Several Star Wars teasers were released to the public in 1998 to build anticipation for the next chapter in the Star Wars saga, The Phantom Menace. Even though The Phantom Menace would not open in theaters until May 19, 1999, Hasbro had two preview toy offerings in 1998: A mail away Mace Windu action figure and a STAP with Battle Droid action figure. These sneak preview offerings were eagerly purchased by Star Wars fans and Dark Horse Comics capitalized on this built up demand when they released Star Wars #1 in December 1998 one month after the first trailer for The Phantom Menace was shown to movie going audiences. This would be Dark Horse's first comic titled simply Star Wars. Dark Horse would release another Star Wars #1 in 2013.
Star Wars #1a - Dark Horse Comics, U.S. (December 1998)
The big draw for Star Wars #1 was the character Ki-Adi-Mundi, a Jedi Knight who appeared in The Phantom Menace movie during the Jedi Council scene. In a storyline titled Prelude to Rebellion, Ki-Adi-Mundi returns to his homeworld of Cerea where he faces a budding rebellion.
In addition to the regular issue, the now defunct AnotherUniverse.com offered an exclusive chrome cover variant for Star Wars #1.
Star Wars #1b - Dark Horse Comics, U.S. (December 1998) AnotherUniverse.com exclusive
AnotherUniverse.com also had a Ken Kelly signed copy of their exclusive comic. This was Ken Kelly's first Star Wars comic cover and he would go on to produce several more Star Wars covers for Dark Horse.
Star Wars #1c - Dark Horse Comics, U.S. (December 1998) AnotherUniverse.com exclusive signed
With a new Star Wars movie coming at the end of this year, it should be expected that Marvel Comics will have a teaser of some sort for Star Wars fans.
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