As fall settles in and winter fast approaches, the days grow darker ever quicker here in the Midwest, fitting for the penultimate month of the Dark Droids crossover and the feeling of helplessness most of these issues will hold before our heroes manage to prevail against the droid Scourge. November then could really benefit from some light and life, couldn’t it? Phase III of The High Republic begins in earnest as Marvel’s on-going from Cavan Scott kicks off, alongside more Shadows of Starlight, while letting Peach Momoko set the stage for a series of Star Wars: Visions one-shots all sounds like the perfect remedy to the darkness, no? Glimpse below to see how November 2023’s Star Wars comics solicitations promise a little light amongst the dark!
MARVEL
Star Wars #40 (on sale 11/1)
Charles Soule (Writer), Madibek Musabekov (Artist)
Cover by Stephen Segovia | Return of the Jedi 40th Anniversary Variant Cover by Chris Sprouse | Action Figure Variant Cover by John Tyler Christopher | Life Day Variant Cover by Mike Del Mundo | Variant Cover by Rod Reis
DROID DISASTER! – A DARK DROIDS TIE-IN!
- The worst has happened.
- LOBOT, one of the greatest heroes the REBEL ALLIANCE has ever known and close friend to semi-reformed scoundrel LANDO CALRISSIAN…is lost.
- Lando returns to the Rebels to ask for their help…
- …but can he convince them he’s not a TRAITOR?
This was advanced solicited in October’s release, and down below we even get a look at December’s issue, so we’re seeing quite a bit ahead lately for this series, teasing how much worse Lando’s attempt to save his friend Lobot has to get before it gets better. As far as opening salvos go for tying into a big crossover, this personal, character-driven story is certainly promising on its own thanks to issue #37.
Darth Vader #40 (on sale 11/8)
Greg Pak (Writer), Raffaele Ienco (Artist)
Cover by Leinil Francis Yu | Variant Cover by Alan Quah | Life Day Variant Cover by Mike Del Mundo
SCOURGE OF CORUSCANT! – A DARK DROIDS TIE-IN!
- What greater prize could the DROID SCOURGE imagine than CORUSCANT, an ecumenopolis filled with millions of droids?
- And what greater TERROR could the people of Coruscant imagine than a horde of scourged droids…
- …led by LORD VADER himself?
Coruscant has largely remained untouched until recently, from Andor and The Mandalorian, and even a recent issue of the Star Wars mainline series, so I love the idea of the Scourge coming to the big planet city, the heart of the Empire itself. How much do the citizens care about the larger war or really support the Empire? We know from Return of the Jedi and beyond there are plenty of those sympathetic to the Rebellion’s cause, so will they use this to start standing up even more to Imperial rule? Regardless, it sounds like it has a lot of horror potential, Vader marching down the streets and walkways of Coruscant, droids ransacking homes and businesses in his wake, which would be very fitting for the Dark Droids crossover.
The High Republic – Shadows of Starlight #2 (on sale 11/8)
Charles Soule (Writer), Marika Cresta (Artist)
Cover by Phil Noto | Variant Cover by Cory Smith| Variant Cover by Giuseppe Camuncoli
STARLIGHT DOWN!
- More SECRETS are revealed from the “MISSING YEAR” following the fall of STARLIGHT BEACON!
- ELZAR MANN and AVAR KRISS, star-crossed JEDI MASTERS, attempt to navigate a galaxy that seems determined to keep them apart…
- What is the STORMWALL, and what danger does it pose to THE REPUBLIC and THE JEDI ORDER?
STAR-CROSSED!!! A thousands hearts cried out in anticipation of whatever Soule might be serving to fans only a week before the first novel of Phase III drops, The Eye of Darkness, giving a little backstory to Elzar and Avar’s efforts in the year between Phases. It feels like the perfect primer, alongside the start of Marvel’s next on-going in the era, to get the hype train truly rolling.
The High Republic #1 – Phase III (on sale 11/8)
Cavan Scott (Writer), Ario Anindito (Artist)
Cover by Phil Noto | Variant Cover by Annie Wu | Variant Cover by David Baldeón | Connecting Variant/Virgin Variant Cover by Mico Suayan
STAR WARS: THE HIGH REPUBLIC RETURNS FOR ITS EXPLOSIVE PHASE III!
- A year after the destruction of STARLIGHT BEACON, MARCHION RO and THE NIHIL stand victorious! The galaxy is in turmoil: The once mighty JEDI are outclassed, the REPUBLIC is on its knees.
- On the edges of the galactic frontier, JEDI MASTER KEEVE TRENNIS leads a desperate assault against an invading force! The odds are stacked against her, but a Jedi always clings to hope.
- THE FORCE is with her…right? Not so fast!
JEDI MASTER KEEVE TRENNIS! LET’S GO! Yet she’s fighting alongside….Lourna Dee?! What all happened in the year between Phases?! As for if that’s Terec or Ceret on the cover, DO NOT miss out on Tales of Light and Life on September 5 (we’ll have a review by then), and that’s all I’m going to say about that. Scott teased this issue will mirror the opening of Phase I’s series, with Keeve coming to terms becoming a Master like she did becoming a Knight and I love such reflections and can’t wait to see where this all goes, now we know for sure she’s the Master Trennis amongst the Jedi Order’s Lost Twenty. Excited and VERY anxious.
Star Wars: Visions – Peach Momoko #1 (on sale 11/15)
Peach Momoko (Writer/Artist/Cover Artist)
Variant Cover by Stan Sakai | Variant Cover by Takashi Okazaki | Variant/Virgin Variant Cover by Peach Momoko
PEACH MOMOKO BRINGS HER UNIQUE STORYTELLING TO A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY!
- CENTURIES after the death of a GREAT DARK SITH LORD, a cult has grown worshipping this SITH LORD and the DARK SIDE.
- ANKOK believes she is the successor to the LEGACY of THE SITH with her DARK SIDE POWERS!
- But is she truly in tune with THE FORCE? Or is she just exploiting the people in her village?
- KAKO and GEL are about to come face-to-face with the truth…even if it kills them!
Announced not too long ago, Star Wars: Visions is getting a series of one-shots where creatives can be as imaginative as the animated series has been! And I can’t think of a much better way to launch that concept than with Peach Momoko, whose style is dazzling, distinct, and will likely take this to exciting and interesting places. I can’t wait to see where else these one-shots go….could we see any continuations of any previous sorts, much like how the last Visions comic was a prequel to Vol. 1’s “The Duel”? Excited either way for something that’s totally unconnected to any era and just doing its own thing, using the comics medium to tell truly different Star Wars stories.
Dark Droids #4 (on sale 11/15)
Charles Soule (Writer), Luke Ross (Artist)
Cover by Leinil Francis Yu | Variant Cover by Björn Barends | Action Figure Variant Cover by John Tyler Christopher | Scourged/Scourged Virgin Variant Covers By Rachael Stott
THE SCOURGE IS ON THE VERGE OF HIS ULTIMATE TRIUMPH!
- The EMPIRE decrees: BEWARE THE DROIDS!
- Horrible laboratories across the galaxy are focused on transporting his many minds from DROIDS…into ORGANICS!
- But unbeknown to the Scourge, a FINAL CHALLENGE to its total victory is building, from an enemy it believed it had defeated once and for all!
This isn’t very common knowledge, but most of my friends know this about me: I’ve always been a little creeped out when a movie or show has someone transformed into an animal/inanimate object but I’m not exactly sure why. Dark Droids is supposed to be the big horror event in Star Wars comics and for me, hearing the Scourge is trying to turn his captured droids into organics, gives me the absolute shivers, yet am eager to see this, in a morbid sense of the way. But I’m more curious to see the enemy it believed it defeated…is it Vader, marching on Coruscant or some other ancient evil from the Scourge’s original time?
Doctor Aphra #38 (on sale 11/15)
Alyssa Wong (Writer), Minkyu Jung (Artist)
Cover by Romy Jones | Variant Cover by Stefano Raffaele | Life Day Variant Cover by Mike Del Mundo
A TENSE RESCUE! – A DARK DROIDS TIE-IN!
- MAGNA TOLVAN has fallen into the hands of the SCOURGE!
- In order to save her, DOCTOR APHRA turns to SANA STARROS…
- …to save the woman they BOTH love!
Only a few days ago I was singing Alyssa Wong’s praises and now, with another cover and solicitation of insane proportions, PLEASE STOP DOING THIS TO US, ALYSSA! I am not, totally not, very not ready for the emotional turmoil on its way when seeing Magna Tolvan in the Scourge’s hands or having Aphra and Sana teaming up to save her from it. When will the pain end?!
Bounty Hunters #40 (on sale 11/22)
Ethan Sacks (Writer), Davide Tinto (Artist)
Cover by Marco Checchetto | Life Day Variant Cover by Mike Del Mundo | Variant Cover by Ben Harvey
THE SHOCKING BETRAYAL! – A DARK DROIDS TIE-IN!
- The Galaxy’s deadliest BOUNTY HUNTERS must stop a corrupted VALANCE! Even if it means his death!!!
- ENEMIES become desperate ALLIES!
- And who is the wolf in the fold in the BOUNTY HUNTERS’ MIDST?
My bet is currently on Catak, the shape-shifter, yet they’ll make it look like it’s someone else thanks to their abilities and maybe get away with it, at first at least. As for who they’ll peg…Khel Tanna, if only because she’s the ‘new’ character. Bounty Hunters is the last series to enter the Dark Droids crossover (its next issue is out 8/30), but knowing they are all about trying to rescue Valance as his memories fade away forever, I feel like it’ll also join the other series in continuing a very personal mission despite the larger events. I don’t think Valance will perish at the end of this event, but I do feel like he’ll make such a sacrifice before this series ends (issue #50, maybe), but of course it’ll be in a way they could always bring him back one day…
Dark Droids: D-Squad #3 (on sale 11/22)
Marc Guggenheim (Writer), Salva Espín (Artist)
Cover by Aaron Kuder | QT-KT Variant Cover by Tom Reilly| Action Figure Variant Cover by John Tyler Christopher
TWO HEROES OF THE CLONE WARS REUNITE! A DARK DROIDS TIE-IN!
- R2-D2 continues to assemble his new D-SQUAD to fight the deadly DROID SCOURGE!
- Now R2-D2 is looking for a way to help his friend C-3PO…but does he find LOVE instead?
- Featuring the return of QT-KT!
I was considering rewatching the D-Sqaud arc in The Clone Wars before this miniseries began and now with the return of QT-KT, well, I’m already one episode in! I never disliked it back in the day, though didn’t find myself eager to watch it, but now I’m always game for when it’s next. This is shaping up to be quite a lot of fun, especially given the look at the series’ finale in December below!
Star Wars #41 (on sale 12/6) {Advanced Solicited}
Charles Soule (Writer), Madibek Musabekov (Artist)
Cover by Stephen Segovia | Action Figure Variant Cover by John Tyler Christopher | Variant Cover by Lee Garbett | Variant Cover by Rod Reis
LANDO LOST! – A DARK DROIDS TIE-IN!
- With the final mission to rescue LOBOT from the terrors of THE SCOURGE underway, galactic ne’er-do-well LANDO CALRISSIAN must finally reckon with the sins of his past.
- Will he be the SCOUNDREL he’s always been or the HERO he could be?
Lando has come a LONG way from when this series started, but he’s still on the razor’s edge, especially as he starts this personal mission to save Lobot while misleading those around him, on fully joining the Rebellion or not. I’m glad to see it’s still been a focus of Soule’s throughout and making this an important part of this series’ story for the crossover adds extra weight to the impending moment we all know is coming.
Dark Droids: D-Squad #4 (on sale 12/6) {Advanced Solicited}
Marc Guggenheim (Writer), Salva Espín (Artist)
Cover by Aaron Kuder | Chopper Variant Cover by Tom Reilly | Action Figure Variant Cover by John Tyler Christopher
INTRODUCING THE ALL-NEW, ALL-DIFFERENT D-SQUAD! – A DARK DROIDS TIE-IN!
- The D-SQUAD’s mission takes them into the palace of JABBA THE HUTT!
- R2-D2 and QT-KT take on the malevolent torture droid EV-9D9!
- This issue ties directly into DARK DROIDS! Not to be missed!
The new and improved D-Squad infiltrates Jabba’s Palace?! And battles with EV-9D9?! We saw at the end of SW #37 (Vol. 2) she was seemingly part of the Scourge, but this all but confirms it…is Threepio already here or how does this tie into the larger story and Artoo’s quest to save his friend?! And how does no one remember Artoo, or Threepio if he’s here, at the Palace, especially EV?! Can’t wait to find out how this all shakes out.
Obi-Wan Kenobi #3 (on sale 11/29)
Jody Houser (Writer), Salvador Larroca (Artist)
Cover by Phil Noto | Variant Cover by Declan Shalvey | Variant Cover by Péere Perez
ESCAPE FROM PLANET MAPUZO!
- As OBI-WAN searches for allies to help him evade THE EMPIRE…
- …he must face his greatest failure: DARTH VADER!
Vader drags Obi-Wan through the coals in this one…literally!
The Mandalorian Season 2 #6 (on sale 11/15)
Rodney Barnes (Writer), Georges Jeanty (Artist)
Cover by Taurin Clarke | Variant Cover by John McCrea | Variant Cover by Alex Maleev | Concept Art Variant Cover Also Available
THE TRAGEDY!
- The MANDALORIAN and GROGU travel to an ancient site.
- Featuring the RETURN of BOBA FETT!
And what a tragedy it was! If picking this adaptation up was the only way you thought you could own the series in physical media…then fear no more, as season one and two are coming to 4K/Blu-ray steelbook releases later this year!
DARK HORSE
Hyperspace Stories #11 (on sale 11/22)
Amanda Deibert (Writer), Megan Huang (Artist)
Cover by Ricardo Faccini | Variant Cover by Cory Nord
Jedi masters Yoda and Mace Windu escort a Republic delegation to an archaeological dig, rumored to be the site of a cache of ancient Jedi artifacts. But the lure of the Force is strong, and it’s not long before the party comes under attack by marauders intent on taking the relics for themselves, even if they have to go through two Jedi to do it!
This solicit was originally attached to previous issue, which will feature the Bad Batch, so a lot of people were confused. But this makes more sense now, as issue #11, as it looks like we might finally learn which mysterious object is in the doll that’s been in every issue of the series (seen on the cover, even). Only one more issue after this one!
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.