Schedule Monthly Genre Science fiction Number of issues 25 Writer Jason Aaron | Format Ongoing series Publication date January 2015 – present Publisher Marvel Comics | |
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Artists John Cassaday (#1–6), Simone Bianchi (#7), Stuart Immonen (#8–12) Similar Star Wars: Shattered Empire, Star Wars: Princess Leia, Star Wars: Knight Errant, Dark Empire, Star Wars: Agent of the Empire | ||
Star Wars is an ongoing Star Wars comic series published by Marvel Comics since January 14, 2015. Written by Jason Aaron with art by John Cassaday, it is set between the 1977 film Star Wars and its 1980 sequel, The Empire Strikes Back. The series features classic Star Wars characters Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, C-3PO, and R2-D2. It was one of three new Star Wars comics by Marvel announced in July 2014, along with Darth Vader and the limited series Princess Leia.
Contents
Plot
The Star Wars series focuses on Luke, Leia and Han face off against the Imperial forces. As the series begins, Leia leads a covert rebel mission to destroy an Imperial weapons factory, attracting the attention of Darth Vader. In issues #4–5, Luke returns to Tatooine, searching Obi-Wan Kenobi's abandoned house for anything of interest regarding Obi-Wan or his father. He fights Boba Fett but also discovers Obi-Wan's journals, which Luke reads in issues #7, #15, #20 and #26. Issue #6 introduces Sana Starros, who is dramatically introduced as Han Solo's wife but later confesses to have only posed as his spouse during a previous scam. Issues #13-#14 figure into the Vader Down crossover with the Darth Vader comic series, and later issues a crossed over with the Dr. Aphra series.
Characters and development
Aaron said in 2014, "We wanted this to feel like the movies. We wanted to feel like we were hired to do the direct sequel to the original film ... It's very much a team book and we've got all the main players here. Luke, Han, Leia, Chewie, the droids, and Darth Vader all get big moments in this first arc, and that's our core cast going forward." He explained that Luke's story is a main thrust of the comic, considering where the character is at this point in the timeline, adding:
This is all pretty new to him. His world has changed completely. He had this mentor for five minutes who now is dead and leaves him with all these questions about his father, about his history, and where he goes from here, and what’s his role in the grand scheme of things ... He's on this journey of discovery by himself, and he wants to find out more about his father. Meanwhile, Darth Vader's chasing after him trying to find out who's this guy that blew up the Death Star. I like the fact that they’re kind of chasing each other, without realizing the full implication of what they’re chasing. Luke’s chasing after his dad while running away from Vader.
Aaron also noted that Han is in "an interesting spot at this point in the timeline ... We don't know how fully committed he is to this Rebellion, and we're in the very early stages of his relationship with Leia ... And of course, you know with Han, eventually his past is going to start catching up to him."
Publication
Star Wars was one of three new Star Wars comics by Marvel announced in July 2014, along with Princess Leia and Darth Vader. The Star Wars comic was set to be written by Jason Aaron and illustrated by John Cassaday, and released in January 2015. Several variant covers were printed for the first issue. Simone Bianchi was the guest artist for issue #7. Stuart Immonen took over as artist with issue #8 in July 2015, completing the series' second story arc through issue #12.