In today’s world it’s becoming ever more clear that artificial intelligence is coming for us all and there’s very little we can do to stop it. Now the heroes and villains of a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away are about to experience the same impending doom. Earlier today at Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023, Marvel Comics announced Star Wars: Dark Droids, a new crossover event that will see the ever-present droids of the Star Wars universe turn on their friends and makers. The event will launch in August with a main miniseries written by Charles Soule and illustrated by Luke Ross, with covers by Leinil Yu and Jim Cheung, and will feature tie-ins from the four main Star Wars titles set during the era of the Galactic Empire.
Here’s how Marvel describes Star Wars: Dark Droids:
Who or what is the Scourge — and why is no droid safe? As a corruption spreads from one droid to the next, the Rebel Alliance and the Empire both face chaos! What role does Ajax Sigma from last year’s Star Wars: Revelations one-shot play in all of this? And whose side is he on?
And here’s info on the four August-shipping Star Wars titles crossing over with the storyline:
STAR WARS #37
Written by CHARLES SOULE
Penciled by MADIBEK MUSABEKOV
Cover by STEPHEN SEGOVIA
LOBOT LOST!
Something has gone horribly wrong with Lobot, putting the Rebellion at terrible risk! Lando Calrissian will do anything to save his friend, even if it means betraying the Rebels. Will the SCOURGE OF THE DROIDS destroy any chance to cure Lobot, or will he be lost forever?
Star Wars: Darth Vader #37
Written by GREG PAK
Art by RAFFAELE IENCO
Cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YU
CURSE OF THE JEDI!
Killer Droids have taken over Darth Vader’s flagship Super Star Destroyer, the Executor! But even with the powerful Kyberite shield, the Dark Lord of the Sith cannot fully control the Force! Will the lessons of Jedi Masters Qui-Gon and Obi-Warn save him from the SCOURGE — or make him a tool for its galactic conquest?
Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #35
Written by ALYSSA WONG
Art by MINKYU JUNG
Cover by JUNGGEUN YOON
The Milestone 75th Issue of Doctor Aphra!
Something is rotten in the House of Tagge! Sent by Domina Tagge to investigate a series of strange droid malfunctions, Doctor Aphra faces a deadly enemy from the past—a horde of Clone War-Era Prototype Battle Droids designed by Domina herself! Is this sabotage? Betrayal? Or something far, far worse?
Star Wars: Bounty Hunters #37
Written by ETHAN SACKS
Art by DAVIDE TINTO
Cover by MARCO CHECCHETTO
The Haunting Secret Mission of Jango Fett!
The Bounty Hunters must contend with the looming shadow of the sins of Boba Fett’s father! What is the secret that lurks on the mysterious droid outpost, The Haven? Who is Tarr Kligson and what is his connection to Jango Fett?
Dark Droids is the latest crossover for the current run of Marvel’s Star Wars titles, after storylines like War of the Bounty Hunters, Crimson Reign, and Hidden Empire, all of which were also written by Soule, who is also the writer on the main Star Wars title.
Check out Cheung’s variant cover for Star Wars: Dark Droids #1, as well as a few unlettered interior pages from the issue featuring artwork by Luke Ross, below. Look for the event to kick off in August.
