Highlights of Dark Horse’s Star Wars Comics chat with Corinna Bechko, Gabriel Hardman, & Brian Wood

Star Wars #2On Friday afternoon, Dark Horse hosted a Twitter chat with the writers of two of their most recent Star Wars comics series, Brian Wood of the top-selling new Star Wars ongoing series, and the team of Corinna Bechko and Gabriel Hardman of the new Star Wars: Legacy (Volume 2) series.

With Brian Wood’s series that has been flying off the shelves since its premiere in January (the 4th printing of Issue #1 comes out on April 17, while Issue #4 comes out April 10), there were a lot of questions about the focus on Leia. Bechko and Hardman discussed Legacy’s new protagonist, Ania Solo, and gave a few hints for what’s in store for the series, which had its first issue on March 20. I’ve got the highlights of the conversation at #SWComicsChat below, and even have a handful of questions of my own.

Continue reading “Highlights of Dark Horse’s Star Wars Comics chat with Corinna Bechko, Gabriel Hardman, & Brian Wood”

Could Dark Horse rescue 1313 and First Assault?

1313

Wednesday, it was announced that Disney is closing down LucasArts, the video game division of Lucasfilm. This news did not come as a surprise to me, nor likely to many who follow the storied company closely. In the process, an estimated 150 employees have been laid off, including friends and former colleagues of mine. To they who worked very hard everyday to bring interactive Star Wars entertainment to the fans, we wish the best of luck.

1stassaultLike every aspect of Star Wars fandom, the pros and cons of this move will be hotly discussed and contested among fans, and perhaps I will join you when the wound has healed somewhat.

Meanwhile, for those who lament that they will never see cancelled LucasArts projects Star Wars: 1313 and Star Wars: First Assault, might I suggest that you may one day have a rescuer in Dark Horse Comics?

Continue reading “Could Dark Horse rescue 1313 and First Assault?”

Twitter chat with Star Wars comics writers Brian Wood, Gabriel Hardman and Corinna Bechko on Friday

The new LegacyJoin several of Dark Horse Comics’ writers for a live twitter chat, on Friday, April 5th at 4 PM ET / 1 PM PT.

Brian Wood (@brianwood), writer of the new ongoing Star Wars series, and the team of Corinna Bechko (@corinnabechko) and Gabriel Hardman (@gabrielhardman), of the new Legacy series featuring Ania Solo, will be on hand to chat with comics fans using hashtag #SWComicsChat. Plus Dark Horse will be giving away some cool swag to a few lucky participants!

Stradley reveals the origins of Legacy’s return

Legacy #2Comic Book Resources interviews Dark Horse’s Randy Stradley about their Star Wars line, Brian Woods’ eponymous series and the return of Legacy.

He hints that Wedge will be getting more facetime in the Woods’ series, and how the upcoming Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin came about…

And of course, there’s Legacy, which apparently owes it’s return to the retailers asking for more. Stradley talks about why it’s going in a different direction than the original:

For one thing, I felt too many direct comparisons between creative teams would dilute fan enthusiasm for the series. I also felt that by the end of his arc, Cade Skywalker had become too involved with the movers and shakers within the galaxy. I couldn’t see where to take him. That’s when it struck me there had been no Solos in “Legacy.” What were the Solo descendents doing 140 years after “A New Hope?”

There’s more, of course, on Dawn of the Jedi and Dark Times: Fire Carrier… Plus Dark Horse still has “a huge announcement coming up in the next few weeks.”

Review roundup: Brian Wood’s Star Wars #1

SW-1-excerptIt’s been only a little more than a week since the first issue of Brian Wood’s Star Wars series came and flew off the shelves. With the second printing of issue #1 expected in stores on February 6, and issue #2 (introducing Boba Fett) coming out on February 13, let’s see what people are thinking about the start of the series promoted as “This is Star Wars as you remember it . . . and as you have never seen it before” – are they fussing or are they loving it?

Really, it seems to boil down to whether you like Wood’s style or not. Continue reading “Review roundup: Brian Wood’s Star Wars #1″

Star Wars #1 sells out, getting second printing

Star Wars #1 (Dark Horse)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.

What’s the fuss with Star Wars #1?

Hastings exclusive edition of Star Wars #1So 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?

Continue reading “What’s the fuss with Star Wars #1?”

Out this week: Brian Wood’s Star Wars #1

Star Wars #1 (Dark Horse)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.