Marvel Comics famously began building upon the Star Wars universe shortly after the release of the first film. That tradition continued in 2015 with a new line that filled in the gaps of the original trilogy. Now, the publisher is breaking new ground with a series establishing the official history following Return of the Jedi.
Written by Alex Segura with art by Phil Noto, Star Wars #1 opens in a time of turmoil. The Empire has been weakened, but what remains continues to tax the burgeoning New Republic. As Luke Skywalker helps hunt the last of the Emperor’s army, Princess Leia and Mon Mothma try to secure new diplomatic alliances.
The main cover and first five pages may be viewed below.
New Star Wars series a fresh start for franchise
For the better part of a decade, the end of Return of the Jedi was a “happily ever after.” That changed with the publication of the novel Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn. This book kicked off the Expanded Universe, continuing the adventures of the heroes from the original trilogy. Until the release of the sequel trilogy, the novels, comics, games, and other media set in the EU (later called Star Wars Legends) were considered the official future of the franchise.
For the most part, Marvel’s modern comics have done little to add on to the mythology of Star Wars. While introducing a number of popular characters like Doctor Aphra, they have been limited by the continuity of the original trilogy. With a new comic and decades to play with, the possibilities are far more open. Even so, fans of the Legends line should not hold out hope of fan favorites like Mara Jade being introduced into the modern canon.
Star Wars #1 arrives in comic shops everywhere on May 7, 2025.
