Episode #354 -- You Want it Darker

Star Wars Splash Page

After months of hype, the Dark Droids crossover event kicks off with a remarkly well-paced and genuinely disturbing (it's a compliment) Dark Droids #1 by Charle Soule, Luke Ross, Alex Sinclair and VC's Travis Lanham. It's a robust start to the five-month event.
Hyperspace Stories #7 by Michael Moreci, Andrea Mutti, Gigi Baldassini, Vallerio Alloro and Comicraft's Tyler Smith and Jimmy Betancourt features the series' totem and gives readers a look at a Boba Fett in the process of maturing.
Yoda #10 concludes the maxi-series in an exhilarating conclusion that offers up a few cross-media surprises (TV and books!) in a coda by Cavan Scott, Ibraim Roberson, Neeraj Menon and VC's Joe Caramagna for the long-lived Jedi master who's borne a heavy burden since enabling the Galactic Republic's descent into dictatorship and the destruction of the order he was so dedicated to.
Comics Discussed This Week:

• Hyperspace Stories #7 (08:23))
• Dark Droids #1 (18:08)
• Yoda #10 (41:17)

Star Wars Comics New to Marvel Unlimited This Week:

• Darth Vader: Black, White & Red #1 (of 4)

News:

• New Printings for Star Wars Legends Epic Collections Rise of the Sith (Vol. 1), The Empire (Vol. 1), The New Republic (Vol. 1) and The Old Republic (Vol. 1) are due in 2024
• The third and final TPB of Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories from Dark Horse Comics will collect issues 9-12 and is due out, per the publisher, on April 17. It, like volumes one and two, will be in the normal comic-book sized trim.
  Upcoming Star Wars comics, graphic novels and omnibuses:
  Aug. 9 _ Star Wars #37, Max Rebo #1
  Aug. 16 _ Darth Vader #37, The Mandalorian Season 2 #1 (2nd Printing), Dark Droids #1 (2nd Printing)
  Aug. 22 _ The High Republic Phase II, Vol. 2, "Battle for the Force" TPB (Collects 6-10)
  Aug. 23 _ Doctor Aphra #35
  Aug. 29 _ Doctor Aphra Omnibus, Vol. 2 (Collects Doctor Aphra, Vol. 2, 1-25); The High Republic Adventures -- The Complete Phase One (Collects 1-13, Galactic Bake-Off one-shot and Free Comic Book Day 2021 issues published by IDW, along with 2023's Free Comic Book Day issue)
  Aug. 30 _ Bounty Hunters #37, The Mandalorian Season 2 #3, Hyperspace Stories #8 (of 12)
  Sept. 5 _ The High Republic Adventures (Vol. 2) Vol. 1 TPB (Collects #1-4)
  Sept. 6 _ Dark Droids #2 (of 5), Star Wars #38
  Sept. 12 _ Sana Starros TPB (Collects #1-5)
  Sept. 13 _ Darth Vader #38, Obi-Wan Kenobi #1 (of 6)
  Sept. 19 _ Bounty Hunters, Vol. 6, "Bedlam on Bestine" TPB (Collects 29-34), The Nameless Terror TPB (Collects 1-4)
  Sept. 20 _ Dark Droids: D-Squad #1 (of 4), Bounty Hunters #38
  Sept. 26 _ Star Wars (Vol. 3), Vol. 6, "Quests of the Force" TPB (Collects 31-36); Tales From the Death Star HC Graphic Novel
  Sept. 27 _ Hyperspace Stories #9 (of 12), Doctor Aphra #36, The Mandalorian Season 2 #4 (of 8) Oct. 4 _ Bounty Hunters #39, Darth Vader #39, Shadows of Starlight #1 (of 4), Marvel Trick or Read The High Republic: Attack of the Hutts #1 (Reprints The High Republic (Vol. 1) #5)
  Oct. 10 _ The High Republic Adventures -- The Monster of Temple Peak and Other Stories (Collects Monster of Temple Peak 1-4 and The High Republic Adventures Annual), Darth Vader (Vol. 3) Vol. 7, “Unbound Force” TPB (Collects 33-36, Darth Vader (Vol. 1) #3)Oct. 11 _ Dark Droids #3 (of 5), The Mandalorian Season 2 #5 (of 8)
  Oct. 17 _ The High Republic Phase One Omnibus (Collects The High Republic (Vol. 1) 1-15, Eye of the Storm 1-2 and Trail of Shadows 1-5) Oct. 18 _ Star Wars #39, Obi-Wan Kenobi #2 (of 6)
  Oct. 25 _ D-Squad #2 (of 4), Doctor Aphra #37, Hyperspace Stories #10 (of 12)
  Oct. 31 _ Star Wars Legends: The Empire Omnibus, Vol. 2 (Collects Dark Times -- Fire Carrier 1-5, Dark Times -- A Spark Remains 1-5, Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin 1-5, Darth Vader and the Cry of Shadows 1-5, Droids Special 1, Droids (1994) 1-6, Droids (1995) 1-8, Star Wars: The Protocol Offensive, plus material from Star Wars Visionaries, Star Wars Tales 11-12, 15 and 20, Dark Horse Presents Annual ’99 and Star Wars Galaxy Magazine 1)
  Nov. 1 _ Star Wars #40
  Nov. 7 _ Star Wars: Scoundrels, Rebels and The Empire TPB (Collects the Jabba's Palace, Ewoks, Lando, The Empire, The Rebellion and Max Rebo one-shots)
  Nov. 8 _ The High Republic (Vol. 3) #1, Shadows of Starlight #2 (of 4) Nov. 14 _ Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Empire, Vol. 8 (Collects Star Wars: Empire 5-6, 8-13, 15; Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron 1/2; Star Wars: A New Hope Special Edition 1-4; Star Wars: Tag & Bink Are Dead 1; material from Star Wars Tales 1, 6, 8-10, 12, 14, 16, 19)
  Dec. 5 _ Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The New Republic, Vol. 7 (Collects Boba Fett - Bounty on Bar-Kooda 1, Boba Fett - When the Fat Lady Swings 2, Boba Fett - Murder Most Foul 3, Boba Fett - Agent of Doom 1, Jedi Academy - Leviathan 1-4, The Mixed-Up Droid 1, Union 1-4, Chewbacca 1-4 and material from Star Wars Tales 19); The High Republic Adventures (Vol. 2), Vol. II TPB (Collects 5-8)
  Dec. 13 _ The High Republic Adventures (Vol. 3) #1, The High Republic (Vol. 3) #2
  Dec. 19 _ Yoda TPB (Collects 1-10) 2024
  Jan. 3 _ Darth Vader -- Black, White & Red Treasury Edition (Collects 1-4)
  Jan. 9 _ Doctor Aphra (Vol. 2) Vol. 7 TPB (Collects 32-33, TBD)
  Jan. 16 _ Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories Vol. 2, "Scum and Villainy" TPB (Collects 5-8)
  Jan. 17 _ The High Republic Adventures (Vol. 3) #1
  Jan. 23 _ Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Menace Revealed, Vol. 4 (Collects The Bounty Hunters - Aurra Sing 1; Star Wars: Starfighter - Crossbones 1-3; Free Comic Book Day 2002: Star Wars 1; Star Wars: Republic 46-48; Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones 1-4; Star Wars: Hasbro/Toys ‘R’ Us Exclusive 1-4 and material from Dark Horse Extra 44-47; Star Wars Tales 2, 7, 14, 18, 20, 24)
  Feb. 27 _ Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: Rise of the Sith, Vol. 1 NEW PRINTING (Jedi - The Dark Side 1-5, Qui-Gon & Obi-Wan: The Aurorient Express 1-2, Qui-Gon & Obi-Wan - Last Stand on Ord Mantell 1-3, Jedi Council - Acts of War 1-4 and material from Star Wars (1998) 4-6, Star Wars Tales 1-3, 5, 7, 9-10, 13-14 and 24)
  March 19 _ Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Empire, Vol. 1 NEW PRINTING (Collects Republic 78-80, Purge, Purge - Seconds to Die, Purge - The Hidden Blade one-shots, Purge - The Tyrant’s Fist 1-2, Darth Vader and the Lost Command 1-5 and Dark Times 1-5)
  April 16 _ Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The New Republic, Vol. 1 NEW PRINTING (Collects Mara Jade - By the Emperor’s Hand 0-6, Shadows of the Empire - Evolution 1-5, The Jabba Tape, Boba Fett - Twin Engines of Destruction and material from Star Wars Tales 1, 3-5, 10, 14-15, 20 and 22); Hyperspace Stories Vol. 3 TPB "Light and Shadow" (Collects 9-12)
  April 24 _ 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 14 _ Nov. 15 _ 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 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).
  July 2 _ 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)