It looks like Star Wars Adventures #10 is promising another Star Wars first appearance in comics. Zak and Tash Arranda were young Alderaanians who survived the destruction of their planet by the Death Star and became Jedi in the New Jedi Order.
Zak
90s kids will remember them as the stars of the Galaxy of Fear series of Young Adult novels with awesome holographic covers. I know I do.
Well, looking at the upcoming Star Wars Adventures solicitations from IDW, I noticed something interesting about issue #10:
Mace Windu and his Lightning Squadron land on the planet Ridlay, which has gone mysteriously dark, expecting a Separatist attack. But what they find instead is a surprise to them all. Then, Zak and Tash Arranda sneak off to investigate a creepy cave, where they find a strange artifact-and a mysterious cult waiting for them!
Galaxy of Fear was sort of like Goosebumps by R.L. Stine for Star Wars. Zak and Tash basically run around the galaxy uncovering fear-inducing secrets, which would be a great line of stories to start in Star Wars Adventures first of all, and would make a great series streaming, if you ask me. X-Files in space anybody?
Star Wars Adventures #10 will be Zak and Tash Arranda’s first canon appearance since Disney’s takeover of the franchise, their first comic appearance, and the Stefano Simeone cover B will also be their first cover appearance. Cover A has not been revealed yet, but (though drawn by possibly my favorite artist, Francavilla) I imagine it is a Clone Wars era cover dealing with the other story in issue #10 revolving around Mace Windu and not featuring Zak and Tash. Buy accordingly. Remember that Disney’s streaming plans for Star Wars on Disney+ are expansive and include an anthology anime series called “Visions.” It’s not implausible that these two fearless youngsters make their way to streaming.
