Alright, wooks, buckle up! It’s been a slow few weeks of Star Wars comics news and, to be honest, with a new baby, my dog passing away, and The Acolyte coming out – it was a welcome break.
That being said, it’s official – earlier today Marvel Comics announced that Star Wars (2022) and Star Wars: Darth Vader (2020) are both ending with issue #50.
This September, we’re getting not one but two colossal, fifty-page finale issues that are set to wrap up the current Star Wars era for the two remaining ongoing comic series after Bounty Hunters and Doctor Aphra ended earlier this year.
For the past few years, we’ve sat in the previously unexplored period between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. And BOY did a lot happen in a single year in-universe.
Honestly… too much to be realistic if we’re being serious. But at the same time, we’re talking about a space fantasy… timelines don’t need to line up perfectly. We’re looking at YOU Ki-Adi-Mundi! 🙂
We’ve seen our favorite characters like Luke, Leia, and Lando navigate through some of the Rebellion’s darkest days. And let’s not forget the rollercoaster that is Darth Vader’s journey deeper into the dark side.
It’s been fun but excitement has certainly waned a bit so I agree with the decision to make a change and progress the overall story with Marvel Comics.
Star Wars #50 & Star Wars: Darth Vader #50 Will Be Wookiee-Sized
The release from Marvel Comics mentions that each issue will be FIFTY pages. That’s a big ass comic. There will also be a connecting variant for both from Giuseppe Camuncoli. Here’s the art. I dig it.
So, what does the COO-Series Cook Droid have in store for these final issues?
Star Wars (2020) #50
Well, Star Wars #50, penned by Charles Soule with art by Madibek Musabekov, is going to be a story where Jedi Master Luke Skywalker teaches young Ben Solo about the true balance between Light and Dark.
This one is going to touch on multiple eras of Star Wars history by combining Luke’s Jedi Order with stories of the Rebellion and (this is a guess) probably stories Luke has picked up along the way about the old Jedi Order and Ben’s Grand Pappy, Anakin Skywalker.
Currently set to release on September 11, 2024.
Star Wars: Darth Vader (2020) #50
And then there’s Star Wars: Darth Vader #50, written by Greg Pak with art by Raffaele Ienco and friends. Vader’s arc comes full circle as he finally unleashes the power he’s been hoarding through the Schism Imperial. Vader versus Emperor Palpatine for the last time before Vader yeets Palpatine down the reactor shaft. Plus, we’ll get some closure for characters like Sabé, Ochi, and even the droid ZED-6-7.
I’ve not been a huge fan of this series. There have been good moments but overall it felt like a 4 year look into Darth Vader’s mid-life crisis. I do know some people that have loved it though so I’m glad it exists even if it wasn’t for me.
Currently set to release on September 18, 2024.
Ok, So What’s Next For Marvel Star Wars Comics?
This is the big question on everyone’s mind: What’s next?
The only hint that Marvel has given us is that we’ll be heading into new eras of the Star Wars universe.
I wrote a breakdown of what I thought was coming next earlier in the month along with the unofficial news that Star Wars, Darth Vader, and the main High Republic run. You can read that here if you want but I’ll paste the important parts below. I think it still holds true.
Here’s what I said in that post:
While this may be the end of an era it’s certainly not the end of Star Wars comics. Here are 5 predictions for what to expect moving forward as the current runs begin to wind down.
#1 – We’ll get a new main Star Wars run that takes place in the New Republic. And, just like Star Wars: Shattered Empire from a few years back and The Mandalorian TV show, it will deal with stories related to the aftermath of the Galactic Civil War. Likely giving us more stories with Mon Mothma rebuilding the Republic, Luke Skywalker training Leia and building his new Jedi Order, and Lando/Han doing Lando/Han things.
#2 – We’ll get a new Star Wars: Doctor Aphra run. In the last two years, Star Wars and Marvel Comics have put out a one-shot comic called Star Wars: Revelations. This comic is intended to tease future storylines for the following year. In Star Wars: Revelations we got short stories which included Jango Fett, Mace Windu, Keeve Trennis, Salli Georgio, Darth Vader, the Rik Duel gang, and Doctor Aphra.
All of the revelations have come true aside from the last two. As for Aphra, they’re clearly setting up a new Aphra series in this by introducing a new adversary for her in Raslin Grace. My guess is that this starts in September or October 2024. This will likely be set in the New Republic Era.
#3 – We’ll get a new Star Wars underworld type of comic to replace the recently concluded Bounty Hunters story. It will likely include SOME of the characters from Bounty Hunters and the Rik Duel gang. It makes sense for this kind of story to be told in the New Republic era as the underworld and outer rim territories became a bit of a free-for-all after the Empire fell.
#4 – This one is just a guess but I bet we’ll start to see mini-series and one-shots that tie into the upcoming movie projects. I think the Star Wars: The Acolyte – Kelnacca #1 comic is a big deal because it shows that Lucasfilm and Marvel are once again willing to tie comics into the upcoming shows. This is something that they did a lot with the sequels trilogy as Por Dameron and Allegiance filled in gaps from Episodes 7-10. I’d bet we’ll get something Mando-related and/or something that ties into the Rey NJO story.
#5 – The High Republic will get its end-game comic series. I genuinely believe that they’re stopping the current Phase III High Republic Marvel Run at 10 issues because Sskeer will die. Causing Keeve to spiral and leave the Jedi order. So giving Sskeer the spotlight in a finale makes sense before starting a fresh series to show Keeve’s fallout with the order as she becomes one of the Lost 20.
Then once Phase III of the High Republic is concluded in 2024 I’d expect Lucasfilm to give us a year or two High Republic break as shows and movies are developed. During that time I’d guess they’ll move on to a new era that hasn’t been touched much in canon publishing.
I think the most likely option is the New Republic Luke/Leia Master/Padawan story. Just makes too much sense to fill in that gap between ROTJ and the Battle of Jakku while telling the story of how Leia learned to tap into her void-given force abilities.
Should be a good time. Expect a TON of posts from me over the next few weeks.
Grand Admiral Frik
