October is set to be an eventful month, as my wife and I finally will have our postponed wedding ceremony and go on our honeymoon, and maybe celebrate my birthday in there somewhere! So it’s little anxiety inducing for me to see that it’ll also be an eventful month for Star Wars comics: The High Republic era deals with some shocking events in the most recent novel releases, while the months-long epic mega crossover event War of the Bounty Hunters comes to its conclusion in October, where it promises to change the status quo of Star Wars comics. Will it live up to such hype? What will this new status quo be? Will it involve Qi’ra?! Will I stop asking questions and just get to the October 2021 Solicitations for Star Wars comics below? YES!
{I’ll make sure to update this with release dates/story order for War of the Bounty Hunters crossover issues by 7/22/21 when the full solicitations release!}
UPDATE 1: War of the Bounty Hunters crossover issues are now in release order, though their original order was almost spot on!
UPDATE 2: IDW’s NEXT big month has been included below as well!
UPDATE 3: Several Marvel release dates slipped, likely due to their switch in distributors.
MARVEL
The High Republic – Trail of Shadows #1 (On Sale 10/13)
Daniel José Older (Writer), Dave Wachter (Artist)
Cover by David López | Variant Cover by Ario Anindito | Variant Cover by Julian Tedesco
JEDI KNIGHT AND PRIVATE EYE TEAM UP TO UNCOVER A MYSTERY
THAT WILL CHANGE THE HIGH REPUBLIC FOREVER!
A Jedi Master is dead. Another is in a state of complete shock. It’s a murder the likes of which the Jedi Order has never seen before. There are no leads. There are no suspects. There is no motive. But Jedi Investigator EMERICK CAPHTOR must solve the case before it’s too late. The fate of the Jedi, the Hutts, the Nihil and everyone in the galaxy, hangs by this tangled thread of lies and deceit. Emerick will need to dive into the darkness, testing himself and his Jedi ideals like never before. He’ll need help. Luckily, Private Eye SIAN HOLT lives in the dark. Together, they’ll follow this trail of shadows wherever it leads. If they can work together, that is.
Originally revealed in the third The High Republic Show back in May, the blurb for this mystery miniseries had Emerick Caphtor and Sian Holt investigating a mystery with ties to the Jedi Order, and now we know what it is: the death of a Jedi Master! Let’s just say, it’s 100% spoilers for The Rising Storm, the second adult novel that released as part of the era’s Phase 1, Wave II push at the end of June, as I have no doubt in my mind it’s about a certain character’s death, which I won’t spoil here but you can read about in my review if you’d like. Without saying too much, if these two characters can solve what happened to the Jedi Master, it’s going to be a big deal indeed, as it’ll reveal to the larger galaxy the depth of Marchion Ro’s plans and will maybe give us readers more insights to it as well. Friday July 23 hosts a SDCC The High Republic panel so we might get more details on Trail of Shadows and likely discussion of those spoilers I was warning you about earlier. Either way, I’m eager to meet Sian Holt, as private eye characters are always a favorite and we’ve not had enough in the Star Wars universe.
The High Republic #10 (on sale 10/20)
Cavan Scott (Writer), Ario Anindito (Artist)
Cover by Phil Noto | Variant Cover by Georges Jeanty | Variant Cover by Caspar Wijngaard
A NEW STORY BEGINS THIS ISSUE – THE SHADOW OF THE NIHIL!
- Following the terrible events of The Rising Storm, the villainous NIHIL are in retreat, hunted by THE JEDI.
- WAYSEEKER KNIGHT ORLA JARENI is attacked by a lone Nihil Stormship in deep space, a Stormship commanded by one of the Jedi’s own.
- Which of STARLIGHT BEACON’S number have joined the Nihil Horde? And how far will they turn from the Light?
As of this writing, this solicit is actually the same as the one in September’s solicits for issue #9 of the series, so either it was an error or they’re just reusing it to avoid spoilers at this time. Though this cover and the previous one are spoilers of sorts themselves, though whereas issue #9 just shockingly had Keeve Trennis in Nihil garb, now issue #10 has Keeve and Ceret or Terec!?! I do find it interesting Caspar Wijngaard’s variant cover features Avar Kriss and Myarga, the Hutt she’s allied herself with in the current fight against the Drengir…I wonder what’s going on with those two!
War of the Bounty Hunters #5 (On sale 10/13)
Charles Soule (Writer), Luke Ross (Artist)
Cover by Steve McNiven | Variant Cover by by Carlo Pagulayan | Action Figure Variant Cover by John Tyler Christopher | Bounty Hunter Handbook Variant Cover by Ron Frenz | Trading Card Variant Cover by John Cassaday | Carbonite Variant Cover by Steve McNiven | Boba Always Gets His Bounty Variant Cover by Steve McNiven
THE ULTIMATE FINALE! THE BIGGEST EVENT OF THE YEAR
CHANGES THE FACE OF THE GALAXY!
- Everything and everyone in the galaxy is against bounty hunter BOBA FETT, from Sith Lords to Hutt rulers to the mysterious CRIMSON DAWN.
- He can’t succeed. There’s no way he can regain HAN SOLO, escape the bounties on his head, and survive to get his prize to JABBA THE HUTT and get paid. But HAN SOLO belongs to him, and no one will take him away.
- With a shocker of an ending that sets up a revolutionary new status quo for STAR WARS COMICS!
We’re only two issues into this miniseries, but 2 and half months of crossover material, and it’s been going rather well so far, though it’s hard for me to imagine what could happen here that’ll set up a ‘revolutionary new status quo for Star Wars comics’ but I am eager to see what it could be because that’s quite the promise to live up to! Is it all just bluster, hyperbole? Or will it really mean a new status quo? I just really hope it means Qi’ra is back for more than just this crossover, that she survives it and we get even more content with her going forward, because I honestly think that’s the far more exciting outcome for all of this. Also, how will they keep the secret about what’s next for Star Wars comics in the upcoming solicitations? Consider me eager for the answers to all these questions…and more!
War of the Bounty Hunters — IG-88 #1 (on sale 10/13)
Wu Chul Lee (Writer), Guiu Vilanova (Artist)
Cover by Mahmud Asrar | Variant Cover by Caspar Wijngaard | Variant Cover by Ray-Anthony Height | Bounty Hunter Handbook Variant Cover Ron Frenz | Carbonite Variant Cover by Mahmud Asrar
NO ONE CAN DEFEAT IG-88! WAR OF THE BOUNTY HUNTERS TIE-IN!
IG-88 is an advanced assassin droid designed for death, destruction, and mayhem. Its weapons systems are unparalleled, its design flawless. Yet the galaxy’s most sinister droid bounty hunter can still fail. What motivates IG-88’s resurrection time and time again? Is it programming or something…more? And can IG-88 find a strategy to overcome its old foe, Boba Fett?! Rodney Barnes’ and Guiu Vilanova’s one-shot is the fourth of four action-packed “War of the Bounty Hunters” tie-ins about the criminal underworld’s most notorious hunters and scoundrels, all told by the best STAR WARS writers and illustrators in the galaxy.
IG-88 blasts his way to front and center in the final one-shot of the crossover and hopefully it’s a meatier appearance than his cameo in the Darth Vader comic in June. What I’m really looking forward to is instead Deva Lompop, a bounty hunting character from the High Republic era that’ll be featured in each of these one-shots. After the preview for the first one, I’m already hooked on the character!
Star Wars #18 (on sale 10/13)
Charles Soule (Writer), Ramon Rosanas (Artist)
Cover by Carlo Pagulayan | Variant Cover by Leinil Francis Yu | Bounty Hunter Handbook Variant Cover Ron Frenz | Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary Variant Cover by Chris Sprouse | Carbonite Variant Cover by Carlo Pagulayan | Action Figure Variant Cover by John Tyler Christopher
“COLLISION COURSE”
- Reeling from the events on JEKARA and forced to confront the reality of her own choices and losses, LEIA ORGANA meets QI’RA to discuss the person they both have in common – heroic smuggler HAN SOLO!
- How has he influenced their lives to that point?
- And how will it change their fate moving forward?
Look at that cover!! And look at that solicit: Leia and Qi’ra finally meeting!!! Now that’s a conversation I cannot believe we’ll get to see happen but am so damn glad it will. Will Qi’ra help Leia come to embrace her feelings for Han? Will Qi’ra find Leia to be worthy? As of this writing, there aren’t any release dates attached to these solicits, so the real question is, when does this issue release in relation to the rest? This might be the first hint Qi’ra will make it out of the crossover alive! Hopefully these two women talk about more than Han though.
Doctor Aphra #15 (on sale 10/13)
Alyssa Wong (Writer), Minkyu Jung (Artist)
Cover by Sara Pichelli | Bounty Hunter Handbook Variant Cover by Ron Frenz | Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary Variant Cover by Chris Sprouse | Carbonite Variant Cover by Sara Pichelli
“PARTY FAVORS”
- CRIMSON DAWN is back, and DOCTOR APHRA is trapped aboard their ship!
- What treasures lie aboard the VERMILLION?
- And what price will Aphra have to pay to obtain them?
The price better not be the growing reconciliation between Sana and Aphra or else I WILL BE VERY UNHAPPY DURING MY WEDDING/HONEYMOON/BIRTHDAY MONTH! Don’t you dare, Alyssa Wong! I will have to write a sternly written letter if it happens. But really, I am here for what Wong writes, as she’s done a truly exceptional job with my favorite character so far and I trust her with wherever she takes Chelli and co!
Darth Vader #17 (on sale 10/20)
Greg Pak (Writer), Raffaele Ienco (Artist)
Cover by Aaron Kuder | Bounty Hunter Handbook Variant Cover by Ron Frenz | Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary Variant Cover by Chris Sprouse | Carbonite Variant Cover by Aaron Kuder
“JUST REWARDS”
- Throughout the search for HAN SOLO, DARTH VADER has carved his way through shadows, unraveling mysteries cloaked in deceptions and betrayal.
- Now Vader finally takes care of all his business in this blockbuster conclusion to the WAR OF THE BOUNTY HUNTERS story arc.
- But is he the true master of betrayal in this tale? Or is there another?
Well, this is about as vague and obtuse as you can get, so what all goes down in this arc and the overall crossover they are trying to avoid talking about?!? I also want to know how much closer the story is to the start of Return of the Jedi afterwards, as in how long this crossover’s story lasts in-universe, as that might dictate how much of this series we have left.
Bounty Hunters #17 (on sale 10/27)
Ethan Sacks (Writer), Paolo Villanelli (Artist)
Cover by Giuseppe Camuncoli | Bounty Hunter Handbook Variant Cover by Ron Frenz | Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary Variant Cover by Chris Sprouse | Carbonite Variant Cover by Giuseppe Camuncoli
“LAST STAND”
- Severely wounded, VALANCE must make a desperate escape attempt from an Imperial Star Destroyer.
- Will T’ONGA and her crew reach him in time?
- Plus: A shocking twist that will leave the survivors’ lives forever altered!
Events seem headed towards a guess of mine from my review of issue #14 of the Bounty Hunters series: Valance will make the ultimate sacrifice sometime during this crossover. There’s some precedence for such a move from him, thanks to Legends, and I can’t think of a better way for the character to honor his debt to Han Solo. Otherwise, T’onga and crew still going strong is exactly the kind of details I’m here for.
IDW
The High Republic Adventures #9 (on sale 10/6)
Daniel José Older (Writer), Toni Bruno (Artist)
Cover by Harvey Tolibao | Variant Cover by Megan Levens
The Padawans are off on another mission! This time to Takodana, to assist the lone Jedi defending the local Jedi temple against the ever-growing threat of the Nihil. But Qort has trouble focusing when he comes face to face with his own past amidst new dangers and old allies.
The fact it only became clear after this month’s issue that Qort has been wearing a mask this whole time, I think his past will offer quite the story to uncover, while I now see what Older did there with this solicit: “face to face” so maybe we’ll see Qort without his mask?!
Ghosts of Vader’s Castle #3 (on sale 10/6)
Cavan Scott (Writer), Francesco Francavilla, Robert Hack (Artists)
Cover & B&W Cover by Francesco Francavilla | Cover by Derek Charm
In issue #3, catch up with Hudd and Skritt! Hudd has been dreaming of the Spirit of the Swamp, a gilled monster that terrorizes Dagobah! The GHOST OF VADER’S CASTLE are in all corners of the galaxy…
Ghosts of Vader’s Castle #4 (on sale 10/13)
Cavan Scott (Writer), Francesco Francavilla, Chris Fenoglio (Artists)
Cover & B&W Cover by Francesco Francavilla | Cover by Derek Charm
In issue #4, Lina’s dreams are visited by the ghost of the galaxy’s most threatening villain! The GHOSTS OF VADER’S CASTLE are looming closer…
Ghosts of Vader’s Castle #5 (on sale 10/20)
Cavan Scott (Writer), Francesco Francavilla (Artist)
Cover & B&W Cover by Francesco Francavilla | Cover by Derek Charm
In the final Vader’s Castle tale, Lina, Hudd, Skritt, and Jaxxon race to Mustafar to save Milo and Crater. Will the group be able to fight the ghosts that still haunt the castle, or will the galaxy forever be bound to suffer from the wrath of the GHOSTS OF VADER’S CASTLE?
I can’t believe all the Vader’s Castle fun comes to end this year…but never say never with spooky tales, as I’m sure they’ll find another way to scare us in the future thanks to more fun comics like this.
Star Wars Adventures #11 {Vol. 2} (on sale 10/20)
Cavan Scott, Anne Tool (Writers), Manuel Bracchi, Nick Brokenshire (Artists)
Cover A by Francesco Francavilla | Cover B by Nick Brokenshire
Commanded by Luke Skywalker, Rogue Squadron tangles with the Empire in the Outer Rim, but the young Jedi has more than Imperial TIE fighters to deal with. New recruit Myra Chimor just won’t listen to orders. Can the hot-headed pilot learn how to fly as part of a team or will her need to go it alone lead to disaster? Cavan Scott joines Manuel Bracchi for the beginning of a two-part X-wing adventure, “SQUAD GOALS”!
Then, in “BUBO’S ADVENTURE,” by Anne Toole and Nick Brokenshire, Ree-Yees has lost Jabba the Hutt’s beloved pet, Buboicullaar! Explore every inch of the filthy Hutt barge with Ree-Yees as he faces to find Bubo before Jabba can toss him off the ship!
Cavan Scott never takes a break, somehow, and yet we are better for it, as how cool is it he’s giving us a two-part X-wing tale?! I cannot wait to have Rogue Squadron back in comics, if just for a little bit. And for the “Tales of Villainy” let’s just say it doesn’t sound villainous but it does sound a lot like a Where’s Waldo and I really hope that’s what the pages of this actually are!
The High Republic Adventures – The Monster of Temple Peak #3 (on sale 10/27)
Cavan Scott (Writer), Rachael Stott (Artist and Cover Artist)
The time has come—Ty has reached the Gretalx layer and now she must do what she does best: slay the beast! But during the battle, her rusty Force powers trigger a cave in, trapping her and Drewen with the monster. As the Gretalax and Rock Weavers close in on the pair, Ty feels an unexpected presence in the Force…
Did this mean lair or layer!? All kidding aside, Ty’s story looks to be an intense one and I’m very curious to learn who this unexpected presence in the Force is…maybe relating to why she left the Jedi Order many years before?! Read more about her in The Rising Storm and Race to Crashpoint Tower!
2021 Comic Solicitations: January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September
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.