May the Fourth be with you! In celebration of Star Wars Day, Lucasfilm has announced a whole new slate of book and comic tie-ins to the highly-anticipated Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker movie. Dubbed “Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” this new publishing program is Lucasfilm’s “biggest and boldest” yet, according to Michael Siglain, creative director of publishing at Lucasfilm.
“While these titles will include some hints and Easter eggs for the new film, the majority of these titles will feature all-new stories set following the events of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Our ‘Journey to’ books and comics will star Rey, Finn, Poe, Rose, and, of course, Leia, Chewie, the droids, and the First Order,” Siglain told StarWars.com. “Here, you’ll get a glimpse at both the state of the galaxy and some of the ongoing battles between the Resistance and the First Order.”
Among the announced projects are two comic book series. The first, “Star Wars: Allegiance,” is a Marvel mini-series created by writer Ethan Sacks and artist Luke Ross. According to StarWars.com, the series focuses on General Leia and the remaining Resistance fighters, who are on the run after the destruction of Starkiller Base. With not many options left, Leia reaches out to her former Rebel allies, the Mon Calamari, whose shipyards once powered the Alliance. It will be published weekly in October.
The second comics tie-in, from IDW Publishing, will run in October, November and December’s issues of “Star Wars Adventures.” Written by John Barber and Michael Moreci with art by Derek Charm and Tony Fleecs, the new stories, geared towards kids, will feature the Wookies defending their home planet, Kashyyyk, from the First Order, and R2-D2, C-3PO, and BB-8 teaming up on a top-secret Resistance spy adventure.
Additionally, the announced titles include two books illustrated by Star Wars comic artists: Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: Choose Your Destiny: A Finn & Poe Adventure, illustrated by Elsa Charretier, and Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: Spark of the Resistance, a middle grade novel illustrated by Phil Noto.
Pre-orders for the “Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” line launch next week. For full descriptions and sneak peaks at some of the book covers, head on over to StarWars.com.