Podcasts about blaster canon

Mid-lockdown, Den of Geek’s Star Wars experts talk The Clone Wars and The Rise of Skywalker news. Episode IX is out in home release, and Paul breaks down the merits of different versions, including digital, physical, and 4k editions. He has high praise for the physical version, laying out an argument for sticking with physical disks to preserve the dynamic look of the film and avoid the grainy look of the digital version. We have relatively few new tie-in books or book schedule changes to talk about, but do have a brief review of the Prequel Era novel Queen’s Peril. Star Wars comic books have been disrupted like other comic book lines, and the comic book industry is responding to that in ways that affect readers and comic shops. In Star Wars TV news, writer Joby Harold has been reported as being attached to the live-action Kenobi series on Disney+. That prompts us to talk about the rumor that Ahsoka Tano will appear in the second season of The Mandalorian, played by Rosario Dawson. Our main topic this month is the The Rise of Skywalker novel, which greatly expands on what was seen in the movie. New scenes and references to other parts of the saga give us a lot to pick apart, including some speculation about Alphabet Squadron. We talk about whether we enjoyed the novel and whether the connections and additions in the novel improved our experiences of the movie. New information about Palpatine’s son adds another wrinkle to the themes of Star Wars overall as well as to the conversation about the canonicity of tie-in books. Epilogue: Hey everyone, thanks for listening. I’m sad to report this has been the last episode of Blaster Canon. We’ve had a great time making it and hope you’ll join us for the next endeavor. Thanks to Den of Geek for supporting us so far, and may the Force be with you. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode Michael is joined by Paul Hermann of The Saga Continues, Blaster Canon, and Marvel News Cast to rank their favorite episodes of The Mandalorian season 1.

This episode contains spoilers for episodes 1 through 3 of The Mandalorian. The Mandalorian is here, and our Star Wars podcast hosts are excited to talk about the first live-action Star Wars television show. First, Saf and Paul have played Jedi: Fallen Order and are in agreement about the entertainment value of the game but have very different ideas about the quality. Performance issues affect the gameplay, especially the traversal. Saf, a narrative writer for video games, picks out the parts that didn’t work for her. Paul brings the perspective of someone who doesn’t play games often, and praises the story. Then it’s all hands on deck for The Mandalorian. With Baby Yoda and Pedro Pascal’s Mando taking the internet by storm, we talk about how we went from excited anticipation (or weary skepticism) to fully on board with the new show by the time episode 3 was released. We break down what the different directors brought to each episode, and the hopes we have for Deborah Chow’s upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi show. It wouldn’t be Blaster Canon without a look at the previous Star Wars canon that was moved aside to make room for the Disney timeline. In this case, there’s a lot to say with regards to how the Mandalorians are portrayed in the show as compared to the Expanded Universe. In what ways are the show's Mandos actually more like Legends author Karen Traviss’ in-depth culture-building than like the Mandalorian politics shown in The Clone Wars? The next episode of Blaster Canon will cover The Rise of Skywalker and the end of a Star Wars era, so buckle up for that after November's cascade of content from a galaxy far, far away. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this month’s episode of Blaster Canon, our Star Wars tie-in experts tackle news from San Diego Comic-Con. The biggest announcement: the comic ministries The Rise of Kylo Ren. We talk about why Charles Soule is the perfect writer for this tale of the dark side. And in what ways is Kylo Ren’s story particularly suited to comics? A The Rise of Skywalker prequel comic, Allegiance, was also announced. However, we’re tired of prequel comics that manage not to add anything to canon. In other tie-in news, the first season of the animated TV show Resistance comes to home media—but only to DVD.Our main topic this week is the novel Alphabet Squadron by Alexander Freed, the first in a trilogy. We talk about why military stories appeal to us, how Alphabet Squadron manages to be both slow and propulsive, and the complexity of the main character. Alphabet Squadron also gives us an opportunity to do an overview of the new continuity. It can be awkward when one piece of tie-in media needs to dance around the history of a character who might yet appear in another story. How does Hera Syndulla fare in this book, and how can Star Wars strike a balance between maintaining continuity and giving beloved characters cameos? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Blaster Canon is back from Star Wars Celebration Chicago with news about The Rise of Skywalker, The Mandalorian, and more. We recount how the best part of Celebrations is the way the convention lifts our spirits and shows Star Wars fans at their best, including embracing Kelly Marie Tran after she was hassled off of Twitter.Episode IX brought a surprise: the return of the Emperor. We speculate on what form he might be living in on after his apparent defeat, and how his presence helps tie all nine movies together. Paul and Saf debate over whether directional decisions will create tension between Episode VIII and IX.After a brief foray into the upcoming seventh season of The Clone Wars we talk Jedi: Fallen Order, the Del Rey tease of “Project Luminous,” and The Mandalorian, including the new images and how the panel itself was handled. A big part of the con experience is dictated by the behind-the-scenes planning, and so we also talk about how panel hosts and streaming changed the experience. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Den of Geek’s Star Wars experts cover this month’s news in on the latest Blaster Canon. Star Wars Resistance season one has wrapped up, and we devote most of this episode covering our mixed feelings about the series. The show dovetails with The Force Awakens, bringing the Resistance agents into direct contact with the First Order while continuing to try, with varying success, to tell a story about the average citizen of the galaxy far, far away. Does Kaz work for us as a main character? Paul doesn’t think so. We speculate about what will happen next season and how the show could become more of an ensemble to take advantage of the characters of the Aces. With the destruction of Hosnian Prime and Tam’s defection, the characters have a lot of room to grow.In other tie-in news, Del Rey Star Wars has announced their first audio-only story, Dooku: Jedi Lost by Cavan Scott. We talk about the format, the current wide variety of Prequel characters, and the dark powers of the Sith.Disney has announced opening dates for Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland and Disney World, so we briefly talk about what the opening might be like — and advise fans not to go during the initial rush.Star Wars Celebration is just one week away, so keep an eye out for our convention coverage! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

With the Cassian Andor television series coming to Disney +, our Star Wars podcast hosts revisit Rogue One and Cassian’s character in particular on this month’s episode of Blaster Canon. What might the TV show be about? What is the “secret weapon” that makes Rogue One so good? We take another look at the symbolism in Rogue One, particularly the contrast between Jyn and Cassian. Additionally, we examine how Rogue One takes a unique look at the Force, and discuss whether Rogue One might actually be a more “Force-ful” story than The Force Awakens. And, how could Rogue One have gone differently if Cassian had made different choices?In other Star Wars news, we cover the newly confirmed cast of The Mandalorian, upcoming books including Thrawn: Treason, and the Flight of the Falcon middle grade series, including Pirate’s Price and Lando’s Luck.In the world of comics, Age of Republic is knocking it out of the park with in-depth explorations of Prequel characters like Obi-Wan and Darth Maul, and we take a look at what writer Jody Houser brings to the Star Wars canon. It’s the calm before the storm as we gear up for Celebration news in April.Timecodes:0 Introduction and predictions about Episode XI trailer and Disney+5:50 The Mandalorian cast confirmed9:40 Episode IX filming in Jordan12:30 Resistance mid-season trailer, short videos, and Galaxy of Adventure16:35 Books news: Thrawn Treason, Pirate’s Price, and the Age of Republic comics23:40 Rogue One discussion See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Rogue One hero Cassian Andor is coming to live action TV, and our Star Wars hosts have the details on how this show connects to the movies and why Cassian is a good fit. As usual, Blaster Canon covers new Star Wars book releases including Lando’s Luck, Women of the Galaxy, and the upcoming Alphabet Squadron.This month also brings more news and rumors around The Mandalorian, the much-hyped live-action gunslinger show which hasn’t yet announced its cast. Is Pedro Pascal the new face under the classic Star Wars helmet? What’s in store for martial artist Gina Carano, also reported to be attached to the project?Our main topic is the animated show Star Wars Resistance, which has, as many subjects do, divided the fandom. Does it work for adults and children, or is this one solidly just for the younger set? Resistance does give a few hints at the state of the First Order, and may answer questions fans have wondered about since The Force Awakens, but our review of the season so far shows that those answers are few and far between.Timecodes: 0.00 - Cassian Andor TV show 19:40 - The Mandalorian TV show 25:56 - Books news 33:54 - Star Wars Resistance See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Star Wars Resistance is about to change the world of Star Wars animation, and on this episode of Blaster Canon we break down the latest trailer and lay down some expectations for the Sequel Trilogy-era story. Resistance brings flashy racing starships and brand new characters, and we’ve already claimed some favorites.This week, Paul also reviews the current Darth Vader comics and talks about how much they’ve added to the story of the Sith Lord. After some brief conversion about Star Wars reference guides (particularly The Rebel Files), we zoom into the novelization of Solo: A Star Wars Story.For our main topic we return to the galaxy’s premiere blue strategist with Thrawn Alliances, the latest novel from heavy hitter Timothy Zahn. Alliances brought the Clone Wars-era characters back to the screen with a focus on Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala. We break down how Zahn built on the sometimes inconsistent characterization Padmé had in the Prequels to make her a compelling point of view in the novel as she works on her mission.Timecodes: 2:15 - Resistance trailer 22:00 - Darth Vader comics 29:00 - Reference guides 38:00 - Solo Novel adaptation 43:00 - Thrawn Alliances See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Solo has come and gone, and Blaster Canon is back to cover Star Wars tie-in novels and discuss what — if anything — went wrong with Solo’s marketing and reception. In the world of books we review Last Shot by Daniel José Older and Most Wanted by Rae Carson, both of which flesh out characters from the standalone film. How does L3’s role in Last Shot compare to her story in the film, and do either justify her fate?In other books news, the fandom is buzzing with the announcement of an exclusive San Diego Comic Con cover for Thrawn: Alliances by Timothy Zahn and an excerpt featuring Anakin Skywalker. Speaking of Clone Wars-era content, an excerpt released after we recorded also features Padmé Amidala.At the end of the episode we zoom out to take a look at Star Wars books of the present era as a whole. How does the current crop compare to the old Expanded Universe? Has the secrecy around the Sequel Trilogy kept the books from achieving the sprawling story and memorable cast that the previous canon had, or have we just not had enough time to see which stories will loom the largest in the new canon? Catch up with all things Star Wars expanded universe on Blaster Canon.Timecodes:Standalone rumors: 00:38 Thrawn Alliances excerpt and exclusive cover: 17:23 Most Wanted: 24:34 Last Shot: 36:57 The current state of Star Wars novels: 56:15 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Solo has arrived, and we have mixed feelings. On this episode of Blaster Canon, the Star Wars expanded universe podcast, Paul, Megan and Saf break down the new film and some of its more controversial story decisions. What does Solo’s box office performance mean for the future of the anthology films? Do Solo’s strengths outweigh the flaws? The movie comes with plenty of references, deep cuts, and surprising cameos from other Star Wars stories, so we have plenty of excitement about both canon and Legends.In the world of tie-in stories, the latest episode of season four of Forces of Destiny brings together Qi’Ra and some fan favorite scoundrels. Forces of Destiny continues to provide quick looks into the lives of many female characters. We’ll talk about what it means for Solo. An update with information we have learned since we recorded: Qi’ra is played in Forces of Destiny by Olivia Hack.Also out now is the novel Last Shot, which take place over three different time periods and tells the stories of Han, Lando, and L3-37. The book offers a slightly different look at L3’s droids’ rights campaign. For a complete review, stay tuned.Timecodes: 1:00 Forces of Destiny 6:03 Last Shot novel 14:30 Most Wanted novel 16:11 Solo film, spoiler free 45: 53 Solo spoilers ​ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Rebels opened a door into a new dimension in the Star Wars universe this month, opening up the possibility of time travel and the Force working in exceptionally mysterious ways. On this episode of Blaster Canon, Megan, Paul, and Saf review the Rebels season finale and bring you this month’s Star Wars news, including reactions to the new Solo: A Star Wars Story trailer.The trailer revealed a look at Han Solo’s past with Lando Calrissian, Chewbacca, and new characters including Han’s secretive old friend Qi’Ra. Paul is looking forward to the origin story of a beloved character, while Saf and Megan found the trailer to be unremarkable —and Saf loves Lando’s droid partner L3-37.The announcement of Game of Thrones directors David Benioff and D.B. Weiss comes at a time when conversations about diversity behind-the-scenes are stirring up a lot of questions about which creators receive the coveted role of Star Wars directors. And on Rebels, the fates of the characters are revealed and the hosts talk about how the Force works, the resolution of four seasons of character arcs, and parallels with Return of the Jedi.Timecodes: 1:48 Solo: A Star Wars Story 16:00 David Benioff and D.B. Weiss creating a new Star Wars series 27:00 The Last Jedi novelization 28:27 Star Wars Rebels See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Last Jedi brought with it several tie-in novels for young readers. We review The Legends of Luke Skywalker by Ken Kiu, Cobalt Squadron by Elizabeth Wein, and Bomber Command by Jason Fry, asking: is it difficult to create books that fall in the short time between The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi? Or did these just not work for us?We also discuss the Forces of Destiny comic books and how they add some good stories to the canon while, oddly, repeating others. Lucasfilm’s Leland Chee says fans may be surprised by some of the Expanded Universe characters returning to canon next. Comedic comic book characters Tag and Bink already have a cameo in Solo: A Star Wars Story, so what could be next? We also touch on fan theories about when a trailer for Solo might appear. Hold on to your helmets — Blaster Canon is back.Timestamps:0 - 12:30 The Last Jedi discussion 12:30 Legends characters returning to canon 23: Lack of Han Solo Trailer 25: The Last Jedi novelization will include deleted scenes 28: Forces of Destiny comics review 39: Book review: Legends of Luke Skywalker, 52: Book review: Cobalt Squadron 58: Book review: Bomber Command See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

With J.J. Abrams back in the pilot's seat for Episode IX, the Blaster Canon crew talks about how the director might have learned from his experience on Episode VII. Did Abrams find himself unexpectedly returning to his old headcanon for the new film? We also talk about the current Marvel Star Wars comics Captain Phasma and Mace Windu, as well as the Star Wars Adventures comics.Our main Expanded Universe discussion is on the novel Phasma by Delilah S. Dawson, which tells the story of the Imperial trooper's origins. We touch on whether her characterization in the book matched with what we thought about her in The Force Awakens, whether Phasma's rival Cardinal might one day make an appearance in saga, and how the structure of the book reflects Phasma's personality.Follow us on Twitter at @blastercanonpod, and check out Den of Geek for Star Wars coverage from New York Comic Con 2017.Timecode: JJ as new Episode IX director - 0.50 Brief Princess of Alderaan talk - 13:25 Star Wars comics reviews - 16:00 Phasma - 30:00 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Star Wars hype machine is up and running at light speed as The Last Jedi approaches, so the Blaster Canon crew has a lot to talk about in the August episode. Entertainment Weekly’s articles reveal new in-depth conversations with Mark Hamill and other The Last Jedi stars about Luke, Rey, and the Force, while Donald Glover steps into big shoes as Lando Calrissian in the Han Solo standalone. What does it mean to bring “balance” to the Force, and why has Luke traveled to a distant island in order to do it?We also touch on Marvel’s Star Wars comics and the novel Phasma before reaching our main topic, the Battlefront II tie-in novel Inferno Squad. How well does the book characterize the Imperial agents we’ll be playing in the game later this year? The book follows Iden Versio and her squad into an undercover mission against the Partisans, and we generally liked its portrayal of a less black-and-white Star Wars universe.Let us know how your Force Friday went at @blastercanonpod on Twitter.Timecodes: Obi-Wan standalone rumors - 1:00 Rey's lineage in The Last Jedi - 10:44 Luke in The Last Jedi - 16:00 Phasma novel blurb - 26:23 Donald Glover interview in THR - 32:19 Inferno Squad - 41:30 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The latest Star Wars animated show, Forces of Destiny, has aired, so it’s time for the Blaster Canon crew to talk about our impressions of the show and some of the discussions it has kicked off in the fandom. Who is the show “for”? The hosts exhibit some character development of our own, too. Other recent Star Wars news includes behind-the-scenes footage from The Last Jedi, some more details about Star Wars land (uh, we mean Galaxy’s Edge) and the accompanying fully immersive hotel, and newly announced book releases. Author Jason Fry will return to the Star Wars universe for the The Last Jedi novelization. The tie-in novel Battlefront II: Inferno Squad is out now, and Den of Geek has a review. We talk a bit about the novel so far - and you can expect more of that on the next episode.Timecodes: The Last Jedi Behind-the-Scenes - 1:00 Star Wars Land - 29:48 SDCC Book News - 44:17 Forces of Destiny - 1:01:28 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this episode of Blaster Canon we tackle the Death Star in the room: Rogue One. What did the reshoots entail, and does it matter? How does Expanded universe material change a viewing of the newest Star Wars movie? We also discuss the heroes of Rogue One and who actually had the strongest character arc. Paul and Megan reunite to bring you the latest in the Star Wars films and expanded universe. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Star Wars fandom received a gift this month in the form of the Rogue One: A Star Wars Story trailer, and we're here with the second episode of Blaster Canon to talk Rogue One and some of the other Star Wars news that came out in the last two weeks.Paul Hermann leads an episode that asks the big questions about Rogue One: Does Gareth Edwards' film "look like Star Wars"? Felicity Jones as Jyn Erso brings a smuggler attitude to the Rebellion - is she more Luke Skywalker or Jack Sparrow? She's one of the few Star Wars heroes of the new era who has a last name - where does she fit in the saga of the Skywalkers? Who are the mysterious Imperial characters? We break down each character in the surprisingly revealing teaser trailer.This week, we also cover the first issue of the Poe Dameron comic book and its place in the new canon: Phil Noto and Charles Soule both bring a lot of experience to the story of Poe's quest to find Lor San Tekka, but did the story start off with a bang or more of a "huh?" Where do the Egg Worshippers fit into the Star Wars canon?We also take a look at the latest excerpt from next book in the Aftermath series, Life Debt, which sends Norra and Snap Wexley on a collision course with Han Solo and promises an adventure on Kashyyyk.Lastly, we take a deep dive into the Star Wars Rebels finale, "Twilight of the Apprentice." Darth Maul and Darth Vader take on the Rebels in an episode set at a Sith temple on Korriban. The episode also develops the relationship between Ezra and Kanan, but perhaps the most talked-about event was conflict between Vader and his former apprentice Ahsoka Tano. We also discussed the tone of the episode and the audience Rebels was intended for - is the show too childish, or does it match the "family-friendly" tone that Star Wars material often aims for? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Keep an eye on the galaxy far, far away with Blaster Canon, a monthly podcast about the Star Wars Expanded Universe and the blockbuster films.Hosted by writer Megan Crouse and experienced podcasters Saf Davidson and Paul Hermann, Blaster Canon explores the books, comics, video games, and other stories that bring the Star Wars universe beyond the confines of the silver screen. Want to know how a character’s backstory is explored throughout multiple media? We’ll have it, plus maybe some debate on whether the Expanded Universe is the right place for that character at all. Examine, analyze, and enjoy Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars novels from Del Rey and Disney-Lucasfilm Publishing, and Marvel.For the inaugural episode, check out our review of Before the Awakening, the young adult novel that explores the characters of The Force Awakens before the events of the movie. You’ll also get an introduction to the new cast, plus Star Wars news and a look at Marvel’s Kanan comic and the Leia novel Star Wars: Bloodline. What can the story of Leia’s time in the New Republic tell us about the world of The Force Awakens, and is it the right story to tell? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.