Category Archives: Comics

We Finally Know Why Uncle Owen Hated Obi-Wan Kenobi In ‘A New Hope’

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Via Moviepilot.com:

(Warning – the following contains major SPOILERS related to the recently released Star Wars #15. If you haven’t yet read the comic book, but intend to do so, then proceed with whatever level of caution this warning suggests to you is wise…)

Now, for fans of the Star Wars prequels, the idea that anyone (Anakin Skywalker aside) could hate Obi-Wan Kenobi is kind of difficult to comprehend. After all, not only was Kenobi one of the most daring, caring and entertainingly glaring Jedi around, he was also – especially as played by Ewan McGregor – ridiculously cool. Hating him would be a little bit like hating The Fonz, Big Bird or Tom Hanks – you can imagine hypothetically wanting to out of envy, but you’d never actually be able to pull it off.

And yet, back in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Luke’s uncle Owen sure did seem to dislike ‘Old Ben’, describing him as a “crazy old man” in a tone that didn’t suggest a whole lot of fondness.

As it turns out, though, Owen might just have had a damn good reason. Y’see:

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‘Star Wars: Poe Dameron’ Comic Book Debuts In April

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Via USAtoday.com:

Other than being the greatest pilot in the galaxy, you don’t really know Poe yet. But that’s going to change this spring.

Oscar Isaac’s Resistance flyboy from Star Wars: The Force Awakens gets his own Marvel Comics series in April with the ongoing Star Wars: Poe Dameron title, written by Charles Soule (Star Wars: Lando) and drawn by Phil Noto (Star Wars: Chewbacca).

Poe’s one of the breakout characters of the biggest movie of all time “so to see people reacting to him so strongly now just feels like we’re hopefully in a great position,” Soule says.

Adds Noto: “I’ve seen people on Twitter and Instagram looking for Poe Dameron in the comics. Now the pressure’s on us to deliver.”

While the Internet has embraced Poe’s bromance with John Boyega’s Finn in the movie, the new comic debuting in April focuses on the lead-up to the opening scene of The Force Awakens, which saw Poe seeking out mysterious traveler Lor San Tekka (Max von Sydow) on the planet Jakku for a key to finding the missing Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill).

The series will dig into Poe’s status as the top X-wing fighter jockey for General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) and leader of a squadron with an important mission. But the evil First Order also has a goal of finding Luke, and a new villain from the organization is introduced as Poe’s chief nemesis.

“Sometimes it can feel like the Star Wars universe is so well trodden and so many stories have already been told,” Soule explains. “But the way the Episode VII galaxy is set up, there are opportunities for new archetypes almost, and the bad guy we’re working with is going to feel fresh and cool.”

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MARVEL’S STAR WARS COMICS

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Via Ign.com:

There’s a scene in Jason Aaron and John Cassaday’s Star Wars comic series where Luke Skywalker crosses paths with Darth Vader for the first time after he blew up the Death Star. Luke is understandably pissed and lets Vader know it: “You killed my father,” he tells him, gripping his ignited lightsaber.

Now, this scene is problematic for multiple reasons — the second issue feels far too soon for Luke to meet Vader, not to mention having Luke meet Vader between A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back saps the intense, emotional energy from their epic Cloud City duel.

But once I read the next line from Vader — “I’ve killed very many fathers. You’ll have to be more specific.” — I threw my head back cackling in delight at the surprising yet all-too-perfect response. Not unlike Emperor Palpatine might do. It was then that I knew the license to make Star Wars comics was in good hands at Marvel.

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Could Star Wars Become The Third Biggest Publisher In Comic Book Stores?

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Via Bleedingcool.com:
I’ve been doing some number crunching, courtesy of those ICV2 sales estimates. And while they are just estimates, and only include North American stores (and there hangs a tale) they do provide some consistency.

So, for the top 300 comic book sales of July (and just single comic books here, not collections), Image Comics, the third biggest publisher in the comic book direct market behind Marvel and DC Comics brought in an estimate total of 700,000 comic book sales, spread amongst 45 titles that made the Top 300.

Now, this doesn’t include twenty-odd titles outside the top 300. Or collected sales. Or digital sales. Or bookstore sales. Or convention sales. Or other available outlets.

In comparison, Star Wars, the line of comics based upon the Lucasfilm property owned by Marvel’s parent company Disney and publisher by Marvel, has been running since the beginning of the year. And their titles brought in an estimated total sale of 620,000 comics, split between Star Wars, Darth Vader, Kanan, Land, Princess Leia, and repeated printings of those titles.

However the average Image Comics sale price is $3.50. While the average Star Wars price is $4.20. Bringing in an estimates $2,450,000 for Image and $2,650,000 for Star Wars.

Now when it comes to trade collections, Image Comics dwarfs Star Wars, in that Marvel’s Star Wars line don’t have actually have any yet. And, as we say, Image Comics dominates bookstores with its collections as well. And while Image Comics has eschewed retailer exclusive variant covers, Marvel’s Star Wars has made a business model of it (one which DC’s Dark Knight is currently emulating).

But right now, under these very exacting parameters, it appears that Star Wars’ line might either be, or about to be, the third biggest publisher of single comics in the direct market. As it stands an extra issue of The Walking Dead here or there would reverse that. And Image have plenty of exciting comics to come. But Marvel has the movie…

But for those looking at Marvel dwarfing the marketshare of DC recently, if it wasn’t for Lucasfilm, they may well be closer to level pegging when it comes to superheroes.

And it’s also worth considering that, for all those sales, Star Wars comics writers Kieron Gillen and Jason Aaron should still do better, financially, from their Image Comics titles.

Marvel’s Star Wars To Sell More than 200,000 Copies in Collected Edition

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Via Comicbook.com:
The first collected edition of Marvel Comics’ Star Wars series will sell between 225,000 and 250,000 copies in its first printing, ComicBook.com has learned exclusively.

That’s about five times the average first volume trade collection of Marvel series, which average between 30,000 and 50,000 sales. That also means that Star Wars is retaining roughly the same number of readers from peridocals to trades, with sales of the first trade translating to roughly 20-25% of the sales of the series’ first issue.

When the series launched, Star Wars #1 sold over a million copies, becoming the top-selling single-issue comic book of the last twenty years. Star Wars also became the first-ever million-selling periodical comic book sold exclusively through direct market channels without the aid of newsstands.

Since January, Marvel Comics has confirmed for us that Star Wars comics have moved more than 5 million units in the direct market.

Of course, the trade paperback will be available outside of the direct market, opening up the best-selling series to the bookstore market for the first time.

“When Star Wars #1 was released at the beginning of the year we were thrilled at the reception and the record-setting sales numbers. Once again, Star Wars continues to skyrocket the Marvel name even higher with the anticipated pre-order print-run between 200K and 250K units for Star Wars Vol 1 TPB,” said David Gabriel, SVP Print, Sales and Marketing. “This is an unheard of number, but given the success that we’ve had with Star Wars since January, including the insurmountable 5MM units across all the Star Wars’ series, second prints and overprints, we don’t see any issue in reaching such a number of printed copies of this highly anticipated collected edition.”

The series, which takes place between the events of Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back and features all of the major characters from the film, launched in January. It is written by Jason Aaron, with artwork by John Cassaday. While Marvel handled the official adaptations of the original Star Wars trilogy and had a successful Star Wars series around the time of their theatrical release, 2015 will be the first time in decades that the publisher has handled the Star Wars license.

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STAR WARS’ WOOKIEE WARRIOR TAKES THE SPOPLIGHT IN CHEWBACCA#1

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STAR WARS’ WOOKIEE WARRIOR TAKES THE SPOPLIGHT IN CHEWBACCA#1
New Star Wars series from Gerry Duggan and Phil Noto gives “Chewie” his due this October

New York, NY—July 15th, 2015— Legendary and relentlessly loyal Wookiee warrior, Chewbacca, has continued to battle the empire in the hopes of restoring freedom to the galaxy. Through unwavering and steadfast devotion to the rebel cause Chewbacca has always stood on the frontline to bring peace to a galaxy far, far away. This October, Chewbacca, along with an unlikely side-kick, proves why he is one of the fiercest warriors among the stars in CHEWBACCA #1 from writer Gerry Duggan and artist Phil Noto.

Known for his big heart, short temper, and booming voice, Duggan plans to get to the core of what makes Chewbacca one of the strongest warriors in the Star Wars universe. Speaking with Marvel.com, Gerry Duggan says, “He’s a hero, plain and simple. He’s a giant-sized underdog. He’s faithful, fierce, and can be playful. At the beginning of the story he’s on a very important mission. One he sets aside to help those in need. By the end of this arc we’ll have met the soul of the Wookiee. We’ll understand what he fears, and we’ll know why he picked up his bowcaster. Yes, this story will be an action-packed thriller, but I think it has a very strong Wookiee heart, too.”

Accompanying Chewbacca in this brand new series is a young and feisty co-star, Zarro, whose home comes under attack from the Empire and Duggan and Noto are excited to show how this unlikely pair take on the ruthless grip of the Empire. “Zarro’s home is under threat, and when others shrink, she stands tall,” says Duggan. “At first glance, she sees Chewie as the extra muscle she needs. The brains attached to those muscles will be a surprise for her….and I think how Chewie and Zarro manage to deal with the threat will be a fun surprise for fans. Both Phil and I are so excited to be collaborating on a Star Wars comic. The term ‘dream project’ is probably overused, but there is simply no other way to describe the gig. If fans have half as much fun as we do, then everybody’s in for a fun ride.”

Don’t call him a fuzz ball. Don’t call him a walking carpet. This is Chewbacca – fierce and loyal warrior of Kashyyyk in a brand new Star Wars series coming from Marvel this October!

Also, be sure to catch up on the blockbuster Marvel series – STAR WARS and DARTH VADER – from the very beginning! Pre-order STAR WARS VOL. 1: SKYWALKER STRIKES and DARTH VADER VOL. 1 on sale later this year!

Chewbaca_1_Olivetti_Variant Chewbacca_1_Cover

LANDO #1 REVIEW

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Via Ign.com:
Marvel’s run of character specific Star Wars tales has proved quite successful thus far, offering unique and inviting insight into a number of favorites from galaxies far, far away. The next such spotlight shines on everyone’s (second) favorite scoundrel, the wide-grinned, silver tongued gambler, Lando Calrissian. His first foray into solo stardom ultimately proves a welcome one, driven by the excellent character work and expansive design come courtesy of Charles Soule and Alex Maleev.
The best thing about this first issue is the sheer breadth of character allowed to our stylish smuggler. Writer Soule shows an immediate understanding of Lando’s various layers, running a full gamut of emotions and motivations over the course of the issue. Balancing the character’s rakish wit with his somewhat duplicitous and self serving nature is no easy feat, yet Soule manages to find the sweet spot more often than not. He gets to be a lover and a cad, a thief and a friend, a mastermind and a pilot—and this is just issue #1. Through it all the character exudes the same easy charm and understated confidence we’ve come to expect, Soule’s dialogue easily readable in the smooth voice of Billy Dee Williams. When paired with Maleev’s spot-on likeness of the character, the overall immersion is quite solid.

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Why Star Wars Comics Are More Essential Than Ever

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Via Metro.co.uk:

There are few franchises more suitable for the transition to the comic book page than Star Wars.
Ever since Marvel released their adaptation of the original film back in 1977 which led to a 107 issue run right through to 1986, comics have been at the forefront of Star Wars literature.
Save for a five-year dry period (known to long time fans as The Dark Times) there have been titles to collect, be it that classic Marvel run, the movie adaptations, annuals both here and in the States and treasuries.
In 1991 Dark Horse took up the vacant license after Marvel turned it down and a golden age of Star Wars comics began, bringing us tales from the distant past (Dawn of the Jedi) the far future (Legacy), one-shots focusing on Artoo and Threepio (The Protocol Offensive, co-written by Anthony ‘C-3PO’ Daniels) and even multi-title crossovers that spanned thousands of years (the Vector storyline).
Fans loved them and bought them in their droves, but the sale of Lucasfilm to Disney back in 2012 meant the writing was on the wall for Dark Horse and Star Wars and it was no surprise when Marvel Comics – also owned by the House of Mouse – regained the license to produce Star Wars comics once more.

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