SWBC: Catching up on Star Wars comics
Plus: Special Star Wars comic covers for Black History Month, and gorgeous new art for Japanese editions of The High Republic books.
Catching up on Star Wars comics
Reviews of The Blade #1, Yoda #1, Star Wars: Revelations, and The High Republic (2022)
Thanks to a busy holiday season and start to the new year, I’ve been woefully behind on reading Star Wars comics. Luckily, my local comic shop keeps their shelves and my subscription box well-stocked — I’m currently subscribed to all The High Republic comics and I occasionally pick up the first issues of new series like Yoda and the one-shot Revelations.
But this week I finally caught up on my TBR stack of comics, so here are my thoughts on all of them.
The Blade #1
I’ve been eager to learn more about the mysterious Porter Engle (a.k.a. the Blade of Bardotta) since his introduction in the first phase of The High Republic. And writer Charles Soule delivers with a delightful and dynamic first issue of The Blade miniseries. Porter’s sweet eagerness to learn how to be a good cook juxtaposes quite nicely with his quiet confidence and badassery with a laser sword. He and his sister Barash are just plain cool, and I cannot wait to read more of their adventures. The Blade has already become one of my favorite miniseries in all of Star Wars.
Yoda #1
The new 10-issue series follows Yoda at his best and brightest at various points in his long life and is penned by several different authors. The first issue opens with an elderly Yoda on Dagobah just before Luke arrives on the swampy planet. Through an unnamed Force ghost he hears during deep mediation, Yoda is transported back to The High Republic era for a mission he did to help a people in need on a frontier planet. The concept of this miniseries hooked me more than the first issue, which doesn’t really reveal anything new or groundbreaking about the legendary character. However, a Yoda-focused series that hopefully shows a bit more about our favorite green Jedi’s origins is enough of a hook to keep me reading.
The High Republic #1-4
The ongoing Marvel series set during Phase Two of The High Republic is my favorite of my subscriptions (though The Blade is in a close second place). I’ve been fascinated with Jedha and its history ever since Rogue One, and I was thrilled to see that, so far, this new High Republic series takes place entirely on the Pilgrim Moon. Through four issues released so far, we’ve encountered and read about so many different religious factions operating and worshipping the Force in their own way on Jedha. It’s also intriguing to see the Jedi postioned as just another religious group among hundreds instead of the leading peacekeepers they’re known as throughout the rest of the galaxy. The series is also clearly leading up to show key moments in The Battle of Jedha, which just released as an audio original story earlier this month. There’s never a dull moment or issue, especially where Jedi Vildar Mac and Tey Sirrek are involved. And I cannot wait to see what happens next — with the Jedi, with the Guardians of the Whills, and with the Path of the Open Hand.
Star Wars celebrates Black History Month with variant covers
Marvel Comics’ Star Wars line is celebrating Black History Month in February in a big way — with 10 stunning variant covers featuring Black heroes in Star Wars. All 10 covers are done by artist Mateus Manhanini, who’s known for his beautiful covers in the current WAKANDA comic series.
All of the covers will debut in February across Marvel’s Star Wars new releases and spotlighting these characters:
Lando Calrissian (Star Wars #31)
Mace Windu
Finn (Hidden Empire #3)
Jannah (Darth Vader #31)
Greef Karga (The Mandalorian #8)
Sana Starros
Phel Starros (Sana Starros #1)
Keeve Trennis
Oliviah Zeveron (The High Republic #5)
Lt. Haydenn (Bounty Hunters #31)
In a blog post, Marvel said more Black History Month covers will be revealed later this month.
Darth Vader — Black, White & Red
How much Darth Vader is too much? The limit does not exist. That’s especially true for Marvel, which just announced a new Darth Vader comic miniseries coming soon.
Darth Vader — Black, White & Red is a four-issue anthology that’s Star Wars comics’ answer to the Black, White & Blood series featuring characters like Deadpool, Moon Knight, and Wolverine. The miniseries will include stories and art from several different writers and artists, including Jason Aaron, who helped relaunch the Star Wars main comic series in 2015 and Vader Down in 2016.
The first issue comprises three tales written by Aaron, Torunn Grønbekk, and Peach Momoko, who is also doing the art. Issue #1 arrives on April 26.
Solicit text for Darth Vader — Black, White & Red:
THE DARK LORD OF THE SITH LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN HIM BEFORE!
Following the successful Black, White & Red series produced by Marvel Comics, DARTH VADER now takes the spotlight for tales of terror by some of the industry’s most talented creators!
PEACH MOMOKO will spin a story only she can bring to life!
PLUS, the return of JASON AARON to the world of STAR WARS with Part One of his Vader tale spanning all four issues!
New cover art for Japanese translation of The High Republic book
When I tell you I gasped so loud when I saw the cover art for the upcoming Japanese translation of The High Republic: Into the Dark …
The Japanese editions of Claudia Gray’s first YA book set during The High Republic are finally being translated and published as a two volume set on Feb. 24. The gorgeous covers feature Jedi Padawan Reath Silas and secret Nihil pirate Nan on one, and Jedi Masters Orla Jareni and Cohmac Vitus on the other.
On both covers, the characters are on the mysterious Amaxine space station and surrounded by what’s later revealed to be vines of the Drengir — malicious, hungry sentient plants that become a serious problem for the Jedi.
While these are being released in Japan, you can preorder and purchase them via Amazon Japan — Volume 1 and Volume 2.
Star Wars books and comics out this week
Jan. 18
Meet the newest rep for The Nerf Herder Co.
I got some exciting news earlier this month — I’m now a rep for The Nerf Herder Co., one of the coolest small businesses churning out fandom-inspired candles, wax melts, t-shirts, stickers, and more.
Their Star Wars collection is already massive, but it keeps on growing with scent products inspired by fan-favorite characters and locales from the galaxy far, far away. I’m currently hyperfixating on the candles inspired by Thrawn (dark musk + vetiver + cedar), The Lake Country of Naboo (wildflowers + fresh greens), and Across the Stars (dark rose + labdanum).
The Nerf Herder Co. also has some of the same scents in wax melts and room sprays, as well as a few Star Wars stickers and t-shirts (loving the “Rey is a Skywalker” one).
And as a rep, I get commissions based on sales using my affiliate link.
You can also use the code ADASTRALIBRI10 for a 10% discount on The Nerf Herder Co.’s website. That includes non-Star Wars items from fandoms like the Sarah J. Maas universe and Ali Hazelwood’s books!
As always, I appreciate any and all support. MTFBWY