Dark Horse and Lucasfilm have announced the first two Star Wars comics projects coming from Dark Horse under the new licensing deal struck between the two companies late last year.
While Marvel continues with their line of comics aimed at older audiences, Dark Horse has picked up the license for “all-ages comics and graphic novels in partnership with Lucasfilm.” It’s a license that previously was held by IDW.
The new comics include Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories, an anthology featuring stories set in every era of the Star Wars timeline, and Star Wars: Tales from the Rancor Pit, a collection of “frighteningly fun” stories for Halloween.
Hyperspace Stories is billed as a 12-issue miniseries and will include stories by Cecil Castellucci, Michael Moreci and Amanda Deibert. Deibert teams with artist Lucas Marangon in the first issue for a story set during the Clone Wars, featuring Senator Padmé Amidala, General Grievous, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. It’ll feature a variant cover by Miguel Valderrama:
“We are thrilled to be working with Dark Horse — and with Cecil, Amanda, and Michael — on Hyperspace Stories,” said Lucasfilm Publishing’s Creative Director Michael Siglain to StarWars.com. “Fans of all ages will be treated to action-packed, exciting, and emotional stories that just may be more connected than they seem.”
Also coming up is Star Wars: Tales from the Rancor Pit, which continues the tradition the Vader’s Castle series that IDW would publish around Halloween. Cavan Scott is writing the stories for it as well, and in this year’s issue he’ll work with artists Nick Brokenshire, Juan Samu, Rafael Pérez and Andy Duggan.
Set amid a backdrop of a dark and stormy night on Tatooine in the dungeon of Jabba the Hutt, the creepy offering includes clanking droid ghosts, the chilling wampa caves of Hoth and a monster hunt with Saber-For-Hire Ty Yorrick.
Here’s the not final cover:
Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories #1 is due out Aug. 10, while Star Wars: Tales from the Rancor Pit is due out Oct. 19.