July is set to be a refreshing month for Star Wars comics, as many of the current series’ reach their 25th issue mark, closing out storylines and beginning new ones…well, if they actually come out in July. Unfortunately, the global issues with shipping, printing, and paper are still affecting comics and many of April, May, and June’s have slipped into different months, with several from June and even May releasing in July now. So these issue below likely won’t be out in July due to the landslide effects (maybe August?), but they are exciting looks at where things will go once the Star Wars comics get there. Check out “July’s” Star Wars comic solicitations below, where we see Sana Starros leading a crew to rescue Aphra (?!?), the chaos Qi’ra unleashes on the galaxy, a deadly mission during the Clone Wars for Obi-Wan, and more!
MARVEL
Obi-Wan #3 (7/27)
Christopher Cantwell (Writer), Alessandro Miracolo (Artist)
Cover by Phil Noto | Variant cover by Giuseppe Camuncoli | Choose Your Destiny cover by Chris Sprouse
THE BATTLE OF ABRION BRIDGE!
- While continuing to wait out a nasty sandstorm on Tatooine, Obi-Wan reflects on one of his most grueling experiences in the Clone Wars…It’s a memory full of pain and bloodshed, and one that has lasting consequences.
- The battle also reminds Obi-Wan of an age-old question he has long wrestled with throughout his life: what is a Jedi’s true purpose in war?
While there’s been a lot about Obi-Wan during his time in the Clone Wars thanks to the show, it didn’t always have enough screentime to focus on the toll it took on him or his beliefs regarding the Jedi, so framing this latest look at his time in the war around those questions sounds like a solid issue. Alessandro Miracolo is new to Star Wars comics in general, so curious to see his style, but it’s unfortunate that we still don’t have a female artist for this series considering there’ll be a new one each issue.
Han Solo & Chewbacca #5 (8/10)
Marc Guggenheim (Writer), David Messina (Artist)
Cover by Phil Noto | Variant Cover by David Lopez | Choose Your Destiny Variant Cover by Chris Sprouse
“LET’S KEEP A LITTLE OPTIMISM HERE.”
- But optimism is hard to come by with the Millennium Falcon gone and Han and Chewie in their toughest spot ever!
- Greedo is back and boy, is he mad!
- Featuring the returns of Marshal Buck Vancto and Khel Tanna. Which one is going to get their hands on Han first?
- All this and more in the rip-roaring conclusion of “The Crystal Run.”
We’ve still only had one issue, and thanks to delays, it’s going to be a bit before we get the second, but it’ll be interesting to see why Greedo got so angry and why Vancto and Tanna’s return could spell trouble for the titular duo. And if that old guy at the end of issue #1 really is his dad or not!
Darth Vader #25 (7/20)
Greg Pak (Writer), Raffaele Ienco (Artist)
Cover by Paul Renaud | Choose Your Destiny Variant Cover by Chris Sprouse | Variant Cover by Rod Reis
- The Dark Lord of the Sith relentlessly tracks a corrupt Imperial governor. But is Vader still driven by his quest for order – or has his encounters with shades from the past awoken new motivations?
- Meanwhile, few figures in the galaxy are more different than Sabé, handmaiden of Padmé Amidala, and Ochi of Bestoon, assassin of the Sith. So when they’re forced to work together in Vader’s ambit and the knives inevitably come out, who’s still standing at the end? And what will that lonely soul have to say when Vader returns?
Issue #22 just released 4/13 (a day before this post) and it’s clear the story has gotten too convoluted for its own good, even with Sabe around, but how it ended sure promises something better. However, this solicit for issue #25 seems to promise the opposite…Sabé’s end?! We know Ochi will survive so hopefully Sabé’s loss doesn’t mean her death, as we know it can lead to far more interesting story opportunities in the future. But also, this is making me more and more curious to see who else from Vader’s past appears in the coming issue, but with them being delayed, it’ll be awhile before we find out.
Star Wars #26 (8/17)
Charles Soule (Writer), Andres Genolet (Artist)
Cover by E.M. Gist | Action Figure Variant Cover by John Tyler Christopher | Choose Your Destiny Cover by Chris Sprouse
THE PATH TO VICTORY!
- The Rebel Fleet is reunited at last, and Leia Organa, Mon Mothma and the other Alliance leaders send a strong message to the galaxy that the resistance to Palpatine’s rule remains as strong as ever.
- Meanwhile, Lady Qi’ra of Crimson Dawn has activated her sleeper agents across the galaxy, instructing them to cause chaos for the Empire by any means necessary!
Star Wars #22 came out 4/13 (a day before this post) and it set up the big showdown of the Rebellion and Commander Zahra to reunite the final division of the fleet. It was a foregone conclusion they’d win, but I’ll be curious to see what happens to Zahra and why Qi’ra decides to burn all her agents all of a sudden afterwards. This issue could come out in July, but issue #25, a big anthology of writer Soule’s previous works, is now delayed to July so it might be a while before we see the results of victory. Also Andres Genolet is another new artist to the comics that I’m happy to welcome and interested to see what he brings to the table, but it’s disappointing once again they couldn’t find a female artist. Marvel’s only gotten worse it feels like, not better, in 2022.
Doctor Aphra #23 (8/23)
Alyssa Wong (Writer), Minkyu Jung (Artist)
Cover by W. Scott Forbes | Choose Your Destiny Variant Cover by Chris Sprouse | Variant Cover by Rickie Yagawa
- Sana Starros and her team are determined to rescue Doctor Aphra at any cost!
- But everyone’s keeping secrets…
- …and the spark eternal has plans of its own!
This cover, this gorgeous cover, might be the queerist Star Wars comic book cover of all time! Sana Starros, Kho Phon Farrus, plus the return of Eustacia Okka and Detta Yao?!!? Aphra would never believe all these exes and associates would ever join together to save her, and I almost don’t either, so she must’ve done some truly, totally, and completely selfless to get them to all band together like this. Plus, to have Kho helping look for her, considering how they have been so antagonistic in the issues we’ve had to so far, speaks volumes to what happens before we get to this point; I’ve really been enjoying the layers to Kho and this only adds to why they’ve been such a fascinating character so far. And seeing Eustacia and Detta return? Delightful, even if I’m scared for Aphra! Can’t wait to see this likely in August!
Bounty Hunters #25 (7/13)
Ethan Sacks (Writer), Paolo Villanelli (Artist)
Cover by Giuseppe Camuncoli | Variant Cover by Ken Lashley | Choose Your Destiny Cover by Chris Sprouse
BOUNTY HUNTERS VS. THE KNIGHTS OF REN!
- Dengar is leading T’onga’s bounty hunter crew on a desperate attempt to break into the Crimson Dawn’s stronghold – and he’s also leading them into a trap!
- Meanwhile, Valance has found new purpose as Darth Vader’s secret weapon. But how far will he be willing to go to protect an Imperial officer from assassins?
As of this posting, the solicitation is the same as issue #24’s, but at least the opening statement “Bounty Hunters vs. the Knights of Ren!” is new for this one, something the cover hints will happen in this issue.
The Mandalorian #2 (on sale 8/17)
Rodney Barnes (Writer), Georges Jeanty (Artist)
Cover by Kaare Andrews | Variant Covers by Giuseppe Camuncoli, Salvador Larocca, and Jim Cheung
BATTLE WITH THE BEASTLY MUDHORN!
- Having tracked down a valuable quarry, the Mandalorian must now contend with thieving bandits.
- Will the Mandalorian battle it out with the Jawas or is an alliance in the cards?
You can check out our review of The Mandalorian “Chapter 2 – The Child!”
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.