STAR WARS MODERN ERA EPIC COLLECTION: TH

Jason Aaron’s blockbuster run ends, and Kieron Gillen’s acclaimed era begins!

A rebel pilot and a rogue archaeologist delve side-by-side into the galaxy’s darkest shadows when Luke Skywalker reluctantly joins forces with Doctor Aphra! But will Luke find what he’s looking for in the heart of the infamous Screaming Citadel? Can he trust Aphra? Or will they both wind up victims of the Citadel’s queen? Plus: Luke finally gets the alone time he’s been after with Princess Leia — unfortunately, it comes while they’re stranded on a desert island! Meanwhile, Han and Chewie go back to smuggling...for a Hutt?! But the Empire has held C-3PO captive for far too long — and now his faithful friend, R2-D2, is riding to the rescue! And the Death Star left Jedha in ruins when it annihilated the Holy City. Now, as Queen Trios’ forces move in to strip what’s left, the rebels struggle to preserve the planet for its survivors! 

COLLECTING: Star Wars (2015) #31-43, Star Wars Annual (2015) #3, Star Wars: The Screaming Citadel (2017) #1, Star Wars: Doctor Aphra (2016) #7-8

Written by Jason Aaron, Kieron Gillen & Dash Aaron
Penciled by Salvador Larroca, Andrea Sorrentino, Michael Walsh & Marco Checchetto

Writer Jason Aaron saw his early collaboration with artist Cameron Stewart on DC/Vertigo’s The Other Side named one of the Washington Post’s Best Comics of 2007. His next project, Scalped, garnered industry-wide praise and led to a guest spot on Wolverine, beginning Aaron’s long association with Logan on various titles, as well as the rest of Marvel’s merry mutants on books including X-Men: Schism, Wolverine & the X-Men and Amazing X-Men. Aaron rocked the Marvel Universe with Original Sin and unfolded a status-quo-shattering Asgardian epic across multiple Thor titles. He was the ideal choice to steer the Rebel crew of Star Wars into new adventures on the series’ return to Marvel, and he ushered in a new era for the publisher with Marvel Legacy. In the wake of that one-shot, he took on Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in a sprawling, multiversal run on Avengers; welcomed another iconic property back to the House of Ideas with Conan the Barbarian; and put Frank Castle in charge of the Hand in a shocking relaunch of Punisher.

An award-winning critic and journalist, Kieron Gillen turned his attention to comics on titles including the critically lauded Phonogram with frequent creative partner Jamie McKelvie — as well as Thor, S.W.O.R.D. and Generation Hope. Gillen relaunched two longstanding Marvel series in Uncanny X-Men and Journey into Mystery before again teaming with McKelvie for an acclaimed take on Young Avengers. Gillen wrote Iron Man for Marvel NOW! — and he explored the galaxy far, far away in the pages of Darth Vader, Doctor Aphra and Star Wars. Gillen returned to Marvel with thoughtful runs on Immortal X-Men and Eternals.

Working for the Marvel UK imprint led Spanish artist Salvador Larroca to a regular gig on Ghost Rider. He graduated to Fantastic Four, alongside one of his favorite writers, Chris Claremont. From 2000 to 2006, Larroca depicted Marvel’s mutants across Uncanny X-Men, X-Men and X-Treme X-Men. Following a stint on Amazing Spider-Man, Larroca brought his maturing style to a lengthy run on Invincible Iron Man and the X-Men: No More Humans original graphic novel. Upon the return of Star Wars to Marvel, Larroca turned to the dark side with Darth Vader before taking on the flagship Star Wars title.

Italian artist Andrea Sorrentino won acclaim in the United States on titles I, Vampire and Green Arrow for DC Comics, as well as an adaptation of the video game God of War. He made a splash at Marvel illustrating Brian Michael Bendis’ two-part time-travel tale in the pages of All-New X-Men Annual and Uncanny X-Men Annual. Sorrentino reunited with Bendis on All-New X-Men and Secret Wars tie-in Old Man Logan before continuing the adventures of the aged Wolverine in the Marvel Universe with writer Jeff Lemire.