You can always trust Halloween to be full of sweets, and Star Wars comics won’t be disappointing in October as we’re getting plenty of delectable sweets that way too. IDW and Marvel both bring Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker content to the table (with Marvel’s beginning and ending in the same month!), IDW brings back the spooky with Return to Vader’s Castle, but is the scariest thing of all what might be happening with the Doctor Aphra series? Check it out below!
MARVEL
Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – Allegiance #1-#4
Ethan Sacks (Writer), Luke Ross (Artist)
Connecting Covers by Marco Checcetto
Issue #1 (on sale 10/9) – Movie Variant Cover | Artist Variant Cover by Brian Stelfreeze
Issue #2 (on sale 10/16) – Movie Variant Cover | Artist Variant Cover by Luke Ross
Issue #3 (on sale 10/23) – Movie Variant Cover | Artist Variant Cover by Mike Mckone
Issue #4 (on sale 10/30) – Movie Variant Cover | Artist Variant Cover by Will Sliney
BEFORE THE EXCITING EVENTS OF
STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER!Hounded by the FIRST ORDER across the galaxy, the RESISTANCE is in dire need of ships, weapons and recruits to make a final stand against KYLO REN’S forces. Desperation drives a delegation led by GENERAL LEIA ORGANA and REY to entreat the Rebel veteran’s one-time allies, THE MON CALAMARI, to join the fight — but decades after Imperial occupation enslaved their planet, there are those willing to stop at nothing to prevent another war from bloodying the waters of Mon Cala. A system away, POE DAMERON and FINN have their own mission: to hunt down a weapons cache on the remote moon of Avedot, unaware that they are being hunted by the most notorious criminal gang in the galaxy.
In a way, Allegiance is part of a Mon Cala comics trilogy, which started last year in both Darth Vader – Dark Lord of the Sith‘s “Burning Seas” and Star Wars‘ “Mutiny at Mon Cala,” which showed the subjugation of Mon Cala under the Empire and their subsequent release with help from the Rebellion, respectively. Now, in the time of the sequel trilogy, Leia and Rey are coming to recruit the planet integral to saving the galaxy time and time again, but will they after the seemingly unstoppable destruction the First Order has wrought? As exciting it will be to see how this Mon Cala trilogy wraps up, and sets the stage for The Rise of Skywalker, I absolutely love the idea/thought of Rey and Leia going across the galaxy, recruiting those to rise up and fight the First Order. Also, Poe and Finn hanging out and having adventures together? What’s not to love about this series?!? The entirety of Allegiance releases in October so we won’t have to wait long to find out what happens in it!
Doctor Aphra #37 (on sale 10/2)
Si Spurrier (Writer), Caspar Wijngaard (Artist)
Cover by Ashley Witter | Star Wars Greatest Moments Variant Cover by Jodie Muir
A ROGUE’S END Part 1: A BRAND NEW ARC STARTS HERE!
- After all she’s been through, professional disaster-zone DOCTOR APHRA is right back where she started: working for DARTH VADER.
- What villainous use has the dark lord found for her, to make him spare the life of his most annoying foe…?
- And how long does she have to try and slither out of harm’s way before he decides to finish what he started years ago…?
When an Amazon listing a few days ago revealed Aphra would be returning to work for Vader, I didn’t believe it could mean the end of the series as a lot of people were assuming, but now that we know the name of the arc, “A Rogue’s End,” I’m suddenly a little worried. But I’m going to ignore the name and instead wonder how Aphra got to this point, though from “The Unspeakable Rebel Superweapon” solicits we knew she’d head to Coruscant so running into Vader, as well as her name plastered everywhere in the Empire, seemed inevitable. Does this mean my long running theory about Aphra’s mom won’t go anywhere, even if it is true? Does Aphra working for Vader really mean an end for the series? And what the heck could he want from her now? I’m very excited to finally have Caspar Wijngaard on all the interiors, as he’s only been helping out a bit on the current arc, but it’s not enough to keep this big Aphra fan on edge with this latest reveal. I will say, if the series keeps its once a month pace, issue #40, the end of this new arc, would line up with December and the Aphra series’ 3 year anniversary, a huge testament to the character and her popularity to have lasted this long already. Update: My review is in.
Doctor Aphra Annual #3 (on sale 10/30)
Si Spurrier (Writer), Elsa Charretier (Artist/Cover Artist)
Variant Cover by Colleen Doran (pictured) | Greatest Moments Variant Cover by Mike Mckone
THE ARRANGEMENT – A DONE-IN-ONE TALE!
- MOS EISLEY: you will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy — and even from far away DOCTOR APHRA wears this place like a glove…
- Caught in her wake, struggling beast-hunters WINLOSS AND NOKK are about to cross paths with their most monstrous adversary yet…
- Oh blast, is that BLACK KRRSANTAN? And is there really an audience with JABBA THE HUTT up for grabs?
A few weeks back, Elsa Charretier teased some Aphra-related drawings, and I wondered if that meant Aphra was jumping to IDW’s Star Wars Adventures, where Charretier has been a frequent creative, but I guess she was working on Aphra’s third Annual all along! The only minor disappointment will be Charretier not writing the character, as it was the first chance for a female writer to tackle her, but it’ll be the first artist in the comics for her, so that’s something; Charretier previously drew Aphra for Women of the Galaxy. Black Krrsantan. Winloss and Nokk. And a run-in with Jabba the Hutt?! This sounds like an excellent Annual issue, as it takes two of the best characters in Aphra, besides the eponymous character of course, and puts them front and center again. If it’s even an ounce as good as Doctor Aphra Annual #2, which introduced us to Winloss and Nokk, then we’re in for quite the treat.
Star Wars #73 (on sale 10/23) UPDATE: Issue #72 (on sale 10/2, originally September) Review here!
Greg Pak (Writer), Phil Noto (Artist/Cover Artist)
Action Figure Variant Cover by John Tyler Christopher | Star Wars Greatest Moments Variant Cover by Rod Reis
MOMENTS OF TRUTH!
- Who is DAR CHAMPION and how far can LEIA trust him when HAN’S life is on the line on BOSS CARPO’S golden starship?
- What shocking lesson will LUKE learn when WARBA finally reveals her true self?
- And when faced with his lost past, can THREEPIO seize control of his destiny — and be the hero of his own story?
- The lives of thousands of rebels hang in the balance as our heroes grapple with their greatest doubts and challenges!
We’re just beginning to meet Warba and wondering if we should trust Dar Champion in the series 69th issue, but it looks like this penultimate issue will reveal all we need to know about these new characters. I will say I can’t wait to see where this all goes, as already Pak’s takeover of the series feels like a giant success. UPDATE: Issue #72, originally scheduled for September, will be out October 2. Check September’s post for the solicit!
Jedi: Fallen Order – Dark Temple #3 (on sale 10/9)
Matthew Rosenberg (Writer), Paolo Villanelli (Artist)
Cover by Will Sliney | Variant Cover by Paolo Villanelli
- The battle for Ontotho is heating up, and JEDI PADAWAN CERE JUNDA finds herself right in the middle of it, fighting alongside the FYLAR FREEDOM FIGHTERS.
- But as Cere moves to help end the local war, she will come face to face with the last person she expects!
- What secrets lie in the hidden temple of Ontotho? The race is on to find out.
I’m still betting Cere’s Master ends up being a baddie, but from this cover I’m assuming the “last person she expects” is the other male on the cover. The finale, and the game this series is a prequel to, comes out November!
Target Vader #4 (on sale 10/9)
Robbie Thompson (Writer), Stefano Landini (Artist)
Cover by Nic Klein
HUNTING THE HUNTERS!
- DARTH VADER is trapped, alone, and surrounded by deadly bounty hunters…
- …but the SITH LORD is never truly alone as long as he wields the Dark Side of The Force!
- VALANCE and his gang of bounty hunters soon find that the hunters have become the hunted, as Vader picks them off one-by-one — and he’s helped by one of Valance’s own!
I read and was somewhat intrigued by the first issue of this series, but I won’t be returning to it until it all wraps up with its 6th and final issue.
IDW
We don’t have the full solicits yet, but SDCC revealed Return to Vader’s Castle and the beginning of Star Wars Adventures Journey to The Rise of Skywalker content, though I’ll update it once the solicits go live.
Return to Vader’s Castle #1-5
Cavan Scott (Writer), Francesco Francavilla (Covers)
Issue #1: Francesco Francavilla, Megan Levens (Artists), Derek Charm (Variant Cover)
Issue #2: Francesco Francavilla, Kelley Jones (Artists), Kelley Jones (Variant Cover)
Issue #3: Francesco Francavilla, Nick Brokenshire (Artists), Nick Brokenshire (Variant Cover)
Issue #4: Francesco Francavilla, Nicoletta Baldari (Artists), Nicoletta Baldari (Variant Cover)
Issue #5: Francesco Francavilla, Charles Paul Wilson III (Artists), Charles Paul Wilson III (Variant Cover)
Return to Vader’s Castle for a spooky spin on your favorite villains from a galaxy far, far away…
This exciting weekly series explores the hidden corners of the Star Wars Galaxy and features a wretched hive of scum and villainy including Darth Maul, Grand Moff Tarkin, Asajj Ventress, Jabba the Hutt—all under the shadow of Darth Vader!
Fans will be excited to discover these creepy stories by fan-favorite writer Cavan Scott, with art by the greatest talent from across the galaxy, including Nicoletta Baldari, Nick Brokenshire, Francesco Francavilla, Kelley Jones, Megan Levens, and Charles Paul Wilson III!
- Covers by Eisner-winning artist Francesco Francavilla! Collect them all!
- Featuring your favorite Star Wars characters in classic spooky stories!
- Ask your retailer about the ultra-rare variant cover by Derek Charm!
I was hoping the solicits would shed a little more light on each issue, but the surprises of where they take the horror for all ages is half the fun of this series. Issue #1 is about Darth Maul, #2 Grand Moff Tarkin, #3 Asajj Ventress, #4 Jabba the Hutt, and #5 is Darth Vader. Will be curious to see what the framing story is about this time.
Star Wars Adventures #27
John Barber, Michael Moreci (Writers), Derek Charm, Tony Fleecs (Artists)
Cover by Derek Charm | Variant Cover by Tony Fleecs
In this first installment of a three-part story, the mighty Wookiees of Kashyyyk must defend their home against the armies of the evil First Order. Plus, in our second tale, R2-D2, C-3PO, and BB-8 team up on a top-secret spy adventure for the Resistance.
• The Journey to The Rise of Skywalker begins here!
Chewie and the Wookiees vs the First Order?! Boy I hope Kylo dares to step foot on Kashyyyk soil…
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website @MynockManor.
2019 SOLICITATIONS: January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | November | December
CURRENT SERIES COMIC REVIEWS:
Doctor Aphra
Worst Among Equals (#26-31) | Unspeakable Rebel Superweapon (#32-37) | Annual: #2
Age of Rebellion (miniseries) | Age of Resistance (miniseries)
Star Wars
Kieron Gillen Retrospective (#38-67) | Greg Pak – Rebels and Rogues (#68-73)
TIE Fighter (miniseries)
Galaxy’s Edge (miniseries)