Today, we begin our mission to bring San Diego Comic-Con International to you. That means four episodes in your podcast feed this week! First up is writer Alex Segura. He’s been handed the keys to the Star Wars kingdom, working on the new Marvel Comics ongoing series alongside artist Phil Noto and letterer Clayton Cowles. The new series fills the gaps between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens. The New Republic just slayed the Empire. Now what?

We chat with Alex Segura about his Star Wars origin, the responsibility of steering the ship during such a critical moment within the canon, and how he’ll test Luke Skywalker when he’s seemingly at his Jedi Knight peak. Some writers would throw all their childhood toys into the sandbox with a project like this one, but Segura is cautious not to stuff the story with wish-fulfillment. His Star Wars is a carefully considered narrative, beautifully realized by two top-tier collaborators.

As you’ll also hear, a franchise like Star Wars can be overwhelming for the audience as well. How do you push the envelope for diehard readers while not alienating potential new fans of the series? What’s that line in Hamilton? War is the easy part; governing is the hard part.

Star Wars is rolling out monthly from Marvel Comics. Make sure you keep up to date with everything Alex Segura has going on by following his Blue Sky, Instagram, and Substack.

This Week's Sponsors

We're sponsored by 2000 AD, the greatest comic you're not reading! Within its pages is a whole universe of characters, from Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog to Rogue Trooper, Shakara, Halo Jones, and the poor sods slogging across the Cursed Earth in The Helltrekkers. Get a print subscription at your door every week - and the first issue is free! Or subscribe digitally, get free back issues, and download DRM-free copies of each issue for just $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible monthly comics for less than $10.

This July, IDW Publishing's Eisner-nominated cozy horror hit series returns in Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring #1. Superstar Cartoonist Patrick Horvath's delightfully twisted tale about an anthropomorphic serial killer bear is returning to comic shops for a new story that is guaranteed to shock readers. Return to the seemingly idealistic suburban town of Woodbrook as Samantha, the bloodlusting brown bear, got away with her crimes and is now the town's one and only serial killer. Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring #1 is out now from IDW Publishing.

This July, one of the greatest creator-owned comic series of all time begins a powerful new chapter! From Oni Press, return to the Eisner-nominated world of The Sixth Gun as creators Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt reunite for The Sixth Gun: Battle for the Six #1 – an extra-sized comics' event told across three prestige format issues. The Sixth Gun is about to be Reborn anew - as it has been countless times across the centuries. This time, however, a brigade of familiar fighters is ready and waiting to challenge a secret cabal. The Sixth Gun: Battle for the Six #1 arrives in comic shops everywhere on July 23rd.

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Alex Segura on Star Wars

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