The new line of Classic Trade Dress variant covers due this summer seek to shine a light on Marvel Comics and Star Wars’ well-established history of comics narratives.
46 years ago this month, Marvel took their first trip to a galaxy far, far away by publishing the official comic book adaptation of the 1977 film then known simply as Star Wars (A New Hope being added later). Fun fact: the comic book actually came out over a month before the film was released in theatres that May, and it was, naturally, a rousing success which lead to Marvel following suit with the next two films – The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. For the 40th anniversary of iconic artist Bill Sienkiewicz’s spectacular covers of the 1983 film Star Wars: Return of the Jedi comic series, Ordway presents his new Classic Trade Dress variant covers as tribute. Colorist Nolan Woodward got in on the fun, challenging himself to use only colors which were period specific to the original comic adaptation of Return of the Jedi, and the result is Jerry Ordway’s homage to Sienkiewicz’s fantastic style with a taste of today, making for a unique interpretation of characters new and old!
New characters because this throwback art style will be implemented on the covers of all four Star Wars comic series currently existing in the spaces between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Specifically, Star Wars: Darth Vader, Star Wars: Doctor Aphra, and Star Wars: Bounty Hunters. These covers will portend the upcoming crossover event, Dark Droids, by showing some of the upheavals your favorite cast of characters could face such as Star Wars: Bounty Hunters #36 welcoming Khel Tenna and Boba Fett on board, as well as Doctor Aphra getting some help from Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #34.
STAR WARS #36
Written by CHARLES SOULE
Art by ANDREA DI VITO
Cover by STEPHEN SEGOVIA
Classic Trade Dress Variant Cover by JERRY ORDWAY & NOLAN WOODWARD – 75960609600803641
On Sale 7/5
STAR WARS: BOUNTY HUNTERS #36
Written by ETHAN SACKS
Art by LAN MEDINA
Cover by MARCO CHECCHETTO
Classic Trade Dress Variant Cover by JERRY ORDWAY & NOLAN WOODWARD – 75960609602203631
On Sale 7/12
STAR WARS: DARTH VADER #36
Written by GREG PAK
Art by RAFFAELE IENCO
Cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YU
Classic Trade Dress Variant Cover by JERRY ORDWAY & NOLAN WOODWARD – 75960609601503641
On Sale 7/12
STAR WARS: DOCTOR APHRA #34
Written by ALYSSA WONG
Art by MINKYU JUNG
Cover by JUNGGEUN YOON
Classic Trade Dress Variant Cover by JERRY ORDWAY & NOLAN WOODWARD – 75960609724103431
On Sale 7/19
