Marvel writer Jason Aaron is making his long-awaited return to the Star Wars franchise in 2023. Aaron is among a number of creators tapped to work on the limited series Darth Vader: Black, White & Red.
Similar to Wolverine: Black, White & Blood, Star Wars: Darth Vader – Red, White & Red is an anthology series featuring a variety of new tales set at different points in Vader’s career. Each story is rendered in the titular color scheme, with black-and-white art punctuated only by red accents.
Aaron is returning to Star Wars to pen a multi-part tale that will be serialized across all four issues of the series. Other creators on Darth Vader: Black, White & Red include Leonard Kirk, Peach Momoko and Torunn Grønbekk.
Aaron was the original writer on Marvel’s flagship Star Wars series when the book debuted in 2015, with the first issue ranking among the best-selling comics of the 21st Century. Aaron’s run was notable for introducing new characters like Han Solo’s “wife”, Sana Starros, and lightsaber-wielding Stromtrooper Sergeant Kreel, as well as major reveals like the moment Vader first learned of Luke Skywalker’s existence. Aaron revealed that his new Vader story is inspired by a particularly memorable moment from the Star Wars: Vader Down crossover.
“‘All I am surrounded by is fear. And dead men.’ That moment from Vader Down is still one of my favorite things I’ve written during my time at Marvel,” Aaron told StarWars.com. “I loved getting to let Darth Vader cut loose with all his power in such an epic way. I couldn’t pass up the chance to revel in the Dark Side again and put Vader in an even more perilous situation… and then see how he carves his way out.”
Star Wars: Darth Vader – Black, White & Red #1 will release on Wednesday, April 26.
We’re still waiting to see what the future holds for the rest of Marvel’s Star Wars line. With 2023 marking the 40th anniverary of Return of the Jedi, it’s very possible Marvel is prepping a linewide relaunch that will shift all the publisher’s monthly books to a post-Episode VI setting. That potential relaunch is among the many big comic books we’re keeping an eye on in 2023.
Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
