In advance of what I am sure will be a veritable feeding frenzy at this week’s San Diego Comic-Con — which opened its doors today — StarWars.com has released a look inside some of the titles and story-lines that comprise the Journey to the Force Awakens. If you aren’t familiar with the “Journey,” allow me to introduce you. The Journey to the Force Awakens, is a marketing campaign of sorts, that will kick off on Force Friday, September 4, and will feature all new canonical books, comics, toy-lines, collectibles, and video games, that will lead up the December 18 premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
These books will tell the story of what happened in the aftermath of the Battle for Endor at the end of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Here’s a brief description from StarWars.com:
"“What adventures did Luke have following the destruction of the first Death Star? What did Leia do after Han was frozen in carbonite? What happened immediately following the Battle of Endor? Fans will soon find out thanks to the Journey toStar Wars: The Force Awakens multi-publisher initiative, which tells untold stories that take place between installments of the Star Wars saga — and features hints of what’s to come.”"
The new official canonical books will span more than 20 titles, and will be available in both print and digital mediums. As mentioned, Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens kicks off this fall, featuring new narrative stories for middle grade and young adults, as well as comics, illustrated reference, Look and Find, and sticker books. It all leads up to the December 18 release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Here’s a few sneak peeks at the titles and cover that will be available come this September and the descriptions taken directly from StarWars.com:
Star Wars: Aftermath (Del Rey), written by Chuck Wendig
“As the Empire reels from its critical defeats at the Battle of Endor, the Rebel Alliance — now a fledgling New Republic — presses its advantage by hunting down the enemy’s scattered forces before they can regroup and retaliate. But above the remote planet Akiva, an ominous show of the enemy’s strength is unfolding. Out on a lone reconnaissance mission, pilot Wedge Antilles watches Imperial Star Destroyers gather like birds of prey circling for a kill, but is taken captive before he can report back to the New Republic leaders.”
“Meanwhile, on the planet’s surface, former Rebel fighter Norra Wexley has returned to her native world — war weary, ready to reunite with her estranged son, and eager to build a new life in some distant place. But when Norra intercepts Wedge Antilles’s urgent distress call, she realizes her time as a freedom fighter is not yet over. What she doesn’t know is just how close the enemy is—or how decisive and dangerous her new mission will be.”
“Determined to preserve the Empire’s power, the surviving Imperial elite are converging on Akiva for a top-secret emergency summit — to consolidate their forces and rally for a counterstrike. But they haven’t reckoned on the Norra and her newfound allies — her technical genius son, a Zabrak bounty hunter, and a reprobate Imperial defector — who are prepared to do whatever they must to end the Empire’s oppressive reign once and for all.”
Next: Star Wars: Lost Stars