Episode #364 -- Welcome to the Machine

Star Wars Splash Page

The Dark Droids event reaches a sinister point in the pages of issue #3 as the Scourge/Spark/Entity makes a vital breakthrough while simultaneously mounting a defense against Ajax Sigma and trying to take down Darth Vader. It's a crucial issue, not only for the mini-series, but the crossover, setting the stage for the story through the end of the year.
In The Mandalorian Season 2 #5, Ahsoka Tano makes her appearance, as does Morgan Elsbeth, which, upon completion of the Ahsoka series, carries a great deal of resonance.

Comics Discussed This Week:

• The Mandalorian Season 2 #5 (5:08)
• Dark Droids #3 (8:06)

Star Wars Comics New to Marvel Unlimited This Week:

• Star Wars (Vol. 3) #36
• Yoda #9 (of 10)

News:

• Dark Droids #2 (of 5) 2nd printing has been pushed back a week to Oct. 25.
• NYCC starts this week; Lucasfilm's publishing panel is on Sunday, Oct. 15.
• Check out the Facebook page to see some of Ario Anindito's pencils for The High Republic Phase III #1, as well as more preview pages of the Nov. 8 issue, along with variant covers for that issue.
• The Shadows of Starlight TPB (collecting 1-4) is now set for April 30 and not April 2.
• The first TPB collecting issues 1-4 of The High Republic Phase III is slated for release June 4.

Upcoming Star Wars comics, graphic novels and omnibuses:
Oct. 17 _ The High Republic Phase One Omnibus (Collects The High Republic (Vol. 1) 1-15, Eye of the Storm 1-2 and Trail of Shadows 1-5); Tales From the Death Star HC Graphic Novel
Oct. 18 _ Star Wars #39, Obi-Wan Kenobi #2 (of 6)
Oct. 25 _ D-Squad #2 (of 4), Doctor Aphra #37, Dark Droids #2 (2nd Printing)
Oct. 31 _ The High Republic Adventures -- The Monster of Temple Peak and Other Stories (Collects Monster of Temple Peak 1-4 and The High Republic Adventures Annual); Star Wars Legends: The Empire Omnibus, Vol. 2 (Collects Dark Times -- Fire Carrier 1-5, Dark Times -- A Spark Remains 1-5, Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin 1-5, Darth Vader and the Cry of Shadows 1-5, Droids Special 1, Droids (1994) 1-6, Droids (1995) 1-8, Star Wars: The Protocol Offensive, plus material from Star Wars Visionaries, Star Wars Tales 11-12, 15 and 20, Dark Horse Presents Annual ’99 and Star Wars Galaxy Magazine 1)
Nov. 1 _ Star Wars #40, Hyperspace Stories #10 (of 12)
Nov. 7 _ Star Wars: Scoundrels, Rebels and The Empire TPB (Collects the Jabba's Palace, Ewoks, Lando, The Empire, The Rebellion and Max Rebo one-shots)
Nov. 8 _ The High Republic (Vol. 3) #1, Shadows of Starlight #2 (of 4), Darth Vader #40
Nov. 14 _ Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Empire, Vol. 8 (Collects Star Wars: Empire 5-6, 8-13, 15; Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron 1/2; Star Wars: A New Hope Special Edition 1-4; Star Wars: Tag & Bink Are Dead 1; material from Star Wars Tales 1, 6, 8-10, 12, 14, 16, 19)
Nov. 15 _ Star Wars: Visions Peach Momoko, Dark Droids #4 (of 5), Doctor Aphra #38, Return of the Jedi — The 40th Anniversary Covers, The Mandalorian Season 2 #6 (of 8)
Nov. 21 _ The Mandalorian Season 2 Part 1 TPB (Collects 1-4)
Nov. 22 _ Hyperspace Stories #11, Bounty Hunters #40, D-Squad #3 (of 4)
Nov. 29 _ Obi-Wan Kenobi #3 (of 6)
Dec. 5 _ Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The New Republic, Vol. 7 (Collects Boba Fett - Bounty on Bar-Kooda 1, Boba Fett - When the Fat Lady Swings 2, Boba Fett - Murder Most Foul 3, Boba Fett - Agent of Doom 1, Jedi Academy - Leviathan 1-4, The Mixed-Up Droid 1, Union 1-4, Chewbacca 1-4 and material from Star Wars Tales 19); The High Republic Adventures (Vol. 2), Vol. II TPB (Collects 5-8)
Dec. 6 _ Star Wars #41, D-Squad #4 (of 4), The High Republic Adventures Phase III #1
Dec. 13 _ The High Republic Phase III #2, Bounty Hunters #41, The High Republic Phase III #2, Shadows of Starlight #3 (of 4), Hyperspace Stories #12
Dec. 19 _ Yoda TPB (Collects 1-10)
Dec. 20 _ Star Wars: Revelations (2023), Darth Vader #41, Doctor Aphra #39
Dec. 27 _ Dark Droids #5 (of 5), The Mandalorian Season 2 #7 (of 8)
2024
Jan. 3 _ Darth Vader #42, Shadows of Starlight #4 (of 4), Star Wars: Visions Takashi Okazaki #1, Darth Vader -- Black, White & Red Treasury Edition (Collects 1-4)
Jan. 10 _ Star Wars #42, The Mandalorian Season 2 #8 (of 8)
Jan. 16 _ Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories Vol. 2, "Scum and Villainy" TPB (Collects 5-8)
Jan. 17 _ The High Republic Adventures Phase III #2
Jan. 23 _ Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Menace Revealed, Vol. 4 (Collects The Bounty Hunters - Aurra Sing 1; Star Wars: Starfighter - Crossbones 1-3; Free Comic Book Day 2002: Star Wars 1; Star Wars: Republic 46-48; Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones 1-4; Star Wars: Hasbro/Toys ‘R’ Us Exclusive 1-4 and material from Dark Horse Extra 44-47; Star Wars Tales 2, 7, 14, 18, 20, 24)
Feb. 27 _ Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: Rise of the Sith, Vol. 1 NEW PRINTING (Jedi - The Dark Side 1-5, Qui-Gon & Obi-Wan: The Aurorient Express 1-2, Qui-Gon & Obi-Wan - Last Stand on Ord Mantell 1-3, Jedi Council - Acts of War 1-4 and material from Star Wars (1998) 4-6, Star Wars Tales 1-3, 5, 7, 9-10, 13-14 and 24)
March 5 _ Star Wars (Vol. 3), Vol. 7 (Collects 37-41), Dark Droids: D-Squad TPB (Collects 1-4)
March 19 _ Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Empire, Vol. 1 NEW PRINTING (Collects Republic 78-80, Purge, Purge - Seconds to Die, Purge - The Hidden Blade one-shots, Purge - The Tyrant’s Fist 1-2, Darth Vader and the Lost Command 1-5 and Dark Times 1-5)
March 26 _ Dark Droids TPB (Collects 1-5)April 2 _ The High Republic: Shadows of Starlight TPB (Collects 1-4)
April 9 _ Darth Vader (Vol. 3) Vol. 8 TPB (Collects 37-41)
April 16 _ Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The New Republic, Vol. 1 NEW PRINTING (Collects Mara Jade - By the Emperor’s Hand 0-6, Shadows of the Empire - Evolution 1-5, The Jabba Tape, Boba Fett - Twin Engines of Destruction and material from Star Wars Tales 1, 3-5, 10, 14-15, 20 and 22); Hyperspace Stories Vol. 3 TPB "Light and Shadow" (Collects 9-12); Bounty Hunters Vol. 7 TPB “Dark Droids” (Collects 35-41)
April 23 _ Star Wars by Gillen & Pak Omnibus (Collects Star Wars (2015) 38-75, Star Wars Annual 4, Star Wars: Empire Ascendant 1); Doctor Aphra (Vol. 2) Vol. 7 “Dark Droids” TPB (Collects 32-33, TBD)
April 30 _ The High Republic (Vol. 3), Vol. 1 TPB (Collects 1-4)May 14 _ Star Wars Legends: The Rebellion, Vol. 2 Omnibus (Collects Star Wars: River of Chaos (1995) 1-4; Star Wars: Empire (2002) 28-40; Star Wars: Rebellion (2006) 1-16; Star Wars: Boba Fett – Overkill (2006) 1; Star Wars: Boba Fett (1997) 1/2; Star Wars: Splinter of the Mind’s Eye (1995) 1-4; material from Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic/Rebellion (2006) 0; Star Wars Tales (1999) 3, 15, 17, 21)
May 21 _ Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Old Republic, Vol. 1 NEW PRINTING (Collects Knights of the Old Republic 1-18 and material from Kings of the Old Republic/Rebellion 0)
June 11 _ Star Wars Legends: The New Republic Omnibus, Vol. 2 (Collects Star Wars: The Jabba Tape; Heir to the Empire 1-6, Dark Force Rising 1-6, The Last Command 1-6. Dark Empire 1-6, Dark Empire II 1-6), Empire's End 1-2, Boba Fett -- Twin Engines of Destruction, Bounty on Bar-Kooda, When the Fat Lady Swings, Murder Most Foul and Agent of Doom, Star Wars Handbook 3 and material from Star Wars Tales 1, 3-5, 10, 14, 20 and 22); Obi-Wan Kenobi Adaptation TPB (Collects 1-6)
July 2 _ Star Wars Legends: Tales of the Jedi omnibus. (Collects Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi - Force Storm 1-5, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi - Prisoner of Bogan 1-5, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi - Force War 1-5, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi 0, Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi - The Golden Age of the Sith 0-5, Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi - The Fall of the Sith Empire 1-5, Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi 1-5, Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi - The Freedon Nadd Uprising 1-2, Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi - Dark Lords of the Sith 1-6, Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi - The Sith War 1-6, Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi - Redemption 1-5, material from Star Wars Tales 23 and Dark Horse Comics 7-9)