First there was only Marvel in the new canon. Then IDW joined. Later, they left and Dark Horse took their place. And now, emerging as a current third, beyond the manga from Viz Media, is independent comic publisher Mad Cave Studios. Via their Papercutz imprint line, they’ll be bringing all-ages/middle-grade Original Graphic Novels, starting off with stories by Cavan Scott and Greg Pak, later this fall. Head below for more details!
As I discussed heavily in my 2025 Star Wars comics year-in-review, it’s a weird time to be a comics fan. Marvel has limited their output, setting series up for 10 issues at a time, and using sales to cut others down before they can even get there. Dark Horse at least says how many issues each miniseries will get outright, but they have more delays than C-3PO has forms of communication. Their own OGN line, announced in 2023, only had its first release in 2025 and its second is tentatively set for March of this year. So Lucasfilm has turned to and teamed up with Mad Cave Studios, an independent publisher which has been around as long as the Manor, 12 years! Will they be more consistent and how often we’ll get them remains to be seen, but I love to see more stories coming for fans of all-ages. I don’t know if we’ll end up reviewing them here at the Manor (I pulled back on coverage last year and found I liked the balance of my work/site/life better), but I definitely will be checking them out. Or you know, you could always sign up to review them, check our Submissions page for more info!!
The OGN line will consist of two themes, Tales from the Outer Rim and Smugglers and Scoundrels. So expect new authors, artists, stories, and characters to appear as more entries arrive. Their first two entries don’t help the diversity numbers of creatives, as there’s not a single marginalized creative involved, which I thought maybe an independent publisher could avoid but I guess not. Hopefully they change that for future entries.
For starters, there’s Smugglers and Scoundrels: The Race for Jabba’s Bounty, written by Cavan Scott and illustrated by Christian Colbert. It’ll star Jaxxon, of course, and cover the first time he and Han Solo met! It’s out September 15. Here’s the blurb:
Notorious crime boss Jabba the Hutt has lost a precious family heirloom… and he knows just the scoundrels who can help him get it back!
Race to the finish line with some of the galaxy’s most infamous rascals and see who will get their hands on the treasure first! Will it be Han Solo and Chewbacca aboard the trusty Millennium Falcon? Or Han’s old rival, everyone’s favorite fast-talking Lepi, Jaxxon T. Tumperakki, and his lucky Rabbit’s Foot? Or will it be Boba Fett, Greedo, or another competitor who takes the crown?
Find out in this rip-roaring ride full of risky maneuvers, double-crosses, and questionable morals as smugglers and scoundrels from across the galaxy race to recover Jabba’s prize!
And then there’s Tales from the Outer Rim: The Legend of Beggar’s Canyon, written by Greg Pak and art by Brent Schoonover (who is a fellow Green Bay Packers fan, it seems). It’ll cover an adventure in young Luke Skywalker’s life, letting us see him interact with his friends, and enemies, on Tatooine! It’s out October 13. Here’s the blurb:
Return to Tatooine ahead of the 50th anniversary of Star Wars: A New Hope in this all-new graphic novel by comics legend Greg Pak! Encounter womp rats, T-16s, krayt dragons, and more in this action-packed adventure.
Like most kids his age, Luke Skywalker longs for adventure, but growing up on the distant desert planet of Tatooine, he feels more than a little stuck. And with Luke’s best friend, Biggs Darklighter, already daydreaming about leaving to enroll in the Imperial Academy, Luke feels like he’s sinking into a Sarlacc Pit! So he decides it’s time to embark on an unforgettable summer adventure of his own and brave the legendary Beggar’s Canyon!
Some Tatooine locals say Beggar’s Canyon is haunted by terrifying spirits. Others say it’s home to ferocious beasts. Luke, Biggs, and their friends are determined to conquer this mysterious abyss. But will they discover the truth behind the tall tales, or be lost in the harsh desert sands forever?!
Are you excited for more OGNs? These first stories? Or also want to see them try and hire someone who isn’t male-identifying? Let us know in the comments below or on social media!
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him and the website on Bluesky and Instagram @mynockmanor.