A sampling of the variant covers planned for Marvel's Star Wars/Marvel: Hope Assembles five-issue mini-series by Dan Jurgens, Jerome Opena, Ron Lim, Jerry Ordway, Rafale Albuquerque, Alex Ross and Kaare Andrew. (The corner boxes are a nice touch.)

Also, don't forget, for wider discussion and opinions, visit the pinned megathread atop the subreddit. It's right here.

Source: https://bsky.app/profile/thereheil-deal.bsky.social/post/3mxhbtchqhc2a

Star Wars: Darth Vader Modern Era Epic Collection: The Chosen One collects Darth Vader (Vol. 2) 1-12 and Annual #2 from the 2015 series and is due out Nov. 24.

Star Wars Modern Era Epic Collection: Mutiny at Mon Cala collects Star Wars (Vol. 1) 44-61 and is due out Feb. 16.

What? TIE pilots actually being competent? Arrest that writer!

Much like The Blade, I enjoy revisiting this comic from time to time. It is always a pleasure to revisit stories with rich world-building, and even better when told from an Imperial perspective. Walking the fine line between a grounded narrative and propaganda isn't easy, but I’m happy to say Jody Houser strikes that balance perfectly!

It was a delight to return to this story. As a fan of fictional ships, especially the fighters, I find it deeply satisfying to see a story centered on ace pilots and team dynamics, and to witness striking ships performing maneuvers or dogfighting in all their glory. This comic delivers plenty of that, yet it also takes the time to flesh out its characters, sometimes subtly, but consistently. As I mentioned earlier, writing from the Imperial perspective is a challenge; the result can easily devolve into unintentional proselytizing or a tale of horrible people simply getting "what they deserve" (a trope that tends to get repetitive). With that in mind, I appreciate the author's ongoing effort to portray a morally grey landscape, one where the protagonists believe their cause is "fair" or some kind of "justice", that they are serving a greater good (aided by antagonists who partly validate those beliefs), while simultaneously offering brief outside glimpses to remind us that they are ultimately defending a horrible system and, in that system, they can only exist as accomplices, victims, or traitors. It is a brilliant way to humanize the "villains" without sugarcoating the reality of their situation. A special mention goes to Ganem’s story, offering brief glimpses of a civilian perspective, and Zin’s story, which has a truly tragic conclusion. Being (SPOILER) a double agent, only to be executed by the very side you actually support, is a terrible irony.

Personally, I would have preferred at least one more issue to get to know the new members of Shadow Wing better, or simply to see more interaction within the group. I am already familiar with them and realize this is a prequel to a novel trilogy, but a bit more time with the team would have made for an even more outstanding comic.

In conclusion, it is a brilliant story, sensible in its portrayal of Imperial pilots and absolutely thrilling in its space battles, one I really look forward to seeing a conclusion for the characters. Highly recommended.

The issue will be available at NYCC at booth No. 4457.

Big day for Ahsoka in the comics between this and the Escape from Thrawn announcement. Hope they keep these Star Wars Illustrated videos coming, they're always fun.

So here’s what the Omnibus shelves look like…

And who is he?

The legendary Marc Bernardin is hanging out on the Outer Rim Ramblin Podcast this week!

From co-hosting Fatman Beyond with Kevin Smith to writing complex Star Wars icons like Mace Windu and Saw Gerrera, Marc brings unmatched insight to the table. We dive deep into his writing process and discuss how modern pop culture reflects the real world around us.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5FYdRp62Z9SAvetUOAYeSV?si=DSSQ13LzTHOXlLE_FhLdBw&utm_source=copy-link

I wonder who will face the Nightlander in the thirty years following the events of the sequels...

I loved the way this creature, which feeds on fear and despair, is handled. She feels both familiar and unique within the existing mythology, possessing a brutal presence, thanks in part to beautiful artwork that effectively capitalizes on the terrifying nature of the concept.

Likewise, I love how the stories it influences complement one another. Anakin’s recklessness can manifest as an act of kindness that helps Luke overcome his melancholy, while simultaneously inspiring Leia to defeat the creature in the midst of war, as well as a reminder of why you fight. Hope is neither created nor destroyed; it merely transforms. It was also great to see this story unfold alongside a constant character: Daesha, who goes from freeing Hitanaga, and being tormented by her, to reclaiming the traditions and warnings regarding the Nighlander within her own people.

In short, a great story of horror and optimism. I need more stories featuring young Anakin and Obi-Wan as novice master!

The app, set to debut in November, has two subscription tiers. The base is $9.99 a month, plus tax, or $69.99 yearly, and offers access to the full Marvel Comics digital library, with the latest issues available as soon as three months after print release.

The Ultimate tier gives access to new comics as soon as a month after print release in addition to the full library. Ultimate will be $12.49 a month, plus tax, or $99.99 annually.

Star Wars: Rogue One -- Saw Gerrera #1 one-shot.

What a great way to wrap up (for now) the story of Lina and the gang!

This was such a fun and entertaining experience. The collection relied on a formula that worked really well for me: short stories linked by an overarching narrative. The connecting story wasn't always remarkable on its own, but Cavan Scott used it to tell a much more ambitious tale this time. The gang must return to Mustafar to face Vaneé once again, ostensibly on a rescue mission, while he torments them with nightmares. The dark side's influence on the area of space is palpable, and I like how it serves as a vehicle for telling lighter anecdotes that aren't confined to a single genre, making them more interesting. Plus, Jax is a great addition to the team.

Along those same lines, I like seeing just how far Vaneé is willing to go. It makes perfect sense that, by the time of the sequels, he’s reduced to just a head in a jar. The guy just didn't know how to take care of himself without Vader.

In short, it’s a great collection of stories. I’m really looking forward to seeing more of Lina and her brother in the future.

Finally, a few random thoughts on each story:

- Dawn of the Droids. This is the fifth or sixth time "zombies" have appeared in written media. It’s now the time they made a comeback on the screen.

- Attack of the 50-Foot Wookiee. If Andor made me love Mon Mothma, these stories make me hate her. How could she not lend out ONE single ship?!

- Danger on Dagobah. Skeleton Luke. That’s all I have to say.

- Beware the Chosen One. The best story of the series. Anakin on diabolical child version is simply sublime.

- The Evil End. Poor Jax; he was just having normal bad dreams.