Star Wars comics in November of 2018 have received their solicitations, so come along and peer into the comic’s future! November will see the release of a brand new miniseries, Han Solo – Imperial Cadet, which covers his time as, you guessed it, an Imperial Cadet, while both the Star Wars and Doctor Aphra series begin new arcs, with SW finally getting a new artist (!) and Aphra making it past the benchmark 25th issue. UPDATE: IDW’s solicitations have come in and one of their issues in November will tie-in to Star Wars Resistance, the new animated show! All that and more, below!
MARVEL
Star Wars #56 (on sale 11/7)
Kieron Gillen (Writer), Andrea Broccardo (Artist)
Cover by Jamal Campbell (pictured) | Action Figure Variant by John Tyler Christopher | Galactic Icon Variant by Rod Reis
“THE ESCAPE” BEGINS!
• After the disaster of “HOPE DIES,” our heroes are on the run.
• Can they escape the patrols? No. They’re trapped on a distant world.
• Where have they been abandoned? How can they possibly survive?”
The Star Wars’ next arc following “Hope Dies” is “The Escape,” a name befitting an era where the Rebellion is on the run after the Empire’s routing of their big build-up post-Death Star destruction, thus bringing us closer to The Empire Strikes Back. I love the idea of our heroes on the lam, relying on the hospitality, or the lack thereof, of different parts of the galaxy, and I’m now very excited for this series to continue (even if I hope it does end relatively soon). Also, judging by the cover, Sana Starros is back in the SW for the first time since Kieron Gillen took over for the series with issue #38, as she’s been dealing with her ex Aphra and Aphra’s current flame, Tolvan, in that series’ current arc, “The Catastrophe Con.” The biggest news regarding this solicitation for the next arc of Star Wars is the current artist, Salvador Larroca, being taken off the series, something many fans, including myself, have been calling for due to his over-reliance on facial tracing. It’s been weird to want him gone, considering I really enjoyed his art on the original Vader series, where 90-95% of his work was without tracing, but since he joined SW in issue #26, it’s been an unfortunate hallmark of his work. Switching artists is a tradition that goes back to the early days of the series when each new arc got a new art team, so it’s a return to form to bring on new talent, with the first new artist to get a crack at the mainline series being Andrea Broccardo, who previously did artwork for Kanan #12 and two issues of The Screaming Citadel crossover. If Larroca would ever return to any SW comic series, I hope it’s one that doesn’t mind one issue a month so he can return to doing work without tracing, but until then, I’m happy we’re seeing a change.
Star Wars #57 (on sale 11/21)
Kieron Gillen (Writer), Angel Unzueta (Artist)
Cover by Jamal Campbell (pictured) | Action Figure Variant by John Tyler Christopher
“THE ESCAPE” – PART 2
• The horror of this strange planet.
• The horror!
• Shirtless HAN SOLO, chopping wood.”
The Rebellion’s “Escape” continues and…it looks like it’s going to be a funny arc? From the cover riffing off the American Gothic painting by Grant Wood (the reference you immediately recognized when you saw this cover but couldn’t quite name…or at least that’s how it went for me) and the solicit mentioning Han Solo will be shirtless, while chopping wood, which means this could be the greatest issue in the mainline series’ history, right? Because it sure sounds like it with Han Solo, chopping wood, shirtless…and I’m actually not kidding. I honestly can’t wait to see the how and why of this and boy this series is trending in such a new, revitalized direction, let’s hope it works! There’ll be another new artist for this arc, which is a bit of a surprise, but at least it’s Angel Unzueta, who has been absolutely killing it with the Poe Dameron series and I’m very excited to see his style on our heroes, which hovers closer to realistic faces but has its own flair to them. New artists and Han Solo chopping wood and now I’m all for the Star Wars series again…who would’ve thought? Speaking about Han though…
Han Solo – Imperial Cadet #1 (on sale 11/7)
Robbie Thompson (Writer), Leonard Kirk (Artist)
Cover by David Nakayama (pictured) | Variant Cover by Elsa Charretier | Variant Cover by Luke Ross | Movie Variant Cover Also Available
“YOUNG SOLO’S ADVENTURES CONTINUE!
• HAN SOLO escapes Corellia by joining the IMPERIAL NAVY, vowing to return for QI’RA.
• But how does a thief used to the chaos of the streets adjust to the order and discipline of the military?
• Not well! Han’s dream of becoming a pilot is quickly grounded as he realizes he may not even survive basic training!”
A new 5-part miniseries exploring the time between Han joining the Imperial Navy and his stint on Mimban, aka the part in Solo where he meets Chewie and joins Beckett and his gang?! Sign me the hell up! This was a really great surprise and I love the idea of expanding moments in films that a time-jump skips over, actually preferring it to straight adaptations with minor additional content. The novelization is already adding scenes, including one from Han’s time as an Imperial Cadet as this recent excerpt revealed (which could be in the comic), so why not expand on the movie in different ways? Rebel Rising, by Beth Revis, explored Jyn Erso’s life during the 15 year time-jump of Rogue One‘s opening, adding plenty of extra nuance to her character in the process, something I think this miniseries could be for Solo, and the character of Han, which makes me even more excited for this series to start. The writer behind this series is the same one as the adaptation, which is a neat little bit of continuity between the two comics.
Doctor Aphra #26 (on sale 11/14)
Simon “Si” Spurrier (Writer), Emilio Laiso (Artist)
Cover by Ashley Witter (pictured) | Galactic Icon Variant by Rod Reis
“DOCTOR APHRA — WORST AMONG EQUALS!
• On the run from the law in an alien city, DOCTOR APHRA can’t stray more than a few paces from her companion without both of them blowing up.
• Time to cooperate, right? Except, unfortunately, her companion is Triple-Zero, a sadistic murderdroid who’s more interested in her death than playing nice.
• A brand-new misadventure for the galaxy’s foremost amoral archaeologist starts here!”
Aphra manages to survive her stint in Accresker Jail and a potential meeting with Darth Vader, but how…and why, are the two important bits I can’t wait to see unravel in the current arc. As for this new story, it borrows the Jail’s hubdroid concept, where the inmates have explosives planted in them and getting too far from it results in them blowing up, and dresses it up in a story with Triple-Zero and Aphra on the run together from the law, with only explosives keeping them together. Aphra will probably think she needs to keep living because there’s so much more profit to be made and Triple-Zero will likely believe his mechanical soul is more important because there’s always more torturing to be done, therefore keeping him from killing her…for the most part. I hope they don’t quite solve their “differences” in the current arc and that baggage carries over for this bunch of shenanigans. Honestly, Triple-Zero is more frightening to me for Aphra’s survival than Vader ever will be, so thanks for putting me on edge, once again, Marvel! Bravo for the Aphra series to make it past 25 issues…here’s to another 25…another after that…and another…etc. Emilio Laiso, who was the artist for the “Remastered” arc, returns to the series this arc. And #26’s cover by Ashley Witter? To techno-color neon dye for! (yes I spelled some of those words purposefully wrong)
Darth Vader – Dark Lord of the Sith #23 (on sale 11/14)
Charles Soule (Writer), Giuseppe Camuncoli (Artist)
Cover by Giuseppe Camuncoli & Elia Bonetti (pictured) | Galactic Icon Variant by Rod Reis
“FORTRESS VADER” – PART 5
• Darkness rises above MUSTAFAR as the brutal designs of LORD MOMIN begin to take shape.
• But the planet’s inhabitants cannot take this desecration lightly, and shape plans of their own.”
Darth Vader – Dark Lord of the Sith #24 (on sale 11/28)
Charles Soule (Writer), Giuseppe Camuncoli (Artist)
Cover by Giuseppe Camuncoli & Elia Bonetti (pictured)
“FORTRESS VADER” – PART 6
• The FORTRESS will stand, but at a terrible cost.
• The fire will come to MUSTAFAR, and all will burn.
• The final design is revealed, woven from war, treachery and pain.”
Charles Soule recently revealed that the 7-part “Fortress Vader” arc is basically split up into three acts, with Act I 19-20, Act II 21-22, Act III 23-24, while issue 25 is the coda for it all. These two issues are Act III and they certainly sound like the real nerf meat and potatoes regarding the building of Vader’s Castle on Mustafar, though what exactly Lord Momin is all up to should be quite interesting. Who is Lord Momin? It’s the helmet of a long dead Sith, first encountered by Lando and his crew in Soule’s first miniseries, Lando, and later seen in issues from this series’ “The Dying Light” arc, and now we’re going to learn more about it and Momin. “Fortress Vader” has certainly gotten off to an intriguing start with issue #19, as while it doesn’t quite feel like it’s somehow connected to Mustafar and the Castle, it only being part one of Act I means this tale is really just beginning. These solicits have been vague enough not to spoil stuff, something I really appreciate as this storyline does seem like it has the potential to be the series’ best yet.
Solo – A Star Wars Story #2 (comic adaptation) (on sale 11/21)
Robbie Thompson (Writer), Will Sliney (Artist)
Cover by Phil Noto (pictured) | Variant Cover by Carlos Pacheco
“THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY!
• HAN SOLO and CHEWBACCA throw down but ultimately unite to escape the Empire and join BECKETT’s crew!
• But will this ragtag group of thieves be able to pull off the train heist of their lives?
• And what happens when ENFYS NEST arrives to take the stolen coaxium out from under them?
• Featuring scenes not seen in theaters!”
Like all comic adaptations going forward, I’m not reviewing it until it’s wrapped up, but weekly readers will have the Vandor heist to look forward to in the second issue of Solo, as well as Enfys Nest’s introduction to the story! As I mentioned in last month’s solicits, Lucasfilm Publishing’s Creative Director, Michael Siglan, teased us to, “Read this one closely, because you don’t know where this one is going to head to and connect to in the future,” and now I’m left wondering if Han Solo – Imperial Cadet is what he was talking about, or something else still entirely. I asked on Twitter, so if I get a response, I’ll be sure to update!
IDW
As always, awaiting IDW’s solicitations, which drop the day after Marvel’s, and will update this accordingly.
UPDATE: 8/26 – And here they are!
Star Wars Adventures – Destroyer Down #1 of 3 (on sale 11/7)
“Swallowed by the shifting sands of Jakku, the Imperial Star Destroyer Spectral has been lost for two decades, giving rise to rumors of hauntings and buried treasure. But an epic sandstorm has revealed the ruins of the starship, and renowned scavenger Rey now leads the race to claim whatever lies within!
Three-issue mini-series set during the days before The Force Awakens!
Includes a backup story depicting the Battle of Jakku, revealing how the Star Destroyer Spectral met its fate during the last days of the Empire!”
This issue was originally able only for Loot Crate subscribers back in December of last year. I’ve seen a lot of people claim it to be their favorite Adventures comic, so it’s great the rest of the public will get a chance to read AND that it’s part of a 3-issue storyline.
Star Wars Adventures #16 (on sale 11/21)
“Welcome to the Resistance! Star Wars Resistance is an exciting new animated series coming to the Disney Channel this fall, and making its Star Wars Adventures debut in this very issue! In the time before The Force Awakens, this all-new adventure follows the fledgling Resistance as it begins to realize the growing threat of the First Order!
Ties into the new Star Wars Resistance animated show coming this fall to Disney Channel!
Written by Resistance show writers Chris “Doc” Wyatt and Kevin Burke!
Plus, an exciting new Flight of the Falcon story!”
Outside of the excellent Kanan comic and Hera’s appearances in the current Doctor Aphra arc, Marvel has strayed from dealing with the TV shows, but I’m glad to see IDW giving Star Wars Resistance some love! The fact they have two of the writers of the show writing this issue is even better, so it probably feel better close the tone of the show. However, this does reveal at least two of the writers of the show are male and it does make me wonder just how many, if any, are actually female.
2018 SOLICITATIONS: July | August | September | October | December
2019 Solicitations Here!
CURRENT MARVEL COMIC REVIEWS:
Doctor Aphra
Aphra (#1-6) | And the Enormous Profit (#9-13) | Remastered (#14-19) | The Catastrophe Con (#20-25) | Annual: #1
Darth Vader – Dark Lord of the Sith
The Chosen One (#1-6) | The Dying Light (#7-12) | The Rule of Five (#11-12) | Burning Seas (#13-18) | Fortress Vader (#19-25) | Annual: #2
Poe Dameron
Black Squadron (#1-3) | Lockdown (#4-6) | The Gathering Storm (#7-13) | Legend Lost (#14 – 16) | War Stories (#17-19) | Legend Found(#20-25) | The Awakening (#26-31) | Annual: #1
Star Wars
Ashes of Jedha (#38-43) | Mutiny at Mon Cala (#44-49) | Hope Dies (#50-55) | Annual: #4
Lando – Double or Nothing (comic miniseries) | Beckett (one-shot)