Marvel Comics has published adaptations of the Star Wars movies since the beginning, and finally in February 2025, we will see the long-awaited depiction of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Adaptation. Releasing alongside another exciting comics arc, we will have plenty to enjoy in the early months of 2025.
After a 4 year delay, The Rise of Skywalker Adaptation is coming.
Episode IX was full of twists, turns, and intense moments. To capture this excitement, the comic adaptation is in good hands. Marvel reveals the team hasn't changed. Illustrator Will Sliney has already proven his mettle with the 25th Anniversary commemoration of The Phantom Menace as well as such projects as Doctor Aphra and Star Wars: The Rise of Kylo Ren. Meanwhile, writer Jody Houser is celebrated for her work on Star Wars: Thrawn Alliances and the comic adaptation of the series Obi-Wan Kenobi. The two clearly make an outstanding team to tackle this project.
Here's what we know so far about the adaptation itself. It will be a five-issue limited series, and "In addition to retelling the Resistance's desperate last stand, the shocking return of Emperor Palpatine and more, the series will include all new scenes not in the final film." We've known about this new content since the announcement in 2020, but it's exciting to get them finally, especially since comic adaptations feel stale now. We do have the film's novelization to consider and speculate what these new scenes might be. Rae Carson released the book in 2020, and there are some interesting things to glean from that source.
Some include Luke and Leia's brother-sister relationship is portrayed both in memories and in the Force. Rey receives counsel about the Force from Maz Kanata. Lando opens up more about the daughter he lost to the First Order, while Chewie reckons with guilt when thinking of Ben Solo.
The story is one that encompasses many characters and storylines as it comes to its conclusion. Editor Mark Paniccia has praised the power of the script Jody has produced:
"There's a resurgence of interest in these characters, especially Kylo Ren, Darth Vader's blood heir. Jody's script captures the impact of these iconic moments between the film's heroes and villains, while the art by Will Sliney and dazzling colors by Guru-eFX give a visually unique experience of this epic finale."Mark Paniccia
The covers released for these issues are certainly as dazzling as promised, with art by Phil Noto, Jodie Muir, and Brian Stelfreeze. Two put the dark side front and center, with Kylo Ren and the resurrected Emperor in the foreground. Ren is backed by the Knights of Ren and brandishes his lightsaber menacingly over General Hux, with General Pryde untouched at his other hand. Vader's mask and the Sith wayfinder are at his feet. In Palpatine's cover, he is set against the backdrop of his hidden fleet of Star Destroyers. Other art shows pivotal scenes, such as Kylo's attack on Mustafar and the finding of the wayfinder or Rey sabotaging a TIE fighter near Ochi's ship. One of the more complex pieces fills Rey's profile with members of the Resistance. Perhaps my favorite is a divided scene with Rey's Jedi training on the left and Leia's on the right, with each woman forming half of a seated figure in meditation.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Adaptation arrives at comic shops on February 26, 2025.