If you’re still feeling a bit raw from 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker—though, personally, I didn’t find it all that bad—it’s time to gear up for another adventure. Marvel Comics just revealed that they’re turning the last Star Wars installment into a comic book, and it’s arriving over five years after the movie first hit the big screen.
This adaptation is brought to life by Jody Houser, who you might know from Doctor Who and Star Wars: Thrawn, along with artist Will Sliney, famously tied to Star Wars: The Rise of Kylo Ren and Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider. Originally teased back in 2020, this five-issue limited series is a direct take on the 2019 film. Since it’s been a while, Lucasfilm and Marvel spiced things up by including scenes that have not officially been seen before.
As highlighted in Marvel’s announcement, this five-issue series is set to drop on February 26. This follows the launch of the ongoing series Star Wars: Legacy of Vader, debuting February 5. So, fans of Kylo Ren have something to look forward to, even if it doesn’t mean a return of Adam Driver’s onscreen character.
What really catches the eye in the press release is a comment from editor Mark Paniccia. He notes that die-hard followers of the sequels are clamoring for more of the characters from 2015’s The Force Awakens: “There’s renewed interest in these characters, especially Kylo Ren, Darth Vader’s bloodline.” While bringing back Ben Solo in a post-Rise of Skywalker world could be complicated, Disney and Lucasfilm are clearly taking note. There’s buzz that Daisy Ridley’s Rey might be key to the future of Star Wars films, with at least one project centering on her character officially in the works.
On a related note, you can feast your eyes on the stunning cover for issue #1, featuring Kylo Ren and his Knights, crafted by Phil Noto. And don’t miss the beautiful variant by Brian Stelfreeze, which highlights the heroes of the Resistance.
We’ve probably all seen the movie and know the plot inside out, but here’s how Marvel’s hyping it ahead of the February launch: “As the Resistance battles against the First Order’s might, Poe Dameron stumbles upon an unimaginable threat looming ahead. With the fate of the galaxy teetering on the brink, Rey embarks on a quest for the hidden Sith hideout, setting her on a direct collision with Kylo Ren! Time is of the essence—will our heroes manage to thwart the FINAL ORDER’s devastation?”
After years of heated debates over the Star Wars sequels, it’s unlikely that this late-coming adaptation will shift opinions much. However, leaving the comic book trilogy incomplete was always an odd choice. And let’s face it, getting an official peek at deleted scenes is a thrill for us die-hard fans (and yes, I’m one of those fans). Fingers crossed they left in that bizarre giant baby with a spider-alien on its head!
