In March 2019, the Star Wars comics solicitations reveal the final issues of Jody Houser’s Age of Republic, Leia’s revenge against Queen Trios taking shape, Doctor Aphra questioning how a murderbot is her closest confidante, and more in what is sure to be a month long remembered by comic fans. Head below for all the details!
MARVEL
Vader – Dark Visions #1 & #2 (on sale 3/6) & (on sale 3/27)
Dennis Hopeless (Writer), Paolo Villanelli {Issue #1}; Brian Level {Issue #2} (Artists)
Covers by Greg Smallwood | Issue #1: Variant Covers By Leinil Francis Yu; Giuseppe Camuncoli & Elia Bonetti; Plus Movie Variant Cover | Issue #2: Variant Cover By Gerardo Sandoval
“ISSUE #1 – WHO IS DARTH VADER?
He has been many things: a SITH warrior, a commander, a destroyer. DARTH VADER is to many throughout the GALACTIC EMPIRE a symbol of fear and mysterious, otherworldly power. But there are some who have seen the DARK LORD in a different light. There are some corners of the galaxy so dark and desperate that even Vader can be a knight in shining armor. The first issue of a new STAR WARS limited series, writer Dennis Hopeless (CLOAK AND DAGGER, JEAN GREY) sheds new light on the many sides of the galaxy’s greatest villain.
ISSUE #2 – THE COST OF FAILURE.
- To command an IMPERIAL DESTROYER is a coveted position.
- But with such great responsibility comes grave consequences if you fail your mission.
- How far will one officer go to spare himself from the judgment of DARTH VADER?”
Seeing as Vader – Dark Visions is a replacement for the cancelled Shadow of Vader miniseries, I was beginning to get worried it would reskin the stories from that series under a new name, writer. Thankfully, it seems not to be the case, so this will be a different experience, but one with the specter of the indefensible, politically charged, sickeningly Nazi-sympathetic move by Editor Mark Paniccia with firing Chuck Wendig hanging over its head. I’m sure what Hopeless and the artists do here will be a great, intriguing time, so for their sake, I’ll still be checking this out.
Doctor Aphra #30 (on sale 3/27)
Simon Spurrier (Writer), Emilio Laiso (Artist)
Cover by Ashley Witter | Greatest Hits Variant Cover By Adam Hughes
“WORST AMONG EQUALS” PART 5: WHEREIN: PUBLIC RELATIONS DISASTER!
- DOCTOR APHRA’s race across an alien city continues, pursued by innumerable enemies – not least the EMPIRE’S villainous propaganda division.
- But with the timer ticking down on the bomb in her throat, the truest horror might come from some unscheduled soul-searching.
- Could it be that her psychotic droid companion TRIPLE-ZERO is the closest thing she has (or deserves) to a true soulmate?
“Worst Among Equals” has been the strongest start to an Aphra arc in awhile, as most of them haven’t really hit their stride until the end, and its penultimate issue looks like it’ll offer some much needed introspection. And what a doozy the soul-searching will be, as after what Aphra did to Inspector Tolvan, making her think she killed her, and how Sana washed her hands of Aphra but now must think she’s dead because the Rebellion picked up Tolvan, who is there left to care about Aphra? Besides her father, no one, and the ones left that do find her a mercurial oddity or a means to an end, so having her finally come to the realization about how her actions have put her in such a situation where Triple-Zero is all she has left might finally cause her to try harder to be with others. I’d love to see Year 2 of the series have her in pursuit of someone/trying to make friends for once, at her own peril, and I trust the creative team to do it right!
Star Wars #62 (on sale 3/6)
Kieron Gillen (Writer), Andrea Broccardo (Artist)
Cover By Gerald Parel | Greatest Hits Variant Cover by TBA | Action Figure Variant Cover by John Tyler Christopher
“THE SCOURGING OF SHU-TORUN: ROAD TO REVENGE!
- How is LEIA going to scourge SHU-TORUN?
- She’ll need an all-star team…
- …and a plan they won’t see coming!
Star Wars #63 (on sale 3/20)
Kieron Gillen (Writer), Angel Unzueta (Artist)
Cover By Gerald Parel | Action Figure Variant Cover By John Tyler Christopher
“THE SCOURGING OF SHU-TORUN: OPERATION VENGEANCE!
- KANCHAR returns, and he’s still got an amazing cybernetic arm.
- Does QUEEN TRIOS feel regret over all she’s done?
- Spoilers: She will soon, if LEIA has anything to do with it.
The idea that Leia wants to get revenge on Queen Trios for her actions has just recently been setup in issue #58 of the series, as we find out she’s been plotting her course of action while hermitting in her room. I’ve previously theorized Trios does have some regret for her help in destroying the Rebellion’s massive fleet, as hinted in issue #49 and #50 with her words to Leia/dropping of glasses, so I’m curious to see if Leia goes to far only to find out too late or if they manage to team up someway to take Shu-Torun down and hurt the Empire. As for Kanchar’s return? I’m actually excited, as he’s a bit of a creep, but he was effective and smart, though I’m curious to learn how he feels about Luke having left him alive instead of killing him. This sounds like a solid, intense arc, but let’s hope Gillen doesn’t go too slow burn as he has with action-heavy arcs in the past. Also, the covers by Gerald Parel? FREAKING GORGEOUS!! We’ve been blessed with the covers for the Star Wars series as of late and Peral’s work might be the best yet!
Age of Republic – Padmé Amidala #1 (on sale 3/6)
Jody Houser (Writer), Cory Smith (Artist)
Cover By Paolo Rivera | Concept Design Variant Cover Also Available | Puzzle Piece Variant Cover By Mike Mckone | Movie Variant Also Available
A DESPERATE DIPLOMATIC MISSION FOR SENATOR AMIDALA!
- PADMÉ sets out in secret to try to bring a neutral world into the Republic fold.
- Is this a genuine offer of alliance, or another trap for the outspoken Senator?
- And will rejecting the help of the JEDI be a deadly mistake?
With Padmé eschewing Jedi assistance, does this mean we’re getting a Padmé adventure without Anakin or Ahsoka??? That’s a very rare thing that needs to happen more often, so I’m hoping this is the case. Otherwise, this sounds like it’ll combine Padmé’s political abilities and her skills with a blaster, so the best of Padmé, as I’d expect Houser to do! This will be Houser’s first female-centric issue in her Age, and the second last of her era. Also, this literally comes out ONE day after the upcoming novel Queen’s Shadow by E.K. Johnston, so I’m curious if there’ll be any tie-in at all or its just Padmé Amidala week in 2019!
Age of Republic – General Grievous #1 (on sale 3/13)
Jody Houser (Writer), Luke Ross (Artist)
Cover By Paolo Rivera | Greatest Hits Variant Cover By Pepe Larraz | Concept Design Variant Cover Also Available | Puzzle Piece Variant Cover By Mike Mckone | Movie Variant Also Available
THE FEARSOME SEPARATIST GENERAL STRIKES!
- In his hunt to kill Jedi, GRIEVOUS stumbles across a power greater than he imagined.
- What secrets will the killer cyborg find inside a lost Jedi temple?
- Can Grievous strike a blow against the very FORCE itself?
For Jody Houser’s final entry in the Age of Republic, before Age of Rebellion begins in April, this General Grievous one sounds like an enigmatic, intriguing finale to go out on! Lost Jedi temples always perk up my interest and seeing Grievous not just slaughtering Jedi or leading a battle has resulted in far more interesting stories for the character and this is heading in that direction.
Han Solo – Imperial Cadet #5 (on sale 3/13)
Robbie Thompson (Writer), Leonard Kirk (Artist)
Cover By David Nakayama | Variant Cover By Tba
Behind Enemy Lines!
- HAN SOLO and his fellow cadets risk their lives to save one of their own.
- But not all of them will be coming back from this mission…
- …and even if Han survives, will the Empire throw him in the brig or worse?
Due to time constraints, I’ve decided to go ahead and only review this miniseries once it’s completed, so expect one shortly after this final issue releases in March. If you’re waiting for the TPB to pick this up, it launches in May!
Solo: A Star Wars Story Adaptation #6 (on sale 3/20)
Robbie Thompson (Writer), Will Sliney (Artist)
Cover By Phil Noto
DOUBLE CROSS!
- ENFYS NEST has HAN SOLO and his crew dead to rights…
- But will Enfys’ surprising revelation persuade Han to change his plans for the stolen coaxium…
- …or will a betrayal in his crew be his undoing?!
It’s crazy to think this 7-part adaptation of Solo will still be going, with its final issue out in April, one month to a year from the film’s release. Publishing, Michael Siglan has teased (back at SDCC 2018) you’ll want to read it because, “you don’t know where this one is going to head to and connect to in the future,” so hopefully we’ll learn sooner rather than later about what that could be, with my guesses being some type of sequel relegated to comics, like a miniseries focused solely on Qi’ra’s story with Maul or a full out, actual sequel to the film. All speculation, but maybe we’ll learn more in April’s solicits!
IDW
Star Wars Adventures #20
Cavan Scott (Writer), Derek Charm (Artist & Cover)
During the Clone Wars, Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker and Jedi Master Yoda undertake an urgent mission,where Anakin’s rebellious nature could spell trouble for the Republic.
- The final issue of three set during the prequel films!
- The Original Trilogy gets the spotlight starting next issue!
Curiously, this is the only issue from IDW this month, while it’ll release, in “….a giant-sized format fit for a Wookiee!” a collection of the three prequel era issues that start with #18. This is dubbed a Treasury Edition, and there will be one each for each trilogy. So, in a way, this is like IDW’s version of “Age of Star Wars,” to some extent.
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website @MynockManor.
2019 SOLICITATIONS: January | February | April | May | June | July | August
CURRENT SERIES COMIC REVIEWS:
Doctor Aphra
Aphra (#1-6) | And the Enormous Profit (#9-13) | Remastered (#14-19) | The Catastrophe Con (#20-25) | Worst Among Equals (#26-31) | Annual: #2
Darth Vader – Dark Lord of the Sith
The Chosen One (#1-6) | The Dying Light (#7-10) | The Rule of Five (#11-12) | Burning Seas (#13-18) | Fortress Vader (#19-25) | Annual: #2
Star Wars
Ashes of Jedha (#38-43) | Mutiny at Mon Cala (#44-49) | Hope Dies (#50-55) | The Escape (#56-61) | Annual: #4
Age of Republic (miniseries)