The NYCC 2018 Publishing Panel brought us news of a new novel, Alphabet Squadron, a new comic miniseries, Shadow of Vader, a cover for Master & Apprentice, plus some minor details on the “Age of Star Wars” comic maxiseries, while other panels included a closeup look at the soon to be released Women of the Galaxy. Check out all the reveals and updates below!
(FYI: You can find full videos of all the panels below!)
COMICS
It’s sad news, folks: the excellent, exciting Darth Vader – Dark Lord of the Sith series will come to a close with its 25th issue in December. The first Vader series ended at the same issue count, but if it was for the best to let that one go out on a high note, as much as I want to see more from Soule’s series, “Fortress Vader” looks to be the highest of high notes from the series and a great place to end. To fill its void, a miniseries was announced, written by Aftermath author Chuck Wendig: Shadow of Vader. This 5-part miniseries will focus on characters who have been affected by Vader in some way, shape or form, which includes:
“Issue #1 is a Friday the 13th homage, with Vader hunting down kids at summer camp; issue #2 stars the one-and-only Willrow Hood; issue #3 centers on a morgue attendant on the Death Star; issue #4 diverges to focus on the Acolytes of the Beyond; issue #5 follows a New Republic pilot — whose parents were killed by Vader — who joins the Resistance only to learn that Leia’s father is the Sith Lord.”
I really enjoyed the Aftermath series, even if the POV took a moment to get used to, but I’ve not enjoyed Wendig’s comics as much, but I feel like this anthology format of a miniseries will be a better fit for him. As fun as diving into Willrow Hood’s backstory should be (he made a cameo in the Star Wars comic series), an issue dealing with the creepy, intriguing, and begs-to-be-seen again Acolytes of the Beyond has peaked my interest beyond excitement for this miniseries. Introduced in Wendig’s Aftermath series, they were seen buying what was potentially Vader’s lightsaber and fomenting some type of uprising on Corellia and other planets, with the help of one of Palpatine’s ex-advisors, Yupe Tashu. Vader touched their lives, no doubt, and I’m curious to see what this reveals about them next! Shadow of Vader begins in November (though was not part of the original solicitations for that month). UPDATE: In a bizarre series of events, writer Chuck Wendig has been fired from Marvel, with the final two issues of Shadow of Vader going to a different writer, as well as a yet-unannounced comic book. Wendig has taken to social media to describe the firing, saying editor Mark Paniccia, who oversees Marvel’s Star Wars comics, fired him due to his activity on Twitter, where he frequently dishes out rightful comments against Nazis and those who oppose social justice. I’ll admit, as much as I agree with Wendig, he can get too vulgar sometimes, but it seems odd to do this now considering he’s been this way for a long time and only now, with an editor who follows a known ComicsGater, he’s suddenly fired, it makes this all stink of Disney’s cowardly firing of James Gunn after Nazis dug up dirt on the Guardians of the Galaxy director/writer to get him fired due to also being outspoken against Nazis (who are terrible, vile people and shouldn’t be catered to in the slightest). UPDATED 2: The series has been cancelled.
The “Age of Star Wars” maxiseries, which full character lists and first solicitations were revealed with December’s solicits, got some new cover reveals and some scant new details. Gregg Pak, who’ll be writing the Age of Rebellion, revealed his issue about Leia will cover the story of her gaining the Boushh disguise for their plan to free Han Solo from carbonite in Jabba’s Palace. It’ll expand upon the Forces of Destiny episode which already told this tale, and while the episode showed Maz Kanata was involved, his issue will add Lando, Chewie, and Bossk to the story. I will say, I like the Age of Rebellion covers, but the ones for Age of Republic seem a little generic, with Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Maul’s all having them fending off blaster bolts coming from somewhere. UPDATE: Check out reviews for the entire maxiseries here!
As for upcoming Han Solo – Imperial Cadet, it’s being described as Star Wars meets Fullmetal Jacket meets Stripes. Whoa. Hope it can live up to that! UPDATE: It didn’t, but it had some bright spots regardless!
NOVELS
While the name makes me think of alphabet soup (and Matt Martin of the Story Group seems to suggest it was originally made as a joke title and it has stuck), Alphabet Squadron will be our next new novel after the upcoming Master & Apprentice and Queen’s Shadow. The novel’s synopsis so far is:
“On the verge of victory in what seemed an endless war, five former rebel pilots transform from hunted to hunters as they strike out against the vestiges of Empire. Set after Return of the Jedi, Alphabet Squadron follows a unique team, each flying a different class of starfighter as they struggle to end their war once and for all.”
Considering it’s written by Alexander Freed, who’s Twilight Company was rather excellent (and I’ve heard his Rogue One novelization was great too), I’m already all-in for this novel and interested to meet these pilots, what they’re hunting, and where it’ll fit in the larger picture. It doesn’t have a true cover yet, but expect it to release June/July timeframe in June 4, 2019. UPDATE: Here’s my review of the novel!
Master & Apprentice, revealed at SDCC, has finally gotten a cover, by artist Alice X. Zhang, and it was well worth the wait! No new details unfortunately, but it’s release date is now April 16, 2019. UPDATE: The book didn’t disappoint for me!
Women of the Galaxy, out October 30, had a panel of its own, where new artwork was shown off, including one for my favorite character, Doctor Aphra! Some of the artists were on hand to talk about their creative processes for each piece, while author Amy Ratcliffe and moderator Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka Tano) got to discuss the legacy of the women in the GFFA. And in a really great idea I hope to see more of, Lucasfilm also had a panel with 5 of the female authors working on writing Star Wars today, as they help provide some diversity both in and behind the pages, something that needs to be highlighted more. UPDATE: Here’s my review of this must have book!
Check out the full Publishing Panel video here:
Here’s the Women of the Galaxy panel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbjUwt4r-hE
Here’s the Female Writer’s full panel:
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website @MynockManor.
SEE ALSO:
Shadow of Vader Miniseries Cancelled
Book Review: Women of the Galaxy
SDCC 2018: Padmé, Obi-Wan/Qui-Gon Novels, “Age of…” Comics Maxiseries, and More Announced!