Skeleton Crew is coming out on Disney Plus in just a few weeks, and Star Wars Skeleton Crew shirts are definitely here! In fact, this is back to the usual merch releases for Star Wars Series, with currently about 17 designs released ahead of the series.
And if you’re like me, a child of the 70s and 80s, you’re really digging that 80s vibe right now. Creator Jon Watts has made it clear this show will evoke 80s child adventure classics such as the Goonies and ET. There is definitely some Captain EO in there two, and that little blue guy Neel looks like Hooter.
And if you’re wondering about the phrase “Coming Home” in my title? Well, the trailer features one of my favorite songs as a child, “Major Tom [Coming Home]” by Peter Schilling This song came out in 1983, the same year I became a Star Wars fan when Return of the Jedi came out, so it’s all very special to me. Hearing this song in Huttese has delighted me in ways you don’t even know.
And for a real deep cut, this series also calls to mind Peter Pan, with a droid named SM 33. Get it? Smee? That’s intentional as well. And for a deeper cut, one of Captain EO’s first versions of it’s story had Michael Jackson be a Peter Pan figure [famously, Jackson long loved Peter Pan].
But this blog is about the Star Wars Skeleton Crew shirts. So I’ll get to it. But real quick, I want to call to your attention, a blog a wrote last year about one of the symbols on the kids’ jacket. You can read it here: Omega symbol on Skeleton crew jacket
My first favorite Star Wars Skeleton Crew shirt is the one with the most 80s vibes: KB, Neel, Wim, and SM 33 are in that 80s painted style common to 80s posters. My only quibble is that it’s not quite the same matte feel as those shirts, but I give a B for effort. It’s still pretty.
My second favorite shirt has this lovely set of icons, character silhouettes, and logos, including that Tionese Omega symbol. As I said then, I don’t think Omega will be in this series, but it could represent an easter egg. I love the warm tones of the shirt, it’s perfect for fall.
By far, this Star Wars Skeleton Crew shirt is my absolute favorite. I love the tones of blues and browns. I love seeing the Onyx Cinder (an amazing ship name!), but I love how this looks vaguely like a skull!
You can check out my entire curated collection of Star Wars Skeleton Crew shirts here:
I can’t wait to see what will unfold on Skeleton Crew. It’s high time we saw suburbia in Star Wars, and also Jude Law. I remember back in the 90s, there were rumors (unfounded of course) that Jude Law would be in the Prequel Trilogy. Well, he wasn’t. But who knew over 20 years later he’d be in a Star Wars series? I certainly didn’t.
I will say the only thing these shirts are missing is more Neel. Neel is in these Skeleton Crew shirts, yes. But all Neel would be great. Needs more Neel.