Have you seen Star Wars? I won’t ask you if you read comics, because, well, you’re here—but do you read Star Wars comics? If not, you’ve been missing series that are exactly what you love about comics—clever dialogue, attractive art, compelling characters, and fantastical adventures.
In my nonscientific observation of Star Wars comics readers over the years, I’ve found that more are Star Wars fans who seek out the comics and less are comics readers who include Star Wars on their monthly pull list. This has always confounded me, because whether you’re a card-carrying member of the Wednesday crowd or an occasional comics reader combing the racks for a good read, Star Wars comics have what you’re looking for. Superheroes or sci-fi, fantasy or just plain action, the genre-entertainment juice that keeps all us fans going pumps through the pages of Star Wars comics.
Don’t believe me? Case in point: Star Wars villains. The old adage goes that you can’t have a great hero without even better villains—it’s true for Batman, it’s true for Harry Potter, and, whoa, is it ever true for Star Wars.
Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith, the Emperor’s iron fist, the galaxy’s blackest knight, the Rebellion’s greatest fear. Darth Vader and the Ghost Prison, issue #3 of which is out this month, takes this masterfully complex and completely terrifying individual on an intense journey through the secrets of his own past and into a ruthless battle against terrorists set on toppling the newly formed Galactic Empire.
Then there’s Darth Maul. This guy was seriously bad even before he was chopped in half. Now he’s back this month in Darth Maul: Death Sentence #1. With spiky robot legs. And the same horns. And teeth. Basically, when Jedi have nightmares, they see Darth Maul. This story picks up where the TV series The Clone Wars leaves off, but—just like with all of the Star Wars comics—that doesn’t mean you can’t dive right into this issue and be swept away by the thrills and mayhem. So mean, so deadly—you don’t need to ask which side Darth Maul is on, because whatever it is, it’s not yours.
Or how about an entire world of villains? Next month, Lost Tribe of the Sith: Spiral #1 takes you to a planet ruled by Sith who were stranded there generations ago—and believe it, this world ain’t big enough for all of them. When the worse and the worst go toe to toe, the Sith vs. Sith action will throw off enough sparks to see the fighting from orbit. Following the Lost Tribe of the Sith e-stories that have been downloaded millions of times, this is epic. This is vengeance, and betrayal, and lust for power, and one heck of a good read.
Every Star Wars series starts at the beginning, so any new reader can pick it up. It’s a big galaxy out there, but we won’t let you get lost. Instead, you’ll find the kind of heroes that inspire, the kind of villains that give you chills, and the kind of great comics you’re always looking for.
Dave Marshall
Editor