Saturday Morning Panels: Special Edition – The Festival of Lightsabers

Hello and welcome back to Saturday Morning Panels! You know the drill. Each week the Multiversity staff lovingly scours the new releases to find you, our dear reader, our favorite panels and moments. And we have a fantastic line up for you this week!

This week, we’re celebrating all things Hanukkah and Star Wars with an eight day celebration called the Festival of Lightsabers. We have many fun things planned including giveaways, special editions of our podcasts, and a fun watchalong of the Star Wars Holiday Special tomorrow afternoon.  Saturday Morning Panels is also getting in the spirit, as we asked our staff to share their favorite Hanukkah and Star Wars moments from comics.

So kick-back, watch out for spoilers, and talk about your favorites in the comments section below! Stay safe, wash your hands, and support your local comic shop (from a safe social distance).

And to all our Jewish friends, “Chag Urim Sameach!”

“52” #33: There better have been applesauce and sour cream, Kate. You gotta give Renee the full treatment. – Elias Rosner

“Age of X-Man: Apocalypse & the X-tracts” #1: There is so much wrong with this image, like Kitty BLOWING OUT THE CANDLES???? on a decidedly not kosher Menorah but at least the trivia of there being two different kinds of Menorahs is right; 7 is the traditional one from the temple whereas the 9 is commemorative of the holiday and called a Chanukiah. – Elias Rosner

“Black Cat” #4: Really, as a Jewish comic book fan, I just like little touches like this that acknowledge Ben Grimm’s faith. – Robbie Pleasant

”Chewbacca” #1: I accept this interpretation wholeheartedly, and want to see Chewie’s interpretation of the other films, please. – Greg Ellner

“Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith” #1: Good. Let the hate flow through you. – Elias Rosner

“DC’s Very Merry Multiverse” #1: The least you could’ve done is having her munch on some Chinese food. No movies this year but it ain’t Christmas in a New York Jew’s household without Chinese food. – Elias Rosner

“DC’s Very Merry Multiverse” #1: I want to be furious that King used the King James translation but considering it’s a non-canonical book for Jews, and it’s the most easily found translation of the Greek, I’ll give it a pass, thought not for making me think it was quoting some New Testament verse with all this Judas shit. Just say Judah. It’s closer to Yehudah, dude. – Elias Rosner

“Empyre: Aftermath Avengers” #1: I sincerely hope the same, Rabbi. And not just because I always appreciate Jewish representation in comics. – Robbie Pleasant

“Fantastic Four” Vol. 3, #56: Wanted to get serious for a sec. OK, I know it’s not a Chanukah special but when reading most Marvel & DC comics lately, or watching the films/TV shows, I feel like Hiram here. It’s not a fun feeling. This has been your quarterly Jewish guilt, courtesy of Rav Hiram. – Eias Rosner

“Marauders” #12: A second serving of Jewish representation this week? I’ll take it! – Robbie Pleasant

“Marvel Holiday Special 1992” #1: See Tom, even Peter got that it’s not Judas Maccabee. – Elias Rosner

“Marvel Holiday Special” (2011): Still the GOAT for Hannukah in superhero comics – Christopher Chiu-Tabet

“Runaways” #16: No one makes Doom set down his potatoes! – Robbie Pleasant

Continued below

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“Star Wars” (2015) #13: Cue Benny Hill music. – Greg Ellner

“Star Wars” (2015) #35: Jabba heated up the oil too much for the latkes and they burnt. Rookie mistake. – Elias Rosner

“Star Wars” (2015) #74: On one hand, the dark lord of the Sith, with all the powers of the Force. On the other hand, a Wookie with a big rock. I like Chewie’s odds. – Robbie Pleasant

“Star Wars” (2020) #9: Chewie, you’re on mute. – Kate Kosturski

“Star Wars Age of Rebellion: Tarkin” #1: I get the feeling this scene probably won’t wind up in the movies any time soon, CGI or not. – Robbie Pleasant

“Star Wars: Darth Vader” #20: Vader doesn’t have to stand on the back like that, you know. He’s just doing it to be dramatic. —Robbie Pleasant

“Star Wars: Doctor Aphra” #6: Family bonding, Aphra style – Kate Kosturski

“Star Wars: Doctor Aphra” #22: Yes, yes it is. And it’s moments like this that make Dr. Aphra my favorite new addition to the Star Wars universe. – Robbie Pleasant

“Star Wars: Doctor Aphra” #32: This is filed under “other duties as assigned.” – Kate Kosturski

“Star Wars: Doctor Aphra” #39: Remember that scene in Rogue One where Vader just cuts through a team of rebels? Those will be the lucky ones by the time this is over. – Robbie Pleasant

“Star Wars: Doctor Aphra” (2020) #1: With the abstract art behind him resembling wings, all I could think of was: Icarus. – Kate Kosturski

“Uncanny X-Men” #143: This kind of relatability is why I come to comics about Kitty/Kate Pryde. What a good egg. – Elias Rosner