Forgetting the ides of March, how about beware Star Wars’ comics goodness like Jango Fett’s twin blasters, a group of cyborg warriors, a bore worm, the return of a familiar scaly face, and, the worst of all, a courtroom?! 2024 just got a big preview in Revelations (2023) #1 and many of those threads are coming to life in March’s Star Wars comics solicitations, so make sure to check them out below! Update: A few advanced solicitations for April have arrived and big High Republic secrets have been revealed!
March also sees the return of Women’s History Month variant covers, this time from a variety of artists featuring a great selection of characters! Check them all out here!
MARVEL
Star Wars #44 (on sale 3/6)
Charles Soule (Writer), Madibek Musabekov (Artist)
Cover by Stephen Segovia | Hera Syndulla Rebels 10th Anniversary Variant Cover by Caspar Wijngaard | Action Figure Variant Cover by John Tyler Christopher | Women’s History Month Variant Cover by Jan Duursema
THE TRIAL OF LANDO CALRISSIAN!
- After the events of DARK DROIDS, LANDO is at a crossroads.
- Saving his friend LOBOT has cost him more than he expected as now ADMIRAL ACKBAR and MON MOTHMA are putting Lando on trial.
- With THE REBELLION locked in battle with THE EMPIRE, how will this trial’s end impact the Rebellion’s future?
Revealed at the end of Star Wars #41 (Vol. 2), the trial of Lando has been one of the more out-of-the-box, non-Force, non-Rebellion vs Empire things set to come from Soule’s run on the series. Even better yet, to have a trial by someone who was an attorney back in the day, you know this could be quite the spectacle, especially since the Rebellion has to trust him enough to have him lead the assault on the Death Star II…unless that’s his punishment, knowing he could easily die in the process. Either way, after the little we met of his lawyer, Advocate Salli Georgio, thanks to Revelations (2023) #1, I can’t wait to see what she has up her sleeves in his defense!
The High Republic #5 – Phase III (on sale 3/6)
Cavan Scott (Writer), Ario Anindito (Artist)
Cover by Phil Noto | Variant Cover by Guiseppe Camuncoli | Women’s History Month Variant Cover by Betsy Cola
MONSTER AND APPRENTICE! AN EXCITING NEW ARC BEGINS!
- Lightsabers clash as KEEVE TRENNIS finally finds what she’s been searching for in the NIHIL OCCLUSION ZONE!
- What is the secret of the ancient ruin? And can Keeve trust LOURNA DEE when she needs her the most?
- The JEDI’S deepest fears manifest as a face from the past makes a SHOCKING appearance!
This solicit comes at such interesting timing, it’s almost hard to explain. The solicit for issue #4 brought up the prospect for the return of Sskeer himself to the series, but what could that look like and what could it mean?! And was it really saying it would be him?! The solicit for this issue doesn’t name drop him or anything, though the cover leaves VERY LITTLE to the imagination, but a day before these solicits were originally released, The High Republic #2 – Phase III dropped and ended with even further evidence we’d get to see the scaly Jedi Master again. With the word “monster” being thrown around, it’s going to be a reunion to remember!
Mace Windu #2 (on sale 3/13)
Marc Bernardin (Writer), Georges Jeanty (Artist)
Cover by Mateus Manhanini | Variant Cover by Annie Wu | Women’s History Month Variant Cover by Karen S. Darboe
INTO THE STORM AGAINST THE BORE WORM!
- MACE WINDU & AZITA CRUUZ must work together to escape the menace of the BORE WORM!
- But what else lies in their path and who is following them?
- And what is COAXIUM ULTRA?
We got a very short taste of Bernardin’s take on Mace Windu in Revelations (2023) #1, and while it was too short it lacked context to be more than a little tease of the story, I’m very much here for the Samuel L. Jackson-vibes he brought to the character. I can’t wait to meet Azita Cruuz, see how Mace deals with this Bore worm, and find out what the heck coaxium “ULTRA” could even be!
Darth Vader #44 (on sale 3/13)
Greg Pak (Writer), Adam Gorham (Artist)
Cover by Leinil Francis Yu | Variant Cover by Alex Maleev | Sabine Wren Star Wars Rebels 10th Anniversary Variant Cover by Caspar Wijngaard | Women’s History Month Variant Cover by Marguerite Sauvage
RISE OF THE MAR CORPS!
- DARTH VADER is picking up the pieces after the SCOURGE wreaked havoc.
- But could a REBEL SQUAD of cyborgs bring chaos to the DARK LORD of order?!
- Who are Vader’s new TROOPERS? Find out here!
Unlike how the series just wrapped up its Dark Droids arc, it looks like the fallout will be mentioned a little bit! As for this Mar Corps, a group of Rebel cyborgs, you can get a great look at them on this issue’s cover, though we first met them, in case you didn’t guess by now, in Revelations (2023) #1! And by met them, we saw them in hologram form, with two droids talking about the devious plan to hijack their bodies and use them for Vader’s own personal gain. Why he needs another little private army, beyond for another damned attempt to take out Palpatine and/or the Empire’s enemies, we’ll just have to see, but I’m not too hyped for that prospect of the story, just meeting the cool looking cyborg squad.
Jango Fett #1 (on sale 3/20)
Ethan Sacks (Writer), Luke Ross (Artist)
Cover by Leinil Francis Yu | Women’s History Month Variant Cover by Aka | Variant Cover by David Marquez | Variant/Virgin Variant Cover by Derrick Chew | Movie Variant Cover Also Available
JANGO FETT EMBARKS ON A BRAND-NEW MISSION!
- AS SEEN IN STAR WARS: REVELATIONS! ETHAN SACKS (STAR WARS: BOUNTY HUNTERS) & LUKE ROSS (STAR WARS: WAR OF THE BOUNTY HUNTERS, STAR WARS: DARK DROIDS) team up to continue the legacy of one of the greatest bounty hunters: JANGO FETT!
- A bounty to find! A mystery to solve! A treaty at risk!
- All this with AURRA SING in the mix!!!
In a little stronger showing, Sacks’ Jango Fett preview story in, you guessed it, Revelations (2023) #1, really set a good tone for how he’ll be writing the bounty hunter…and those around/against him! At this point, between Ross’ pedigree and Sacks’ work on Bounty Hunters, I think we’ll be in for a good treat when this series drops in March.
Thrawn: Alliances #3 (on sale 3/20)
Jody Houser, Timothy Zahn (Writers), Andrea Di Vito & Pat Olliffe (Artists)
Cover by Rod Reis | Variant Cover by Declan Shalvey | Women’s History Month Variant Cover by Annie Wu
A SPACE BATTLE FOR THE AGES!
- PAST and PRESENT collide as THRAWN partners with ANAKIN SKYWALKER and DARTH VADER!
- What are the separatists hiding?
- And how does PADMÉ play a role?
Check out our review of the novel!
Obi-Wan Kenobi #6 (on sale 3/27)
Jody Houser (Writer), Salvador Larroca (Artist)
Cover by Phil Noto | Variant Cover by Erica D’urso | Variant Cover by Greg Land | Women’s History Month Variant Cover by Stephanie Hans
THE ACTION-PACKED FINALE!
- OBI-WAN realizes saving LEIA isn’t enough – he must face DARTH VADER once more! Meanwhile, REVA has found her ultimate bargaining chip: LUKE SKYWALKER!
You can check out our review of Part VI!
The High Republic #6 – Phase III (on sale 4/3) {Advanced Solicited}
Cavan Scott (Writer), Jim Towe (Artist)
Cover by Phil Noto | Variant Cover by Dustin Nguyen | Variant Cover by David Lopez | Stellan Gios & Vernestra Rwoh Master & Apprentice Variant by Guiseppe Camuncoli
BACK TO THE LIGHT!
- Someone close to the Jedi fell from grace long ago, but there’s always good in people…isn’t there?
- FORCE USERS clash as a rogue FREEWIELDER terrorizes the sacred streets of an ancient moon.
- Plus, secrets are revealed as the STARLIGHT JEDI reunite! But how long will their alliance last?
Well, I’ll be holy hot damned….Tey Sirrek returns?!!? Phase II’s lovable thief who had a heart of gold deep down, even bringing one out of grumpy ol’ Vildar Mac, has somehow fallen from grace and still around?!? Did someone hurt Vildar/Matty?! Is Sskeer this “freewielder?” And will we get to see Starlight Jedi from other series as well?! Whatever Cavan Scott has cooking for this series, we’re heading to some crazy, unexpected places and I’m ready to be along for the ride! BIG UPDATE: Scott took to Bluesky (though I shared it on Twitter) and clarified this issue takes us back to Phase II, so Tey might not be around in Phase III as this initially made it seem. Even more curious now why we’re seeing him again, though it does sort of fit with the Chosen One/Nameless Prochecy….
[Big thanks to Star Wars Splash Page for spotting this and the next advanced solicitation!]
Star Wars #45 (on sale 4/3) {Advanced Solicited}
Charles Soule (Writer), Madibek Musabekov (Artist)
Cover by Stephen Segovia | Thrawn Rebels 10th Anniversary Variant Cover by Caspar Wijngaard | Variant Cover by Annie Wu | Action Figure Variant Cover by John Tyler Christopher | Luke Skywalker & Rey Master & Apprentice Variant by Guiseppe Camuncoli
THE GREATEST TRIAL IN THE GALAXY CONTINUES!
- LANDO CALRISSIAN is on trial for crimes against the ALLIANCE.
- The evidence is clear, and his friends have turned against him, from LUKE SKYWALKER to LEIA ORGANA.
- Lando’s only hope…is DARTH VADER?
Add in the idea Vader might be Lando’s only hope to what we know of the coming trial and I’m so ready for it to begin! If this is successful, maybe we can get a courtroom drama on Disney+ next?
DARK HORSE
The High Republic Adventures #4 – Phase III (on sale 3/13)
Daniel José Older (Writer), Elisa Romboli (Artist)
Cover by Harvey & Kevin Tolibao
Zeen, Jedi Knight Qort, and droid 5A-G3 have been following every clue to find answers about their friends who are missing-and presumed dead-since the Starlight Beacon disaster. Together with an assemblage of battle ready Jedi and smugglers, they’ve got a new lead to pursue and it is taking them straight to a Nihil prison ship…Dare they hope to discover surviving allies there?
{Advanced Solicited in February’s}With many fan theories connecting this series’ mysterious masked individual with Lula Talisola, does this solicit prove otherwise, that she might be (un)safely trapped away on a Nihil ship, snarky, rude, and no-good Krix Kamerat bothering her this whole time? Or is she under that mask, brainwashed by Baron Boolan, a character fans will meet in The Eye of Darkness, had concept art recently released of him, and we’ve met one of his creations already?? Only time will tell, but between this and The High Republic #4 – Phase III, it looks like all the cliffhanger fates from Phase I are coming to an end!!
The High Republic Adventures: Crash Landing (on sale 3/20)
Daniel José Older (Writer), Rachele Aragno (Artist)
Cover by Rachele Aragno
“Crash” Ongwa and her ragtag crew have been fighting against anyone who had a hand in the Nihil infiltration that plunged her home planet of Corellia into chaos. Even though an uneasy peace has been reached, if they don’t continue to fight, everything they sacrificed for could slip away. Now, Crash has a lead on the person behind the entire Nihil plot-if her crew can accomplish this mission, could true peace be on their horizon?
{Advanced Solicited in February’s}Crash’s efforts to save Corellia from the Nihil in The High Republic – Midnight Horizon continued in Alyssa Wong’s short story in the Barnes & Nobel edition of The High Republic -Tales of Light and Life and this looks to pick up the threads it left open! It’s also where we met a young Jedi struggling with what happened to his Master and striking out in not so good way, named Ruu, who pushed representation by being the first transmasc character and this cover is now the first illustration of one in the franchise! It’s also our first time seeing Svi’no and her species! Let’s keep it up with all the firsts!
BIG SPOILERS FOR THE HIGH REPUBLIC ADVENTURES – PHASE III BELOW!
The High Republic Adventures #5 – Phase III (on sale 4/17) {Advanced Solicited}
Daniel José Older (Writer), Elisa Romboli (Artist)
Cover by Harvey & Kevin Tolibao
On the edge of Republic space, Zeen, Lula, and a small Republic fleet launched a surprise attack on a Nihil prison ship. It’s a daring rescue attempt, but their hope is to find and free missing allies…Now that they’ve fought their way in, will they be able to fight their way out?
With the first issue out, the nexu is out of the bag: Lula Talisola is alive and is the series’ masked individual, in arguably one of the biggest comic moments of 2023! It seems she’s back to being with the Republic, to some extent, and helping rescue their other friends and allies, but is she alright, is she going to be a Jedi again, and what does this mean for Lula and Zeen? Are they not worrying about it as they worry instead about saving others? I’m hooked and eager to see where this all leads!
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website on Bluesky, Twitter @MynockManor, and Instagram @mynockmanor.