Published: April 22, 2026
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Rated: T
Writer: Ethan Sacks
Artist: Jethro Morales & Roi Mercado
Colours: Rachelle Rosenberg
Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Cover Artist: Phil Noto
The synopsis;
NEW SECRETS OF GALAXY’S EDGE REVEALED!
LUKE SKYWALKER, PRINCESS LEIA and CHEWBACCA head to BATUU in search of important intel and stumble upon a dangerous relic – one that puts them on a collision course with the EMPIRE! Galaxy’s Edge writer Ethan Sacks and artists Jethro Morales & Roi Mercado tell an all-new story inspired by Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
The review;
It has been a little quiet in recent months on the Star Wars comic book front in recent months, and it is great to welcome a brand-new mini-series to tie-in with the recent update to Galaxy’s Edge at Disney Parks. Entrusted with these tie-ins is Ethan Sacks. A veteran now of not only Star Wars comics, but a major part of the lore surrounding the Black Spire Outpost on Batuu. Sadly, Will Sliney isn’t joining Sacks on this adventure; but he is joined by Jethro Morales and Roi Mercado. Morales is not a stranger to Star Wars from Marvel Comics, having worked on Star Wars: The Battle of Jakku and Star Wars: The High Republic series amongst others. But Mercado is a new name to many, so a warm welcome to him! Completing the creative team are Star Wars title regulars Rachelle Rosenberg (colours) and Clayton Cowles (lettering).
There can be no other person other than Phil Noto to bring us the main cover for this series. It is a wonderful illustration of Luke Skywalker standing in front of the Millennium Falcon. I am sure that this is picture so many, including me, have of themselves when visiting Disney Parks. There are 4 variant covers available for this issue. The retailer incentive variant from John Giang is a stunning, almost 3D print looking (due to its colour scheme) illustration. Leinil Yu brings us the character variant and who else could it be, but Vader. I always love to see a concept art cover and this issue does not disappoint with art by Erik Tiemens. And lastly, there had to be a tie-in cover for The Mandalorain and Grogu, that features Grogu in a mediative pose by E.M. Gist.
So, the Original Trilogy era has finally landed in Black Spire Outpost, and this comic starts the process of the stories of our much-beloved characters from that era. It is great to see how the current timeline is being used to introduce the storyline with Rey visiting Batuu. Now, I will give my own feelings about the timeline a little later in this review. Her appearance is disguised from us as readers at the outset and it feels like this tease has many of you, and me, expecting this to be Luke from the get-go!
Rey is in search of a game changing Jedi weapon, and she visits Oga Garra in his cantina to discuss its whereabouts. This leads to Oga explaining about long forgotten Jedi Temple on the planet of which Master Yoda had ordered buried alongside the weapon. Dok Ondar, the local trader had heard the rumours and excavated the site to find this precious weapon. Its retrieval sparked interest from further afield with from Darth Vader. At this time; Luke, Leia, Chewbacca and the droids are in search of information on Jabba’s Palace in their pursuit of Han Solo.
The team land on Batuu and as they approach Oga’s Cantina, Luke feels a disturbance in the Force and departs to follow its calling, leaving the rest of team to see what information Oga has for them.
Luke is soon met by someone he is not expecting, Boba Fett. Fett is never one to pass an opportunity to score a bounty and a methodical and cunning fight ensues with Fett seemingly getting the upper hand. Fett fires his wrist rockets and an explosion seen from the window of the cantina grabs Oga’s attention.
Meanwhile, the droids have noticed an Imperial shuttle coming into land and Threepio warns Leia of its approach. Oga realises that Fett is involved with the explosion and he is hunting Luke. A call to tell Fett to stand down and not pursue Luke bring their altercation to an abrupt impasse. Although Fett claims to Luke he would have won in the end.
The Imperial shuttle has landed and the ramp lowered. Striding down the ramp is Darth Vader.
What a fun issue and great opening to this mini-series. Sacks seems to hit the nail square on the head yet again. The size of the sandbox he can play in here really shows and having written all of the tie-in series for Galaxy’s Edge, his expansive knowledge shows.
Now, I mentioned the timeline earlier and I don’t want to sound whiny, picky, or if I’ve over thought it. Luke has a green lightsaber in this issue and as it is pre-Return of the Jedi and post the recent Charles Soule Star Wars series, where he wielded his yellow blade. Obviously, that means Luke has completed his new build, so when did Luke do it and what is that story? Just as my own twist on this, I would have loved for this story to have involved that process with him possibly obtaining the parts from Dok Ondar.
But my timeline question and alternate story idea didn’t detract from what I did read. I felt that this issue had great pace and I would love to see the battle between Skywalker and Fett in live action. Sacks beautifully stitches all of eras together in such a careful way and it really excites me to see where this will go. We have 3 or 4 story mini arcs on the go. Luke, Leia, Vader and Rey and this will add so much back story to any visit to Black Spire Outpost.
Not just did I love the story, but the artwork was excellent. Morales and Mercado combine amazingly with Rosenberg, and I really enjoyed the fresh style they have brought us in issue one.
The arrival of Darth Vader and his Imperial Forces will spice up the proceedings, as it always does in any Star Wars story. I can’t wait to see where we go in issue two.
Availability;
Galaxy’s Edge: Echoes of the Empire is a 5-part mini-series published by Marvel Comics. This issue retails at $4.99 and is available from comiXology and your local comic book store.
