Marvel Taking Over Publishing of 'Star Wars' Comics

Credit: Marvel

After over twenty years as sole publisher of Star Wars comic books, Dark Horse will turn the franchise back over to Marvel. Beginning in 2015, Marvel will begin publishing Star Wars comic books and graphic novels for the first time since 1991.

Carol Roeder, director of Lucasfilm franchise publishing at Disney Publishing Worldwide, commented on the story in a statement.

"Dark Horse Comics published exceptional Star Wars comics for over 20 years, and we will always be grateful for their enormous contributions to the mythos and the terrific partnership that we had," she said. "In 2015, the cosmic adventures of Luke, Han, Leia and Chewbacca will make the light-speed jump back to Marvel, to begin a new age of adventures within the Star Wars universe."

The irony of this is that Dark Horse is losing the franchise just as its latest "Expanded Universe" release -- Star Wars Number One, an adaptation of George Lucas's original rough draft of Star Wars -- has received critical acclaim. It's an irony that isn't lost on Dark Horse founder and CEO Mike Richardson. "It is ironic that this announcement comes at a time when Dark Horse is experiencing its most successful year ever," he said in a statement on the company blog. "For obvious reasons, we have prepared for this eventuality by finding new and exciting projects to place on our schedule for 2015 and beyond . . . In the meantime, 2014 may be our last year at the helm of the Star Wars comics franchise, but we plan to make it a memorable one. We know that fans of the franchise will expect no less. The Force is with us still."

It should be interesting to see what Marvel does with the franchise, and if it can measure up to the high standard Dark Horse has set over the past twenty-three years.

Via: Rolling Stone