Disney’s new expanded universe of Star Wars is fantastic, but I desperately miss part 1 of the original

In the decade-plus since the Disney acquisition, and the Canon reboot, Star Wars was set in a new way, both on the screen and in the franchise Extended Universe, in which comic books play a major role. Although Marvel told many great stories in the medium of comics during this period, something wonderful about the original continuity was lost – and I desperately miss it.

In a post-Disney acquisition world, the one thing I really miss Age Star Wars comics Is The feeling that the books are telling the ‘future’ of Star Wars. With the pre-acquisition Legends Canon now a relic of the past, it is worth talking about how the structure of the franchise has become quite different.

Now, that there are Star Wars Movies and TV shows in development constantly; The comics can only do so much and will never go beyond the scope of the larger projects.

I miss when Star Wars comics could be the future of the franchise

Pre-Disney Star Wars Comics have more free reign over the timeline

In the Disney era, it often feels like the future of Star Wars Is defined by the screen, big and small, comics and books are mostly relegated to ‘backfilling’ the gaps between one movie and the next. This was not always the case; In fact, there was a point when novels and comics were at the forefront of expansion Star Wars Learning, and preserving its legacy. This is what I miss most about the current era of Star Wars Comics, although Marvel has managed to say some tough Star Wars Stories in the boundaries of what it can do.

Among the best examples of the impact of pre-Disney comics is 2006 Star Wars: Legacy. The series was set 90-odd years after any other Star Wars story – over 130 years after the original Star Wars Film. Sure, it still focused on a Skywalker, but everything else has shifted. It felt like a massive move, a promise that the franchise could do anything it set its mind to, and that the comics could lead the charge. It’s hard to imagine that happening today, and It is unlikely that any major comic will be set after the sequel trilogy until another film comes out later..

Likewise, other comics and books went the other way, to the very origins of the Jedi and Sith, before the ideological battle lines of the Force were drawn. If a Star Wars: Origins type project is to make it through development, I find it hard to imagine it would be in a comic. It would definitely be a movie or TV show; Don’t get me wrong, I like movies and TV shows, but they just don’t have the scope or serialized format of a long-running comic series. Television is around, but you don’t see series with 30 episode seasons anymore.

Disney-era Star Wars comics have some bright spots – but they just aren’t the same to me

The universe was more expansive

Initiatives like The High Republic are the best equivalent that modern Star Wars did. A Star Wars Era in the past of the franchise (relative to the films) with no definite history that began with comics and novels. However, even the High Republic only has so much room to fill in these Star Wars timeline, and with series like Disney+’s The acolyteThe multimedia portion of the franchise once again takes up a lot of the conversation. If push comes to shove, it’s pretty obvious what format the biggest Republic stories will be made in, and it’s not comics.

This is not to say that all is doom and gloom. Many of the pre-Disney Star Wars Stories I look back on the fondest aren’t the “biggest” In terms of changing the trajectory of the franchise. Some are also made with huge restrictions. One of my favorite Star Wars comics, 2006s Knights of the Old Republicwas designed specifically to fit snugly into the canon just prior to the Bioware video game of the same name. Star Wars Comics still have the space to tell great smaller stories, but I can’t help but miss the days when they also told huge ones.

I find it hard to talk about Star Wars these days – which makes it harder in the Disney era

The perils of fandom

To be honest, a part of me doesn’t even want to write this article. I really wonder how we can talk about Star Wars – especially comparing the franchise before and after the Disney acquisition – in a world where it seems that every online Star Wars Conversation evolves into mud-slinging from those who hate everything Disney has done. I must legitimately ask myself: how much of my disinterest in modern Star Wars At times Not from the post-Disney stories themselves, but from the toxicity of modern fandom?

Star Wars is not unique in its insane fandom, but it is a strong example, especially now that the franchise is more popular than ever. All we as fans can do is go into discussions with nuance and good faith and find all the ways we can to ignore those who don’t. Star Wars Is still pretty great at times, so just because I miss an era that is now a long time ago, doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the good stuff we still have.