Star Wars: Legacy, Vol. 2 #4
Showdown with a Sith!
Script by Corinna Bechko and Gabriel Hardman
Art by Gabriel Hardman and Rachelle Rosenberg
Cover by Dave Wilkins
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: June 26, 2013
Cover Price: $2.99

Picking up the outstanding groundwork established in the original Legacy series, and creating some new outstanding work of their own, the creative team of Corinna Bechko and Gabriel Hardman continue delivering the goods with the new Star Wars: Legacy, Vol. 2, focusing on a descendant of Han and Leia, named Ania Solo.

Unlike Cade Skywalker from the first series, Ania has no formal Jedi training, and is more in the vein of a Han Solo smuggling underworld type of character. Following the gargantuan galactic war with the One Sith led by the formidable Darth Krayt, the galaxy is now run by a new Triumvirate, a conglomeration of multiple governments working together to form a prosperous and peaceful time to come.

Star Wars: Legacy, Vol. 2 #3
Script by Corinna Bechko and Gabriel Hardman
Art by Gabriel Hardman
Colors by Rachelle Rosenberg
Cover by Dave Wilkins
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: May 22, 2013
Cover Price: $2.99

While the creative team behind the original Star Wars Legacy concentrate on Dawn Of The Jedi, a new team is carrying the torch for a new Legacy series, focusing on a descendant of Han Solo and Princess Leia named Ania Solo. The new art style with a solid new plot make for captivating reading, and it can be said that the legacy of Legacy is in safe hands.

Set not long after the events of the first series that focused on Cade Skywalker, the collapsed Sith Empire of Darth Krayt is shattered. Rumors of Sith remnants are scattered across the galaxy, though in the place of the dictatorial Empire, former leaders of the Galactic Alliance, the Fel Empire, and Jedi have joined together to form a new government: the Galactic Triumvirate.

Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ghost Prison
Written by Haden Blackman
Art by Agustin Alessio
Cover Artwork by Dave Wilkins
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: April 23, 2013
Cover Price: $24.99

Darth Vader and the Ghost Prison is a cornerstone in the Star Wars expanded universe. It is a game changer that produces one of the most intense reads. I have read a lot of Star Wars expanded universe media, and there are a bunch of great novels and comics out there that have explored the depth of the in-universe history of the galaxy from a variety of viewpoints. But Darth Vader and the Ghost Prison has to be one of most superior examples of providing a different perspective – in fact, I think it is perhaps one of the best Star Wars graphic novels I have ever read.

Haden Blackman is the writer for this magnificent publication, and despite the fact that he has had his critics in the past; he truly delivers the good with Ghost Prison. Initially known for his criticized work on Star Wars Galaxies, and his praised efforts on The Force Unleashed multimedia project (the first series especially), Blackman provides a narrative for a perspective from the New Empire, in a dazzling fashion that will tug you emotionally in places, and have you rooting for what we’ve traditionally considered the villains of the Star Wars galaxy.

Star Wars: Legacy, Vol. 2 #1
Prisoner of the Floating World, Part One
Script by Corinna Bechko & Gabriel Hardman
Art by Gabriel Hardman
Colors by Rachelle Rosenberg
Lettering by Michael Heisler
Cover by Dave Wilkins
Designer: Jimmy Presler
Assistant Editor: Freddye Lins
Editor: Randy Stradley
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: March 20, 2013
Cover Price: $2.99

In Star Wars: Legacy, Vol. 2 #1 we return to the universe created by John Ostrander and Jan Duursema based on George Lucas’ Star Wars universe. I have to admit, although I really liked the original series, I did stop reading after awhile, so I went into this series fresh, but filled with excitement.

Writers Corinna Bechko & Gabriel Hardman immediately brought me back to that “sub universe” of Star Wars that I loved so much. This is SO different that any Star Wars setting that we’ve seen in that past, that you almost don’t recognize it immediately as Star Wars. Thankfully, some of the trademarks fall into place rather quickly and you’re reminded of just where you are. There is a LOT of story in this issue, but not too much, and the whole premise behind it is pretty shocking, and no, you won’t get spoilers here. Sorry.

R.I.P.D.: City of the Damned #1
Written by Jeremy Barlow
Art by Tony Parker
Cover by Dave Wilkins
Dark Horse Comics
Release date: November 28, 2012
Cover price: $3.50

The mini-series R.I.P.D.: City of the Damned is a prequel to the new movie R.I.P.D., which is currently set for release on July 19, 2013. The concept behind the story is that a select few who died are chosen to work for the “Rest In Peace Department.” The job is simple, chase down and kill any evil soul that’s managed to stay on earth longer than its supposed to have.

Roy Pulsipher dies and is asked to join the R.I.P.D. to find out why in the last century there hasn’t been any overflow of souls trying to hide on earth longer than they should. His partner is Crispin Mather, who from the looks of it, may have been a puritan and has signed on for another 100 years of service.