Skywalking Through Neverland: Keeping the Star Wars Magic Alive

Classic Marvel Star Wars Comics is back! This week we break down Issue #60: "Shira's Story," originally released on March 16, 1982. For those new to our CMSWC sub-series, we are working our way through the original Star Wars comic run published by Marvel from 1977 to 1986. Along the way, we share childhood memories, first-time reactions, artistic observations, and connections to later Star Wars films, series, novels, comics, video games, and even theme parks. Think of it as a Star Wars history lesson. In this issue, "Shira's Story", Shira Brie takes center stage as Luke accompanies her to her homeworld of Shalyvane, where she reveals the tragic story of how the Empire destroyed her family and tribe. Meanwhile, the Rebels launch an attack using stolen Imperial TIE Fighters, Leia wrestles with her feelings about Luke and Shira growing closer, and we begin a discussion about why Shira remains such a fascinating fan-favorite character. You'll also discover why our cover art contains flying banthas… Issue 60: Shira's Story! Release date: March 16th, 1982 Written by: David Michelinie & Walt Simonson Artwork by: Walt Simonson, Tom Palmer, Glynis Wein Coloring by: Don Warfield Cover Art: Walt Simonson We take our Facebook Group Comments on the cover into account as we analyze this issue. Become a part of our Facebook Group to contribute! Contact Us Instagram: http://instagram.com/skywalkingpod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skywalkingthroughneverland Join us every week on YouTube for a behind-the-scenes look at our show. Send emails to share@skywalkingthroughneverland.com and follow us on Facebook.

This episode is a tribute to the one and only Margaret Kerry, the live-action reference model for Disney's Tinker Bell and our beloved Fairy Podmother. Margaret passed away on June 11, 2026, at the age of 97, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy of storytelling, creativity, and kindness. Since first appearing on Skywalking Through Neverland in 2014, Margaret shared memories from her remarkable career, discussed her book, reviewed Tinker Bell films, and offered heartfelt advice to listeners through our special "Ask Tink" segments. In this compilation episode, we've gathered some of our favorite moments with Margaret, including highlights from our original 2014 two-part interview, an "Ask Tink" segment, and a touching conversation from 2020 after her move to North Carolina. As a special bonus, you'll also see the presentation of a beautiful new set of fairy wings created for Margaret by Angelia Doyle of On Gossamer Wings. Join us as we celebrate the life, legacy, and enduring magic of Margaret Kerry. Thank you for everything, Margaret. You'll always be our Fairy Podmother. "No one's ever really gone" - Margaret Kerry lives on in these episodes: Ep 26: Margaret Kerry on THE PIRATE FAIRY (Tinker Bell movie discussion) Ep 69: Margaret Kerry and the NeverBeast (Tinker Bell movie discussion) THE PARENT TRAP with Margaret Kerry Ep 135: Tinker Bell Talks! With Margaret Kerry (Her new book) Ep 152 contains an "Ask Tink" segment PODCAST SPONSORS Small World Vacations is an official sponsor of Skywalking Through Neverland. Contact them for a no obligation price quote at www.smallworldvacations.com. Tell them Skywalking Through Neverland sent you. 👉 Sponsor: SpiritJersey now has their own Star Wars & Disney license! Shop at spiritjersey.com and get FREE shipping with code SKYWLKNVD. SUPPORT THE SHOW Find out how you can become a part of the Skywalking Force and unlock bonus content. CONTACT US Instagram: http://instagram.com/skywalkingpod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skywalkingthroughneverland Send emails to share@skywalkingthroughneverland.com and follow us on Facebook. If you dug this episode, click over to iTunes | Stitcher | YouTube and leave us a review! Never Land on Alderaan!

What does it take to bring Grogu to life? This week on Skywalking Through Neverland, Richard and Sarah Woloski welcome Creature Effects artist, fabricator, puppeteer, stunt performer, and Star Wars performer Dawn Dininger. Dawn has worked on The Mandalorian and Grogu, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, Skeleton Crew, Captain Marvel, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and Jurassic Park III. As one of the five puppeteers responsible for Grogu's performance, Dawn reveals how the team coordinates his movements, what new technology was developed for The Mandalorian and Grogu, and the challenges of creating believable creature performances on screen. She also shares stories from the Hollywood premiere, performing Grogu at the Academy Awards, her transition into stunt work, and her numerous appearances as Star Wars aliens including Rodians, Mon Calamari, and more. We also discuss the future of creature effects and the impact of CGI and AI on practical artistry. You can meet Dawn Dininger at Boonta Eve Special Edition on August 7 in Frisco, Texas, and attend Rebel Scum Con that same weekend. PODCAST SPONSORS Small World Vacations is an official sponsor of Skywalking Through Neverland. Contact them for a no obligation price quote at www.smallworldvacations.com. Tell them Skywalking Through Neverland sent you. 👉 Sponsor: SpiritJersey now has their own Star Wars & Disney license! Shop at spiritjersey.com and get FREE shipping with code SKYWLKNVD. SUPPORT THE SHOW Find out how you can become a part of the Skywalking Force and unlock bonus content. CONTACT US Instagram: http://instagram.com/skywalkingpod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skywalkingthroughneverland Send emails to share@skywalkingthroughneverland.com and follow us on Facebook. If you dug this episode, click over to iTunes | Stitcher | YouTube and leave us a review!

In this episode, we're diving into Classic Marvel Star Wars Comic Issue #59: "Bazarre." Originally released in February 1982, Bazarre features a Luke and Lando buddy story! The two meet with a shifty administrator, aptly named Orion Ferret, to secure four TIE Fighters. After receiving payment, he sends them off to a trash planet, Patch-4, to pick them up. Along the way, they may meet yet another Star Wars snake!! Richard and Sarah compare this Classic Marvel Star Wars comics to the larger Star Wars galaxy, all while unpacking the story, art and legacy of this issue. It's...BAZARRE! Issue 59: Bazarre! Release date: February 16th, 1982 Written by David Michelinie & Walt Simonson Artwork by Walt Simonson, Tom Palmer Coloring by Don Warfield Cover Art Walt Simonson We take our Facebook Group Comments on the cover into account as we analyze this issue. Become a part of our Facebook Group to contribute! Contact Us Instagram: http://instagram.com/skywalkingpod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skywalkingthroughneverland Join us every week on YouTube for a behind-the-scenes look at our show. Send emails to share@skywalkingthroughneverland.com and follow us on Facebook. If you dug this episode, click over to iTunes | Stitcher | YouTube and leave us a review!SaveSave

Richard and Sarah recap an epic Disney Day on May 22 spent almost entirely in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge! Along with friends Bryn, Julie, James, and Dave, they experienced the new Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run adventures featuring Coruscant, Endor, and Bespin. Also in this episode: New PhotoPass Magic Shots when Darth Vader crashed the photo shoot Talking with Luke Skywalker about artifacts around Batuu Meeting an adorable, flirty Han and Leia duo Watching the BDX droids in the Landspeeder garage Docking Bay 7 food talk Who was the Rebel Spy?? Thoughts on Shadows of Memory: Grogu Edition An unboxing segment - Leia's Bouschh helmet Summer Movie Trivia you can play along with! Join us every Monday at 6pm PT on YouTube and Facebook for Things We Want To Share - a weekly livestream filled with stories, trivia, and fun.

This episode is a mashup of Mando Monday Merch (specifically the Bath & Body Works collab) and a recap of our Universal FanFest Nights experience with our whole Skywalking crew. We round it off with Star Wars Trivia charades featuring Dee Tails (Star Wars performance artist/creature performer). Enjoy this fun episode as we lead into THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU release week!! The second annual Universal FanFest Nights was a blast. Universal is knocking it out of the park with their after-hours ticketed event. Courtney and Kelly Turckel, Julie and James Gildersleeve joined us to share their favorite moments. We covered: Harry Potter "Save the Hippogriff" Forbidden Forest walkthrough Universal Monsters + Scooby Doo "Mystery on the Backlot" One Piece Grand Pirate Show Jurassic Park character interactions Harry Potter Three Broomsticks specialty food Watch the YouTube version here for the best experience. PODCAST SPONSORS Small World Vacations is an official sponsor of Skywalking Through Neverland. Contact them for a no obligation price quote at www.smallworldvacations.com. Tell them Skywalking Through Neverland sent you. 👉 Sponsor: SpiritJersey now has their own Star Wars & Disney license! Shop at spiritjersey.com and get FREE shipping with code SKYWLKNVD. SUPPORT THE SHOW Find out how you can become a part of the Skywalking Force and unlock bonus content. CONTACT US Instagram: http://instagram.com/skywalkingpod Twitter: https://twitter.com/SkywalkingPod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skywalkingthroughneverland Send emails to share@skywalkingthroughneverland.com and follow us on Facebook. If you dug this episode, click over to iTunes | Stitcher | YouTube and leave us a review! Never Land on Alderaan!

5/5/2026: Richard and Sarah celebrate May the 4th with stories from Burger King and Disneyland before diving into the final two episodes of Maul: Shadow Lord Season 1 with our Skywalkers leading the discussion. Dan Boris and Glenn Stein join the livestream, while others join the chat to share reactions, theories, and favorite moments. We follow this up with a round of Burger King trivia. How well do you know your fast food facts? Join us every Monday at 6pm PT on YouTube and Facebook for Things We Want to Share — a weekly livestream filled with stories, trivia, and community fun.

Are you wondering whether Wonder Man is worth your time? In this episode, we break down Marvel's latest Disney+ series, give you the essential background on the character, and explain what you actually need to know before diving in. From Simon Williams' comic book origins to his surprising connections with Vision, Scarlet Witch, and the Avengers, we cover the fun facts, controversies, and powers that shaped Wonder Man long before his MCU debut. We also dig into how Wonder Man fits into the MCU under the Marvel Spotlight banner—designed to be more grounded, character-driven, and accessible without deep MCU homework. Starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as a struggling actor hiding dangerous superpowers, and Ben Kingsley returning as Trevor Slattery, the series leans hard into Hollywood satire, mentorship, and the bizarre "Doorman Clause" that bans super-powered people from acting. Our reactions are… mixed. While the show shines as a personal story about ambition, insecurity, and creative survival—anchored by a standout performance from Ben Kingsley—it struggles with tone, realism, and the weight of its MCU identity. We talk about what works, what doesn't, and whether Wonder Man feels like a forgotten experiment or a meaningful setup for something bigger down the road. Watch the YouTube version here for the best experience. Listen to the podcast episode here: Written WONDER MAN Review Wonder Man is the 19th television series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (including both live-action and animated projects) and arrives as part of Phase 6. The series was created by Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) and Andrew Guest (Hawkeye, Community, Brooklyn Nine-Nine). Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, crossing superhero franchises after playing Black Manta in DC's Aquaman films, stars as Simon Williams, a struggling actor auditioning for the lead in a remake of Wonder Man, a low-budget 1980s action film that Simon once bonded over with his father. Simon carries a dangerous secret: he has explosive superpowers that he can't fully control. Worse, he must keep those powers hidden if he wants any chance at an acting career thanks to the Doorman Clause, a rule that bars super-powered individuals from working as actors. One episode dives into the origins of this clause, and it's easily among the series' most entertaining and imaginative chapters. Ben Kingsley returns as Trevor Slattery, the infamous actor hired to portray the Mandarin in Iron Man 3. Since then, the character has appeared in the Marvel short All Hail the King and film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Here, Trevor is once again chasing relevance—and is also auditioning for a role in the Wonder Man remake. Interestingly, the series never clearly states where it fits into the MCU timeline. There are only light references—photos on walls, casual mentions of "shield throwing." Frankly, that restraint is welcome. It's firmly set in the present day on the main MCU Earth, and that's more than enough. Had this been set on another timeline or Earth, this review probably wouldn't exist. Character Over Capes At its core, this is a strong, personal story about two people supporting each other in a brutal industry. Simon approaches acting with intense seriousness—reminiscent of Dustin Hoffman's character in Tootsie—while Trevor, as a mentor figure, pushes him to loosen up and trust the words on the page. Wonder Man is far more interested in the relationship between Simon Williams and Trevor Slattery than in building a new costumed icon. Through their conversations, the series thoughtfully explores what it actually means to be an actor. Abdul-Mateen II and Kingsley make for an engaging, surprisingly balanced duo. The show wisely avoids leaning into easy odd-couple clichés, which elevates their dynamic. If you enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look at show business in The Studio or Hacks, there's a lot here to like. Wonder Man ups the stakes by adding uncontrollable superpowers into an already stressful industry where almost nothing goes your way. Tone & Reality Gaps Tonally, Wonder Man struggles. It can't always decide whether it wants to be serious and emotional or silly and farcical. It oscillates between the two. The dialogue is often grounded and well-written, but the situations frequently feel forced—bent to serve the script rather than emerging naturally from reality. Living in Los Angeles, where the series is set, makes some of these moments especially hard to ignore. Being under a tight deadline to submit an audition tape and deciding to drive from Hollywood to Malibu and back—congratulations, you've just wasted three hours. These issues extend to the on-set scenes. Having worked in the film industry, many of these moments rang false. A day player wouldn't halt production because they have extensive notes. There are numerous story hiccups where disbelief must be suspended simply to keep the plot moving. A test audience likely would have flagged many of these. Performances & Standout Moments Any time Ben Kingsley is on screen, he's impossible not to root for. Simon, by contrast, is difficult to like until the final two episodes. That's clearly intentional—he's closed off and emotionally blocked—but watching someone repeatedly sabotage themselves is frustrating, even if it's thematically justified. One unquestionable highlight is the episode centered on the Doorman Clause, "Doorman". Josh Gad's appearance, along with his reworked version of "In Summer," is delightful and injects much-needed energy and creativity into the series. Release Strategy & Final Verdict Marvel continues to undermine its TV output with its release strategy. Ironheart dropped its six episodes across two days. Echo released all five at once. Wonder Man follows suit with all eight episodes dropping in a single day. The result? These shows are consumed quickly and forgotten just as fast. By the time Daredevil Season 2 arrives in March, this will likely be one of those "Oh yeah… what happened on Wonder Man again?" series.I went in with an open mind and high expectations—this is Marvel, after all. In the end, I liked Wonder Man, but too much got in the way of loving it. SPONSORS Small World Vacations is an official sponsor of Skywalking Through Neverland. Contact them for a no obligation price quote at www.smallworldvacations.com. Tell them Skywalking Through Neverland sent you. 👉 Sponsor: SpiritJersey now has their own Star Wars & Disney license! Shop at spiritjersey.com and get FREE shipping with code SKYWLKNVD. SUPPORT THE SHOW Find out how you can become a part of the Skywalking Force and unlock bonus content. CONTACT US Instagram: http://instagram.com/skywalkingpod Twitter: https://twitter.com/SkywalkingPod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skywalkingthroughneverland Send emails to share@skywalkingthroughneverland.com and follow us on Facebook. If you dug this episode, click over to iTunes | Stitcher | YouTube and leave us a review! Never Land on Alderaan!