I haven’t been covering the monthly solicitations for Marvel’s (or IDW’s) upcoming comics, but I’ve decided to start doing so because not only do I look forward to the teases they bring for upcoming stories, but it’s for your convenience of not having to go far to find them if you’re already on the Manor! Seeing as these go out three months, today’s batch of solicitations of Star Wars comics covers issues dropping in July. Head on below to see what’s in store for Doctor Aphra, Poe Dameron, Darth Vader – Dark Lord of the Sith, and more! (I’ll update the article when IDW’s solicitations release, which seem to be a few days after Marvel’s Updated!)
MARVEL
Star Wars #50 (on sale 7/4)
Kieron Gillen (Writer), Salvador Larroca (Artist), Guru-eFX (Colors)
Cover by Mike Mayhew (Pictured, the Leia one) | Variant Covers by Phil Noto, David Marquez (Pictured, the Vader one), and Terry Dodson | Galactic Icon Variant by Rod Reis | Action Figure Variant by John Tyler Christopher
“IN THIS ISSUE…HOPE DIES.
• The REBEL FLEET is completed. It’s magnificent. It’s beautiful. It’s secret.
• But no secret is kept for long from DARTH VADER.
• The most epic story yet done in a STAR WARS comic begins here. Prepare to witness the Empire TRULY strike back.”
Star Wars #51 (on sale 7/18)
Kieron Gillen (Writer), Salvador Larroca (Artist), Guru-eFX (Colors)
Cover by Mike Mayhew (Pictured) | Action Figure Variant by John Tyler Christopher
“HOPE DIES PART 2
• The MILLENNIUM FALCON – alone – versus an entire IMPERIAL FLEET.
• Can LEIA discover the cause of this disaster?
• And even if she can, is it too late?”
These are the first two issues of the Star Wars series’ biggest story arc, “Hope Dies,” which begins the Rebellion’s downfall from their victories over the Empire since the Death Star, and gets us closer to them being on the run, hiding on Hoth. It’s a little disappointing Salvador Larroca is still the artist, due to issues with how bad his tracing has been, but the only recourse is not to buy these though that would mean missing out on what is sure to be one helluva a story from Kieron Gillen. And that Leia cover is brilliant, isn’t it? UPDATE: “Hope Dies” reviews here!
Doctor Aphra #22 (on sale 7/25)
Si Spurrier (Writer), Kev Walker (Artist)
Cover by Ashley Witter (Pictured) | Galactic Icon Variant by Rod Reis
“STUCK IN A JUNKYARD JAIL AT WAR. IT CAN’T GET WORSE – RIGHT?
• I mean, unless you add a vengeful FORCE GHOST. And insane MURDERDROIDS. And a BOR BRAIN-LEECH. And a SENTIENT BIOHAZARD…
• Surely even rogue archaeologist DOCTOR APHRA can’t find a way to make things even worse.
• Wrong. Because her current beau and her ex are just about to meet…”
This is part of the “Broken, Inside” arc and damn does it look like Aphra is in some real serious trouble! Force Ghosts, the Murderbots, and Bor Gullet’s cousin (okay, not really its cousin, but another Bor Brain-leech?!)? And Sana Starros is set to meet Inspector Tolvan?! As a giant Doctor Aphra fan, this arc looks like it will be going in some really crazy, exciting places and I guess my continuous worry for Aphra’s life will, well, continue! I find it curious that only Simon Spurrier is listed as writer, as while I know he and Kieron Gillen were splitting duties for the series, does this mean Simon’s got sole control of this arc? Curious… Check my reviews of the series here!
Lando – Double or Nothing #3 (on sale 7/25)
Rodney Barnes (Writer), Paolo Villanelli (Artist)
Cover by W. Scott Forbes (Pictured)
“• LANDO’s luck ran out when he was captured by BATALLA.
• Batalla’s in luck with a big payoff if he turns Lando over to his enemies. And there’s a lot of them.
• Will a galaxy of bad guys finally get their due against the ultimate thorn in their side?”
A tie-in to Solo: A Star Wars Story, this miniseries covers the exploits of Lando and L3-37 prior to the film! Writer Rodney Barnes gave a little interview about the series over at CBR, which includes some previews of the interior art from Paolo Villanelli. Nothing too revealing, but he does express his excitement on getting to create so many new characters and a planet or two, so I love the sound of all that new stuff being included here!
Darth Vader – Dark Lord of the Sith #18 (on sale 7/11)
Charles Soule (Writer), Giuseppe Camuncoli (Artist)
Cover by Giuseppe Camuncoli & Elia Bonetti (Pictured) | Galactic Icon Variant by Rod Reis
“• It is time for GRAND MOFF TARKIN to repay a long-standing debt to DARTH VADER…
• …and settling what is owed will require every last bit of his cunning, and will cost more than he ever imagined.”
*Raises eyebrows really high, nearly throwing them off my forehead* Tarkin is “repaying” a debt to Vader?!? This cover so subtly hints that it won’t be the nicest of ways Tarkin plans to repay things, but how often are covers misleading? I’m not sure if this is a new arc or a bit of a wrap-up from the current “Burning Seas” arc, as Soule has done with the series in the past, but we’ll find out soon enough.
Darth Vader Annual #2 (on sale 7/18)
Chuck Wendig (Writer), Leonard Kirk (Artist)
Cover by Mike Deodato, Jr. (Pictured)
“DARTH VADER intends for the Empire to hold no secrets for him — or from him. Which means it is time to dig into the pet project of GOVERNOR WILHUFF TARKIN and ORSON KRENNIC: the massive battle station being built on GEONOSIS. Opportunity arises when the project is hindered by sabotage from unknown forces. THE EMPEROR calls on his dark enforcer to root out the source of treachery that threatens to destabilize the Empire’s galactic ascent.”
The first Vader Annual was attached to the first series, so I guess technically this is the second one. This sounds very intriguing, tying in some stuff from Rogue One/Rebels/the novel Catalyst, but doesn’t Vader know about the Death Star not terribly long after Revenge of the Sith, as seen in the film? Is this going to lead to that scene specifically? UPDATE: Review is in!
Poe Dameron #29 (on sale 7/18)
Charles Soule (Writer), Angel Unzueta (Artist), Arif Prianto (Colors)
Cover by Phil Noto (Pictured)
“• Where were SNAP WEXLEY, JESSIKA PAVA and the rest of BLACK SQUADRON during the events of THE LAST JEDI?
• Fighting for the very survival of THE RESISTANCE, of course.
• Now, at last, their story can be told…”
“The Awakening” arc begins 4/18, where a framing story set post-The Last Jedi shows Rey, Finn, and Poe passing the time on the Falcon by hearing Poe’s tales of The Force Awakens, and now it seems the story will shift to seeing The Last Jedi through the rest of Black Squadron’s eyes! This is a pretty exciting idea, and allowing Charles Soule to muddle post-TLJ raises some fun questions and ideas about when Ep. IX takes place. And these Phil Noto covers! Wowzers.
Thrawn #6 (comic adaptation) (on sale 7/11)
Jody Houser (Writer), Luke Ross (Artist), Nolan Woodard (Colors)
Cover by Paul Renaud (Pictured)
“THE RISE OF THE GRAND ADMIRAL
REACHES ITS CLIMAX!
• THRAWN at last meets his greatest enemy face-to-face!
• Will PRYCE’s final gambit to save her family succeed?
• And what role will ELI VANTO play in Thrawn’s ultimate plan?”
Nothing against adaptations, but reviewing them issue by issue makes it hard to come up with new things to say, so this year I switched to only reviewing adaptations once they’ve completed. This being the final issue of Thrawn, expect a review on the site not too long after this issue drops. In the meantime, here’s my review of the novel.
The Last Jedi #4 (comic adaptation) (on sale 7/4)
Gary Whitta (Writer), Michael Walsh (Artist)
Cover by Rahzzah (Pictured) | Variant Cover by ROD REIS
“AS THE PAST DIES, THE FUTURE BECKONS…
• REY gambles everything as she heads for a confrontation with KYLO REN and SUPREME LEADER SNOKE.
• As the fate of the RESISTANCE hangs in the balance, will POE DAMERON risk mutiny to take matters into his own hands?
• And who is the mysterious visitor coming to offer counsel to LUKE SKYWALKER? (SPOILER ALERT, it’s YODA!)”
Just like with Thrawn, no review of the film’s adaptation until it’s complete. However, we already have reviews of the film (from both Chris and myself), as well as Chris’ review of the novel adaptation.
My biggest surprise about July? Still no new series announced, though just because it wasn’t in the solicitations doesn’t mean they could still have something planned. We’ll see, but July sure looks to be fun, packed month.
IDW
Star Wars Adventures #12
Elsa Charretier & Pierrick Colinet (Writers) • Elsa Charretier (Artist & Cover, pictured)
Variant Covers by Mauricet and Nicoletta Baldari
- Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala embark on an adventure filled with danger and romance in a story by fan-favorites Elsa Charretier and Pierrick Colinet!
If you’ve been wanted some Anakin and Padmé content (raises hand), this looks like the perfect issue of IDW’s Adventures! I love the character Ahsoka, but it is nice that it seems these two will get to be alone without her for a little while, something we don’t see very often in any media. Charretier and Colinet previously did some impressive, fun work for the Force of Destiny miniseries IDW put out earlier this year.
That’s all IDW has to offer, per their solicitations, for July! The solicitations also mentioned the release of the 3rd, and final, volume reprint of The Classic Newspaper Comics of Star Wars, but it’s not actually out until September.
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website @MynockManor.
2018 SOLICITATIONS: August | September | October | November
CURRENT MARVEL COMIC REVIEWS:
Doctor Aphra
Aphra (#1-6) | And the Enormous Profit (#9-13) | Remastered (#14-19) | The Catastrophe Con (#20-25) | Annual: #1
Darth Vader – Dark Lord of the Sith
The Chosen One (#1-6) | The Dying Light (#7-12) | The Rule of Five (#11-12) | Burning Seas (#13-18) | Fortress Vader (#19-25) | Annual: #2
Poe Dameron
Black Squadron (#1-3) | Lockdown (#4-6) | The Gathering Storm (#7-13) | Legend Lost (#14 – 16) | War Stories (#17-19) | Legend Found (#20-25) | The Awakening (#26-31) | Annual: #1
Star Wars
Ashes of Jedha (#38-43) | Mutiny at Mon Cala (#44-49) | Hope Dies (#50-55) | Annual: #4
Lando – Double or Nothing (comic miniseries)
IDW’S STAR WARS ADVENTURES:
Vol. 1: Heroes of the Galaxy (#1-2) | Forces of Destiny (#1-5)