A prelude to the upcoming Dark Droids event takes root within the pages of Darth Vader (Vol. 3) #36 that sees Doctor Aphra make a low-key getaway and Vader assemble a new, elite fighting force from scrap. In Bounty Hunters #36, more seeds for Dark Droids are planted as T'onga and the new crew face off with a somewhat but not quite familiar faleen involved with Black Sun.

Comics Discussed This Week:

• Darth Vader (Vol. 3) #36 (8:54)
• Bounty Hunters #36 (18:14)

Star Wars Comics New to Marvel Unlimited This Week:

• Hidden Empire #5 (of 5)
• Star Wars #33

News:

• Marvel's Halloween Trick or Read comic will be a reprint of The High Republic (Vol. 1) #5. It's due in stores Oct. 4.
• Dark Droids #1 is getting a 2nd printing, due out Aug. 16. Not final art cover by Ken Lashley.
• As part of its presence at SDCC this year, Dark Horse Comics is hosting a Star Wars-comics signing on Saturday, July 22 from 11-11:45 a.m. local time at its booth. Though it's not yet been announced, it's likely that one of the Jaxxon Annual convention-exclusive variants could be available for purchase.

Upcoming Star Wars comics, graphic novels and omnibuses:

July 12 _ Bounty Hunters #36, Darth Vader #36

July 19 _ Doctor Aphra #34, The Rebellion #1 one-shot


July 26 _ Darth Vader: Black, White & Red #4 (of 4), The Mandalorian Season 2 #2, Hyperspace Stories #6 (of 12), Star Wars #35 (2nd Printing)

Aug. 1 _ Doctor Aphra (Vol. 2) Vol. 6, “Ascendant” TPB (Collects 26-31), Thrawn (New Printing, Collects 1-6)

Aug. 2 _ Dark Droids #1 (of 5), Yoda #10, Hyperspace Stories #7 (of 12)

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 Nameless Terror TPB (Collects 1-4); 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, 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)

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 _ 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)

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. 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. 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. 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)
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)

Dec. 3 _ Yoda TPB (Collects Yoda 1-10)

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)

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. 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)

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)