By Josh Bate and Julie Catherine
2020 has brought us plenty of great Star Wars content so far and August is no exception. From a new Poe Dameron novel to another installment of Greg Pak’s incredible Darth Vader series, August is full of interesting installments to canon suitable for any Star Wars fan. Unfortunately, August was also meant to be the home for Star Wars Celebration Anaheim 2020 before its delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the lack of a Celebration this year, however, there’s still plenty of content to feast on. In addition, given that the first trailer for The Mandalorian season 1 was released in August 2019, we may also see a trailer for the upcoming second season of The Mandalorian this month. Below includes a list of upcoming Star Wars projects in the month of August:
August 4 – Poe Dameron: Free Fall
Alex Segura’s young-adult novel will focus on Poe Dameron’s time with the Spice Runners of Kijimi, a character point hinted at in The Rise of Skywalker. The publisher’s summary is as follows: “It’s been a few years since Poe’s mother passed away, and Poe and his father, who was a pilot for the Rebellion, have had more and more trouble connecting. Not sure what he wants to do with his life, teenage Poe runs away from home to find adventure, and to figure out what kind of man he is meant to be.”
August 5 – Star Wars 5
This is the fifth issue of Charles Soule’s canon comic series Star Wars, will illustrations by Jesús Saiz. The publisher’s summary of the issue is as follows: “The next steps on Luke Skywalker’s search for Jedi wisdom begin here! Following a mysterious vision he received on CLOUD CITY, Luke travels to a lost planet looking for a woman he believes may hold the key to his Jedi future and that of the entire Rebellion. But will he arrive at his destination in time to learn what he needs… or will the evil DARTH VADER get there first?”
August 5 – Star Wars Adventures: The Clone Wars – Battle Tales 3
The Battle Tales series has been an exciting addition to canon so far and hopefully the third issue is no exception. Written by Michael Moreci, illustrated by Derek Charm and Valentina Pinto, and published by IDW Publishing, the publisher’s summary for the weekly series is as follows: “This exciting weekly series explores a time of great upheaval in the galaxy—the Clone Wars! While Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and other Jedi Knights fight against incredible odds, Commander Cody, Captain Rex, and other clones, pinned down for the duration, swap war stories that feature your favorite characters from The Clone Wars animated series, such as Padmé Amidala, General Grievous, and many more!”
August 6 – Star Wars Annual 2021
This is the 2021 edition of Star Wars Annual published by Egmont Publishing. The publisher’s summary is as follows: “With a full round-up of the 9 saga movies, this Annual is the complete guide to everyone’s favourite franchise. Relive all the action and adventure of the 3 Star Wars trilogies with stories, fun facts, activities, posters and more! Includes The Rise of Skywalker new characters, movie moments and more!”
August 12 – Darth Vader 4
Greg Pak’s incredible Vader series continues with this fourth installment. The publisher’s summary is as follows: “WHO HUNTS THE HUNTER? DARTH VADER continues his terrifying quest for vengeance against everyone who hid the existence of his son from him. But on NABOO, the DARK LORD OF THE SITH faces a deadly new challenge as his focus turns from LUKE to PADMÉ, the wife of the man Vader used to be. And what secrets lie in the tomb of PADMÉ AMIDALA?”
August 19 – Bounty Hunters 4
The adventures of Valance, Boba Fett, and more continue in the fourth issue of writer Ethan Sacks and illustrator Paolo Villanelli’s Marvel Comics series. The publisher’s summary is as follows: “THE SINS THAT CAN’T BE ABSOLVED! With a blaster aimed at this [sic] back, cyborg bounty hunter VALANCE closes in on NAKANO LASH, the mentor who abandoned him many years ago. But what is the secret that Lash has been hiding ever since that fateful, doomed mission – one that led her to betray her entire crew? Those answers may die with her if a vengeful BOBA FETT gets to her first.”
August 19 – Star Wars Adventures: The Clone Wars – Battle Tales 4
August 25 – The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark
One of August’s most anticipated projects is a short story collection chronicling stories and arcs from The Clone Wars series. The project features stories written by Lou Anders, Tom Angleberger, Preeti Chhibber, Zoraida Córdova, Jason Fry, Yoon Ha Lee, Rebecca Roanhorse, Anne Ursu and Greg van Eekhout.
August 25 – What is the Story of Princess Leia?
Brought to us by Brandon T. Snider, Patrick Spaziante, and Who HQ, this canon story takes a look at Leia, the Princess of Alderaan.
August 25 – Star Wars: Darth Vader – Dark Lord of the Sith Vol. 2
Vader’s prominence in the month of August continues with a hardcover compilation of Charles Soule’s issues 13-25 of Darth Vader – Dark Lord of the Sith. The publisher’s summary is as follows: “Darth Vader’s imperious rise continues! As the Empire’s grip on the galaxy tightens, the stirrings of a rebellion begin in the Mon Cala system. The fearsome Darth Vader knows that order must be maintained at all costs – but bringing Mon Cala to heel means finding the surviving Jedi that foment this unrest. As Vader, Tarkin and their Inquisitors hunt their targets, the seas will weep! Meanwhile, Vader discovers a theft – and when the thief faces the consequences, Emperor Palpatine rewards his disciple with a chilling gift! Seeking the path to destiny, Vader returns to the place of his greatest defeat. Darkness rises above Mustafar as Vader’s brutal design begins to take shape – but will the planet’s inhabitants stand for this desecration? And what can they do against the Dark Lord?”
August 25 – Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back 40th Anniversary Special
Celebrating the 40th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back, this Star Wars Insider deluxe collector’s edition magazine features various interviews, articles, and never-before-seen images from the iconic film.
August 25 – The Rise of Skywalker Little Golden Book
The Little Golden Book’s young-readers adaptation of The Rise of Skywalker drops this month, fusing some of the publisher’s iconic illustrations with the last story in the Skywalker saga.
August 26 – Doctor Aphra 3
Doctor Aphra continues to be one of the best well-developed characters in canon outside of films and television, as exemplified by this recent run written by Alyssa Wong and illustrated by Marika Cresta. August brings us the third issue in the series, described by the publisher in the following: “THE TRIALS OF VAALE! Separated from her crew, DOCTOR APHRA finds herself in peril at the hands of RONEN TAGGE’S mercenaries! Could there be a traitor in their midst? And can Aphra outwit them before the curse of the city swallows her and her new team whole?”
August 26 – Star Wars Adventures Annual 2020
August closes out with a one-shot issue published by IDW Publishing featuring the character Jaxxon. The publisher’s summary is as follows: “Framed for a crime he didn’t commit, Jaxxon finds himself at odds with the Empire, the Rebellion, and his ex-partner Amaiza Foxtrain! Co-starring Luke, Leia, Han, and Chewie in the days leading up to The Empire Strikes Back! Plus, an all-new tale of everyone’s favorite droid bounty hunter from The Empire Strikes Back-IG-88! (With apologies to 4-LOM.)”
For reference, a condensed list of upcoming projects in August without descriptions is included below:
August 4 – Poe Dameron: Free Fall
August 5 – Star Wars 5
August 5 – Star Wars Adventures: The Clone Wars – Battle Tales 3
August 6 – Star Wars Annual 2021
August 12 – Darth Vader 4
August 19 – Bounty Hunters 4
August 19 – Star Wars Adventures: The Clone Wars – Battle Tales 4
August 25 – The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark
August 25 – What is the Story of Princess Leia?
August 25 – Star Wars: Darth Vader – Dark Lord of the Sith Vol. 2
August 25 – Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back 40th Anniversary Special
August 25 – The Rise of Skywalker Little Golden Book
August 26 – Doctor Aphra 3
August 26 – Star Wars Adventures Annual 2020
Images courtesy of Lucasfilm, Disney, Disney-Lucasfilm Press, Marvel Comics, Penguin Publishing, IDW Publishing, Little Golden Books, and Egmont Publishing