By George Bate and Julie Catherine
The month before the debut of Obi-Wan Kenobi sees a number of exciting comics, novels, reference books, and a highly anticipated video game in the Star Wars universe. Below includes a list and description of upcoming Star Wars projects in the month of April. It is important to note all of these release dates are subject to change.
April 5 – Queen’s Hope
E.K. Johnston’s Padme trilogy comes to a close with Queen’s Hope. The publisher’s summary is as follows: “A peace-loving senator faces a time of war in another thrilling Padmé Amidala adventure from the author of the New York Times best-sellers Queen’s Peril and Queen’s Shadow! Padmé is adjusting to being a wartime senator during the Clone Wars. Her secret husband, Anakin Skwyalker, is off fighting the war, and excels at being a wartime Jedi. In contrast, when Padmé gets the opportunity to see the casualties on the war-torn front lines, she is horrified. The stakes have never been higher for the galaxy, or for the newly-married couple. Meanwhile, with Padmé on a secret mission, her handmaiden Sabé steps into the role of Senator Amidala, something no handmaiden has done for an extended period of time. While in the Senate, Sabé is equally horrified by the machinations that happen there. She comes face to face with a gut-wrenching decision as she realizes that she cannot fight a war this way, not even for Padmé. And Chancellor Palpatine hovers over it all, manipulating the players to his own ends…”
April 5 – Darth Bane: Dynasty of Evil – The Essential Legends Collection
The final novel in Drew Karpyshyn’s Darth Bane Trilogy is given new life in Del Rey’s The Essential Legends Collection.
April 5 – Darth Plagueis – The Essential Legends Collection
Re-experience of the best Star Wars Legends novel this month as James Luceno’s Darth Plagueis novel is re-released as part of Del Rey’s The Essential Legends Collection.
April 5 – Kenobi – The Essential Legends Collection
Just in time for the new Obi-Wan Kenobi series on Disney+, John Jackson Miller’s Kenobi from Star Wars Legends is re-published as part of Del Rey’s The Essential Legends Collection.
April 5 – X-Wing: Wedge’s Gamble – The Essential Legends Collection
The second installment in Michael A. Stackpole’s X-Wing series from the 1990s is also part of Del Rey’s The Essential Legends Collection this month.
April 5 – LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
Long have I waited…at last, the highly anticipated LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga video game is released. Adapting the nine films of the Skywalker Saga, the game comes from developer Traveller’s Tales this month.
April 6 – Bounty Hunters 22
Ethan Sacks’ excellent Bounty Hunters series continues with its 22nd issue this month. The publisher’s summary is as follows: “ALL OUT WAR ON THE STREETS OF CORELLIA! Besieged by an entire syndicate of killers, T’ONGA, BOSSK, TASU LEECH ZUCKUSS, 4-LOM and LOSHA have no choice but to fight their way out through the streets. But will all of the crew make it out of CORONET CITY alive? Meanwhile, DENGAR strikes…and the Underworld may never be the same!”
April 12 – Star Wars: The Tiny Book of Legendary Women
Insight Editions will publish a small reference book focusing on the incredible women of the Star Wars universe this month.
April 12 – Star Wars: The High Republic – Trail of Shadows
Daniel Jose Older’s detective thriller comic The High Republic – Trail of Shadows is compiled in a paperback collection this month.
April 13 – Darth Vader (2020) 22
Greg Pak’s Darth Vader series continues to crossover with the events of Crimson Reign in the newest issue. The publisher’s summary for issue 22 is as follows: “CRIMSON HAVOC! With all secrets smashed and all traitors revealed, DARTH VADER unleashes his endgame! But is his target CRIMSON DAWN – or the EMPIRE itself? And where does that leave the heroes and assassins who have fought at his side? Plus, a shocking reveal that cuts to the very core of the DARK LORD’S dark heart!”
April 13 – Star Wars (2020) 22
The publisher’s summary for the 22nd issue of Charles Soule’s mainline series is as follows: “THE DAWN ALLIANCE – PART 1 OF 3 “The Last Division” The time has come for THE REBEL ALLIANCE fleet to bring its final lost division home… but to do it, LEIA ORGANA, MON MOTHMA and the other Alliance leaders will need to rely on intelligence provided by the notoriously untrustworthy criminal organization CRIMSON DAWN. Meanwhile, Starlight Squadron and a group of rogue PATHFINDERS led by KES DAMERON head out on an unauthorized rescue mission to save one of their own…!”
April 19 – Star Wars: The High Republic Vol. 3 – Jedi’s End
This new paperback collection compiles Cavan Scott’s Star Wars: The High Republic and Charles Soule’s mini-series Eye of the Storm.
April 27 – Crimson Reign 4
The Qi’ra saga continues with the upcoming fourth issue of Crimson Reign. The publisher’s summary for Charles Soule’s comic is as follows: “THE KNIGHTS! THE KNIGHTS OF REN have their role to play in QI’RA’S grand scheme to destabilize THE EMPIRE, and their task is arguably the most important…Something crucial is locked away in FORTRESS VADER, and the Knights must steal it. A heist on the SITH-controlled furnace world of MUSTAFAR…with the Galaxy as the prize!”
April 27 – Doctor Aphra (2020) 20
Alyssa Wong can do wrong, as evidenced by her compelling and emotional Doctor Aphra comic series. The publisher’s summary for the upcoming 20th issue is as follows: “FROM HERE TO ETERNITY! DOCTOR APHRA and SANA STARROS confront KHO PHON FARRUS at the heart of an ARCHAEOLOGICAL RUIN! But they’re all about to learn the horrifying truth behind the SPARK ETERNAL……and ONLY ONE will escape unscathed!”
April 27 – Halcyon Legacy 3
The publisher’s summary for the third issue of Ethan Sacks’ comic series is as follows: “SPY INTRIGUE IN THE CLONE WARS ERA! ANAKIN and PADMÉ are in disguise aboard the HALCYON tracking a senator suspected of having separatist ties! But their secret mission will put them on a collision course with ASAJJ VENTRESS! And, fifty years later, the ship’s crew risks a desperate escape through a deadly solar storm!”
April 27 – Han Solo & Chewbacca 2
Marc Guggenheim’s new Han Solo and Chewbacca series continues this month with its second issue. The publisher’s summary is as follows: “THE HEIST IS ON! HAN, CHEWIE and GREEDO have to pull off an impossible heist for JABBA THE HUTT! But who can Han trust? SPOILER: Han breaks into his target’s safe, but you won’t believe what’s inside!”
April 27 – Star Wars (2020) 23
April wraps up with the 23rd issue of Charles Soule’s Star Wars series. The publisher’s summary is as follows: “THE DAWN ALLIANCE – PART 2 OF 3 “The Last Division. The fate of THE REBEL ALLIANCE FLEET is at stake, as its last remaining divisions face off in battle against the brutal tactics of COMMANDER ELLIAN ZAHRA and her crew on the TARKIN’S WILL. For Zahra, this fight is personal; her revenge will not be complete until every life lost on THE DEATH STAR is avenged. Epic space warfare in the true STAR WARS manner!”
For reference, a condensed list of upcoming projects in April without descriptions is included below:
April 5 – Queen’s Hope
April 5 – Darth Bane: Dynasty of Evil – The Essential Legends Collection
April 5 – Darth Plagueis – The Essential Legends Collection
April 5 – Kenobi – The Essential Legends Collection
April 5 – X-Wing: Wedge’s Gamble – The Essential Legends Collection
April 5 – LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
April 6 – Bounty Hunters 22
April 12 – Star Wars: The Tiny Book of Legendary Women
April 12 – Star Wars: The High Republic – Trail of Shadows
April 13 – Darth Vader (2020) 22
April 13 – Star Wars (2020) 22
April 19 – Star Wars: The High Republic Vol. 3 – Jedi’s End
April 27 – Crimson Reign 4
April 27 – Doctor Aphra (2020) 20
April 27 – Halcyon Legacy 3
April 27 – Han Solo & Chewbacca 2
April 27 – Star Wars (2020) 23
Images courtesy of Disney-Lucasfilm Press, Del Rey, Traveller’s Tales, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, Marvel Comics, & Insight Editions