Episode #394 -- The Saga Begins

Fittingly time, Marvel's The Phantom Menace Anniversary Special #1 (it's a one-shot) is out this week just ahead of Star Wars Day. It provides a satisfying look at the 1999 film, showing us key parts of the story that were only alluded to in the movie. Greg Pak, Will Sliney, Guru e-FX and VC's Joe Caramagna deliver a solidly entertaining -- and informative -- issue.Comics Discussed This Week:The Phantom Menace Anniversary Special #1 (10:45)Star Wars Comics New to Marvel Unlimited This Week:Thrawn Alliances #1 (of 4)News: Star Wars: Vader's Castle the Deluxe Library Collection has been pushed back a week to Oct. 1 from Sept. 24. It collects Tales From Vader's Castle, Return to Vader's Castle, Shadow of Vader's Castle, Ghosts of Vader's Castle and 2019's FCBD Issue story "Droid Hunters."In his latest newsletter (if you haven't yet subscribed, you should -- https://mailchi.mp/f0a5b413051c/charlessoule), Charles Soule provides an intriguing update on his work on Star Wars' The High Republic.The June Pride variants are starting to filter out into the world. Check the Facebook page or Twitter feed to see them as they're released.Free Comic Book Day is May 4. Marvel will have Star Wars/Darth Vader #1 and Dark Horse Young Jedi Adventures.Matt joined the This Is Lit podcast to talk about Star Wars comics. You can listen (and subscribe) here.Upcoming Star Wars comics, graphic novels and omnibuses:May 4 _ Young Jedi Adventures (FCBD), Star Wars #1 (FCBD)May 8 _ Darth Vader #46,  The High Republic Phase III #7May 15 _ Saber for Hire #2 (of 4), Mace Windu #4 (of 4) May 21 _ Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Old Republic, Vol. 1 NEW PRINTING (Collects Knights of the Old Republic 1-18 and material from Kings of the Old Republic/Rebellion 0) May 22 _ Star Wars #46May 29 _ Darth Maul: Black, White & Red #2 (of 4), Jango Fett #3 (of 4), The High Republic Adventures Phase III #6June 5 _ Star Wars #47, The High Republic Phase III #8, Darth Maul: Black, White & Red #1 (2nd Printing)
June 11 _ Star Wars Legends: The New Republic Omnibus, Vol. 2 (Collects Star Wars: The Jabba Tape; Heir to the Empire 1-6, Dark Force Rising 1-6, The Last Command 1-6. Dark Empire 1-6, Dark Empire II 1-6), Empire's End 1-2, Boba Fett -- Twin Engines of Destruction, Bounty on Bar-Kooda, When the Fat Lady Swings, Murder Most Foul and Agent of Doom, Star Wars Handbook 3 and material from Star Wars Tales 1, 3-5, 10, 14, 20 and 22); Obi-Wan Kenobi Adaptation TPB (Collects 1-6); Hyperspace Stories Vol. 3 TPB "Light and Shadow" (Collects 9-12); The High Republic Phase III TPB, Vol. 1 (Collects 1-4, Star Wars: Revelations One-Shot The High Republic Story); Star Wars Legends: The Rebellion, Vol. 2 Omnibus (Collects Star Wars: River of Chaos (1995) 1-4; Star Wars: Empire (2002) 28-40; Star Wars: Rebellion (2006) 1-16; Star Wars: Boba Fett – Overkill (2006) 1; Star Wars: Boba Fett (1997) 1/2; Star Wars: Splinter of the Mind’s Eye (1995) 1-4; material from Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic/Rebellion (2006) 0; Star Wars Tales (1999) 3, 15, 17, 21)June 12 _ Darth Vader #47June 19 _ Saber for Hire #3 (of 4), Jango Fett #4 (of 4)June 26 _ Darth Maul: Black, White & Red #3 (of 4), The High Republic Adventures Phase III #7
July 3 _ Inquisitors #1 (of 4)July 10 _ Ahsoka #1 (of 8)July 16 _ Star Wars Legends: The Thrawn Trilogy TPBJuly 17 _ The High Republic Adventures Phase III #8, Star Wars #48July 23 _ Star Wars Legends: Tales of the Jedi omnibus. (Collects Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi - Force Storm 1-5, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi - Prisoner of Bogan 1-5, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi - Force War 1-5, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi 0, Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi - The Golden Age of the Sith 0-5, Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi - The Fall of the Sith Empire 1-5, Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi 1-5, Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi - The Freedon Nadd Uprising 1-2, Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi - Dark Lords of the Sith 1-6, Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi - The Sith War 1-6, Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi - Redemption 1-5, material from Star Wars Tales 23 and Dark Horse Comics 7-9)July 24 _ Saber for Hire #4 (of 4), Darth Vader #48July 30 _ Star Wars Modern Era Epic Collection: Skywalker Strikes (Collects Star Wars (2015) 1-14, 1 Director's Cut, Vader Down 1, Darth Vader 13-15)
July 31 _ Darth Maul: Black, White and Red #4 (of 4)
Aug. 14 _ The High Republic Adventures Phase III #9
Aug. 20 _ Mace Windu TPB (Collects 1-4, Story from Revelations (2023)

Aug. 21 _ The High Republic Adventures — Echoes of Fear #1 (of 4)
Aug. 27 _ The High Republic Adventures Phase III Vol. 1 TPB (Collects 1-5)
Aug. 28 _ The High Republic Adventures Phase III — Crash and Burn One-Shot
Sept. 3 _ Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Rebellion Vol. 6, Star Wars, Vol. 8 “The Sith and the Skywalker” TPB (Collects 42-45, material from Revelations (2023) #1 and Free Comic Book Day 2024: Star Wars)Sept. 10 _ Darth Vader, Vol. 9 “Rise of the Schism Imperial” TPB (Collects 42-45, The Phantom Menace 25th Anniversary Special and material from Revelations (2023) #1)Sept. 17 _ Star Wars: Thrawn Alliances TPB (Collects 1-4)Oct. 1 _ Star Wars: Vader's Castle The Deluxe Library Collection (Collects Tales From Vader's Castle, Return to Vader's Castle, Shadow of Vader's Castle, Ghosts of Vader's Castle and 2019 FCBD Issue story "Droid Hunters")Oct. 29 _ Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The New Republic, Vol. 8Nov. 12 _ Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Original Marvel Years — Droids & Ewoks; Star Wars: The High Republic Phase II — Quest of the Jedi OmnibusNov. 19 _ The High Republic Phase III Vol. 2, “The Hunted” TPB (Collects 5-8, Star Wars: The Acolyte #1)Nov. 26 _ Star Wars: Darth Vader Modern Era Epic Collection: Shadows and Secrets (Collects 1-12, Director’s Cut 1, Darth Vader Annual 1); Saber for Hire TPB (Collects 1-4)Dec. 3 _ Darth Vader: Black, White  Red TPB (Collects 1-4), Star Wars Vol. 9 TPB (Collects 46-50)Dec. 10 _ Star Wars Legends: The Empire Omnibus, Vol. 3 (Collects Jabba the Hutt - The Gaar Suppoon Hit 1, Jabba the Hutt - The Hunger of Princess Nampi 1,Jabba the Hutt - The Dynasty Trap 1, Jabba the Hutt - Betrayal1, Free Comic Book Day 2012: Star Wars, Boba Fett - Enemy of the Empire 1-4, Agent of the Empire - Iron Eclipse 1-5, Agent of the Empire - Hard Targets 1-5, The Force Unleashed,  The Force Unleashed II, Star Wars: Blood Ties 1-4, Star Wars: Blood Ties - Boba Fett Is Dead 1-4, Star Wars: Empire 1-4; material from Star Wars Tales 7, 11, 15-16, 18-20; A Decade of Dark Horse 2)Dec. 17 _ Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Empire, Vol. 2 New Printing (Collects Dark Times 6-17, Dark Times - Blue Harvest 0 and Out of the Wilderness 1-5)Dec. 31 _ Darth Vader (Vol. 3) TPB (Collects 46-50, Free Comic Book Day 2024: Star Wars #1 Darth Vader Story)
Jan. 21 _ The High Republic Adventures Phase III TPB Vol. 2 (Collects 6-10); Jango Fett TPB (Collects 1-4, Revelations (2023) story)Jan. 29 _ Hyperspace Stories: Qui-Gon original graphic novel----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Star Wars Splash Page is a weekly podcast dedicated solely to contemporary Star Wars comics published by Marvel, Dark Horse and previously IDW, featuring views about the current week's comics, interviews with the writers, artists, colorists, letterers and editors who create them, as well as the latest details on publishing schedules, upcoming series and mini-series, so that you, the listener have more detail and context about the comics that are a vital part of Star Wars canon, lore and legends.