Hello there and welcome to the weekly new Star Wars comics post where I break down all new comics, books, whatever that will come out next week as well as all Star Wars comics with a final order cutoff next Monday!
READ NEXT: New Star Wars Visions One-Shot by Peach Momoko Coming This November!
After a week off for my family vacation I’m happy to be be back! A bit of a light week ahead of us with just one new comic, a trade paperback, and a 2nd printing hitting comic racks near you on August 23, 2023.
This week the best speculation play is probably the B&W E.M. Gist 1:25 2nd print variant for Star Wars: The Mandalorian Season 2 #1. It’s the first appearance of Cobb Vanth (among others) in a comic but the reason it could heat up is scarcity.
I’ve not seen many people talking about this book. The art is beautiful and Gist has a big (and growing) fan base. Could become a ghost down the road.
READ NEXT: New Exclusive Variant by Kael Ngu announced for Star Wars The Mandalorian #5
Also don’t sleep on Star Wars: Dark Droids D-Squad #1 by Marc Guggenheim that has it’s FOC deadline tomorrow, August 21. This is a spin-off of the Dark Droids crossover event and a call back to the D-Squad arc from the Clone Wars TV show. This time it’s a brand new cast of droids in the squad; R2-D2, IG-88, Chopper, 0-0-0, BT-1, and 4-LOM.
The reason I like it, aside from being a big fan of Marc Guggenheim’s writing, is because there is a 10-page bonus story called, ‘The Book of Ajax, included in this issue that is all about droid revolutionary, Ajax Sigma. Hoping we get more of his backstory and this could be a sneaky way to get some High Republic first appearances since Ajax originally went to war against the Jedi before being cut down by Loden Greatstorm.
Also, the 1:50 variant by Mike McKone is the first cover appearance of Ajax Sigma. If you buy ratio variants (no worries if you don’t) this could be one to look at as it may be under ordered with nearly all of the Star Wars comics getting ratios in September.
Lastly, Star Wars Hyperspace Stories #9 (also with an FOC deadline tomorrow) will include the first full first appearance of Quinlan Vos in canon though I’m not sure that will matter a ton as “true firsts” hold more weight even if they are non-canon. That being said it’s Cad Bane vs. Quinlan Vos. Should be a cool story and it’s something I could see people wanting over time.
Check out everything new coming up (including all variants) below and get your pre-orders in over at TFAW or here over The Comic Corner.
Quick Shortcuts: (not just Star Wars)
Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #35
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(W) Alyssa Wong (A) Minkyu Jung (CA) Jung-Geun Yoon
LEGACY ISSUE #75! A DARK DROIDS TIE-IN!
Sent by DOMINA TAGGE to investigate a series of strange droid malfunctions, DOCTOR APHRA faces a deadly enemy from the past. A horde of CLONE WAR-ERA PROTOTYPE BATTLE DROIDS designed by Domina herself!
Rated T
In Shops: Aug 23, 2023
SRP: $4.99
Variants
Star Wars: The Mandalorian Season 2 #1 2nd Print
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(W) Rodney Barnes (A) Georges Jeanty (CA) David Nakayama
SEASON 2 OF THE HIT DISNEY+ SERIES IS HERE! GROGU AND DIN DJARIN return in CHAPTER 9: THE MARSHAL! The Mandalorian is drawn to the Outer Rim in search of others of his kind. Following rumors of another Mandalorian, he instead comes face-to-face with MARSHAL COBB VANTH wearing a very familiar armor! Mando and Grogu have stepped into a situation bigger than they realize! Following the tradition of season one, RODNEY BARNES & GEORGES JEANTY reunite to bring season two to life once more!
Rated T
In Shops: Aug 16, 2023
Final Orders Due: Jul 16, 2023
SRP: $6.99
Variants
- Cover A Nakayama
- Gist 1:25 Sketch Variant
Star Wars: The High Republic Phase II TPB Vol 2 Battle for the Force
(W) Cavan Scott (A) Ario Anindito, Andrea Broccardo (CA) Yanick Paquette
The battle of Jedha continues! As Tey Sirrek defends the Temple of the Kyber, Vildar Mac is buried alive – with only his belief in the Force to keep him alive. But Vildar is a Jedi beset by doubts, scarred by a past he should’ve forgotten years ago. Who can come to his aid as the Holy City tears itself apart? Vildar, Tey and Matthea Cathley are forced into a corner, with enemies closing in all around, and a secret of the hidden Jedi vault is revealed. As one Jedi lies dying in Jedha’s frozen desert, another is missing. And all the time, the Leveler waits in the shadows, desperate to feed! Can Vildar resist the lure of the dark side? Or must he become what he fears the most to survive!
Collecting STAR WARS: THE HIGH REPUBLIC (2022) #6-10.
Rated T
In Shops: Aug 23, 2023
SRP: $15.99
Star Wars Comic Book FOC Deadlines
For those who aren’t familiar, FOC, or Final Order Cut Off, is when publishers and distributors require retailers to get their orders in. Printers then print according to that number (sometimes with overages). So, if you want to absolutely guarantee you get a book, the best bet is to order it before FOC. Final Order Cut Off is Monday 8/21/23 this week.
Star Wars Hyperspace Stories #9 (of #12)
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(W) Michael Moreci (A) Andrea Mutti (CA) Fico Ossio
Jedi Knight Quinlan Vos arrives on the crime ridden world of Bevana, on a mission that could be the key to ending the Clone Wars. But it turns out the defector he’s tracking has more than Dooku’s secrets, he’s also made off with a sizeable amount of the count’s fortune!
Now Vos finds himself in a lethal race against time with the deadliest bounty hunter in the Galaxy, Cad Bane!
In Shops: Sep 27, 2023
SRP: $3.99
Variants:
Star Wars: Bounty Hunters #38
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(W) Sacks, Ethan (A) Davide Tinto (CA) Marco Checchetto
GRIEVOUS ATTACKS! – A DARK DROIDS TIE-IN!
ZUCKUSS, 4-LOM and their fellow bounty hunters face a deadly droid ambush! VALANCE’s life hangs in the balance! What role has GENERAL GRIEVOUS played in the chaos roiling the galaxy?
Rated T
In Shops: Sep 20, 2023
SRP: $4.99
Variants:
Star Wars: Dark Droids – D-Squad #1
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(W) Marc Guggenheim (A) Salva Espin, David Messina (CA) Aaron Kuder
THE UNSUNG HEROES OF THE CLONE WARS RETURN! A terrible scourge is corrupting the galaxy’s droids! To fight this menace, ARTOO-DETOO has to assemble a team of droid heroes: THE D-SQUAD! Filled with guest stars from across the galaxy, including a special appearance (and showdown!) by CHOPPER from STAR WARS REBELS.
PLUS: THE BOOK OF AJAX provides the missing pieces linking REVELATIONS, DARK DROIDS and HAN SOLO & CHEWBACCA – read to see how IT’S ALL CONNECTED.
Rated T
In Shops: Sep 20, 2023
SRP: $5.99