in the Star Wars universe.

The Mandalorian has helped expand the lore of the Mandalorians and shed new light on their culture and history. The Armorer’s character has played a key role in this expansion as her character helped flesh out the nuances of Mandalorian society. For example, in Season 1, it’s revealed The Armorer is a member of The Tribe, a group of Mandalorian warriors banding together mutual protection. This revelation provides insight into the complex social structures that exist within the Mandalorian culture.

The Armorer’s armor is also significant in the Star Wars universe. The Mandalorian armor is known for its durability and protection, and The Armorer’s is no exception. Like other Mandalorian armor, hers is made of rare beskar metal. The armor is not only protective but also serves as a symbol of honor and prestige within Mandalorian culture.

One of The Armorer’s most memorable scenes is in Season 1 of The Mandalorian when she forges new beskar armor for the titular character. This scene not only showcases The Armorer’s impressive combat skills but also highlights the importance of beskar within Mandalorian society. The forging of new armor is shown as a ritualistic process with beskar being heated to extreme temperatures before being hammered into shape. This scene underscores the reverence Mandalorian warriors have for their armor and the cultural significance of the beskar metal.

The Armorer’s character continues to play a significant role in The Mandalorian as the series

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progresses. In Season 2, The Armorer appears more formidable in combat, taking on multiple enemies at once with ease. Her character also becomes more emotionally complex the more her past and motivations are revealed.

In Chapter 11, “The Heiress,”

The Armorer’s character is revealed to have ties to the famous Mandalorian leader, Bo-Katan Kryze. Bo-Katan is a fan-favorite character who was first introduced in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. She is the former leader of the Mandalorian Death Watch and a key figure in the Mandalorian resistance against the Empire. Her appearance in The Mandalorian is a significant moment for fans of the franchise, and her connection to The Armorer’s character adds another layer of depth to both characters.

The Armorer’s character is also involved in a significant plot point in Season 2 when she helps the titular character in his quest to return the Child (known to fans as Baby Yoda) to his own kind. This quest takes the characters to the planet Tython, where they navigate dangerous terrain and fend off attacks from enemy forces. The final moments of the Season 2 finale, “The Rescue,” sees The Armorer’s character leading the charge in a thrilling battle against the Empire. Her character’s leadership and bravery are on full display, cementing her status as a fan favorite.

Emily Swallow’s portrayal of The Armorer has been widely praised by fans and critics alike. Her performance brings depth and complexity to a character that could have easily been onedimensional. Swallow has stated in interviews that she worked closely with the show’s creators to develop The Armorer’s backstory and motivations, helping to make her character one of the most compelling in the series.

One thing that sets

The Armorer apart from other Mandalorians in the Star Wars universe is her role as a blacksmith. As The Armorer, she is responsible for creating and repairing Mandalorian armor, an important aspect of Mandalorian culture and tradition. Her skill as a blacksmith is highly respected among her fellow Mandalorians, and she is seen as a master of her craft. The Armorer’s character also stands out for her adherence to the Mandalorian code. She is a fierce protector of her people and is willing to do whatever it takes to defend them. In Season 1, when the titular character brings the Child to her for safekeeping, she refuses to give up the location of her fellow Mandalorians, even in the face of torture. Loyalty and dedication are traits highly valued in Mandalorian culture.

Another unique aspect of The Armorer’s character

is her gender. While the Mandalorian culture is known for its warrior ethos, it has traditionally been a male-dominated society. The Armorer’s character challenges this tradition by not only being a skilled fighter but also a respected leader and blacksmith. Her character helps to showcase the diversity of the Mandalorian people and their abilities.

Finally, The Armorer’s character has carved out a unique path for herself in the series. While other characters such as Din Djarin and Grogu are the focus of the show, The Armorer’s character plays an important supporting role. She is a mentor and guide to Djarin and a key figure in the Mandalorian community. Overall, The Armorer’s character is a significant addition to the Star Wars universe. Her unique armor, impressive combat skills, and complex backstory have made her a fan favorite. The expansion of the Mandalorian lore in the series has helped to further flesh out the nuances of Mandalorian society and culture. The Armorer’s character has played a key role in this expansion. With the announcement of multiple upcoming Star Wars series on Disney Plus, fans are eager to see where The Armorer’s character will go next and how she will continue to shape the future of the franchise.

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SPAWNING FROM THE MIND OF JON FAVREAU

as a spiritual successor to Master Yoda after his death in The Empire Strikes Back, Grogu is the heart and soul of The Mandalorian. He is the emotional anchor to which fans can latch Comma after on given the unemotive nature of the show’s titular character. Inspired by George Lucas’ love for old samurai movies, Favreau decided to utilize elements and themes from Kenji Misumi’s adaptation of the manga Lone Wolf and Cub. The story follows a samurai who travels Japan with his young son and teaches him how to be an honorable warrior.

From the first moment he appeared in The Mandalorian, Grogu captured the hearts of many Star Wars fans. They saw him as either the cutest creature ever or the next version of the respected Master Yoda. While it’ll definitely take some time for him to reach Master status, unlike

Anakin Skywalker who will never be a Master, Grogu has a chance to be the herald of a new era for the Jedi. For the little while that viewers have known him, Grogu has managed to become an almost universally accepted part The big questions are know about him? Where did he come from? How did he survive Order 66? Will he survive the rise of Kylo Ren and The First Order?

The answer to most of these questions: We’re unsure.

In canon, we don’t have a lot of information on Grogu because he’s only been in episodes of The Mandalorian and hasn’t had his personal history expanded on in comics, books or movies yet. Grogu is a mystery much like Yoda and Yaddle before him. No one knows their race or what planet they originate from, but with

every appearance they are shown in high or prominent positions. One can assume that they have a particular affinity for force sensitivity.

Until George Lucas, John Favreau or Dave Filoni outline exactly where they come from, it’s a certainty that that aspect of their backgrounds will remain a mystery. So, the most we have to go on is what

we’ve seen in the show, but even that is still more than enough to inform viewers who Grogu is.

Making use of similar puppet technology that made Yoda feel so lifelike, Grogu manages to be one of the most expressive animatronics that viewers have seen in Star Wars in years. For the few scenes that actually do make use

TYSON

of CGI, the animators and puppeteers collaborate to make sure the movements of the computer generated model are doable by the puppet as well. This maintains a sense of motion and continuity between both, keeping the heart and artistry of both in line with each other.

When we’re first introduced to him, he

serves primarily as this adorable child Din Djarin has to deliver for some credits. Soon enough, Din realizes a sort of kinship with Grogu as both of them are the last vestiges of a people who’ve been slaughtered by the Empire. Din was a foundling rescued by the Mandalorians, and he sees that he can do for the

Child what was done for him. Maybe it won’t be a glamorous life, maybe it will have its dangers, but no one deserves to be a guinea pig experimented on by the Empire and their scientists. While Grogu himself cannot speak, we see him get closer and closer to Mando through his babbles and big eyes, eventually saving Din’s life like he saved Grogu’s.

As the show continues, we get a few ideas as to what happened to Grogu when Order 66 was executed. We don’t actually learn his name until Chapter 13 of Season 2, peeling back another layer to the mystery of the Childand allowing Din

to get closer to him. It’s around this time that Din and Grogu seek out ways to improve Grogu’s control over the force, pulling the Child in different directions: his affection for his new father figure and his duty to help protect the galaxy as part of a new Jedi Order. Grogu meets Ahsoka Tano who helps him improve his powers a little before enlisting the help of Jedi Master, Luke Skywalker, in an amazing finale of the second season. Viewers are left distraught as Din lets go of his foundling and lets him embrace a destiny that could see a new dawn in the galaxy. In The Book of Boba Fett, we learn that

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Grogu trained with Luke for a period of about two years before hopping off to his next adventure with Din once the opportunity arrived. Due to potentially more seasons of The Mandalorian being greenlit and, therefore, more chances for Grogu to forever turn away from the Jedi Order, we have no way of knowing whether or

not he was amongst those killed by Kylo Ren when he turned to the Dark Side or whether he eventually donned a T-Shaped helmet himself during that time period.

All of this brings us to Season 3, the most recent season of The Mandalorian. We get an account of how Grogu managed to escape

from the Jedi Temple on Coruscant when the order was given to the stormtroopers. All of the mystery and guilt surrounding his backstory comes to fruition for the audience as we learn that Grogu managed to escape after the sacrifice of many of his Jedi instructors, and that that guilt was the reason he couldn’t

get a great handle on his abilities in the second season. It makes a ton of sense because strong emotions have always been the downfall of so many Jedi over the course of their history, and it’s a sad moment as we learn what’s been weighing so heavily on Grogu’s mind.

He never found himself strong enough to defend

those closest to him and confronting those memories makes his control over the Force stronger, as we see when he meditates with The Armorer at her forge. He had already been given a set of beskar chainmail for rescuing Din once before and received a large plate of armor after helping to save him again, showing that he has the heart and bravery to protect those in his family.

At the moment, that’s where Grogu’s story ends, barring any potential spoilers for the rest of the season. As a character, Grogu is someone that fans could possibly see themselves growing with, though given how slow his race ages, it could be quite

some time before we see any substantial changes in his attitude or stature. There’s a lot of room for the character to grow as the story of Star Wars never quite ends. There’s a bevy of potential avenues for things to continue, whether it be a time skip or a multi-issue comic book series releasing later this year. We will definitely have more Grogu, but the question is, to what degree?

It’s fairly reasonable to think that after Season 3 of The Mandalorian, the character has had a complete arc from where he started. Of course, when looking back at characters like Yoda and Yaddle, one does have to ask, can Grogu attain the same level of wisdom and power that they have, and how would he when he’s still so early in his years, barely able to hold a lightsaber if he wanted to? I would say, through more teachings by The Armorer and with Bo-Katan and

the other Mandalorians as his new family, Grogu has the same chance that he had with the Jedi Order of becoming a prominent uniting figure in the galaxy. Where Bo-Katan bridged the gap between the various factions of Mandalorians, Grogu can do the same in regards to helping the warriors of Mandalore find common ground with their most hated enemies, The Jedi. Luke Skywalker himself holds no ill-will towards the Mandalorians as a people. The only one he may have a problem with is Boba Fett, but he’s having his own adventures on Tatooine. Skywalker allowed Grogu to walk away from Jedi training despite knowing just how powerful someone like Grogu could be in his later years. That is likely because he knows that walking both paths will give the child a sense of clarity and balance that no Jedi, aside from Tarre Vizsla, has accomplished until now.

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BY REBECA NISHI

WHEN YOU HEARD PEDRO PASCAL WOULD PLAY

the lead role in The Mandalorian, did you say, “wow, that’s so cool”?

Yeah, I guess so. If you drooled over Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones, were wowed by Javier Peña in Narcos, applauded Whiskey in Kingsman: The Golden Circle and almost didn’t recognize him as Maxwell Lord in Wonder Woman 1984, you might have thought, “he is so versatile and has come a long way. This is the right time for him to be a lead character in the Star Wars universe.”

If you haven’t watched any of The Mandalorian’s three seasons but were head over heels in love with Joel from The Last of Us, you certainly binged the series to catch up.

Watching Pedro Pascal dancing on the table, I mean all the tables, in every talk show interview he appears, proves he is completely fun and entertaining. You may

wonder how it took this long for him to become famous.

Well, let’s talk about Mando. How did John Favreau know that we needed a cute nickname for Din Djarin even before he knew the audience would love him?

In the first season, we only hear the voice and a bit of an Oberyn Martell walk. Director Deborah Chow talked about the challenge of creating emotional complexity when the main character is fully covered in armor, and we never see his face.

In Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian, Chow states, “[we] work[ed] with the actor to use the physicality, to use a head turn. A lot of action was about stillness. Which was about…the very same stillness when something significant is happening.

You can feel that everything stopped for a moment. If there’s

a gesture, it’s a very meaningful gesture.”

During the first season, we see a rigid character true to the Mandalorian creed. He’s an extremely talented warrior who seems to have no emotions and no weak points, treating Grogu as cargo. Along the way, he gets attached to Grogu, unbelievably cute Grogu, and he starts to develop a caring relationship with him. We began to wonder, will he ever show his face? Will he have any scars? Would they put heavy makeup on his face to make him look hard, unpleasant or unlikeable?

Pedro Pascal says in an

interview with Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian, “[t]he idea that he is relatable, we’re all kind of covered in our own armor and terrified to take it off. And, that’s the thing that crosses him over into a character that we all want to follow.”

Director Rick Famuyiwa adds, “[h]ow [do you] convey that sense of connection with someone when you can’t see his eyes? I, as a storyteller and

as an audience, I want to see that. I want to see who is behind the mask.”

In the Season 1 finale, when he takes off his mask to survive an injury, it’s just Pedro. You see that charismatic human being. Many hearts were beating fast in that moment and looked forward to the next season to watch how his relationship with Grogu would evolve.

In the second season, we see more of Mando’s personality. His relationship with Grogu gave Pedro Pascal the nickname “daddy” which blew up on social media. We see more of Mando making exceptions regarding his mission related to Grogu, but also to help friends and other people he knows along the way. Although his first answer is always no, he can’t help but be a solidary soldier to those suffering injustice.

In the third season, we see a lot more action. Mando’s martial arts improved quite a lot. I’m sure many people are waiting for behind the scenes footage and interviews to learn about it. Especially when Pedro revealed in Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian that he had a lot of dangerous jobs before and never got seriously injured. However, in the scene where he takes off his helmet, he had been injured prior and had been to the hospital. Pascal says, “I stepped out of the makeup trailer looking at my sides and walked into a piece of plywood. I have never gone to the hospital for work before”.

John Favreau added, “[h]e” was made up. It was the scene after the explosion. He was bleeding from his ears and covered with blood. So, we got to the emergency room, and they were like, ‘Let them in. This guy is on death’s door.’”

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BY REBECA NISHI

BO-KATAN KRYZE IS A NAME THAT RESONATES

with many fans of the Star Wars franchise. She is a legendary Mandalorian warrior who has been fighting for the future of Mandalore since The Clone Wars. Bo-Katan is the last of her line, and she has been wearing the armor that has been in her family for generations. As a gifted fighter and leader, she has gone through many trials and tribulations, but her unyielding spirit and strength have kept her going. Bo-Katan served as Pre Vizsla’s trusted right-hand in the Death Watch during The Clone Wars. They were a militaristic splinter group that sought to restore Mandalore’s warrior past. Bo-Katan believed in this ideal, even if it meant ousting her sister, Duchess Satine, from office. While Bo-Katan was loyal to Vizsla, she had reservations concerning the Death Watch’s alliance with two beings they discovered in an escape pod: the Sith brothers Darth Maul and Savage Opress. She questioned the wisdom of joining forces with beings she deemed “no better than Jedi.” Despite Maul’s Force choking, she remained strong in her convictions.

As the Death Watch followed the Sith’s lead in a scheme to take over Mandalore, they became part of the Shadow Collective, an alliance with criminal organizations. Vizsla informed BoKatan that once the Shadow Collective assumed control of the planet, he would betray the Sith and claim the throne. After the Mandalorian capital city of Sundari was attacked, the Death Watch

saved the day and arrested Duchess Satine. Vizsla jailed Maul and Opress but was challenged to a death duel by Maul. Bo-Katan refused to serve a Sith and freed her sister from prison. Satine was recaptured, and Maul killed her before the Jedi’s eyes. Bo-Katan vowed that Mandalore would survive this terrible turn of events.

The Republic and the Jedi were initially reluctant to aid in the endeavor, but Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi eventually agreed to let some clones from the 501st Legion assist Bo-Katan’s Mandalorian forces. Once Maul was captured, the Republic’s troops had him in custody and headed offworld, leaving it up to the remaining Mandalorians to find a way to restore order to their planet.

Following the Empire’s occupation of Mandalore, Bo-Katan refused to surrender to the Emperor’s tyranny.

Years later, she joined forces with Sabine Wren, a rebel fighter, to help destroy an Imperial weapon that targeted Mandalorian armor. After their victory, Sabine gifted the Darksaber to Bo-Katan. She accepted it, finally uniting Mandalore.

However, at some point, Kryze lost the Darksaber. After the fall of the Empire, she struggled to unite her scattered people without the symbol of the throne. On the watery world of Trask, she met the Mandalorian Din Djarin and the youngling Grogu. Later,

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she agreed to help Djarin infiltrate Moff Gideon’s light cruiser, intent on reclaiming the Darksaber from him while Din rescued the kidnapped Grogu. However, after Djarin bested Gideon in battle, he won the throne of Mandalore, further disrupting her plans.

Bo-Katan is a character who has gone through many trials and tribulations throughout her life, but her unyielding spirit and strength have kept her going. She is a warrior who has fought for the future of

Mandalore and has become a legend among her people. Bo-Katan has faced many challenges, from The Clone Wars to the rise of the Empire and beyond, but she has remained a fierce and loyal defender of her people.

THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW

Bo-Katan Kryze is a beloved character in the Star Wars universe, known for her strength and resilience as a Mandalorian warrior. However, there are several insights about Bo-Katan’s history and character that the average Star Wars fan might not know.

One important detail about Bo-Katan is her turbulent relationship with her sister, Duchess Satine Kryze. While the two were sisters, they often found themselves on opposite sides of the political spectrum. Duchess Satine was a pacifist who believed in diplomacy and peaceful negotiations while Bo-Katan was a warrior who believed that strength and power were the only way to achieve peace. This conflict between the two sisters ultimately led to tragedy as Duchess Satine was killed during the fall of Mandalore.

Another important insight into Bo-Katan character is her determination and resilience in the face of adversity. Despite facing numerous setbacks and defeats, Bo-Katan never gave up on her people or her cause. She fought tirelessly to liberate Mandalore from the grip of the Separatists and later, from the Galactic Empire. Her unwavering determination and bravery have made her a beloved character among Star Wars fans.

One intriguing aspect of Bo-Katan’s past is her association with the Death Watch, a Mandalorian force that played an important part in The Clone Wars. Before defecting and joining the fight against the Separatists, Bo-Katan was a member of the Death Watch. The Death Watch was notorious for their radical beliefs, and their actions frequently caused chaos and destruction on Mandalore. Bo-Katan’s decision to quit the Death Watch and fight for her people demonstrates her character’s growth and progress.

Another insight into Bo-Katan’s character is her loyalty to her people and culture. Throughout her journey, Bo-Katan has always put the needs of Mandalore and its people first. Her loyalty to her people and her culture has often put her at odds with other factions, including the Jedi and the Galactic Republic. However, her unwavering dedication to Mandalore has also earned her the respect and admiration of many Mandalorians.

It is important to note that Bo-Katan is not just a warrior but also a leader. She has proven herself to be an effective and capable leader both in times of war and in peace. Her leadership during the fall of Mandalore and the liberation of her people

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has shown that she is not just a warrior but a visionary who is committed to achieving justice and peace for her people.

One of the reasons why Bo-Katan is so important to the Star Wars universe is that she represents a unique and powerful voice for Mandalorian culture. She has shown that the Mandalorians are a proud and strong people who are willing to fight for what they believe in, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Bo-Katan’s character is a reminder that there is strength in unity and that standing up for what you believe in can make a difference.

Another reason why Bo-Katan is so important to the Star Wars universe is that she represents a strong and independent female character. In a world that has traditionally been dominated by male characters, Bo-Katan’s presence serves as a powerful reminder that women are strong and capable as men. Her character has inspired countless young women to pursue their dreams and to never give up on themselves.

Bo-Katan has also had an impact on the larger Star Wars universe outside of Mandalorian culture. Her appearance in the Disney Plus series, The Mandalorian, has sparked renewed interest in the character and has brought her to a wider audience. This has led to a renewed interest in The Clone Wars animated series where BoKatan was first introduced.

Bo-Katan’s character has also inspired a number of fan theories and speculation about her future in the Star Wars universe. Some fans believe that she could play a major role in the upcoming Ahsoka series, while others believe that she

could have a larger role in the Star Wars universe. Another popular theory is that Bo-Katan may be the key to unlocking the mysteries of the Darksaber, a unique lightsaber that was originally wielded by the first Mandalorian Jedi. Fans have speculated that Bo-Katan may have information or knowledge about the Darksaber that could be crucial to the plot of future Star Wars projects.

A third theory is that Bo-Katan may be the character that unites all of the disparate Mandalorian clans and factions under one banner. This would make her a major political figure in the Star Wars universe with significant implications for the galaxy as a whole.

Finally, some fans have speculated that Bo-Katan may become a Sith or a Dark Jedi in the future, following in the footsteps of other former Jedi like Count Dooku and Anakin Skywalker. While there is no concrete evidence to support this theory, it speaks to the complex and multifaceted nature of Bo-Katan’s character which has inspired a wide range of speculation and discussion among Star Wars fans.

In conclusion, Bo-Katan Kryze is an important character in the Star Wars universe, and her impact on the Mandalorian culture and the larger Star Wars universe cannot be overstated. Her strength, resilience and dedication to her people have inspired countless fans, and her presence has helped to bring greater diversity and representation to the Star Wars universe. As we move forward into the future of the franchise, it is clear that Bo-Katan’s legacy will continue to inspire and captivate fans for years to come.

BY ROB LOCKETT

LET’S EXAMINE THE OPENING SCENE.

A mysterious person, wearing similar armor to Boba Fett, navigates a mysterious planet through icy, Hoth-like winds. He walks into a bar not unlike the wretched hive of scum and villainy we see in Star Wars- A New Hope. Did I say he walks? More like he saunters in like Clint Eastwood’s Man with No Name does in A Fistful of Dollars or High Plains Drifter. It is clear from the reactions of the people around him that this man is deadly, and he means business. He ignores the potential threat of a couple aggressors before deftly dispatching them with precision after they pressed him about spilling their drink. He then approaches his target and simply offers, “I can bring you in warm, or I can bring you in cold.” We soon learn that this man uses an economy of words much like your typical western anti-hero and thus, we start our opening adventures of The Mandalorian. Audiences were left enthralled by the pilot episode of The Mandalorian, and I, for one, had many questions. Following this fantastic opening, I wondered, “Who is this masked man?” or rather, ‘Who is the Man behind the mask?” As we peer behind the veil while embarking on this perilous quest, we will

understand the various factors making the man a true sum of all his parts. We’ll come to understand his dark origin story, his skillset, his heroic ambition and his call to fatherhood. People call him Mando, which seems like a passive form of Star Wars xenophobia. We are later delighted to hear the man’s true name is Din Djarin. Like any good superhero, what makes Din Djarin so appealing (among other factors) is his dark past, which we are given a few snippets of as we progress through the first season. Like Batman, Din Djarin had to witness his parents being slain right in front of him. We see Din Djarin, unlike most of his fellow brethren, is not a native Mandalorian. As an older child, Din Djarin lived with his parents on the planet Aq Vetina. Tragically, the planet fell victim to a devastating separatist attack at the height of The Clone Wars, and the boy could only look on in horror as his parents died protecting him. A super battle droid flushed the boy out and would have ended his life had it not been for the heroic intervention of a Mandalorian Death Watch Warrior. This tragic event would forever be seared in his memory.

Following his rescue, the young boy was quickly adopted as a foundling by a mysterious group of Mandalorians known as The Tribe. The horrific slaying of his parents coming at the hands of a battle droid shouldn’t surprise the audience. It explains his growing mistrust for them, made evident in the first episode of the series.

Upon coming of age following his adoption, Din Djarin would be sworn into the clan, learning The Creed. This would explain his steadfast adherence to their code in the first season of the show. From there, we learn Din Djarin joined a ragtag crew of mercenaries and thieves, enacting various heists alongside characters such as Ran, X’ian and Qin, who we meet in the episode titled “The Prisoner.” After their subsequent falling out, Mando would later join the Bounty Hunters’ Guild and settle on the planet Nevarro, along with the rest of the Mandalorian clan. At this point, we meet the Mandalorian and soon learn of his adventurous life as a bounty hunter. Working under the leadership of Greef Karga, he takes on various jobs to serve the guild while simultaneously helping support The Tribe and their leader, The Armorer.

From here, the audience is all caught up, and after Mando’s successful mission bringing a man in from the cold (no Le Carre puns here), they soon learn it’s slim pickings for the

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Bounty Hunters’ Guild. Well, except for one high order mission that Greef Karga convinces Mando to take. This mission leads to Mando meeting the Child, and the rest is history as they say, but we’ll get to that.

In a galaxy inhabited by Jedi, Sith and the power of the force, it is truly remarkable to find someone such a man as Din Djarin who has a low midi-chlorian count but is still very powerful. His encounter with Ahsoka Tano is testament to Din Djarin’s tremendous skill as a warrior, especially in tense close combat situations. So while we have him under the microscope, let’s take a brief look at the man’s skill set:

HE’S AN EXPERT FIGHTER

If his opening encounter isn’t enough, Din Djarin proves himself handy, time and time again, in all forms of combat. He masterfully uses his fists, flamethrowers, tasers and the newly acquired Beskar spear to conquer enemies such as a pesky Dark Trooper and to disarm Moff Gideon, a man armed with the deadly Darksaber.

HE’S AN EXPERT MARKSMAN

Extremely competent with various forms of blasters, rifles and space pistols, Din Djarin is also a gifted sniper that can easily pick off an adversary from quite a distance. He puts any stormtrooper, who could not bullseye a womp rat from a yard away, to shame.

MANDO IS MULTILINGUAL

He might not be fluent in over 6 million forms of communication, but the man speaks a number of languages at an impressive rate for a human. This versatile skill has come in handy in a number of scenarios. His knowledge of Tusken sign language helped cool down a heated moment between Cobb Vanth and the Tusken raiders, and his knowledge of basic Jawa helped when retrieving

his ship parts. He can also speak Mando’a, a form of Mandalorian dialect.

ROGUE SQUADRON LEVEL OF PILOTING

Din Djarin is a gifted pilot that would put Wedge Antilles to shame. He bested a number of pilots in his Razor Crest Assault Ship during Seasons 1 and 2 and outclassed pirates in his Naboo N-1 starfighter in Season 3. These are just a few examples of the Mandalorian’s exceptional piloting skills.

FAST AND FURIOUS MECHANIC

Fast and Furious Mechanic

Due to a setback at the hands of some thieving Jawas, Din Djarin shows off his mechanical skills in Season 1, piecing the Razor Crest together with the assistance of “I have spoken” himself, Kuill. He also reinforces the modified N-1 Starfigher to peak condition in Season 3.

BOSS LEVEL FATHERING

Even before he adopted Grogu in Season 3, we knew it was coming. All he had to do was remove his mask to show everyone how much he loves Grogu, and who could blame him. Once he makes the difficult but moral choice to gun down Imperialists and save Grogu from imminent torture, Din Djarin takes the path less travelled but is ultimately rewarded. As a father to Grogu, he is patient, devoted and takes the time to develop his skills as a wise mentor. What more could any foundling want?

It is this last skill of the man in the beskar mask which probably hits us hardest in the feels. Din Djarin’s devotion to the calling in the Hero’s Journey is captivating. Star Wars aficionados are no strangers to the influence of Joseph Campbell and the Hero’s Journey on the plot of the first

movie, and The Mandalorian follows the same pattern. Like others before him, Mando is a reluctant hero until the pivotal moment. In “Chapter 3: The Sin,” Mando must risk his life, limb and career to get Grogu out of harm’s way. Instead of turning a blind eye to be handsomely rewarded, he decides to fight off remnants of the Empire and the entire Bounty Hunters’ Guild. This key moment propels Mando along the Hero’s Journey, and it is through this quest he becomes the man we know: a hero, a father and an ally to important people such as BoKatan and Cara Dune.

As an audience member, we do not have the clairvoyance to know the exact reason why Din Djarin makes this risky decision, but we can make an educated guess. Din Djarin must see reflections of himself in the innocent Grogu: an orphaned (though not entirely helpless) victim in need of rescue. While the bounty hunter in him would suggest to just complete the job, the Mandalorian in him says he must protect the innocent, no matter the cost. This is shown when the coven, under the leadership of Pas Vizsla, rush to save Din Djarin and Grogu from the Bounty Hunters’ Guild on Navarro. This is but a short glimpse of the man behind the mask, played with such passion and vigor by Pedro Pascal. As we continue to follow him and Grogu on their heroic journey, we look forward to seeing how deep we can explore the rabbit hole alongside this truly enigmatic hero of the Star Wars galaxy.

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BY SUSHANT ALEXANDER

BOUNTY HUNTING! A COMPLICATED PROFESSION.

Bounty hunting is a complicated profession. Dress to kill.

Set in a space western narrative, The Mandalorian’s armor sets had to withstand loads of gunfights and never ending duels with blasters, lightsabers and occasionally, the Darksaber. Eons before, there were a series of crusades taken on by Mandalorian warriors. These crusaders wore the armor in the conquest of their own world. They were later succeeded by the leader of the Mandalorian tribes, The Mandalores, before the events of the Skywalker Saga and the Mandalorian crusades’ first encounter against the ancient Sith.

As Karen Traviss says in her novel Star Wars Republic Commando: Triple Zero, “[a]rmor is simply a manifestation of an impenetrable, unassailable heart.” Similarly with the Mandalorians, their armor is a second skin to every warrior’s persona with aesthetics and technology suited to each individual and measured by the fighter.

The suits forged with the famous Mandalorian iron beskar are airtight and capable of being worn in environments with no atmosphere. The common components across crusader aesthetics was the layering of organic components such as fabrics, ceremonial bindings, animal bones and spiked hides.

When the Sith Lord, Ulic Qel-Droma, defeated the Mandalorians, the crusaders were drafted into the Great Sith War. The war came to an end about 4000 years before Star Wars: A New Hope. A new faction of crusaders called the Neo-Crusaders sprung to the scene.

The Neo-Crusader armor was not really a bespoke suit. It was highly standardized to usher in the new era and to keep a consistent look of the various species that would be welcomed into the Mandalorian culture, other than the original tribal factions. The suits were color coded based on Mandalorian ranks: gold for Field Marshals, silver for Frontline Veterans,

scarlet for Rally Masters and blue for all the other Neo-Crusader ranks.

The visual conventions of Neo-Crusaders were profoundly visualized in the background of Star Wars’ latest. As much as it appears on The Clone Wars animated series. These Neo-Crusaders wore plain, rounded helmets like the Neo-Crusaders first seen in the Knights of the Old Republic games. They donned large robes that covered their armors from the neck down and flashed blades against the Jedi.

The standardization of Neo-Crusader armor came with variants influenced by the appeal of the Mandalorian armor’s traditional aesthetic. Heavily plated armor, fixed with external tubing and other vital elements became part of the Shock Troopers’ suit as featured in the Knights of the Old Republic comic series.

A Mandalorian wore it with pride as it offered protection from heavy weapons assault and functioned smoothly in air deprived voids for considerable time periods. War, in some strange and mysterious ways, brought peace.

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The Mandalorian visual design took a giant leap to reflect the life and times they were in. The contemporary look and feel had been in sync with the mainline Star Wars movies and the prequels in particular. The long and extended civil war became a reason for the radical change in Mandalorian society.

The New Mandalorians were a faction who didn’t want to continue living their warrior past. Instead, they established a pacifistic, isolationist ideology helmed by a parliamentary monarchy. Kryze, one of the noble Mandalorian houses, led the New Mandalorian movement and upheld certain traditions of the Mandalorian armor but with a completely different aesthetic. There was no standing army. The New Mandalorian armor was designed for two different functions including the gray and lightly armored tunics worn by the peacekeeping force, known as the Mandalorian Guard, and the more elaborately decorated armored Royal

Guard that protected the Duchess, Satine Kryze. With a new era comes a new face. The most significant change in the design is where both the Mandalorian Guard and the Royal Guard dropped the classic T-Visor helmet that had been the identity of every Mandalorian for generations.

It was hard to keep the peace and quiet in a warring community. The New Mandalorian peace armor was worn by the

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extremist faction that adhered to the classical Mandalorian principles known as the Death Watch, a splinter faction who still believed in the traditional warrior culture of Mandalore. These designs are much more closely aligned with the Mandalorian armor worn by Boba Fett in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi and by his father in the prequel, Attack of the Clones.

The changes made by the Death Watch on this aesthetic are visually identical to the suits worn by Jango and then inherited by Boba. The clean look of Jango’s armor is replaced by Boba painting over it in his own color scheme to ascertain his identity.

The Death Watch brought about a unity in the look and feel with darker metallics and blue accents.

The end of The Clone Wars was a new beginning. Mandalore descended

into turmoil. After a coup, spearheaded by elements of the Death Watch working with former Sith apprentice Maul and his criminal syndicate, the Shadow Collective had taken shape. Mandalorians who were loyal to Maul formed into Super Commando groups. Their armors stayed largely similar to the template worn by the Death Watch in the past. Its color palette was replaced with designs emulating Maul’s own black & red skin stripes and accompanying tattoos. Some warriors went the extra mile and modified their helmets with organic spikes, not as a tribute to the Crusaders, but to signify the bone protrusions on a Zabrak’s head, emulating their new master.

In an attempt to overthrow Maul’s coup and the life of Duchess Satine, the New Mandalorians petitioned the Republic in the final hours of The

Clone Wars. The Republic was successful. The execution of Order 66 and the perceived betrayal of the Jedi Order led to its rapid transformation into the Galactic Empire, and Mandalore quickly became occupied Imperial territory. The Imperial regime and Mandalorian collaborators controlled the power.

The Death Watch and the Shadow Collective maintained the Super Commandos as a fighting force, only this time with new and specialized armor.

Inspired by real-life alternate concept art for Boba Fett from Empire Strikes Back, the Imperial Super Commando design bore an uncanny resemblance to the armor of the Clone Army. The sharp angular chest pieces and a predominantly white color scheme with smaller jetpacks. Their helmets largely remained the same, except for the addition of two small sets of antennae on either side of the helmet.

Post liberation, information was lost in translation. What is known is that at some point, the Galactic Empire struck back at Mandalore, initiating a period of occupation and apparent genocide known among surviving Mandalorians as the Great Purge.

The Great Purge was devastating, and it was of varying degrees among surviving Mandalorians. They scattered into individual nomadic tribes and enclaves across the galaxy, intending to keep the true scale of survivors unknown on a galactic

level. At least some of these enclaves returned to the more traditional armor designs that preceded the New Mandalorians’ cultural prominence.

The insistence of keeping the helmet on under any given circumstance gave the armor a whole new meaning. It was more than just armor. It was an extension of the warrior’s persona. Individual Mandalorians would customize the overall look and coloration of their armor as well as eventually imprinting it with the mark of their own clan. The singular and consistent trait seen so far in Star Wars’ exploration of this period was the practice of an individual ‘earning’ a full suit of beskar-crafted armor by exchanging plasteel armor pieces for newly forged plates, once they had found a way to retrieve the now rarer Mandalorian iron to give to an enclave’s armorer.

“Beskar has such remarkable strength because of both its natural properties and Mandalorian metalworking techniques,” Traviss writes in her novel Star Wars Republic Commando: Triple Zero. The Armorer (Emily Swallow) remembers how the rare metal could be mined only on their home planet of Mandalore and was likely stolen during the Great Purge.

A Mandalorian’s armor is as unique as their fingerprints. Passed down through generations, armor is a defining trait of the Mandalorian people and their culture. It’s definitely one of their most recognizable attributes.

THERE ARE A LOT OF VARIABLES THAT PLAY

a role in creating a memorable line. Intense drama halted by humor at just the right time, Easter eggs for die hard fans to share a knowing look and life lessons learned along with the protagonist are just a few reasons lines stick with us.

The Mandalorian has provided its audience with a bounty of quotable lines that serve as both meme material and sage wisdom. What’s more, the laundry list of quotes come from a range of characters featured in the series. The showrunners have provided so much depth to the cast that it’s difficult to choose your favorite character, much less which lines they’ve uttered.

It would be a fool’s errand to rate such indelible lines from worst to first. Instead, let’s enjoy our fandom and replay several scenes in our head for the 20 best quotes from three seasons of The Mandalorian.

Din Djarin (Season 1, Chapter 1)

Our stoic protagonist walks into a small, intergalactic cantina on the icy planet of Pagodon, and instantly, the tension is palpable. Without uttering a word, he walks past a group of trawlers roughing up a lowly Mythrol. Our bounty hunter ignores them, for now. He orders a drink as the trawlers try to intimidate him before being taken down by the Mandalorian. The glib talking Mythrol thanks the bounty hunter for his help, but his gratitude is premature.

In slides a holopuck marking the Mythrol as the Mandalorian’s target. With his hand hovering over the blaster in its holster, our protagonist speaks for the first time and sets a chilling tone which resonates through the first chapter, “I can bring you in warm, or I can bring you in cold.”

“I WILL HELP YOU. I HAVE SPOKEN.”

Kuiil (Season 1, Chapter 1)

On the desert world of Arvala-7, the Mandalorian expects to find his next bounty. Using the scope of his rifle, Mando scans the area for possible dangers and finds a blurrg beast off in the distance. As the bounty hunter lowers his rifle, he is ambushed by another blurrg who grabs his arm and tosses him around like a ragdoll. The Mandalorian tries to fight back, but his efforts are

unsuccessful. The grim scene seems like the end of our protagonist until a tranquilizer dart takes down the blurrg. Help comes to our bounty hunter in the form of an Ugnaught named Kuiil. He is mounted atop a domesticated blurrg and recognizes the bounty hunter for what he is, a Mandalorian. Kuiil adds a little levity to Mando’s intense battle with the blurrg when the Ugnaught tells our hero he will assist him on his travels through Arvala-7. Where we first saw the Mandalorian in complete control when intimidating the Mythrol bounty, we now see Kuiil take control over our bounty hunter when he assertively declares, “I will help you. I have spoken.”

“I’M A MANDALORIAN. WEAPONS ARE PART OF MY RELIGION.”

Din Djarin (Season 1, Chapter 2)

After having most of his ship scavenged by Jawas, the Mandalorian travels with Kuiil to retrieve his belongings. The Ugnaught rides his blurrg companion while dragging a hoversled behind him carrying our bounty hunter and a new companion known as the Child. Upon arriving at the Jawas’ location, Kuiil exchanges greetings in their native tongue. Kuiil notices the Jawas take umbrage to the Mandalorian’s presence, and our bounty hunter informs him he has evaporated several of their clan. Naturally, the Jawa clan wishes for our bounty hunter to leave his weapons behind on the hoversled before negotiating with

“I CAN BRING YOU IN WARM, OR I CAN BRING YOU IN COLD.”

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DAVE WEBER

the Jawas. Here, we are provided further insight into the Mandalorians and their ways. Mando matterof-factly explains, “I’m a Mandalorian. Weapons are part of my religion.”

“SOOGAA!”

Jawas (Season 1, Chapter 2)

One of the cutest moments in The Mandalorian series finds our bounty hunter and the Jawas negotiating their terms for releasing the stolen ship parts. With Mando’s armor out of the question, the Jawa clan settles on a different prize: a mudhorn egg they refer to as “sooga.” What makes this line so memorable is the tone of the Jawas as they shout excitedly for their prized possession. It becomes more than a word. Their use of it becomes a chant or mantra that will keep audiences repeating the Jawa language as they complete trivial chores at home shouting, “SOOGAA!”

“THIS IS THE WAY.”

The Armorer (Season 1, Chapter 3)

After returning to the tribe with his spoils from delivering the Child our protagonist and another Mandalorian engage in a small scuffle over who forged his beskar reward. We learn even more about the Mandalorian clan and how they used to have strength in numbers. However, the Great Purge of Mandalore has caused them to go into hiding, only to be seen one at a time. With their altercation settled, Mando and The Armorer

speak about the suit of armor she will make for our bounty hunter. In the midst of their conversation, The Armorer speaks the mantra of the Mandalore which they all repeat, providing the audience further understanding of their creed: “This is the way.”

“BAD NEWS. YOU CAN’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE.”

Din Djarin (Season 1, Chapter 4)

Looking for a place to hide after rescuing the Child from those who contracted our bounty hunter to deliver him, Mando and the Child travel to the planet Sorgan. Expecting to hide out for a while, the planet proves more eventful than expected. Besides running into a Rebel Alliance Shock Trooper, our protagonist finds himself contracted by some local farmers who have been ransacked by Klatooinian raiders. An investigation proves saving the farmers may be more than a Mandalore and shock trooper can handle. When relaying this message, Mando doesn’t mince words. Much like we’d expect from a stoic bounty hunter, our hero declares, “Bad news. You can’t live here anymore.” The bluntness mixed with the gravity of the situation makes this line hit hard and deliver a laugh.

“YOU HAVEN’T SHOWN YOUR FACE TO ANYONE SINCE YOU WERE A KID?”

Omera (Season 1, Chapter 4)

In one of the more poignant moments of The

Mandalorian, Omera and Mando share a conversation where the bounty hunter allows himself to be more vulnerable. One of the most artful qualities of the show is how they reveal pieces of Mandalorian lore. As we’ve already seen, certain moments provide space for dialogue to help us understand Mando and the creed of the Mandalore. When Omera and Mando finally share a private moment, she asks the bounty hunter when he last removed his mask.

Misreading the question, the Mandalorian responds, “yesterday.” However, Omera follows up by asking when he last removed his mask in front of another living being. Instead of giving some trivial amount of time, the writers decide to provide more art to their dialogue. Mando responds by pointing to the children playing and claiming he was around their age. His response helps the audience see how different Mandalore can be, especially after Omera’s shocked response of, “You haven’t shown your face to anyone since you were a kid?”

“OR PERHAPS THE DECOMMISSIONED MANDALORIAN HUNTER, DIN DJARIN, HAS HEARD THE SONGS OF THE SIEGE OF MANDALORE…”

Moff Gideon (Season 1, Chapter 8)

For almost the entirety of the first season and this article, we have known the protagonist Madalorian as Mando and a bounty hunter. However, we learn the Mandalorian’s name in

the final episode of the first season. Pinned down by Moff Gideon and his army of Stormtroopers, Mando, the Child, Cara Dune and Greef Karga begin to panic as they see the enemy building an E-Web heavy repeating blaster. This massive piece of machinery is well known to Cara, and even more so to the Mandalorian. Gideon makes sure we understand the connection between Mando and machine with his malevolent monologue. The sharp tongued warlord provides an abundance of depth to our hero. Through a loaded threat against Mando’s life, we hear our bounty hunter’s name for the first time and learn of his personal connection to Moff Gideon. Simply artful.

“WHEREVER I GO, HE GOES.”

Din Djarin (Season 2, Chapter 9)

Our bounty hunter and the Child begin building a bond through mutual respect and saving one another’s lives. Eventually, they become a clan of two, a title bestowed upon them by The Armorer. This bond, along with the Mandalorian creed, moves Mando to assist the Child in reuniting with his kind. While in a seedy fight club, the Mandalorian and the Child sit beside an Abyssin. The alien chastises Mando for bringing the Child to such a place. Without missing a beat, the Mandalorian declares, “wherever I go, he goes.” The delivery is quick and dry, par for the course with our bounty hunter. However, the line is

important as it highlights the growing relationship between this clan of two.

“I’M NOT LEAVING MY FATE UP

TO CHANCE.”

Din Djarin (Season 2, Chapter 9)

Abyssin opinions aside, the Mandalorian and the Child have entered the fighting arena with a purpose. They seek an audience with Gor Koresh, another Abyssin who may be able to help Mando find additional Mandalorian to assist in reuniting the Child with his kind. However, Koresh is not easily persuaded to assist. Instead, he tries to gamble with our bounty hunter. Koresh wishes to bet on the current fight. Koresh will put up the information if Mando puts up his beskar armor. His response is the dust heroes are made of. The Mandalorian declares he will pay for the information because “I’m not leaving my fate up to chance.”

It is a line showing our protagonist is the type to stare fate in the eyes and declare, “this is the way.”

“THERE YOU WILL FIND AHSOKA TANO.”

Bo-Katan Kryze (Season 2, Chapter 11)

Some hard hitting lines might feel trivial to the uninitiated, and to those of you, I apologize. However, this next entry is important because of what it signifies to fans of The Clone Wars. For a long time, many were chomping at the bit to see Ahsoka Tano make it to live action. They went so

far as to cast the character before there were plans to bring her to life outside of animation. Thankfully, fans got their wish, and you can almost hear the cheers of elated fans when Bo-Katan assists Mando with his quest to reunite the Child with his kind by sending him to the forest planet of Corvus. Specifically, he is to travel to the city of Calodan because “there you will find Ahsoka Tano.”

“IN A WAY. GROGU AND I CAN FEEL EACH OTHER’S THOUGHTS.”

Ahsoka Tano (Season 2, Chapter 13)

Much as we were in the dark of Din Djarin’s name until the final chapter of season one, we were oblivious to the Child’s name until the second season. The audience were stunned to discover the Child’s name was not, in fact, Baby Yoda. Unlike our discovery of Din Djarin’s name during such a tense altercation with Moff Gideon, we learn the Child’s name through an insightful conversation between Ahsoka and Djarin when she declares, “in a way, Grogu and I can feel each other’s thoughts.”

“I’VE SEEN WHAT SUCH FEELINGS CAN DO TO A FULLY TRAINED JEDI KNIGHT. TO THE BEST OF US.”

Ahsoka Tano (Season 2, Chapter 13)

Sage wisdom can come from the most unexpected places. For a show cashing in on its connection to the

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Star Wars franchise, one might not expect to learn many life lessons. For the masses privy to Star Wars lore, there is a library’s worth of lessons to learn from the stories of a galaxy far, far away.

A poignant moment between Ahsoka Tano and Din Djarin works as one such lesson. It’s not only a callback to the tragedy of Ahsoka’s relationship with Anakin Skywalker but also, a word of caution of the possible consequences for those building close relationships. Ahsoka warns Djarin when noticing his closeness to Grogu stating, “I’ve seen what such feelings can do to a fully trained Jedi Knight. To the best of us.”

“HE MEANS MORE TO ME THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW.”

Din Djarin (Season 2, Chapter 15)

Love and friendship are bonds that drive us to do amazing things. The Mandalorian shows us how these bonds can change who we are and provide us an opportunity to become better than anyone would expect. After Grogu is taken by Moff Gideon, Djarin and company fight to get him back. What started out as a bounty run for a big payout has turned Djarin into a protective father figure staring into the abyss saying, “bring it on.” In one of the most poignant and badass moments of the series, Din Djarin turns Gideon’s words from their last encounter back on him, insisting the warlord thinks

he knows what he has in his possession, but he does not. Grogu and Djarin have built a relationship greater than any amount of money or power imaginable. When Djarin declares, “he means more to me than you will ever know,” we know nothing will stop him from reuniting their clan of two.

“I’LL SEE YOU AGAIN. I PROMISE.”

Din Djarin (Season 2, Chapter 16)

One of the most shocking moments of The Mandalorian series is also one of its most emotional. After fighting through Moff Gideon and his forces, Din Djarin and company watch an unidentified Jedi take down the last of Gideon’s dark troopers. Djarin opens the blast doors allowing the Jedi to enter. Upon pulling back his hood, the Jedi reveals himself to be Luke Skywalker. Djarin provides the necessary permission for Grogu to leave with Skywalker, but before doing so, they share an important and sentimental moment. As we learned earlier in this list, Djarin had not shown his face to any living being since he was a child. However, Grogu reaches for Djarin’s helmet and the Mandalorian removes it, showing the Child his face. The clan of two has been through quite a journey and this moment shows their immense respect for one another. If this isn’t enough to pull at your heart strings, Djarin declares to Grogu, with tears in his eyes, “I’ll see

you again. I promise.”

If there is one thing we have learned about Djarin through this journey, this is a promise he intends to keep.

“BEING A MANDALORIAN ISN’T JUST LEARNING ABOUT HOW TO FIGHT.”

Din Djarin (Season 3, Chapter 17)

We’ve seen the Mandalorian’s concern for the Child’s safety from the moment his basket opens; we have witnessed the Child use his raw powers to save Mando’s life; and, we have seen the clan of two share a bond stronger than any creed, Mandalorian or otherwise. Their father/ son relationship has been ever-present, and it grows stronger with every interaction. In a private moment while traveling through space, Djarin and Gorgu continue the development of their relationship. We learn a life lesson along with Grogu as Djarin explains how “being a Mandalorian isn’t just learning about how to fight.” More importantly, it is about learning how to navigate because one is never certain where they are headed next. It’s a familial moment and evolution of their relationship

“ONE DOES NOT SPEAK UNLESS ONE KNOWS. IS THAT NOT THE CREED?”

Din Djarin (Season 3, Chapter 20)

The familial relationship between Djarin and Grogu

continues during their time at The Tribe’s covert.

During a training session, a Mandalore trainee declares Grogu is too young to fight if he is too young to wear a Mandalorian helmet. In this moment, Djarin provides sage wisdom to the young trainee the rest of us should follow. He reminds the young ward of the Mandalorian creed which states, “one does not speak unless one knows.”

He then punctuates this lesson by following up with a rhetorical question, “is that not the creed?” It is a perfect moment showcasing a father standing up for his child when others are underestimating them.

“KID, NEVER TRUST A PIRATE.”

Din Djarin (Season 3, Chapter 21)

Their relationship fully established, the clan of two run into some trouble while traveling through space.

A group of pirates attack, and Din Djarin takes four of them out. While speaking to the pirate leader, Gorian Shard, Djarin tries to teach Grogu restraint by claiming he has no quarrel with the band of pirates.

However, Shard claims he will spare the lives of Djarin and Gorgu if he surrenders his ship. Some advantageous swindlers, such as Greef Koragen, might consider taking on this empty offer. However, Djarin uses this as another teachable moment telling Grogu, “Kid, never trust a

pirate,” before hitting his hyperdrive for the escape.

“BO-KATAN WALKS BOTH WORLDS. SHE CAN BRING ALL TRIBES TOGETHER.”

The Armorer (Season 3, Chapter 21)

One of the primary traits of all Mandalorians is their refusal to show their faces to any living being. We covered earlier how Din Djarin did just that with Grogu proving their relationship strong. However, Bo-Katan is one Mandalorian who isn’t afraid to breach this part of the creed. While others may find this action unbecoming, The Armor informs The Tribe that “BoKatan walks both worlds.” With the Mandalorians needing to strengthen their numbers to retake Mandalore, The Armor declares it is Bo-Katan, not Din Djarin, that “can bring all tribes together.” This moment cements Bo-Katan as a force to be reckoned with and one of the most important Mandalorians in all of Star Wars lore.

“IS THERE NO ROOM FOR FORGIVENESS IN A GALAXY SO VAST?”

The Duchess (Season 3, Chapter 22)

The final entry on our list hits hard not only in The Mandalorian series but in our own reality as well. Star Wars lore is as vast as the distance between reality and the galaxies their stories take place. Stitched within those stories are a

plethora of grudges held between characters, races of alien life and a myriad of factions which inhabit the worlds we’ve come to know well. However, The Duchess begins to pull at the thread of these grudges with a simple line of questioning that characters and audiences alike must consider. Her sage wisdom begins to unravel all the trouble humans and aliens have created for themselves through their belief that they know what is best.

Moreover, it is a question that can serve us all well should we consider an answer. Are we to believe our opinions and beliefs are greater than the galaxy where they’re allowed to grow, or can we find a way to forgive those who, for whatever reason, may go against us? “Is there no room for forgiveness in a galaxy so vast?”

The Mandalorian series has taken its audience through a myriad of emotions in only three short seasons. It has provided us with adventure, humor and enough sentimentality to soften even the hardest of hearts. In doing so, it has provided us with some amazing quotes that highlight the depth of its slew of characters. It is a world choc full of hopeful awareness that can turn a stoic bounty hunter into an insightful father-figure. It is a show that grabs its audience by the hand when they feel most lost and shows them, “this is the way.”

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BY REBECA NISHI

DIN DJARIN

In the first season of The Mandalorian, Din Djarin (aka Mando) meets Grogu and gets attached to him. His parental love for Grogue is built along the journey until the end of the second season. In the Season 2 finale, Mando removes his helmet and reveals his face to Grogu in a touching goodbye before trusting the Child to master Jedi, Luke Skywalker’s, custody. However, he’d broken the vows to the Mandalorian Creed, and it will have consequences.

In Chapter 5 of The Book of Boba Fett entitled “Return of the Mandalorian,” The Armorer explains how Djarin could be redeemed. According to the creed, one can only be redeemed in the living waters under the mines of Mandalore. Djarin pointed out that during the Empire’s subsequent Purge of Mandalore a massive fleet of TIE bombers absolutely wrecked the planet’s surface and blew up its domed capital, Sundari.

The Armorer replies, “This is the way.” Flashbacks of TIE bombers ravaging Mandalore are shown in the episode. It’s remarkable.

An apostate is a religious term, referring to someone who has abandoned all his faith and is now considered outside the bounds of the faith community. Djarin is considered an apostate for wilfully breaking the creed’s rule removing his helmet.

In Season 3 of The Mandalorian, the premiere episode opens on Concordia with a young member of the Mandalorians taking his vows. This was cleverly set up at the start of the season when a foundling is swearing the creed only for the clan to be saved by Din Djarin, the apostate who violated it.

The core of the episode shows the antagonism between the behavior of transgressive Mandalorian while pointing out the contradictions that the fundamentalists place

under the yoke of its adherents. Seeking redemption, Djarin takes Grogu to Kalevala, another planet within the Mandalorian system, to ask Bo-Katan Kryze for guidance.

Djarin tells Kryze that he intends to return to Mandalore in order to bathe in the Living Waters and be forgiven for his transgressions. Which he does, taking a sample of the Living Waters as a

proof to gain forgiveness from The Armorer and fellow Mandalorians later in the season.

The series drives in a fascinating direction in which Djarin is sure to learn much more about his people. During his journey of redemption, he reopened many past wounds and showed whether an apostate can become the leader the Mandalorians need.

In Season 1, Chapter

8: “Redemption,” Mando had another moment of redemption when he led his fellows to a hidden covert. Under Moff Gideon’s ambush of troops, Djarin was willing to sacrifice his own life for the safety of the Child and his friends.

We see a change in the character, and he shows himself emotionally and physically. For the first time, we see him without his helmet in need of survival after being injured.

GREEF KARGA

As Din desperately tries to return to his status quo, the episode focuses on how others have changed. Nevarro is almost unrecognizable as a thriving commercial center.

It’s a place as prosperous as it is peaceful, with Greef Karga as its High Magistrate. Greef briefly

tries to recruit Din for Cara Dune’s old job as a marshal since she’s gained other assignments in the New Republic, offering him a big piece of land to establish himself.

Well-suited, Greef’s cloak, so bulky it’s carried by two tiny droids, hides his blaster, and he’s still a quick and accurate marksman. For a former bounty hunter who tried to kill Mando and take Grogu, Greef is nowadays a quite respectful man.

BO-KATAN KRYZE

While Greef prospered, the world of Bo-Katan fell apart. Her speech to Din about the Darksaber’s

power as a symbol, and how her movement fell apart without it, underscores the burden of the artifact Din now carries. Bo-Katan won’t challenge him for this, but it seems clear that in order to gain his redemption, Din will likely have to finish his quest to restore Mandalore.

In contrast to Mando, many modern-day Mandalorians such as Bo-Katan Kryze have no problem removing their helmets. It’s interesting to see Bo-Katan return in the first episode of Season 3 titled “The Apostate,” as the Armorer would likely consider Kryze one as well. This makes the episode title clever, giving it a double understanding.

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After saving Mando in the Mines of Mandalore and putting her helmet back on, she is forgiven by The Armorer and the Mandalorians. She is also assigned by The Armorer as the one who can unite all the groups of Mandalorian parted in diaspora after the destruction of their homeland.

KELLERAN BEQ

The actor Ahmed Best returns to the franchise to be redeemed after he played Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars prequels. Fans didn’t love it. He revealed to Wired in 2017 that he faced death threats in 1999 as part of the backlash to The Phantom Menace. The actor posted a heartfelt message on Twitter in 2018 (and then deleted it), revealing he struggled with suicidal thoughts during that dark period.

The Mandalorian offers Best a second chance as he plays Jedi Master, Kelleran Beq, a heroic character who survives an attack on the Jedi Temple and helps escort Grogu to escape aboard a Naboo ship.

Grogu’s destiny would have been completely different from what we know without Beq.

THE DUCHESS

It seems that John Favreau really wants redemption for everyone. In Season 3, Chapter 22: “Guns for Hire,” Commissioner Helgait has been unmasked and the Duchess asks her husband, Captain Bombardier, to surrender. She then says, “I know his heart is true.

Sure, he made some mistakes in the past, but who among us has not? Is there no room for a little bit of forgiveness in a galaxy so vast?” Even the commissioner hoped for redemption by saying he’s sorry, and he hopes one day he can deserve Your Grace’s forgiveness.

INTERVIEW

BY GALAXY

With Season 3 of The Mandalorian having wrapped up, our very

own Galaxy had a wonderful sit down with Bo-Katan herself: the talented KATEE SACKHOFF!

This Oregan-born athletic actor has graced both our big and small screens a myriad of times: With fantastic appearances, big and small, in hits like Longmire, Battlestar Galactica, Riddick, The Flash, and much more.

In this interview, Galaxy dives deep into our motorcycle riding guest as she talks going from Bo’s voice to full body immersion, her acting styles, raising the next generation of Star Wars lovers, the goals of the Mandalorian, and how she’s played Bo-Katan for so long that she’s even Bo in her dreams.

Disney, Lucas Film, The Mandalorian, Amazon

GALAXY:

Welcome KATEE

KATEE SACKHOFF:

Hi, thanks for having me Galaxy!

GALAXY:

There’s a lot to talk about. You have been extremely busy and successful with all the projects you have. But, The Mandalorian is the show that has gotten fans, and you probably feel it as well, just jumping up in the air.

KATEE SACKHOFF:

It’s been a whirlwind. But it’s such a strange thing. Because we finished filming a year ago. So it’s all that hurry up and wait and then sit there for a year and wait for it to get done and do our ADR and watch it slowly come together. And then, it finally comes out and it’s over in like five seconds. We worked so hard on this season, and I feel like it’s over way too soon.

GALAXY:

Fan reaction, how has that been with The Mandalorian?

KATEE SACKHOFF:

It’s great. I think that you’re never going to win everyone. And that can’t be your end goal. I think that we set out to make the show that we wanted to make this season and from the very beginning to what we accomplished with Bo’s story arc, I think we hit those moments. And I think that the fans are happy with that storyline, for sure.

GALAXY:

You’re phenomenal on the show. How does it feel knowing for the rest of your life you’re going to be known as BoKatan?

KATEE SACKHOFF:

I’ve had the serious good fortune of being able to play some pretty phenomenal characters in my life. And Bo is by far the one that I’ve played the longest. She has a soft spot in my heart for sure. I’ve loved every second of playing her and hopefully it won’t be over for a while.

GALAXY:

Was it hard for you to get into

character? Did it take a lot to get yourself prepared for the live action roll? I know acting takes a toll on everyone and everyone prepares differently, but how was the journey for you to become Bo-Katan on screen?

KATEE SACKHOFF:

Having voiced the character for as long as I did, I knew so much of her backstory going into The Mandalorian. So, I didn’t feel like I needed to do any sort of thought work or backstory work for her. The lion’s share of the work for Bo came with the physicality. When I’m in the sound booth, I don’t have to worry about what my face looks like or what my body’s doing, any of those things, because it’s purely just about my voice. And for that reason, it becomes so much easier of a job because once I put the voice down, the work is done for me. Playing Bo in live-action, I really focused on the physicality, the questions we had or how does she actually move, how does she walk? How does she hold herself and carry herself and those were things that became the most difficult aspects you know. My acting style is much more raw. It is much more sort of fly by the seat of my pants, if you will. There’s always a plan in place of course, but I wear my heart on my sleeve as my characters. Bo is very different. She’s very still. She’s very stoic. She is very purposeful. And I have to think long and hard and be very, very specific with my movements as her and so, the biggest part of this season was me relaxing and staying as still as possible, which is really hard for me. And that became the hardest part to be honest.

GALAXY:

Physicality, you’re not lacking anywhere in that department. I saw you in Riddick and I thought: What a powerful actor. Every roll you have you take the roll by the helm, and then you drive it the way it’s supposed to go. Voicing the character for such a long time. Now live action! Such a great segue into it. Were you surprised that they had you come on? Or you just knew in your heart?

KATEE SACKHOFF:

Yeah, as soon as I knew of the show,

The Mandalorian I sort of was at Celebration in 2018. And I walked up to Dave Filoni and I say I cornered him, but I really didn’t. I was just standing there talking to him. And you know, I basically like pitched him, Bo-Katan is still alive! She could work in this show. And, according to him, he’d already had it in his mind that it was going to happen, but I like to think that I forced him into it. And the next thing I knew, I got a phone call that I was going to go and sit down with John. And so, I don’t know if they ever, you know, looked outside of me for an actor for this role. I’m sure they did, you know, but at the end of the day, I do believe that I was considered for the role because these are the type of characters I’ve been playing for my entire career. You know, it’s not like I had been out doing romantic comedies or period dramas with a corset on. These are, and characters very similar to this on paper, are the characters that I’ve made a career out of. So, I think it was a pretty seamless transition.

GALAXY:

We leaked out to fans that you were coming on my show and they went, well, you know! Wild… The questions started pouring in. Most asked question, is the first order rising?

KATEE SACKHOFF:

Ah, um, you know, ha ha, there’s nothing I’m gonna say that’s like, spoiler-esque or anything. I sort of tried to keep my mouth shut as much as possible.

GALAXY:

Do you feel this season it got very royal?

KATEE SACKHOFF:

I think that the goal set out for us this season was to provide backstory and context of the Mandalorian people, for the audience that maybe have not seen Clone Wars and Rebels and needed to have a little bit of this backstory moving forward. And, I think that when you think of the Mandalorians as a people, it makes sense to have Bo-Katan

down there. Because this is a people who have rulers and they’re not elected. It absolutely is a people that are led by, you know, if Bo is considered, sort of a monarchy, if you will. And so it makes sense for them to understand that. And we also know going into it that these three shows really go together. And you’ve got Mandalorian, Boba Fett, and Ahsoka. And I think that this season, if you look at them in the context that these shows go together, this season exists for a reason. And if it exists for a reason, then it was for people to understand the Mandalorians more.

GALAXY:

Wow, that’s great. Everyone’s asked us about Grogu. “Have you held Grogu?”

KATEE SACKHOFF:

Yeah, I’ve obviously held him.

We’ve been in many, many scenes together. And there are different versions of Grogu, depending on what the scene calls for. And there are different levels of sort of like animatronics in the sense that at the very minimum, he’s a doll. And at the very heights of him, he is filled with wires, and he’s very heavy, and he is making facial movements, and he is the character you see on screen. And so the skin texture changes depending on if he’s the hero doll or not. Or hero puppet, rather, and starts to feel more latex and skin-like as he gets more advanced, as far as the puppeteering is concerned. And so like if there’s a scene where he’s getting thrown around, it is not going to be the animatronic version with tons of wires and things because, obviously, you can’t hide those. So, yeah.

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GALAXY:

Only in this universe does this type of thing work. Like, if you would take dolls and puppets in such a serious context in any other show, we would say whatever, but the Star Wars universe set it up so well. Are the sets mostly green screen? Are the sets massive? Did you say wow when you went there?

KATEE SACKHOFF:

Um, so there’s a mixture on our show, for sure. You know, there’s a mixture of blue screens and there’s a mixture of the Volume, which if anyone doesn’t know what I’m referring to, you should go watch the making of The Mandalorian. And you’ll get a glimpse at that. There’s a backlot as well with huge, huge, sort of, like horizon shots. And then, there’s practical as well. And so, it’s a mixture of all those things. If you see actors touching something, then it exists. And so, I think, for me, like the biggest thing that sort of caught me off guard was in a scene where it was literally like, a 32nd scene in episode eight, I think, the underwater waterfall fountain, like the underground gardens, on Mandalore. That was all practical. They built the entire thing. There was like a fountain or a waterfall on set. It was absolutely crazy and gorgeous. And, you know, so sometimes you’ll think that

something is the Volume or or blue screen, and it’s actually completely practical. And then, other times you’re like, “Oh well, that must have been practical”, and it’ll actually be the Volume, which is crazy. So, it’s our job to make sure you can’t tell.

GALAXY:

Absolutely! You’re doing a phenomenal job. One question that many fans have asked is about wearing the helmet. Is it easy? How does it feel? Do you feel claustrophobic?

KATEE SACKHOFF:

It’s totally okay with me. I mean,

I ride a motorcycle, though. So, I’m used to being in a helmet and sort of fully functioning and that being said, my helmet on my motorcycle has a lot more visual context. It’s very rare that I can see my feet on The Mandalorian. And my peripheral vision is not that great. So, you really have to walk through your surroundings when you’re in a suit and make sure that you know where you’re going. And there have been a few times where I have fallen over a stormtrooper or something and season two, I, like, was running down the bridge and just, like, launched over a stormtrooper because I didn’t see him and like, flew across there. The good news is that the armor works. But you know, a lot of the men’s helmets actually have less vision than the women because the eyes on our helmets are actually at an angle down. And so, what that does is it actually provides us with a little bit more visual of the floor. Whereas, you know, Mando can’t see anything.

GALAXY:

The fans are probably getting really excited right about now. We learn something new everyday. I know a lot of people wonder how you walk with the helmet on? The queues, there’s probably a lot of blooper videos out there that we probably won’t ever get to see. But,

how wonderful it must feel playing the character for over a decade and being in a live action role, you know, such a great situation. The show has become a phenomenon! And now going into season four. Can you share anything about season four? Is there anything that you’re allowed to share? Any little tidbits, little crumbs?

KATEE SACKHOFF:

Um, no. No, I mean, this is a show that is so closely guarded. They didn’t even print any of his dolls or any merchandise at all until the show had aired. That’s important. It basically tells you you’re not going to know anything until the show airs. So it’ll be over a year.

GALAXY:

Ha ha, I guess everybody is going to have to wait.

KATEE SACKHOFF: You have Ashoka in August.

GALAXY: Yes! And do you think there’s going to be a crossover?

KATEE SACKHOFF: They’ve made sure to make sure that people know that the shows go together. I think that everything is in the realm of possibility.

GALAXY: Gotcha. All right. Well, you know, this is all for the fans. Katee, you know! It’s not for me. Ha ha. Even though I’m a big Star Wars fan. It’s for them. Ha ha. Having the opportunity of speaking with so many amazing talent, like yourself through the years, you get to know the cues of what question to ask and what not to, but sometimes it’s good to push a bit. We do get lucky sometimes. So, moving on, how much of yourself do you put into the character? Do you connect in certain ways?

KATEE SACKHOFF:

Yeah, I’ve been playing the character for so long. And Dave and I have talked about her backstory and who she is as a person for so many years that I know her so well now at this point, you know. Selfishly, one of the most fun things that I have is that sometimes I dream of her, as her and the show may be over for you guys, but for me, it’s still in my head. So I go to sleep sometimes and have these fantastic dreams as her, and it’s really glorious. So I know there’s more to tell. And so, I definitely connect with her on a deeper level at this point.

GALAXY: These dreams, can you share? Are they vivid? Are you in outer space? Or are you walking to Starbucks? And you are in your costume? Do you ever dream like that?

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KATEE SACKHOFF:

Yeah, no, I think it’s a little bit of everything. I’ve dreamt a lot about Bo as a child, and sort of like, you know, what makes her tick as an individual. And her relationship with her father. I’ve daydreamed and dreamt a lot about that. So partially because Dave has told me that there is an entire story that he’s already created in that timeline. So I definitely know that there’s something there. And so, I think I’m, I’m just curious and always trying to figure out what it is.

GALAXY:

When you finish from the set, and your home, does any of the character ever just, you know, come to you and you’re like, “Okay, I have to chill for a second because I just feel too much of her energy at this moment.”

KATEE SACKHOFF:

Sometimes, I will come home from work, and I definitely need to take a good 10 to 15 minutes to relax before I can dive into momming for sure. But for the most part this character is nothing too tragic/ physically tragic has played out in her this season, so it’s not like Battlestar Galactica. I used to come home and have a really hard time letting go because of all of the things that had transpired on set that day. This character is a little

different than that, in that it feels a little bit more rooted in fantasy than reality.

GALAXY:

Are you excited to share your character with your kids? If not now, one day?

KATEE SACKHOFF:

My daughter is still quite young. 16 months old, but she’s talking up a storm and she is so funny. But she

picks up like dolls of Bo-Katan now and goes, “mommy.” And it could be anything from a sticker to a pin. Like, you know, like, I’m staring at a table right now of all these things that I got at celebration this year. And one’s Bo and she wants to put mommy in her backpack and she knows that that’s me. And it’s so funny and surreal. It’s just so strange. When she watches the show, or when she walks with she obviously can’t pay attention to it too much. She’s got like a 15 minute attention span, but she walks by the TV and if she sees it on, she always stops and goes mommy. So it’s very funny.

GALAXY:

That’s wonderful. I know she’s young, but one day she will understand. Such an exciting thing to hopefully share. They’ll for sure be a Star Wars fan. Katee, if you could share one thing with the fans around the globe, what would you share with them?

KATEE SACKHOFF:

Um, oh gosh, I think that it’s just been such an incredible blessing

to play this character. It’s a dream come true. You know, I grew up a Star Wars fan. And so, for me to be a part of this world as much as I have been, it still just blows my mind. And I think that largely this character has been just incredibly well received, and the fans have just really embraced her, and that’s really special. And I’m just incredibly thankful.

GALAXY: Before we wrap up this wonderful chat, I want to take a moment and ask some more questions sent to use by our lovely listeners and readers. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream?

KATEE SACKHOFF:

Anything bold and interesting. I don’t do Vanilla

GALAXY: What was your favorite episode on The Mandalorian?

KATEE SACKHOFF: All of them to be honest, but if I had to choose, I’d say episode 7 from season 3.

GALAXY: Would you change anything about Bo-Katans outfit?

KATEE SACKHOFF:

Aesthetically speaking, no. I adore her suit. She looks so badass! Comfortability speaking, yes. I’d try to take

pressure off my shoulders somehow, but that’s nitpicking.

GALAXY: What’s your favorite weapon?

KATEE SACKHOFF: I did love my Darksaber Lol.

GALAXY: Favorite scene with Grogu?

KATEE SACKHOFF: From episode 2 when Bo and Grogu are walking through the caves having a real conversation. When she said she knew Jedi. I loved that interchange.

GALAXY: What’s your favorite interaction on The Mandalorian with Pedro Pascal?

KATEE SACKHOFF: I’m a big fan of episode 6 when we see Mando and Bo start to have a shorthand and work well together. We see what their relationship could be in the future. She’s starting to enjoy his company.

GALAXY: Would you want to live in the future?

KATEE SACKHOFF: Only if it was that the life I have now could last longer. I feel so blessed to have the people I do in my life. I’d love to see my daughter grow old and have her own children. Meet my great grandchildren. If you’re talking in a technological

way then, no! I don’t even like my phone. We’re too connected as a society and lacking any real connection. I’m not a fan.

GALAXY: Is there anything you would change about your character Bo-Kat?

KATEE SACKHOFF: No. I like and appreciate where she is and who she has become.

GALAXY: Funniest moment on set?

KATEE SACKHOFF: Any moment with Emily Swollow. She cracks me up.

GALAXY:

Would you ever want to travel to outer space?

KATEE SACKHOFF:

I hate flying so that’s probably a big fat no. Unless, I can take a few dozen Xanax for the trip. Kidding.

GALAXY:

That is wonderful. And if you can make one wish for everyone in the world, what wish would that be?

KATEE SACKHOFF: Humility, yeah. And a little bit more acceptance these days.

GALAXY:

There you go. Such a perfect answer! I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to chat with me. Good Morning, Good Afternoon, and Good Evening!

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BY MATTHEW TIMPANELLI

NOT EVERY EPISODE OF THE MANDALORIAN IS STACKED

with celebrities like in a recent episode starring Jack Black and Lizzo as prosperous leaders of Plazir-15, but the Mandalorian has shared screen time with some heavy hitters (other than Christopher Lloyd). Many of which have played significant roles before appearing in the Star Wars spinoff series.

Pedro’s Mandalorian is the galaxy’s most charming bounty hunter, making many friends and enemies during his adventures. Let’s take a look back through some of the memorable guest appearances from this Disney Plus award winning show.

10 WERNER HERZOG: The Client is an empire loyalist played by Werner Herzog who hires Mando to kidnap the Child as it was known in the early episodes. The actor, screenwriter and pioneer of cinema surprised many, fitting so well into this fantasy genre.

9 NICK NOLTE: Another Hollywood celebrity was present in these early episodes as the voice of Kuiil. Nick Nolte helps Mando by training him to ride a blurrg. Impatient with his progress, Mando attempts to give up, but Kuiil reminds him that his ancestors were known for riding the Mythosaur. Is that an Easter egg? Maybe the

creators are just obsessed with taming giant beasts.

8 CARL WEATHERS: Those early episodes were jam packed with stars as Disney showed the audience that they were dedicated to the success of this show. Carl Weathers appeared in Chapter 2 in a supporting role as Greef Karga, an agent of the Bounty Hunters’ Guild who goes against Mando before reforming and becoming a great ally to Din as the series progresses.

7 AMY SEDARIS: Other early appearances saw SNL star Amy Sedaris develop a

heart warming relationship with Grogu as Peli Motto, a sketchy mechanic who has served as Din’s confidant, inspiration and occasional babysitter.

6 MING-NA WEN: As The Mandalorian really started to hit a groove with critics, they were presented with another gift in the form of Fennec Shand, a mercenary and assassin. This important character took on a new life in the Boba Fett show. Ming-Na Wen has become a favorite of many fans since her successful role as Agent May in Marvel’s Shield, another Disney property.

5 TAIKA WAITITI: The Disney/Marvel connection may have brought Taika Waititi to voice IG-11. Although not a full appearance, the stories containing IG-11 were quite moving, and the impression this character made must have driven the creative decision to bring IG-11 back in Season 3 and hopefully Season 4 as well.

4 BILL BURR: Some actors seem like a no-brainer but other actors may have you scratching your head on the decision making process such as the casting of Migs Mayfield. I don’t think anyone expected Bill Burr to appear on the show, but probably even less people predicted that Burr’s role would have been so iconic as Mayfield remains one of the few beings who truly “know” the real Din Djarin.

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3 GIANCARLO ESPOSITO:

As the nefarious Moff Gideon, it is clear to see why so many shows have chosen this amazing actor to play the most diabolical character. Esposito’s performance in this role is reminiscent of the early Darth Vadar appearances. He has definitely earned his right to wear a black spacesuit and wield a Darksaber.

2 ROSARIO DAWSON: Star Wars fanatics anxiously awaited seeing a live action Ahsoka Tano after the character became a fan favorite from the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The prospect of Grogu being trained by a Jedi Master is very exciting. We hope this is in the works for the future of The Mandalorian or the Ahsoka series.

1 MARK HAMILL: The most memorable guest appearance had to be when the original Jedi apprentice, Luke Skywalker, made his way to rescue Grogu from Moff Gideon’s ship. Who better to guest star than the fan’s most beloved actor and savior of the universe, Mark Hamill. There was a lot of hype leading up to this episode, and it was a special moment for the show and the Star Wars franchise to bring these two stories together in such an exciting way.

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The show’s writing doesn’t require a star studded cast, but with the Star Wars name and quality of the show, the creator’s must have a great time placing the perfect person for each portrayal. I can’t wait to see who’s going to be the next to surprise me in future seasons of The Mandalorian. Whether it is a friend or foe, I know it’s going to be something you won’t want to miss.

BY ROBERT LOCKETT

WAIT... GROGU IS WORTH HOW MUCH?!

Fans of The Mandalorian instantly fell in love with the cutesy charm of a creature they named Baby Yoda. While we all came to learn the character is neither a baby nor Yoda, we can’t stop having our hearts melt every time Grogu is on screen. Grogu’s adorable aesthetic can be attributed to the showrunners opting for a real-life puppet in favor of CGI.

While fans weren’t aware of Grogu’s name until The Mandalorian’s second season, many still don’t know the process of how he came to life. Grogu’s puppet was designed by Legacy Effects and had to be operated by two puppeteers. One would control his eyes and mouth while the other would handle additional facial expressions.

According to showrunner Jon Favreau, the cost to construct Grogu’s animatronic was upwards of $5 million. This makes Grogu worth almost five times that

of one of the most powerful gangsters in all of Star Wars lore, Jabba the Hutt. Regardless of what it cost to bring Grogu to our screens, I’m sure we all can agree that the masterful work of the show’s puppeteers make Grogu a priceless addition to the Star Wars universe.

WERNER HERZOG AND THE CASE OF THE HEARTBREAKING PUPPET

Audiences were not the only ones captivated by Grogu. Legendary director Werner Herzog’s amazement with the animatronic puppet is on record during an interview with Variety. Herzog says, “It’s a phenomenal technological achievement but, beyond the technological achievement, it’s heartbreaking.” One of the directors for the series, Deborah Chow recalled how Herzog “had forgotten it wasn’t actually a live creature, and started sort of...directing the baby.”

Herzog is best known for his exquisite documentaries and haunting set of pipes. However, he was a perfect casting for the role of the Client in the first season of The Mandalorian. Additionally, he was one of the most vocal when it came to not replacing Grogu’s puppet with CGI. While playing the Client, Herzog had the pleasure of acting alongside the puppet. According to Variety, showrunners wanted to

do another take with a CGI version substituted in just in case the animatronic wasn’t convincing enough on screen. Seeing what was happening, Herzog called out all involved saying, “you are all cowards” and that they should “leave it.”

Herzog believed Grogu’s puppet “looked absolutely convincing” and was a “technological achievement” that would make audiences “cry when [they] saw it.” I believe we all can agree Herzog was right, and the choice to use a puppet more often than CGI was the perfect call that spawned a new fascination with the Star Wars franchise.

PEDRO PASCAL ADDS ANOTHER REASON

MANDALORIANS NEVER SHOW THEIR FACE

Famed actor and movie heartthrob, Pedro Pascal, has done a masterful job creating depth to a character who barely shows their face. However, this part of the Mandalorian creed has proven beneficial. Being an in-demand actor can certainly cause a variety of scheduling conflicts, and this is precisely what happened while Pascal was filming the series.

There are several moments in the series where showrunners had to have one of Pascal’s stunt doubles don the beskar armor while the actor was fulfilling other obligations. Moreover, Pascal doesn’t

physically appear in a single shot of the fourth episode, “Sanctuary.” He would later provide voiceover for the episode. The simpatico relationship between Pascal and his doubles uplifts the character and proves that dedication to one’s craft fosters thoughtful art.

A CHIP OFF THE OL’ PILGRIM

Speaking of Pedro Pascal’s body doubles, one such actor to dawn the Mandalorian helmet is Brendan Wayne. If the last name rings a bell, that’s because he is the grandson of famed cowboy and all around tough guy, John Wayne.

Wayne has been in the movie industry since 2001 and a body double for Pedro Pascal since the start of the series. Their chemistry and collective understanding of what makes Din Djarin special has kept fans invested for the last three seasons and notso-patiently awaiting the fourth.

THE ART OF TUSKEN SIGN LANGUAGE

Oscar award winner, Troy Kotsur, assisted in creating the sign language used by the Tusken raiders in the series. He revealed in an interview with The Daily Moth that he wanted to avoid American Sign Language to create something “based on [the Tusken] culture and environment.” Kotsur revealed the various forms of sign language are reflective of the needs and environment of its creators. This led him to seek creating a sign language individual to the Tusken nomads.

Kotsur studied the lore of the nomads and used what he learned to assist in his

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choices for their language. This is what led to their sign for Mandalorian. The sign is based on their helmet and name. As one of the creators of the Tusken sign language, it was only right that Kotsur got to play one of the nomads as well. The actor played an unnamed Tusken in chapter five of the first season of The Mandalorian. Kotsur says it was a dream come true as he dreamed of being part of the Star Wars universe since he was a child.

SOMETIMES, EVEN A JEDI NEEDS TO USE AN ALIAS

The Mandalorian is packed to the brim with fan-favorite and iconic Star Wars characters. Keeping every character cameo a secret is an impossible task in the era of the internet. However, director and producer, Dave Filoni, was able to do exactly that with a surprise appearance from the OG hero of the Star Wars trilogy. In the final episode of season two, fans were in awe when a famed Jedi pulled back his hood to reveal himself as none other than Obi-Wan and Yoda protege, Luke Skywalker. How could a reveal like this not be spoiled by the power of curiosity found on the internet?

Filoni omitted Luke Skywalker’s name from the script. In its place was the producer’s favorite Jedi, Master Plo Koon. Filoni figured any spoilers would include Koon’s name leading fans off the trail of the true

reveal. Additionally, Filoni substituted Skywalker with Koon in concept art for the episode. He went so far as to have a CGI rendering of Master Koon’s head placed on Luke’s body in the iconic scene.

Even the actors taking part in this masterful reveal had no clue what they were in for and assumed they were to be greeted by Master Koon. Moreover, the director of the episode, Peyton Reed, also believed Koon was to be in the scene. The director reacted similarly as fans when he learned that Luke Skywalker would be the one to reveal themselves in the final episode of season two.

WHEN COSPLAY PAYS OFF

What happens when a show that costs $15 million per episode to make runs out of Stormtrooper costumes? Use CGI? Some other kind of movie magic? No. You hire diehard fans who own their own equipment. Showrunners Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni contacted the local chapter of the 501st Legion to assist with their costume woes. The worldwide, fan-operated organization specializes in costuming for the Star Wars franchise and were the perfect outfit to save the seventh and eighth chapter of The Mandalorian series. Their screen accurate replicas coupled with their admiration for the franchise paid off dividends. Not only were they able to lend their

Stormtrooper apparel to the show but were also cast as extras in the episodes.

THE REDEMPTION OF JAR JAR BINKS

This next entry may not come as a surprise to the uber Star Wars fan, but for the rest of us, this is shocking stuff. During Grogu’s flashback to Order 66, one particular Jedi is provided the limelight when they bring the Child to safety: Kelleran Beq. If you are unfamiliar with this character, you’d be forgiven as many Star Wars fans may not be aware of this particular Jedi.

Kelleran Beq’s first appearance came from serving as the host of Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge, a kid’s game show airing on the StarWarsKids website. Beq was Grogu’s teacher and saved him during the Siege of the Jedi Temple. He came to be known as “The Sabered Hand” during his time as a Padowan.

However, the actor who plays Kelleran Beq, Ahmed Best, went by a different name in the Star Wars universe before taking on the role of a Jedi master. Fans and haters of the prequels will know Best for his role as the most controversial Gungan, Jar Jar Binks. The role of Jar Jar greatly affected Best in a negative way according to the actor. It’s great to see The Mandalorian showrunners give him a new place in Star Wars lore and as a Jedi, no less.

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SHOWRUNNERS FIRST MEET ON A RANCH (NOT SO) FAR, FAR AWAY

Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni first met one another at Star Wars creator George Lucas’ ranch. Favreau was mixing Marvel’s first Iron Man movie at Skywalker Ranch while Filoni was working with Lucas on developing The Clone Wars. The showrunners shared their work with one another which eventually led Filoni to cast Favreau as Mandalorian, Pre Vizsla, in The Clone Wars.

Ten years prior to working together on The Mandalorian, Favreau and Filoni would talk Star Wars at Skywalker Ranch. If ever there were an example of fate playing out in real time, we are witnessing it with each season of the Disney+ original.

CREATIVE GETS THE CREDIT THEY DESERVE

Part of the movie making process involves drawing storyboards to visualize the scenes that will take place. The talented artists along with their works of art are not often witnessed by the general public. However, showrunner Jon Favreau changed all that when he decided to include images of the concept art during the end credits of each episode of The Mandalorian.

Artists such as Doug Chiang, Jama Jurabaev, John Park, Christian Alzmann, Ryan Church, Nick Gindraux and others have their work on display at the end of every show. The concept art has also been officially released online without the credits laid over it. Fans can pick from a large number of pieces to set as their wallpaper, but we’ll have to wait for a release of the official concept art hardcover these masterpieces deserve.

BY MATTHEW TIMPANELLI

THERE IS ALREADY MUCH LORE

existing in Star Wars canon. However, it leaves even more that can be expanded on. You will find that Disney’s show, The Mandalorian, does well to identify opportunities where the inclusion of a classic character would delight a die hard fan. The show also finds opportunities to create brand new characters that suit a new audience.

The medium of streaming is a great place to deeply explore a world through a high budget series. Fans have watched this exploration unfold over the course of three seasons. Since the launch of Disney Plus, The Mandalorian has been a shining example of what the new service can do. It took some traversing the galaxy, but fans can finally start to explore Mandalore, the mysterious world waiting to get its spotlight since Boba Fett impressed everyone with his fancy space armor

in the 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special

During Din Djarin’s adventures, he helps, meets and receives assistance from many interesting characters. The most famous being Grogu, the foundling who was once the mark of this morally guided bounty hunter. The two created a bond that has inspired Din Djarin to be more righteous and

has made him more than just a skilled warrior. It has made him a hero. In this hero’s path, we have been fortunate to tag along as this Mandalorian visits some of the most interesting characters the Star Wars galaxy can produce.

Since we already mentioned him, Boba Fett just had to be included in this series. The writing staff did well to honor the important character by having Temuera Morrison, who stars as Boba, play the character in The Mandalorian and its spinoff series, The Book of Boba Fett. This epic guest appearance now could live on and expand within its own space, which is another exciting prospect for the die-hard fans of the Alpha clone from Kamino.

If Boba isn’t your thing, but you really admired his attire, perhaps you were a fan of Cobb Vanth. Mando runs into him in Mos Pelgo and notices the armor which started the whole thread to Boba Fett. However, what he found in Cobb Vanth was a character who stood on his own, apart from the armor he once donned. He wasn’t just a Boba Fett wannabe, he was a true hero. He stood up for his people and, most importantly, for what’s right. This amazing

character, played by Timothy Olyphant, has been one of the most memorable ones in this series as well as one of the most memorable moments in The Book of Boba Fett when he was shot in cold blood by Cad Bane.

Another great crossover character was Fennec Shand, a formidable challenger that went against Mando and lost. Fennec, played by Ming-Na Wen, was left for dead by Din but instead, was picked up by Boba Fett to continue this strong character’s future in both series.

However, The Mandalorian doesn’t rely on Boba Fett for garnering the audience’s interest. They have many of their own characters that live

comfortably within this series alone and others that are branching off into a series of their own. Of course, we are talking about Ahsoka Tano, played by Rosario Dawson, and the spinoff series she will star in. There was only one episode, Chapter 13: “The Jedi,” where we got to see this Clone War legend in the flesh, but it was enough to create a lot of anticipation for the story of another world within Star Wars waiting to be told.

Who knows what plans are in store for other characters to have their own spin-off?

The fans seem to enjoy BoKatan’s appearances, and this last season would be a great foundation for the character to develop into its own separate story as Din focuses on Grogu’s training. Katee Sackoff stole the show in the last season, becoming the true leader of the unified Mandalorians. I don’t think anyone would protest seeing Bo-Katan fight more for her homeland using the newly acquired Darksaber.

On second thought, Giancarlo Esposito might be envious that someone will continue to wield the saber besides him. No one is saying he didn’t do a great job with it, but as Moff Gideon, he may have picked the wrong side. I could only hope that the show continues to find more compelling enemies to throw Din’s way. Moff has some giant Darth-like boots to fill.

Elia Kane, as Moff’s secondary antagonist, showed how deceptive she could be as she makes her way back into power. It will be interesting to see what role she plays as the series moves on from a failed Moff Gideon who appears to fall in the final episode of Season 3.

She showed us her loyalties were clearly aligned with the former Galactic Empire as she betrayed Doctor Pershing within the amnesty program. Pershing, a character who battled with the morality of his actions while working for the Empire, may

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not have been a good guy, but in Star Wars, as we have seen with Anakin Skywalker, you never know on which side a character will end up.

Viewers enjoy a good morally ambivalent character as well, which the Lucas franchise is filled with. The galaxy is plagued with fallout from conflict and although we know the difference between bad and good (Sith and Jedi), it is hard for the characters within the story to identify which direction to follow. This survival of the fittest mentality is prevalent throughout, so we don’t blame those like Migs Mayfeld for betraying Din early on. We expected it from someone like Bill Burr, who admittedly was not a Star Wars fan. However, even he can be redeemed as he finds himself being more honorable alongside Star Wars’ compelling forces. He may not be Force sensitive. Not many are in this show actually, but it seems that you don’t need to be a Jedi to be something special.

I find many of the normal everyday people who help Din Djarin find themselves trusting him and his cause. They are willing to go out of their way for him and Grogu. As many people are fending for themselves, there are others willing to put themselves in harm’s way to do what is right. This is an early theme explored by Nick Nolte as Kuiil. Kuiil is a wise man who has seen and been through a lot. At the risk of becoming a target of the former empire or just putting himself in general danger aligning with Mando, he does everything he can to ensure Mando

is able to complete his mission. There is a great sense of generosity throughout the show that seems to represent the character’s belief in karma, a prevalent message in the Star Wars universe.

Many will give what they can, but not everyone will take up arms alongside Mando like Cara Dune. It’s unclear if she desires justice or the adrenaline from battle but nevertheless, she is there to fight when there is an insurmountable conflict waiting. She thirsts for war, but the audience can sense her reasons are more than that hunger. Without knowing it, Din leads a war against the forces of evil, and when presented with the choice, you find his friends will always stand behind the Mandalorian creed.

“This is the way,” as it is stated many times, almost religiously, through the show. Din is constantly keeping himself in check to make sure he follows what he believes in and what the Mandalorian Code allows. There are certainly times when he feels confused. That is when he goes to see The Armorer. She represents Mandalore and The Way as Din knows it. On many occasions, he seeks her talents, repairs and guidance as she fills the role of a space paladin of sorts. She leads Din’s sect of Manalorians that adopted him. Her followers are many well armored companions who also fight with Din to ensure justice throughout the galaxy.

Jon Favrea, himself, voiced one such character

that goes by the name Paz Vizsula (now voiced by Tait Fletcher). He’s the Mandalorian with the giant gun. You will probably remember him because you wondered how hard it was to carry all that metal, and you were curious what sort of physical specimen had the ability to maneuver it in the manner he does beneath all that beskar armor.

The topic of impressive weaponry begs us to mention IG-11. This loyal robot, voiced by Taika Waititi, seems to be able to anticipate any threat and immediately swivel and twist to thwart it. This early Mando sidekick was the reason Din was able to

rescue Grogu from Moff Gideon’s evil clutches after sacrificing himself. IG-11 is far from the only robotic companion. R5-D4 has been crucial to Din Djarin’s team. His reluctance to enter dangerous circumstances

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makes the droid charming while providing a bit of classic Star Wars humor. This is a great throwback to the relationship between C-3P0 and Luke in the early movies, but as we have learned, these droids always follow through,

despite their hesitation, and save the day.

As rebellious as Din’s comrades might be, they don’t really fall into the actual Rebellion forces or the New Order of things with the New Republic. They have had their eyes

on him as he has had a few run-ins with Carson Teva. At one point, he was pursued as a criminal, but the character, played by Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, senses something about Din that convinces him that it is worth cutting the

Mandalorian a bit of slack. Something a fellow pilot like Captain Teva may understand is the bond between man and craft. Early in the series, before Din makes so many acquaintances, one can see that Mando and the Razor Crest shared something special. The audience witnesses the loss Mando must feel when it is destroyed in Chapter 14: “The Tragedy.”

As heartbreaking as it was, it was also much more rewarding when Peli Motto was able to play matchmaker between Din and the N1 Starfighter. What seemed like two lost souls found each other at the perfect time.

The series has had its share of giant monsters such as the krayt dragon Din helped the Freetown people defeat or the mudhorn that Grogu tamed, but one beast that stands out, towering above them all, is the Mythosaur. This incredibly elusive character may have only had a few actual seconds of screen time, but its mere existence adds so much to the Mandalorian mythos. It helps you understand why the Mandarloians are so dedicated to their rituals and makes you want to join them and follow their way.

BY ROB LOCKETT

FIRSTLY, HUGE KUDOS TO THE ONES WHO

brought balance to the force: Mr. Dave Filoni and Mr. Jon Favreau. Since its inception, The Mandalorian has garnered both critical acclaim and drawn a huge following over to Disney Plus. The task of trying to discern the show’s best moments is a difficult one of rancorous proportions. Below, I have managed to put forward the top ten moments, of which I’m sure most fans would agree. Warning: there are massive spoilers ahead, and so if you have not watched the show, then read no further until you have done so. I have spoken.

10. THE FIRST MOMENT WE MEET BABY YODA (GROGU)

The introduction of Baby Yoda to The Mandalorian was a masterstroke, aligning both old and new fans, and producing a steady stream of merchandising along with countless memes. By pairing up the two characters, The Mandalorian changes the plot from a typical Sergio Leone-style spaghetti western, where a bounty hunter takes on various jobs, and transforms the show into a lone wolf and cub story. From the moment the child is revealed, the show erupts into cuteness overload, and Mando is forced to exterminate IG-11 to protect Baby Yoda. From this point on, the audience is caught in the show’s tractor beam, and we see Mando progress as he takes his first gigantic step along the Hero’s Journey.

Writers of The Mandalorian felt a tremor in the force and corrected a decades long error, Boba Fett’s mediocre demise in the Sarlacc pit at the hands of Han Solo and his misplaced swipe. The character is finally redeemed in Season 2 when we see an unrestrained Boba Fett quickly dispatch a whole squad of fleeing stormtroopers and their ships while wearing his newly

9. BOBA FETT UNLEASHED Season 2, Chapter 14 “The Tragedy”

Season 1, Chapter 1 “The Mandalorian”

gained beskar armor. The entire scene is badass with many Fett fans delighted by this sequence of events. This was topped by his promise to honor his deal with Din Djarin and become a powerful ally in the mission to save Grogu.

8. THE JUSTIFIED SPACE MARSHAL

Season 2, Chapter 9

“The Marshal”

This would make a trifecta for Timothy Olyphant playing either a sheriff or a marshal in shows such as Deadwood and Justified. After walking into a cantina looking for a Mandalorian,

Mando and the Marshal have a tense standoff in one of the most mesmerising scenes of the series. Mando discovers the Marshal is wearing beskar armor. This isn’t just any old Mandalorian armor but an outfit belonging to a certain Boba Fett. After a few terse words, the man removes his helmet only to reveal it’s indeed the extended universe icon Mr. Cobb Vanth underneath the famous Boba Fett armor. The entire episode is exemplary with key moments such as an homage to Easy Rider. Both of the renegade men straddle speeder bikes as they head off into destiny for a tense showdown with a Krayt dragon.

7. GROGU USES THE FORCE ON THE MUDHORN

Season 1, Chapter 2

“The Child”

Most Star Wars fans were already anticipating what Baby Yoda could do, especially since he’s from the same species as Jedi Master Yoda. Nonetheless,

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it is a thrilling moment. After several clumsy attempts to subdue the mudhorn, Mando is rescued at the last minute from a ferocious charge by the creature. Helplessly looking on in astonishment, Grogu uses the force to levitate the creature and pacify it enough for Mando to survive the encounter. The scene is very reminiscent of Yoda’s power in The Empire Strikes Back, lifting Luke’s X-wing effortlessly out of the Dagobah swamp. The uninitiated Jedi can only stare in awe.

6. DIN DJARIN RESCUES

BABY YODA

Season 1, Chapter 3

“The Sin”

Most heroes aren’t born into it, but rather its the decisions they make along the way that make them

the people we admire the most. This crucial moment is presented when Mando or Din Djarin is forced into a difficult decision. Either he simply hands Grogu over to Imperialist forces, (led by a very creepy Werner Hertzog) collects the bounty and goes on his merry way continuing the fulfil his role of the bounty hunter with very few complications, or he answers a higher calling, with greater and enduring consequences. Mando

5. SEASON 3 FINALE

Season 3, Chapter 18

“The Return”

It was very difficult to top the Season 2 Finale, and the majority would agree that Season 3’s quality is not as consistent as its previous iterations. In saying that, however, the show’s finale was a solid return to form. Heavily action packed, and with the always excellent Giancarlo Esposito as Moff Gideon

back in the Dark trooper armor. The Series finale had everything a SW fan could ask for and more, with dramatic scenes, climatic showdowns and Din Djarin finally adopting Grogu. Or should I say Din Grogu, as the two live out their best years on the porch in between missions.

4. MAYFELD AND OPERATION CINDER

Season 2, Chapter 15

“The Believer”

Bill Burr really stepped up to the plate as Mayfeld. One of the best scenes in the whole show is the tense mission to infiltrate the Imperial base and find Moff Gideon’s whereabouts. One of the best scenes in the episode sees a complete character arc for Mayfeld where we learn more about the cost working for the Empire has on a person’s soul. Mayfeld and Officer Hess briefly recount a moment of genocide as part of Palpatine’s contingency plan. The aftermath of

Operation Cinder led to thousands of Imperial soldiers sacrificed along with thousands of innocent civilians. Each contrasting reaction to this event showed the measure of each man. Mayfeld fled the Empire soon after. In the scene, Hess drinks to their demise for the glory of the Empire. Later, he is executed by Mayfeld and further conflict ensues. A truly memorable moment in the greater Mandalorian universe and a terrific turn by Bill Burr.

3. AHSOKA TANO’S DRAMATIC ENTRANCE

Season 2 Chapter 13

“The Jedi”

I was hard pressed not to place this moment at number 1 on the list. IMHO, “The Jedi” is the best episode of the entire series, drawing from a deep well of inspiration that includes Sergio Leone, John Ford and especially, Akira Kurosawa. The style of Kurosawa is all over this episode in rich flourishes of character, plot and overall

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design. The episode also includes a wonderful live action debut of The Clone Wars favorite Ahsoka Tano, played effortlessly by the talented Rosario Dawson. The opening scene is electrifying: twin neon white lightsaber blades take down a host of guards before suddenly disappearing in the mist. Ahsoka dismantles them quickly before confronting a ruthless magistrate, providing an ultimatum to release her prisoners or face the wrath of the exiled Jedi. Tano is truly great here and is the space opera equivalent of a wandering Ronin, forever righting wrongs in the pursuit of justice. The whole episode is mesmerising with the added cameo of Michael Biehn. The final confrontation is a hybrid of some of the best western and Samurai scenes. Fans are left in awe of the Jedi and wanting even more, which we’ll come to next.

was sealed until the long awaited arrival of the Jedi Mando had been seeking erupted on the scene. The much maligned Last Jedi version of Luke Skywalker was nowhere to be seen. Instead, we witnessed the Luke we remember at the end of Return of the Jedi. A powerful Jedi master, he swiftly dispatched the dark troopers like they were paper, much to the horror of Moff Gideon who, until this moment, had only heard mythical tales about the Jedi. The lightsaber style and sequence of events is a subversive nod to the scene in Revenge of the Sith where Anakin dispatches Nute Gunray and his associates. The hero’s braced themselves against the door but once Luke raised his hood and R2D2 emitted some friendly beeps, all breathed a sigh of relief. It is a glorious moment that gave fans an emotional reunion with a beloved character, and it was the one they had been wishing for. Luke’s legacy and reputation were renewed and balance was brought back to the fan force.

of the Jedi where Darth Vader removes his mask in his dying moment to see his son Luke. This provides the context for a heartbreaking parting of ways as Din Djarin sees Grogu finally united with a Jedi who can train him. Mando completes his mission and their journey together (or so we thought). The rising musical score, the friendly beeps of R2D2 and “I’ll see you again. I promise” heighten the moment just before Mando takes off his mask and looks on his beloved Grogu with his own eyes. The sentiment is reciprocated with Grogu stroking his surrogate father’s face with a tender touch. The scene is definitely an emotional peak to the show and has reduced an entire legion of fans to tears (Kevin Smith, we’re looking at you). The audience witnessed the natural farewell of these pivotal characters. It’s a touching, beautiful scene and a cathartic end to the season. it will be a difficult one to top in the seasons to follow.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

“The Rescue”

We were all secretly hoping for this event. From the moment they reported an X-wing flying in, we knew the moment we had all been waiting for had arrived. Trapped by an entire squad of dark troopers, Grogu’s rescue thought their fate

1. DIN DJARIN TAKES OFF HIS MASK TO SEE GROGU

Season 2 Chapter 16 “The Rescue”

“Just once, let me look on you with my own eyes.” Fans were given an echo of a different scene from Return

Moff Gideon and the Darksaber

Ahsoka Tano practices the force with Grogu.

Din Djairn’s “Moff Gideon, You have something I want,” speech.

2. LUKE SKYWALKER TO THE RESCUE Season 2 Chapter 16

“ALL THIS TALK OF THE EMPIRE, AND THEY LASTED LESS THAN 30 YEARS. MANDALORIANS HAVE EXISTED 10,000.”

BY TYSON YURAI

Before the decanonization of many works after Disney bought the Star Wars franchise, Mandalore had a vast and amazing history of war and destruction throughout the galaxy. Spread across various comic books, novels and video games, fans of the Mandalorians have never been found wanting for more information about one of the most interesting groups of people in the old Star Wars canon. While some portion of their history remains intact on an as-needed basis, there’s still so much of Mandalore that many fans may not be aware of that they definitely need to know.

ORIGINS

Contrary to popular belief, not every Mandalorian is human. Throughout the various depictions of Mandalorians we’ve gotten on screen over the decades, they’ve only been shown as normal humans. However, the original people, The Taungs, existed well before the people became predominantly humanoid. Originating on Coruscant, the Taungs were a warlike people who waged battles over the planet before being forced off by the Zhell. They made a new home in the Outer Rim on the planet of Roon and would later go on to colonize a then unknown planet they would name Mandalore, after their leader.

As a conqueror race,

they began trying to gain more territory by taking over planets close to theirs and incorporating more and more people into Mandalore by culture. As the Taungs slowly began to die out through their various conflicts, their legacy lived on through their new band of Mandalorians. Foundlings, people born to other Mandalorians or warriors strong enough to be adopted into the creed, made up an abundance of people inducted into their ranks. Their numbers show how they became a force for the rest of the galaxy to contend with.

THE SYMBOL

Season 3 of The Mandalorian gave many new fans, and even older ones, their first look at the Mythosaur, a creature adorning the Mandalorian’s armors, flags and various iconography. In the show, the creature is treated with a sense of reverence, but its true significance is never outright stated. In the ancient past, Mandalore the First and his band of

-THE ARMORER

warriors settled on an unknown world where these creatures survived in slightly harsh, but liveable conditions, making it a prime place for a group of warriors to call home. To prove his strength and ability to conquer, Mandalore himself would

go on to kill the mighty creatures, making the first ceremonial mask out of their bones. This legend laid the foundation for the power and might of the Mandalorian race as they began to build a reputation as one of the strongest and most fierce warrior races throughout the galaxy. To further their goals, they adopted the Mythosaur skull as a symbol and a warning; one Mandalorian is equivalent to, if not stronger, than one of the most dangerous beasts to ever exist. However, this is but one interpretation. Because stories are often lost to history, others have to fill in the gaps or make new beliefs based on either changed information or an entirely new canon altogether, such is the case with Mandalore as well. While it’s unknown exactly why the Mythosaur went extinct, some Mandalorians choose to believe that Mandalore found the creatures in their caves and tamed them, riding across the plains of Mandalore, or that Mandalorians themselves roamed alongside the creatures in a sort of harmony with each respecting the others power.

WAR

As one might expect, the

history of the Mandalorians is fraught with conflicts and battles over their thousands of years of existence. In some of their earliest years, Mandalorians involved themselves in wars against the Sith, the old Galactic Republic, the Jedi and even themselves at various points in time. Conspicuously, the Mandalorians hardly win their wars, having lost to each of the factions, even themselves. One of the best instances of this can be seen through the entirety of the Mandalorian storyline as seen in The Clone Wars and the The Mandalorian itself, with the progressive elements of the people led by Duchess Satine Kryze exiling the violent faction that craved war. While not every conflict the Mandalorians have been involved with are still in the main Star Wars canon, a number of them are grand enough to make for interesting tales if they ever have the chance to be expanded on. One such tale is the Mandalorian Wars which saw one of the greatest Jedi Knights, Revan, decimate his way through the Mandalorians before defeating Mandalore the Ultimate in hand to hand combat. While this conflict has already been shown in the amazing Knights of the Old Republic

video game, there is still so much battle to be mined from Mandalore’s golden years.

THE JEDI

While Darth Revan was widely respected for his sheer ferocity on the battlefield when he fought against the Mandalorians in the Mandalorian Wars, the Jedi never took up the mantle of Mandalore himself. He instead chose to hide the ceremonial mask. It wouldn’t be until almost two thousand years later that one man, Tarre Vizsla, would become a knight in the Jedi Order. Introduced in Star Wars: Rebels, viewers learn of the legendary Mandalorian Jedi who would then go on to create the Darksaber with a hilt made of beskar and unite his people through his own leadership and strength. We would be introduced to his descendents over the course of the original The Clone Wars TV show and The Mandalorian with the Death Watch’s Pre Vizsla and Paz Vizsla, respectively. While the Darksaber did not stay with the Vizsla clan, it would be used to show who the rightful ruler of the Mandalorian people would be, as its wielder would have effortless control over the blade and the respect of their fellow warriors.

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HIERARCHIES

With a culture dedicated entirely to strength and honor, one might wonder how the leadership structure of the Mandalorians works, especially with there being various different families, clans and factions amongst them. The stereotypical answer would be something along the lines of, “obviously, they have massive fights to determine leadership,” but that is not quite the case. Over the course of Mandalorian history, warriors could prove their strength through acts of leadership, cunning or straight up power such as Mandalore the First killing the Mythosaur. However, simple acts alone would not immediately earn the title. One had to make sure that the people as a whole accepted their leadership. Otherwise, they would be deposed.

In the ancient times, the previous Mandalore would hand the ceremonial mask to those who they deemed worthy of the title. These would be the most capable, strong and respected people in the clan, and they would continue the Mandalorian traditions of leading great battles and war. It wasn’t until The

Mandalorian Wars when Revan defeated Mandalore the Ultimate and hid the ceremonial mask that no new Mandalore could rise, for a time. Various wars came and went with the title of Mandalore being bandied about to puppets of the Sith, reclaimed by honorable warriors or rejected by those who didn’t believe they could lead. Throughout all of this, the Mandalorians maintained their honor and did their best to circle around the leaders that they had, whether in the form of people like The Armorer in The Mandalorian or the wielders of the Darksaber like Pre Vizsla or Bo-Katan Kryze.

ARMOR AND ARMAMENTS

As it’s been stated in The Mandalorian, their religion is all about weaponry and armor. Given their warlike nature, it only makes sense that they utilize a bevy of arms to take on their opponents. From their infamous flamethrowers to the mini-missiles that people like Boba Fett use, there’s plenty of things for them to kill people with. Some of the more notable pieces of weaponry include

the infamous Darksaber, the Whistling Bird mini rockets and the large Mythosaur Axe.

The key to a good offense, however, is an even better defense, so of course, they make use of armor and alloys to protect themselves from enemies and their weapons, as well. Their helmets and iconic visors have been in use since the age of the Taungs, resembling their face shapes and eye placements. Of course, with the difficulty of vision for human Mandalorians, there is a heads up display which gives them full 360 degree vision. Their armor itself is fairly standard, but Mandalorians who complete great tasks for the covert earn the right to beskar plating, giving them increased resistance to blaster fire and immunity to lightsaber strikes. There you have it, just a few of the great things that you need to know about Mandalore. Of course, there is a grand mix of both legends and canon material, but in my mind, all of it is worth knowing for the greatness of the Mandalorians. Their history is long, and their strength is mighty. Though they may fall time and time again, they continue to rise stronger than ever each time.

INTERVIEW BY GALAXY

From the darkness of space to the literal Darkness,

Emily Swallow is no stranger to strong characters. She’s also no stranger to Galaxy and Comic Con Radio!

We are joined by Supernatural Alum Emily Swallow as she discusses The Armorer in the current season of The Mandalorian. An actor who has faced both screen and stage, in this interview, her wit, sense of humor, and love for her work shines through.

Join us below as Emily shares her appreciation for the love the Armorer has received, the challenge of hearing out fan theories, her experience working with the Volume, her favorite quotes from the show, her stillpresent love for Amara, and much, much more.

Please enjoy the following interview, and make sure to check out Galaxy’s show every week exclusively on Comic Con Radio.

GALAXY:

Things have changed for you. I remember when we chatted the first time, a couple of years back. You just started on The Mandalorian, which has become huge. Everybody knew that already. And, a couple of years later, you’re not just making weapons on the show, but you’re actually fighting and going to battles. How has it been since then?

EMILY SWALLOW:

Oh, it was so much fun shooting this season. It was really great to get to be more involved with the journey of Din Djarin and getting the team up at BoKatan. I love that they kind of brought the Armorer out of her Forge and really made her more of an active player.

GALAXY:

I always tell my team, when creating a SPO!LER Magazine issue, we have to be very careful, why? Because our fans know more than we do. Do you feel that way as well?

EMILY SWALLOW: I know the feeling.

GALAXY: Do you get asked questions that make you say, hmm?

EMILY SWALLOW:

GALAXY:

Hi Emily, welcome back! It’s been a while, and yes fans, Emily is a SPO!LER Magazine alumni. She’s been traveling the universe, going from planet to planet and making armor! Today we have Emily Swallow, welcome!

EMILY SWALLOW:

Thanks for having me. Hello there.

Oh my gosh, all the time. And, it’s incredible to me how much people assume I know that they keep from me because I think they just don’t want us to be tempted to disclose details that we shouldn’t. But I think, also, part of the time the fans get so caught up in creating their own ideas of what should happen. And a lot of the time, those are really good ideas. And so, they just get ahead. We might be moving a lot slower in actually making the show and, so we haven’t even gotten that far yet. And, I love when people already have a really great idea for how the next few moments in a character’s life should be mapped out. And, I have no idea because we haven’t even started shooting that yet.

GALAXY: Does it feel overwhelming?

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EMILY SWALLOW:

Oh no, I mean, it goes with the territory. I know that I’m part of a show that has done such a great job of keeping secrets in a way that keeps the fans interested. And, I love that the show, when it does air, comes out with just one episode a week because I feel like that builds the tension so beautifully. And it keeps us all sort of watching as a community. I love the community experience of it. And it doesn’t bother me when people ask questions that I can’t answer. I think it’s all part of the adventure. I love that people are that invested and that they want to know that, and I will either tell them honestly that I have no information to give them, or when I get tired of saying that I’ll just make up my own theories about what I think should happen, and they’re usually pretty ridiculous and have nothing to do with what actually could happen, but they amuse me nonetheless.

GALAXY:

Are the sets pretty big this season?

EMILY SWALLOW:

Yeah, and we actually don’t use green screen. We’ve always used the Volume, which is incredible new technology that for an actor is so much better than a green screen because it means you get to be immersed in the world. You have video of whatever scene you’re supposed to be and projected on the walls all around you. So, you’re not having to split your focus between imagining the world that you’re supposed to be in and keeping track of where you are in a scene and where you are spatially. It just really frees up your mind to to get lost in the scene, which is what you want to do to begin with. So, that’s been consistent from the beginning. I didn’t get to use it season one because all of my scenes were in my little Armors Covert, and it was all practical scenery. So, I didn’t ever get to play in the Volume. But, I’ve gotten to do that with The Book of Boba Fett

and season three of Mando. And, I get to watch as a fan because it’s still not fully realized and to see the leap that it makes between when we’re there on the soundstage or when we’re on a backlot and all of the incredible effects that the VFX team adds and the animators and the CGI folks. It’s just so much fun to get to see how all that comes together when an episode finally airs.

GALAXY:

Have the fans connected with you on a level where it affects the show if you’re not in every episode?

EMILY SWALLOW:

Well, I think the fact that the fans connected to the Armorer so strongly, and that they really were drawn to some of the things that I love about her. I mean, she’s such a powerful, steady, patient leader. And there’s this mystery about her. And, I think the fans were drawn to that. And, I think that the writers saw that and responded to that. But, they were also drawn to that as well. I mean, it’s a character that they created who has so much potential. And I’m sure it was helpful. I don’t know the exact correlation between the fan response and how much more I get put in, but I know that they found her to be really, really useful for furthering the story, and especially, because she’s somebody who represented kind of the old way of the Mandalorians. It was such a smart and exciting development to have her be the one to say, “You know what maybe there’s room for Mandalorians to walk both worlds, maybe we don’t all need to adhere to one way and maybe we need to be starting to work together more no matter what our belief is about,” you know, wearing a helmet, not wearing a helmet. I thought that that was a really powerful statement to have a character, who is so deeply rooted in tradition, to be the one to be the innovator. So, I just think that there’s tremendous potential with the character and the fans saw that and they

responded to that. And so, she gets to be around more now.

GALAXY: A lot of fans love your famous catchphrases from the series. I know readers won’t be able to hear you say it now, but when they listen to our podcast episode, they will. Is there a second phrase, and can you say it to the fans, so they can start shaking in their boots!

EMILY SWALLOW:

Well, I know that “This is the Way” is definitely one of them. But what would be my other one?

GALAXY: I know “This is the Way” is the main one. But is there anything that you can think of not off as a second catchphrase that you say during the show? And is it popular? Or might become popular?

EMILY SWALLOW:

Well I can tell you what I sign on people’s action figures a lot. Which

is, “When one chooses to walk the way of the Mandalore, you are both Hunter and Prey”. That’s one, and, “Our Secrecy is our Survival, our Survival is our Strength”. But “This is the Way” is my jam, that’s for sure.

GALAXY:

Do you ever worry that it’ll be hard for you to outdo the Armorer character?

EMILY SWALLOW:

Oh, no. I guess I don’t think that way. I feel like every character that I create is unique and serves the story that they’re in in a particular way. I mean, the Armorer is such a specific, special character to Star Wars and to the Star Wars Universe. And, you know, people love to ask me, “what’s your favorite character? What’s your favorite thing you’ve done?” and I don’t ever have a favorite. My favorite is always whichever one I’m working on at the time,

Disney, Lucas Film, The Mandalorian, Looper

because they’re all so dear to me, depending on the context in which they were created in the moment of my life that I’m in. And so, I don’t really worry about trying to one up myself or surpassing anything. I’m just grateful. So incredibly grateful for every opportunity that I get to collaborate with people and to create something new.

GALAXY: Are there any of your characters you miss and want that character to make a comeback?

EMILY SWALLOW:

I wish I knew. I feel like Amara gets to come back. Just when people have such fond memories of Supernatural and the fans definitely still want that show to be on. I feel like there’s so much interest in what the Armorer’s backstory might be, there’s potential for that. But, I have no idea what will actually get created, what could actually have the potential for being a show or another story or spin off or whatever. But I just love that people are interested and that they want to know more. And that there’s still room to create more based on these characters.

GALAXY:

Do you think if you ever walk on the street with a hammer in your hand, and you say “this is the way” would that freak anybody out?

EMILY SWALLOW: I would be freaked out if I saw someone doing that.

GALAXY:

Let’s do a quick pop quiz. I’m gonna ask you some questions. If you don’t know the answer it’s ok. Ready! The Armorer, what is the name of her home world?

EMILY SWALLOW: Her home world? Well, we haven’t established that.

GALAXY: Originally.

EMILY SWALLOW: Yeah, I don’t want to say something. Since we haven’tThat’s not in the canon. We know that she was living on Concordia. But that’s not her- I mean, Mandalore is her-

GALAXY: Ding ding ding.

EMILY SWALLOW: Oh, I thought you meant like where might she come from before that?

GALAXY:

No, no. You got it. You got it.

EMILY SWALLOW:

I’m making this way too complicated.

GALAXY:

Haha! What clan was she in when she was on Mandalore?

EMILY SWALLOW: Well, she was part of Children of the Watch.

GALAXY:

Ding, ding, ding, ding. Two more questions, and I’ll stop because I know these are nerve racking. How tall is the Armorer?

EMILY SWALLOW: How tall is the Armorer? Well, I mean, with her or without her helmet. That’s an important question. She’s 5’7” because I’m 5’7”

GALAXY:

Boom! There you go. Three out of three. All right, the last one. While she was part of the Children of the Watch, during which Republic was that?

EMILY SWALLOW: The New Republic.

GALAXY:

Ding, ding, ding, Four out of four. You win! Yay! The prize I will give you is all my support to get into season four

EMILY SWALLOW: Ha ha, okay, you get to make that decision. Hey, you know, thank you. I appreciate it.

GALAXY:

Those are the questions, I won’t ask anymore. Even though I’ve gotten some very wild and hilarious questions from fans.

EMILY SWALLOW: I want to hear a wild question. What are the wild questions?

GALAXY: You want to hear a wild question?

EMILY SWALLOW: Yeah.

Corina Conti

GALAXY: Is the armorer married?

EMILY SWALLOW: No.

GALAXY: Does she currently go out with anyone? Does she like ice cream? I’m like, “what?” They have ice cream on Mandalore?

EMILY SWALLOW: Of course, she likes ice cream. Who doesn’t like ice cream?

GALAXY: Does she eat pizza?

EMILY SWALLOW: These are hilarious.

GALAXY: Would she date someone that is not Mandalorian?

EMILY SWALLOW: Oh. That’s an important question.

GALAXY: Right! Ha ha!

EMILY SWALLOW: We can speculate, but we don’t know.

GALAXY:

So! Enough with the quiz! Getting into the outfits, the costume, is it pretty tricky? Or is it easy to get into?

EMILY SWALLOW:

We have it down to a science. I am in my armor, and ready to go within like 10 minutes. It’s such a dream.

GALAXY:

I have asked the same question to cast members of other shows, and they’re like, “oh, it’s the biggest issue in the world getting in and out of the costume. And if there’s a bathroom break then they have to go through all these protocols.”

EMILY SWALLOW: No way man, my armor is so easy. I mean, it’s easier than when I’m dressed as a normal human being. It’s fabulous.

GALAXY:

Outside of The Mandalorian, and being the Armorer, how’ve things

been with you? Any other projects in the works? Anything else everyone can look forward to in the future?

EMILY SWALLOW: Well, I’ve been doing so many conventions lately. I’ve been on the road. So, people may get to see me locally. But, I also am part of a short film that’s doing this festival circuit right now called The Marked and, so we’re excited about that to see what happens. And other than that, I’m just hoping that the writers and producers get to some good terms with this writer strike so that we can start making some more stuff.

GALAXY: Is that affecting the show right now?

EMILY SWALLOW: It’s affecting the whole industry, because it’s caused a lot of things to shut down.

GALAXY: They should just make it happen.

There’s enough money to go around.

EMILY SWALLOW: Yeah, I don’t know the inside scoop on all that.

GALAXY:

How were the conventions? I remember, when you first came on the show, you were just experiencing some conventions with The Mandalorian? Because it just came out. But how is it now? Is it much different?

EMILY SWALLOW:

There, yeah, I had done well. I started doing conventions because of Supernatural. So, I had some experience with that. And then, I got to do a few for The Mandalorian right before the pandemic started. But then, of course, everything shut down for a while. And now, I mean, things were pretty busy before season three came out because fans really connected with the character. But since this season came out, it’s just been huge. And it was so much fun to

Disney, Lucas Film, The Mandalorian, Looper

be doing conventions while the season was airing and to get to talk to fans and answer questions and stuff. And especially after the second to last episode of the season, where a bunch of people thought the Armorer might be a traitor. It was such a riot to get to talk to fans after that episode and to have so many people looking at me skeptically. And I was so shocked because I had no idea it was going to look that way. And of course, I knew I wasn’t a spy. So, it was such a riot to get to talk to people and see how suspicious they were of me.

GALAXY:

It’s pretty wild to see the fans reactions and feeling about an actor playing a certain role.

EMILY SWALLOW: Yeah! Well come on, guys, have a little faith.

GALAXY: Is there anything that you want to tell the fans or share with them? Put them at ease? Tell them Mandalorian, non Mandalorian, something from the heart, whatever you want to share?

EMILY SWALLOW: Oh, thanks. Well, I mean,

I want to say thank you, it means so much to me that the fans have embraced this character. And it’s just such a joy for me to get to play her and to get to meet fans at conventions and out in the world. So, thank you for loving Star Wars so much. And the other thing I’ll say, because I do a lot of work at these conventions to promote awareness around an organization called Voices Against Cancer, which raises money for pediatric cancer research and supports families of kids who are going through cancer treatment. So if anyone wants to hop online and read more about them, they’re an incredible organization. And that’s Voices Against Cancer.

GALAXY: Can you share their website?

EMILY SWALLOW: VoicesAgainstCancer.org

GALAXY: Voices Against Cancer. I hate cancer. My mom passed away from cancer. So I have a big, you know, hate for cancer, like tremendously.

EMILY SWALLOW: Sorry to hear that. Yeah. My dad, also.

GALAXY:

I’m sorry to hear that. It’s such a hard thing to see. Especially, a parent. My heart goes out to everyone. That’s a great thing that you’re doing. That’s amazing. You know, if more and more people in your position do things like this, just build awareness. You don’t have to give money if you don’t have it, just spread awareness, and it’ll get to the right people. And you never know what might happen. The more people see it, the more people will get involved. But that’s phenomenal. Absolutely phenomenal. We stand by that. And we’ll put it in the magazine. If you ever want to put an ad or a special message in SPO!LER, we will do it, you know, as a gift. Just let us know, send it over and we’ll put it in any issue that you want. Well, with that said, you know what time is. It was such a pleasure having you on! Emily, thank you so much for coming on my show!

EMILY SWALLOW: Great to talk to you Galaxy.

GALAXY: Absolutely. And with that said. Good morning, Good afternoon, Good evening! This is Galaxy and PEACE.

Disney, Lucas Film, The Mandalorian, Looper

Nothing has ever stopped the galaxy from expanding. It’s limited only by human imagination. In a world of warriors wielding lightsabers, bounty hunters wearing beskar armor and other truly out-of-this-world heroes and villains challenging the status quo, time is calculated based on a single event. The Battle of Yavin. Time is measured by Before the Battle of Yavin (BBY) and After the Battle of Yavin (ABY). The Battle of Yavin is otherwise known as the first assault on the Death Star in A New Hope.

“THOUSANDS OF YEARS WE LIVED ON THE VERGE OF EXTINCTION. THOUSANDS OF YEARS WE SURVIVED.”

The Mandalorian unfolds nine years after the Battle of Yavin (ABY) which is five years after the Emperor’s defeat in Revenge of the Jedi Set in the space western genre, the journey begins with Din Djarin, a man who lost his parents when combat droids from the Separatist

BY SUSHANT ALEXANDER

Confederacy attacked his home planet of Aq Vetina. Din was hidden in a bunker and was found by a hostile droid. He was saved by the members of the Mandalorian Death Watch.

Abandoned and lonely children saved and adopted by Mandalorians become foundlings. They are then returned to their people (if possible) or raised as a Mandalorian loyal to the cause and always heeding the traditions of their warrior culture.

Raised by the Mandalorians, Din Djarin became a member of the Children of the Watch, a fanatical group that followed strict ancient traditions unlike Jango Fett and Bo-Katan. Honor, loyalty and character are the qualities that this Mandalorian held close to his heart. He would never remove the helmet or show his face. This is the way.

Mando, as the Mandalorian is popularly known, became a highly skilled bounty hunter and worked for Greef Karga, an agent of

the Bounty Hunters’ Guild. Mando accepted targets on a contract basis. Once, Karga offered a bounty that changed Mando forever. The bounty is often referred to as the Child and later, is known as Grogu. The Mandalorian refused to leave the child (his bounty) with the client. He struck a familial bond with the Child. Maybe, this bond relates to his growing up as an orphan.

It’s always hard for the bounty hunter to seek his target. This is the way. It’s no different in Arvala-7, the home planet of the target. Mando is greeted and assaulted by its wildlife. Kuiil, an Ugnaught who recently gained his freedom after spending his life in servitude, saved him in the nick of time. Kuiil trained Mando on how to ride a monstrous creature known as a blurrg so that Mando could make the trek to the encampment where his target lived. Mando spied on the encampment and saw another bounty hunter, droid IG-11. Mando teamed

“THERE IS NO SOLITUDE GREATER THAN A SAMURAI’S, UNLESS PERHAPS IT IS THAT OF A TIGER IN THE JUNGLE”

-THE BOOK OF BUSHIDO

up with the droid to secure the bounty, which turned out to be a near-infant alien child of unknown race. A conflict ensued as IG-11 then aimed to collect the bounty by eliminating the Child, and Mando, in turn, terminated the droid before the Child could be harmed.

Kuiil retrieved the parts and repaired Mando’s

battered Razor Crest M-111 Assault Ship after it had been picked clean by Jawas. Additionally, the Child saved Mando from a charging wild beast using the Force. Mando is overwhelmed with such a first time experience of the Child’s Force abilities. However, it was time for Mando to offer the Child to his Imperial employers. The Mandalorian didn’t want to give up the Child, making this no longer a bounty situation.

Mando decided to take the Child and himself far, far away. To get away from the iron grip of the Bounty Hunters’ Guild and aware of the fact that they have trackers capable of locating the child, they landed on the planet Sorgan where they met Cara Dune, an ex-rebel shock trooper. Together, they confront a group of raiders.

The bounty hunters were never alone. Another bounty hunter pursued Mando and the Child. The Mandalorian destroyed the enemy ship, but the Razor Crest was damaged. Mando

lands at Mos Eisley spaceport on Tatooine for

repairs. Peli Motto, the woman who managed to repair the Razor Crest, agreed to look after the Child. Mando was in search of work in order to pay for the repairs.

Work was hard to come by, even for one of the best fighters in the galaxy. Mando gets in touch with Ranzar Malk, who found something. The task required a team of five to be carried out efficiently.

The others were an ex-Imperial sharpshooter named Migs Mayfeld, a Devaronian named Burg, the droid Q9-0 and a Twi’lek woman named Xi’an, with whom Mando shares a history. The mission was to take a prisoner out of a New Republic prison. It’s never as easy as it reads. Internal conflicts plagued the group, as Mando was not fully confident of his teammates, and they were not so happy to have him either.

“WHEN ONE CHOOSES TO WALK THE WAY OF THE MANDALORE, YOU ARE BOTH THE HUNTER AND THE PREY.”

Greef Karga asked Mando to take down Imperial troops that had seized the city. He proposed that Mando return to Nevarro and assist in wiping out the mysterious client, who wanted the Child. In exchange, he’d clear

Mando’s name with the Guild and Mando could keep the Child. The bounty hunter wasn’t sure whom to trust. Yet, he reluctantly accepted the contract with the hope of removing the constant danger of bounty hunters on his trail. He found an ally in Cara Dune. The duo made contact with Kuiil and found that he had installed the IG-11 droid with AI programming to its neural processes that enabled it to learn from its experiences and gain a new, caring personality. For every protagonist, there is an antagonist standing in the way. If not for Moff Gideon, everything would have gone according to Mando’s plan. Now that things were in disarray, it was IG-11’s turn. The droid took the Child back to safety.

An injured Mando refused to remove his helmet and allow IG-11 to heal him, until the droid reasoned that removing the helmet in front of a non-living being wouldn’t violate the Mandalorian Code of Honor.

“OUR SECRECY IS THE KEY TO SURVIVAL.”

The Armorer, leader of a section of the Children of the Watch known as the Tribe, worked at the forge and reminded the Tribe to strictly follow the rituals and customs that sustained the Mandalorians.

The second season opened with Mando’s search for other Mandalorians to support him in his endeavor to return the Child to his own kind. His probe led him to Mos Pelgo on Tatooine. Mando found Cobb Vanth adorned in a particularly distinctive set of Mandalorian armor. Star Wars fans are instantly aware that this armor belongs to Boba Fett. Vanth claimed to have purchased it from a group of Jawas. Mando is unhappy. He wanted the armor back, as it belongs to a true Mandalorian, but before they could fight about it, the Krayt dragon struck. Vanth made a promise to give Mando the armor if they could work together and kill the dragon.

After the beastly adventure, Mando got back to Mos Eisley and continued in his journey to find other Mandalorians. Peli Motto found what he was looking for. Enter Frog Lady. The Frog helped Mando on one condition.

Mando took her as a passenger to a moon called Trask, along with her eggs. He was not allowed to use his hyperdrive or her eggs would die. Soon, there was company for the Razor Crest. Two New Republic X-wings, who recognized the Razor Crest as the craft involved in the prison break, caught up to the

Mandalorian. Mando outran the X-wings and reached the destination.

The Frog Lady kept her promise and informed Mando of the inn where Mandalorians have been spotted. A captain of a fishing boat helped Mando reach the Mandalorians. It turned out to be a rather unpleasant journey. The captain made an attempt to have Mando and the Child killed so he could steal the beskar armor. The Mandalorians arrived and saved the duo, but then removed their helmets, which instantly distanced Mando. The leader, BoKatan, explained the reason for doing so, and that they are not really part of the Child of the Watch.

Mando traveled back to Nevarro, where he met up with old friends, Cara Dune and Greef Karga. Dune was now a law enforcer serving as a local marshal, and Karga was the magistrate. Karga made arrangements to take care of the Child and the complete repair of the Razor Crest. With Mando’s help, they took out the remaining Imperial base on the planet in an effort to bring peace to all of Nevarro.

Mando charted his course to Corvus and found Ahsoka Tano, as instructed by Bo-Katan. On the forest planet, Ahsoka had given Imperial Magistrate Morgan Elsbeth an ultimatum, surrender and identify

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her master’s whereabouts, or die.

Mando arrived in the magistrate’s city of Calodan, met with Elsbeth and was offered a beskar spear if he killed Ahsoka. Mando found Ahsoka, who attempted to ambush him, but stopped attacking when Mando told her that he was sent by Bo-Katan.

Meanwhile, Ahsoka talked with the Child and discovered that his name is Grogu and hails from Coruscant’s Jedi Temple. Since the fall of the Galactic Republic, he’s hidden his abilities in order to survive the rise of the Empire. Ahsoka convinced Mando that she cannot train Grogu due to the child’s anger and fear as well as his attachment to the Mandalorian.

Mando followed Ahsoka’s instructions and brought Grogu to Tython. As Grogu communed with the Force, Boba Fett arrived with the assassin Fennec Shand by his side. Fett saved Shand’s life after her encounter with Toro Calican. The two of them had been tracking Mando to take the armor that he recovered from Cobb Vanth. Mando made up his mind to give Fett the armor but only if he helped Mando protect the Child when the Imperial forces arrived.

Mando, Fett and Shand kept the advancing stormtroopers occupied as Grogu continued to meditate. During the chaos, Fett retrieved his armor and wielded it against the enemy.

It was back to Nevarro once again for Mando. He talked to Cara Dune and asked her to use her position as marshal to temporarily release the criminal Migs Mayfeld in an effort to help track Moff Gideon. Mayfeld’s Imperial clearances gave him the access he needed to find the coordinates of Gideon’s ship. He figured that there is a secluded Imperial rhydonium refinery located in the heart of the planet Morak.

Mando and Mayfeld disguised themselves as Imperial officers to deliver a shipment of rhydonium to the facility. This changed everything. Mando took off his helmet to avoid suspicion. He let the living creatures

see his face. His bond with Grogu became thicker than blood. Anything for Grogu!

Mando and Cara Dune managed to board an Imperial ship and take Dr. Pershing hostage. Later, Fett and Mando tracked down Bo-Katan Kryze and her fellow Mandalorian, Koska Reeves, and asked help to get the Child back. A partnership was agreed upon where Bo-Katan must kill Moff Gideon and take the Darksaber.

THE CREW ASCENDS ON GIDEON’S SHIP.

Bo-Katan, Reeves, Dune and Fennec Shand fought off stormtroopers on their way to the bridge. Gideon unleashed Dark Trooper droids, which were nearly indestructible. However, Mando finds that the beskar spear can pierce their armor. He trapped several Dark Troopers and ejected them out of an airlock.

The Dark Troopers brought death and destruction with them. They started to crash the door to the bridge but were stopped. A single mysterious X-wing arrived and docked on the ship. An unknown Jedi entered the craft, flashed his lightsaber and began eliminating Dark Troopers as though they were ordinary soldiers. A realization dawned on Moff Gideon. This was the beginning of the end. He made an attempt to kill the Child and then himself. Mando protected the Child. Cara Dune stopped Gideon, rendering him unconscious so that he can be taken alive.

Mando had gotten back to becoming a bounty hunter. He tracked a new target by the name of Kaba Baiz. When Kaba’s goons surrounded Mando, he destroyed them with the Darksaber. He then dissected Baiz and removed his head as proof of the kill. The bounty was traded for information on the new hideout of Mandalorians.

It was always tough to stop a villain with an iron will. The Razor Crest was reduced to a heap of scrap metal. Moff Gideon was on the move. Peli Motto informed Mando that there might

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be another ship ready for him. Mando traveled to Tatooine to see what Motto had to offer. It was an old N-1 starfighter from Naboo. Reluctantly, Mando took the space craft. He helped Motto finish restoring it and added new modifications as well.

Boba Fett and Fennec Shand ruled over the Tatooine criminal empire formerly controlled by Jabba the Hutt. Their rule was shaky and they found themselves up against the mayor of Mos Espa and the Pyke Syndicate. Shand looked for an ally in Mando, who agreed to help free of charge. First, Mando wanted to pay his little green friend a visit to drop off the newly-minted armor

he had just gotten for him.  Mos Espa was nothing like Mando had seen before. The Pyke Syndicate was already closing in. The other criminal leaders of Tatooine had broken their promises and turned against Fett, ambushing his allies. Mando and Fett resigned themselves to their own deaths in a fight for Mos Espa and its people.

GIDEON ESCAPED.

Carson Teva discovered how he was transported as a prisoner. The vessel

was blown apart from the outside. The remnants of beskar were found within the hull of the ship. It was some sort of jail break for Gideon. However, it is unclear who helped.

The Boba Fett situation had ended. Djarin was now reunited with Grogu. His single-minded focus was to redeem himself in the eyes

of his people by bathing in the Living Waters beneath Mandalore. The Creed wouldn’t forgive anyone who had shown their face willingly to others. Rumor had it that the mines of Mandalore are cursed and toxic. This made Din’s mission almost impossible.

As The Armorer says, “just as we shape the Mandalorian steel, we shape ourselves. We all begin as raw ore. We refine ourselves through trials and adversity. The Forge can reveal weaknesses.”

The unexpected depth of the Living Waters caught

Din Djarin by shock and surprise. Bo-Katan saved Mando from drowning and caught a glimpse of the Mythosaur. The Mandalorian explored his people’s ancestral homeland. Mandalore was nothing like this before. The war had left the planet in shambles. The brutal bombing conducted by the Empire razed the surface of the planet. The few major dome cities that existed during The Clone Wars were nothing but rubble.

Such grim situations don’t deter Din’s positive vibe. Once he made sure that the air was fine to breathe, he descended into the old capital of Sundari and the Mines of Mandalore below it.

In the New Republic on Coruscant, Dr. Penn Pershing became a reformed citizen under the galactic government’s new amnesty program. The erstwhile chief cloning scientist of Moff Gideon was eager to use his knowledge and skills for good. Unfortunately, he fell in with the wrong people. After plunging into the Living Waters, Din and Bo-Katan returned to Din’s old covert. They were both welcomed with open arms, as she hasn’t removed her helmet since. The rescue of Paz Vizsla’s son Ragnar, who was abducted by a giant flying beast, made Din & Bo’s bond with the covert stronger. Bo-Katan led the war party and learned more about the Way. Now, she had become one of them.

“OUR PEOPLE ARE SCATTERED LIKE THE STARS IN THE GALAXY.”

After the liberation of Nevarro; Din, Grogu, and Bo-Katan traveled to find more Mandalorians to join them. The ultimate goal was to assemble an army capable of reclaiming Mandalore, and Bo knew where to find some tough fighters. As they reached a small world called Plazir-15, where Bo’s old mercenary faction was currently serving as private security,

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they had to solve a case before being granted an audience with the Mandalorians.

THE DARKSABER DOES NOT HAVE THE POWER. THE STORY DOES.

Bo-Katan’s failure to win the Darksaber from Moff Gideon made her a not so respected leader anymore. Her followers deserted her in their stolen ships.

Axe Woves, once a trusted lieutenant of Bo’s, isn’t happy to see her either.

Finally, with Axe, Koska Reeves and the rest of their Mandalorian faction in tow, Bo-Katan and Din Djarin returned to the covert on Nevarro. Grogu got an upgraded form of a pilotable IG shell. The Children of the Watch and the others were two very different clans. The Children of the Watch held on to their traditional views and practices. While the others saw them as extremists. Yet, they tried to find a common ground. It’s not as easy as it seems. Bo turned on her oratory skill with a promise of reclaiming the home world which inspired the Mandalorians, and everybody agreed to be part of the mission.

Moff Gideon had already set up a secret base right next to the forge. The

clandestine operation was to cover his bizarre cloning experiments. Gideon also propagated the myth that Mandalore is toxic and cursed. Bo-Katan’s scouting party was met by an elite squad of beskar-clad stormtroopers. Finally, the villain Gideon was defeated and his base on Mandalore destroyed. The planet returned to its rightful inhabitants. BoKatan lit the Great Forge to a roar of support, and The Armorer began baptizing younger Mandalorians in the Living Waters beneath Sundari. Grogu was now Din Grogu. Between the resurrection of old cultural customs and the return of Mandalore’s natural ecosystem, things looked bright for the planet. Soon enough, Din Djarin and Din Grogu will be off on their adventures. For Din Djarin, moving fast is the only thing that will keep him alive.

THIS IS THE WAY. MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU.

BY REBECA NISHI

MANDALORIAN HAVE BECOME QUITE A UNIQUE GROUP

within the Star Wars universe, being one of the great rivals to the Force-wielders of the galaxy. Besides their ability as warriors, much of their power comes from their weapons.

The documentary series Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian devoted an entire episode to the show’s practical effects and props work, which included a brief explanation by prop master Josh Roth.

BESKAR

Beskar, also known as Mandalorian iron or Mandalorian steel, is a highly resistant metal alloy. It can withstand damage from the most widespread weapons in the galaxy such as blasters and even lightsabers. For this reason, beskar is used as a currency of great value.

Only Mandalorian blacksmiths know the secrets to truly smelting beskar, which has drawn all sorts of unwanted attention to the creed. This led to the Empire’s invasion of Mandalore just a few years after its formation.

THE HELMET

Known throughout the galaxy, Mandalorian helmets have long been associated with these warriors. It has a T-shaped visor and completely hides their faces.

Din Djarin’s helmet has a variety of perks on its HUD: night vision, tracking heat signatures, long-range audio pickup and detecting footsteps or footprints left on the ground.

ARMOR

Mandalorian armor, made of beskar, is not only beautiful and shiny, but also very tough and durable.

THE WHIP

Din Djarin carries his whip in his bracer, and it has helped him out of many sticky situations.

The whip serves both to hold enemies and to bring them close and knock them down (when thrown at the legs).

THE FLAMETHROWER

Din Djarin’s dual flamethrowers were also useful in many situations and saved the protagonist’s skin in difficult times.

Like any weapon, flamethrowers have their limits. When Djarin was surrounded by bounty hunters who wanted the Child in the episode titled “The Sin,” he used one of his flamethrowers to fend them off, but he quickly ran out of fuel.

The Devaronian mercenary, Burg, is apparently immune to Djarin’s flamethrower. When he tries to use it during a fight scene in the episode titled “The Prisoner,” it turns out that Devaronian hide is quite resistant to fire rendering the flamethrower useless.

WHISTLING BIRDS

In the episode where Djarin returns with his payment in beskar, The Armorer uses the excess beskar to build him a weapon: the whistling bird.

These small, guided munitions were placed in his left armband and when triggered, they fly while making a whistling sound before hitting their targets and killing them with a small explosion. This works great when he’s surrounded by multiple enemies and

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needs to eliminate them all at once with no time for them to react.

The Armorer tells Djarin these projectiles are rare, so he uses them with caution.

THE BLASTER

The IB-94 blaster pistol used by Djarin was a rare model of blaster pistol with impressive range and firepower. The blaster has a unique look for the franchise and was built on one of the earliest commercial semi-auto handguns: the Bergmann No. 1 or the M1894.

AMBAN SNIPER RIFLE

The crude long arm phasepulse Amban sniper rifle is tipped with a forked ion prod electro-bayonet.

The most versatile weapon in the Mandalorian arsenal just so happened to first appear while being wielded by Boba Fett in The Star Wars Holiday Special.

The single-shot rifle is nearly as long as a spear and is made even longer by

an extended two-pronged blade-like muzzle that also acts as a sort of taser when the rifle is used like a staff in hand-to-hand combat. Each blaster cartridge is loaded from the breech, so it’s slow to fire but devastatingly powerful. Any biological target that the rifle hits is completely disintegrated, and it does some serious damage to hardware, too.

MANDALORIAN WESTAR-35 PISTOLS

In the first season, we see the Mandalorian clan spring into battle for the first time in a huge shootout with the Bounty Hunters’ Guild. We also get a look at their WESTAR-35 blaster pistols skinned on STI Perfect 10 handguns. A prop shell covers most of the slide

and the front of the frame, but it still has a distinctive shape that’s more 2011-y than many other Star Wars blasters; though, without the hammer and the beavertail, the slide gives off heavy Glock vibes. We see more of these blasters in the second season — Bo-Katan (and her two Mandalorian compatriots carry twin WESTAR-35s.

THE JETPACK

Star Wars fans often associate jetpacks with Mandalorian culture, as if EVERY Mandalorian has a jetpack like that, but it’s not so. The Armorer gives Mando a jetpack so he can reunite the Child with those of its own kind. The jetpack would happily come in handy later in the

episode, when Djarin uses it to disable an oncoming Imperial TIE fighter which happens to be piloted by Moff Gideon.

THE DARKSABER

Of great importance to the people of Mandalore, the Darksaber has a history that goes back to the origins of this world. Indeed, it is a unique

and legendary piece of equipment that carries enormous weight in its slim blade.

The animated series, The Clone Wars, tells us

The Darksaber was created a millennium before the events in the series by Tarre Vizsla, in a period known as the Old Republic. This individual is a legend not only among Mandalorians but

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throughout the galaxy for being the first of his people to join the Jedi Order. Precisely because he was so unique, he decided that he would not use a lightsaber like all the other knights but a weapon made with the beskar metal so present in Mandalorian culture. Thus, the Darksaber was born.

With such a peculiar weapon in hand, Tarre became a hero for his people and led them to a planet that would become the Mandalore we know. With Tarre’s death, the artifact was kept in the Temple on Coruscant until the conflict between the Jedi and members of House Vizsla during the fall of the Old Republic.

After that, its ownership was maintained until a duel between Pre Vizsla — one of the descendants — and Darth Maul, with the Sith winning and, thus, the new owner of the rare saber remained a secret.

Years later, in Star Wars: Rebels, the item was discovered by Sabine Wren — a Mandalorian — and Kanan Jarrus — a Jedi — who trained her how to use it during one of the most important battles in the animated series. She then handed the weapon over to Bo-Katan Kryze at the end of this story which takes place about a year before the events of Star Wars IV: A New Hope. Shortly afterwards, the Empire decides to stop playing around and launches a massive offensive against Mandalore that practically devastates the planet.

Known as the Night of a Thousand Tears, it wiped out almost the entire population and forced a

few survivors to scatter across the galaxy. This is where The Mandalorian comes in.

BESKAR SPEAR

Nothing can penetrate beskar, except for other beskar, of course. In the Chapter 13: “The Jedi,” Ahsoka Tano gives the spear, owned by the Imperial Magistrate, Morgan Elsbeth, to Djarin after they overthrow Elsbeth and free Calodan from the Empire’s remnants’ control. Later, Djarin uses it to fight Moff Gideon, who has the Darksaber. The Mandalorian eventually triumphs against his enemy and effectively becomes the rightful wielder of the Darksaber. In the fifth episode of The Book of Boba Fett, The Armorer melted it down, sensing the danger in anything that could damage beskar.

DUCHESS

In Rebels, we get to know a weapon created by Sabine Wren when she was an imperial cadet and designed to attack any wearer of beskar. It is a Pulse Arc Generator affectionately nicknamed the Duchess - the title by which the last peaceful leader of Mandalore, Satine Kryze, was known. The Duchess generates a very powerful electrical current, attracted only by the Mandalorian beskar metal. The current is concentrated in the armor and, with nowhere to dissipate, completely cooks the wearer. The Duchess was destroyed during the Mandalorian Civil Wars.

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STAR WARS: THE HIGH REPUBLIC ADVENTURES QUEST OF THE JEDI

PUBLISHER: Dark Horse

Comics

WRITER: Claudia Gray

ARTIST: Fico Ossio

COLORIST: Sebastian Chang and Candice Han

THE STORY

On the ancient world of Angcord, the Force works in unforeseen ways. When legendary Jedi Knight Barnabus Vim and his intrepid Padawan Bly arrive on this mysterious world, seeking an ancient artifact of the Force, they quickly find more than they were bargaining for. But just what is the mysterious Echo Stone, and what does its existence mean for the continued survival of all those who call Angcord home?

THE GOODS

As a fan of Star Wars since I was a wee boy, the franchise is best when it fully embraces its fantastical aspects. This one shot from Dark Horse fully embraces the fun and whimsy of the High Republic era; when Jedi Knights felt like they were ripped by the mythical tales of Camelot. As a fan of what the Star Wars franchise can be, it’s great to read tales set in this universe that do not revolve around the Skywalker Saga, giving fans a chance to explore and learn more about the vast and complex history of the Jedi without being shackled by cinematic continuity. Ossio’s art is vibrant and engaging, especially in action sequences. At times the art relies too much

on digital imaging that distracts but that may be more about my dislike of digitally rendered art in comics. Claudia Gray is no stranger to Star Wars. Her novels, with some set in the High Republic, are generally praised for their commitment to the lore and mythology of Star Wars while simultaneously remaining accessible to readers old and new. Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures - Quest of the Jedi may be Gray’s first Star Wars comic but it is a testament to her amazing writing style and technique that her storytelling can transcend any medium. Sebastian Chang and Candice Han do a wonderful job coloring this issue. The colors are vibrant and well done. The purple hues used throughout the book grab and keep your attention. This is a straight up fun, light book that, if you’re looking to introduce a new fan or a young reader to the franchise outside the films, I would absolutely recommend it.

IN SHORT

• Great storytelling by an established Star Wars author

• Sometimes distracting art takes away from the storytelling

• Colors pop off the page.

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PUBLISHER: Dark Horse Comics

WRITER: Amanda Deibert, Cecil Castellucci and Michael Moreci

ARTIST: Lucas Marangon, Megan Huang and Andy Duggan

COLORIST: Micahel Atiyeh and Dan Jackson

THE STORY

Dark Horse returns to Star Wars with new tales of adventure! This anthology series brings readers new tales of adventure from across the length and breadth of the Star Wars galaxy. From the hallowed days of the High Republic to the Resistance’s desperate struggle against the First Order, some of comics most exciting creators have come together to bring you a brand-new side of a galaxy far, far away.

THE GOODS

Collecting issues 1-4 of the all ages Hyperspace Stories this trade paperback is a pleasure for fans who long to see characters that they’ve fallen in love with over decades of cinematic adventures. A quest to find an artifact (playfully hidden within a child’s toy) spans every era of the Star Wars films and brings iconic characters, from Anakin to Luke to Rey, into one fun-filled book. Deibert, Castelluci and Moreci capture the voices of each and every character perfectly. The beauty of this series so far is in its simplicity, those small character driven moments between the action. I’m a Star Wars fan but don’t possess the encyclopedic knowledge that others or that the current Marvel

series expects its readers to possess. What makes this book so fun is that you don’t need that knowledge to understand it. Whereas the High Republic Adventures, despite its aim at a younger audience, presumes the reader’s knowledge of the larger expanded universe, Hyperspace Stories sticks to cinematic lore and storytelling. This series screams Saturday morning cartoons in its art and storytelling and there’s nothing wrong with that. Lucas Marangon, Megan Huang and Andy Duggan’s art is a major part of the appeal of this series. It’s big, bright and colorful with the appropriate amount of whimsy and cartoonish appeal. If you know any new readers or anyone who wants to experience a fun era-crossing adventure, definitely tell them to pick up the Star Wars: Hyperspace StoriesRebels and Resistance trade paperback. Volume 2, Scum and Villainy, collecting issues 5-10 hits shelves this September.

IN SHORT

• A fun, all ages trade, collecting #1-4 of Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories

• Fast paced storytelling and bright colorful art

• All your favorite heroes and villains in one book

STAR WARS: THE HYPERSPACE STORIES REBELS AND RESISTANCE (TPB)

STAR WARS: THE MANDALORIAN #8

PUBLISHER: Marvel Comics

WRITER: Rodney Barnes

ARTIST: Georges Jeanty

COLORIST: Rachelle Rosenberg

THE STORY

The Mandalorian is a faithful and direct adaptation of the Disney Plus series.  The episode that this issue is an adaptation of aired in December of 2019. Issue 8 was published in March of 2023. Season two of the Madalorian is set for comic book adaptation beginning in June.

THE GOODS

The Mandalorian #8 is a truly faithful adaptation of the episode that inspired it. Barnes’ storytelling keeps much of the dialogue and sticks largely to the story from the season one finale. Jeanty’s art is fun at moments but, for some reason, Mando and Moff appear as gross renditions of the actors that play them. Maybe it was a licensing thing. Maybe Jeanty has never actually seen Pedro Pascal or Giancarlo Espisito before. It’s odd because there are moments where just the eyes of Moff Gideon were shown in a panel and that was enough to capture the character. Although I’m happy we’re getting the Mandalorian in comic form, I saw this episode over two years ago. I would like to see original storytelling set in the world of the series. Tell tales of Mando’s

adventures before he meets the Child. Which brings me to another point. The Disney Plus show made Grogu into an international sensation. My mother knows who he is! (Although she still calls him Baby Yoda). If you went by this issue and some of the previous ones it would be easy to forget he’s even in the series. Grogu only appears in a handful of panels and seems almost inconsequential to the overall story. You could’ve replaced Grogu with a roll of paper towels and the story would have played out the same. The art and writing were solid. The adaptation was faithful. The series itself is largely unnecessary, adding nothing to the Mandalorian

IN SHORT

• Excellent adaptation of an amazing show

• Doesn’t add anything to the experience; wholly unnecessary

• Off putting depictions of Pedro Pascal (Mando) and Giancarlo Espisito (Moff Gideon)

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STAR WARS: #1 (1977)

PUBLISHER: Marvel Comics

WRITER: Roy Thomas

ARTIST: Howard Chaykin

COLORIST: Marie Severin

THE STORY

Based on the script to Star Wars A New Hope this issue started a successful run that lasted 1977 to 1986 totaling 107 issues, with an additional issue published in 2019 and, by many accounts, financially saved Marvel Comics.

THE GOODS

Reading this issue is a lot like reading Detective Comics #27 where we meet Batman for the first time. Sure, it’s the Batman we know and love but the mythology and continuity that has become so iconic isn’t there. The same can be said for Star Wars in this issue and the series that followed. Marvel adapted the script for the film, not the film itself, so we’re treated to scenes that never made it to the big screen including Luke witnessing the first space battle and characters like Biggs Darklighter. Thomas presumably mistakenly refers to the Force as the “Cosmic Force,” which was brought into continuity in an episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars in 2014. I’m not sure how I feel about Luke being called “Wormie” by his friends but I’m sure glad that nickname, and his friends, didn’t stick around. One whiney teen from a sand planet is enough. I really

enjoy reading this issue, which is available in reprint and in trade paperbacks, from time to time. My brother, a huge Star Wars fan, had this issue. We would read it a lot. We were looking to consume Star Wars anyway we could, and comics were the cheapest and easiest way for us to do it. I’ve seen the issue sell for a few hundred, even a few thousand with a solid rating, but more than its financial value, the sentimental value is priceless. Even after 46 years it’s still a fun read.

IN SHORT

• Roy Thomas’ writing is great and his passion for Star Wars is clear

• Howard Chaykin’s art is inconsistent at times and feels rushed but generally consistent with the time in which the book was published.

STAR WARS: #34

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Writer: Charles Soule

Artist: Madibek Musabekov

Colorist: Rachelle Rosenberg

THE STORY

Luke Skywalker searches for one of the rarest substances in the galaxy… Kyber- the living crystal that powers lightsabers! Does it hold the answer to the unpredictable thing the Force has become? What long-lost secret is he about to uncover?

THE GOODS

Over 40 years later and Marvel still knows what they’re doing with Star Wars comics. It’s hard to decide who the real shining star of the book is. Soule’s writing is fluid and his exposition is masterfully done so as to not appear overbearing. With a few well-written sentences, I was completely caught up to speed with everything I needed to know. Musabekov’s art is simply phenomenal. Every panel and page are perfectly executed. In direct contrast to the Mandalorian comics from Marvel, the likeness to Mark Hamill was astounding. This story focuses on Luke’s journey for his own Kyber crystal. It’s a simple story but fascinating and fun. Soule and Musabekov capture the look and feel of Luke wonderfully. Fans have wanted to know how Luke got his new lightsaber for decades and now we’re finding out in a spectacular fashion. I love

sidequest stories like this that have Luke mixed into Jedi mythology in a way the movies never did or could.

IN SHORT

• Fun, simple story

• Stunning art

• Luke Skywalker in his prime

THE FINAL VERDICT: 9.5 OUT 10

Disney, Lucas Film, The Mandalorian, Star Wars, Marvel

STAR

WARS: #108

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Writer: Matthew Rosenberg, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Andrea Broccardo, Kerry Gammill and Ze Carlo

Artist: Jan Duursema, Stefano Landini, Luke Ross and Leonard Kirk

Colorist: Chris Sotomayor

THE STORY

Modern Star Wars comics are far, far different than they were upon their initial release. Marvel originally used the comic as a means to tell wild and detailed plot lines. Moreover, they introduced series of fascinating heroes and villains to pair with George Lucas’ original characters.

To celebrate Marvel’s 80th anniversary, Star Wars #108 was released as a sequel to legendary comic book writer Archie Goodwin’s “Crimson Forever.” Issue #108 reunites all of our favorite members of the Star Wars cast including Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, C-3PO and R2-D2 as they venture through a threatening thrill ride of galactic proportions.

THE GOODS

Star Wars #108 is an absolute treat for fans of the Marvel Star War series from the 1970s and 1980s which ended with #107. This issue brings back many of the most popular characters created for the series. You have to appreciate the ingenuity and creativity of the Marvel Star Wars crew as they had to create heroes and villains that would not alter or spoil any of the events of the original trilogy. Admittedly, as a young Star Wars fan, some characters were hard to accept for me, especially Jaxxon the green rabbit-esque bounty hunter. He was always a stand out character for me but not in a good way. Valance the Bounty Hunter was always a cool character for me. He was like the Terminator but wittier. Valance is the real star of this book and he definitely

gets a wonderful send off. The art on this issue was hit and miss across multiple chapters but the writing was superb throughout. It’s worth mentioning that this issue’s writing and art contributors are no stranger to the Star Wars universe and it shows. I would’ve appreciated some editor’s boxes to allow us to know what issues and story arcs were being directly referenced but regardless this was still a fun issue. Even without a full understanding of every character the issue’s crystal-clear exposition made everything I needed to know abundantly clear. I’d love to see this series continue in some form or another. Reading this issue brought back good feelings that I associate with the original run that my brother shared with me and the Star Wars newspaper strips. If you’re a Marvel Star Wars fan, you’re definitely going to want to pick up this issue.

IN SHORT

• 8 fun, interconnected stories bringing back some of the bestknown comic book created Star Wars characters.

• Valance the Bounty Hunter was given a fitting end.

THE FINAL VERDICT: 8 OUT 10

DOCTOR APHRA #32

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Writer: Alyssa Wong

Artist: Minkyu Jung

Colorist: Rachelle Rosenberg

THE STORY

LUKE SKYWALKER: FRIEND OR FOE? After the fallout of HIDDEN EMPIRE, DOCTOR APHRA is at a crossroads. Who better to help her with that than…LUKE SKYWALKER?!

THE GOODS

Doctor Aphra is a fun original character that reads like a female, more morally ambivalent version of Han Solo. This issue teams up the good Doctor with Luke Skywalker. Generally, I don’t go for issues like this. Cameos from Luke or other characters from the original trilogy seem forced and out of place but not here. This was a well-paced, well written story that is incredibly intriguing. I can see why fans rally to Doctor Aphra and why this series has legs. The final splash page of this issue is real doozy, sure to leave readers with a ton of questions. The art is solid throughout Wong and Jung make a wonderful writing and art duo. Full disclosure, I’ve only occasionally picked up Doctor Aphra books. I was a little hesitant to pick up this issue because it was so long since my last. However, the book was easy to get into and easy to follow. Aphra’s character has very much evolved since last I read

this series. The transition to being a “good guy” is slow and organic. I’m really enjoying where this series is going.

IN SHORT

• Great story and fun art

• Aphra and Luke make a good team

• Intriguing cliffhanger

THE FINAL VERDICT: 8 OUT 10

Disney, Lucas

Film, The Mandalorian, Star Wars, Marvel

HOW LUKE SKYWALKER SAVED SPIDER-MAN

Picture it: Hollywood 1977. Fans of the greatest space fantasy film of all time are lined around the block to see an interstellar adventure that would undoubtedly

change their lives.  Star Wars would become an obsession of movie goers for decades. Fans wanted more than the silver screen could provide. They loved Star Wars and they wanted

more of it. They didn’t care where it came from, they just wanted more. Star Wars action figures were flying off the shelves. Every child’s bed had Star Wars sheets. Marvel Comics adapted the film for a comic book series. As you would expect, the comic was a huge financial success. That was great news for fans and even better for Marvel. The company was going through some difficult financial times. Some farm boy from Tatooine was about to save the galaxy and the Marvel Universe at the same time.

ALMOST DEAD COMIC BOOK

COMING SEPTEMBER 2023

GALAXY Writer / Creator

RYAN BENJAMIN Artist

TYLER KIRKHAM Cover Artist

JOHN LIVESAY Inks

@AlmostDeadComics

Almost Dead is a post-apocalyptic horror- drama adventure about triumph, growth, and the resiliency of the human spirit. With their cinematic comic book series which depicts vicious and visceral events in a raw yet beautiful way, Galaxy has redefined the genre and nearly invented one of their own. Infusing the perilous and unexpectedly exciting journey with absolute horror and an attention to detail that’s rooted in and dedicated to realism, the creator and writers have established a nexus point between exhilaration and terror.