"The Walt Disney Company's Lucasfilm Ltd. and Marvel Entertainment are joining forces to bring new 'Star Wars' adventures to readers across the galaxy, with Marvel granted exclusive rights to create and publish 'Star Wars' comics and graphic novels beginning in 2015.
"The agreement marks a homecoming for the 'Star Wars' comic books. Marvel Comics published the first 'Star Wars' comic book, 'STAR WARS' #1, in March 1977, which went on to sell more than 1 million copies. Marvel Comics published its 'STAR WARS' series for nine years. In 1991, Dark Horse Comics took over the license, publishing fan-favorite titles like 'Dark Empire' and 'Star Wars: Legacy'.
"Last year, Dark Horse released 'The Star Wars' #1, an adaptation of George Lucas' original rough-draft screenplay for the film, garnering rave reviews and national media attention and ranking among the top-selling Star Wars comics of all time..."
"Dark Horse Comics published exceptional 'Star Wars' comics for over 20 years, and we will always be grateful for their enormous contributions to the mythos, and the terrific partnership that we had," said Carol Roeder, director of Lucasfilm franchise publishing, Disney Publishing Worldwide. "In 2015, the cosmic adventures of 'Luke', 'Han', 'Leia' and 'Chewbacca' will make the lightspeed jump back to Marvel, to begin a new age of adventures within the 'Star Wars' universe."
"We're incredibly excited by this next chapter in the 'Star Wars' saga," said Andrew B. Sugerman, executive vice president of Disney Publishing Worldwide. "Bringing together the iconic Lucasfilm and Marvel brands to tell new stories will allow us to continue to thrill lovers of the original 'Star Wars' comic books and entertain generations to come..."
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Star Wars"...