The Tractor Beam: Star Wars Comics Reviews

Issue 176 That Saw Gerrera. Once he picks a target, he sure stays on it. So does Brander Lawson, descending as he does further and further into the mire. But those scrappy, innovative Pathfinder teams? Well they had multiple targets to deal with. Hosted by Matthew Neugebauer https://instagram.com/mneug1138             and Chris Abbott https://x.com/starrapter⁠ https://youtube.com/starrapter   Star...

Issue 175 Oga’s rise to power in Black Spire, like the cocktails in her cantina, is every bit as delicious as we thought. Also, glowing reviews for Galactic Racer are coming out, which means it’s time for another edition of Video Game Madness! Hosted by Matthew Neugebauer https://instagram.com/mneug1138             and Chris Abbott https://x.com/starrapter⁠ https://youtube.com/starrapter   Thumbna...

Issue 174 Jyn Erso finds a spark of hope on Wobani, and Brander Lawson takes in an exciting and harrowing sporting match. Hosted by Matthew Neugebauer https://instagram.com/mneug1138             and Chris Abbott https://x.com/starrapter⁠ https://youtube.com/starrapter   Star Wars Underworld Podcast Network ⁠ https://thetractorbeam.bsky.social   https://instagram.com/theswu     https://discord.com/...

Issue 173 Pathfinders are all about braving the terrors of hyperspace to help people: what happens when hyperspace itself becomes the terror? And while visiting Batuu, 3PO calls Artoo a “Clumsy Camtono of Cogs,” which is a new low, even for him. Also, we chat about last week’s Fall of Kylo Ren news, and of course, MandoGrogu Hosted by Matthew Neugebauer https://instagram.com/mneug1138            ...

Issue 172 A grizzled journalist emerges from his cave, Vario shows his tough side, and Maul finally makes his first moves on Janix. Hosted by Matthew Neugebauer https://instagram.com/mneug1138             and Chris Abbott https://x.com/starrapter⁠ https://youtube.com/starrapter   Star Wars Underworld Podcast Network ⁠ https://thetractorbeam.bsky.social   https://instagram.com/theswu     https://di...

Issue 171 The Rogue Clones plant the seeds of freedom for the Bad Batch, who still have a job to do. So do Cassian Andor and the Shadow Lord, who won’t let the Empire get in their way. Hosted by Matthew Neugebauer https://instagram.com/mneug1138             and Chris Abbott https://x.com/starrapter⁠ https://youtube.com/starrapter   Star Wars Underworld Podcast Network ⁠ https://thetractorbeam.bsky...

Issue 170 Look what the Tractor Beam hauled in! A pair of Maul: Shadow Lord episodes! Maul lets the power of his painful past drive his fight for the future, while Devon learns the hard way that killing what you hate probably won’t save anyone. Hosted by Matthew Neugebauer https://instagram.com/mneug1138             and Chris Abbott https://x.com/starrapter⁠ https://youtube.com/starrapter   Reside...

Issue 169 Leia, Luke and Vader all walk into a bar on Batuu… Ok that’s not what happened but it sounds like a fun joke, right? This week we travel back to Black Spire to find out just what our legacy heroes and villains were up to. As always, Dok Ondar finds himself right in the middle of it. Oh and we’re definitely talking more Maul: Shadow Lord too! Hosted by Matthew Neugebauer https://instagram...

Issue 168 This Shadow of Maul comic is everything a tie-in should be. Within days of seeing Janix’s crime lords on screen, we see the mounting tensions in the planet’s underworld that give Lawson such a headache, and Maul such a glorious opportunity. Going back to the Clone Wars, another monster lurks in the shadows- is General Grievous merely Dooku’s killing machine, or can he be a master of his...

Issue 167 We’re right into “Phase More” of the High Republic! George Mann and co. take us back to that intriguing idea that didn’t get much air time: Pathfinder teams! What dangers and struggles confront these adventurous bands of Jedi and engineers far from the safety of the Republic? Hosted by Matthew Neugebauer https://instagram.com/mneug1138             and Chris Abbott https://x.com/starrapte...

Issue 166 Maul’s reign of darkness continues! But not before Captain Lawson has something to say about it. This week we’re breaking down the opening issue of Marvel’s awesome tie-in to next month’s animated series, Maul: Shadow Lord. We also catch up with the Bad Batch and their Clone Wars adventures in Rogue Agents! Hosted by Matthew Neugebauer https://instagram.com/mneug1138             and Chri...

Issue 165 Star Wars (2025) has come to an end. Luke, Rynn, Han, Beilert, Leia and Mon Mothma make a final plea for the Nagai soul. Of course, Reyna Oskure has lots to say about that! This week we talk about that final issue, as well as the whole 10-issue run. Was it too short, too long, or too…complicated? What worked, and what showed potential? Oh and in more exciting news…we have news! Rogue One...

Issue 164 Yes, you read that title right. Ahmed Best and Marc Guggenheim have finally given our favourite Gungan his due. *And* in a team-up with Best’s tyranny-kicking Jedi character, Kelleran Beq. We neeeeeds to knowsa what happens next, okeyday?!?! Hosted by Matthew Neugebauer https://instagram.com/mneug1138             and Chris Abbott https://x.com/starrapter⁠ https://youtube.com/starrapter  ...

Issue 163 We’re back and ready to chat about Star Wars comics…news! Author Benjamin Percy reveals fresh details about the upcoming Shadow of Maul tie-in comic, we get an update on the state of the all-ages license, and Charles Soule’s newsletter hints at the “always-in-motion” future. We’ll also join the podcastariat with thoughts on the leadership transitions at Lucasfilm and Disney. Hosted by Ma...

Issue 162  The Nagai conflict comes to a head as our main crew finally arrives on the embattled species’ ruined homeworld. Will Luke, Rynn, Han and Beilert catch up with Reyna Oskure once and for all? Hosted by Matthew Neugebauer https://instagram.com/mneug1138             and Chris Abbott https://x.com/starrapter⁠ https://youtube.com/starrapter   Star Wars Underworld Podcast Network ⁠ https://the...

Issue 161 The long-awaited finale of Charles Soule’s Legacy of Vader is here, and it is *everything*. Kylo Ren has spent so much time confronting his family origins that all he has left is to confront himself, and confront the Force. But what does the Force say to him in reply? We also look at the final issue of Han Solo: Hunt for the Falcon, which sees Ben’s father confront his own past for the s...

Issue 160 The holiday season is in the rear-view mirror, but we have a trio of comics to catch up on this week- Kit Fisto gives us his classic grin…twice, the Bad Batch run into another clone unit stepping onto their turf, and Boba Fett has opinions but he ain’t sharing them… Hosted by Matthew Neugebauer https://instagram.com/mneug1138             and Chris Abbott https://x.com/starrapter⁠ https:/...

Issue 159 We bring 2025 to a close with a number of stories about transcending darkness: Kai Brightstar; Qui-Gon Jinn; Leia, Rey and Finn; and a rare spark of kindness in Niima Outpost. It’s a ray of hope going into 2026, with the Shadow of Maul and shadows of uncertainty lurking around the corner…. Hosted by Matthew Neugebauer https://instagram.com/mneug1138             and Chris Abbott https://x...

Issue 158 It’s an all-sequel-era Tractor Beam! Poe *finally* finishes his Codebreaker mission. Han *finally* tells us how he really feels. Kylo Ren *finally* refuses to let “potential” keep him from his destiny. Hosted by Matthew Neugebauer https://instagram.com/mneug1138             and Chris Abbott https://x.com/starrapter⁠ https://youtube.com/starrapter   Resident #Sequelist Joel Davis https://...

Issue 157 Boba Fett’s quest to settle a score takes a cult-like turn, giving us more Bomarr Monks than we ever thought possible! Also, Marvel’s February 2026 solicits are out, giving us some answers (JAR JAR!) and more questions about the future of Star Wars comics. Hosted by Matthew Neugebauer https://instagram.com/mneug1138             and Chris Abbott https://x.com/starrapter⁠ https://youtube.c...

Issue 156 The sins of Qui-Gon’s past – and of his master – call in their debt. But decades later, the Resistance against the First Order remembers the Jedi quite differently…. Hosted by Matthew Neugebauer https://instagram.com/mneug1138             and Chris Abbott https://x.com/starrapter⁠ https://youtube.com/starrapter   Star Wars Underworld Podcast Network ⁠ https://thetractorbeam.bsky.social  ...

Issue 155 Can Kit Fisto and Nahdar get to the bottom of what’s sinking the station? Can Luke singlehandedly broker peace in the Fenril Sector? Can Chewie save Han and Leia’s marriage? A little bit of column a, a little bit of column b… Hosted by Matthew Neugebauer https://instagram.com/mneug1138             and Chris Abbott https://x.com/starrapter⁠ https://youtube.com/starrapter   Star Wars Under...

Issue 154 Kylo Ren, although he doesn’t know it, is on his own hunt for Ben Solo. Boba Fett hunts a strange bounty, and the Crimson Corsair hunts a magic psychosis spacefish. Hosted by Matthew Neugebauer https://instagram.com/mneug1138             and Chris Abbott https://x.com/starrapter⁠ https://youtube.com/starrapter   Resident Sequelist Joel Davis https://jid20234.bsky.social   Star Wars Under...

Issue 153 The Nightlander takes Luke and Leia on a trip, Aphra goes on a family adventure, and Kelleran Beq makes his long-awaited return! Hosted by Matthew Neugebauer https://instagram.com/mneug1138             and Chris Abbott https://x.com/starrapter⁠ https://youtube.com/starrapter   Star Wars Underworld Podcast Network ⁠ https://thetractorbeam.bsky.social   https://instagram.com/theswu     htt...

Issue 152 Empires rise, underwater stations collapse, but love conquers all. Who is Ben Solo, anyway? Hosted by Matthew Neugebauer https://instagram.com/mneug1138             and Chris Abbott https://x.com/starrapter⁠ https://youtube.com/starrapter   Resident Sequelist Joel Davis https://jid20234.bsky.social   Star Wars Underworld Podcast Network ⁠ https://thetractorbeam.bsky.social   https://inst...