As predicted for the past few months on Laughing Place’s own Star Wars podcast “Who’s the Bossk?” today Marvel Comics announced that its current volumes of the long-running Star Wars and Star Wars: Darth Vader comic books will be coming to an end in September with their respective 50th issues.
What’s happening:
- The current volumes of Star Wars and Star Wars: Darth Vader from Marvel Comics, which launched at the beginning of 2020, will both end with issues #50 in September.
- While this run of comics was set between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, their conclusions will pave the way for Marvel to tackle a “different era” of the Star Wars timeline, though the company has not yet revealed which specific era that might be. My guesses would be either the prequel era or the period just after Return of the Jedi.
- Star Wars #50 will feature a framing story of Jedi Master Luke Skywalker telling his young student Ben Solo about an adventure set during the period of the Galactic Civil War. Darth Vader #50 will see the conclusion of the “Schism Imperial” plotline, as the splinter group finally brings their fight to Emperor Palpatine himself.
- The Star Wars: Doctor Aphra (Vol. II) and Star Wars: Bounty Hunters comics series also concluded earlier this year with issues #40 and #42, respectively.
- Issue #50 of Star Wars and Darth Vader will feature connecting variant covers by artist Giuseppe Camuncoli (pictured above), and “A” covers by Leinil Francis Yu (below).
What they’re saying:
- Marvel Comics: “For nearly five years, Marvel Comics has delivered Star Wars comic book series set in the largely unexplored period between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Across titles like Star Wars, Star Wars: Darth Vader, Star Wars: Doctor Aphra, and Star Wars: Bounty Hunters, fans have experienced the adventures Luke, Leia, Lando, and more iconic heroes embarked on during one of the darkest times for the Rebellion and discovered the trials Darth Vader overcame through during a pivotal turning point in his journey through the dark side. Now, this exciting chapter comes to an end in September with two over-sized epics: STAR WARS #50 and STAR WARS: DARTH VADER #50. Then, later this year, Marvel Comics will take readers to a different era of the galaxy, far, far away. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more information!”
- “Both finale issues will be fifty-page extravaganzas! In Charles Soule and Madibek Musabekov’s STAR WARS #50, Jedi Master Luke Skywalker must teach his student Ben Solo a powerful lesson about the true balance between Light and Dark! He offers up a tale from the days of the Rebel Alliance that touches on multiple eras of Star Wars history, and brings this epic run to a thrilling, incredible climax!”
- “Then, acclaimed writer Greg Pak closes out the longest-running Darth Vader comic series ever alongside artist Raffaele Ienco and more in STAR WARS: DARTH VADER #50. Pak’s run reaches its stunning conclusion as the Dark Heart of the Sith comes full circle! Darth Vader finally unleashes the unfathomable power he's accumulated through the Schism Imperial against the only person in the galaxy he hates more than he hates himself – Emperor Palpatine! Also featuring the final twists in the saga for key characters like Luke, Leia, Sabé, Ochi, the droid ZED-6-7, Sly Moore, the members of the Schism Imperial and more!”
New Star Wars comic books are usually released on a weekly basis from both Marvel Comics and Dark Horse Comics. You can read reviews of all new issues right here at Laughing Place!