By George Bate
While 2020 has certainly been a rough year to say the least, it has seen a whole host of quality Star Wars projects to brighten our mood. This trend continues in the month of December, featuring several new episodes of The Mandalorian and various new and exciting comics, magazines, and books. All in all, there’s something for all types of Star Wars fans coming this month. It is important to note that these release dates are subject to change. Below includes a list and description of upcoming Star Wars projects in the month of December:
December 1 – The Art of The Mandalorian (Season One)
Abrams Books’ Star Wars art compilations always deliver incredible artwork and insights and The Art of The Mandalorian is no exception. Written by Phil Szostak with a foreword by Doug Chiang, the book includes never-before-seen concept art and sketches from the Disney+ series. The publisher’s summary is as follows: “The Art of Star Wars: The Mandalorian takes fans behind the scenes of the first ever live-action Star Wars television series. Filled with concept art, sketches, and interviews with key cast, crew, and creatives, including executive producer/showrunner/writer Jon Favreau and executive producer/director Dave Filoni, The Art of Star Wars: The Mandalorian will provide readers with an exclusive look at a whole new universe of Star Wars characters, locations, and vehicles.”
December 1 – The Mandalorian: Allies & Enemies
December kicks off with a couple new Mandalorian books for young readers. Published by Disney-Lucasfilm Press and written by Brooke Vitale, this World of Reading Level 2 book features some of our favorite characters from the Disney+ series and includes stickers!
December 1 – The Mandalorian: A Clan of Two
Brooke Vitale has also written a storybook retelling the first season of The Mandalorian for young readers.
December 8 – Star Wars Adventures: The Clone Wars – Battle Tales
Michael Moreci’s five-part comic-book series Star Wars Adventures: The Clone Wars – Battle Tales is compiled together in this paperback collection published by IDW Publishing. The publisher’s summary is as follows: “Return to a time of great upheaval in the galaxy, the final years of the Republic, in this anthology based on the beloved animated series! While Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and other Jedi Knights fight against incredible odds, two Republic squadrons must hold their position against an encroaching droid army of the Separatists. Pinned down for the duration, Commander Cody, Captain Rex, and other clones swap war stories that feature your favorite characters from The Clone Wars animated series, such as Padmé Amidala, General Grievous, and many more!”
December 4 – The Mandalorian: Season 2, Chapter 14
The Mandalorian Season 2 has been amazing so far and the season continues into December with Chapter 14, once again written by Jon Favreau.
December 8 – Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: Tales of the Jedi Vol. 1
Marvel Comics continues to honor the Star Wars Legends continuity with a compilation of John Ostrander’s Dawn of the Jedi series. The publisher’s summary is as follows: “The origins of the Jedi order are revealed! Journey all the way back to the beginning, more than 25,000 years before the saga of the Skywalkers, and discover how the Jedi began! Before lightsabers, before hyperspace travel, before the Jedi’s message spread throughout the galaxy. When connections to the Force were strange and new. There, on a distant planet, a group of beings strive to balance the mysterious Force. Behold the Jee’dai! But a stranger is coming, one who has a connection to the Force all his own – and the doors to the galaxy are about to swing wide open! COLLECTING: STAR WARS: DAWN OF THE JEDI – FORCE STORM (2012) 1-5, STAR WARS: DAWN OF THE JEDI – PRISONER OF BOGAN (2012) 1-5, STAR WARS: DAWN OF THE JEDI – FORCE WAR (2013) 1-5, STAR WARS: DAWN OF THE JEDI (2012) 0.”
December 8 – The Clone Wars: Season 7: Volume 1
The final season of The Clone Wars was one of the highlights of 2020 and the season is reworked into a new graphic novel-style adaptation in the classic Screen Comix format. The publisher’s summary is as follows: “Star Wars: The Clone Wars Screen Comix is a graphic novel-style retelling with full-color images and dialogue from the show! The first six episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ revival seventh season are retold in the new Screen Comix format. Follow classic characters like Ahsoka Tano, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Yoda–voiced by the series’ original cast–in the epic story of the deadly Clone Wars in the new season on Disney+. The Star Wars: The Clone Wars Screen Comix is a 320-paged graphic novel-style retelling of the show, featuring final frames and dialogue from the series in vibrant full color, will delight fans of all ages.”
December 9 – Star Wars 9
Charles Soule’s main Star Wars comic continues with his ninth issue. The publisher’s summary is as follows: “”OPERATION STARLIGHT” BEGINS, AS THE REBEL PATHFINDERS UNDERTAKE A DESPERATE MISSION TO THE IMPERIAL CORE. In the Imperial Museum on CORUSCANT, an ancient droid holds the key to salvation of the REBEL ALLIANCE. The Rebels’ elite operations team, the PATHFINDERS, must pull off a daring heist right under the nose of the EMPEROR himself, with LANDO and LOBOT along for the ride!”
December 9 – Star Wars Insider 199
The 199th issue of Titan Magazine’s Star Wars Insider hits newsstands this month. The publisher’s summary is as follows: “It’s all about the Jedi in issue 199 of Star Wars Insider, with a host of features and interviews to prepare you for a new golden age of Star Wars storytelling with the launch of The High Republic this August. We speak to Charles Soule, Claudia Gray, Justina Ireland, Cavan Scott, and Daniel José Older about their work on and hopes for the ambitious publishing project-and drop some plot teasers along the way. Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka Tano) and Sam Witwer (Darth Maul) reveal what it’s like playing characters on opposite sides of the Force in The Clone Wars, and we go behind-the-scenes on ILMxLAB’s Vader Immortal VR series.”
December 11 – The Mandalorian: Season 2, Chapter 15
The Mandalorian continues with Chapter 15, once again written by Jon Favreau.
December 13 – The Star Wars Archives: Episodes I-III 1999-2005
Taschen’s Star Wars Archives series has been so insightful and interesting so far and this trend continues with the brilliant The Star Wars Archives: Episodes I-III 1999-2005, which details information from the Star Wars prequel trilogy. This is a must for Star Wars fans around the holiday season, showcasing cool behind the scenes images, beautiful concept art, and interesting trivia facts.
December 16 – Darth Vader 8
The continuation of Greg Pak’s Darth Vader series is one of our most anticipated projects for December. The issue will follow the aftermath of Palpatine’s punishment of Vader and introduce the Eye of Webbish Bog, a character who was originally supposed to appear in The Rise of Skywalker. The publisher’s summary is as follows: “INTO THE FIRE! Hungry for vengeance after his brutal punishment at the hands of THE EMPEROR, can DARTH VADER uncover his master’s secrets in the depths of MUSTAFAR? Stripped of his greatest weapons, can the dark lord survive the fire and the EYE? Or will he be overcome as the EYE turns Vader’s every question back to his own terrible secrets?”
December 16 – Star Wars Adventures 4
The fourth issue of the Star Wars Adventures comic series, written by Michael Moreci, illustrated by Megan Levens, and released by IDW Publishing, debuts this month. The publisher’s summary is as follows: “Join the Wookiees of Kashyyyk for part one of a special Life Day celebration! Plus, an exciting adventure featuring a beloved bounty hunter!”
December 18 – The Mandalorian: Season 2, Chapter 16
The finale of season 2 will release on Friday December 18 and is written and directed by Jon Favreau.
December 23 – Bounty Hunters 8
Valance has quickly become one of the best characters from Legends to emerge into canon, as exemplified by his brilliant inclusion in Ethan Sacks’ Bounty Hunters series. The publisher’s summary for the Marvel Comics series’ eighth issue is as follows: “A DEADLY FAVOR! To pay back a debt, VALANCE undertakes a rescue mission to save the crew of a crippled REBEL transport. That dangerous job will take the bounty hunter deep into the heart of the pirate-infested space in THE OUTER RIM. But lying in wait is both an old enemy…and a new threat!”
December 23 – Star Wars Adventures: Smuggler’s Run 1
Star Wars Adventures: Smuggler’s Run 1 is the first issue of the Star Wars Adventures: Smuggler’s Run comic series, which is a reprint of a previously released miniseries. Written by Greg Rucka and Alec Worley, illustrated by Ingo Römling, and released by IDW Publishing, the publisher’s summary is as follows: “After the Battle of Yavin, Han Solo and Chewbacca intend to use their reward to settle their debts. But Princess Leia asks them to accept a secret mission for the Resistance. Mortal dangers, traitorous enemies, and thorny situations mark the path of these two heroes of the Star Wars saga.”
For reference, a condensed list of upcoming projects in December without descriptions is included below:
December 1 – The Art of The Mandalorian (Season One)
December 1 – The Mandalorian: Allies & Enemies
December 1 – The Mandalorian: A Clan of Two
December 8 – Star Wars Adventures: The Clone Wars – Battle Tales
December 4 – The Mandalorian: Season 2, Chapter 14
December 8 – Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: Tales of the Jedi Vol. 1
December 8 – The Clone Wars: Season 7: Volume 1
December 9 – Star Wars 9
December 9 – Star Wars Insider 199
December 11 – The Mandalorian: Season 2, Chapter 15
December 13 – The Star Wars Archives: Episodes I-III 1999-2005
December 16 – Darth Vader 8
December 16 – Star Wars Adventures 4
December 18 – The Mandalorian: Season 2, Chapter 16
December 23 – Bounty Hunters 8
December 23 – Star Wars Adventures: Smuggler’s Run 1
Images courtesy of Disney-Lucasfilm Press, Marvel Comics, Random House, IDW Publishing, Abrams Books, Taschen Books, Titan Magazines, Disney+, and Lucasfilm