Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Welcome back to the Capes and Tights podcast right here on Capesandtights.com I'm your host, Justin Soderbergh. Once again, this episode is brought to you by our friends at Galactic Comics and Collectibles at galactic comics and collectibles.com we're back for Star Wars Week here on the podcast and we welcome writer Alyssa Wong and artist Liana Kangas to the podcast to discuss the Star wars universe and so much more. Liana Kangas is a comic book writer and illustrator known for their work on Know your station, True Cult, an amazing number of variant covers out there, as well as working on a couple Star Wars Adventures comic books for idw. Melissa Wong is a comic book writer and author who has worked on books such as Deadpool, Psylocke, Star Wars, Dr. Aphra, I should say Star wars the High Republic Escape from Balo novel with fellow writer Daniel Jose Older, as well as their upcoming comic One Shot, Star the High Republic Adventures the Battle of Eridu number one, which hits shelves on April 30th. So it's out now at your local comic shop. Together the two of them wrote and illustrated Star the High Republic Adventures annual number one story in there, which we discuss in detail on this episode. But before you listen to the Star Wars Week episode featuring Lyanna Kangas and Alyssa Wong, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, bluesky, threads and all those places and as well as over on YouTube. And you can rate, review, subscribe on Apple, Spotify and all your major podcasting platforms. But this is an episode for Star Wars Week featuring artist Liana Kingis and writer Alyssa Wong discussing the Star wars universe. Enjoy, everyone.
Welcome to the podcast. How are both of you?
[00:01:50] Speaker B: Good.
[00:01:52] Speaker C: Yeah, good. I'm happy to be here.
[00:01:57] Speaker A: I'm glad you both are here. So you two have been busy recently. I mean, I know Japan. There was this. What's going on? What's going on here? What are you guys been up to?
[00:02:06] Speaker B: Well, Star Wars Celebration is next week, so yes, I think that's where. If you hear unease in my answer, it's only because of that.
My first flight to Japan ever. And I'm like.
[00:02:23] Speaker A: Yeah, that's. It's a long. It's a long flight. I tell you. It's not. It's not. It's not a simple hop. It's skipping a jump. It's. It's a. It's quite a travel experience there, huh?
Yeah, it's a little.
[00:02:35] Speaker C: Oh, sorry.
[00:02:36] Speaker A: Go ahead, go ahead.
[00:02:38] Speaker C: I'm a little nervous too. Because it's also going to be my first time in Japan. I think I. I think I stopped by the Narita airport on one layover once when I was like 20, but I've never been in Japan. And I'm also going for Star Wars Celebration, so I'm super excited.
[00:02:59] Speaker A: I need to book my ticket. I mean, let's go.
[00:03:01] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah.
[00:03:03] Speaker A: It's always a reason to go to Japan. It must be. Might as well be a Star wars related. No, but it's kind of funny because going to a place that you've never been to before to celebrate something in a galaxy far, far away, kind of like Fitz, right? I mean, if it's like in your backyard, it's like it doesn't feel like you're in another place. But going to Japan is actually kind of a cool experience on top of celebrating Star Wars.
[00:03:23] Speaker B: Absolutely.
[00:03:25] Speaker A: That's awesome. But both of you two are Star wars creators. I'd like to say you both create either artwork or stories based in the Star wars universe. And we are celebrating a little bit of Star wars love here on the podcast during these episodes. So, you know, we talked in the past, Leon, a little bit. Like we did like a written interview about your, you know, your, your history with Star wars and so on and so forth. But do you want to give a little, you know, brief, you know, explanation of your relationship with Star Wars? Like, are you a big fan of it or are you just, like, drawing it? What's your little history with being a fan of Star Wars?
[00:04:01] Speaker B: Yeah, my mom, who had me fairly young, she was a huge Jim Henson fan. And I think, was it Frank that voices Yoda is in that same realm of creators that she really loved a lot. So Star wars was one of the first movies that I was introduced to by her on repeat that and like things like the Dark Crystal. Now. I'm not sure I should have ever watched those that young, but it's fine. I am who I am today because of that. But I think her introduction for both of us, you know, allowed us to experience, you know, the 1, 2 and 3 in theaters and like, really get to immerse ourselves in that sort of like, new age, like filmmaking as well. And that's kind of like where I fell in love with all these characters again and things like that. So have been a hardcore fan. And also having a best friend growing up that was also honestly more obsessed with Star wars than I was.
Which, like, how number one and two, like, just feeds your. It's an echo chamber of like, fandom. So like, we're just, you know, it's nice to have. And now working and living in this community of amazing creators that also love it is like, what a passion, what a dream.
[00:05:22] Speaker A: You know, I love talking to people who have, who've worked on things like Star wars because it's so funny to think about like these things that you love growing up and all of a sudden now it's like, pinch me moments, almost like I'm actually drawing a droid or I'm writing know, it's like insane.
[00:05:36] Speaker B: That is the one weird thing and just a brief segue is that I. Because I moved around a lot in my twenties, I reconnected with all my high school best friends to play Star wars fantasy flight D and D games because I had always seen the books in comic shops but like never had done it. And so I reconnected and became like infinitely close with my high school friends and we all were just huge, huge nerds. And I've also played the other pre Fantasy flight D&D one with old friends of mine back home as well. So heinous.
[00:06:17] Speaker A: That's awesome. I love that stuff, those connections and things like that. But Alyssa, for you, I mean, what's your connection? What's your story, your history with Star Wars?
[00:06:27] Speaker C: I grew up watching the original trilogy.
My, I think my, my dad probably showed it to me also too young, but I just remember being very little and thinking, I want to eat that tauntaun. Like, that's my dream. I desperately want to eat the taunton.
So I was like, yeah, this is fun. I, I remember when I was very little and I saw Episode one also in theaters. High five, Liana.
[00:06:56] Speaker B: Hell yeah.
[00:06:58] Speaker C: I was like, oh, I want to be a Podracer more than anything. Like that's, that's what I want to do.
Death defying racing, desert canyons, janky machines. Let's go.
As you can tell, that didn't exactly happen for me, but, you know, but I went to college and I met a lot of fans who basically convinced me that Star wars wasn't for people like me.
And I was like, okay, well, I guess I, I guess I'm just never going to talk about this anymore.
And maybe they're right. Maybe Star wars isn't for me.
Because if this is what Star wars fandom looks like, then maybe I don't want to be part of it.
And much, much, much later, I remember seeing Episode seven in theaters and my whole brain waking up and thinking, this feels like a Star wars where people like me could exist.
I'M not sure exactly what it was about that film, but something about the writing, something about just the whole vibe of it.
I don't know, I was like, oh, this woke up a piece of my brain. And then when I got tapped to write the comic Dr. Aphra, I fell head first back into Star wars and back into love for Star Wars. So I actually think working on Star wars is really the thing that reignited my love for it, which is pretty cool.
[00:08:38] Speaker A: I can see why that's kind of funny. It's like you talk to some people in this. Do you? Are you a big, big, big fan heading into writing something like Star wars? Or are you. Are you just really good at writing Star Wars? So that's why Marvel or Dark Horse wants you to write Star wars is because you're just really good at doing that. And. But yeah, it's fun to see that. And when you do live in something like that and you have to, you know, write a number of issues, I could see why you're entrenching yourself in it. I also love the fact that, like, Episode seven, I always talk to people and I'm like, people have their love, hate relationship with Star Wars. They love certain ones, they hate certain ones. The fact that Episode seven is one, it has, like, an actual, like, attachment to you as a person makes me so happy. Because whether you like these films or not, they're. They're a Star wars film for someone. There's someone's generation, generations, films for Star Wars. The first ones they saw potentially are 7, 8, 9. You know, and like some people's first Star wars they saw were Episodes one, two and three and so on and so forth. So unless you being attached to loving Star Wars Episode 7 and that bringing you back into it makes me so happy.
[00:09:41] Speaker C: Thank you.
[00:09:42] Speaker B: Anyone else also? Oh, sorry.
[00:09:45] Speaker C: No, no, you go ahead.
[00:09:47] Speaker B: I was going to say the diversity of 7, 8 and 9, incredible. It feels more real. And then also die Hard solo fan here. So as much as everyone hates that movie, apparently, I'm like, every Star wars movie is for me.
[00:10:02] Speaker A: Yes. And that's my big thing. I've always said, and I've repeated it almost every year I've done these Star wars episodes was that I don't care whether you like, as long as they keep making Star wars stuff, I'm gonna be happy, good, bad, or ugly. I'm like, it's something that I can go to the theaters or live in that world for a little bit longer. It doesn't really matter to me if it's the award winning film or book or comic or whatever it may be, or it's not that great. I just love the fact that we get to still get to see these things because I think for a lot of people, the original three movies was like the end. That was like, okay, we're not going to get any more things from this. And the fact that it's gone so much further now to the point where you get to write a comic or early on you get to draw a comic or a story that has Star wars characters and it still, it's just beyond me. And I love it. So keep making stuff. I don't care. Make an obscure movie that I like. The character that was mentioned once, I don't care. I'll watch it, I'll read the comic, whatever it may be.
[00:10:59] Speaker C: That makes me so happy.
[00:11:00] Speaker A: Yeah. See it. See, I'm glad. And I think your Dr. Aphran was amazing. And so I think that know a lot of people. That's a character I'm still waiting for not to be on screen yet. I'm still like.
[00:11:12] Speaker B: Or same. Yeah.
[00:11:14] Speaker A: How there's not a, you know, meaning a series on Disney plus or something that. With Dr. Aphrodite, I'm still, still confused. But maybe one day, maybe one day.
[00:11:26] Speaker B: They got to get Alyssa to write the script, though. You know what I mean? You can write for tv, right? It's totally fine.
[00:11:33] Speaker C: So it's funny, I had this conversation with my spouse. I was like, hey, if I ever say I want to write for tv, you have to tell me. Alyssa, you told me not to let you write for TV because. Oh, well, so the reason. So the thing is, like, I love, obviously I love writing, but I love puzzles and I love challenges. So if I don't know how to do something, I instantly am just like, I need to do it, I want to learn how to do it. And I get so excited and I dive headfirst into it. And this is great. But the problem is I've done that for basically all of my hobbies. So now I don't really have anything that I can do that's super relaxing that still has its magic because it's got that mystery.
[00:12:24] Speaker B: Everything's monetized.
[00:12:25] Speaker C: Everything's monetized.
You know, like, I, I love, I love video games, but after working in games, I'll play games and my brain just, it' just churning. It's like, oh, that was an interesting choice. Oh, I wonder how they built this. I don't know how I feel about this. Do you think they run? Like, what engine are they using? I'm just like, shut up, shut up, shut up. Like, let's just go hit that guy with a big sword. Like, that's all I want.
[00:12:51] Speaker B: Yeah. My brain does the same thing. When I read comics now, there's only a couple series that I can completely check out. And it's like, artists that I'm very familiar with their work and, like, writers that are very familiar with their work that I don't have to overanalyze because I've probably overanalyzed their work so many times. And I'm like, oh, yeah, this makes sense, and I can enjoy the experience. You know, I've never heard anyone else talk about it like that.
[00:13:16] Speaker C: Really?
[00:13:17] Speaker A: Really?
[00:13:18] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:13:19] Speaker A: I find myself similar in. In the side of the podcasting or review side of things, where I find myself, like, reviewing things instead of just like, I very rarely am I picking up a book, you know, a trade or something like that, where I'm not like, oh, I could write something about that. It was more. Or, you know, talk about it on the podcast. So I never almost enjoyment as much anymore where I'm just like, I just want to read this old series that I just stumbled upon.
I didn't know that there was a Stoker's Dracula series at Marvel. And I was like, oh, I kind of want to read this trade. And I was about to pick it up, and I'm like, I don't. I want to buy him. So I put on the shelf, because I'm not going to read it, because I have so much other stuff that I need to read or want to read, and it's just going to sit there. So I'm like, cool. I bet. I feel more like I'm going to buy it to support my local comic book shop, just to buy it and put it on my shelf. So it's not at his shelf that I am actually going to read it right now because of that. But, yeah, so I can see that we're coming from on that other side. It's definitely, you know, when a passion comes like that. But you probably could write for tv, so I'm okay with that.
[00:14:17] Speaker C: So this is kind of fun. I. So I appreciate that. Thank you, guys.
To. The thing is, I am so tempted. I'm just like, I. Every time I see something that I love, I'm just like, I need the script. I want to read it, I need to figure it out. And I'm just like, no, stop, stop, stop, stop.
But that's the thing. For the right project, I'm always like, I'll do it. It doesn't. If it's the right project, whatever medium, I'm down to do it. And I just finished up a project that I can't talk about, but was a bit of experimental tech.
And that was something I haven't done since, God, like, 2018 or something.
And it was one of those, like, I swore I'd never go back, but one more. We'll do it for one more job. You know, it's.
Whatever it is, if it's the right project.
[00:15:10] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:15:10] Speaker C: I'm like, let's go.
So I guess see you in. In two years, when I'm inevitably doing something that I said I shouldn't do, because I was like, let's find out. Let's just find out.
[00:15:26] Speaker A: We'll have this conversation. We'll come back to this conversation again and be like, see? We told you so. You're gonna do something. No, but I get. But Even if. A TV thing, even if they did create a Dr. Aphra series, something like that, let's be honest, your issues of Dr. Aphra over at Marvel are likely going to be, you know, read by people.
[00:15:42] Speaker B: Source material.
[00:15:43] Speaker A: Source material. So. So I would think that there's at least a consultation or, you know, being a consultant on this. On the film, on the. On the series is probably in your. In your future if they.
[00:15:52] Speaker B: Yeah, maybe that's how you dip your toe.
[00:15:54] Speaker A: You know, you just be, you know, consult on a series, and the next thing you know, they're giving you your entire series that you're writing, directing, everything.
[00:16:02] Speaker B: We're manifesting this for you. You don't even have to think about it. It's fine.
[00:16:07] Speaker C: Please keep. Please keep manifesting this for me because I desperately want to see what a real, like, TV writer's room looks like.
Like, I. I don't know. I. I've always been really curious, and I have a bunch of friends who. Who work in tv. And fun fact that I learned when I started writing comics professionally, there is no standard format for comic scripts. Everyone does it completely differently.
So a lot of. I've seen a lot of comic scripts from other people who are written that are written like screenplays, because that. That makes sense and that's what they're used to. So when I think about comic script writing and screenplay writing, I think these two things are pretty linked in my head. I don't do the screenplay thing because I don't know how to do that.
My process is a little different, and it's A lot.
It's a lot briefer, I think, than some of the really in depth screenwriting stuff that I've seen.
But yeah, I mean, God, no, I'm talking myself into this. Don't. Don't. No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
[00:17:19] Speaker A: Well, here's the. Here's the thing, though, is I'm 100%. Or I'll share the credit with Leon here. We're 100% going to take credit for this if you do get a job writing for Star wars or something like that. Because we talk about here, even if. Even if Lucasfilm's already thinking about it, we're gonna take credit here on this episode, saying full credit on this right now of saying that you should have. Right, right. TV shows. But yeah, I mean, on that. Dr. Aphrodite, I'm just going to continue harping on that a little bit. Is a character that has quickly become one of my favorites in the Star wars universe. Some of that. And that's why I'm like, why the hell. I mean, this feels like such a great opportunity. I just don't. Sometimes I feel like it's like swings and the misses that I don't understand why they don't do more with it. And I'll say that one of these days. We'll probably see something in the future for sure on that. But the both of you together worked on a Star wars project together, together. Did you two know each other prior to working on this issue? Like, obviously, you probably knew each other through the industry, but, like, were you acquaintances between before this issue or this annual?
[00:18:23] Speaker C: Yeah. So funnily, we. We met through a good friend of a good mutual friend of ours and finally got to meet in person at a convention and just clicked.
[00:18:36] Speaker B: Columbus 2024.
Oh, so long ago.
[00:18:41] Speaker C: Wait, that feels like eight years ago. What the heck?
Yeah, no, it's. I'm. I'm so lucky because I wanted to work with you forever.
[00:18:52] Speaker B: And I think I remember sending you. Oh, I drew Dr. Aphra and I was like, hey, can I send this to you? And you were like, oh, my God, yes. And I was like, my heart. One of my favorite writers, you know? And then turns out we have a mutual best friend, which we had no idea. And so our best friend was like, hang out. Hang out. So we finally bid.
[00:19:15] Speaker C: And there we.
[00:19:15] Speaker A: Go, and the rest is history right now. The world is better for this now, right? Because of this.
[00:19:19] Speaker B: I'm very honored. I did not know that you wanted to work with me.
[00:19:23] Speaker C: Oh, my God. Wait, I didn't know I was one of your favorite writers. Really?
[00:19:27] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:19:28] Speaker A: This is crazy. Listen, it's like kismet. It is what it is. But who doesn't want to work with you, Liana? Let's be honest. You're on everybody's short list. Don't even, don't even kid yourself. Which is actually kind of funny because, like, I'm scrolling through and I knew the two of you worked on this, this, this annual, which is the. It's so funny with these New High Republic and the phases and all this stuff. It's like the title of the comic book is like seven years long, but it's like, what Star wars the High Republic Phase three, annual number one. And obviously it's an annual, so it has like the anthology feel to it, so there's different stories in it, so on and so forth. And it's so funny because I'm like, some stories at the very beginning of these, these annuals or these one, these, these anthology type style stories have like the name of the, the, the story, who's the artist, who's the writer, who's the colorist, and all that stuff, like, separated. Whereas this issue has, has like, the writers are all these people, the artists are all these people, and so on and so forth. And it doesn't kind of like pair them up to which ones are doing the, the stories individually. And then you don't really know, like, where it is. So I'm like flipping through it. I'm reading and I'm like, I flip the page and I get to this story and I'm like, this is it. I know which one it is. Just sort of on the fact of the artwork, I'm like, I didn't have to read anything or do anything. I'm like, okay, this is Liana's artwork for sure. This is, you know, the facial expressions and things like that on people. I'm like, this is obviously Liana doing this artwork, and it's a fun story and it's a great, unique story in its own thing. But, like, is this something. Elissa, that dark horse, approached you with this story specifically and say, hey, we're putting this in the annual and we want to, you know, want you to tell it. How does this go about? How do you get to the story in this annual?
[00:21:07] Speaker C: So I, I wrote my first book, which is a wild thing to say.
Co wrote a book called Skip from Vallow. Oh, you have it. How exciting.
Yeah.
[00:21:19] Speaker A: So I will say, don't feel that special because I do have all of them but that's. I want you to feel special. You can't see them all. They're right here. So I only own this one. Actually. If you think about.
[00:21:28] Speaker C: Oh no, I mean. I mean I've got. I've got them all. But it's always so cool to see that somebod else has it every single time. It's like brand new. It feels like the first time I'm just like, whoa. Really?
[00:21:39] Speaker A: And your co writing partner on this thing, Daniel Jose Alder, is also phenomenal. So I'll tell you that.
[00:21:45] Speaker C: Oh, he was a dream to co write with and honestly, probably the only person I'd ever co write with again.
I. Yeah, no, I'm. I have.
I think that this book was so. Was so wild because it was like the first time I had written a book, like a novel. The first time I'd written middle grade, the first time I co written and in my introduction to Team Luminous of the High Republic.
So it was a lot of firsts and it was such a great process. Daniel's an amazing collaborator and so is Liana. There's a character in Escape from Vallow who started out in her early drafts sort of being like, was supposed to have a very small part. But as we kept going, she kept growing and growing and growing. And eventually we both kind of fell in love with her. And so Daniel's like, I'm gonna put her in High Republic Adventures. And I knew I was gonna be doing some short fiction for Star Wars Insider and I was like, I'm going to write. I'm going to write me some drink it stories.
She's. I don't play favorites, but if I did, she'd be my favorite.
She's. She's my girly pop. And she's a mess, which is also why she's my girly pop. Yes.
[00:23:08] Speaker B: Like not quite a villain, but definitely leaning on the. You love to ride a baddie. Like, love it.
[00:23:14] Speaker C: Love it. That girl is. We love a baddie. So. Yeah. So with this annual, they and my boss approached me and they were like, we'd love a story from you. And my boss was like, what about a story about Drigot? And I was like, oh no. Oh, that's gonna be so hard. Yeah, no, I'm in.
[00:23:37] Speaker A: Let's go.
[00:23:39] Speaker B: My favorite subject.
[00:23:43] Speaker A: Who.
Let me do some research on this character. Hold on.
[00:23:48] Speaker C: Oh God. She lives in my head rent free 24 7. I just. I think about her all the time, which is. I'm just like my favorite daughter.
But yeah, I mean, this story is.
This story is a lot of fun. It also is, like. It takes place on the cusp of the final act of, like, the big finale of phase three of the High Republic, our final phase.
This is on the brink of the Battle of Eriadu, which I also wrote a one shot for that's coming out this month, at the end of this month. And it's very intense, it's very emotional. And so basically, we've seen Drigot before at her worst and her best, which is still pretty gnarly.
And she's got this very intense, tough facade because she's like, I have to survive in a world that wants to kill me.
And she's basically been playing double agent.
She joined the Nile because she essentially got drafted. She's like, I really don't have a choice. It's this or death.
And she. But she hates them, and she hates them for occupying her home planet, for putting her and everybody who she loves into this horrible situation and for destroying her life and a lot of ways destroying her innocence. So her whole thing is she's like, I'm going to live in this house so I can find the floor plan so I can burn this place to the ground. And so we get to see her in this annual story in a rare quiet moment and a rare tender moment with Emily and Tarkin, who is a delight and probably the only person that she trusts, period, at this point in her life.
And I kind of want Liana to talk a little bit more about this, because I feel like I've been talking about this and I want to, and I am nosy, and I'm like, tell me everything.
[00:26:00] Speaker B: Liana, I love. Alcine is my favorite. Like, you love Drigot, But I'm like, I would draw an entire alpine, like, series if was ever offered, because I love her. Yeah.
[00:26:15] Speaker C: Oh, it's my girl. Let's. Let's. Let's do it, dude. I don't know if it ever. If we. If it ever happens, let's do a whole. Let's do a whole series.
[00:26:24] Speaker B: She's a. I love that you brought up that Dragot was, like, you know, vulnerable to this friendship. I think it's, like, her one weakness, because you can see it in the story. And I think it allows for her to recognize that she has someone to lean on, even though she knows she can't, you know, in a sense.
But also I think my favorite thing to do, which I'm a big Easter egg person, and I'm also a big lore person.
I got to ask to design an item in the story, which I don't want to spoil, but it's a tarkin heirloom, and I did a ton of research on, like, what it was made of and how the design was and sent it in even before, like, sending in pages, because I was like, this is very important to me.
And also because I was just like, I would like to contribute something to, like, her as a character in general. And, like, I like that it. It ties in with Dragot. So, yeah, I really. This is a very sweet story. And if there's not one story that you ever find in any Star wars, like, compilation about hope, but this one is definitely, like, hope. But then is it, like, you know.
[00:27:59] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[00:28:02] Speaker B: That's the kind of writer Alyssa is, though.
Keeping you on your toes. Keeping you on your toes.
[00:28:07] Speaker A: Hey, we're all here for it, I'll tell you that much, you know? But, I mean, Eliana, how did. So you. It's been since Star Wars Adventures, right? Then you did some actual sequential pages for Star Wars. So, I mean, how it's been.
It's been too long, I'll say that much. It's been three or four years that since you've done this. How did this connect? How did this come about that you actually got this.
[00:28:26] Speaker B: Just this gig, I think. Alyssa, did you recommend me?
[00:28:32] Speaker C: I was like, we were talking artists, and I was like, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, when, Liana, when, when, when, when, when, when? And, like, yeah, let's go.
[00:28:42] Speaker B: So, yeah, that's awesome.
[00:28:44] Speaker C: We. I was gonna say in both sides.
[00:28:46] Speaker B: Recommended you, so that's amazing. Oh, my God. I love our editor, Spencer.
Awesome. I had never worked with Joe before, but I worked with Spencer on, like, Stranger Things and things like that. And it was really nice to work with them again, especially with Alyssa, because, you know, having had the experience of working with Lucasfilm, like, you know, approval processes and stuff like that, I really like that team. And I like how they communicate with everybody. And it. Especially, like, working with Alyssa, I was like, I don't know if I could have done it without them, because High Republic stuff is so dense. And so, like, I was listening to the audiobook Return to Valo, and I was asking the high school best friend group, literally, John, my. Our dm, he is like an encyclopedia. So he was, like, describing High Republic to me, and I was like, okay, what can I go in and research? Because it's like. It's kind of like most very famous large IPs, where you're like, you have so much content or, sorry, art and, like, stories to pull from, but you're like, okay, where do I pull from? To, like, really get in the mindset of, like, this is such an intense, like.
Like, Irido and everything is, like, such an intense storyline. And Alyssa references a lot of these major events that I was like, I want to make sure that it does it justice.
[00:30:17] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:30:19] Speaker B: While also, like, running the story along, so.
[00:30:23] Speaker C: You're so powerful, and I appreciate this so much about you.
I remember you sent me the. Your. Your sketches that you did of the heirloom, and I was like. I was like, I lost my mind. I don't remember. I was in the car or something, but I was like, I got so excited. I still have it saved on my phone. I mean, like, the original, like, version that you did before.
Before.
[00:30:47] Speaker B: Any changes?
[00:30:48] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah, it's. I love it. And I love that you went and asked all your friends. Because the High Republic's dense. There are reading lists online, and those look intimidating. I was like, huh?
[00:31:05] Speaker B: I didn't even know that Graham Tarkin, like, was betrothed to somebody and, like, they didn't want to marry or something. And then I used something from that wife's planet in the thing that I created because I was like, oh, yeah, we went full levels. Like, I hope that Lucasfilm knows how serious I am when it comes to that. That's why I was like, oh, I can't wait to text Alyssa this. Because I was like, like, very well.
[00:31:36] Speaker C: I was gonna say, if they don't know, the next time I see them, they will know, because I love that I. Because this is. It's. It's so cool. And I appreciate. I appreciate that so much because I also do a ton of research. Like, when the best part of the job. It's so good.
I love it because whenever I step into an ip, no matter how familiar I am with it, which usually is beginning a new project is sort of medium to not so familiar with. If I'm being really honest, Star wars is, like, the one exception, but there's so much Star wars that I'm like, you look around, you're like, you know what? I thought I knew anything. I don't know anything.
So I love research. And whenever I write a script for anything, even if it's like, this is script number 14 of however, but especially number ones and standalones, I want it to feel welcome to whoever's stepping into it. So it's really important. Like, say, this script as we're right at the cusp. Of this battle, that story between Drigot and Emelsine is our story. And so figuring out how to lay the groundwork of being like, here's how we got here without it being obtrusive and to make it feel really organic. So if you're like a huge buff, you're like, here we go, here we go, here we go. And if you're just picking up for the first time, you're like, oh, I totally get what. What the story is about. It is about this intense emotional connection. Yeah. And I want to build a scaffolding that people can play in, you know, where it doesn't feel intimidating, where people don't end up feeling the way I did when I was in college, where I was like, you know, if you don't know everything, then you can't be here. I'm like, no, get in here.
I hope you like by panic, because there's a lot of that in this story.
[00:33:43] Speaker A: It's crazy how quickly I was like, yay, High Republic. This is amazing. To the point where, like, holy shit, there's a lot of High Republic stuff out there right now. Like, it went from, like, you know, you know, Charles's first book to, like, now I'm like, the collection of books is massive alone. Then there's the different phases.
All of a sudden, I'm like, cool. I get to start at the beginning, and I'm like, oh, my God, I'm behind. And that's, I think, where you're coming from a little bit. It's like. It's like there is this point where it almost felt like at the very beginning, like I said, the first novel to come out and the first comics to come out in this High Republic era was like, oh, cool, I can start. This is me. I'm starting fresh. I can jump into this without knowing much too quickly. Being to the point where, like, now you felt like, you know, you guys mentioned early on about researching, like, you don't have to read the whole thing to do this story, but, like, knowing where to go and where to do that. It quickly became that world of what Marvel and DC to me have been recently, where it's like, we have a book club in my local comic book shop where we retrain paperbacks once a month. And we do very little Marvel and DC now because of the fact that it's like, without knowing much before that. So if you have new comic book readers and you read a trade, even if it's a number one through number five trade, there's still A point where they're referencing characters or places or events that happened. And if you don't know them, some people feel lost. So there is that sense. So having these stories, these one shots, these anthology stories, these annuals, having some stories that are like, you can just live in the story for a little bit. Yes. If you want more context, you want more to go on. Continue reading. You know, read the next one shot or whatever, or go back and read more. But, like, you can live in this story for right now. You don't have to, you know, know everything to get into this spot, which is. Glad. I'm glad. And then I think you. You. You nailed it on the head there, Alyssa. And. And the artwork is phenomenal. Like I said, it's just, you know, there's certain. I wouldn't say this. And all the artwork in the entire annual, the whole thing is great. Like, I'm not saying there's no one, you know, whatever, but it was just. What? It was kind of funny. You flipped through the first couple pages and like, oh, this is beautiful. This is great. Great story. And then I get to the next page. I'm like, yes, this is what I'm here for. This is what I signed up for. This is why I bought this issue.
[00:35:46] Speaker C: Let's go.
[00:35:47] Speaker A: Let's do this.
[00:35:48] Speaker C: I'm sorry. I keep talking because I'm like. I feel like I'm talking too much. But I was so excited to work with you, Leanna, because I was like, this is a deeply emotional, intense story, and it's really important to me that whoever the artist is, is able to do that really intense character work and acting, because I've worked with a lot of incredible artists and a lot of specifically incredible artists who are really, really good at fight scenes.
But, you know, I think that finding someone who can do that, the full range of character acting in a way that feels like it just hits.
That's, in my opinion, a lot harder.
But, I mean, it's probably just. It's probably also the pool of the fact that I've been writing a lot of superhero comics, but for me, I'm like, at the heart of it, every fight scene is just a character moment. It's. People love to be like, well, I think this person would win because their power level is, like, over 9,000. And I'm like, I don't care. I don't care if you pit Superman against a kitten. Like, the kitten can win if the story needs the kitten to win.
[00:37:03] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:37:04] Speaker C: And there are some fight scenes in our story where Certain people win for certain reasons that you find out, like, there are layers and layers you find out as the pages go by, which is wild for a story that is not only a one shot, but really short.
[00:37:20] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:37:23] Speaker B: And speaking like fight scenes, I am not good at those. But working with you and our editors, I was like, I think I leveled up in a way that I don't think I would have in a long time because of that opportunity. You know what I mean?
[00:37:37] Speaker C: Like, that's amazing, dude. Oh, that makes me so happy because you did such a great job.
[00:37:43] Speaker A: I mean, it is missing Satan references and cheeseburgers, but other than that, I think it was great.
[00:37:50] Speaker C: Oh, man.
[00:37:52] Speaker A: I almost wore my shirt. My. My shirt that you sent, Liana. The standstill I almost wore. It's on my water bottles. I had a sticker on my water bottle on that stuff too. But, like, my son gets so mad that I get this. Your. Your letter, your. Your poster, your bright colored, like a letter in the mail, Liana. And it's not for him. And.
[00:38:14] Speaker B: Oh, I'll have to start including a little.
[00:38:18] Speaker A: But I'm like looking. I'm like, like, oh, this is for dad. He's like, oh, I didn't get a package.
[00:38:21] Speaker B: I didn't get something.
[00:38:25] Speaker A: Is he setting up this thing? And they're in. The problem is if it's like, looks like a regular piece of mail, he's like, he doesn't really care, but because it always comes in some sort of bright colored envelope, he' like, oh, is this from me? I'm like, no, no, this is not. I mean, yeah, his. His grandfather is a pastor, and if he wore a sticker around and it says Satan on it, I'm pretty sure that would probably not go that well.
[00:38:43] Speaker B: But you know what context of it. I know, that's the hard part.
[00:38:48] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah.
[00:38:49] Speaker A: No, I was.
[00:38:51] Speaker C: Go ahead.
[00:38:52] Speaker A: No, no, go ahead.
[00:38:53] Speaker C: Listen, I'm so sorry. Please go ahead.
[00:38:55] Speaker A: No, Okay. I. I just, like I said, it's great. It's just great to see the different things. I love the fact that seeing all the creator stuff that you've done, Liana, recently, you create your own stuff, the true cult, the stuff like that. That stuff to me is. I always read that stuff and look at that stuff. But seeing you back in the world of Star wars was a lot of fun too, because I just like. Like I said, I am really a big fan. As you know, this is not news to you. I'm a big fan of your artwork and seeing your interpretations, representations of characters that are In a big, big, pretty popular world. That. And the benefit you get is you're working in a world that isn't really that old. Like this. This universe of. Of High Republic or this era of High Republic isn't that old. So there's not a lot you can, like, screw up, in a sense, but, like, it's, you know. You know, Alyssa probably knows too. You could have written Dr. Aphra not how people expected it in the first two volumes. And people could have been very upset with you on the Internet. And Star wars fans are very, you know, they're very vocal about when something goes, doesn't go the way they hoped it would go. And luckily excited you two get to work in this era that's like, hey, there's not much to go on here. I can't write this wrong because there's not much history behind it.
[00:40:06] Speaker C: That's the most exciting thing about working on the High Republic is it's.
It's alive. It's. We're all making it together at the same time. And yeah, you get to make stuff that is fresh and brand new because you're not constrained by everything we've seen in film and in previous media.
You don't have. It doesn't have to be about Darth Vader. It doesn't have to be.
[00:40:36] Speaker B: You get to lay the groundwork, too, which is so cool. Like, that is like being like an architect, like, so to speak, right? Is such a. Like, I think that's a pretty legendary job in terms of working on an ip, you know, because, like, it's fun to contribute, but, like, being able to create, like, major characters that people will relate to one day and, like, see themselves in is like such a. That's like the best part of our job, like, by far, in my opinion. Sometimes.
[00:41:05] Speaker A: Well, I love the. Seeing the people, like you go into, like, my buddy's comic book shop. We see an issue on. This is the first comic book appearance of. Of such and such character in Star wars and so on and so forth. It's like, this is kind of cool that, like, you created stuff. An item we'll say for this issue. That's the first appearance of said thing. And like, this is not like, this is like, gonna go down. Like, if it's ever in a movie somewhere, it's like this. This annual will be like the spot where people are like, oh, this is the. Oh, I remember seeing that in there. And Whereas if you create something that's like, in that anyway, in a Star wars, in between two of the films There's a little less, you know, creation on that. It's more just writing a story that someone else started to basis on it. So, yeah, it's really cool to see and I'm all for it. When I. When the High Republic was announced at the very beginning, I was like, like, let's do this. And now the next stage is probably bringing all this stuff to other mediums, you know, like, like tv, film, things like that. And I'm hoping some of these characters, we actually get to see interpretations on screen because it'd be really cool to see, you know?
[00:42:09] Speaker B: Can I mention that our first appearance of the one thing that I'm like, I almost forgot that I contributed, which is Crash the Rat that I lovingly called after Alyssa's username because I did so much research on rats and Star wars to where I found one that exists and it has six legs. And so I drew one in one of the panels and I started tweeting about it and everyone was getting hyped the F up over this rat. And I was like, listen, I want this to be the next, like, Jeff the Shark, okay? I want Craft to have his own little kids book. Like, I want him. I just want him to live his best life and only be written by Alyssa in the future, or at least the groundwork by Alyssa. And then, you know, I love this rat.
[00:43:03] Speaker C: Listen, if you ever want to do like a silly fan comic or whatever, I will write you as much, as much Crash the Rat as the Rat.
[00:43:14] Speaker B: Deserves to have a spotlight. You know what I mean?
[00:43:16] Speaker A: Just what are we gonna see? The feature film? Cracks the rat. Feature film.
[00:43:23] Speaker C: Sorry, sorry, sorry. All the important human Jedi. Yes, we're here for the six legged rat. I'm here for the six legged.
[00:43:31] Speaker A: It probably would be super popular too. That's the thing. It's like one of those things that there's no connection to anything other than the comic. It's like, let's do this.
[00:43:40] Speaker B: What's your favorite part of High Republic? Well, there was this one rat.
[00:43:45] Speaker C: He. He's so cute. He's got six legs. Like, he's perfect.
[00:43:49] Speaker A: I just want the references later on to be referencing Crash the Rat. Like, they do womp rats and things like that. Like, there's references later on. Like, it doesn't have to be this huge overarching thing. It's just like randomly someone was like, oh, yeah, Crash the Rat. And then like, it just moves on to the next thing and you're just. You're in the theater going, like, what is going on? Right now.
That's the future of it. That's what I'm hoping for, you guys right there. But, yeah, it's. It's fun to see. I said both you and I said, like, I've actually. I know Alyssa probably doesn't know this, but I was. You were on a short list for a long time to get on the podcast, you know, so there's that. And then it lucked out that I was able to reach out to Liana, to Kelly, and say, hey, I need. I would love to have the two of them, like, hey, actually can do this. This is great. So it worked out really well because, you know, the book and then the comics and Dr. Aphra and all that connection and stuff like that, too.
[00:44:43] Speaker B: And say, you should have a list on for an episode anyway, because, like, I love when you interview authors.
[00:44:49] Speaker A: Like, yeah, I do. Authors do. But, yeah, so it's. It's a lot of fun to do, to discuss Star wars with people that were, you know, in the trenches. And. And like I said, it's been. Liana, like, I was like, at the point where, like, if I had you back on for Star Wars Week and just talked about Star wars and you hadn't done this. Anyway, I'm like, okay, we're going back to that. Well, a little bit more. Okay. Liana, you did a couple issues of Star Wars Adventure. Okay, okay. At some point, someone's gonna be like, okay, can you get someone else on, please, to talk about Star Wars?
[00:45:18] Speaker B: I guess Liana is the yearly May host now. Like, what's happening?
[00:45:23] Speaker A: And so I was like, oh, yeah. And then, yeah, but it's fun, and I'm glad. I want more. I want more of Liana artwork in Star Wars. So hopefully this leads to more. And I hope, Alyssa, you do an excellent job at all of your writing, but I hope you stay in Star wars for a long time, too. I hope they don't push you out.
[00:45:42] Speaker C: Well, I love Star wars deeply and truly. I was like, if I can pick only one IP that isn't mine to write for the rest of my life, it'd be Star Wars. Like, hands down, sorry to everybody else.
[00:45:54] Speaker B: We are so lucky to have you.
[00:45:57] Speaker C: I can't tell you, again, anything about what I'm working on, but what I can say is I'm definitely working on something, and I might be working on something that I'm. I'm stoked about.
And it may or may not revisit characters that. Multiple characters that we've seen.
That's awesome. I will tell you this, though I did ask for something that will be coming out soon. I don't know if it's been announced yet, but it's. It's happening.
I did ask for an Emily Easter egg, so there it all goes well. There will be a portrait of her hanging in somebody's house.
Like, a really beautiful, like, gorgeous portrait.
[00:46:48] Speaker A: So that's awesome.
[00:46:48] Speaker B: I cannot wait.
[00:46:50] Speaker A: That's phenomenal. That's so much fun. And then, you know, Star wars is what we're here to talk about and stuff like that, too. But you are writing Psylocke right now, and that's coming out from Marvel as well as you have the one shot coming out, or just it's coming out. This will be out. So we'll be on the shelves already by the time this hits the airwaves. But the Star wars one shot about Eriadu. The battle of Eriadu. Yeah, too. But you're. You're busy. And, Alyssa, which would you want? You said you would love to. Would you write another novel? Was that experience fun? Was it? Was it? You know, I said you like to challenge yourself, but, like.
[00:47:25] Speaker C: Yeah, so my. My original background is I'm a short fiction writer and everything. It's like everything I write sort of katamari balls into the next thing. So as someone who loves short fiction, because, again, it's a challenge. It's a little puzzle. It's how much can you make somebody feel in what ways? In 3,000 words, which sounds like a lot, but is actually like what it was, like, 15 pages or whatever, maybe. So it's like, how do you build that entire journey and do it in an efficient enough way that it is just a small, small, intense. How many knives can I put in you in 15 pages? How do I do it in ways you don't expect? Yeah.
[00:48:11] Speaker B: How do I make you feel everything?
[00:48:13] Speaker C: How do I make you feel everything? My goal is by the time you finish a story, you feel like you're like, I just underwent a whole experience that I have. I'm shaken. And then you're like. You look back and you're like, what do you mean? It was only 15 pages. So writing a novel is. I was like, how many words? That's like. So I don't know if I can do that.
Middle grade tends to be about 30,000, so that's a lot bigger.
Escape from Vallow. We went a little ham. It is. It's over 60,000.
And they had to redesign the spine for the book.
[00:48:53] Speaker B: It's a thick boy.
[00:48:54] Speaker C: Yeah, it's yeah, but it's. I mean, I hope that it. I was looking at my cope. There's no fat in this because it, it. I mean, enough fat that it tastes good.
[00:49:05] Speaker A: I love this. Look at it. It's like this is Jose's other book and this is the one you guys did together. See, it's double the size.
[00:49:12] Speaker C: It is. Well, double the.
[00:49:15] Speaker A: Yeah, it's two times the author. So. Yeah, that's what it is.
[00:49:18] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:49:19] Speaker C: Sorry for the extra work designer. I'm so sorry.
It was such a great experience, but like, it's great. I think writing a novel on my own is still an unknown. So it's like, I know I can write a book now by which I mean I know I could write that specific book that is now out each. I've talked to a bunch of novelists and they're like, yep, hey, guess what? Every book feels like that. Every book you're like, hey, it's completely different. Can I do it? I don't know, it's terrifying. And I was like, sounds terrifying and also sounds exciting. So I would love to write another book, my own stuff. But also I want to write some Star wars books and I have never written like a long form YA piece and that's like, again, one of my first loves. I love YA fiction because again, it's so intense with feelings. Yeah, I'd love to write YA. I'd love to write adult and 100%. I'd love to write more Star wars stuff.
[00:50:22] Speaker A: And there is more Star wars stuff. Like, you know, there, there's not just, you know, High Republic stuff. There is this, you know, I have Stephen Barnes, you know, Mace Windu book over there and there is a bunch of other stories to be told that are outside of like, you know, a series of books and stuff like that too. So maybe there's. There's something out there for you and there's something that you can, you can do because we're. I mean, I learned a lot because for me you could write drivel on a page for an entire book and I would probably read it because it's Star wars related and it had you as an author. So I'd be like, yeah, sure, no problem. And that's. And that's part of my problem is like, I'm always like, five stars. That's it. Great book, Amazing. Someone's like, it wasn't like, I don't know, it was Star wars and it was Alyssa. So yeah, it was probably really good.
[00:51:04] Speaker C: You're so kind. Thank you.
[00:51:06] Speaker A: Yeah. And So I would be, I would be down for it for sure. I would think that you should commission, if you did write a book, you commission a fellow artist that's on this podcast right now to do the covers. I would, I was. That's what I would say.
[00:51:18] Speaker B: But I would kill on a shelf next to people like Phil Noto and like everyone else that does the covers.
[00:51:25] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:51:26] Speaker B: And there's so many like, characters already. And like what you wrote for our High Republic Adventures thing is so YA coded and like perfect. I'm like, you were made to write YA Star wars books, but I'm like, there's so many characters I would love to see. I mean like, even from like the new trilogy all the way back to like, I'm like, you would kill like depressing droid stories and like, you know what I mean? Like everything that has like hope, but then like soul crushing life. Remembrance of being like, I remember why I'm alive and I love this. You know what I mean? Like, I.
[00:52:06] Speaker C: Well, I'm. Okay, first off, I'm incredibly flattered. Second off, I have a really skewed vision of what I write because it's like that thing where if you hold an object right up against your eye, you're like, I don't know what it is.
I can see it, I guess, but not really.
[00:52:27] Speaker B: So we're showing you what you write.
[00:52:29] Speaker C: I mean, you are. Because like, I experience it as I write it. And when I write something, if I'm writing a comic script, I'll only put something down on the page if I can see a way that I would draw it. And I'm not an artist, so I'm like, I want to make sure that this is doable, period. But I have to go deep in my head and visually see every moment.
And I also do the same thing with feelings. So I'm like, I have to visually see and feel every moment to make sure this works.
And that's across any medium. So.
So that makes me feel really happy that you're like, you would kill a sad droid story. Because I'm like, oh, I guess I do write that. That's. That's wild.
You write.
[00:53:13] Speaker B: Yes. Heavy emotions on the whole spectrum and range. Like it's, it's always interesting because those are my favorite types of comics. Like the ones that make you feel something. You know what I mean? And there's nothing against action, superhero, anything like that. But like when you mix a major franchise with like real. I mean, and that's entirely what this franchise is about. Is like hope and like, all these things, but it's like when you mix real, raw emotions with that, utilizing characters either, like, new or old or whatever, it's like, that's how we get so embedded culturally into these IPs, is, like, feeling things. Because it's like this.
Bam. Yeah. Speechless.
[00:54:05] Speaker A: You broke the Internet with that?
[00:54:07] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:54:09] Speaker C: Yeah. I mean, it's all.
[00:54:10] Speaker A: I mean, it's. It's true. I mean, I. I agree 100 with what Leon is saying. It's a thing. This is not. We wouldn't come on this episode to just to, like, praise everybody about what's going on here. But it's true. True. I will tell you that right now. It is a wonderful having both of you in the Star wars universe. I think it's. I think it's excellent. I think it's more. We need more of it. And it. And you mentioned off the beginning a little bit about seeing yourself like this isn't. Is this in a universe for someone like you? You said. And it's true. The truth of the matter is it's someone for. There's something for everyone in Star wars at this point. I mean, again, the original trilogy, the original, you know, three films, maybe there wasn't for everybody. But now, over the number of years, the 40 years we've had, 40, 50 years we've had Star wars in our lives, there is really a story that probably will resonate with pretty much anybody who reads it. My wife's not a huge Star wars fan, but I guarantee you one of these books or a comic issue or a short story or something would resonate with her on a different level than then the original three movies would to her on screen. I think that's including the children's TV shows that are on TV nowadays and Clone wars. And there's just so much out there. And I think that one of the other episodes I have this week, talking to Instagrammer and podcaster, this dad reads, and he's a father who talks about being a dad and all that stuff, but then has a love for Star Wars. And so that's another avenue that comes into it. And something that I'll personally be able to connect with as a kid is teaching my son and showing my kid, my daughter, I should say, too, because my daughters won Star wars and all that stuff. Again, my wife will probably be over in the corner going like this, like, yeah, okay, I see how you see what you're doing here. But, you know, it's like I said, there's something for everybody And I think that that's the future of it. I think both of you have contributed to that.
Putting something out there in the ether for people to enjoy. No matter what level of fan you are or who you are, gender, race, you know, whatever, you know, it doesn't really matter. There's something probably for Star wars before you now, that's.
[00:56:13] Speaker C: That's the goal. I mean, that's. That's what we want to see. Because I think.
I mean, I just. I just never saw anyone like me on any axis growing up. Like, so getting to write queer Star wars and make new, beautiful stuff is really. It's such an honor, and I'm glad that we got to do it together.
There's a. There's a moment in this book where we, you know, we. We've talked on this podcast a bit about in, you know, how dreg. It's one weakness is this friendship. And it's. And it's a friendship in a way that I think a lot of people who grew up as young girls will. They'll. They'll see it and they'll recognize, and it's that friendship where you're like, really tight, and then you're like, why do I feel so intensely about this person? In on. You're like, oh, it's because I was in love. Oh, no. Oh, no. But this is a very. It's a very, very common thing.
But, yeah, I mean, I think there's this moment after Drigot has been like, she's got this moment of vulnerability. Then we'll see. And then she's like, got to put her, like, nevermind, I'm a villain kind of vibe on. And there's a moment after that where the mask falls and not on purpose.
And the line that kills me every single time is, she asks, why are you being kind to me? She's like, I don't understand this. Because she's somebody who doesn't ever expect that and doesn't think she deserves it. And I think hitting those, like, that's something that I hate to say is probably pretty relatable to a lot of people. And it's like, again, I keep talking about feelings because that's what my storytelling hinges on. And that's something that Liana is so good at. Sorry, I don't know if I can swear.
[00:58:17] Speaker A: No, you're good.
[00:58:20] Speaker C: And that's something that Leanna is so good at.
And you hit that moment in a way. I was like, this is so important. You have to hit that, this moment. Right?
Because that's what people identify with. It's. You see your own. You see your own reflection. Yes, you see your. You see your face, but you also see your experiences. You're like, oh, that character is just like me, for real.
You're like, I know what it's like to be in this place, and it makes you feel something. And I think when I think about how Star wars is for everybody, that's something I think about a lot also. I love writing hot messes is my favorite thing to write. I love writing a hot mess.
[00:59:07] Speaker A: There's hot messes in the Star wars universe. That's the thing. That's the difference. And that's one of the things we get at for 50 years of Star wars stuff is you have to write stories about creating, being different people and different stories and hot messes and all that stuff. Because it's not just as simple as it. Or say simple as it was in the first three films. It's like there's so much more. There's planets in universe, you know, in different places that have people on it of all. I mean, they. Monsters and creatures and whatever. And so it's just. It was really cool to see. I know a little bit of everything. And I think that it's taking creators who are, you know, uniquely talented in certain ways and things like that to bring these stories to light. And I think that it's the best person to tell these stories are the ones that it relates to the most. It's not very. I mean, you know me telling a Star wars story that has characters like in this short story is. Wouldn't probably resonate as much, but having someone who has an emotional connection to it, it does. And then also I said it many times as we finish up here, say it again, is two creators that get along that, that understand what each other and enjoy each other resonates on the page, shows on the page when you go to read it. Like, there's definitely stories where I was like, this person had a feeling artist who they didn't know do this, do the thing. And it's like you can tell there's this disconnect between the artwork and the script itself and the story. And so, you know, this is amazing. And I will actually probably talk a little bit more about this anthology too, because Vladimir Popov is coming on also this week to talk about thing who's a colorist who colored Nick Brokenshire's artwork on this story on this anthology. And so. So Vlad will be on this week to chat as well. So I'm excited about that too. And I think, I think it was. It's Nick's story. Who's doing the, who did the. Yeah, Nick's artwork. But I don't know who did the story on that. Is it, is it Kevin? Because they usually work together. But I don't think it was. Maybe not. I don't know. I didn't do the research on that for this episode. Only for.
Is it Kevin? Yeah, it probably is. Because I know Nick and Cavan. Yes, it is. It's Nick and Kevin. It's the brothers and sisters of eight page story towards the end.
And so Kevin and Nick are two other people that I would read and view and see their illustrations about Star wars forever and ever and ever as well. So there's that too. You know, they were both on a couple years ago talking about their book Dead Seas. But yeah, so I mean, Star wars again is. There's something for everybody, but there's also still stories to be told, there's still things to explore, there's still places to go and things like that, which is also amazing for fans like myself and for you two and the ones that are reading and buying your. Your stuff is that there's always stories to be told. In my opinion, there's never a place we can't go. And I'm really excited about, about that in the future. But I really appreciate both of you taking time to talk about Star wars in your comics and things like that right here on the podcast for Star Wars Week. And I hope that both of you will return at some point. I know Liana will be on. Leon is just like a given. Like it's like penciled in every, every couple of months. We're just like, okay, let's get Liana on here.
[01:02:16] Speaker B: Very honored.
[01:02:17] Speaker C: Oh, I love.
[01:02:18] Speaker B: This is like one of my favorite podcasts.
[01:02:20] Speaker A: There you go. Here you go. We'll get you back on. And one of these days, Leona, you'll actually come up here and visit. In Maine, my convention, I put a one day comic books show coming up. It's in May, May 31, and we just solidified our creators for that one, so it's pretty excited. But we got Christopher golden and Clay McLeod Chapman are both writers that write novels as well as comics, so they're coming up and doing that stuff as well. So pretty exciting stuff here. But yeah, Star wars is awesome. I'm always going to say it. It's a really fun place to talk and hang out and be in. So I really appreciate you two taking the time out of your busy schedules. And I'm hoping you guys have fun at Star Wars Celebration. Like, I'm so jealous.
[01:03:02] Speaker C: Oh, we're gonna have so much fun. And honestly, just getting to see Liana is. I was like, if. If something happened and I couldn't go to Celebration, I would be very sad. But I'd also be like, let's hang out. Yes.
[01:03:17] Speaker B: You know, I was like, we're gonna make this work out of country. Whether we like it or not, it's happening.
[01:03:24] Speaker A: I do like the fact that you guys have to go to Japan to hang out. That's also pretty awesome. You have to leave the US to go to somewhere. You have to go somewhere else to be somewhere else to discuss.
[01:03:34] Speaker B: You know, I.
[01:03:36] Speaker C: You know what, it did be like that sometimes. And yeah, I feel like that's the thing. I feel like I only get to see the people I love and work with at conventions, which is so hard because we're all working, you know?
[01:03:50] Speaker B: Yeah.
[01:03:50] Speaker C: It's like, hey, I know you've just had a 16 hour workday, but do you want to hang out more? And it's like, the answer is yes. Also, I'm gonna turn into dust. But the answer is yes.
[01:04:01] Speaker A: Yes. The answer is yes.
[01:04:02] Speaker B: I'm half asleep, but I'll be enjoying it the whole time.
[01:04:05] Speaker A: Then two weeks later, you're like, wait, we hung out? I don't remember that. That wasn't a days there. I don't remember that. But no, it's true though. It's what it is. I'm. I'm running my buddy's panel at my convention, Pineapple State Expo in Portland, Maine. The 19th. Actually, during celebration. Star Wars Celebration. I'm running the comic book panels with people and it's like one of those things. I'm like, all excited, but I'm like, only gonna be able to talk to them about their stuff in the panel. And then that's like entire day. So I'm like, I'm gonna go home and be like, oh, cool. I hung out with all these artists and creators, but I actually didn't actually hang out with them. We just talked business, basically. So I'll be part of that as well. So, yeah, it's a. It's fun. So hopefully to get. Get to hang out a little bit more in, in Japan and wherever. But I'm jealous in two ways. Going to Japan is number one. And then obviously I'm being Star Wars Celebration is another. So, you know, one of these days they'll do Star Wars Celebration in Portland, Maine. Right. Make it easy.
The town would have no idea that the main would be like, what is going on right now? We cannot.
[01:05:03] Speaker B: We're gonna manifest that for you.
[01:05:06] Speaker A: You know, only Boston would be fine. It's three hours to Boston, so I guess that would be fine. Fine. I can. I can drive that easily. So maybe Star Wars Celebration Boston would be fun. Not that the city's handled.
[01:05:17] Speaker C: Oh, I don't know if you guys bring, like, bring people up for your con, but if you do, please bring me, because I've never been to Maine and see, and you seem so nice, so. Yeah, we've talked about it.
[01:05:33] Speaker A: We've talked about it. We actually. Yeah, it was supposed to. Liana was supposed to be here. It was our. Our thing. We had a little bit of a. I had a kid and then the whole thing. So we made the convention free for the first couple of years. So we weren't paying to bring anybody or paying hotels or anything like that to bring people in. And so, yeah, so in the future, we are hoping to get people up. Our goal is next year to bring some more people up. So it actually would make sense, in my opinion, to have both of you at the same convention. So we'll work at work. We'll work that out, too. We'll talk in the future. I know how to get a hold of you, too, but I do appreciate it again. It's awesome. I'm so happy to celebrate Star wars here with the two of you before you go to Star Wars Celebration. And I hope to see more. I know for 100% we're going to see more from Alyssa, because you got a comic book coming out in a couple weeks based in the Star wars universe. But I hope I see more of you, Lyanna, in the Star wars universe, because I am pumped about that. So I actually want more comics from you, too, by the way, just to let you know, in general, Liana, like, come on, let's go.
[01:06:29] Speaker B: I'm working on it. I'm working on it.
[01:06:31] Speaker C: I got you.
I can't wait.
[01:06:35] Speaker A: But I do appreciate it. And we'll talk again soon. And thank you so much.
[01:06:40] Speaker B: Yeah, thanks for having us on. Yeah.
[01:06:42] Speaker C: Thank you so much. This was a delight.
Thanks. Thanks for Star wars with us.
