Dark Horse Comics Returns to Publishing Star Wars Comics

Screen Rant exclusively revealed this morning that Dark Horse comics will be publishing new all-ages Star Wars comics starting in Spring of 2022! There have been rumors circulating that the current all-ages publisher, IDW, will lose the license at some point in 2022. However, Screen Rant’s article implies that Dark Horse and IDW will be publishing Star Wars comics together at the same time.

Starwars.com also weighed in this morning. Mike Richardson, the founder and CEO of Dark Horse Comics speaking to Starwars.com said:

“The idea is to build up a Star Wars program that includes an on-going series as well as an anthology,” says Mike Richardson, Dark Horse Comics founder and CEO. “Mixed in would be one-shots and specials. We’ll see where we go from there. Initially, we will focus on stories featuring the High Republic.”

Check out Screen Rant’s announcement below or navigate over to their website for the full story!

via Screen Rant:

Screen Rant is excited to exclusively announce that the Star Wars comic universe is expanding once again as the franchise returns to Dark Horse Comics. New stories are coming from all eras of the galaxy, and while titles have not yet been provided, fans have a lot to be excited about. Instead of sacrificing beloved stories, fans will be getting a plethora of stories from across the publishing world.

Dark Horse Comics began publishing Star Wars comics in 1991. However, a few years after the Walt Disney Company’s acquisition of Lucasfilm, Marvel acquired the publishing license for Star Wars comics. This 2014 announcement, which took effect in 2015, took Star Wars comics “back home”, as Marvel was the first comic publisher for the franchise back in 1977. Now, Dark Horse will have its own welcoming home, sharing the ability to publish new Star Wars stories alongside Marvel Comics and IDW Publishing.

Dark Horse Comics, in collaboration with Lucasfilm and Disney Worldwide Publishing, is announcing a new line of all-ages comics and graphic novels. This line will expand the Star Wars galaxy beginning in Spring 2022. It will include adventures set in the High Republic, as well as the rise of the First Order, and eras in between. This announcement is rather unexpected, but will likely be highly welcome among fans.

Mike Richardson, the founder and CEO of Dark Horse Comics, says,

Dark Horse Comics has a rich history publishing Star Wars comics and graphic novels. Star Wars is near and dear to all of our hearts and I’ve been a fan since I saw the original film nineteen times during its original release. I am thrilled that Dark Horse will once again bring new stories to life from this incredible galaxy and I’m not exaggerating when I say we can’t wait to bring these new adventures to fans of every age.

Michael Siglain, Creative Director of Lucasfilm Publishing adds,

All of us at Lucasfilm Publishing are thrilled to be working with Mike Richardson and everyone at Dark Horse on comics and original graphic novels set in a galaxy far, far away. There are unlimited storytelling possibilities for all ages comics, and we look forward to collaborating with Dark Horse – and with the best writers and artists in the industry – to bring those stories to readers and fans all over the world.

Beginning with Dark Empire in 1991, Dark Horse Comics was the home for Star Wars comics for over twenty years. During this time, the company released numerous comic series, including The Old Republic, Knight Errant, and Knights of the Old Republic, as well as tie-ins to the prequel trilogy. It has maintained rights to publishing some titles, including The Art of Star Wars Rebels, and the upcoming art book, The Art of Star Wars Visions, based on the Disney+ series. Thus far, no titles have been revealed, nor any details, but the options Star Wars comic fans have available to them is going to expand once more.

This year, Star Wars began its transmedia initiative, The High Republic, across novel publishers and comics. Now, this initiative is expanding even further, along with other timelines in the Star Wars galaxy. With the expansion of the franchise on Disney+, the re-release of The Old Republic video game, and now new comics from Dark Horse Comics, new and veteran fans of the franchise have a lot to look forward to. New details about this Star Wars publishing expansion will be available in the future from Dark Horse Comics on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook before launch in Spring 2022.