or its entire 36-year history, “Star Wars” has been too big a concept for films alone. George Lucas’ lifelong interest in comic books led to the pop culture juggernaut’s simultaneous introduction to the world as a movie and a comic. Now, unconfirmed reports place Star Wars comics back at their original home, Marvel Comics.

Lucas approached Marvel before the release of his 1977 blockbuster to secure its efforts on a “Star Wars” comic book. After much wrangling, the company produced the first issue of the new series shortly before the film’s release. Marvel thought it was taking quite a chance on the book — and the film — but editor Roy Thomas stayed the course after the initial six-issue adaptation of the movie and the license remained with the famous “House of Ideas” for nine years and 107 issues. In 1986, after “Return of the Jedi,” the company let the license go when fans’ interest had fallen off significantly and sales  had slipped into a shallow slump.

Seven years later, another company took a chance on the property, even without a new film to support it.

In 1993, the fledgling Dark Horse Comics turned its new miniseries, Star Wars: Dark Empire, into a successful run that continues to this day.

Dark Horse has produced dozens of Star Wars comic book titles and just recently released its newest, which takes place during the fertile period of time between Episodes IV and V.

Now, with the acquisition of Lucasfilm by Disney, it appears as if the now-coveted “Star Wars” comic book license may head back to another Disney holding — its first home, Marvel Comics.

The story of “Star Wars” is one of death and rebirth, legacy and legend, and redemption and hope. As fans await the first new film since 2005’s “Revenge of the Sith,” they may also now look toward a potential new hope for “Star Wars” comics and the continuation of a unique legacy at Marvel Comics.

Tags: Comic books, Dark Horse, George Lucas, Jim Beard, Marvel Comics, Star Wars

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 29th, 2013 at 1:27 pm and is filed under Comics, Star.
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“Star Wars” trivia time: Did you know that “Star Wars” comic books predate the 1977 blockbuster film? The long legacy of “Star Wars” four-color fantasies launched at Marvel Comics in April of 1977 and continues today with Dark Horse’s release of “Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Lost Command” No. 1. If you’re a Sith supporter, this is one five-issue bounty you need to bag.

Marvel cranked out “Star Wars” comics from 1977 to 1986, but after “Return of the Jedi” interest dropped into a black hole until the “Star Wars” renaissance of the early 1990s. Dark Horse snared the license in 1993 and hit hyperspace with its “Dark Empire” series; since that time the company has continued to produce a galaxy of “Star Wars” comics that have touched on just about every era of George Lucas’ brainchild — and even created a few of its own. Now, with “Lost Command,” Dark Horse is about to get in bad with the Dark Lord.

What is it about Darth Vader that sends fans’ imaginations into lightspeed? Despite the recent success of Lucas’ “Clone Wars” franchise, people just can’t seem to get enough of the Sith’s greatest salesman.

“Darth Vader and the Lost Command” picks up shortly after the events of “Revenge of the Sith” and tells a new tale of a Vader who’s still a bit wobbly in his new armor and still pining for Padme.

To sweeten the deal, the series promises lots of lightsaber action, loads of stormtroopers and an old-school baddie, future Death Star commander Grand Moff Tarkin.

This is what “Star Wars” fans really want. After a steady diet of clone troopers, Separatists and whatever, a few familiar faces from that Galaxy Far, Far Away will go down real smooth.

It seems as if the long-promised live-action TV series set between Episodes III and IV ain’t happenin’ anytime soon — if at all — so this new comic series is the next best thing.

Tags: Comics, Dark Horse, Darth Vader, Grand Moff Tarkin, Jim Beard, Marvel Comics, Star Wars

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 25th, 2011 at 9:40 am and is filed under Comics, Star.
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