So what do you all think about Marvel's new canonical comics? I am enjoying them and think they will get better in time. My main gipes are...

1. Tatooine is featured so much. It in in 5 out of 6 of the movies and will be in Episode 7 as well. Now we know why Empire Stikes Back was so good, No Tatooine . I just think that if Tatooine is suppose to be a backwater planet then why is it featured it so much. It appears more than the Galactic Capital.

2. The writing of certain characters is a bit off. But this should improve in time.

Other than that the art work is great and Vader is a Badass again! I hated how weak he was in certain incarnations of the character. I just really hope that they use these new official comics to introduce or expand other planets.

I enjoyed Star Wars issues #1 and #2. I thought Darth Vader #1 was awful.

I just think that if Tatooine is suppose to be a backwater planet then why is it featured it so much. It appears more than the Galactic Capital.

In the original Star Wars cut (assumed to likely be a stand alone film) George made heavy use of literary archetypes (part of the reason the film has such persistence and is able to be universally enjoyed). That included the idea that Luke had to progress, beginning the story in a terrible lawless wasteland and ending in a fertile paradise with lots of friendly happy people.

Since that also made it the perfect place to deploy the "Anti-Hero" archetype (Solo) then you got an extra does of lawless wretched hive of scum and villiany.

As the films progressed into a trilogy George saw a chance to repeat the process. Restarting Jedi on Tatooine and ending on Endor. We actually see this again in TPM, with Anakin leaving Tatooine and ending on Naboo.

So now that we've been there 3 times on screen, we always have to go there. Why go to some other lawless region when you can go back to the place that reminds everyone of the first film and needs no exposition to catch the audience up?

For what it's worth I too would rather see the next "wretched hive backwater" be somewhere else. If the Director has the guts and art direction I would love to see Nar Shadda on screen looking less like the silver towers of Corascant and more like an outer space Kowloon or Brazilian Favala...

At least in Vader #1, there's are two rationales for Vader being back on Tattooine: 1) Vader is being sent to deal with Jabba after their meet on Cymoon 1 was disrupted by the rebels. 2) (and probably the bigger of the two reasons) Palpatine is clearly trying to mess with Vader's head and is sending him home to unbalance him.

Sending a group of unrelated characters to a backwater planet for no reason < Sending a character from a backwater planet home for a reason.

I can't speak to Vader but I stopped reading Star Wars after issue 2.

I will admit my bias in that i loved the Brian Wood Star Wars series that immediately proceeded it, so there's probably some unconscious comparison going on.

That being said, on the merits, I was disappointed with the story choice: In Issue 2 Luke is confronting Vader, which SIGNIFICANTLY undercuts the plot and dramatic tension of the Arc between the death of Obi Wan and the confrontation of Vader in ESB. I know that there are certain other FFG properties where this confrontation is possible in one way or another, but those are not "canon" so I'm fine with playing "what if".

Additionally, I felt that there was a little too much "It's like a poem, it Rhymes" type Garbage. Which is George Lucas's way of saying "I took all the parts of the Prequel trilogy that were popular and repeated them without earning the repetition." This felt like it was already heavy on that and we were on issue 2.

Kevin, I agree. I really didn't think Vader and Luke should have met each other face-to-face between movies. I also loved the Brian Wood comic.

I also can't remember if it was in "Vader" or the new "Star Wars" comic, but somebody's getting tortured by the Empire, and it just so happens to be in a room that looks EXACTLY like the room on Cloud City where Han Solo got tortured. Same ceiling, same device, etc etc.

So it's just a big coincidence they happened to have one of those machines and one of those rooms that's an exact match to the one they use on Bespin?

I felt like it's great to see stuff we recognize from the movies, but it doesn't make much sense they'd be in the same room. Many other examples like that throughout.

I've been enjoying them so far. I do mourn the loss of the Dark Horse universe, since they built up such a vibrant world and had a really impressive stable of talent to do it justice. However, I'm also a fan of wiping the slate clean and seeing what new minds can come up with, and for all its shaky newness there's undeniable potential there.

Vader and Luke meeting prior to Empire isn't the end of the world. It was the subject of one of the first EU novels, as a matter of fact, and nobody complained about it back then or since.

As for the Tatooine thing, it bothers me but not enough to get riled up. The truth is that it's a central location for the protagonist and the antagonist, it has a deep thematic significance, and it's instantly recognizable to any Star Wars fan.

Do you know who Darth Vader is? He is from Tatooine. Jabba the Hutt? Lives and operates on Tatooine. Luke Skywalker? Raised on Tatooine.

I cannot speak for Episode VII, but if the above characters are involved, Tatooine is perfectly acceptable as a location, within reason.

Might I make a small personal plug? My thread about the effect on Canon in the new Marvel comics can be found here.

As to opinions, hmmm. Like many things in Star Wars I disliked some things, but upon rereading I found them more palatable. I initially didn't like the idea of the Vader/Luke meeting, but I think they made it work. The continuity between titles is welcome also, I hope it continues with the Leia title.

I thought the Brian Wood run started decently, but rapidly went downhill, with the back half really dragging. My favourite Dark Horse stuff was Legacy and Dawn of the Jedi though, as the creators were less restricted by the existing material.

As far as Episode VII and Tatooine, we'll have to wait and see. Don't get me wrong, I completely agree that it is almost 100% that the desert scenes we saw were on Tatooine (esp. with the inclusion of the Podracer) but it would be a great red herring if it was somewhere else!

I know who Darth Vader and Luke are Rowdy and I don't think that that was really necessary. I think it is certainly more acceptable to go to Tatooine as opposed to Naboo or Dagobah (which both appear 3 times), I was only lamenting that the writers seem so stuck on throwing in nostalgic stuff they waste an opportunity to develop other cool material.

I know who Darth Vader and Luke are Rowdy and I don't think that that was really necessary. I think it is certainly more acceptable to go to Tatooine as opposed to Naboo or Dagobah (which both appear 3 times), I was only lamenting that the writers seem so stuck on throwing in nostalgic stuff they waste an opportunity to develop other cool material.

My only complaint so far is that the reason for Jabba and the Empire to be working together seems rather flimsy. What kind of resources can he provide from the worthless hunk of sand that Tatooine is? However, I'm in a wait and see mode before I write it off. I definitely thought the secret meeting with Jabba and Vader was a great moment.

My only complaint so far is that the reason for Jabba and the Empire to be working together seems rather flimsy. What kind of resources can he provide from the worthless hunk of sand that Tatooine is? However, I'm in a wait and see mode before I write it off. I definitely thought the secret meeting with Jabba and Vader was a great moment.

IIRC, Jabba is head of one of the most powerful cartels that has ever existed throughout the history of the Hutt race.

So, if the Empire might turn to non-imperial bounty hunters to achieve some sort of goal, then it makes sense that they might also turn to other non-imperial resources, especially if the goal might be somehow related.

Anyone else getting tired of expensive variant covers?

Anyone else getting tired of expensive variant covers?

As cool as some of them are, I avoid variant covers as a collector. I have nearly 3000 single issues now and I believe less than 20 are variants, and most of those are multiple printing variants rather than the incentive based ones.

I also have a very reasonable local comic store with an owner that doesn't do variants regularly and tends to offer them at a reasonable price. He is usually aware of how much he could sell them for, and prices accordingly, but he tends to undercut most other places in that regard.

I know, I love a buch of them but can't justify the price of most. I got a few but get irked when they say suggested retail price $4.99 and then get sold for $20.00.

I know, I love a buch of them but can't justify the price of most. I got a few but get irked when they say suggested retail price $4.99 and then get sold for $20.00.

Well the problem is that Marvel requires a purchase threshold to get the variants. Vendors then buy more regular issues than they expect to sell to get the variant, and mark up the price to make up the difference. Plus the rarity alone allows for a higher price. Almost all variants are listed without a price in the order catalogue when solicited, allowing the store to charge what they want.

But yeah, I'm just glad I don't think about them much. It ts a rabbit hole I know I could fall down hard with the collector's mentality that I have. Pokemon was a rough game for me to play stress-free.

Anyone else getting tired of expensive variant covers?

I only bought the variant cover of the first one (along with a regular copy) because the artist was at my FLCS and I wanted to get it signed. (I had also been informed an official grader would be present, but it turns out that was happening on a different day for an extra $50.) My own personal philosophy is that comics are made to be read, so I don't ordinarily put much stock in collecting, let alone variants.

I had to get the Jaxxon one. As a reader of Marvel Star Wars from issue #1 back in the day (with the cardboard x-wing model on the front) I enjoyed the joke

In TCW the Republic & Sith are dealing with Jabba to get travel rights through Hutt space. It's possible that it's easier for the Empire now to deal with them rather than start a fight with the Hutt clans. It's unclear how strong they are now in canon, but in legends at least they could pose a serious threat.

In the EU the Hutts didn't have much military force but they could easily call on a massive fleet of pirates, smugglers, and mercs if atacked. Hell when Nar Shadda was targeted by the Empire a few years before the Battle of Yavin the Smugglers and such organized their own fleet to defend it without the Hutts doing uch.

I just think that if Tatooine is suppose to be a backwater planet then why is it featured it so much. It appears more than the Galactic Capital.

It's sort of an accident that can't be undone.

In the original Star Wars cut (assumed to likely be a stand alone film) George made heavy use of literary archetypes (part of the reason the film has such persistence and is able to be universally enjoyed). That included the idea that Luke had to progress, beginning the story in a terrible lawless wasteland and ending in a fertile paradise with lots of friendly happy people.

Since that also made it the perfect place to deploy the "Anti-Hero" archetype (Solo) then you got an extra does of lawless wretched hive of scum and villiany.

As the films progressed into a trilogy George saw a chance to repeat the process. Restarting Jedi on Tatooine and ending on Endor. We actually see this again in TPM, with Anakin leaving Tatooine and ending on Naboo.

So now that we've been there 3 times on screen, we always have to go there. Why go to some other lawless region when you can go back to the place that reminds everyone of the first film and needs no exposition to catch the audience up?

For what it's worth I too would rather see the next "wretched hive backwater" be somewhere else. If the Director has the guts and art direction I would love to see Nar Shadda on screen looking less like the silver towers of Corascant and more like an outer space Kowloon or Brazilian Favala...

There's also the heavily influence that Dune played on George Lucas' writing, which also revolves around a desert planet, although, in Dune, at least there is good cause for the main action to be taking place on such a desolate, far-flung place. I think the problems with Tatooine are that it's a backwater, with no (mentioned) redeemable qualities, and is far from any location that would draw visitors. It also makes no sense to be a base for Jabba, given the development of the Hutt species (preferring swampy places, and not being acclimated to an arid environment). There's no reason to go there, and both Luke and Anakin wanted to get the hell off that rock; further, they have no reason to return, having lost their family, and virtually all of Luke's friends got into the Rebellion, so are also off planet.

I can't speak to Vader but I stopped reading Star Wars after issue 2.

I will admit my bias in that i loved the Brian Wood Star Wars series that immediately proceeded it, so there's probably some unconscious comparison going on.

That being said, on the merits, I was disappointed with the story choice: In Issue 2 Luke is confronting Vader, which SIGNIFICANTLY undercuts the plot and dramatic tension of the Arc between the death of Obi Wan and the confrontation of Vader in ESB. I know that there are certain other FFG properties where this confrontation is possible in one way or another, but those are not "canon" so I'm fine with playing "what if".

Additionally, I felt that there was a little too much "It's like a poem, it Rhymes" type Garbage. Which is George Lucas's way of saying "I took all the parts of the Prequel trilogy that were popular and repeated them without earning the repetition." This felt like it was already heavy on that and we were on issue 2.

Not thrilled at the idea of Vader encountering Luke prior to their brush on the first Death Star, and face-to-face on Bespin.

I only remember 3 or so of Luke's friends being confirmed as leaving Tatooine in the EU and one in canon.

And nothing ever stated that Luke and Vader never ran into each other in the three years between ANH and ESB.

In the EU the Hutts didn't have much military force but they could easily call on a massive fleet of pirates, smugglers, and mercs if atacked. Hell when Nar Shadda was targeted by the Empire a few years before the Battle of Yavin the Smugglers and such organized their own fleet to defend it without the Hutts doing uch.

Yes, I wasn't clear. I wasn't saying the Hutts had a big fleet of Hutt warshs, but they had access to a ton of hardware if necessary.

It otherwise makes little sense to be cordial with them, unless there's a financial connection that the Empire doesn't want to lose (like kickbacks for allowing them to operate). It's unclear right now.

I just think that if Tatooine is suppose to be a backwater planet then why is it featured it so much. It appears more than the Galactic Capital.

It's sort of an accident that can't be undone.

In the original Star Wars cut (assumed to likely be a stand alone film) George made heavy use of literary archetypes (part of the reason the film has such persistence and is able to be universally enjoyed). That included the idea that Luke had to progress, beginning the story in a terrible lawless wasteland and ending in a fertile paradise with lots of friendly happy people.

Since that also made it the perfect place to deploy the "Anti-Hero" archetype (Solo) then you got an extra does of lawless wretched hive of scum and villiany.

As the films progressed into a trilogy George saw a chance to repeat the process. Restarting Jedi on Tatooine and ending on Endor. We actually see this again in TPM, with Anakin leaving Tatooine and ending on Naboo.

So now that we've been there 3 times on screen, we always have to go there. Why go to some other lawless region when you can go back to the place that reminds everyone of the first film and needs no exposition to catch the audience up?

For what it's worth I too would rather see the next "wretched hive backwater" be somewhere else. If the Director has the guts and art direction I would love to see Nar Shadda on screen looking less like the silver towers of Corascant and more like an outer space Kowloon or Brazilian Favala...

There's also the heavily influence that Dune played on George Lucas' writing, which also revolves around a desert planet, although, in Dune, at least there is good cause for the main action to be taking place on such a desolate, far-flung place. I think the problems with Tatooine are that it's a backwater, with no (mentioned) redeemable qualities, and is far from any location that would draw visitors. It also makes no sense to be a base for Jabba, given the development of the Hutt species (preferring swampy places, and not being acclimated to an arid environment). There's no reason to go there, and both Luke and Anakin wanted to get the hell off that rock; further, they have no reason to return, having lost their family, and virtually all of Luke's friends got into the Rebellion, so are also off planet.

I can't speak to Vader but I stopped reading Star Wars after issue 2.

I will admit my bias in that i loved the Brian Wood Star Wars series that immediately proceeded it, so there's probably some unconscious comparison going on.

That being said, on the merits, I was disappointed with the story choice: In Issue 2 Luke is confronting Vader, which SIGNIFICANTLY undercuts the plot and dramatic tension of the Arc between the death of Obi Wan and the confrontation of Vader in ESB. I know that there are certain other FFG properties where this confrontation is possible in one way or another, but those are not "canon" so I'm fine with playing "what if".

Additionally, I felt that there was a little too much "It's like a poem, it Rhymes" type Garbage. Which is George Lucas's way of saying "I took all the parts of the Prequel trilogy that were popular and repeated them without earning the repetition." This felt like it was already heavy on that and we were on issue 2.

Not thrilled at the idea of Vader encountering Luke prior to their brush on the first Death Star, and face-to-face on Bespin.

This encounter took place between the two films.