Skywalking Through Neverland: Keeping the Star Wars Magic Alive

534: Classic Marvel Star Wars Comics #56 "COFFIN IN THE CLOUDS" with Jason W. Christman

·1 hr 26 min·5 clips

Why does a classic Star Wars comic turn Lobot into a Michael Myers-style horror villain for Halloween?

Episode 534 of Skywalking Through Neverland focuses on a deep dive into Marvel's Star Wars comic issue #56, titled 'Coffin in the Clouds,' released in November 1981. Hosts Richard and Sarah Woloski frame the episode around Halloween, comparing Lobot's turn as a violent attacker to horror icon Michael Myers. They are joined by guest Jason W. Christman, a Star Wars artist, who brings his comic-collecting expertise and artistic perspective. The episode opens with ads and show introductions before Richard shares a personal story about nearly meeting Carrie Fisher on her would-be 69th birthday. The conversation then shifts to Carrie Fisher's filmography and novels, including 'The Princess Diarist' detailing her affair with Harrison Ford. Jason discusses his fandom origins, noting how comics helped him enjoy reading as a child. The comic breakdown begins with cover analysis, speculating that Marvel may have created the Lobot-centric story to promote the new Kenner action figure. They examine the plot: Lando returns to an abandoned Cloud City, finds Lobot reprogrammed by Ugnaughts to kill, and teams up with Imperial Captain Treece to disarm bombs. Art critiques highlight Walt Simonson's detailed illustrations, including Cloud City's scale and Lando's dramatic cape. A subplot introduces Shira, a character who later becomes Lady of the Sith. The hosts pause to review a vintage Hostess fruit pie ad featuring Daredevil, mocking its contrived plot. Returning to the comic, they note Lobot's cyborg abilities and the story's horror tropes, concluding with Lando being betrayed and thrown off a ledge. The episode wraps with favorite panels, non-Star Wars moments like a bomb saying 'hunky-dory,' and a reader letter complaining about too many planets in comic art. Jason promotes his art and blog, and the hosts preview next week's Creature from the Black Lagoon retrospective.

As heard by us

A Halloween-leaning Cloud City take that makes Lobot's history the episode's strongest hook.

Episode 534 gives Coffin in the Clouds a Halloween-leaning Michael Myers charge, and that choice adds real menace to the conversation. The talk keeps circling Lando, Lobot, and the Imperial TIE shuttle at the Cloud City docking bay, while the action-figure memory lends it a…

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Why you'd press play

Cloud City turns spooky, and Lobot gets the kind of deep dive fans wait for.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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