In 2017 Marvel published forty-eight 40th Anniversary covers across their Star Wars line of comics. Despite my initial misgivings, these covers were easily accessible to collectors when they were released and I found them to be my favorite variant cover set, even more enjoyable than the John Tyler Christopher action figure variants.
The 40th anniversary covers must have been successful, because in 2018 Marvel published thirty-six Galactic Icon variant covers and in 2019 they are releasing another thirty-six cover set called Greatest Moments. I doubt this year will be the last year for these variant cover sets; 2020 will be the 40th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back, so I'm expecting a cover set to celebrate that milestone.
The artwork for the Galactic Icon variant covers is provided by Rod Reis and they all feature portraits of characters from Star Wars. These covers were only printed for the ongoing Star Wars titles unlike the 40th anniversary covers that also appeared in the various mini-series published in 2017.
The covers are logically grouped by theme, with the first nine covers showing characters from the sequel trilogy.
Star Wars #41c - Marvel Comics, U.S. (January 2018) Galactic Icons variant 1/36Star Wars: Darth Vader #10b - Marvel Comics, U.S. (January 2018) Galactic Icons variant 2/36Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #16b - Marvel Comics, U.S. (January 2018) Galactic Icons variant 3/36Star Wars #43c - Marvel Comics, U.S. (February 2018) Galactic Icons variant 4/36Star Wars: Darth Vader #11b - Marvel Comics, U.S. (February 2018) Galactic Icons variant 5/36Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #17b - Marvel Comics, U.S. (February 2018) Galactic Icons variant 6/36Star Wars #44c - Marvel Comics, U.S. (March 2018) Galactic Icons variant 7/36Star Wars: Darth Vader #13b - Marvel Comics, U.S. (March 2018) Galactic Icons variant 8/36Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #18b - Marvel Comics, U.S. (March 2018) Galactic Icons variant 9/36
This is a nice set of covers by Rod Reis and all the characters are easily recognizable. Maz Kanata is featured along with other characters in a scum and villainy themed group and BB-8 is grouped with the droids.
The original Star Wars movie adaptation from Marvel is not the only comic book version of A New Hope. There are several different renditions that have been published in various countries around the world. I've posted about several of them, including the Chinese and Hungarian adaptations. Dark Horse Comics released their own version to coincide with the release of Star Wars: A New Hope Special Edition to theaters in January 1997.
Howard Chaykin admits he did not do his best work on the original adaptation and had he known the movie was going to be such a big hit, he would have done a better job. The artwork does look rushed in places and is generally uneven from issue to issue with some issues and pages looking better than others depending largely on the inker. Additionally, Chaykin had a compressed timeline and worked from stills before the special effects were even completed. (Howard Chaykin did not see the movie until after he had completed his work on the sixth issue.) Even so, as the license holder, Dark Horse published reprints of the original adaptation for several years starting with the two-issue prestige format Classic Star Wars: A New Hope in 1994. It must have been appealing to work on a new adaptation of the movie and the Special Edition provided that opportunity.
The 4-issue mini-series Star Wars: A New Hope Special Edition with artwork by Eduardo Barreto and inks by the legendary Al Williamson does look better than Chaykin's version. Where this version is inferior to the original is in the pacing. With six issues to tell the story, Marvel's original adaptation has more room for scenes to breath whereas the Dark Horse adaptation is extremely compressed. Marvel's first issue ends with Luke Skywalker being attacked by the Tusken Raider on page 17. Dark Horse's first issue has four more pages of art, but Luke Skywalker is attacked on page 9 and on page 17 Luke and Obi-Wan Kenobi are talking about selling Luke's Landspeeder to pay for their trip to Alderaan. On the final page of the Dark Horse issue, the Millennium Falcon piloted by Han Solo has evaded the Star Destroyers near Tatooine which occurs on the final page of Marvel's second issue. The story told in the first two issues of Marvel's adaptation are crammed into the first issue of Dark Horse's adaptation!
In addition to better art, one area that the Special Edition version excels over the Marvel issues is with the cover artwork. Dave Dorman is best known for his Star Wars artwork and his covers for this mini-series show why Dorman was a favorite of Lucasfilm.
Star Wars: A New Hope Special Edition #1a - Dark Horse Comics, U.S. (January 1997)Star Wars: A New Hope Special Edition #2a - Dark Horse Comics, U.S. (February 1997)Star Wars: A New Hope Special Edition #3a - Dark Horse Comics, U.S. (March 1997)Star Wars: A New Hope Special Edition #4a - Dark Horse Comics, U.S. (April 1997)
The four covers combine to form a larger image.
Like Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Walmart released an exclusive version of the first issue of Solo: A Star Wars Story. Both were distributed in 3-packs with two other Marvel comics. Unlike Rogue One #1, the artwork for Solo #1 is the same as the standard cover.
Solo: A Star Wars Story #1e - Marvel Comics, U.S. (October 2018) Walmart exclusiveSolo: A Star Wars Story #1a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (October 2018)
The only differences between the Walmart exclusive and the standard cover is the logo is yellow instead of white and a slight change to the UPC code.
Valance was an Imperial officer who was severely wounded in battle. Needing cybernetic parts to survive, Valance left behind his military career and became a bounty hunter. Valance the Hunter was introduced in Star Wars #16 in 1978.
Star Wars #16a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (October 1978)
Forty years later, Valance is re-introduced, this time in new continuity, in Han Solo - Imperial Cadet #1. Initially known as cadet 404-913, he is assigned to the same squadron as Han Solo during basic training on the planet Carida. Valance is arrogant and a bully to his teammates. The squadron graduates to flight school where cadet 404-913, now known as Valance, is top of the class. In issue #4, we learn Valance's first name is Beilert and his squadron is assigned their first combat mission. After the squadron takes out the shields and cannons in the city Howlan on the planet Ohulosk, Valance's TIE Fighter is shot down by local insurgents. The rest of the squadron return to base and, despite his pleas, Han Solo is forbidden to return to rescue Valance in a TIE Fighter. Han decides to go after Valance regardless and, using speeder bikes, he and the rest of the squadron mount a rescue. In issue #5, Valance is recovered by his squadron, but he is surprised to learn the Empire did not condone his rescue. Back at base, we learn Valance lost a leg and an eye due to injuries from the crash.
Star Wars: Han Solo - Imperial Cadet #1a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (November 2018)
Valance the Hunter is returning this week in Star Wars #108, a one-shot that is continuing Marvel's original run. While that story takes place in the expanded universe continuity, fallen Imperial officer Beilert Valance from the Han Solo - Imperial Cadet mini-series will be returning in Target Vader due to be published in July. In this mini-series, Valance, now a bounty hunter, is leading a group of bounty hunters hired to kill Darth Vader.
Dark Horse published 24 issues of Star Wars Tales from September 1999 to July 2005. Each issue of this anthology title are 64 pages, allowing for several features. The stories covered a range of genres from comedy to action adventure to horror and the artwork also varies greatly. Not every feature appeals to everyone; some stories can be challenging if the genre or art is not to your taste. While not every story is a gem, there are a few issues of this title that include some exceptional tales such as the 16-page "Outbid But never Outgunned" featuring Boba Fett from Tales #7, the 48-page "Resurrection" with a Darth Vader and Darth Maul showdown from Tales #9, and the 10-page "Into the Great Unknown" starring both Han Solo and Indiana Jones from Tales #19.
As of yet, Marvel has not attempted an anthology title. This is understandable, if not regrettable, because these titles can be hard sells. Interestingly, IDW Publishing's first (and so far only) ongoing Star Wars title is an anthology aimed at younger readers. Each issue of Star Wars Adventures contains two features and some of these stories are serialized over several issues. The stories are akin to Marvel's Star Comics titles Droids and Ewoks from the 1980s or Dark Horse's digest-sized The Clone Wars Adventures. The writing to younger readers has limited the number of Star Wars comic fans willing to buy this title, and understandably, this IDW series sells far fewer copies than Marvel's Star Wars titles.
IDW Publishing borrowed from Marvel's playbook when they published Star Wars Adventures #1 with 15 variant covers. The multiple covers helped the first issue sell over 49,000 copies in September 2017. Despite the sales drifting below 10,000 copies of each issue sold after the first year, the comic has continued to be one of IDW's best selling titles.
The first issue has two standard covers as well as three incentive covers. Retailer incentive cover A was initially sold in a ratio of 1 for every 10 standard copies. incentive cover B had a ratio of 1 to 25, and incentive cover C had a ratio of 1 to 50.
Star Wars Adventures #1a - IDW Publishing, U.S. (September 2017)Star Wars Adventures #1b - IDW Publishing, U.S. (September 2017)Star Wars Adventures #1c - IDW Publishing, U.S. (September 2017) retailer incentive variant AStar Wars Adventures #1d - IDW Publishing, U.S. (September 2017) retailer incentive variant BStar Wars Adventures #1e - IDW Publishing, U.S. (September 2017) retailer incentive variant C
A variant based on the retailer incentive cover C was released to coincide with the Local Comic Shop Day event.
Star Wars Adventures #1f - IDW Publishing, U.S. (September 2017) Local Comic Shop Day variant
IDW also sent a retailer appreciation variant to comic shops which was based on the art for the retailer incentive cover A.
Star Wars Adventures #1g - IDW Publishing, U.S. (September 2017) Retailer Appreciation variant
Six different comic shops commissioned exclusive covers for this inaugural issue.
Star Wars Adventures #1h - IDW Publishing, U.S. (September 2017) Fried Pie exclusiveStar Wars Adventures #1i - IDW Publishing, U.S. (September 2017) Jetpack Comics exclusiveStar Wars Adventures #1j - IDW Publishing, U.S. (September 2017) Heroes & Fantasies exclusiveStar Wars Adventures #1k - IDW Publishing, U.S. (September 2017) Hall of Comics exclusiveStar Wars Adventures #1l - IDW Publishing, U.S. (September 2017) Double Midnight Comics Granite State Comicon exclusiveStar Wars Adventures #1m - IDW Publishing, U.S. (September 2017) Comics Dungeon exclusive
Finally, IDW published two more variant covers, one exclusively for the Fan Expo Convention and another for distribution at other conventions.
Star Wars Adventures #1n - IDW Publishing, U.S. (September 2017) Fan Expo Convention exclusiveStar Wars Adventures #1o - IDW Publishing, U.S. (September 2017) IDW Convention exclusive
Magna Tolvan first appears in Doctor Aphra #3. Aphra, Aphra's father, Black Krrsantan, 0-0-0, and BT-1 are on Yavin 4 seeking clues about the mysterious Ordu Aspectu. Their destination is the Massassi temple, location of the abandoned Rebel base that launched the attack that destroyed the Death Star. Unfortunately Captain Tolvan is leading a contingent of Imperial soldiers who are searching the temple for information concerning the Rebellion. Captain Tolvan believes Aphra's group could be Rebels and the Imperials are drawn away from the temple to engage them. This is a ruse however and they are chasing Black Krrsantan while the rest of Aphra's group enters the temple.
Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #3a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (January 2017) 1st appearance of Magna TolvanStar Wars: Doctor Aphra #3b - Marvel Comics, U.S. (January 2017) 1st appearance of Magna Tolvan 40th Anniversary variantStar Wars: Doctor Aphra #3c - Marvel Comics, U.S. (January 2017) 1st appearance of Magna Tolvan David Lopez variant
Captain Tolvan is shown to be a capable leader not afraid to use the might of the Empire against her enemies. In Doctor Aphra #4, we learn she was leading security on Eadu which was attacked by Rebels intent on assassinating Galen Erso as shown in the Rogue One movie and her punishment was to scour the abandoned Rebel base on Yavin 4. In Doctor Aphra #5, she chases Aphra's team to the Citadel of Rur. In Doctor Aphra #6, she and her troops are overwhelmed by ancient robots controlled by the essence of Rur but she is saved by Aphra. A potential romance is hinted at between Tolvan and Aphra at the end of the issue.
The next appearance of Tolvan is in Doctor Aphra #14 where we learn she has been demoted to Lieutenant. Her superior officer and peer from her academy, Captain Punfor, says: "Everyone would have thought you were most likely to succeed." He also implies she is uptight when he tells her: "Cheer up, Tolvan! That's always been your problem. You could never lighten up!" This issue is her first cover appearance.
Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #14a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (November 2017) 1st cover appearance of Magna Tolvan
In subsequent appearances, Tolvan and Aphra flirt and start a complicated, romantic relationship. Aphra's influence morphs Tolvan into a more nuanced character, no longer believing in the dogma of Imperial rule. At the end of Doctor Aphra #31, it appears she has joined the Rebellion.
Previous covers of Steam Wars: Holiday Special had characters reminiscent of Wookiees. Holiday Special #3 shows a character that looks like an overgrown Ewok.
Steam Wars: Holiday Special #3a - Antarctic Press, U.S. (December 2017)
This is humorous cover and I find it even more funny because not one of the pistols in the foreground look like they will hit their target if fired.
This digest-sized Spider-Man comic from Indonesia is titled Seribu Wajah or Thousand Faces. The cover is from Amazing Spider-Man #218 which has a cover date of July 1981.
Spider-Man: Seribu Wajah a - Yayasan Karya Bhakti Bandung, Indonesia (1980s) contains Star Wars: Penyelidikan Sang Putri and Star Wars: Robot Perampok Uranium
This comic contains two Star Wars tales, the first two thirds of the A Princess Alone story from Star Wars #30. They are Penyelidikan Sang Putri or Investigation of the Princess and Robot Perampok Uranium or Robot Robbers Uranium. They have the same content from the comics with these titles.
Star Wars: Penyelidikan Sang Putri a - Yayasan Karya Bhakti Bandung, Indonesia (1980s)Star Wars: Robot Perampok Uranium a - Yayasan Karya Bhakti Bandung, Indonesia (1980s)
Disney's streaming service, Disney Plus, is set to debut in the United States on November 12, 2019. To entice subscribers, Disney is producing exclusive content for the service, including several Star Wars offerings. There will be a seventh season of the animated series The Clone Wars which will focus on Ahsoka Tano. Additionally, there are three live-action series including The Mandalorian and a show starring Diego Luna as Cassian Andor.
It is surprising how little content emerged for the highly successful Rogue One movie. There were the standard tie-in books around the time the movie was released including the prequel book Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel in December 2016. Two other books, Rebel Rising focusing on Jyn Erso and Guardian of the Whills featuring Chirrut and Baze were released in May 2017. Marvel published the Rogue One adaptation starting in April 2017 and another adaptation was published by IDW Publishing in December 2017.
A one-shot published by Marvel in August 2017 rounds out the comic book offerings for Rogue One. Rogue One - Cassian & K-2SO Special #1 tells the story of how Cassian Andor meets K-2SO. Accompanied by fellow spies Kertas and Rismor, Cassian travels to the planet Wecacoe on a mission for the Rebellion. At Storage Facility 47 housing the Imperial cruiser they hope to extract Imperial security protocols from, the Rebels trip an alarm attracting the attention of Stormtroopers. As the Stormtroopers search the facility, Cassian attempts to deactivate a KX-series security droid, but his knowledge of where the kill switch is located is outdated and it takes the intervention of Kertas and Rismor to shutdown the droid. The trio successfully reprogram K-2SO and plan to use the droid to return to their ship. On the way, they encounter Stormtroopers and a fire fight breaks out. As they race back to their ship they see it is surround by Imperials. Kertas and Rismor tell Cassian the droid has the needed intel and run away followed by the Imperials. The ship explodes, so Cassian and K-2SO secure another ship and successfully escape. On the planet, Kertas and Rismor successfully blend in with the population, also having escaped the Imperials.
Star Wars: Rogue One - Cassian & K-2SO Special #1a - Marvel Comics, U.S. (August 2017)Star Wars: Rogue One - Cassian & K-2SO Special #1b - Marvel Comics, U.S. (August 2017)Star Wars: Rogue One - Cassian & K-2SO Special #1c - Marvel Comics, U.S. (August 2017) John Tyler Christopher exclusiveStar Wars: Rogue One - Cassian & K-2SO Special #1d - Marvel Comics, U.S. (August 2017) ReedPOP STGCC and Oz Comic Con exclusive
K-2SO provides much of the humor found in Rogue One and his character does not disappoint in this story. After K-2SO is reprogrammed, he receives his orders from Cassian:
Cassian Andor:K-2SO. I am in command. Here are your new orders. You're going to lead us to our ship. If anyone tries to stop us, including any other droids or Stormtroopers, you take them out. Understand? K-2SO:Yes, I understand. I am to lead you to your ship. Cassian Andor:And if anyone interferes? K-2SO:I will, as you say, "take them out." Cassian Andor:Good. That's very good.
Outside the facility, they run into Stormtroopers which results in this exchange:
Stormtrooper:Where are you going? All security detail is gathering at Storage Facility 47. K-2SO:I'm escorting these three Rebel spies to their ship. Stormtrooper:You're what?! K-2SO:But I have to warn you: if you try to stop me, I'm going to take you both out.
