January is a time for new beginnings and all those important resolutions we love to make, like watching more Star Wars…but on a treadmill. It’s also a time of uncertainty for what’s ahead, as we don’t quite know what’s next for the Star Wars Saga after The Rise of Skywalker brings the Skywalker part of it to an end (and if the epic trailer from Monday is anything to go by, it’s going be a brave new galaxy), but we at least get our first glimpses of Marvel’s relaunching efforts in 2020 and beyond with today’s solicitations.
MARVEL
Star Wars #1 & #2 (#1 on sale 1/1/20, #2 on sale 1/29/2020)
Charles Soule (Writer), Jesus Saiz (Artist)
Covers by R.B. Silva
Issue #1 Covers: Vader Variant by Mahmud Asrar | Empire Strikes Back Variant Cover by Chris Sprouse | Leia Variant by Jen Bartel | Luke Variant by Adam Hughes | Variant by Art Adams | Party Variant by TBA | Premiere Variant by RB Silva | Movie Variant | Blank Variant Also Available
Issue #2 Covers: Variant Cover by Ben Oliver | Empire Strikes Back Variant Cover by Chris Sprouse
“No…I am your father.”
In the wake of the events following The Empire Strikes Back, it is a dark time for the heroes of the Rebellion. The Rebel fleet…scattered following a disastrous defeat at the Battle of Hoth. Han Solo…lost to the bounty hunter, Boba Fett, after being frozen in carbonite. And after being lured into a trap on Cloud City and bested in a vicious lightsaber duel against the evil Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker…learned the horrible truth about his past. Vader did not kill Luke’s father Anakin–Vader is Luke’s father! Now, after narrowly escaping the dark lord’s clutches, and wounded and reeling from the revelation, Luke, Princess Leia, Lando Calrissian, the Wookiee Chewbacca and the droids C-3PO and R2-D2 must fight their way back to the Rebel Alliance—for the fate of the entire galaxy is at stake! After so many losses is victory still possible? But, what Leia, Luke and their ragtag band of freedom fighters do not realize is that they have only traded one Imperial trap for another! Enter the cunning and vengeful Imperial Commander Zahra, at the helm of the Tarkin’s Will!
Writer Charles Soule (DARTH VADER) and artist Jesus Saiz (DOCTOR STRANGE) are taking us all to the galaxy far, far away next year! With covers by RB Silva (POWERS OF X)!
THE GREATEST SPACE ADVENTURE OF ALL TIME BEGINS THIS JANUARY!
Announced back at NYCC 2019, we now have a few extra details on where Charles Soule will take the Star Wars series as it relaunches to the timeframe just after the end of The Empire Strikes Back. I’m ready and eager to learn more about this Commander Zahra and whatever this Tarkin’s Will she’s at the helm of?! Is it something from the Tarkin Initiative, like a leftover ship or weapon, or just another Star Destroyer? And what havoc will Zahra wreck on our reeling heroes? No matter the answers, I’m just here for more Lando Calrissian content, which this relaunch has promised!
Considering they spent 75 issues, including crossovers, in the three year timespan between A New Hope and TESB, I hope they don’t try for another 75 here. I could see this series running for 25 issues, much like Soule’s second Vader volume did, as that sounds more appropriate for the 1 year timespan leading into Return of the Jedi; and as Soule proved with that series, having that concise, planned ending led to a really excellent series. I wouldn’t be surprised, and likely not against it if this series is the usual level of Soule fare, that it could go as long as 30/31 issues, like Soule’s Poe Dameron series went. Only time will tell, but the more succinct it is, the stronger I believe a story set in this era could be. And of course another question on a lot of fans’ minds: will we see any aspects of Shadows of the Empire make its way into canon here, or is using Lando instead of another generic white guy like Dash Rendar to replace Han Solo’s absence a sign enough it won’t? We’ll find out soon enough!
UPDATE: Issue #1 is a solid start!
The Rise of Kylo Ren #2 (on sale 1/08 15/2020)
Charles Soule (Writer), Will Sliney (Artist)
Cover by Clayton Crain | Variant Cover by Jodie Muir
SNOKE SINKS HIS CLAWS IN! YOUNG BEN SOLO FACES THE KNIGHTS OF REN!
- With the new Jedi school in ruins and fellow students hot on his trail for the murder of their master, Ben Solo flees to the only friend he has left in the galaxy…a man named Snoke. But Snoke has plans for Ben..and ideas about the Force that are as dangerous as they are intriguing for the troubled young Jedi.
- If Ben wishes to be truly free…the answers might lie with the dark side. And with the Knights of Ren!
- But it won’t be the first time he’s tangled with the Knights. In the past, Jedi Master Luke Skywalker journeys to the Unknown Regions and brings young Ben along for the mission. Can even Luke Skywalker stand against the fabled Knights of Ren?!
Um…holy Sith! The Rise of Kylo Ren is shaping up to be an explosive, must-read experience in the comics and I’m glad they get to show a story of such importance. This solicitation for the second issue reveals so much, especially about the Knights of Ren, it’s almost insane, but as pointed out on Twitter, Adam Driver has known and basically revealed, since back in December 2015, the Knights predated Kylo. While theories abound have been the Knights are the students Kylo took with him from Luke’s temple, this solicit not only reveals those Padawans chased after him for what he did to Luke, but that the Knights are from the Unknown Regions and Ben, alongside Luke, battled them a long time ago. Looks like what Luke said about Kylo vanishing with his remaining students was true, from a certain point of view, as going after Ben for what he did is revenge, a slippery slope down the dark path the young Solo was taking. Of course one has to wonder, how and why did Luke hear about the Knights and decide to confront them? Is the one Knight in the cover, with the red lightsaber, their leader, which likely means Ben kills the leader and takes their place? Who is the Ren the Knights are named after, of which Kylo takes as his last name? And how long have they been causing trouble in the Unknown Regions? We might have a few answers already, but the open a whole host of new questions! Also, calling Snoke Ben’s friend is an interesting choice…makes one wonder how he approached the young Solo to appear as a friend. Looks like we’ll be getting a lot of answers as this series releases!
UPDATE: Review of issue #2 is in!
IDW
Star Wars Adventures #30
Michael Moreci, Cavan Scott (Writers), Arianna Florean, David M. Buisán (Artist)
Cover A by Arianna Florean | Cover B by David M. Buisán
Explore the galaxy in light of events depicted in The Rise of Skywalker! In this issue, the spotlight falls on Kylo Ren!
- Includes a special installment of Tales from Wild Space, where the crew of the Star Herald swing into action themselves!
The wording of this is very curious: on one hand, it sounds like this issue will take place after TROS, but would they really spoil that Kylo Ren survives the film in the solicitation for a comic? I seriously doubt it, and according to Comics With Kenobi’s tweet about the issue, it sounds like these issues will be exploring the villains of the sequel trilogy, so therefore probably not many or any at all will take place post-TROS, though only time will tell.
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website @MynockManor.
2020 Comic Solicitations: February