Normally January is a time to hibernate here in the USA Midwest, as winter has come and the worst of it is nipping at our heels as we scurry from heated car to heated home or workplace, but it seems Star Wars comics aren’t going to take a rest! The January 2023 Star Wars comics solicitations promise a packed month, from some High Republic Phase II goodies, all-out Tagge war, Yoda failing, and more. Head below for all the January 2023 solicitations!
MARVEL
The High Republic #4 – Phase 2 (on sale 1/4)
Cavan Scott (Writer), Andrea Broccardo (Artist)
Cover by Ario Anindito | Variant Covers by Bengal / Marquerite Sauvage
VIOLENCE COMES TO JEDHA!
- The Temple of the Whills has been attack, Vildar Mac critically injured in the blast. Is Tey Sirrek to blame?
- The Herald of the Open Han has arrived to address the Convocation, but just what is the nameless horror that lurks in the streets of the Holy City?
- The Battle of Jedha begins here!
It seems like Vildar Mac’s no good, very bad, terrible trip to Jedha continues to get worse! It started with Tey stopping his heart, killing him in the surprising start to the series and now he’s critically injured again!?! At this point, if Vildar manages to die of old age, the irony will be significant and hilarious. From the nameless creatures stalking the streets of Jedha, the Herald of the Open Hand there under the guise of understanding, to the Battle of Jedha starting here (and playing out in full in the audiobook original The Battle of Jedha out the day before this comic releases), these 10 issues ARE NOT MESSING AROUND! For all things High Republic, including release schedules, news, and reviews, don’t forget to visit our dedicated page!
Star Wars #30 (on sale 1/04)
Charles Soule (Writer), Andrés Genolet (Artist)
Cover by Stephen Segovia | Action Figure Variant Cover by John Tyler Christopher | Variant Cover by Stephanie Hans | Design Variant Cover by Andrés Genolet | Attack of the Clones 20th Anniversary Variant Cover by Caspar Wijngaard
MAROONED!
Some of the Rebel Alliance’s best and brightest have gotten lost in an unknown region of space while hunting for a lost treasure. How will LUKE SKYWALKER, LEIA ORGANA, CHEWBACCA, LANDO CALRISSIAN, and AMILYN HOLDO ever survive the horrors…of NO-SPACE?
When I hear No-Space, I think Nihil, the deadly marauders causing trouble for the galaxy in the days of the High Republic, and with one of the variant covers teasing the Nihil showing up, I suspect past and present will collide this issue! I don’t think it’ll be the Nihil truly, as they are likely long dead by this comic’s present, but it should be fun to see how Soule handles a resurgent version, be it a group pretending to be them or thinking they are them. And it’ll also be neat to have all the main characters back together again, not spread all over, which I’m looking forward to the most.
Darth Vader #30 (on sale 1/11)
Greg Pak (Writer), Luke Ross (Artist)
Cover by Rahzzah| Variant Cover by Phil Noto | Return of the Jedi 40th Anniversary Variant Cover by Chris Sprouse
ALL HER SHADOWS!
During their terrible battle at Padme’s tomb on Naboo, the Queen’s most devoted handmaidens were no match for the fury of Darth Vader. So as they are about to face the Dark Lord again, the handmaidens have prepared. But so has Vader. Who will triumph in the rematch? And what dark price will that victory exact?
As revealed in the most recent issue of the series, the rest of the handmaidens are back, but they are more concerned about saving Sabe from whatever path she’s on than taking out Vader. Either way, it looks like their return will come to some sort of conclusion relatively soon, though I’ll be left curious how much longer this series will continue afterwards.
The High Republic – The Blade #3 (on sale 1/11)
Charles Soule (Writer), Jethro Morales (Artist)
Cover by Giuseppe Camuncoli | Variant Covers by Valerio Giangiordano / Leinil Francis Yu
The situation on the planet Gansevor has worsened, and Jedi Masters PORTER ENGLE and BARASH SILVAIN find themselves embroiled in a conflict with no clear solution. Certainty must be found and a side chosen…but new enemies have arrived, and time is running out.
The most recent High Republic Show revealed that what we took to mean Porter’s actual sister is more a childhood friend so intrinsically linked with him she’s basically his sister, Barash Silvain, and included concept art for our first look at her! The series got delayed a little, but hopefully these dates stick as this sounds like such an interesting miniseries.
The Mandalorian #7 (on sale 1/11)
Rodney Barnes (Writer), Georges Jeanty (Artist)
Cover by Steve McNiven | Variant Covers by Taurin Clarke / Joshua “Sway” Swaby | Concept Art Variant Cover Also Available
THE RECKONING!
An old contact extends an invitation for the Mandalorian to make peace with his enemies.
Check out our review of The Mandalorian “Chapter 7 – The Reckoning” and here’s our reasoning for not covering this comic adaptation in my review of issue #1.
Bounty Hunters #30 (on sale 1/18)
Ethan Sacks (Writer), Paolo Villanelli (Artist)
Cover by Giuseppe Camuncoli | Variant Cover by Marc Laming | Return of the Jedi 40th Anniversary Variant Cover by Chris Sprouse
CHAOS ON DESTINE VI!
- T’onga and her team of bounty hunters find themselves in the crosshairs of an old ally!
- But how will Valance react to learning the dark secret that has been kept from him?
- Can any of them survive the full might of a vindictive Empire?
The moment I’ve been waiting for, it seems like Valance finally learns the truth about the blackmail that’s kept him in Imperial service!! It was only a matter of time, but it’s certainly gone much longer than expected or liked, but at least the next part of the series can begin once this revelation breaks.
Han Solo & Chewbacca #9 (on sale 1/18)
Marc Guggenheim (Writer), David Messina (Artist)
Cover by Phil Noto | Variant Cover by Todd Nauck
“GET IN THERE, YOU BIG, FURRY OAF!”
- What’s inside the urn that Jabba the Hutt wants so badly? Hint: It’s not ashes.
- Guest-starring Ugnaught Sava Korin Pers.
- This issue ties in directly to Revelations!
Teased at the publishing panel for NYCC, the urn everyone’s so eager to have doesn’t actually contain ashes…I’m betting it’s some datacard with secret coordinates to something special treasure-wise, credits, or some treasure itself. It’ll be neat to see Korin again, which makes me think the urn’s contents are Force-related object, as she had some deep knowledge of that stuff. Regardless, I’m most interested to figure out how this is a direct tie-in to the Revelations one-shot, out this November, that promises to show the future of Marvel comics (here’s a glimpse at textless interior art!). I get Guggenheim is writing both the one-shot and this, but considering this is out two months after, does that mean whatever Revelations revealed comes true in this issue? Should have a better idea once the one-shot is out.
Doctor Aphra #28 (1/25)
Alyssa Wong (Writer), Minkyu Jung (Artist)
Cover by W. Scott Forbes | Return of the Jedi 40th Anniversary Variant Cover by Chris Sprouse
CODE OF HONOR!
- The enemy of my enemy is my friend…or so they say!
- As RONEN TAGGE and DOMINA TAGGE clash over the TAGGE CORPORATION, SANA STARROS is caught in the middle!
- But if there’s one thing she’s learned from DOCTOR APHRA, it’s how to use every situation to her advantage – and no matter which Tagge wins, Sana’s determined to come out on top!
An all-out Tagge war?! Ronen and Domina fighting for control?! I’m already making the popcorn! Though I don’t know how much I’ll eat as I’m a little worried for Aphra, seen on the cover still covered in the Spark Eternal and at Domina’s side…is the domineering woman using the Spark to help fight off Ronen’s takeover? Regardless, that all sounds like Sana Starros, staying one step ahead and playing all the angles, I just hope it all works out for her. I’d hate her upcoming comic miniseries in February (also revealed at the NYCC panel) to come out after she’s perished, but it sounds very Marvel to plan it out that way. PROVE ME WRONG, PLEASE!!!!
Yoda #3 (on sale 12/25)
Cavan Scott (Writer), Nico Leon (Artist)
Cover by Phil Noto | Variant Covers by Pasqual Ferry / Patch Zircher
YODA HAS FAILED!
- Yoda’s experiment with the Scalvi has ended in disaster, the situation on Turrak worse than ever.
- A new generation has risen up since the Jedi Master first came to the planet, a generation that still hasn’t learned the most important lesson of all.
- Will Yoda abandon those who need him most in their hour of need?
The first issue for the Yoda maxiseries hasn’t dropped yet, but this issue marks the end of Cavan Scott’s arc for the series, which has two more authors taking on different stories in the legendary Jedi’s life. And while I don’t quite understand all that led to this experiment’s disaster, I’m pleased about the idea we’ll see him fail or make mistakes, feeling like a promise to me this won’t just be a victory tour of stories.
DARK HORSE
Hyperspace Stories #5 (on sale 1/11)
Amanda Deibert (Writer), Riccardo Facinni (Artist/Cover Artist)
From the darkest days of the Clone Wars, comes a tale of evil and intrigue.
Dispatched by the nefarious Count Dooku, the Sith assassin Asajj Ventress stalks her prey from the Outer Rim all the way to the tranquil world of Naboo. But just what is her target? And can even the Jedi stand in her way?
Take a walk on the Dark Side, in Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories #5!
Considering the first four issues have followed the heroes, it’s great to see Hyperspace Stories is changing things up and featuring villains now! Asajj Ventress is more complex than just a villain, but in this timeframe she hasn’t quite broken out of her angry shell. I’m looking forward to see her here and what the change to villains means for the connecting story hiding in this maxiseries.
The High Republic Adventures #3 – Phase II (on sale 1/25)
Daniel José Older (Writer), Toni Bruno (Artist)
Cover Art by Harvey Monticillo
Hidden aboard the Dank Graks ship, Sav, Maz Kanata, and her crew pause to plot their next move, while the villainous Arkik makes preparations to acquire a devastating new weapon. When the deal gets explosive, Sav must make an important decision: save her new friends, or save her own skin!
The Dank Graks were first revealed at Celebration Anaheim 2022…in drawings made by Older himself! They look as silly and unique as their name suggests and I’m looking forward to meeting them. And the fact this story, revealed to be only 8 issues long overall, continues to stay focused on Sav and Maz, gives me a lot of hope for the shorter story.
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.