MARVEL CELEBRATES “STAR WARS” #1 WITH COMIC STORE LAUNCH PARTIES

Via Comicbookresources.com:

Marvel has announced via a press release that comic book stores will have the option to throw official launch parties with exclusive items to celebrate the release of the all-new “Star Wars” #1. The launch parties will take place at participating local comic shops when the debut issue arrives on January 14, 2015.

As stated in the release, every retailer that enlists will receive a “Star Wars” Party Kit from Marvel, containing exclusive promotional materials including exclusive variants, promotional buttons, cake toppers and more. The list provided in the release includes;

Star Wars #1 Invitational Postcards
Star Wars #1 Promotional Pins
Star Wars #1 Skottie Young Lithographs
Star Wars #1 John Tyler Christopher Sketch Party Variant
Retailers wishing to participate have until December 8 to opt-in and secure their promo items and exclusives. More information will be made available to comic shops via the Marvel Mailer.

“Star Wars” #1 marks the return of the franchise to Marvel Comics after almost twenty years; the publisher’s last “Star Wars” comic was released in 1986. The new “Star Wars” title will be written by Jason Aaron and feature art by John Cassaday. In addition to the exclusive party variant, the issue will feature alternate covers by Alex Ross, Joe Quesada, Sara Pichelli, Bob McLeod and Skottie Young.

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DARTH VADER #1 ALEX ROSS VARIANT COVER

Via Starwars.com:

StarWars.com is excited to reveal Alex Ross’ stunning, fully-painted variant cover to Marvel’s Star Wars: Darth Vader #1. Coming in 2015 from writer Kieron Gillen and artist Salvador Larroca, the series will take place after the events of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, and star the saga’s most iconic villain.

Also revealed here for the first time is the cover to Star Wars: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus Vol. 2, featuring a huge collection of Marvel’s classic  Star Warscomics.

 

 

STAR WARS #1 PARTY VARIANT

Via Starwars.com:

This January, the iconic Star Wars franchise returns to the House of Ideas in grand fashion with the first can’t-miss ongoing series kicking off in Star Wars #1! Today, Marvel Entertainment and Lucasfilm are extremely proud to unveil artist John Tyler Christopher’s Star Wars #1 Party Variant — featuring the return of Jaxxon! Only available at Star Wars #1 Launch Parties, don’t miss your chance to get your hands on this one-of-a-kind variant cover to one of the biggest issues of the year!

“We couldn’t be happier to have Star Wars comics back at Marvel,” says Marvel SVP Sales & Marketing David Gabriel. “Star Wars has always been an important part of Marvel’s history and we knew we wanted to honor that legacy with a callback to the original Marvel Comics Star Wars series. We think old and new fans alike will be just as excited as we are to see Jaxxon, even if it’s only for this fun variant cover.”

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January 2015 Marvel Comics Soliciations

Via Comicbook.com:

THE GREATEST SPACE ADVENTURE OF ALL TIME RETURNS TO MARVEL!

Luke Skywalker and the ragtag band of rebels fighting against the Galactic Empire are fresh off their biggest victory yet—the destruction of the massive battle station known as the Death Star. But the Empire’s not toppled yet! Join Luke along with Princess Leia, smugglers Han Solo and Chewbacca, droids C-3PO and R2-D2 and the rest of the Rebel Alliance as they strike out for freedom against the evil forces of Darth Vader and his master, the Emperor. Written by Jason Aaron (Original Sin, Thor: God of Thunder) and with art by John Cassaday (Astonishing X-Men, Uncanny Avengers), this is the Star Wars saga as only Marvel Comics could make it!

Alex Ross cover for Marvel’s ‘Star Wars #1’

Via Entertainment Weekly:

Marvel published an ongoing Star Wars comic book for nearly a decade. The first issue went on sale in April 1977, and the series lasted until 1986, a time when it totally made sense for Lando Calrissian to wear whatever he’s wearing in this picture. In 2015, the Star Wars universe returns to Marvel, with the company launching a new ongoing Star Wars series in January 2015. Written by Jason Aaron and drawn by John Cassaday, the series focuses on the original-trilogy gang of Han, Luke, and Leia.
To mark the occasion, Marvel asked photorealist comics illustrator Alex Ross to design an homage to Howard Chaykin’s iconic original cover of Star Wars #1. EW is excited to share this Alex Ross variant cover. Check it out!

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Marvel ‘Star Wars’ Comic Book Covers

Via Mtvnews.com:

Marvel Comics isn’t launching their entirely new series based on the classic “Star Wars” movies until January, but we’ve got your exclusive first look at artist Skottie Young’s amazing interlocking covers for the first three issues of the series right here, right now.

For Young, getting the chance to draw “Star Wars” was a dream come true.

“Like most people my age, I spent a good part of my childhood playing with ‘Star Wars’ toys for hours on end,” Young said via statement from Marvel. “I cried like a baby when I realized I left my wampa figure on the radiator and his leg melted half off.

“Flash forward years later and I get to be a little (pun absolutely intended) part of the ‘Star Wars’ universe by creating my take on these covers. It’s surreal. Also, I’ve shared that wampa story before and fans actually bring me wampa figures to cons. THIS IS MY LIFE!”

For those not up to speed on the new comics, they’ll be set shortly after the destruction of the first Death Star in “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.” All three books are being coordinated with Lucasfilm to make sure they line up with both the original films and whatever is being planned for “Episode VII,” “VIII” and beyond.

The three books, from left to right are:

– “Princess Leia #1,” kicking off a five-issue miniseries in March, 2015 by writer Mark Waid and artist Terry Dodson.

– “Star Wars #1,” launching in January, 2015 from writer Jason Aaron and artist John Cassaday.

– And “Darth Vader #1,” following close behind in February, 2015 by Kieron Gillen with art by Salvador Larroca

We’d also like to formally lodge two requests with Marvel: 1) please make “Princess Leia” an ongoing series, and 2) let Skottie Young draw the rest of it because other than Carrie Fisher that’s the best Princess Leia we’ve ever seen.

Joe Quesada’s Variant Cover to Star Wars #1

Via Starwars.com:

Lucasfilm and Marvel Entertainment are extremely proud to officially unveil Marvel CCO Joe Quesada’s jaw-dropping wraparound variant cover to Star Wars #1, debuting in January 2015! The heroes of the Rebel Alliance prepare for battle against Darth Vader and the forces of the Empire — all rendered in Quesada’s signature style.

“I was asked to give a quote about this cover and to tell fans about the first time I saw Star Wars or how it completely changed my life, but it’s a story I’m sure isn’t all that interesting when compared to the countless others that have been told, much more eloquently, by so many before me,” said Quesada. “While each of us has had our unique moments of discovery and love affair with the property there’s nothing that I think I could say or add that hasn’t been said before and truthfully it really isn’t all that important because It’s that love for Star Wars that binds all of us who share those unique moments like the Force itself. That’s why when I was offered the opportunity to do this cover I was both thrilled beyond belief and as nervous as I was when I did my very first professional work over twenty years ago. To have the opportunity to illustrate the classic cast members in one piece has been by far one of the highlights of my career as an artist. I can only hope that it turned out okay and that maybe, just maybe, I get the chance to do it again someday.”

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SDCC 2014: INSIDE MARVEL’S NEW STAR WARS COMICS

Via StarWars.com:

Marvel dropped a thermal detonator of an announcement at today’s Cup o’ Joe panel, revealing three new Star Wars comics helmed by all-star creative teams:Star Wars, an ongoing series by Jason Aaron and John Cassaday (coming January 2015); Star Wars: Darth Vader, an ongoing series by Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larroca (coming February 2015); and Star Wars: Princess Leia, a five-issue miniseries by Mark Waid and Terry Dodson (coming March 2015). All canonical within the Star Wars universe, each book will pick up where Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope left off, filling in important, previously unexplored gaps for some of the saga’s most iconic characters. To put it simply, this is very big news.

StarWars.com spoke with Aaron, Gillen, and Waid, click here or below for the full article

Star_Wars_1_Cassaday_cov_4a2af552

Marvel announces first ‘Star Wars’ release for January 2015

As many ‘Star Wars’ fans know, there have been many changes to the franchise since Disney bought it back in 2012. One of those changes was the announcement earlier this year that Marvel would take over the licensing for ‘Star Wars’ comics. Dark Horse Comics has had the license and has published superb content since 1991. Older fans will remember that Marvel actually held the initial license for the comics from 1977 to 1986. Many fans view this as ‘Star Wars’ returning to its original owner, at least as far as comics are concerned.

Today, Marvel announced their very first project in their return to ‘Star Wars’ with an announcement on the official ‘Star Wars’ website, titled ‘Star Wars: The Original Marvel Years.’ Perhaps jumping on the success of the Dark Horse Comics ‘omnibus’ series, Marvel flaunts the release of their own oversized collection. They will be “re-presenting those original adventures in its over-sized Omnibus format.” The book will contain issues #1-44, plus Annual #1, of the original ‘Star Wars’ run with Marvel. Axel Alonso, Marvel editor in chief, said the following: “I am extremely proud to present these original Star Wars stories, told as only Marvel can, in the first in a massive and glorious Omnibus series.”

 

marvelomnibus

‘Star Wars: The Original Marvel Years’ via StarWars.com

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