Marvel Star Wars Comic Strip Omnibus Confirmed

A vintage Star Wars story is finally returning for a victory lap, with a special twist that should delight fans of George Lucas's iconic sci-fi franchise. Marvel Comics has officially announced that it is resurrecting the original Star Wars newspaper comic strips, complete with a new format.

This summer, Marvel Comics will release Star Wars Legends: The Newspaper Strips Omnibus, a collection of the comic strips published between 1979 and 1984, per ICv2. The omnibus will collect over 1,000 pages of the comic strips in full color, with two editions for fans to choose from: a regular edition and a Direct Market exclusive, which will include additional features. This new omnibus will be available for purchase on July 22, starting at $125.

The original Star Wars newspaper comic strips were published by Dark Horse, but are now owned by Marvel Comics. Most of the stories take place between the events of Star Wars: Episode IV— A New Hope and Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back. They feature the work of talented writers and artists, including Russ Manning, Archie Goodwin, Alfredo Alcalá, Allen Nunis, Rick Hoberg, and Al Williamson.

The omnibus comes with the moniker of Star Wars Legends, indicating that the events of the comics are no longer considered canon to the larger Star Wars universe. This is the case with most Star Wars comics published before Lucasfilm was purchased by Walt Disney Studios in 2012. Even so, the events of the series are still a fun exploration for longtime fans of Star Wars, who get to imagine different adventures of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Leia Organa, Chewbacca, and their allies.

Star Wars Legends: The Newspaper Strips Omnibus is an exciting move for the comic side of the popular sci-fi franchise, which has flourished in recent years. Although readers shouldn't expect any connection to ongoing comics, the new omnibus means that the newspaper strips will finally be immortalized in the Star Wars universe alongside other, more recent stories.

Star Wars Has Countless Terrific Comics for Fans of the Franchise

Star Wars may be better known for its films and television series, but the beloved sci-fi franchise has also made quite an impression in the comic world. The newspaper strips only skim the surface of the terrific comic stories told in a galaxy far, far, away.

Marvel Comics published the first long-term series of Star Wars comics, running for over 100 issues between 1977, the year of A New Hope's release, and 1986. Dark Horse comics also delivered its fair share of comics taking place in the Star Wars universe, including the iconic 1991 limited series, Dark Empire, which deals with the resurrection of Emperor Palpatine six years after the events of Return of the Jedi.

While most of the Star Wars comics published before 2012 are no longer considered canon, there are plenty of more recent titles that are still fully part of the franchise's timeline. As the official publisher of Star Wars comics for the last decade, Marvel Comics has released hundreds of issues focusing on various characters from the sci-fi universe. Some of the best of these include multiple great Darth Vader solo series, which delve deeper into the villain's psyche between the events of the Prequel and Original Trilogies. Boba Fett has also been a star of Star Wars comics, starring in his own anthology series and in other crossover events like the "Bounty Hunter Wars" trilogy.

The comics expand the lore of the Star Wars franchise in exciting ways that would be nearly impossible in films or television. Characters who only get a few minutes of screentime in the Skywalker Saga, including Jango Fett, General Grievous, and Black Krrsantan, all get a chance to shine in the comics. Perhaps even more exciting is the opportunity the comics present for readers to explore other eras of the Star Wars franchise, including the High Republic and the period between the Original and Sequel Trilogies.

Most of the Star Wars comics are available for free with a Marvel Unlimited subscription, but can also be found in comic shops everywhere. Star Wars Legends: The Newspaper Strips Omnibus will release on July 22, 2026.