Star Wars"Star Wars." Those words are heavy.  They mean a lot.  Not many things have been as revolutionary in the entertainment business as those two words.  And when placed in capable hands, the result of what follows those two words has been awe-inspiring and, in some cases, life-changing.  But as the saying goes, many chefs spoil the broth, and it all started with Marvel. Let's talk about Marvel's Star Wars.

We should have seen this coming. 

It was laid out in front of us like church clothes on your bed on a Sunday morning.  What’s that expression about seeing the forest for the trees, and what the hell does that even mean anyway?  I don’t see no forest.  What I do see, though, is a pattern of storytelling that was incredibly rancid, and we just accepted it like lemmings jumping to their doom.  And the worst part is that we are still doing it to this day simply because it says the words “Star” and “Wars” at the beginning of it. Star Wars

Star Wars comics have NEVER been good.  But we ate them up.  Hell, I had a damn subscription and still own every issue.  When I was a kid, you could stick a green rabbit in my face and tell me it was Star Wars, and I believed you.  But we have to be more discerning today, and I believe many people are stuck in this Jaxxon mindset of what one of my favorite Star Wars podcasters scoffs…”If it says Star Wars, you have to like it!”  

Not every War is a winner.

You didn’t like “The Book of Boba Fett.” 

C’mon.  Ya didn’t. 

Maybe some scenes, but is this what you wanted from the most mysterious and badass character in the genre?  Choreographed dances with Tusken Raiders?  Geico Geckos up his nose?   The Wiggles on mopeds?  And tons of baths looking a little too much like Danny DeVito in his boxer briefs covered in hand sanitizer.  But we have adopted this “good enough” attitude since the Disney era, which is not unlike the perceived notion that the Marvel comics of the ’70s and 80s were just fine because at least it was putting something out there. Star Wars

Releasing content just for the sake of releasing it is never a good idea.  Quality over quantity always.  And especially for something like Star Wars, which is so important to so many of us, “good enough” is never good enough. 

The Marvel comic line is as horrendous as the sequels, the spin-offs, and the Disney bastardization of the franchise.  Don’t agree?  Sit yourself down and watch Mark Hamill milk the teet of that manatee and take that giant green chug one more time.  Does that do anything for ya?  If it does, God bless you, but for the rest of us who have had our fill, it’s time to tell Disney enough is enough.  You have to do better. 

How do you tell them? Star Wars

With your wallet.  Drop subscriptions, only pay for viable content, and don’t spend a night in a contrived Star Warsy hotel for $6,000 dollars a guest.  So what’s the solution?  Get George Lucas back into the fold.  Sure, we made fun of the prequels when they came out.  Politics.  Horrible kid acting.  Jar Jar.  But after watching the latest offerings, old GL ain’t looking so bad.  So maybe he’s the answer.  It’s his sandbox anyway.  At least get his opinion on things. 

We saw what could happen with the comics and we chose to ignore it.  When you accept a fraud, it ceases to be a fraud to you.  How many people fall for Ponzi schemes each year? How many of your buddies love to tell you about their NFTs?

The greatest liar of all time, George Costanza, laments, “It’s not a lie if you believe it.”  It is years of giving credibility where credibility is not due.

“Somehow, Palpatine returned.” 

Do I blame Marvel? No, I blame us. We could have sent a clear signal decades ago.  The result is the half-assed, style-over-substance, poodoo sandwich we have to eat today.

The explanation for the ENTIRE sequel trilogy is summed up as, “Somehow, Palpatine returned.”  Thanks!  That cleared it right up.

I think I tried the “Somehow” rationale in a second-grade creative writing assignment and Mrs. Chalbach smacked me with a ruler.  But you go ahead, J.J.  Have fun out there.

And for any criticisms that I am starting to see as people wake up from their bacta tank comas, I say thank the maker. 

If only we had put our foot down at the first sighting of that giant green rabbit. 

Are Star Wars comics actually good? Or are they just good investments? Let us know your thoughts down in the comments section!

*Any perceived investment advice is that of the freelance blogger and does not reflect investment advice on behalf of GoCollect.