Star Wars Comics Library Volume 1

Marvel Comics' Star Wars Weekly was a staple of many Star Wars fans' (myself included) childhood. My earliest memory was borrowing a primary school friend's copy of Star Wars Weekly #2 featuring Tusken Raiders attacking Luke Skywalker on the cover!

TASCHEN has announced Star Wars Comics Library Volume 1 1977-1979!

The Greatest Space Fantasy of All!

The first journey into the Star Wars comic book universe

"In January 1976, as George Lucas prepared to shoot his new film, then titled The Star Wars, he asked Marvel Comics to publish a comic book for the film’s release. Marvel’s initial reluctance abated once they understood that Lucas was prepared to give the rights for free. Royalties would only be paid if the comic sold more than 100,000 copies.

Upon the movie’s release in May 1977, Marvel soon realised that they had a mega-hit on their hands. The first issues, scripted by Roy Thomas and drawn by Howard Chaykin, a young artist Lucas had spotted in the indie comic Star*Reach, sold over one million copies, four times the number of Marvel’s top superhero title: The Amazing Spider-Man. Hence, Star Wars became a monthly publication.

With no new film due to drop for at least a few years, and fans ravenous for more stories, Lucasfilm released several novels. But the only regular source of new material was the comic. It continued to outsell all Marvel’s other titles, thanks to the quality of the creators guiding the stories. Thomas and Chaykin were soon joined by writer Archie Goodwin and penciller Carmine Infantino, who took Luke, Han, Leia and Darth Vader all over the galaxy, exploring new worlds and introducing new characters.

The first 23 issues have now been digitally remastered to correct the original era’s inexpensive, imperfect printing, while still capturing the spirit and texture of the comics' historic first release, and collected in an XXL-sized edition: bigger even than a Death Star. This truly out-of-this-world collection includes an in-depth history by comic book historian Peter Sanderson."

Pre-order Star Wars Comics Library Volume 1 1977-1979 at Amazon (affiliate link).

Are you looking forward to Star Wars Comics Library Volume 1 1977-1979? Let me know in the comments below.

Marvel's Star Wars explores the New Republic

This May, Marvel Comics' mainline Star Wars title takes fan-favourites Han, Luke and Leia into the New Republic.

Read the official synopsis:

AN EPIC NEW ADVENTURE BEGINS FOR LUKE, LEIA AND HAN IN THE WAKE OF RETURN OF THE JEDI!

- New York Times best-selling author ALEX SEGURA launches the bold next era of STAR WARS.

- LUKE SKYWALKER must defend the NEW REPUBLIC from a bloodthirsty gang of mercenaries!

- HAN SOLO investigates a deadly underworld mystery — and saves a surprising ally!

- LEIA ORGANA must grapple with a new alliance opposed to the goals of the New Republic!

Los Angeles Times Book Prize winner and bestselling author Alex Segura teases what fans (myself included) can expect:

“Now that we’ve put the period at the end of the Galactic Civil War with the Battle of Jakku, we can speed ahead into a new, uncharted era, with some new galactic threats, foes, and mysteries for our beloved heroes to grapple with, blending the familiar with the new and shocking… These stories will be packed with action and the character moments Star Wars fans have come to expect, featuring twists on the galaxy and landscape we know, with an eye toward making sure people can jump in easily and with any issue. We can’t wait.”

Star Wars #1 drops on newsstands on 7th May.

Are you looking forward to Marvel's Star Wars relaunch? Will you be reading the comics? Let me know in the comments below.

50 years of the Fourth Doctor

50 years ago, Robot was the first story of the twelfth season of Doctor Who, beginning Tom Baker's iconic era as the Fourth Doctor.

Following on from Jon Pertwee's action-orientated Third Doctor, Baker's eccentric and enigmatic tenure at the controls of the TARDIS would witness an unprecedented level of popularity for the BBC's beloved sci-fi series both in the UK and overseas, and the launch of Marvel UK's Doctor Who Weekly. The fan-favourite publication went monthly and continues to this day.

Dad was a fan of Pertwee's Third Doctor, and the Sonic Screwdriver was passed from generation to generation.

My earliest memory of watching Doctor Who is The Sontaran Experiment and the Fourth Doctor is my favourite incarnation. From shapeshifting Zygons to an android Sarah Jane Smith (Lis Sladen) to the bubbling brain of Morbius, Doctor Who was a Saturday teatime staple watched with my dad.

This was an era before the widespread adoption of home video recorders. If we missed an episode, there was little chance of seeing it unless there was an omnibus edition repeat. Revenge of the Cybermen was the first VHS tape I owned in 1983.

When I was hospitalised in the wake of an unreported head injury in primary school, vintage annuals, Denys Fisher's Fourth Doctor, Cyberman and Giant Robot action figures gifted by family, and eating Jelly Babies, took my mind off of a life-changing childhood trauma as I began years of rehabilitation having undergone a regeneration - the ingenious key to the sci-fi series’ longevity - of my own.

On Christmas Day 1979, Santa Claus completed my collection by leaving a much-wished-for Denys Fisher TARDIS and K9 under the tree.

Considered by many fans (myself included) as one of the greatest seasons of Doctor Who, Season Twelve is available on Blu-ray from Amazon (affiliate link).

What are your memories of watching the Fourth Doctor? Let me know in the comments below.

Marvel Legends Death’s Head at SDCC

San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) returns later this month.

Our friends at Hasbro have sent over details regarding exclusives from G.I. Joe Classified Series, Marvel Legends, Star Wars: The Black Series and Transformers.

Death’s Head originally appeared in Marvel UK's The Transformers comic and Doctor Who Magazine (DWM)! As a fan of both franchises, this is exciting news from Hasbro's Marvel Legends. The cult-favourite mechanoid (no relation to the robot enemy of the Daleks) bounty hunter is an SDCC exclusive.

MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES DEATH'S HEAD

(HASBRO | Ages 4 and Up | Approx. Retail Price: $39.99 | Available: Summer 2024)     

Bring the excitement and wonder of the Marvel Universe to your collection with the Hasbro Marvel Legends Death's Head figure! Inspired by the character's appearance in Marvel Comics, this collectible 6-inch figure is fully articulated with poseable head, arms, and legs. Comes with 6 accessories, including shield and weapon accessories that can be displayed on his back. This premium figure comes in an exclusive window box package inspired by the character's retro collector card.

Hasbro Marvel action figures' 6-inch scale make them great for posing and displaying in fans' collections. Reimagine Marvel Comics-inspired scenes with Marvel Legends action figures (each sold separately, subject to availability). Attendees can request a time slot to purchase Hasbro products at the Hasbro Booth (#3213) at the Hasbro Pulse Toy Store through the San Diego Comic-Con Exclusives Portal.

Following San Diego Comic-Con, limited quantities will be available to order in on Hasbro Pulse, and other select retailers, after the convention. While supplies last.

Cool, yes?

Are you excited about Marvel Legends Death's Head? Are you looking forward to SDCC? Let me know in the comments below.

Alien bursts back on Alien Day

It's Alien Day officially celebrating all things xenomorph on LV-426.

The original Alien is back on the big screen and Alien: Romulus arrives in August.

Nick Smith, our resident US-based bug hunter, grabs an M41-A Pulse Rifle, flameflower and motion tracker. Stay frosty and watch out for dark corners...

Guest post by Nick Smith

In the caves, in the infancy of our race, we were warned by our parents to be cautious of the dark, venomous beasts that slithered and hissed in the night. One bite from a slug with teeth or a spray of acid blood from a horned lizard could incapacitate us, and spell our doom.

Now we are civilized, sophisticated, kings and queens of our concrete jungle. But the caution remains, the fear that one wrong turn in a dark alley will lead to an encounter with a harmful creature, something unfathomably alien.

H.R. Giger, along with director Ridley Scott and his team, tapped into these primal fears in the 1979 movie Alien, incorporating body horror, carnality, believable and likeable characters, and a lived-in environment.

James Cameron expanded the mythos in 1986 with Aliens, placing gung-ho action heroes in an untenable horror movie scenario. This double cinematic whammy contained enough richness and depth to resonate today, resulting in spin-offs in numerous media that don’t feel like soulless cash grabs worthy of the franchise’s fictional, heartless Weyland-Yutani Corporation.

The most-anticipated new part of this long-running saga is Alien: Romulus, directed by Fede Álvarez and starring Cailee Spaeny (Civil War and Pacific Rim: Uprising). Set between the first two classic films, Romulus is apparently a return to Alien’s roots; Álvarez’s track record (2013’s Evil Dead, Don’t Breathe) is impressively dark, tense, and creepy.

Filming of an FX TV series began in early 2024 in Bangkok; this earth-set drama has multiple seasons planned, focusing on corporate executives and their plans to exploit the xenomorphs. Fargo’s Noah Hawley is the creator and executive producer, and the cast includes Timothy Olyphant (The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett). While an Alien TV series was first proposed to ABC in 1980, this is the first small screen live-action iteration to reach production. The series should arrive on Hulu on Disney+ in 2025.

Marvel Comics has published consistently readable Alien mini-series over the past few years, including Thaw and Descendant. If you like your stories bleak and your characters ruthless, these are the comics for you. Just don’t get too attached to any of the heroes as they are graphically dispatched on the icy moon LV-695.

Aliens: What if…?, co-written by Paul Reiser (Stranger Things), wonders what would happen if Reiser’s slimy character Carter Burke survived the second movie, with entertaining results. There’s also Alien: Black, White & Blood, an experiment in minimalism that highlights the aliens’ horrible beauty.

Beauty or beasts, the xenomorphs will be around for years to come, lurking in ducting, stalking their way down shadowed metal corridors, always giving us something to scream about.

How are you celebrating Alien Day? Let me know in the comments below.

Nick Smith's new audiobook, Undead on Arrival, is available from Amazon (affiliate link).

X-Men '97 coming to Disney+

On Thursday, Marvel Studios dropped an official trailer for Marvel Animation's X-Men '97 on Disney+.



Read the official synopsis:

“X-Men’ 97 revisits the iconic era of the 1990s as The X-Men, a band of mutants who use their uncanny gifts to protect a world that hates and fears them, are challenged like never before, forced to face a dangerous and unexpected new future."

X-Men ’97 picks up after the events of X-Men: The Animated Series’ finale, 1997’s “Graduation Day,” which saw an injured Charles Xavier leave his team of mutants behind to recover in outer space in the care of Lilandra among the Shi’ar Empire.

There’s a Colossus vintage action figure Easter egg at the start of the trailer. And now I want to collect the X-Men ‘97 action figures from Hasbro Pulse!

The voice cast includes Ray Chase as Cyclops, Jennifer Hale as Jean Grey, Alison Sealy-Smith as Storm, Cal Dodd as Wolverine, JP Karliak as Morph, Lenore Zann as Rogue, George Buza as Beast, AJ LoCascio as Gambit, Holly Chou as Jubilee, Isaac Robinson-Smith as Bishop, Matthew Waterson as Magneto and Adrian Hough as Nightcrawler. Beau DeMayo serves as head writer; episodes are directed by Jake Castorena, Chase Conley and Emi Yonemura. Featuring music by The Newton Brothers, the series is executive produced by Brad Winderbaum, Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso and DeMayo.

In my teens, I sought solace in the mutant tragedy of the X-Men. They became a metaphor for disability, something I was struggling with in the wake of a life-changing childhood trauma in primary school, and I wanted to be Cyclops. How I envied actor James Marsden (Westworld) as Cyclops in director Bryan Singer's X-Men (2000) that foreshadowed a resurgence in superhero movies and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Following the X-Men '97 revival, I hope Marvel Animation (in conjunction with Sony) reboots Spider-Man: The Animated Series next!

The X-Men '97, an all-new series which features 10 episodes, begins streaming exclusively on Disney+ on 20th March.

Are you looking forward to X-Men '97 on Disney+? Let me know in the comments below.

Hasbro celebrates Transformers 40th anniversary

On Tuesday, Hasbro announced its plans to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Transformers.

"For 40 years, the TRANSFORMERS franchise has continuously adapted and redefined itself, culminating in one legacy across generations through innovative products, captivating entertainment, inspiring licensed partnerships, and engaging publishing projects."

Highlights include 40th anniversary toys from Hasbro, the Generation 1 (G1) soundtrack on vinyl and digital with additional music, trading cards from Dynamite, new products from Funko, Robosen, Super7 and more.

"Beloved since its inception in 1984, TRANSFORMERS has evolved from an innovative toy line into a powerhouse franchise embraced by millions of fans around the world,” said Alyse D’Antuono, Vice President, Global Franchise Strategy & Management, Action Brands, Hasbro. “The past four decades continuously delivered a ... More Than Meets The Eye experience for fans by introducing new toys and games, as well as thrilling storytelling in animated shows, comics, blockbuster films and much more. As we build the next chapter in the TRANSFORMERS universe, we look forward to celebrating one legacy for another 40 years.”

Hasbro Pulse recently revealed the next Transformers HasLab of powerful proportions. Transformers: Legacy Robots in Disguise 2001 Omega Prime, which needs 10,000 backers by 15th March to go into production.

"When you have a franchise that goes 40 years in this business, it's pretty remarkable," said TRANSFORMERS voice-over talent and original voice of Megatron, Frank Welker, "to watch the franchise just build and build and build it is amazing to watch." Added fellow voice cast member and original voice of Optimus Prime, Peter Cullen, "I've always had the feeling this was going to go a long time."

As longtime readers know, I've been a fan of the Transformers since 1984. The war between the heroic Autobots and evil Decepticons captured my childhood imagination in the pages of Marvel UK's comic. One of my favourite Transformers, Shockwave, was never officially released in the UK. However, I had Galactic Man, which was licensed by Tandy from ToyCo. So, I'm looking forward to pre-ordering Shockwave based on an iconic Marvel Comics cover.

How are you celebrating the 40th anniversary of Transformers? Are you backing the Transformers HasLab? Let me know in the comments below.

Doctor Who: The Star Beast

The Star Beast ushers in a new era of Doctor Who with Disney+ bringing the beloved BBC sci-fi series to an international audience under the auspices of returning series showrunner Russell T Davies.

This year is the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who and the 30th anniversary of befriending Nick Smith at university. Without further fanfare, Nick, our US-based veteran Whovian, has a close encounter with a space gremlin. Meep! Meep!

Guest post by Nick Smith

I was snagged by one of the oldest marketing tricks in comic books, a big Number One on the cover. There was also a competition to win a trip to Blackpool, a copy of the Genesis of the Daleks LP and an invitation to join UNIT, the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce. My stubby little eight-year-old hands held a copy of Marvel UK's Doctor Who Weekly and once I opened it up, I never looked back.

The issue was actually Number 26, but since this was a First New Look Issue it justified the big old one on the cover. I wasn’t duped. I could read. And read I did – an editorial written BY THE DOCTOR HIMSELF, signed off, ‘Happy Times and Places.’ A backup strip about the Sontarans, who I remembered from an early Tom Baker adventure. There was a Fantastic Fact about Harry Potter (not a wizard but a gardener from Northumberland), a special offer to get a free Boba Fett action figure (with a non-functioning laser rifle), and a Tale From the TARDIS adapting The First Men in the Moon.

Best of all – the story I kept going back to, and the reason why I reread the issue until the back page fell off – was The Star Beast, a cleverly written, beautifully drawn comic about a cute little alien called Beep the Meep who crashes to earth and needs the Doctor’s help. All was not as it seemed, and that O. Henry twist was what really kept me coming back and made me a lifelong fan of Doctor Who comics.

A whopping 43 years later, imagine my delight when that little alien appeared on my TV in a tightly woven show with high production values, sincere performances from its main cast, and the kind of acknowledgement of minorities that the strip strove for with its companion of colour, Sharon.

This time around there is a non-binary character who has a reason for being in the story beyond social commentary, and the envelope-stretching never gets in the way of the adventure, capping it instead.

Although original writer Pat Mills and artist Dave Gibbons get a credit at the beginning of the special, there’s no mention of co-writer John Wagner. Some of Wagner’s ideas and nuances are lost in the rush to tell not just Beep’s (Miriam Margolyes) story but also that of the Doctor (David Tennant) and Donna (Catherine Tate) as they are reunited in the first of three specials.

New viewers are not spoon-fed the whole ‘cosmic Time Lord hero’ premise of Doctor Who. Instead, the focus is on the Doctor and his feisty companion, her family and even characters who are mentioned but not seen, such as Kate Stewart of UNIT. Those newbies are encouraged to seek out the answers by watching and/or reading about previous stories, to dip into the Doctor’s 60-year history.

UNIT is now a bland, black-clad paramilitary band of peacekeepers. They are not secret (they’re mentioned on the news!). There is a new scientific advisor but no distinctive leader, no Sergeant Benton or Captain Yates. Benton, Yates and Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart were what made UNIT special (apart from their raging gun battles with alien gargoyles). A new UNIT spin-off series will hopefully redress this lack of personae.

This story made me laugh in some places and choked me up a little in others, the kind of emotional ups and downs I expect from Russell T Davies’ best work. After the silly skit that was Destination: Skaro, the Children in Need special, The Star Beast has enough weight to warrant repeat views and bodes well for the new Season One – which isn’t really Number One. The more things change…

If this new special makes kids think, appreciate storytelling and use their imaginations as much as that old comic strip did with me, it will be very special.

Have you seen The Star Beast? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.

Nick Smith's new audiobook, Undead on Arrival, is available from Amazon (affiliate link).

Beware the Planet of the Apes from Marvel

Before Star Wars hit the big screen in the late seventies, I vividly remember watching the Planet of the Apes television series and playing with Mego action figures. My parents took me to a local county show that featured a special appearance by the titular apes.

Marvel Comics has announced Beware the Planet of the Apes from writer Marc Guggenheim (Star Wars: Han Solo & Chewbacca) and artist Álvaro López (Captain Marvel), an all-new comic book series set in the original Planet of the Apes era.

Read the official synopsis:

"Into the Forbidden Zone! In a hostile world run by aggressive gorillas, scientists Cornelius and Zira are the only apes alive who see value in the mute, dumb human race—but even they know human capabilities have severe limits. So when their nephew Lucius goes missing, it is with great trepidation that they turn to a human ally, a young woman who will someday earn the moniker “Nova”..."

It's a prequel to Planet of the Apes, the seminal sixties sci-fi movie starring Charlton Heston that started the multimedia franchise and paved the way for stablemates Star Wars and Alien at Twentieth Century Fox.

"I’ve been entertained and intrigued by Planet of the Apes ever since I got a Mego Doctor Zaius doll as a birthday present, and my local television station ran the original pentalogy every afternoon for a week in the summertime," Guggenheim shared. "In many ways, Apes is one of the OG franchises, filled with mystery, fascinating characters, and some truly off-the-wall surprises."

Marvel Comics' Beware the Planet of the Apes hits newsstands in January 2024.

Marvel Comics resurrects the Micronauts

45 years ago, George Lucas' space opera Star Wars captured my childhood imagination. As such, I devoured everything related. From Kenner action figures to Marvel Comics. It was in the pages of Marvel UK’s making of Star Wars magazine that I saw an advertisement for a new toy line distributed by Airfix.

The interchangeable world of the Micronauts.

The Micronauts, Mego’s rebranded name for Microman in the US, was a storied interchangeable toy line from Takara (the Japanese toy company that would go on to create Transformers).

The 3½ inch action figures and accessories scaled perfectly with Kenner’s Star Wars toys, so they inhabited a shared universe in my bedroom. Ironic, as Mego infamously passed on Star Wars. Incidentally, Mego reused Microman tooling for Disney’s The Black Hole and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century toys, which I also collected.

Marvel Comics released a tie-in comic (reprinted in Star Wars Weekly and Future Tense) following the adventures of Commander Rann (my Xbox Gamertag) and his battle with the evil Baron Karza. The latter, a Darth Vader lookalike, was a cherished holiday gift in 1978.

The original comic book series based on the beloved toy line is being reprinted in partnership between Marvel Comics and Hasbro, which owns the Micronauts brand. The Disney-owned publisher will release an omnibus edition of the original comics in April 2024.

In related news. Rom the Space Knight is also returning to Marvel Comics after four decades.

Could this pave the way for the Microverse to officially appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)?

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is more fun than I anticipated on Disney+! Jentorra (Katy O'Brian) is a Micronauts alumnus. And it left me wanting a Micronauts movie in the vein of the classic comic book series I grew up reading! That's another step closer following this surprise announcement.

Will the Micronauts toy line be rereleased on Hasbro Pulse?

In June 2016, Hasbro announced a limited edition Micronauts Classic Collection toy set. The San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) exclusive included three Micronauts: Galactic Warrior, Pharoid and Orbital Defender, and featured packaging artwork by artist Ken Kelly.

What are your memories of the Micronauts? Let me know in the comments below.

Bob Iger back at Disney

Bob Iger has dramatically returned to Disney, in echoes of Steve Jobs at Apple, as Bob Chapek is publically ousted after taking the helm in early 2020 as a global pandemic engulfed the world.

Chapek's ill-fated era was defined by the pandemic and seemingly unforced errors.

“We thank Bob Chapek for his service to Disney over his long career, including navigating the company through the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic,” said Susan Arnold, Chairman of the Board. “The Board has concluded that as Disney embarks on an increasingly complex period of industry transformation, Bob Iger is uniquely situated to lead the Company through this pivotal period.”

As former CEO, Iger oversaw the successful acquisition of Pixar, Marvel Comics, Lucasfilm and more. This culminated in the launch of Disney+.

“I am extremely optimistic for the future of this great company and thrilled to be asked by the Board to return as its CEO,” Bob Iger said. “Disney and its incomparable brands and franchises hold a special place in the hearts of so many people around the globe—most especially in the hearts of our employees, whose dedication to this company and its mission is an inspiration. I am deeply honored to be asked to again lead this remarkable team, with a clear mission focused on creative excellence to inspire generations through unrivaled, bold storytelling.”

A change in leadership shouldn't affect Doctor Who on Disney+. However, I will update you.

Are you glad to see Bob Iger back at Disney? Let me know in the comments below.

Alien vs Predator in Marvel Comics

Predator follows stablemate Alien with a new line of Marvel Comics.

Our very own US-based stellar scribe, Nick Smith, grabs his latest comic book bounty, from TBS Comics in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, and joins the hunt in Marvel Comics' Predator.

Guest post by Nick Smith

Predator’s quite the thing right now, thanks to a certain popular Hulu and Disney+ movie. While in TBS Comics, my local comic bookstore recently, I overheard a middle-aged man ask the clerk, ‘where are the Alien and Predator comics?’

‘In the box marked A,’ the clerk replied without missing a dour beat. While the customer dashed to this stash, I made a beeline for Predator #1, a new Marvel title written by Ed Brisson (Iron Fist) with art by Kev Walker (2000 AD’s ABC Warriors, Marvel Zombies), colours by Frank D’Armata (Wolverine, Iron man) and lettering by the Eisner-nominated Clayton Cowles (Star Wars, Batman, The Wicked + The Divine).

On the strength of this first issue, Predator wouldn’t last five pages in the comic book jungle. Walker’s art has been tremendous elsewhere but here it looks rushed and sloppy. The main character, Theta, looks different at the start of the story, compared to later on. When the Predator’s face is shown for the last time, he looks like a chubby Kabuki player – not scary or threatening at all.

Writing-wise, the introduction is confusing and there’s a predictable character-seeking-retribution plot. This is unsurprising considering that Brisson was lauded for his short-lived 2020 Ghost Rider comic, starring the Spirit of Vengeance. Since the invulnerable Theta lacks depth or originality, I found myself rooting for her computer Sandy instead. At least Sandy has a logic – the narrative breaks the Predator rules of honour when an unarmed character gets killed.

Even though five editors put this book together, they failed to get their tenses straight in a ‘story so far’ blurb. This adds to the impression that this release was rushed to tie in with the latest Predator film.

It’s not all bad news. D’Armata’s colours give the planet Damara a truly alien quality. Cowles’ clean lettering helps make the cartoonish visuals easier to follow.

Predator movies have rarely lived up to the promise of the first film, although their batting average has improved with the home run of Prey, directed by Dan Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane). It’s been much the same story in comics, with Dark Horse publishing many insipid renditions of the alien hunter. Now Marvel Comics has the reigns, I hope it produces an adventure as fitting as Trachtenberg's take.

Its bedfellow benchmark is Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s Alien comic, also from Marvel Comics. This year’s annual has a tight storyline, sort of brings back a classic character and bodes well for a new series with art by Julius Ohta (Captain Marvel).

While I won’t be picking up the rest of Predator’s 6-part story, I will be hunting for Alien #1: Icarus. The recent Alien comics have shown us how sci-fi horror should be done, accompanied by some meticulous art.

In this creative battle of Alien versus Predator, the xenomorphs have more bite.

Have you read Marvel Comics' Alien and Predator series? Let me know in the comments below.

Marvel Comics adapts The Mandalorian

45 years ago, the original Star Wars movie, written and directed by George Lucas (American Graffiti), was released in the US. Lucas' space opera would change moviemaking forever.

To coincide with the anniversary, this week is Star Wars Celebration and Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi premieres with a double episode this Friday on Disney+.

Whilst fans (myself included) wait for the third season of The Mandalorian on Disney+, Marvel Comics is releasing an eight-issue adaptation of the first season through the lens of writer Rodney Barnes (Everybody Hates Chris) and artist Georges Jeanty (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)!

“The story of the Mandalorian checks so many boxes of the stuff I’m passionate about,” Barnes told StarWars.com. “I love Westerns, fantasy, science fiction, comedy, drama…it’s a dream gig for any writer. I’m just glad I was chosen for this assignment!”

New adventures would have been preferable to another Star Wars adaptation. However, you can discover Marvel Comics' take on The Mandalorian when it hits newsstands this July.

Pre-order The Mandalorian #1 (affiliate link) today!

Will you be reading Marvel's The Mandalorian? Let me know in the comments below.

George Pérez: Infinite Titan

Poignantly, George Pérez's passing was announced on Free Comic Book Day (FCBD). An artist whose work I admired long before I knew of the man.

Nick Smith, our resident US-based comic book guru, remembers a beloved creative titan who has left an enduring legacy at both DC and Marvel Comics.

Guest post by Nick Smith

There has been a justified outpouring of tributes to artist George Pérez since he passed away on May 6th. The wealth of well-meaning is justified. Pérez was lauded as a man who cemented the modern look of comic book icons like Wonder Woman and the Teen Titans. He was also a joyful bloke with an infectious enthusiasm for his craft.

His death seems sudden, even though he announced last year that he had been diagnosed with Stage 3 pancreatic cancer. By that stage, cancer had spread beyond his pancreas. A late-stage diagnosis gives a patient less than a year to live.

Pérez faced the news with great courage and decided to ‘let nature take its course.’ Now he’s gone, leaving a mountain of treasure in the form of stories he wrote and/or drew. He’s being remembered as the man who could do anything - draw any and all characters in epics like War of the Gods; write character-driven drama, kung fu thrillers, monster comics or cosmic epics.

My first brush with the artist’s work was in a strip that showed his versatility – a short story called War Toy, originally published in Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction #2. I found it when it was reprinted during the Star Wars craze of the late ‘70s. Written by Tony Isabella with art by Pérez and Rico Rival, it tells the tale of robot soldier FM-1 (“Fighting Man-1”) blessed with independent thought, left to rust in a gutter in peacetime.

There’s action, as FM-1 aces a test run; an alien invasion of Australia; a tribute to “Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima;” and a touching relationship between a father and son, even though the son is a robot.

The story is a heavy-pistoned analogy for our treatment of veterans. Yet the way the characters are drawn shows great finesse and humanity, from FM-1’s military dad to a sympathetic reporter to the tin soldier himself, who bares his teeth-grille and flashes his eye as he considers his fate.

I could pick any one of a hundred Pérez tableaux and have positive words to share about them. But War Toy has stuck with me for over four decades and still gives me goosebumps when I read it today. Pérez had a way of heightening and humanising ideas and making them resonate with readers.

His legacy goes beyond comics, to TV (epitomised by The CW’s Crisis on Infinite Earths), movies (including 2017’s Wonder Woman and Marvel’s Infinity War, which pulled many details from the Infinity Gauntlet miniseries he co-pencilled) and cartoons (with at least one generation of children happily raised on Teen Titans). He has left a great gap in the creative world of comics, one that will never be filled.

What are your memories of comic book legend George Pérez? Let me know in the comments below.

May the Fourth be with Obi-Wan Kenobi

Marvel Comics has announced a new Star Wars: Obi-Wan 5-issue miniseries, written by Christopher Cantwell with art by Ario Anindito coming this May. I'll use a Jedi mind trick on Nick Smith for a review.

"Writing Yoda was surreal. Getting that speech pattern right isn’t as easy as it sounds. And I’ve always loved Qui-Gon. He’s my favorite part of the prequels and such a fascinating character. Anakin proved trickier, because he’s as multifaceted as a diamond." Cantwell told StarWars.com. "But it’s been a joy touching upon them all, and also playing with some beloved alien species and even creating a couple new characters that I think integrate well into the larger universe."

This coincides with Star Wars Day and it's rumoured the Disney+ live-action series, starring Ewan McGregor as the titular Jedi Master, will premiere on May the Fourth.

Very little is known about the six-part special event series directed by Deborah Chow (The Mandalorian). However, Hayden Christensen will reprise the role of Darth Vader.

Read the official synopsis for Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi:

“The story begins 10 years after the dramatic events of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith where Kenobi faced his greatest defeat, the downfall and corruption of his best friend and Jedi apprentice, Anakin Skywalker turned evil Sith Lord Darth Vader.”

Spoiler warning for The Book of Boba Fett currently streaming on Disney+.

Anticipation for the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi series is fever pitch. More so since the appearance of Ahsoka, Luke Skywalker, Mandalorian, Grogu and Cad Bane in The Book of Boba Fett on Disney+. Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau are weaving George Lucas' galactic tapestry together.

There's a renewed level of excitement surrounding the storied franchise comparable to Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Marvel's summer of Star Wars

With only a few weeks to go until The Book of Boba Fett debuts on Disney+, Nick Smith, our US-based stellar scribe, catches up with the notorious bounty hunter in Marvel Comics.

Guest post by Nick Smith

"I will not give up my favourite decoration. I like Captain Solo where he is." – Jabba the Hutt

Recently my office has been decorated with copies of the Marvel Star Wars crossover, War of the Bounty Hunters. Nobody converges summer titles like Marvel – see Secret Wars, House of M and Civil War for evidence – and this year it’s Luke Skywalker’s turn to face his stablemates in books like Doctor Aphra, Darth Vader and IG-88.

Doctor Aphra is the weakest link, with a throwaway plot and underdeveloped characters. The saving grace is Federico Sabbatini’s art in issue 14 (‘Repeat Offenders’), echoing Cynthia Martin’s playful pencils on the original Star Wars comic.

Bounty Hunters and Darth Vader are both well-written, with stronger character development and a sense that there’s plenty of plot to unfold. Valance the hunter thinks there’s still a chance to save Han Solo, even though the smuggler is encased in carbonite and held by the Crimson Dawn syndicate.

Meanwhile, Vader apparently wants to prove himself to the Emperor before he’s usurped by Luke as Palpatine’s number one youngling killer. Ochi of Bestoon comes across as Star Wars’ answer to Deadpool, a wisecracking sidekick to the Lord of the Sith. The cast of Darth Vader all have their own agendas and shift alliances like the sand around a sarlacc.

Some of the major combatants in this war get their own one-shots, although Zuckuss and 4-LOM share an issue called ‘Zuckuss Must Die!’. We learn a lot about Zuckuss and his relationship with his droid buddy – which is not necessarily a good thing.

Like Boba Fett, part of the bounty hunters’ appeal is their mystery. They are alien, not like us with our concerns about friendship (Zuckuss), love (Dengar) or loyalty (Valance). Playing with their Kenner action figures, kids could insert these blank-slate characters into any scenario they wished. To humanize the hunters is to do them a disservice. But how else are the writers supposed to tell stories about these space-cold killers?

The flagship Star Wars comic continues to capture the feel of the original movie trilogy. Issue 15, ‘Friends and Enemies,’ revolves around a Starlight Squadron dogfight for that good old Beggar’s-Canyon-back-home feeling.

As crossovers go, there are scant new ideas and War of the Bounty Hunters feels exceptionally slow and dragged-out. The main plot doesn’t go anywhere for months at a time. The decision to centre the action around an auction in a non-linear fashion hobbles the writers, although they obviously have fun inserting their characters into a galactic bidding war for Han Solo.

Plus we know how events will turn out since editors Mark Paniccia and Tom Groneman announced that the very first issue in this series would shed, ‘new light on Boba’s journey from Cloud City to Tatooine.’

Whilst this particular war doesn’t merit dozens of issues, it does provide some great set pieces worthy of George Lucas’ classic saga. It offers a chance to see 4-LOM become a giant metal spider, reveals Boushh’s background and shows how Chewbacca feels about Lando after Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.

The overall quality of the storytelling and art bodes well for the comics once they’re free from being mashed between two immutable movies.

Nerf blaster celebrates Aliens

"Hey, I wanna introduce you to a personal friend of mine!" To celebrate the 35th anniversary of Aliens, Hasbro is releasing a limited edition electronic Nerf blaster based on the iconic M41-A Pulse Rifle used by the Colonial Marines in director James Cameron's spectacular sequel to Alien.

With its Power Loader-inspired livery, electronic dart counter and movie-accurate sound effects, it's too cool to pass up for fans (myself included) of both Nerf and Aliens. The Nerf LMTD Aliens M41-A Pulse Blaster is available to pre-order for £99.99 from Hasbro Pulse and will be released in October 2022. Yes, that's over a year away.

Nerf LMTD is a premium, fan targeted line from Nerf that brings to life some of the most iconic items from entertainment and video games. This will be the first official Aliens collectable I've bought since Kenner's nineties toy line ended.

In related news. Marvel Comics has begun a new comic book series and Aliens: Fireteam Elite video game is released on PlayStation, Xbox and PC this month. The live-action Alien series begins filming in early 2022 for FX on Hulu and Star on Disney+.

It's not game over for the bug hunting multimedia franchise.

Are you excited for the Nerf LMTD Aliens M41-A Pulse Blaster and what Nerf LMTD license would you like to see Hasbro produce next? Let me know in the comments below.

Aliens: Aftermath

This year, Aliens celebrates its 35th anniversary and to commemorate Marvel Comics has released a sequel to James Cameron's action-packed follow-up to Sir Ridley Scott's Alien.

Aliens: Aftermath.

Nick Smith, our US-based stellar scribe, goes on another bug hunt with the help of the fine folks at TBS Comics in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

Guest post by Nick Smith

Not content with a monthly Alien comic, Marvel Comics has released a one-shot sequel to 1986’s Aliens and it successfully captures the atmosphere and motifs of James Cameron’s masterpiece. It’s not going to get your adrenaline pumping like the movie unless nostalgia is your epinephrine of choice.

Cleverly, Aftermath is set 35 years after the movie and features Jennette Vasquez’s nephew, Cutter. He explores the mystery of Hadley’s Hope, a lost colony on LV-426. When he and his crew visit the desolate moon it’s suffering a nuclear winter, as if it’s been nuked from orbit. Yet something has survived the holocaust…

The homages come thick and fast. The Weyland-Yutani company is as devious as ever. Writer Benjamin Percy (Wolverine) and artist Dave Wachter (Iron Fist) take the bold step of introducing a different xenomorph that doesn’t have the oily, shadowy camouflage of the originals. Part of their charm – of that’s the right word – is that they can pop out from the shadows at any moment; this one is more ghost-like in appearance. But it is still just as effective at killing hunky heroes.

Story-wise, the perspective is different - Cutter is part of the anti-corporate live-feed guerrilla movement Renegade XM. The tropes are the same as always, however: betrayal, sudden death, corporate greed and using people as ‘space mules’ for chestbursters, as seen in the Alien movie series and the regular comic.

There’s nothing wrong with telling the same story differently; Cameron was an expert sequel-maker (see also Terminator 2). But the universe is vast and there are so many new stories that could be told, new characters to meet and new species to fight. If Aliens and Predators co-exist, what else is out there to threaten humanity and make us scream?

Marvel is staking its claim as the new home of Alien comics and it’s doing it with care and skill. I’m glad they chose Percy, an unashamed Alien fan, to write Aftermath. The publisher quotes him as saying:

“When I was a kid, I had a door-length poster of a xenomorph crashing through the wood, tearing off the hinges, creeping forward with a drippy fanged smile. This is the image I would drift away to every night, which no doubt influenced my imaginative hard-wiring, along with the films and comics that I watched and read over and over and over. To this day, I can't grip a knife without wanting to lay my hand on a table and tick-tick-tick the point between my splayed fingers—I can't play a game of ping-pong or Clue without yelling, ‘Game over, man.’—I can't scratch an orange tabby without whispering, ‘You are my lucky star.... lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky.’ I’ve been in love with these stories most of my life, and it's truly an honour and a delight to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Aliens with a script inked in acid blood.”

Typically, giving a fan the tools to work with his or her favourite franchise usually works to the readers’ benefit. Percy certainly leaves us wanting more and although Aftermath is a double-length comic, it deserves a second issue.

14 years before the adventures of Cutter and Co., Security Officer Gabriel Cruz tries to reconnect with his son in the regular Alien comic. Compared to Aftermath this is a slow burn, spending several issues onboard the claustrophobic Epsilon Station.

Alien writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson (Batman) takes a chance by focusing on Cruz, a sympathetic character who nevertheless is gruff and lonely; if you’re looking for a younger male or female hero to relate to, you have my sympathies [I see what you did there - Ed].

Alien introduces strange xenomorphs with horns and bizarre appendages and refers to ‘others that didn’t exist yet.’

This is what we really need to see, and what will keep the franchise alive, with fresh acid breath and dark ideas to surprise us the same way that the first appearance of the chestburster shocked us, with characters as memorable as the original Vasquez and her fellow ill-fated Colonial Marines. It’s quite a challenge but so far Johnson isn’t doing too bad… for a human.

Aliens is now streaming in the UK on Disney+.

Are you reading Marvel Comics' Alien series? Let me know in the comments below.

What Boba Fett did next...

It's the 25th anniversary of Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire and whilst we wait for The Book of Boba Fett this Christmas on Disney+, Marvel Comics takes us back to a time between Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in War of the Bounty Hunters.

Our very own US-based stellar scribe, Nick Smith, grabs his latest comic book bounty, from TBS Comics in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, and goes in pursuit of the infamous Boba Fett.

Guest post by Nick Smith

It’s a story as old as that galaxy far, far away – a protagonist does a favour for a friend in lieu of payment and has to face a series of challenges, eventually finding that the favour could prove fatal thanks to an obstacle that’s bigger and more threatening than he ever expected.

However, in War of the Bounty Hunters, that protagonist is the legendary Boba Fett and the payment concerns that scruffy Corellian smuggler Han Solo. “Precious Cargo,” from Marvel Comics, sets off a chain of events that will span what’s being described as the biggest crossover in Star Wars comics history, filling all 4 monthly titles and a dedicated title (War of the Bounty Hunters). In all, it will take more than 30 issues to tell this story through October 2021. Boushh and IG-88 will get their own comics, while 4-LOM and Zuckuss have to share one.

“Precious Cargo” kicks off five preludes to the war, opening with Boba in his ship Slave 1 [Disney's subsequently renamed it as Boba Fett's Starship - Ed]. He’s just left Bespin with Han encased in carbonite and he’s en route for Tatooine where Solo will become Jabba the Hutt’s favourite decoration. Since The Empire Strikes Back focuses on Luke Skywalker, we’ve never seen What Fett Did Next – until now.

In this kind of crossover, there is no possible character progression for Boba, and the story’s conclusion is inevitable; we know Solo will end up with Jabba. The fun lies in finding out why the other bounty hunters, as well as Luke and the gang, are involved in the war, along with Valance the Cyborg, Domina Tagge and Doctor Aphra. Since the latter three are Marvel creations, they can be further developed. Their fates are unknown to us. Those characters are given just enough traits and twists to keep us reading.

Boba’s situation is complicated thanks to some gangland entanglements with the Kanji Hutts and it becomes apparent that his journey to Tatooine won’t be a straight run. Over in Star Wars issue 13, the rebel alliance searches for their carbon-cosy pal in “The Hunt for Han Solo.” They’re one issue behind Boba so they don’t catch up with him or his cargo. But they, too, face the Kanji. With an image of Boba on a wall and the good guys facing aliens, the cover of this story is reminiscent of the original Star Wars issue 7.

Next up is Bounty Hunters issue 12, which develops the relationship between Valance and Han Solo; and Darth Vader issue 12, continuing a captivating conflict between the Dark Lord of the Sith and his Emperor. The animosity between them makes Vader’s ultimate betrayal of his master less sudden and more believable in Return of the Jedi.

The final prelude is in Doctor Aphra issue 10. Although Aphra is a character with great potential – imagine a Lucasfilm version of Lara Croft, Tomb Raider – “The Invitation” feels the least like a Star Wars story, despite its stomping Stormtroopers and exploding machinery. There’s no direct mention of the Han Solo situation and we’re launched into a confusing situation, even with a ‘story so far’ at the beginning of the book. If you’re not familiar with Aphra’s past and her allies, beware.

Despite this weak link, the War of the Bounty Hunters saga has strong artwork, entertaining characters and situations, and Star Wars references aplenty. Whether that’s enough to hold our attention through 34 comics remains to be seen. But fans have plenty to look forward to in these ‘deleted scenes’ from The Book of Boba Fett, which will lead to Marvel’s contemporary take on Return of the Jedi.

Are you reading War of the Bounty Hunters (affiliate link)? Let me know in the comments below.

Alien Marvel

For a generation of Alien, Predator and Star Wars fans (myself included), Dark Horse Comics satiated fevered fandom between movie franchise instalments in the nineties.

When Disney bought Lucasfilm from George Lucas in 2012, Dark Horse Comics relinquished the Star Wars license back to Marvel Comics as expected. Following the House of Mouse's subsequent acquisition of Twentieth Century Fox's film and television assets, the Alien and Predator franchises have also moved from Dark Horse Comics to Marvel Comics.

Nick Smith, our US-based stellar scribe, grabs a couple of issues of Marvel Comics' all-new Alien series, from TBS Comics in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, and goes on a bug hunt!

Guest post by Nick Smith

Space should be a scary place. Despite NASA’s Ad Astra derring-do and our primal desire to see what’s out there, the void beyond Earth’s atmosphere is cold, dark and full of danger.

The best Alien comics capture this sense of dread: come fly the unfriendly skies, where one misstep could cost you your chest. I’ve yet to read one that really captures the body horror, psychosexual symbolism and bleak outlook of the original movie. Dark Horse’s 1989 spin-off Aliens, by Mark Verheiden and Mark A. Nelson, came closest, a benchmark for high-quality comics, benefiting from its black and white interiors.

Later efforts suffered from out-of-place Sam Kieth art (in Earth War), cardboard characterisations and horrible retro-edits to make them fit into a continuity nobody wanted. A slew of one-shots and mini-series seemed like mere moneymakers.

Five years after the last drop of synthetic milk was squeezed from Dark Horse’s cash cow, Marvel presents a new take on Ridley Scott and HR Giger’s nightmare vision. The result is one of the best storylines since Verheiden’s run.

In issue #1 we’re introduced to Gabriel Cruz, who retires from running Epsilon Orbital Research and Development Station and tries to reconnect with his estranged son. Their reunion doesn’t go very well and the son causes trouble for Cruz in unexpected ways. Meanwhile, Cruz is beset by post-traumatic flashes of a previous encounter with the xenomorphs. Writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson really makes us feel like we’re involved in the action and we care about Cruz from the get-go.

Disappointingly, artist Salvador Larroca’s art doesn’t really work for this kind of story. The images are too clean and the characters have plastic avatar faces. It’s a testament to Johnson’s work that we still sympathize with them and want to know what happens next.

Larroca can draw a mean alien, though, and his human faces improve in issue #2. It’s a little late though, because a whole bunch of humans end up dead thanks to the freaky creatures loose on the station.

As Cruz prepares to face the aliens again, he also encounters homages to the first two Alien movies. There’s a Newt-like little girl, military grunts who expect a traditional ‘bug hunt’ and are unprepared for xenomorphs, and biological research that you just know is a bad idea.

Other Marvel revamps – Conan, Star Wars – have succeeded by maintaining a respect for the source material. So far Marvel’s Alien does the same, finding just the right balance between something old (a version of Bishop, the ‘artificial person’ from Aliens), something new (Gabriel Cruz), something borrowed (facehuggers hiding in nooks and crannies) and something silently screaming in the blackness of space.

Far superior to Dark Horse’s later comics, this 4-issue series is recommended for readers who like to take their sci-fi with a splash of acid blood.

Aliens Omnibus Vol. 1 (affiliate link) is available for pre-order.

Are you reading Marvel Comics' Alien series? Let me know in the comments below.