Compared to last June‘s Star Wars comics solicitations, 2022 might not have anything as big as the War of the Bounty Hunters crossover, in fact we have a break from Qi’ra’s comic trilogy, but it is packed with issues that should interest fans of all eras. June kicks off The Mandalorian‘s adaptation comic, Qui-Gon Jinn guest appearances in the Obi-Wan comic (and maybe Obi-Wan show!), Chelli Aphra has to battle her memories to escape her latest problems, while Charles Soule digs up tales across his Star Wars comics career for a truly spectacular and epic 25th issue for his current Star Wars run. June will once again have Pride Month variants, though they haven’t been revealed yet and I have some hopes Lucasfilm/Marvel will do a little better this time around (especially in light of everything going on with the company). Head below for all the details on Star Wars comics’ June 2022 solicitations! UPDATED 4/13: There’s been a lot of delays at the moment, so you’ll find a few June comics are actually ones from either April or May…I’ve updated the dates for the original June releases below.
MARVEL
Obi-Wan #2 (on sale 6/22)
Christopher Cantwell (Writer), Ario Anindito (Artist)
Cover by Phil Noto | Choose Your Destiny Variant Cover by Chris Sprouse | Pride Variant Cover by Derek Charm
“DARK SIDE OF THE MOON”
- Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan answer the distress call of an outpost on the edge of the galaxy.
- What’s the secret behind the devastation wrought upon the terrifying moon base?
- Will whatever plunged it into darkness pull a Padawan off his enlightened path?
It’s the Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan flashback issue for the upcoming Obi-Wan series launching in May and that’s all I really need to know about this issue. More Qui-Gon makes this Butler’s heart flutter like mynock wings. Also of note Obi-Wan-wise, did you catch the trailer for the Obi-Wan Kenobi limited series on Disney+?!
Han Solo & Chewbacca #4 (7/20){Moved to July}
Marc Guggenheim (Writer), David Messina (Artist)
Cover by Phil Noto | Variant Cover by Nic Klein | Choose Your Destiny Variant Cover by Chris Sprouse | Pride Variant Cover by Javier Garron
OH…SHYRIIWOOK!
- HARROO! RHOO AAHH! HRRG!!! (TRANSLATION: It’s a Chewbacca-centric special issue as Chewie fights to rescue his friend Han.)
- HRRARRARGH AAHHRA HUGGG! (TRANSLATION: Guest-starring the one-and-only KRRSANTAN!)
- RRRAHARRR RAAA HRRRA! (TRANSLATION: You don’t want to miss this one!)
Han Solo & Chewbacca #1 dropped earlier this month and I found it to be a solid, though not immediately gripping series, with lite stakes and decent humor, while its final page reveal confirmed a theory of mine…or did it? Regardless, I’m really looking forward to this issue, as it’s told from Chewie’s POV, so don’t expect a lot of translations like the solicit has above. It’s going to rely a lot on David Messina’s art and Guggenheim’s script for this to work, but even if it doesn’t newly minted TV star, and comic starter, Krrsantan will show up to fight Chewbacca, which will be a sight to see.
Darth Vader #24 (on sale 6/15)
Greg Pak (Writer), Marco Castiello (Artist)
Cover by Paul Renaud | Choose Your Destiny Variant Cover by Chris Sprouse | Pride Variant Cover by Kei Zama
- Someone’s been to Polis Massa. Someone’s heard Padmé’s last words. Someone knows Vader’s deepest secret. What happens when the Dark Lord of the Sith finds out?
- Meanwhile, a colony of refugees from a certain sandy planet struggle under the rule of an Imperial governor. Will their connection to Vader’s past be their salvation — or their doom?
- Plus: the shocking return of two of Anakin Skywalker’s oldest friends!
May’s solicitation for Darth Vader #23 (Vol. 2) promised the shocking return of a face from Vader’s distant past, so I threw out a bunch of names as theories, and now this solicit mentions TWO faces, though this time specifies “friends.” That’s a curious, specific choice of word, so I’m going to bet my Kitster theory at least will turn out to be true, but I’m feeling less and less likely Padmé’s sister Sola, or nieces Pooja and Ryoo, would be possible, so who else where old friends of Anakin? Wald, the young Rodian? Any of the other ‘friends’ who laughed at him before the big race? Either way, so far Sabé has helped this series once again so here’s hoping whomever they turn out to be, they keep up the momentum.
Star Wars #25 (on sale 7/20) {Moved to July}
Charles Soule (Writer), Ramon Rosanas, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Will Sliney & Phil Noto (Artist)
Cover by Carlo Pagulayan | Action Figure Variant Cover by John Tyler Christopher | Variant Cover by Giuseppe Camuncoli | Variant Cover by Phil Noto | Variant Cover by Steve Mcniven | Variant Cover by Alex Maleev | Variant Cover by Will Sliney | Choose Your Destiny Variant Cover by Chris Sprouse | Lucasfilm Pride Variant Cover by TBA
A Celebration across the Galaxy for STAR WARS’ 25th issue!
With stories set from the Prequel to the Sequel eras, experience new tales of OBI-WAN & ANAKIN, DARTH VADER, POE DAMERON and KYLO REN. Join Charles Soule, along with his previous artistic collaborators, for this era-spanning celebration!
If this issue wasn’t coming out in June, Doctor Aphra #22 would be the easy winner for my most anticipated release of the month, but Star Wars #25 (Vol. 2) manages to tie! Writer Charles Soule gets to go big for the 25th issue of his run, providing ‘untold tales‘ from his previous comic works over the years (minus Lando, since Lando/Lobot are main characters in this run already): Obi-Wan & Anakin, Darth Vader – Dark Lord of the Sith, Poe Dameron, and The Rise of Kylo Ren. Even better yet, artists who worked with him on the previous series are returning, so it’ll look and feel like a true addition to each one’s story. As a big fan of all his previous works, I’ll be very interested to see what we’ll get for each story, though it looks like, at the very least for the Darth Vader portion due to the cover, the Seventh Sister will feature in it, alongside the Grand Inquisitor!
Doctor Aphra #22 (on sale 7/27)
Alyssa Wong (Writer), Minkyu Jung (Artist)
Cover by W. Scott Forbes | Choose Your Destiny Variant Cover by Chris Sprouse | Pride Variant Cover by Paulina Ganucheau
- Tainted by the SPARK ETERNAL, DOCTOR CHELLI APHRA is not herself!
- Trapped in her own mind, Aphra’s only hope for escape lies in her own memories…
- …but will she find a way out before the Spark consumes her completely?
Despite being absolutely terrified, this issue feels like it has SO MUCH POTENTIAL! Aphra trapped in her own mind?! Her own worst impluses and the hidden good within showing themselves internally?!? Going down memory lane, like maybe seeing her parents again, her time with the murderbots, Sana, Kho, Tolvan, Vulaada, and other misadventures?!? I am so damn excited to see what writer Alyssa Wong cooks up and Minkyu Jung delivers! If you’re as excited as I am for this issue, or just Doctor Aphra in general, don’t forget we’re running a 31 Days Aphra challenge on Twitter all this March! Join in now and catch up, as there’s plenty of time to do so!!
Bounty Hunters #24 (on sale 6/15)
Ethan Sacks (Writer), Paolo Villanelli (Artist)
Cover by Giuseppe Camuncoli | Choose Your Destiny Variant Cover by Chris Sprouse | Pride Variant Cover by Jan Bazaldua
- 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?
The solicits for this series have all been rather similar for the past few months, protecting spoilers no doubt, so this doesn’t have much new besides the part about Valance. He’s found new purpose? Considering my bland feelings for the character, this doesn’t sound like something I’d want for him even if I did, so we’ll see if maybe this conundrum wakes him back up a bit. Or makes me interested finally. We shall see which comes first! Regardless, big hopes for Vukorah on this series’ Pride variant cover!
Halcyon Legacy #5 (8/3)
Ethan Sacks (Writer), Will Sliney (Artist)
Cover by E.M. Gist | Variant Cover by Valerio Giangiordano
“LAST STAND ON THE HALCYON”
- Star-crossed lovers who crossed the wrong syndicate try to escape on the Halcyon.
- But even in the chaos of the early days of the New Republic, can they evade a murderers’ row of bounty hunters stalking them – including BOSSK?
- And years in the future, the pirate CRIMSON JACK closes in on the legendary Galactic Starcruiser.
We’ll be reviewing the series once it completes, so expect a miniseries review sometime around the release of this final issue. Really hoping the star-crossed lovers are some new characters, as while the cameos are a good way to bring readers in, it’s also nice to try something/one else!
The Mandalorian #1 (on sale 7/06)
Rodney Barnes (Writer), Georges Jeanty (Artist)
Cover by Adi Granov | Action Figure Variant Cover by John Tyler Christopher | Variant Cover by Declan Shalvey | Variant Cover by David Aja | Variant Cover by Leinil Francis Yu | Pride Variant Cover by Phil Jimenez
For the first time, THE MANDALORIAN arrives in comics!
- The Mandalorian bounty hunter tracks a target for a well-paying, mysterious client.
- Witness the introduction of Din Djarin and the first meeting between the Mandalorian and the Child!
Announced not too long ago, The Mandalorian comic is a straight-up adaptation of the series’ first 8 episode season, and I imagine if it does well, they’ll continue on to season 2 and beyond (and maybe a few The Book of Boba Fett episodes since Din Djarin sort of took over). I’ll probably check this out once it’s all finished, at least reading issue #1 when it drops to see how they do the Grogu reveal in comic form, but don’t expect any reviews on the site. We do have our reviews of The Mandalorian you can check out though, like this one for Chapter 1, the series premiere! It’s unfortunate, as the third new series announced by Marvel for 2022, it’s another creative team with all male creatives, which takes me interesting in adaptations, already low, and craters them.
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.