Club Jade

In brief: Ugh, Boba Fett. Enjoy it, I guess.

The new Star Wars comic sure looks like a hit: It’s sold out and Dark Horse is already going back to press for a second printing. Editor Randy Stradley says the second printing will have a slightly different cover design:

The second printing cover is the Alex Ross painting with no text at all. The logos, price, etc., will all be on the back cover.

There may be some copies still in stores with light traffic, but if you’re in a hurry to read a copy or don’t have it on your pull list, try digital.

So when Dark Horse first announced that Brian Wood would be starting a new ongoing series, simply titled Star Wars, back at Comic Con last July, and mentioned that Leia would be piloting an X-wing fighter, the two big fusses that popped up were about fitting continuity (isn’t it always?) and Leia in a role we hadn’t seen her in very often: fighter pilot. (Never mind that she’s been piloting starfighters since Splinter of the Mind’s Eye.)

Now that the first issue of the series is out for us all to enjoy, what’s all the hubbub?

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There’s only one thing out this week, but it’s a doozy. Head over to your favorite comic shop Wednesday to pick up Star Wars #1, the only a tad controversial (ha) new series set in the original trilogy era.

There are at least two two variant covers, one for the ubiquitous chain GameStop and another available at the chain Hastings, which seems to be nonexistent on either of the coasts. Your day has come, people of the Central and Mountain time zones!

The printed version will also contain a “a coupon for a free digital copy,” per Randy Stradley.

As for books, we have a handful of paperbacks coming up: The reprint of Troy Denning’s Fate of the Jedi: Apocalypse coming on January 29 and Michael Reaves and Maya Kaathryn Bohnoff’s The Last Jedi on February 26.

Dawn of the Jedi. Del Rey has posted a blurb for Tim Lebbon’s Into the Void, the first novel tie-in to the comic series. It reveals the novel’s protagonist, Je’daii Lanoree Brock. Always nice to see another female lead!

Previews. Jedi News has first looks from Dark Horse at standalone Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin, the Lost Tribe of the Sith: Spiral trade and what looks to be the first Legacy omnibus.

Comics. Brian Wood’s very upcoming Star Wars comics, Scoundrels, and The Clone Wars got some love from USA Today this weekend, including another cover and some extra preview material for the comic.

Interviews. Fangirl Blog continues their talk with Troy Denning. He hints a bit about Crucible, revealing that it’s a “Han-driven” book.

Reviews. James is underwhelmed by Purge: The Tyrant’s Fist #2.

CBR has Dark Horse’s March solicitations, which gives us a few more details on the new Legacy, which it gives a storyline title of ‘Prisoner of the Floating World.’. Here’s the blurb:

Despite her famous heritage, Ania Solo is just a girl trying to make her way in a galaxy gone bad. But it all gets worse when she comes into possession of a lightsaber and an Imperial communications droid—and discovers she has been targeted for death!

The solicitation text also makes it clear that Ania is “Han and Leia’s great-great granddaughter,” as opposed to just ‘great-granddaughter’ in the original announcement. It also says this series take place “in the aftermath of War,” the last storyline of the old Legacy series.

And here’s the blurb for Brian Wood’s Star Wars #3:

Princess Leia formed a secret squadron of stealth X-wings to help expose a spy within the Rebel ranks. But taking command puts her at odds with Luke Skywalker at a time they need solidarity more than ever—especially when the spy has alerted the Empire to Han Solo’s latest venture!

There are a few other Star Wars comics at the link, including Dark Times: Fire Carrier #2, Dawn of the Jedi: Prisoner of Bogan #5 and a Wild Space Omnibus.

Dark Horse Comics announced their stories for their two Free Comic Book Day releases. The publisher will continue their tradition of having flip covers, but will have three different stories in each comic book.

In their all-ages book, the Star Wars story by Brian Wood and stars both Darth Vader and Boba Fett. Also in that book will be a story about Mai from Avatar: The Last Airbender, and a peek into the upcoming series, Captain Midnight, about the search for a superhero gone missing.

In the other comic, we get a trio of stories: R.I.P.D. (by Jeremy Barlow), Mass Effect and a preview of the police-state world of The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys. The best part? They’re free! The worst part? Having to wait until Free Comic Book Day 2013, which is Saturday, May 4.

Nerdist has an exclusive first look at Brian Wood’s Star Wars comic, which launches next month. It also features an interview with Wood, who has a lot of nice things to say about Celebration.

When I started the job, I had this idea that Star Wars fans would be really hardcore and nitpicky and, to be frank, ready to challenge my work. Then I went to Star Wars Celebration, this convention, and I had one of the most positive experiences of my professional life. Everyone was super nice, very receptive to what I’m doing, and I felt like I belonged in a way that comic book conventions don’t. I came home from that show determined to write 10x on this title.

Hardcore? Nitpicky? Just stay away from the message boards. And, um, certain typos.

Release dates. Troy Denning’s Crucible has appeared in the Random House catalog with a date of July 9 – last we heard, it was the 2nd. But remember, we’re far enough out that it may still change again.

Comics, currently. Brian Wood talks about his Star Wars comic with Westfield Comics. (You can take a look at the cover for issue #2 at Newsarama.) And CBR has a look at Doug Wheatley’s cover for Dark Times: Fire Carrier.

Interviews. Fangirl talks to Drew Karpyshyn, while the latest installment of Jedi Journals has Del Rey’s Erich Schoeneweiss – recorded before the Episode VII announcement.

Comics, history. CBR’s Comic Book Legends Revealed looks at the rumor that George Lucas was not so pleased with Jaxxon the giant green rabbit, among other Marvel hearsay.

The blogside. If wacky old Marvel isn’t crazy enough for you, Tosche Station’s Nanci has continued her Jedi Prince retrospective with Zorba the Hutt’s Revenge, Mission from Mount Yoda, and Queen of the Empire.

James, that scoundrel, sent in four videos from the panel yesterday, as well as new photos (starting here.) At this panel, they announced two new books and talked about several new comics, including Brian Woods’ Star Wars. Part 1, above, is the introductions and Dark Horse announcements

Then, Del Rey…

Their announcements…

And the longest bit, the question and answer session: