The world might be in disarray, but damn it if Star Wars Day aka May the Fourth won’t try its best to cheer us all up a little bit, hopefully! And when the day and deals are done, all our retail therapy completed, there’s still plenty of Star Wars comics to enjoy as well, like the start of Star Wars (2025), a kaiju special in Jedi Knights, Kylo Ren visiting Naboo, and the Battle of Eraidu reaching its epic ending(truly this time)! Check out May 2025’s Star Wars Comics Solicitations below, which includes my theorizing rabbit hole about a new Doctor Aphra series!
MARVEL
Free Comic Book Day 2025: Star Wars 1 (out 5/3)
Alex Segura, Charles Soule, Marc Guggenheim (Writers), Phil Noto, Luke Ross, Stefano Raffaele, Madibek Musabekov (Artists)
Cover by Phil Noto
CELEBRATING THE NEW ERA OF STAR WARS COMICS!
- LUKE SKYWALKER finds himself in a wretched hive of scum and villainy facing off against pirates!
- JEDI KNIGHTS QUI-GON JINN & TENSU RUN are on the hunt for the villainous CORLIS RATH!
- Who is the mysterious VANEÉ and what is his connection to DARTH VADER & KYLO REN?
Can’t forget Free Comic Book Day, which is hopefully still happening despite the industry shaking news about Diamond Comic Distributors filing for bankruptcy, as there are two Star Wars comics. On Marvel’s end, it looks like the current writers and artists of many of new series will tell little tales related to their stories, from Luke battling pirates to Tensu Run’s (of Inquisitors fame) past being shown in a Jedi Knights related story, and a glimpse at Vaneé’s story, though we’ve already gotten that in the Vader’s Castle series. Should be an intriguing one!
Star Wars #1 {2025} (on sale 5/7)
Alex Segura (Writer), Phil Noto (Artist)
Cover by Phil Noto | Variant cover by Leinil Francis Yu | Variant cover by Gabriele Dell’Otto | The Force Awakens 10th Anniversary variant cover by Chris Sprouse | Action Figure variant cover by John Tyler Christopher | Foil variant cover by Ken Lashley | Variant/Virgin Variant Cover by David Nakayama | Variant cover by Pepe Larraz Doctor Aphra Sneak Preview variant cover by Annie Wu
AN EPIC NEW ADVENTURE BEGINS FOR LUKE, LEIA AND HAN IN THE WAKE OF RETURN OF THE JEDI!
- New York Times best-selling author ALEX SEGURA launches the bold next era of STAR WARS. LUKE SKYWALKER must defend the NEW REPUBLIC from a bloodthirsty gang of mercenaries!
- HAN SOLO investigates a deadly underworld mystery — and saves a surprising ally!
- LEIA ORGANA must grapple with a new alliance opposed to the goals of the New Republic!
Since the initial announcement of the new Star Wars run taking us past Return of the Jedi, in an interview with Star Wars Explained, Alex Segura revealed the mysterious hooded individual at the end of his The Battle of Jakku run is part of a Separatist group, meaning they are back on the menu for interesting storylines!! This follows their resurgence in storylines for Reign of the Empire: The Mask of Fear, which is set to publish the week after this article, though we have our review available already! I like the idea the Separatists and their mentality haven’t ever really gone away, which seems to track with how all sorts of political movements never really seem to die. Otherwise, I’m intrigued to see what Segura has in mind in such an interesting era, but I’m still on the fence if I’ll, beyond a review for this opening issue, will be reviewing each issue or trade paperback instead.
Even more important in this solicit, to me at least, is the little sneaky Sneak Preview Cover by Annie Wu! Phil Noto has one for Jedi Knights #2 which teased an upcoming confrontation in Star Wars (2025), and Wu’s is to preview…THE RETURN OF DOCTOR APHRA!!! I had hoped an announcement would come this week given the preview cover being mentioned (though no image of it has been released), but my hope was misplaced. But…Aphra seems likely to return in June, which is extremely fitting given it’s Pride Month after all, and maybe like with the Phil Noto preview cover, this means Annie Wu (!!!!) is doing the initial interiors for Aprha’s return?!!? I NEED TO KNOW SOON!!!
Jedi Knights #3 (on sale 5/14)
Marc Guggenheim (Writer), Madibek Musabekov (Artist)
Cover by Rahzzah | Classic Homage variant cover by Dan Jurgens | Lightsaber Foil Variant by Taurin Clarke | Variant Cover by Ramon Rosanas | Variant Cover by Sara Pichelli
QUI-GON JINN AND OBI-WAN KENOBI BATTLE GIANT MONSTERS!
- ALL SPLASH PAGES! ALL ACTION!
- The most unusual Jedi Knights tale ever told!
- QUI-GON and OBI-WAN defy death in an epic attempt to save the life of SENATOR BAIL ORGANA on a planet full of skyscraper-sized monsters!
While we’ve had kaiju creatures in Star Wars, like the Zillo Beast or random big creatures Darth Vader has faced in comics, but a WHOLE PLANET of them?!?! And it’s done in all splash pages, something that, as far as I can recall after 10 years of reviewing Star Wars canon comics, has yet to be done before!!!?? And it’ll feature Qui-Gon Jinn, a big favorite of mine, with Obi-Wan Kenobi?! SIGN ME UP RIGHT NOW!!! We got our first look via writer Marc Guggenheim and it already looks like it’s going to be a memorable event!
Legacy of Vader #4 (on sale 5/21)
Charles Soule (Writer), Stefano Raffaele (Artist)
Cover by Derrick Chew | Variant cover by David Marquez | The Force Awakens 10th Anniversary variant cover by Chris Sprouse | Variant Cover by Marc Aspinall
KYLO REN EXPLORES ANAKIN AND PADMÉ’S PAST ON NABOO!
- KYLO and VANEÉ journey to the home planet of Kylo’s grandmother, PADMÉ AMIDALA, to learn more of VADER’S dark secrets.
- Kylo must battle against STORG VERUNA and his raiders!
- And who will rule NABOO when all is said and done?
Legacy of Vader kicked off in early February, just a few weeks before this publishing, and it’s already off to an intriguing enough start that I’m looking forward to seeing where Kylo’s journeys will all take him. NEVER did I suspect that would include Naboo, so I love the idea he’ll explore his grandfather and grandmother’s past, while I’m eager to see more of how the galaxy is reacting and dealing with the First Order’s chaotic destruction of the New Republic. As for this Storg Veruna, JMJ on Bluesky mentioned there was once a Naboo King named Ars Veruna, so this is likely a descendant of some sorts! And we’re going to see who will end up ruling Naboo after Kylo’s visit?! Liking how big and wild this run is setting out to be.
The High Republic – Fear of the Jedi #4 (on sale 5/21)
Cavan Scott (Writer), Marika Cresta (Artist)
Cover by Phil Noto | Variant by Ben Harvvey | The Force Awakens 10th Anniversary variant cover by Chris Sprouse
NIGHTMARE ABOVE ERIADU!
- KEEVE TRENNIS and her team of battle-weary Jedi must face their biggest challenge…and their greatest fear.
- The NAMELESS strike as you’ve never seen them before.
- What is the secret of the Nightmare Fleet? And how can TEY SIRREK defend himself against the person he loves most?
Fear of the Jedi #1 arrived the week of these solicits, so if its excellent opening issue is portent of what’s to come, the final comic run in the High Republic era’s Phase III by Marvel is shaping up to be an emotional and surprising one! Much like how the Battle of Eriadu is a big part of The High Republic Adventures – Phase III (see the solicit below!), even Trennis and team get wrapped up in its events, but against the Nameless and whatever the fresh scary hell this Nightmare Fleet is! I am not ready for nightmares of the Nightmare Fleet!omic and this one.
The Rise of Skywalker Adaptation #4 (on sale 5/28)
Jody Houser (Writer), Will Sliney (Artist)
Cover by Phil Noto | Variant cover by Luke Ross | Movie Variant Cover Also Available
THE FINAL RECKONING OF THE RESISTANCE!
- REY and KYLO REN’s years-in-the-making showdown reaches its devastating conclusion!
- A shocking death sends ripples across the galaxy!
- As the RESISTANCE faces their lowest moment, who can they turn to for hope?
I get this is only 5 issues long, but this seems to be going even faster than necessary…is there just that much more additional scenes being added in later on?? Or throughout? I guess I’ll find out from people sharing them online/the TPB whenever it comes out!
DARK HORSE
Free Comic Book Day 2025: All Ages (out 5/3)
Dave Scheidt (Writer), Andy Duggan (Artist)
In Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Jedi younglings Kai, Lys, and Nubs travel to a mysterious swamp, where Master Yoda has set up an elaborate scavenger hunt.
The wonderful protagonists of the Young Jedi Adventures series get another showcase for FCBD…who doesn’t want more Nubs, especially for free?! Hopefully FCBD is still happening despite, as I mentioned earlier, Diamond Comic Distributors filing for bankruptcy.
The High Republic Adventures #18 – Phase III (on sale 5/14)
Daniel José Older (Writer), Harvey Tolibao (Artist)
Cover by Harvey & Kevin Tolibao | Variant cover by Corin Howell
The Battle of Eriadu comes to an explosive conclusion! Jedi Knight Farzala Tarabal leads his fearless allies into a final fight with the Nihil, risking everything in a last-ditch effort to save Eriadu and the Republic! But his opponent, the treacherous Warden, is obsessed with defeating the Jedi, even if it means destroying everything he’s fought for. Who will be victorious?
Given how the Battle of Eriadu is already going, I don’t think I’m ready for what I am sure will be an emotional and harrowing finale…as while the Jedi will win…what will be the cost?! Really not ready to find out, but all good things must end, so we’ll be reading, and reviewing, no matter what!
Hyperspace Stories – The Bad Batch: Ghost Agents #4 (on sale 5/28)
Michael Moreci (Writer), Reese Hannigan (Artist)
Cover by Valeria “Lux” Favoccia
The stolen Republic intel sought by Clone Force 99 has switched hands! Now, the data is closely guarded by none other than fearsome bounty hunter Aurra Sing. In order to survive Aurra’s onslaught, Clone Force 99 must enlist an unsavory ally — a villain who would as soon stab them in the back as save them!
I won’t be reviewing this until it wraps up in June, but as I said on Bluesky for the release of the first issue, it’s already off to an incredibly fun start and captures the banter of Clone Force 99 as if this was just a prequel to the show! If you’re holding out on picking this up, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed whenever you start. It’s not the only Bad Batch related publishing release to come in 2025, as a new novel was announced, Sanctuary, and it takes place towards the end of season two of the show (it’s out in August). I’ll be posting mini reviews on Bluesky for each issue of this series but return to the Manor in June for a bigger one!
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.