Star Wars and Dark Horse Comics are reuniting in 2022.
According to StarWars.com, next spring will see new all-ages stories from the High Republic to the sequel trilogy era published by Dark Horse thanks to a new deal with Lucasfilm and Disney Worldwide Publishing. Save for 2020's The Art of Star Wars Rebels, this will mark Dark Horse's first foray back into Star Wars since the license went to Marvel in 2014. Marvel confirmed to CBR that this will have no impact on its own line of Star Wars titles.
"The idea is to build up a Star Wars program that includes an on-going series as well as an anthology," Dark Horse Comics founder and CEO Mike Richardson said. "Mixed in would be one-shots and specials. We’ll see where we go from there. Initially, we will focus on stories featuring the High Republic.
"Star Wars is near and dear to all of our hearts and I’ve been a fan since I saw the original film 19 times during its original release. I am thrilled that Dark Horse will once again bring new stories to life from this incredible galaxy. The Star Wars universe has grown over the years and there’s so many new opportunities for great stories. I can’t tell you how excited we are to get started!”
The very first Star Wars comics were published by Marvel beginning in 1977, the same year the franchise began with A New Hope. Dark Horse acquired the license in 1991 and published such fan-favorites as Dark Empire, Tales of the Jedi, X-wing: Rogue Squadron, Knights of the Old Republic and more titles that helped shape the Expanded Universe.
In 2012, Lucasfilm was acquired by The Walt Disney Company, and by 2015, the Star Wars comics license reverted to fellow Disney subsidiary Marvel. The Expanded Universe was also discarded and rebranded as "Legends." Two years later, IDW Publishing began releasing its own Star Wars books, primarily targeted at younger readers.
"All of us at Lucasfilm Publishing are thrilled to be working with Mike Richardson and everyone at Dark Horse on comics and original graphic novels set in a galaxy far, far away," Lucasfilm Publishing Creative Director Michael Siglain added. "There are unlimited storytelling possibilities for all ages comics, and we look forward to collaborating with Dark Horse — and with the best writers and artists in the industry — to bring those stories to readers and fans all over the world."
Source: StarWars.com