Go buy it.  Buy it for your friends.  Buy it for your family.  Buy it for your casual acquaintances.  Buy back-up copies.  Buy it for that lonely guy who rides your bus and always does that weird thing with his sinuses.

“If you only pick up one Star Wars title a month – this is it…”

- Undercover Fanboy

“this book does do a great job of establishing a galactically tense situation where our protagonists have been strewn across the galaxy. There’s a strange excitement to that sort of singularly Star Wars kind of setup and “Invasion’s” is a fine interpretation of the trope.”

- Comic Book Resources

“…22 action-packed pages!” “This issue kept moving and wouldn’t let you go until the very end.”

- NJOE.com

“Taylors’ writing is complemented by Wilson’s exceptional art skills. In an issue that starts the series off with a gratifying amount of action Wilson’s illustrations shine. He makes excellent use of perspective in nearly every panel using it to great effect whether it be to emphasize the speed at which the ships are traveling through hyperspace or to give us the the sense of intimidating awe that the planet’s victims feel as we do in the first appearance of a Yuuzhan Vong as he stands looming over a terrified victim.”

- Comics Bulletin

“Luke as a full Jedi Master is just so much cooler than the Luke from the movies. He doesn’t come off as a wise master but he sure knows how to be a badass when it’s needed.”

- ComicList

“3 pages in and I laughed and just had to put it down and enjoy… I’ve been loving this series… I want to see more.”

- Legion of Dudes

“The very first issue hooked me. I was done.” “ Where with ‘Legacy’ I was sort of interested in it… this one, I’m more than interested.  I can not wait for the next issue!”

- Alternate Reality – The Comic Book Podcast

Click the pic for the review.

I’m really happy to see so many nice things written about this book and even happier that I get to follow it up with The Will of Darth Vader, which is one of the most fun scripts I’ve written.

Stay tuned for more Star Wars news soon…

Twice the eye-candy.

Jo’s Chen’s latest Invasion cover has been on high rotation as my desktop wallpaper for the last month.  I love it.  And, hey, the other one is Vader looking like a bad ass.

STAR WARS ADVENTURES: THE WILL OF DARTH VADER

Tom Taylor (W), Brain Koschak (P), Dan Parsons (I), Michael Wiggam (C), and Sean McNally (Cover)

On sale Aug 11
FC, 80 pages
$7.99
TPB, 5 1/4″ x 7 1/2″

Darth Vader is on a mission for the Emperor!

When the Rebellion’s hit-and-run attacks on Imperial cargo ships become too audacious to be ignored, Darth Vader is sent in to find the Rebel base and destroy it. But the base, hidden in the center of a constantly shifting asteroid field, cannot be attacked directly.

To reach his target, Vader will have to team up with a recently captured smuggler named Zika—and dealing with an unwilling, wisecracking partner may be more of a trial for the Dark Lord than the actual mission!

STAR WARS: INVASION—RESCUES #2 (of 6)

Tom Taylor (W), Colin Wilson (A), Wes Dzioba (C), and Jo Chen (Cover)

On sale June 30
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Miniseries

New and vital knowledge sends Finn Galfridian with Jacen and Jaina Solo on a mission to the planet of Artorias. Though Finn does not know if his father, Caled, lives, if there is any chance, he must be warned of new dangers. It’s a hot and dangerous ride to Artorias, and the occupying Yuuzhan Vong are ready with a toothsome, ravaging welcome . . .

Meanwhile, Kaye and Nina, board their newly acquired Vong ship, embark on their own mission. It’s one they can’t refuse: rescuing captives held on a dead planet. There is no telling what peril will meet the rescue party . . .

Interestingly enough, I haven’t read a truly negative review since issue 2.  So, clearly we’re doing something right.  I’ll update this post as they come in but, already, there are some very nice reviews coming in for Star Wars: invasion #5.

The Comic Center devotes an entire video episode to Star Wars comics and has some nice things to say about Invasion.

“It’s good.  It’s really good.” “Tom Taylor is writing some really good dialogue.”  “…the Star Wars Invasion one-shot from Dark Horse… just came out.  Search it out.  Pick it up.  I love it.”

- Comic Centre

From Undercover Fanboy.

“…the interaction between the Solos twins and Leia and Anakin about the death of Chewbacca was worth the price of admission. Writer Tom Taylor is doing an amazing job writing established characters while covering new ground at the same time.  Here’s to hoping that Invasion will be the new series Dark Horse was talking about (and) Tom Taylor will still be the writer…”

“4 STARS”

- Undercover Fanboy

We come in for more praise from the good people over at NJOE.

“This was a spectacular ending to an outstanding new series.”

- NJOE

Meanwhile, EU Cantina has updated with reviews for issue 1-4.

You can read reviews of all four issues here, here, here and here.

They have consistently give us 4-4.5 Sith Hounds…

I find this amusing…

A different preview this month (no X-wings being eaten out of the sky by giant snakes) but we do get to see Luke and his wife, Mara, Leia, the Solo kids, Finn, AND the Falcon as well as getting a glimpse of the death of mighty Chewbacca.

Click the image for the full preview.

The LEGION OF DUDES do a 45 minute long audio review (starts at about 15 minutes) of Star Wars: Invasion #2 and #3 and they like what they see.

“3 pages in and I laughed and just had to put it down and enjoy… “

“I’ve been loving this series… I want to see more.”

- LEGION OF DUDES

You can listen to the whole thing right here.

“Invasion issue 3 is 22 action-packed pages!” “This issue kept moving and wouldn’t let you go until the very end.”

- NJOE.COM

You can read the rest here (spoilers).

While Star Wars Invasion #3 is one of three ‘Weekly Winners’ over at Comic Book Jesus.

“Taylor gives enough info about the Vong for curious readers, and starts to make serious strides in showcasing the menace of the creepy race. Plus, in the few pages that reveal Skywalker’s relationship with the apprentice Finn Galfridian, Taylor lays hints that he’s going slightly beyond the typical SW mentor/protege arc that we’ve seen many times before.”

- Comic Book Jesus

You can read the rest here (spoilers).

There’s another review over at ComicList

“Luke as a full Jedi Master is just so much cooler than the Luke from the movies. He doesn’t come off as a wise master but he sure knows how to be a badass when it’s needed. The comic is also great when it presents the emotional roller coaster that Finn is on. He’s just started his training and he is trying to get a handle on who he is and how he feels about everything. This comic really bolsters Luke and Finn very well.”

- ComicList

“I think Finn is a good, new character for the Star Wars universe.  I think its the way Tom Taylor has been writing him so far is what really has me connected to this series.”

- Just About Comics

http://justaboutcomics.com/?p=76

“Invasion #3 sees things get turned up a notch in terms of action and excitement. There are some big story shocks, some revelations about the moral character of certain people, some big explosions and plenty of cool Jedi action from Luke Skywalker.”  “9 out of 10.”

- The Attempted Review

There’s also a 4 star staff review over at Things From Another World.

Thanks to all of the people who’ve taken the time to leave a personal message on the website or drop me an email.  Colin and I have a lot more in store.  Finn has pieces missing… what does it all mean?

Also, in case you missed them, here are the links to some Star Wars: Invasion #2 reviews.

http://www.njoe.com/2009/08/06/review-of-star-wars-invasion-2/#more-1961

http://www.tfaw.com/Comics/Profile/Star-Wars-Invasion-2___347593

http://eruditorum.co.uk/poptart/?p=65

http://www.gaijinside.com/wednesdayinreview-wars-and-worlds-reborn/

Meanwhile, two comics in two weeks…

STAR WARS: INVASION #4 (of 5)
Tom Taylor (W), Colin Wilson (A), Wes Dzioba (C), and Jo Chen (Cover)
On sale Oct 7
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Miniseries

Twenty-five years after the events in A New Hope, the relentless assault by the alien invaders known as the Yuuzhan Vong has plunged the galaxy into war. But word has come of a possible intelligence coup for the New Republic!

Young Finn Galfridian joins Leia Organa and her children aboard the legendary Millennium Falcon for an undercover mission to a notorious refuge for pirates and smugglers. Meanwhile, Finn’s sister Kaye, held prisoner aboard a Yuuzhan Vong starship, is about to show the invaders that the galaxy is not defenseless!

- A first look at Princess Leia twenty-five years after A New Hope!

- Covers by Eisner Award nominee Jo Chen!

STAR WARS: INVASION #0
Tom Taylor (W), Colin Wilson (A), Wes Dzioba (C), and Dave Dorman (Cover)
On sale Oct 14
FC, 40 pages
$3.50
One-Shot

A Yuuzhan Vong armada has entered that galaxy far, far away, and the target is the defenseless planet Artorias. The planet’s only hope lies with the crew of a tiny ship in the armada’s path . . .

In print for the first time, this comic collects the introductory chapters for Invasion, which appeared exclusively at starwars.com. But this is not simply a collection of the online material! The creative team from the series has woven into the story an additional six pages of all-new action!

- In print for the first time, with new material!

Dave Dorman returns to Star Wars!

In other news, I’ve finished and handed in the script to another secret Star Wars project and the cover is already my new desktop wallpaper – really looking forward to this one.

Star Wars: Invasion has been announced at the New York Comic Con.  This means that months of secrecy is finally over and I can speak openly to family and friends again.  My interview and some great preview pages from Colin are up over at CBR.  I warn you now, in the interview, my grandma says ‘ass’ – I’ve already called to warn her.

About Star Wars: Invasion

A galaxy far, far away is about to get some very unwelcome visitors. Twenty-five years after the Battle of Yavin, an armada of technology-hating, pain-loving freaks called the Yuuzhan Vong arrives at the edge of the galaxy. Their aim is to take the galaxy as their own. One of the first planets they attack is Artorias, a peace-loving planet with no defenses. Picture a T-Rex attacking a kitten. The planet is destroyed and the people are evacuated, enslaved, or killed.

Our focus is on one family, a special family, who are torn apart by the destruction of their homeworld. These refugees become our main characters. Young Finn Galfridian will be set on the Jedi path by Luke Sywalker.  Things don’t go so well for the rest of the family.

“Invasion will feature new characters “but we’ll also see Luke, Leia and the Solo kids.  Tom Taylor, an Australian playwright whom Stradley said has taken to writing comics faster than anybody he’s ever seen, will be writing the series with Rebellion’s Colin Wilson providing art.” – Newsarama

Invasion Art by Colin Wilson

Checking out some boards (I’m spying on you, Star Wars people – We’ll try to give you most of what you want but probably not in the first arc) the response has been brilliant, with almost all of the fans very excited about the series.

I’ll be posting more links to preview art and interviews over the next few days.

CBR interview – Tom Taylor Leads “Star Wars: Invasion”

Colin Wilson’s interview – Colin Wilson Readies the Troops for “Star Wars: Invasion”

Announcement on Newsarama – Dark Horse Panel at NYCC