Star Wars (2015 comic book)

Last updated
Star Wars
Star Wars Vol 2-001 (2015).jpg
Issue #1 cover (January 2015)
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
ScheduleMonthly
Format Ongoing series
Genre
Publication dateJanuary 2015 – present
No. of issues75 + Annuals #1-4 (2015)
41 (2020)
Creative team
Written by
Artist(s)
Collected editions
Skywalker Strikes ISBN   0-7851-9213-1
Showdown on the Smuggler's Moon ISBN   0-7851-9214-X
Vader Down ISBN   0-7851-9789-3
Rebel Jail ISBN   0-7851-9983-7
Last Flight of the Harbinger ISBN   0-7851-9984-5
Yoda's Secret War ISBN   1-3029-0265-2
The Screaming Citadel ISBN   1-3029-0678-X
Out Among the Stars ISBN   1-3029-0553-8
The Ashes of Jedha ISBN   1-3029-1052-3
Mutiny at Mon Cala ISBN   1-3029-1053-1
Hope Dies ISBN   1-3029-1054-X
The Escape ISBN   1-3029-1449-9
The Scourging of Shu-Torun ISBN   1-3029-1450-2
Rebels and Rogues ISBN   1-3029-1451-0
Rogues and Rebels ISBN   1-3029-2168-1

Star Wars is an ongoing Star Wars comic series published by Marvel Comics since January 14, 2015. Originally written by Jason Aaron with art by John Cassaday, it is set between the 1977 film Star Wars and its 1980 sequel, The Empire Strikes Back , much like the previous comic published in 2013 by Dark Horse Comics. The series features classic Star Wars characters Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, C-3PO , and R2-D2. It was one of three new Star Wars comics by Marvel announced in July 2014, along with Darth Vader and the limited series Princess Leia .

Contents

It marks the return of the Star Wars license to Marvel Comics, and the first instance of the latter publishing the former's material since the original comic book adaptation back in 1977, as well as its adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back in 1980-to-1981, before the rights were sold to Dark Horse Comics in 1991-to-2014, until The Walt Disney Company bought out Lucasfilm and its subsidiaries in 2012 (having bought out Marvel Entertainment the year prior) and Dark Horse relinquished the rights back to Marvel in 2015 (but not before publishing their final title with the license, Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir ). However, in 2022, Lucasfilm and Marvel would enact a dual distribution deal with both IDW Publishing and Dark Horse Comics to publish new Star Wars comic series again.

In 2017, Aaron stepped down as the comic's writer and was replaced by Kieron Gillen, while the art was taken over by Salvador Larroca. In 2019, Marvel announced that the series will be finished after 75 issues. The series was relaunched with issue #1 on January 1, 2020, continuing the story after the events of The Empire Strikes Back, written by Charles Soule with art by Jesus Saiz.

Plot

The Star Wars series focuses on Luke, Leia and Han's continued conflict against the Galactic Empire with their fellow Rebel allies soon after the destruction of the first Death Star. [1] [2] [3] As the series begins, Leia leads a covert Rebel mission to destroy an Imperial weapons factory, attracting the attention of Darth Vader. In issues #4–5, Luke returns to Tatooine, searching Obi-Wan Kenobi's abandoned house for anything of interest regarding Obi-Wan or his father. He fights Boba Fett but also discovers Obi-Wan's journals, which Luke reads in issues #7, #15, #20, and #26–30. [4] In issue #6, Fett reveals to Vader that the Rebel pilot who destroyed the Death Star is named Skywalker; the issue also introduces Sana Starros, who is dramatically introduced as Han Solo's wife Sana Solo before revealed to be only legally married to him on one planet during a previous scam, after which Han had stolen her cut. [5] [6] She becomes a recurring character. Issues #13–14 are part of the "Vader Down" crossover with the Darth Vader comic series. In issues #16–19, the Rebels enlist the help of antagonist Doctor Aphra. Issues #21–25 involve capturing a Star Destroyer. Issues #26–30 flash back to Yoda's history before the events of The Phantom Menace , as recounted in Obi-Wan's journals. [7] Issues #31–32 are part of "The Screaming Citadel" crossover with the Doctor Aphra series. [8] In issues #38–43, the Rebels fight to prevent the Imperials from obtaining kyber crystals on Jedha. In issues #44–49, they try to recruit Mon Cala to the Rebel cause even as the world experiences local unrest. In issues #50–55, the Mon Calamari, including Admiral Ackbar, join their cause, even as Queen Trios of Shu-Torun betrays them, allowing the Empire to attack. Issues #56–61 sees the Rebellion crippled and scattered. In issues #62–67, Leia strikes back against Queen Trios with the aid of the unorthodox Partisans. The closing story arc, told in issues #68–75, sees the Rebels avoiding Imperial probe droids, getting wrapped up in a crime syndicate's conflict with the Empire, and aiding the rock creatures of an unstable world against Imperial forces led by Vader.

The 2020 relaunch picks up before the epilogue of The Empire Strikes Back , when Lando Calrissian returns to Cloud City to retrieve Lobot and help Luke look for his lightsaber. Unable to locate his old weapon, Luke learns of a High Republic-era Jedi outpost, where he finds a yellow lightsaber and battles the spirit of the Grand Inquisitor. Leia leads the Rebellion (including the parents of Poe Dameron), but their security codes are compromised by the Empire, forcing the Rebels to improvise. Subsequently, in the War of the Bounty Hunters crossover event, the Rebels try to rescue the frozen Han from Crimson Dawn (led by his old flame Qi'ra), but Fett is able to recover his prize and deliver it to Jabba the Hutt. Crimson Dawn's story continues in the Crimson Reign crossover event and the spin-off miniseries Hidden Empire, while the Rebels prepare to mount their last stand against the Empire.

Characters and development

Aaron said in 2014, "We wanted this to feel like the movies. We wanted to feel like we were hired to do the direct sequel to the original film ... It's very much a team book and we've got all the main players here. Luke, Han, Leia, Chewie, the droids, and Darth Vader all get big moments in this first arc, and that's our core cast going forward." [1] He explained that Luke's story is a main thrust of the comic, considering where the character is at this point in the timeline, [1] adding:

"This is all pretty new to him. His world has changed completely. He had this mentor for five minutes who now is dead and leaves him with all these questions about his father, about his history, and where he goes from here, and what’s his role in the grand scheme of things ... He's on this journey of discovery by himself, and he wants to find out more about his father. Meanwhile, Darth Vader's chasing after him trying to find out who's this guy that blew up the Death Star. I like the fact that they’re kind of chasing each other, without realizing the full implication of what they're chasing. Luke’s chasing after his dad while running away from Vader." [1]

Aaron also noted that Han is in "an interesting spot at this point in the timeline ... We don't know how fully committed he is to this Rebellion, and we're in the very early stages of his relationship with Leia ... And of course, you know with Han, eventually his past is going to start catching up to him." [1]

Publication

Artist John Cassaday (left) and writer Jason Aaron (right) at a January 2015 signing at Midtown Comics in Manhattan for Star Wars #1, the first Star Wars comic published by Marvel since 1987. 1.16.15JohnCassadayJasonAaronbyLuigiNovi7.jpg
Artist John Cassaday (left) and writer Jason Aaron (right) at a January 2015 signing at Midtown Comics in Manhattan for Star Wars #1, the first Star Wars comic published by Marvel since 1987.

Star Wars was one of three new Star Wars comics by Marvel announced in July 2014, along with Princess Leia and Darth Vader. [1] [2] [3] The Star Wars comic was set to be written by Jason Aaron and illustrated by John Cassaday, and released in January 2015. [1] [2] [3] Several variant covers were printed for the first issue. [9] [10] [11] Simone Bianchi was the guest artist for issue #7. [12] Stuart Immonen took over as artist with issue #8 in July 2015, [13] completing the series' second story arc through issue #12.

In 2017, Aaron stepped down as the comic's writer and was replaced by Kieron Gillen, while the art was taken over by Salvador Larroca. In 2019, Marvel announced that the series will be finished after 75 issues. [14] The series was relaunched with issue #1 on January 1, 2020, continuing the story after the events of The Empire Strikes Back, written by Charles Soule with art by Jesus Saiz. [15] [16]

Collected editions

Trade paperback

TitleMaterial collectedPublished dateISBN
2015 Series
Star Wars Vol. 1: Skywalker StrikesStar Wars #1–6October 6, 2015 978-0785192138
Star Wars Vol. 2: Showdown on the Smuggler's MoonStar Wars #7–12January 26, 2016 978-0785192145
Star Wars: Vader Down Star Wars #13–14, Star Wars: Vader Down #1, Darth Vader #13–15April 19, 2016 978-0785197898
Star Wars Vol. 3: Rebel JailStar Wars #15–19, Annual #1August 16, 2016 978-0785199830
Star Wars Vol. 4: Last Flight of the HarbingerStar Wars #20–25January 31, 2017 978-0785199847
Star Wars Vol. 5: Yoda's Secret WarStar Wars #26–30, Annual #2July 18, 2017 978-1302902650
Star Wars: The Screaming Citadel Star Wars #31–32, Star Wars: The Screaming Citadel #1, Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #7–8October 24, 2017 978-1302906788
Star Wars Vol. 6: Out Among the StarsStar Wars #33–37, Annual #3December 5, 2017 978-1302905538
Star Wars Vol. 7: The Ashes of JedhaStar Wars #38–43April 17, 2018 978-1302910525
Star Wars Vol. 8: Mutiny at Mon CalaStar Wars #44–49August 7, 2018 978-1302910532
Star Wars Vol. 9: Hope DiesStar Wars #50–55, Annual #4December 25, 2018 978-1302910549
Star Wars Vol. 10: The EscapeStar Wars #56–61April 9, 2019 978-1302914493
Star Wars Vol. 11: The Scourging of Shu-TorunStar Wars #62–67August 13, 2019 978-1302914509
Star Wars Vol. 12: Rebels and RoguesStar Wars #68–72November 19, 2019 978-1302914516
Star Wars Vol. 13: Rogues and RebelsStar Wars #73–75, Empire Ascendant #1March 17, 2020 978-1302921682
Star Wars: From the Journals of Obi-Wan KenobiStar Wars #7, 15, 20, 26–30; and material from Star Wars #37November 10, 2020 978-1302925284
2020 Series
Star Wars Vol. 1: The Destiny PathStar Wars #1–6November 10, 2020 978-1302920784
Star Wars Vol. 2: Operation StarlightStar Wars #7–11April 6, 2021 978-1302920791
Star Wars Vol. 3: War of the Bounty HuntersStar Wars #12–18January 4, 2022 978-1302920807
Star Wars Vol. 4: Crimson ReignStar Wars #19–25September 14, 2022 978-1302926182
Star Wars Vol. 5: The Path To VictoryStar Wars #26–30May 16, 2023 978-1302932749
Star Wars Vol. 6: Quests of the ForceStar Wars #31–36September 26, 2023 978-1302948085

Hardcover

TitleMaterial collectedPublished dateISBN
2015 Series
Star Wars: Volume 1Star Wars #1–12September 20, 2016 978-1302900984
Star Wars: Volume 2Star Wars #15–25, Annual #1June 20, 2017 978-1302903749
Star Wars: Volume 3Star Wars #26–30, 33–37, Annual #2–3July 17, 2018 978-1302909031
Star Wars by Jason Aaron OmnibusStar Wars #1–37, Star Wars: Vader Down #1, Darth Vader #13–15, Star Wars: The Screaming Citadel #1, Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #7–8, Star Wars Annual #1–3May 10, 2022 978-1302934095
Star Wars: The Marvel CoversAll covers for Star Wars #1–6, Darth Vader #1–6, Princess Leia #1–5October 7, 2015 978-0785198383

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