Welcome to Get Psyched On It! This is the stuff we’re psyched about and why we you think should be, too!
This is it, this is the year of Star Wars. On December 18th a new chapter in the Star Wars saga begins with Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Set some 30 years after Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, The Force Awakens will see the return of Luke, Leia, and Han, plus a whole new cast of younglings to carry on the franchise.
These new Star Wars films – including several solo, spinoff films in addition to Episodes VII-IX – are happening thanks to Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm. As of 2009, Disney also gained control of Marvel, and in a move that surprised no one, announced at this year’s SDCC that a new line of Star Wars comics were coming from Marvel in 2015. And that new era of Marvel Star Wars comics begins next week with the release of Star Wars #1. Are you excited? Well, you should be!
For years the Star Wars comic book license had been held by Dark Horse Comics, where many, many excellent series set within a galaxy far, far away were published. Yet, if you’re still relatively new to comics like myself (I’ve only been actively reading for about five years.) you may not have found the time or the right Dark Horse Star Wars title to jump in. These new books from Marvel, however, should prove more inviting.
Marvel’s Star Wars comics will pick up events right after Episode IV: A New Hope – y’know, just Star Wars to you longtime fans – and promise to be great jumping on points for fans old and new. There will be a flagship book simply called, Star Wars, that will feature Luke predominately, but expect the whole cast to make appearances. There will also be two solo titles releasing in February and March – Darth Vader and Princess Leia – which will focus on those character’s particular journeys after the destruction of the Death Star.
And if new Star Wars comics from a powerhouse publisher like Marvel wasn’t enough to get you excited, each book has a killer creative team. You’ve got Jason Aaron and John Cassaday on Star Wars, Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larroca on Darth Vader, and Mark Waid and Terry Dodson on Princess Leia. Marvel is not playing around, are they?
Read the full solicits for all three of Marvel’s upcoming Star Wars comics below.
JASON AARON
• JOHN CASSADAY (A/C)
THE GREATEST SPACE ADVENTURE OF ALL TIME RETURNS TO MARVEL!
Luke Skywalker and the ragtag band of rebels fighting against the Galactic Empire are fresh off their biggest victory yet—the destruction of the massive battle station known as the Death Star. But the Empire’s not toppled yet! Join Luke along with Princess Leia, smugglers Han Solo and Chewbacca, droids C-3PO and R2-D2 and the rest of the Rebel Alliance as they strike out for freedom against the evil forces of Darth Vader and his master, the Emperor. Written by Jason Aaron (Original Sin, Thor: God of Thunder) and with art by John Cassaday (Astonishing X-Men, Uncanny Avengers), this is the Star Wars saga as only Marvel Comics could make it!
Star Wars #1 releases on January 14th, 2015. At 48 pages in length, it will retail for $4.99.
KIERON GILLEN
Covers by ADI GRANOVThe original Dark Lord of the Sith stars in his first ongoing series!
Ever since Darth Vader made his first on-screen appearance, he became the one of the most popular villains to ever haunt an audience’s dreams! Now, follow Vader straight from the ending of A NEW HOPE (and the pages of the new STAR WARS comic book) into his own series, showing the Empire’s war with the Rebel Alliance from the other side! Writer Kieron Gillen (Uncanny X-Men, Journey Into Mystery, Iron Man) and artist Salvador Larroca (Invincible Iron Man, X-Men: No More Humans) bring us a peek behind the mask of evil!
Star Wars: Darth Vader #1-2 (of 5) releases in February 2015. Issue #1 is 48 pages in length and retails for $4.99, #2 is 32 pages in length and retails for $3.99.
MARK WAID
When Princess Leia Organa was captured by the Empire as a Rebel spy, she never betrayed her convictions, even in the face of the complete destruction of her home world, Alderaan. When her rescue came, she grabbed a blaster and joined the fight, escaping back to the Rebel Alliance and helping strike the biggest blow against the Empire—the destruction of the Death Star. But in the aftermath of that victory, the question remains…what is a princess without a world? Writer Mark Waid (Daredevil, S.H.I.E.L.D.) and artist Terry Dodson (Avengers & X-Men: Axis, Uncanny X-Men) bring us a story of Leia’s quest to help her people and find her place in the galaxy.
Star Wars: Princess Leia #1-2 (of 5) releases in March 2015. Both issues will be 32 pages in length, retailing at $3.99 each.
So, which of Marvel’s upcoming Star Wars titles are you most excited to read? Personally, I’ll be checking out all three, but I’m most pumped to read what Waid and Dodson have in store for Leia. Though, Gillen’s a favorite writer of mine and there’s no doubt I’m intrigued by what he’ll bring to Lord Vader. Oh, who am I kidding? I’m excited for any and all new things Star Wars! Let the year of Star Wars begin!
Kabooooom! 