‘Star Wars’ February 2024 Comics Preview: ‘Mace Windu’ #1, the ‘Doctor Aphra’ Situation, and More
February 2024 comic solicitations have hit the web. While it looks to be a quieter month in the land of Star Wars comics, there will be plenty of headlines if the online rumors are anything to go by. Topping the list is longtime mainstay Doctor Aphra, which may have been quietly brought to a close or put on pause. Elsewhere, the Mace Windu miniseries begins, wild returns in the High Republic, Luke and Vader continue their Return of the Jedi journey, and more.
But first, Free Comic Book Day 2024 falls on May 4 next year, and Star Wars fans are getting a double dose to celebrate. First, Daniel José Older and Andy Duggan are teaming up for a Young Jedi Adventures and The High Republic Adventures crossover, which will see Nubs meet Qo’rt. Also, Marvel joins the fray with the union of Charles Soule and Greg Pak for a Luke and Vader special. Check out both preliminary covers below and the early synopsis for Marvel’s issue (h/t Star Wars Splash Page).
FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2024: STAR WARS/DARTH VADER #1
Written by CHARLES SOULE & GREG PAK
Penciled by IBRIAM ROBERSON & RAMON ROSANAS
Cover by PHIL NOTO
Are there Rebel survivors stranded on Hoth? Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, Lando Calrissian, and Chewbacca mount a dangerous rescue mission to Echo Base! Lightsabers! Blasters! Snowtroopers! All-out action amongst the wreckage of AT-AT walkers, Rebel airspeeders and frozen weapons of mass destruction! Darth Vader employes a surprise character from the past to help him find Luke Skywalker. But Sabé, former handmaiden of Padmé Amidala is also on a quest for the son of Vader. Having worked for him as an Imperial Commander, Sabé has enough resources to cause chaos for anyone who stands in her path. How will this affect the Dark Lord’s plans to remove Palpatine from power?
As we now look ahead to February, check with your local shop on which pre-order options they have (or you can be boring and choose digital). You can visit here for a refresher on what else is coming from Star Wars. Now, onto your feature presentation. As a reminder, the very nature of comic solicitations is spoiler-filled, so be aware before going forward. We will begin with what we know about Doctor Aphra.
Doctor Aphra #41 (?)
Star Wars Splash Page recently highlighted trade paperback information on Doctor Aphra volume 7, coming April 2024. The trade will encompass Doctor Aphra #32-40. For those keeping track, next month’s issue #39 will be the last of the Dark Droids crossover, with January’s issue #40 starting something new. For those who collect trade paperbacks, you know nine issues is a little steep for a single volume. Most trades only pack 5-6 issues. There are always exceptions, but with Bounty Hunters already being subjected to a fate similar to what might befall Doctor Aphra, some wonder if issue #40 is the last time we’ll see the good doctor in this time period. We await answers, especially now that the series isn’t included in February’s official solicitations.
Star Wars: Mace Windu #1 (available February 7)
ONE OF THE GREATEST JEDI MUST STOP AN INCENDIARY SECRET FROM FALLING INTO THE WRONG HANDS!
• Even in the years before THE CLONE WARS, MACE WINDU was known for his discipline, determination and combat skills.
• When a scientist’s discovery threatens the balance of the galaxy, Mace is led down a treacherous path of mystery and action.
• Introducing AZITA CRUUZ, a pirate with a deadly secret, who the HUTTS and the REPUBLIC will stop at nothing to control!
Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi #5 (available February 7)
DARTH VADER STRIKES!
• Imperial forces attempt to draw OBI-WAN out!
• REVA, Third Sister of the INQUISITORS, has tightened her grip on the Path outpost that hides the wanted Jedi, Obi-Wan Kenobi.
• The penultimate chapter of the OBI-WAN KENOBI Disney+ series ends with a BANG!
Star Wars: Darth Vader #43 (available February 14)
WHO DARES COMMIT TREASON AGAINST THE EMPIRE?!
• Seemingly disparate threads from years of storytelling come together as DARTH VADER uncovers the master plan of the SCHISM IMPERIAL!
• The UMBARAN nurtures her conspirators! KITSTER and WALD return — along with the death machinery of GOVERNOR TAUNTAZA!
• But when a group of betrayers come together, how long will it be until they betray each other?
Star Wars #43 (available February 21)
A SITH IN THE MIND’S EYE!
• LUKE SKYWALKER is trapped deep behind enemy lines, hunted by a rogue SITH who sees the nascent JEDI KNIGHT as his chance at new ascendancy.
• How will Luke survive…
• …and who will he be if he does?
Star Wars: The High Republic Phase III #4 (available February 21)
INTO THE NIHIL OCCLUSION ZONE!
• JEDI MASTER KEEVE TRENNIS has disobeyed direct orders from CORUSCANT and entered NIHIL space.
• Her mission: to find and save a soul who was thought lost.
• Familiar faces from PHASE I of STAR WARS: THE HIGH REPUBLIC return…but not as they used to be!
Before moving on, spoilers on who the return is are out there if you know where to look. Drunk Wooky recently shared the leak that was found in a variant cover. We won’t name the character as Drunk Wooky has since redacted their article out of respect for the individual they got the information from. We’ll just say… Cavan Scott, you madman.
Star Wars: Thrawn – Alliances #2 (available February 28)
THE ADAPTATION OF THRAWN: ALLIANCES CONTINUES!
• As THRAWN and DARTH VADER carve their way through the galaxy, get a glimpse of their early partnership as THRAWN and ANAKIN are on the hunt for PADMÉ!
• JODY HOUSER and original THRAWN: ALLIANCES novelist TIMOTHY ZAHN continue to plot the course of Thrawn’s rise with PAT OLLIFFE and ANDREA DI VITO!
In Dark Horse land, The High Republic Adventures Phase III #3 was pushed back to February 14, leaving issue #4 to March for now. We will highlight that issue next month, but we will share a new one-shot from Daniel José Older. The High Republic Adventures: Crash Landing, coming March 20, will pick up the story of Crash and her team from Midnight Horizon. Check out the cover and early synopsis below (another h/t Star Wars Splash Page).
“Crash” Ongwa and her ragtag crew have been fighting against anyone who had a hand in the Nihil infiltration that plunged her home planet of Corellia into chaos. Even though an uneasy peace has been reached, if they don’t continue to fight, everything they sacrificed for could slip away. Now, Crash has a lead on the person behind the entire Nihil plot–if her crew can accomplish this mission, could true peace be on their horizon?
Written by Daniel Jose Older, illustrated by Rachele Aragno, colored by Michael Atiyeh and lettered by Comicraft. 32 pages, $5.99
All February single issues and more will be available for pre-order at your local comic book shop once the December catalog is released.
Source: Bleeding Cool
Nate uses his love for Star Wars and movies in general as a way to cope with the pain of being a Minnesota sports fan. When he's not at the theater, you can usually find Nate reading a comic, listening to an audiobook, or playing a Mario video game for the 1,000th time.
