Marvel Comics' announcement that its Star Wars comics have finally entered the long-heralded post-Return of the Jedi era has stoked a great deal of excitement among fans of the franchise, who have patiently waited for the Disney canon to move out of the Original Trilogy era and into more "uncharted" territory.
As first revealed on StarWars.com, Marvel's relaunch of its flagship Star Wars series – written by Alex Segura, with art by Phil Noto – will move the franchise forward, beginning to chronicle the epoch of galactic history between the fall of the Empire and its revival as the even more vicious First Order.
Readers have been waiting for this turning point in Star Wars continuity for a decade now, and Marvel has made it clear that the publisher has some exciting plans in store for the franchise's beloved main characters, Luke, Han, and Leia.
The New Republic Era Promises An Exciting New Comics Backdrop For "Star Wars" Beloved Characters
After Defeating The Empire, Luke, Leia, & Han Have Work To Do
Marvel is currently wrapping up its extended Battle of Jakku series, chronicling the Galactic Civil War's final battle. The subsequent Star Wars series, which launches in May, will follow the franchise's core heroes, and the fledgling New Republic, as they seek to rebuild the galaxy at large, following years of Imperial oppression. Series author Alex Segura noted that this is a pivotal time in the franchise's canon, one he is excited to shepherd, explaining:
“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."
In other words, the palpable excitement from the creative team reflects fans' desire to find out what happens in this major era of Star Wars history.
Star Wars fans have been able to piece together some details about the post-Return of the Jedi, pre-Force Awakens stretch of the timeline, but that is still a three-decade gap that has remained largely unexplored.
Of course, Star Wars fans have been able to piece together some details about the post-Return of the Jedi, pre-Force Awakens stretch of the timeline, but that is still a three-decade gap that has remained largely unexplored in the franchise's current canon. The previous Star Wars canon, now branded as "Legends," was densely packed with stories about the fall of the Empire and the rise of the New Republic, but the Disney continuity has held back from this point on the timeline for years – until now.
Information About Luke, Leia, & Han During The New Republic Era Is Sparse, But Not For Much Longer
Marvel's Star Wars Comic Can Fill In Major Gaps
Fans know that, following Return of the Jedi, Luke went on to form a school for Force sensitive children to rebuild the Jedi Order, a an attempt that ultimately proved a failure when his nephew, Ben Solo, destroyed Luke’s school and students, as Solo fell to the Dark Side. As for Princess Leia, the Sequel Trilogy shows that there was a moment in time when she trained as a Jedi. This interesting plot point was not expanded on any further, but Segura’s Star Wars aligns perfectly with the time period Leia would have undergone training with her brother.
Star Wars' New Era Must Embrace a Key Legends Transformation, And I Know You'll Agree
Star Wars is entering a new era & will introduce the New Jedi Council - here's why canon Star Wars should embrace the Council's Legends transformation
Not much is known about Han Solo during the New Republic era. The Force Awakens reveals that Han and Leia divorced after their son fell to the Dark Side, and that Han and Chewy were still out joyriding on the Millennium Falcon, but nothing more. As for the comics, both Marjorie Liu’s 2015 Han Solo series and the 2015 Star Wars series written by Jason and John Cassaday were set during the original trilogy. Now, Alex Segura’s Star Wars can answer the questions as to what Han’s role in building the New Republic looked like.
Source: StarWars.com Official Announcement
Star Wars #1 will be available May 7, 2025 from Marvel Comics
-
Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.
-
The son of Anakin Skywalker and Pé Amidala, Luke was brought up on the desert planet Tatooine. Initially mentored by Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke fired the fateful shot that destroyed the Death Star, and he became a rebel hero. Despite the fears of Obi-Wan and Yoda, Luke's faith in his father was proved well-founded when Vader returned to the light. With the Emperor defeated, Luke dedicated himself to bringing back the Jedi; his first attempt ended in tragedy due to Palpatine's manipulations, but Luke's legacy lives on in Rey.
-
The daughter of Anakin Skywalker and Pé Amidala, Leia inherited her mother's political skills and her father's Force power. She was raised on Alderaan as a member of the royal family, and followed in her father's footsteps by becoming a senator who secretly worked alongside the Rebel Alliance. Alderaan's destruction changed everything, and Leia became a leader in both the Rebel Alliance and its successor government, the New Republic. She served there for decades, eventually leaving to found the First Order when she sensed its darkness growing. Leia gave much for her ideals, but eventually gave her life to redeem her son Ben.
-
Hailing from Corellia, Han Solo deserted the Empire to become a smuggler, and he spent years working for the Hutts as a spice runner. Han's life changed forever when he agreed to transport Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker to Alderaan from Tatooine, and he soon became an important member of the Rebel Alliance. Han's romance with Leia Organa became the stuff of legend, and they married shortly after the Battle of Endor. Sadly, their relationship ended in tragedy when their son Ben fell to the dark side - eventually killing Han. Still, memories of Han helped bring Ben back to the light.
