Age of Resistance overloads in September, finishing up its run, and the entirety of the “Age of Star Wars” maxiseries with some big sequel trilogy names, like Rey, Rose, Kylo, and Snoke (good luck to the artist having to draw Snoke’s golden robes!), while Doctor Aphra hits its “Unspeakable” penultimate issue, the video game prequel Jedi: Fallen Order – Dark Temple begins introducing players to its story, and some rock monsters mind probe Threepio; you know, totally ordinary business. September sounds like it’s going to be a wild one in the comics…check it out below!
MARVEL
Doctor Aphra #36 (on sale 9/11 18)
Si Spurrier (Writer), Wilton Santos (Artist)
Cover by Ashley Witter | Star Wars Greatest Moments Variant by TBA
UNSPEAKABLE REBEL SUPERWEAPON PART V
- The sinister propagandists of the COALITION FOR PROGRESS keep a vast gallery of the EMPIRE’S priceless victory trophies – and notorious thief DOCTOR APHRA just got in…
- But she won’t get the chance to pinch anything. She’s here to be initiated into the web of secret schemes she’s unwittingly tangled herself in. Can you say “coup”?
- (IF yes: don’t. Round here, there’s always someone listening…)
Issue #33 of the “Unspeakable Rebel Superweapon” released this week and we started to see the story coalesce, with the titular superweapon revealed, and with this solicit we now know somehow Aphra’s plans and actions include her joining the Coalition for Progress!?! Considering how they’ve marked her Public Enemy #1, maybe she’s trying to clear herself from their records, least Vader find out he was duped about her death…again. Though there could be another reason she’s sneaking in, and it involves a theory I won’t give up: that one of the Coalition’s Minister’s, Voor, who appeared in the last arc, is actually Lona, Aphra’s mom! The cover is feeding into my confirmation bias, as I’m assuming that’s an older version of her mother, considering how she looks in the flashbacks so far, which show Lona with the same white hair but shorter, while Voor’s white hair is similar in length to the woman on the cover. Regardless if it’s true or not, I absolutely adore this cover, as it has some serious Indiana Jones-vibes and movie-poster like framing. UPDATE: This was one helluva finale!
Age of Resistance – Rose Tico #1 (on sale 9/4 18)
Tom Taylor (Writer), Ramon Rosanas (Artist)
Cover by Phil Noto | Puzzle Piece Variant by Mike McKone
“MY HERO”
- Sisters. Friends. Co-pilots.
- Growing up, Rose and Paige Tico were everything to each other.
- Until the First Order tore their world apart.
- See the bond between Rose and Paige before it was forever broken.
We’ve seen a bit of Paige and Rose before The Last Jedi, in a Forces of Destiny comic, Cobalt Squadron, and Bomber Command, though I’ll never argue against more content about them together! Rose was such a great addition to Star Wars and I’m really looking forward to seeing her again in The Rise of Skywalker, while having more of their positive sister friendship will be a nice change of pace from most of the comics or sibling rivalries of Legends past. UPDATE: My review talks about how this was a great bit of backstory for the awesome Tico sisters.
Age of Resistance – Supreme Leader Snoke #1 (on sale 9/11)
Tom Taylor (Writer), Leonard Kirk (Artist)
Cover by Phil Noto | Puzzle Piece Variant by MIKE McKone
THE DEVIL’S APPRENTICE!
- Supreme Leader Snoke’s brutal training of Kylo Ren begins.
- Will the sadistic Snoke break his tormented protégé?
- Or has he underestimated the son of Han and Leia?
The fact the comics get to show the beginning of Ben Solo’s tutelage under Snoke is quite the big deal and a bit of a surprise, and it’ll be very interesting to see how Snoke handles the young man’s recently broken mind. Will we get to learn more about Snoke’s manipulation of Kylo from afar? See Ben pick his new name? Plenty of potential in this issue! Also, I do love how we’ll get to see the start of his training with Snoke and only 3 months later an “end” to his story in The Rise of Skywalker. UPDATE: Review is in!
Age of Resistance – Rey #1 (on sale 9/18)
Tom Taylor (Writer), Ramon Rosanas (Artist)
Cover by Phil Noto | Puzzle Piece Variant Cover by Mike Mckone | Variant Cover by Joe Quesada
SEARCH FOR SKYWALKER!
- After Han Solo’s fall, Rey searched for Luke Skywalker. But before Luke, there was Leia.
- Witness never-before-seen moments between Rey and General Organa.
- What will Rey, Chewbacca and R2-D2 encounter on the way to find Leia’s missing brother?
When they first announced this issue would reveal an adventure Rey, Chewie, and Artoo had on their way to Luke on Ahch-To, I was a little surprised anything could’ve fit within them leaving D’Qar/visiting Luke in The Force Awakens, though the Forces of Destiny shorts proved such little extra moments were more than possible. As intrigued about what Taylor will do with such a narrow window of time, I’m way more excited to see more of Rey with General Organa! Though honestly, more Rey in general will always be a great thing. UPDATE: This might be the best of all the “Age of Star Wars” maxiseries!
Age of Resistance – Kylo Ren #1 (on sale 9/25)
Tom Taylor (Writer), Leonard Kirk (Artist)
Cover by Phil Noto | Puzzle Piece Variant Cover by Mike Mckone | Star Wars Greatest Moments Variant Cover by TBA
A DYNASTY OF DOOM!
- Anakin Skywalker casts a long shadow.
- Can Kylo Ren ever escape his infamous grandfather’s reputation?
- Or will he succeed where Darth Vader failed?
Rey and Kylo end the Age of Resistance in September, though with Kylo having starred in General Hux’s issue and Snoke’s, where and what will his very own issue cover? The solicit is far too vague to make any guesses, so we’ll have to wait until the end of September to find out!
Jedi: Fallen Order – Dark Temple #1 (on sale 9/4) & #2 (on sale 9/25)
Matthew Rosenberg (Writer), Paolo Villanelli (Artist)
Covers by Marco Checchetto | Game Variant Covers Also Available
IN THE GLORY DAYS OF THE REPUBLIC, TWO JEDI WILL GET CAUGHT UP IN A BATTLE THEY
CAN’T UNDERSTAND – A BATTLE FOR THEIR LIVES!ISSUE #1 – Leading into Jedi: Fallen Order™ the upcoming third-person action-adventure Star Wars™ title from Lucasfilm and Respawn Entertainment, DARK TEMPLE follows the Jedi Master ENO CORDOVA and his impulsive Padawan CERE JUNDA on their most dangerous mission yet. The Jedi Council has sent them to the remote planet Ontotho to oversee the peaceful excavation of a mysterious temple that has been uncovered. But they will come to find that what surrounds the temple may be even more dangerous than the mysteries within it. Clandestine local resistance forces and ruthless corporate security troops in a war for the fate of Ontotho – and the Jedi are caught in the middle!
ISSUE #2 – Following a sudden ambush in the jungles of Ontotho, Young Padawan Cere Junda is left to find her own way on a hostile planet. But local freedom fighters are happy to take Cere Junda in – if she will fight by their side!
Revealed last week after the game’s big gameplay showing at the video game convention E3 2019, this prequel to the game gives us some insight into Cere Junda, who plays mentor to the game’s main character, Cal Kesits. It also seems her Master, Eno Cordova, is modeled after actor Tony Amendola (as cover artist Marco Checchetto was nice enough to confirm!), making me wonder if he’ll be involved in the game proper somehow. Issue #1 & #2 drop September and we’ll find out just what this miniseries uncovers about the two characters! UPDATE: Off to a rather intriguing start with issue #1!
Star Wars #71 (on sale 9/4) & #72 UPDATE(on sale 9/18 10/2)
Greg Pak (Writer), Phil Noto (Artist/Cover Artist)
Issue #71 – Star Wars Greatest Moments Variant by TBA
Issue #71 & #72 Covers – Action Figure Variant Covers by John Tyler Christopher
RUIN AMONG THE ROCKS!
ISSUE #71
- The REBELS AND ROGUES epic continues as our heroes’ mission to divert the IMPERIAL FLEET spins out of control!
- On K43, the Rock Elders probe THREEPIO’S memories – and allegiances!
- Could a droid have more in common with a rock monster than a human? On Lanz Carpo, a rogue takes a fall and a princess fights a vigilante. And on Kalakan, LUKE robs a bank.
- Wait, LUKE ROBS A BANK???
ISSUE #72
- The time for answers is upon us – and destinies will change! As CHEWIE grapples with a terrible moral choice, LORD VADER reveals his plan for the rock people of K43!
- As LUKE questions where he’s placed his trust, WARBA reveals her origins and true relationship to the FORCE!
- And as LEIA and DAR spin around the dance floor, HAN uncovers the real villains of Lanz Carpo!
Rock Monsters, mind probes, Chewie faced with tough decisions, Luke robbing banks, and Leia either fighting or dancing? Greg Pak’s takeover of the Star Wars series looks to have it all and the kitchen sink, going fun, wild, and exciting places, while Noto will be a fantastic artist for all these shenanigans! Pak recently took to the official site to reveal this arc does take place just before The Empire Strikes Back, so with it winding down after these two issues, could we be close to finding out where the series goes next? Will Pak continue and take us to a new timeline? Will the series end? In the meantime, this looks like a blast and will make the wait for the answers for those questions seem like a Cloud City breeze!
Target Vader #3 (on sale 9/25)
Robbie Thompson (Writer), Stefano Landini (Artist)
Cover by Nic Klein
THE DOUBLE CROSS!
- VALANCE and his crew of bounty hunters have DARTH VADER on the ropes, surrounding him with enemy ships.
- Vader is the greatest pilot in the galaxy, though, and he’s about to go head to head with the Imperial Navy’s former best pilot… Beilert Valance!
- But if Valance can survive this aerial duel, will he survive betrayal on land, as a member of the Rebellion lies hidden within his ranks!
I’m still not sure if I’ll cover this issue by issue, but I’m definitely curious who this Rebel spy will be, and I wouldn’t be disappointed if it’s a new character. Also, space battles/dog fighting has been hit or miss in the comics, but I hope Landini here can pull it off.
IDW
Star Wars Adventures #26
Cavan Scott, Adam Christopher (Writers), Derek Charm, Megan Levens (Artist/Cover Artist)
Witness one of the many lessons Rey learned from Luke Skywalker during her time on Ahch-To. Plus, in an all-new installment of Tales from Wild Space, Resistance pilot Tallie teaches her squad how to overcome their fears.
- The last of three issues spotlighting the Sequel Trilogy!
- Next month the Journey to The Rise of Skywalker begins!
More Luke and Rey time on Ahch-To is like getting more Luke and Yoda time on Dagobah, while more of Tallie from The Last Jedi, before he untimely demise, is far more than welcomed!
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 | October | November
CURRENT SERIES COMIC REVIEWS:
Doctor Aphra
Aphra (#1-6) | And the Enormous Profit (#9-13) | Remastered (#14-19) | The Catastrophe Con (#20-25) | Worst Among Equals (#26-31) | Unspeakable Rebel Superweapon (#32-37) | Annual: #2
Age of Republic (miniseries)
Age of Rebellion (miniseries)
Star Wars
Ashes of Jedha (#38-43) | Mutiny at Mon Cala (#44-49) | Hope Dies (#50-55) | The Escape (#56-61) | The Scourging of Shu-Torun (#62-67) | Annual: #4
TIE Fighter (miniseries)