You’ll be jolly after checking out December 2022’s Star Wars comics solicitations, as it’s full of High Republic treats, Hidden Empire sweets, and lumps of coal for Doctor Aphra, but we all saw that coming. See all the holiday presents Star Wars comics has in store with the December solicitations below!
Throughout Marvel’s solicitations, you’ll notice Caspar Wijngaard, who did some amazing interior and cover art for Doctor Aphra (2016), is behind a series of Attack of the Clones 20th Anniversary covers! These were revealed earlier this week, so check them out in all their glory, as he manages to bring some heat to some of the film’s most memorable moments or shots. The Star Wars and Darth Vader series, not seen below, will return in January 2023.
MARVEL
Bounty Hunters #29 (on sale 12/7)
Ethan Sacks (Writer), Paolo Villanelli (Artist)
Cover by Giuseppe Camuncoli | Attack of the Clones 20th Anniversary Variant Cover by Caspar Wijngaard
MISSION TO BESTINE IV!
BOSSK VS. TANKA!
- Forced to take on a job for Crimson Dawn, the bounty hunters take on the Empire!
- Valance has a mission of his own, one that will put everyone he cares about in danger!
- What is the dark secret that threatens them all?
I almost forgot where or who Tanka was and came from, but I now recall he was part of the group aligned with Darth Vader as he hunts down Crimson Dawn spies within the Empire. A big Trandoshan battle should be fun to behold in Villanelli’s art, but I’d like to know why it’s even happening in the first place. Elsewhere, I find it sort of funny we just had the issue of Bounty Hunters where we see T’onga struggling with Qi’ra’s offer to work for Crimson Dawn and now we know they will (but it certainly seemed heading that way anyways).
The High Republic – The Blade #2 (on sale 12/7)
Charles Soule (Writer), Marco Castiello (Artist)
Cover by Giuseppe Camuncoli | Variant Cover by David Lopez | Variant Cover by Mico Suayan
UNMATCHED!
- Jedi Master PORTER ENGLE has journeyed with his sister, Barash, to a planet far on the Republic frontier in response to a desperate request for aid.
- They are certain they will succeed. No one in the galaxy fights like Jedi Porter Engle. No warrior can stand against him. No one even comes close.
- They are certain…until they see what awaits them.
In November’s solicit for the opening issue of The High Republic – The Blade, it was revealed Porter Engle was travelling with a Jedi Knight Barash and we knew from a previous convention panel the comic would focus on him and his sister, and now it’s confirmed Barash is his sister. So yes, whatever goes down, whatever horrible, sad thing happens here with Porter’s sister, is the origin of the Barash Vow that Charles Soule introduced in his Darth Vader comic! Maybe an exclamation mark isn’t the right punctuation, as I’m not looking forward to seeing whatever tragedy befalls them, but at the same time I am.
The High Republic #3 – Phase 2 (on sale 12/21)
Cavan Scott (Writer), Ario Anindito (Artist/Cover Artist)
Variant Cover by Marc Laming | Variant Cover by Ema Lupacchino
GUARDIAN NO MORE!
- Vildar and Matty at the mercy of the GUARDIANS OF THE WHILLS!
- The truth about Tey Sirrek revealed.
- Terror is about to strike at the Temple of Kyber!
I’m assuming both Tey Sirrek is the one with the purple, pointy ears, wearing the Guardians of the Whills garb, and his secret is he’s not really a Guardian (maybe a Path of the Open Hand cultist?). How this effects Vildar and Matty, and what terror is about to strike (the Nameless?) makes me absolutely stoked for the return of the full The High Republic initiative with Phase II in October!
Hidden Empire #2 (on sale 12/7)
Charles Soule (Writer), Steven Cummings (Artist)
Cover by Paulo Siqueira |
Battle Variant Cover by Declan Shalvey | Travel Variant Cover by David Lopez | Connecting Variant Cover by Steven Cummings
- The plans of LADY QI’RA to use an ancient Dark Side weapon known as the FERMATA CAGE to destroy the Sith are falling apart, and she has lost many of her primary resources and allies, with DARTH VADER drawing ever nearer.
- Can she salvage victory from certain defeat?
Is the Fermata Cage the hour glass-like object we saw at the end of the Crimson Reign miniseries? And what does it do and how does it work? Sounds like it might not matter much, as Qi’ra’s support system begins to crumble around her! The Travel variant cover (the one with the waterfall) by David Lopez is…wow, chef’s kisses!!!
Doctor Aphra #27 (12/28)
Alyssa Wong (Writer), Minkyu Jung (Artist)
Cover by W. Scott Forbes | Attack of the Clones 20th Anniversary Variant Cover by Caspar Wijngaard
AN UNEASY ALLIANCE!
- DOCTOR CHELLI APHRA has struck a bargain for power!
- Will she be able to pay the terrible cost?
- Or does the crafty doctor have one last trick up her sleeve?
Is she free?! Is she safe?! Is the Spark Eternal defeated?! Or is this bargain for power WITH the Spark Eternal!?! What does Aphra hope to gain? What tricks are up her electro-tattoo sleeves?! There are too many questions and no answers in sight until this issue is out, so for now…let’s rejoice that the murderbots, Triple Zero and Bee Tee ARE ON THE COVER!!! Their return is out there for the galaxy to see. May their chaos reign again.
Han Solo & Chewbacca #8 (on sale 12/28)
Marc Guggenheim (Writer), David Messina (Artist)
Cover by Phil Noto | Variant Cover by Jerry Ordway | Attack of the Clones 20th Anniversary Variant Cover by Caspar Wijngaard
“YOU HURT CHEWIE, YOU’RE GONNA DEAL WITH ME!”
- Chewbacca, Greedo and [REDACTED] have a chance to get their hands on Jabba’s urn.
- Only problem is, it’s now in the clutches of [REDACTED]…How will Chewbacca pull off the greatest heist in the galaxy?
We’re still doing this redacted thing, hey? Well, one of the redacted names we at least know now: Grand Moff Tarkin, being the one who has the urn now! How will that work and how will they steal it back from his iron grip? This maxiseries only has two issues left after this.
Yoda #2 (on sale 12/28)
Cavan Scott (Writer), Nico Leon (Artist)
Cover by Phil Noto | Variant Cover by Todd Nauck | Variant Cover by Y Bengal | Attack of the Clones 20th Anniversary Variant Cover by Caspar Wijngaard
HAS YODA TURNED HIS BACK ON THE GALAXY?
- Why has the legendary Jedi Master abandoned his usual place on Coruscant to settle on a backwater world on the Galactic frontier?
- What lesson does he hope to teach?
- And who will come to his aid when disaster strikes?
We’re still in The High Republic-era set story for this Yoda maxiseries, so I’m curious to see what happened from the last issue that brought Yoda to settle on a backwater world. He’s been known to do that, from time to time, I guess, but I bet this isn’t no Dagobah!
The Mandalorian #6 (on sale 12/14)
Rodney Barnes (Writer), Georges Jeanty (Artist)
Cover by Patrick Gleason| Variant Cover by Rahzzah | Variant Cover by Rickie Yagawa | Concept Art Variant Cover Also Available
THE PRISONER!
The Mandalorian is part of a crew of mercenaries springing a convict from a prison ship.
Here’s our review of “Chapter 6 – The Prisoner” and here’s our reasoning for not covering this comic adaptation in my review of issue #1.
DARK HORSE
Hyperspace Stories #4 (on sale 12/7)
Amanda Deibert (Writer), Lucas Marangon (Artist)
On Kashyyyk, it’s a time of celebration, but is anywhere safe from the Dark Side?
In need of a break from her duties to the Resistance, Rey accepts Chewbacca’s invitation to journey to his home planet for the annual Life Day celebration. But unknown to either of them, this party has a crasher; a vicious bounty hunter dispatched by the First Order!
There’s blasters and battles and Wookiees galore, in Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories #4!
Hyperspace Stories are already off to solid start, and Rey and the Wookiees hanging out is exactly the type of content I live for so I’m very eager for this issue to get here!!
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website on Twitter @MynockManor and Instagram @mynockmanor.