What happens when Darth Vader, Princess Leia, and the rest of the Star Wars universe collide with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes? We’re about to find out!
Marvel Comics has revealed a new preview of Star Wars | Marvel: Hope Assembles, the upcoming six-issue crossover from writer Kevin Smith and artist David Marquez. Launching in January 2027, the series marks the first time Marvel’s superheroes and the characters of Star Wars will officially share a story.
And if the new preview is any indication, things are going to get wild.
The series revisits the opening events of the original 1977 Star Wars film, only this time, they’re unfolding in the Marvel Universe’s Earth-616 continuity. That means Darth Vader’s terrifying arrival, Princess Leia’s defiance, and the desperate escape of C-3PO and R2-D2 will take place in a world populated by Marvel’s greatest heroes and villains.
How will the Avengers and other Marvel characters respond to the Galactic Empire? And what happens when the Force meets a universe already filled with cosmic powers?
Readers can get their first taste of the action in the newly released preview, which Marvel will also include in the back of select comic book titles over the coming months.
First look at ‘Star Wars | Marvel: Hope Assembles’
The crossover arrives as Star Wars approaches its 50th anniversary, bringing together two franchises with a long history in comics. Marvel originally published Star Wars #1 in 1977, helping introduce George Lucas’s galaxy to comic book readers.
Nearly five decades later, Smith and Marquez are taking that relationship into entirely new territory.
“One of the most exciting things about this series is seeing familiar moments through an entirely new lens,” said editor Mark Paniccia. “Kevin Smith and David Marquez understand exactly what makes these characters so enduring, and they find surprising, emotional, and often exhilarating ways to bring them together. Every issue has moments that will leave fans smiling, cheering, and eager to see what happens next.”
Darth Vader gets the Infinity Gauntlet
Marvel has also shared a closer look at one of the crossover’s most eye-catching variant covers, first revealed at New York Comic Con last week.
Illustrated by Rafael Albuquerque, the cover depicts Darth Vader wielding the Infinity Gauntlet, bringing one of Marvel’s most powerful artifacts into the hands of one of cinema’s greatest villains.
As if Vader wasn’t dangerous enough already!
The cover is part of a larger variant program that will run throughout the six-issue series, with recurring themes designed to give collectors a consistent selection of artwork.
Marvel has outlined seven cover categories:
- A: Main Cover: Connecting covers by series artist David Marquez.
- B: Alliance Variant: Marvel and Star Wars characters team up in unexpected pairings.
- C: Battle Variant: Heroes and villains from both franchises face off in one-on-one showdowns.
- D: A New Hope Variant: Classic moments from the original Star Wars film are recreated with Marvel characters.
- E: Crossover Variant: Characters wield the weapons, costumes, and symbols of the opposite universe.
- F: Retro Variant: New artwork inspired by the look of Marvel’s original Star Wars comics.
- G: Marvel Homage: Famous Marvel comic book covers are reimagined using characters from both franchises.
With the events of A New Hope playing out on Earth-616, Star Wars | Marvel: Hope Assembles promises plenty of unexpected encounters as Marvel’s heroes and villains find themselves caught up in the Galactic Empire’s conflict.
The six-issue series launches in January 2027. Fans can check out the new preview above and preorder Star Wars | Marvel: Hope Assembles at their local comic book shop.
For more details, visit Marvel.com.
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