By November 2021, Star Wars comics will be changed forever by the events of the War of the Bounty Hunters crossover, but one look at these solicitations and you’d wonder how it sounds much different than what’s come before…though of course they weren’t going to reveal how everything will change via these solicits! The official site’s post with the early preview suggests, “As the story ends, the…landscape will find a new status quo,” so it sounds like November will deal with the fallout from the crossover’s events. It sounds like an intriguing month anyways, with each series dealing with the fallout of Qi’ra and Crimson Dawn’s return while The High Republic era has some potentially big revelations. Head below for the November 2021 Star Wars comics solicitations now!
UPDATE 1: IDW’s comics have been added, as well as the Life Day special from Marvel. Still don’t have the release dates!
UPDATE 2: Added Crimson Reign‘s solicit, The Monster of Temple Peak’s, and both IDW and Marvel’s release dates!
UPDATE 3: Moved Crimson Reign to December, it’s new release month.
MARVEL
The High Republic – Trail of Shadows #2 (On Sale 11/10)
Daniel José Older (Writer), Dave Wachter (Artist)
Cover by David López | Variant Cover by Meghan Hetrick
EMERICK AND SIAN FACE TOTAL AN-NIHIL-ATION!
- As dead ends and loose threads mount in Jedi Master Emerick Caphtor’s investigation, he’s called to Coruscant, where Chancellor Soh introduces him to his new partner: private eye Sian Holt.
- Together, they must go undercover to infiltrate one of the most crime-riddled and dangerous planets in the galaxy.
- Will Emerick’s duty to the Republic get in the way of Sian’s personal vendetta? Time’s running out to close this case…and what do the Nihil have to do with any of this?!
From the noir-like cover and solicit, everything about Older’s Trail of Shadows sounds like a detective mystery we’ll want to be wrapped up in month after month. A Jedi and a private eye going undercover in the shady areas of the galaxy, exposing how despite the Republic’s peak, there are places left on their own still, sounds like exactly my jam. As for Sian’s vendetta and how close they get to the truth ahead of the Wave III novels in January 2022, I can’t wait to see!!
The High Republic #11 (on sale 11/3)
Cavan Scott (Writer), Georges Jeanty (Artist)
Cover by Phil Noto | Variant Cover by Peach Momoko | Variant Cover by Jan Duursema
THE HUNT FOR LOURNA DEE CONTINUES!
- The NIHIL have unleashed a unknown terror against the Jedi. MARSHAL AVAR KRISS is more determined than ever to bring LOURNA DEE to justice, but does STELLAN GIOS and the JEDI COUNCIL agree?
- As KEEVE TRENNIS struggles with what she experienced on the Nihil base, the Jedi prepare for war.
- PLUS, the truth about SSKEER is finally revealed – but what does it mean for his future?
It looks like this will deal with the fallout from the Tempest Runner audiobook, out August 31, as it stars Lourna Dee as she’s captured by the Republic…they just don’t realize who they have, yet. As for why Avar Kriss is so determined to bring Dee to justice, considering Kriss is also in the audiobook, we might just find out why there! This issue looks to bring an end to Keeve’s undercover time with the Nihil, though the ominous cover doesn’t look promising for one of the bond-twins Ceret/Terec…let’s hope it’s a smokescreen! And for this truth about Sskeer…will it uncover exactly why he’s losing his connection to the Force?!? Sounds like a big issue, which is saying something after this week’s stellar 8th issue!
Star Wars #19 (on sale 11/24)
Charles Soule (Writer), Marco Castiello (Artist)
Cover by Carlo Pagulayan | Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary Variant Cover by Chris Sprouse |Action Figure Variant Cover by John Tyler Christopher | Variant Cover by E.M. Gist
LUKE’S QUEST FOR ANSWERS TAKES A DANGEROUS TURN!
- As the REBELLION tries to pull itself together for a last-ditch effort to defeat the evil GALACTIC EMPIRE, LUKE SKYWALKER realizes it is time for his journey to become a JEDI to continue.
- After near-death at the hands of DARTH VADER, he knows he has much to learn if he will ever defeat the DARK LORD OF THE SITH.
- But the JEDI ORDER is gone, and his teachers have vanished… where can Luke turn to find the Jedi legacy he so desperately needs?
For starters, I will say I loved Carlo Pagulayan’s cover, as it reminds me a lot of Obi-Wan. It’s kind of crazy to think Vader and Luke will duel again prior to their fateful meeting on the Death Star II and I’ll be interested to see how badly that goes for Luke in the War of the Bounty Hunters crossover, but I am FAR more intrigued by where he thinks he’ll recontinue his journey to be a Jedi.
Doctor Aphra #16 (on sale 11/10)
Alyssa Wong (Writer), Minkyu Jung (Artist)
Cover by Sara Pichelli | Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary Variant Cover by Chris Sprouse | Variant Cover by SWAY
A DEADLY GAME!
- DOCTOR APHRA and SANA STARROS have escaped the VERMILLION, but there’s no escaping CRIMSON DAWN: their spies are EVERYWHERE!
- As DOMINA TAGGE contends with moles within TAGGE CORPORATION and Aphra struggles with the damage inflicted on her by a POWERFUL ARTIFACT, they strike one last bargain…
- But who can Aphra really trust?
The threat of spies and moles within the Tagge Corporation and other syndicates was first introduced in Doctor Aphra BLANK so it’s a little surprising to see the thread, and Crimson Dawn, still alive after the events of War of the Bounty Hunters. I wonder if that’ll include Qi’ra still alive as well, too. Either way, I’m just glad Sana will still be around and I can’t wait to see how their relationship continues, but I’m worried about Aphra’s “damage” from some artifact. What is it? What happened? How badly did it hurt Chelli Aphra?! DON’T YOU DARE KILL OFF APHRA!!
Bounty Hunters #18 (on sale 11/24)
Ethan Sacks (Writer), Ramon Bachs (Artist)
Cover by Giuseppe Camuncoli | Variant Cover by Daniel Acuña | Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary Variant Cover by Chris Sprouse
THE GALAXY’S GREATEST!
- In the wake of the shocking events of WAR OF THE BOUNTY HUNTERS, the underworld has become more dangerous than ever.
- T’ONGA has assembled the greatest team of bounty hunters in the galaxy — including BOSSK, ZUCKUSS and TASU LEECH for a special mission!
- Can she keep them from killing each other long enough to become a real team while she grieves the loss of an old friend?
I might yell about NOT killing off Aphra, but as it’s no secret on my feelings for Beilert Valance, so I hope the hints this solicit drops really do mean the character has died and T’onga takes over as the series’ lead. But considering Valance came back from death before, like in the Legends one-off comic continuation, I’m not totally going to get my hopes up; it would be a nice change of pace for the series though!
Darth Vader #18 (on sale 11/17)
Greg Pak (Writer), Raffaele Ienco (Artist)
Cover by Aaron Kuder | Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary Variant Cover by Chris Sprouse | Variant Cover by Ken Lashley
RED REVENGE!
- Fearful whispers echo in every corner of the Empire – Darth Vader is on the hunt, searching for anyone with any connection to the criminal organization known as Crimson Dawn.
This is the shortest solicitation I’ve ever seen! Vader’s reaction to the crossover’s events are hunt down Crimson Dawn and anyone connected to it. Sounds about right, especially since it seems like Qi’ra will be holding her own against him, per the previews for some upcoming issues in the crossover out on 8/18 (and check back to the Manor for our reviews then)!
Life Day #1 (on sale 11/17)
Cavan Scott, Justina Ireland, Jody Houser And Steve Orlando (Writers), Ivan Fiorelli And More (Artists)
Cover by Phil Noto | Variant Cover by Chris Sprouse | Variant Cover by Jan Duursema
THE GALAXY’S FAVORITE HOLIDAY!
Happy LIFE DAY! Celebrate the galaxy’s favorite holiday with a collection of festive tales from all across the STAR WARS SAGA! Life Day is the last thing on HAN SOLO’S mind when he and CHEWBACCA find themselves outgunned and under fire. But Chewie won’t give up hope, remembering the lessons of Life Days past and present. As for Life Days yet to come… well, they’ll have to survive the night first!
Announced a week after the early solicits were originally released, Life Day #1 is a special one-shot celebrating Life Day and sounds like a Marvel version of the Vader’s Castle series to some extent, as it looks like Han Solo and Chewbacca’s tale will be a framing one and the other three with be stories of Life Days past and present. This joins the already announced Life Day Treasury as another celebration of the (in)famous holiday. Writers Cavan Scott has hinted there will be sarlaccs, Justina Ireland’s tale with feature the fan favorite Wookie Jedi Burryaga from The High Republic, while Steve Orlando looks to be writing the main Han and Chewie tale, though Houser was mum on details for her return to Star Wars comics. Should be a nice palette cleanser from all the War of the Bounty Hunters fallout!
IDW
Star Wars Adventures #12 {Vol. 2} (on sale 11/17)
Cavan Scott, Andrew Griffith (Writers), Manuel Bracchi, Andrew Griffith (Artists)
Cover A by Francesco Francavilla | Cover B by Andrew Griffith
- First, it’s a trap! Luke Skywalker and Rogue Squadron has been snared by the Empire. But who is the traitor and why is new recruit Ibti Myrak fighting with Admiral Ackbar on the desk of Home One? X-wings and TIE fighters clash in “Squad Goals,” part two by Cavan Scott and Manuel Bracchi.
- Then, from author and artist Andrew Griffith comes a new “Tales of Villainy.” Asajj Ventress must face off with Aayla Secura, who is dangerously close to uncovering the early stages of the Death Star Project.
The second half of Cavan Scott’s Rogue Squadron tale looks full of action and intrigue, honestly sounding like a pure blast that’s a nice change of pace for the overall Adventures series at this point. And the backup story sounds even more exhilarating, Ventress facing off Aayla Secura to stop her from finding out about the earliest Death Star steps? And it’s all going down in only 8 pages?! Sounds like it deserves its own full two-issue tale!
Star Wars Adventures Annual 2021 (on sale 11/24)
Cavan Scott, Chip Zdarsky, Jason Loo (Writers), Arianna Florean, Jason Loo (Artists)
Cover A by Arianna Florean, Cover B by Jason Loo
- Desperate to win Jabba the Hutt’s favor, Han Solo and Chewbacca take the galactic gangster a very special present. Han thinks the adorable hoojib will make a perfect addition to Jabba’s menagerie, but the cute critter hides a terrible secret. Cavan Scott (Star Wars: The High Republic) and Arianna Florean (Marvel Action) reintroduce a legendary alien species to Star Wars canon, 40 years after their first appearance!
- THEN, follow a group of troublesome kids on Cloud City when they come across a rare coin worth a pretty credit. But when the coin turns out to belong to the one and only Lando Calrissian, the kids quickly find out they are in over their head. Chip Zdarsky (Daredevil) and Jason Loo (The Pitiful Human-Lizard) join forces to tell this Bespin-based story.
The Adventures Annual is back and it sounds like a hopping good time…I might’ve done that pun before and I’ll gladly hoppin’ do it again! Jaxxon continues his starring role in the Annual’s main story, though his latest tail (sorry not sorry) is a vessel for the recanonization of the hoojib species…which I guess were rabbit/rodent-looking, sentient, telepathic little creatures first introduced in the Original Marvel Years in the 80’s. Talk about a Legends- pull like none-other! The backup tale about kids getting caught with a special coin of Lando’s on Cloud City sounds fun, as I’m sure Lando will catch them but purposefully let them have a way out, getting his coin back and letting them think they got one-up on him. Maybe he’ll even take them under his cape one day…
The High Republic Adventures #10 (on sale 11/3)
Daniel José Older (Writer), Toni Bruno (Artist)
Cover by Harvey Tolibao | Variant Cover by Nicoletta Baldari
Chaos at Takodana! After the Nihil have attacked the Jedi temple, the Padawans must face them once again. Overwhelmed and outnumbered, the heroes are backed into a corner until an unlikely Padawan among them unmasks their full potential and saves the day!
This screams “QORT’S BIG DAY” with the little not-so-subtle ‘unmasks’ and I’m anxious to see Qort really come into his own and discover what type of Jedi he could become! Also, that variant cover by Nicoletta Baldari?! So cute and so gorgeous. UPDATE: You know what’s not so cute and gorgeous?! The main cover, which shows Qort holding his broken mask. What did you do, Older?! What have you done to our lil’ Jedi?!?
The Monster of Temple #4 (on sale 11/10)
Cavan Scott (Writer), Rachael Stott (Artist/Cover Artist)
Follow former Jedi turned saber-for-hire monster hunter Ty Yorrick in this adventure-packed High Republic miniseries by Cavan Scott and Rachael Stott!
In the final part, Ty uncovers the truth deep in the Gretalax’s cave and must make a choice: the way of the Jedi or the way of the monster hunter? She must choose fast in order to protect the villagers and bring harmony to the settlement.
After the first issue, there was certainly some hints not everything is as it seems on Ty Yorrick’s latest monster hunting mission, but it looks like it’ll be blast to see unfold if the rest of the series continues to deliver more of its excellent protagonist and glimpses of her past with the Jedi mixed in with the new mission. Due to the creative team, I’m not worried!
2021 Comic Solicitations: January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October
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.