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Two major highlights for Star Wars fans from BookExpo America (BEA) and BookCon were the panels "Marvel Presents: Star Wars."  The panels, which covered the same material with varying panelists, outlined the success of the Star Wars line of comics and gave us a glimpse of some very exciting things on the horizon.  Today's release of Star Wars #6 clarifies a few things we learned from the panels, but more on that later.

Both panels were led by Marvel Editor Jordan White.  On Wednesday, during BEA, he was joined by Sales Manager John Paretti and the writer and illustrator for the upcoming Lando mini series, Charlie Soule and Alex Maleev respectively.  The BookCon version of the panel, which occurred Saturday afternoon, once again featured White, Soule and Paretti and they were joined by Marvel Assistant Editor Heather Antos and Mark Beazley, Ediitor, Special Prodcucts.

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White, Soule, Maleev and Paretti

The guide book description of the panel had me hooked, but the actual panel far surpassed any expectations.

"In 1977, a few months before the release of Star Wars, Marvel Comics debuted their very own adaptation of the film – which kicked off nearly a decade of stories set in a galaxy far far away, told in the Mighty Marvel Manner! Now, nearly 40 years after that historic debut, Star Wars has finally returned to Marvel with an acclaimed line of all-new comics and graphic novels! Marvel Editor Jordan White is joined by the superstar writer of the newly-announced series Star Wars: Lando, Charles Soule, to discuss all things Star Wars at Marvel!"

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The panels started by illustrating the success of the Star Wars comic line, having sold over one million units since it's premire in January and stated "Star Wars #1 is the best-selling comic in 20 years and one of the best-selling comics of all time." 

[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_crop”,”fid”:”18851″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”id”:”media_crop_1444896579774″,”media_crop_h”:”0″,”media_crop_image_style”:”large”,”media_crop_instance”:”11636″,”media_crop_rotate”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_h”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_w”:”0″,”media_crop_w”:”0″,”media_crop_x”:”0″,”media_crop_y”:”0″,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”}}]]Next came the three hard cover Omnibus issues.  The Original Marvel Years Omnibus Volume One has already been released, was voted one of Amazon's Best Books of the Month" and has doubled the sales of Marvel's other top franchise characters.  The first volume covers the time from A New Hope and into Empire Strkes Back. 

[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_crop”,”fid”:”18861″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”id”:”media_crop_5456573555218″,”media_crop_h”:”0″,”media_crop_image_style”:”large”,”media_crop_instance”:”11646″,”media_crop_rotate”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_h”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_w”:”0″,”media_crop_w”:”0″,”media_crop_x”:”0″,”media_crop_y”:”0″,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”}}]]The Original Marvel Star Wars Years Omnibus Volume Two goes on sale in June and Volume Three in September.

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Editor Jordan White

[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_crop”,”fid”:”18871″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”id”:”media_crop_1210091551140″,”media_crop_h”:”0″,”media_crop_image_style”:”large”,”media_crop_instance”:”11651″,”media_crop_rotate”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_h”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_w”:”0″,”media_crop_w”:”0″,”media_crop_x”:”0″,”media_crop_y”:”0″,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”}}]]Episode IV: A New Hope hardcover edition is on sale now.

[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_crop”,”fid”:”18876″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”id”:”media_crop_2316983035379″,”media_crop_h”:”0″,”media_crop_image_style”:”large”,”media_crop_instance”:”11656″,”media_crop_rotate”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_h”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_w”:”0″,”media_crop_w”:”0″,”media_crop_x”:”0″,”media_crop_y”:”0″,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”}}]]Marvel has rescanned the original comics and given them a more modern color scheme to look closer to what we've come to know on the screen.  Fans of the origianl Marvel Star Wars comics may remember Vader not in iconic black, but rather green.  The panel explained that these comics were written prior to the release of the film, so the artists did not know the colors that should used. Tom Palmer famously asked if Darth Vader was "a fireman" and painted him green. 

[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_crop”,”fid”:”18881″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”id”:”media_crop_4325064799623″,”media_crop_h”:”0″,”media_crop_image_style”:”large”,”media_crop_instance”:”11661″,”media_crop_rotate”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_h”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_w”:”0″,”media_crop_w”:”0″,”media_crop_x”:”0″,”media_crop_y”:”0″,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”}}]]The Empire Strikes Back is going to print soon and will be released on August 12th.  This issue features the art of Al Williamson and the panel agreed looks beautiful in this new hardcover.

The Omnibus compilations fall under the "Legends" banner and Marvel will be releasing one classic collection every month.  White stated "We wanted to make sure you had access to the old stories."

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[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_crop”,”fid”:”18891″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”id”:”media_crop_9145509866554″,”media_crop_h”:”0″,”media_crop_image_style”:”large”,”media_crop_instance”:”11671″,”media_crop_rotate”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_h”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_w”:”0″,”media_crop_w”:”0″,”media_crop_x”:”0″,”media_crop_y”:”0″,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”}}]]Star Wars #6 goes on sale June 3rd. It ends the first Star Wars arc and will be John Cassaday's last issue"for now."  Darth Vader has hired Boba Fett to find the person who destroyed the first Death Star.  In this issue Fett finds Luke and they will have a confrontation, which will coincide with the Darth Vader comic series.  White explained that Marvel will be treating  the Star Wars lines much like Avengers and X-Men, the stories will intersect and reference each other.

Soule explains that all the Star Wars comics are designed to fit into a big puzzle.  "They all (besides the Kanan series) occur between A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back.  Luke hasn't gone to Dagobah yet and he's only heard Ben's voice once.  He doesn't know what he's doing."

You'd think a battle between Luke Skywalker and Boba Fett would be the biggest bang in the comic.  Not quite. As we now know, there is a major revelation in Star Wars #6 that changes one character in a powerful way.  Han Solo has a wife and her name is Sana Solo. We haven't seen the last of her…

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Star Wars Volume One features issues #1-#6 and goes on sale September 1st.

[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_crop”,”fid”:”18746″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”id”:”media_crop_4433716847845″,”media_crop_h”:”0″,”media_crop_image_style”:”large”,”media_crop_instance”:”11531″,”media_crop_rotate”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_h”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_w”:”0″,”media_crop_w”:”0″,”media_crop_x”:”0″,”media_crop_y”:”0″,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”}}]]Star Wars #7 goes on sale in July and will be a flashback to Obi-Wan on Tatooine before A New Hope while Luke is still a young boy.

[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_crop”,”fid”:”18751″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”id”:”media_crop_982876840329″,”media_crop_h”:”0″,”media_crop_image_style”:”large”,”media_crop_instance”:”11536″,”media_crop_rotate”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_h”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_w”:”0″,”media_crop_w”:”0″,”media_crop_x”:”0″,”media_crop_y”:”0″,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”}}]]Star Wars #8 introduces Canadian artist Stuart Immonen, who is best known for his work on Ultimate X-Men, The New Avengers and Ultimate Spider-Man.

[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_crop”,”fid”:”18756″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”id”:”media_crop_4972813514566″,”media_crop_h”:”0″,”media_crop_image_style”:”large”,”media_crop_instance”:”11541″,”media_crop_rotate”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_h”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_w”:”0″,”media_crop_w”:”0″,”media_crop_x”:”0″,”media_crop_y”:”0″,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”}}]]Star Wars #9 features Han Solo's wife, Sana Solo, who was first introduced in Issue #6.

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Sana Solo

[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_crop”,”fid”:”18761″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”id”:”media_crop_6780932039474″,”media_crop_h”:”0″,”media_crop_image_style”:”large”,”media_crop_instance”:”11546″,”media_crop_rotate”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_h”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_w”:”0″,”media_crop_w”:”0″,”media_crop_x”:”0″,”media_crop_y”:”0″,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”}}]]Darth Vader #6 goes on sale June 3rd and wraps up the first arc. It is written by Kieron Gillen who is "really good at writing bad guys" and the artist is Salvador Larroca will do every issue of the next arc with no breaks.

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White, Antos, Soule, Paretti and Beazley

In the Darth Vader series, he is searching for the person responsible for destroying the Death Star but also in trouble with Emperor for allowing it to be destroyed. The Emperor gives the rank Grand Moff higher authority than Vader due to his failure.   White sums up the Emperor's feelings towards Vader "I know you weren't a fan, but it was my jam and you let it get blown up, and you're the only survivor."  Vader is angry and builds his own crew for side missions, including archaeologist Dr. Aphra and two "killer" droids, BT1 and 000. White describes the new droid pair with "What if R2 and 3PO loved killing people?"  At the same time, the Emperor is training new rivals of Vader to take over the "strong arm" of Empire role. 

[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_crop”,”fid”:”18766″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”id”:”media_crop_6754095664961″,”media_crop_h”:”0″,”media_crop_image_style”:”large”,”media_crop_instance”:”11551″,”media_crop_rotate”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_h”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_w”:”0″,”media_crop_w”:”0″,”media_crop_x”:”0″,”media_crop_y”:”0″,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”}}]]Darth Vader Volume One includes the six issues of the first arc and goes on sale October 6th.

[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_crop”,”fid”:”18771″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”id”:”media_crop_9249700655496″,”media_crop_h”:”0″,”media_crop_image_style”:”large”,”media_crop_instance”:”11556″,”media_crop_rotate”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_h”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_w”:”0″,”media_crop_w”:”0″,”media_crop_x”:”0″,”media_crop_y”:”0″,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”}}]]Darth Vader #7 goes on sale July 1st.  The cover shows Vader standing at the Lars homestead.  White teasesd "Why is he there?"

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Darth Vader #8

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Darth Vader #9

[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_crop”,”fid”:”18786″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”id”:”media_crop_4665236087801″,”media_crop_h”:”0″,”media_crop_image_style”:”large”,”media_crop_instance”:”11571″,”media_crop_rotate”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_h”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_w”:”0″,”media_crop_w”:”0″,”media_crop_x”:”0″,”media_crop_y”:”0″,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”}}]]Princess Leia #5 goes on sale in June and is the last issue in this arc of the Princess Leia mini-series.

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Assistant Editor Heather Antos

[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_crop”,”fid”:”18791″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”id”:”media_crop_7289625805068″,”media_crop_h”:”0″,”media_crop_image_style”:”large”,”media_crop_instance”:”11576″,”media_crop_rotate”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_h”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_w”:”0″,”media_crop_w”:”0″,”media_crop_x”:”0″,”media_crop_y”:”0″,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”}}]]Princess Leia Volume One includes issues #1-#5 and goes on sale October 13th.

[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_crop”,”fid”:”18796″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”id”:”media_crop_3796968923024″,”media_crop_h”:”0″,”media_crop_image_style”:”large”,”media_crop_instance”:”11581″,”media_crop_rotate”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_h”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_w”:”0″,”media_crop_w”:”0″,”media_crop_x”:”0″,”media_crop_y”:”0″,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”}}]]Kanan: The Last Padawan #3 goes on sale June 10th.  It's the only comic that doesn't take place between A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back and shows what happened to a young Kanan after Order 66.   Issue #2 shows the moment he was supposed to die.  How does a Jedi stop being a Jedi after Order 66?  We'll find out in this series.

[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_crop”,”fid”:”18801″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”id”:”media_crop_8212427909146″,”media_crop_h”:”0″,”media_crop_image_style”:”large”,”media_crop_instance”:”11586″,”media_crop_rotate”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_h”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_w”:”0″,”media_crop_w”:”0″,”media_crop_x”:”0″,”media_crop_y”:”0″,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”}}]]Kanan: The Last Padawan #4 goes on sale June 22nd

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Kanan: The Last Padawan #5 goes on sale August 12th.

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Kanan: The Last Padawan Volume One features issues #1-#5 goes on sale November 13th.  Paretti stressed the anxiousnous of the Kanan series, as opposed to Leia, Vader and the Star Wars lines, Kanan was a brand new character from Star Wars Rebels and they weren't sure how hee would be received.  To their delight, Kanan has sold extremely well and rated in the top 5 comics in the industry.

[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_crop”,”fid”:”18816″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”id”:”media_crop_2670130970034″,”media_crop_h”:”0″,”media_crop_image_style”:”large”,”media_crop_instance”:”11601″,”media_crop_rotate”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_h”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_w”:”0″,”media_crop_w”:”0″,”media_crop_x”:”0″,”media_crop_y”:”0″,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”}}]]The Lando mini-series takes over in July when Leia wraps up. It will also be a five issue mini-series.

[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_crop”,”fid”:”18821″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”id”:”media_crop_2146773449671″,”media_crop_h”:”0″,”media_crop_image_style”:”large”,”media_crop_instance”:”11606″,”media_crop_rotate”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_h”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_w”:”0″,”media_crop_w”:”0″,”media_crop_x”:”0″,”media_crop_y”:”0″,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”}}]]Lando takes place between A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back.  He's Aaready lost the Falcon but hasn't gone to Cloud City yet.  He's described as an adrift gambler (perhaps not a very good one) trying to make his way in the universe.  The panel agrees states that although he's only in the films for 15 minutes, we know exactly who Lando is because of Billy Dee Williams acting. In this series, Lando is trying to recoup all he's lost with one big hand, a heist, in this case by stealing a very valuable ship, that is holding very valuable things.  We will see his swarmy side, but also come to realize that Lando is always trying to be who he becomes at the end of Return of the Jedi.

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For his heist, Lando has assembled a five-man crew.  His second in command is none other than Lobot, who is described as having tons of personality, unlike the film.  We will also see that bad things tend to happen to Lando's friends…

[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_crop”,”fid”:”18836″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”id”:”media_crop_5598608522852″,”media_crop_h”:”0″,”media_crop_image_style”:”large”,”media_crop_instance”:”11621″,”media_crop_rotate”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_h”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_w”:”0″,”media_crop_w”:”0″,”media_crop_x”:”0″,”media_crop_y”:”0″,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”}}]]Lando #2 goes on sale in August.

[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_crop”,”fid”:”18826″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”id”:”media_crop_2167273965819″,”media_crop_h”:”0″,”media_crop_image_style”:”large”,”media_crop_instance”:”11611″,”media_crop_rotate”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_h”:”0″,”media_crop_scale_w”:”0″,”media_crop_w”:”0″,”media_crop_x”:”0″,”media_crop_y”:”0″,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”}}]]Shattered Empire will be the first comic in the Journey To The Force Awakens series, which will span multiple media. The over-arcing series will show what happened between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens. Issue #1 goes on sale September 2nd and will be available in paperback on November 17th.

A few tidbits from the Q&A following the panel…

They are not doing a Boba Fett series at this time and there are reasons for that.

"Any resonable person would expect there to be a Han Solo series, but we can't talk about that."

They could not discuss the previously announced Journey To The Force Awakens-C3PO comic series.

Being an Obi-Wan fan, I was excited with the announcment of the flashback issue, so I asked it was in any way influenced by the "audio books" developed by "Brian Dey."  As Yoda would say "How embarrasing.  How embarrassing." The Radio Dramas created by Brian Daley are among my favorite Star Wars media and I was truly embarrassed to have loussed up my question.  That being said, they did not think the comics were in any way influenced by that material but did say that,in Star Wars #5, White gave Luke his nickname "Wormy" so that it could be part of canon.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to head down to Outer Limits and pick up Star Wars #6.