Fan-favorite Star Wars character Lando Calrissian is set to headline an all-new Marvel Comics one-shot as part of the publisher's celebration of Return of the Jedi's 40th anniversary.
As part of its May 2023 solicitations, Marvel officially announced Star Wars: Return of the Jedi - Lando #1, which is currently slated to hit comic shops on Wednesday, May 3. The issue comes from writer Stephanie Phillips and artist Álvaro López. It features a main cover and virgin variant cover by Ryan Brown, as well as additional variant covers by Lee Garbett, Rahzzah, Brian Stelfreeze and Tyler Kirkham.
STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE JEDI - LANDO #1
- STEPHANIE PHILLIPS (W) • ÁLVARO LÓPEZ (A) • Cover by RYAN BROWN
- VIRGIN VARIANT COVER BY RYAN BROWN • CONNECTING VARIANT COVER BY LEE GARBETT
- VARIANT COVER BY RAHZZAH • VARIANT COVER BY BRIAN STELFREEZE
- VARIANT COVER BY TYLER KIRKHAM
- LANDO AND CHEWIE ANTE UP TO SAVE THE GALAXY!
- When Lando Calrissian and Chewbacca find themselves on a perilous mission to steal from Jabba himself, a dangerous figure from Lando’s past threatens their plans and their lives. Chewie finds that putting his trust in Calrissian is a gamble that just might pay off, as Lando calls on his skills as a smuggler to make it out alive. Part of a series of one-shots celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Return of the Jedi, this story by Stephanie Phillips (COSMIC GHOST RIDER, ROGUE & GAMBIT) and Álvaro López (CAPTAIN MARVEL) bring you a new, high-stakes adventure with some of Star Wars’ most beloved characters.
- 40 PGS./ONE-SHOT/Rated T …$4.99
- Star Wars © Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All rights reserved. Used under authorization. Text and illustrations for Star Wars are © 2023 Lucasfilm Ltd.
Lando's Return of the Jedi special centers on a team-up between the titular smuggler and Han Solo's right-hand Wookiee, Chewbacca. "When Lando Calrissian and Chewbacca find themselves on a perilous mission to steal from Jabba himself, a dangerous figure from Lando's past threatens their plans and their lives," the solicitation text reads. "Chewie finds that putting his trust in Calrissian is a gamble that just might pay off, as Lando calls on his skills as a smuggler to make it out alive."
Return of the Jedi Turns 40
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi - Lando #1 is the third in a series of one-shot specials Marvel is publishing to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the film Return of the Jedi, which released in theaters on May 25, 1983 as the third and final entry in the original Star Wars trilogy. The House of Ideas previously announced Star Wars: Return of the Jedi - Jabba's Palace #1, on sale March 29, and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi - Ewoks #1, on sale April 12.
Of course, Lando (played by Billy Dee Williams) played a significant role in Return of the Jedi. In addition to helping free the carbonite-frozen Han from Jabba's clutches at the beginning of the film, Lando -- accompanied by Nien Nunb -- became a certified Rebel hero when delivered the final blow that destroyed the Galactic Empire's second Death Star during the climactic Battle of Endor.
Williams' Lando first appeared in the 1980 film The Empire Strikes Back, in which he betrayed Han, resulting the latter being frozen in carbonite and taken to Jabba's Palace in the first place. After Lando achieved redemption in Return of the Jedi, Williams went on to reprise the role once again in the 2019 film Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker -- the final installment in the sequel trilogy. In the interim, Donald Glover portrayed Lando in the 2018 anthology film Solo: A Star Wars Story, which peeled back the curtain on Han's origin and his history with Lando. Glover is expected to return for a live-action Lando event series on Disney+.
Written by Stephanie Phillips and illustrated by Álvaro López, Star Wars: Return of the Jedi - Lando #1 goes on sale May 3 from Marvel Comics.
Source: Marvel Comics