TITLE:

Tales of the Jedi - alternate versions

CREATOR(S):

Tom Veitch & Kevin J. Anderson

PUBLISHER:

Dark Horse Comics

DESCRIPTION:

Alternate plan for the Tales of the Jedi storyline by Dark Horse Comics.

SUMMARY:

Tom Veitch had a different story concept revealing the final fate of Ulic Quel-Droma, which was consequently resolved in Redemption.  Ulic is a lone darksider and ends up being truly evil and dies.

SOURCE INFO:

Rich Handley, "Comics That Almost Were", Star Wars Galaxy Collector #4

TITLE:

Prelude to Rebellion #0

CREATOR(S):

Pete Janes (writer), John Nadeau & Jordi Ensign (pencils)

PUBLISHER:

Dark Horse Comics (December 1998)

DESCRIPTION:

Formerly online comic book

SUMMARY:

SOURCE INFO:

MORE INFO:

Published here!

TITLE:

Jedi Council

CREATOR(S):

unknown

PUBLISHER:

Dark Horse Comics

DESCRIPTION:

Planned comic series of 12 one-shot comic books each featuring a member of the prequel era Jedi Council.  Replaced by Jedi Council: Acts of War.

SUMMARY:

Featuring:  Yoda, Mace Windu, Yaddle, Eeth Koth, Yarael Poof, Saesee Tiin, Adi Gallia, Oppo Rancisis, Even Piell, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Plo Koon, Depa Billaba.

SOURCE INFO:

TITLE:

Jedi: Barriss Offee

CREATOR(S):

John Ostrander (writer), Jan Duursema (pencils)

PUBLISHER:

Dark Horse Comics

DESCRIPTION:

Planned comic book one-shot featuring Barriss Offee.

SUMMARY:

The storyline for Jedi: Barriss Offee eventually became Show of Force [SW Republic #65-66], and it was changed to focus more on Mace Windu and company rather than the original concept with Barriss Offee.  John Ostrander felt it was more in line with Mace Windu's character.

SOURCE INFO:

TITLE:

Bungo n' Rusti Get the Record!

CREATOR(S):

James Anderson

PUBLISHER:

West End Games

DESCRIPTION:

Short comic to potentially appear in an issue of the Star Wars Adventure Journal, however since Dark Horse Comics had the sole license to Star Wars comics the Bungo n' Rusti strips were halted. 

SUMMARY:

Bungo Bung and his female-programmed droid Rusti get into a smuggling race with Unga G’Lunga, to see how fast it can take them to haul cargo to an end destination.  Nevertheless, the ironic fate is, in the end, both get equal times.

SOURCE INFO:

RELATED LINKS:

Bungo & Rusti Star Wars Comics

TITLE:

Biggs Darklighter: Blaze of Glory

CREATOR(S):

Andy Mangels

PUBLISHER:

Dark Horse Comics / Topps

DESCRIPTION:

One-shot comic story to appear in an issue of the cancelled Star Wars Galaxy magazine

SUMMARY:

Biggs Darklighter leaves his farm on Tatooine for the Imperial Academy.  Before long, he and his classmates become Imperial fugitives after staging a mutiny on the Imperial vessel ‘Rand Ecliptic’. Once he joins the Rebellion, he meets up with his long time friend Luke Skywalker, and the two fight side by side at the Battle of Yavin; where Biggs is killed in a blaze of glory by Darth Vader.

SOURCE INFO:

TheForce.Net interview with Andy Mangels

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TITLE:

Al Williamson newspaper ANH adaptation

CREATOR(S):

Al Williamson

PUBLISHER:

L.A. Times Syndicate

DESCRIPTION:

Unpublished newspaper comic strip adaptation of ANH

SUMMARY:

"Al [Williamson] drew two weeks [12-day's worth] of Star Wars dailies in 1978 that were never published. For various reasons, Al didn't do the strip then, and plans to adapt the first film as a lead-in [for a potential daily LA Times Syndicate Star Wars comic strip] were dropped by Lucasfilm." (From The Art of Al Williamson, James van Hise, Blue Dolphin Enterprises, Inc., 1983)

SOURCE INFO:

The Art of Al Williamson, James van Hise, Blue Dolphin Enterprises, Inc., 1983
Star Wars Literature Compendium: The Scourge of the Empire - Rebellion on the Run

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TITLE:

Unpublished Russ Manning newspaper comic strips

CREATOR(S):

Russ Manning

PUBLISHER:

L.A. Times Syndicate

DESCRIPTION:

Unpublished newspaper comic strips

SUMMARY:

Several unpublished strips have been uncovered:
- A one-day rough sketch for the opening Sunday strip
- 2-day's worth of Star Wars dailies from "Gamblers' World," in which Luke, Leia, and the droids are on a roller coaster on Vorzyd V
- 6-day's worth of Star Wars dailies of an unpublished episode in which Luke and the droids attempt to unmask a Tusken Radier

SOURCE INFO:

Star Wars Literature Compendium: The Scourge of the Empire - Rebellion on the Run

MORE INFO:

 Coming Soon from Marvel!

TITLE:

101 Neks

CREATOR(S):

James Anderson

PUBLISHER:

West End Games

DESCRIPTION:

Short comic to potentially appear in an issue of the Star Wars Adventure Journal, however since Dark Horse Comics had the sole license to Star Wars comics the Bungo n' Rusti strips were halted. 

SUMMARY:

Bungo Bung is given the strangest and probably hardest job of his career — take care of over a hundred dangerous nek puppies in order to smuggle them off Tatooine.  However, it is not as easy as it sounds…

SOURCE INFO:

RELATED LINKS:

Bungo & Rusti Star Wars Comics

TITLE:

Bungo n' Rusti On Strike!

CREATOR(S):

James Anderson

PUBLISHER:

West End Games

DESCRIPTION:

Short comic to potentially appear in an issue of the Star Wars Adventure Journal, however since Dark Horse Comics had the sole license to Star Wars comics the Bungo n' Rusti strips were halted. 

SUMMARY:

Protesting the unfair SoroSuub company, Bungo Bung and Rusti find themselves targets of Mephout bounty hunter Klehoora Foon…

SOURCE INFO:

RELATED LINKS:

Bungo & Rusti Star Wars Comics

TITLE:

Castaways

CREATOR(S):

James Anderson

PUBLISHER:

West End Games

DESCRIPTION:

Short comic to potentially appear in an issue of the Star Wars Adventure Journal, however since Dark Horse Comics had the sole license to Star Wars comics the Bungo n' Rusti strips were halted. 

SUMMARY:

After a crash - landing, Bungo Bung and Rusti find themselves stranded on an unknown planet, with no rescue teams in sight and limited supplies…

SOURCE INFO:

RELATED LINKS:

Bungo & Rusti Star Wars Comics

TITLE:

Bungo n' Rusti Join the Rebellion?!! Part I

CREATOR(S):

James Anderson

PUBLISHER:

West End Games

DESCRIPTION:

Short comic to potentially appear in an issue of the Star Wars Adventure Journal, however since Dark Horse Comics had the sole license to Star Wars comics the Bungo n' Rusti strips were halted. 

SUMMARY:

When Nien Nunb intercepts their cargo, Bungo Bung and Rusti may be forced into doing the last resort — joining the Rebellion…

SOURCE INFO:

RELATED LINKS:

Bungo & Rusti Star Wars Comics

TITLE:

Bungo n' Rusti Join the Rebellion?!! Part II

CREATOR(S):

James Anderson

PUBLISHER:

West End Games

DESCRIPTION:

Short comic to potentially appear in an issue of the Star Wars Adventure Journal, however since Dark Horse Comics had the sole license to Star Wars comics the Bungo n' Rusti strips were halted. 

SUMMARY:

SOURCE INFO:

RELATED LINKS:

Bungo & Rusti Star Wars Comics

TITLE:

Ewoks #15

CREATOR(S):

David Manak

PUBLISHER:

Star Comics (Marvel Comics)

DESCRIPTION:

The Ewoks comic series was cancelled after #14.  Rumor has it that issue #15 may have been in preparation at the time.

SUMMARY:

SOURCE INFO:

RELATED LINKS:

TITLE:

Bounty Hunters

CREATOR(S):

Andy Mangels

PUBLISHER:

Dark Horse Comics

DESCRIPTION:

Planned comic series of one-shots featuring the bounty hunters from The Empire Strikes Back

SUMMARY:

Featuring: Dengar, Bossk, 4-LOM, Zuckuss, IG-88

SOURCE INFO:

TheForce.Net interview with Andy Mangels

RELATED LINKS:

TITLE:

Star Wars 3-D #4-7

CREATOR(S):

Len Wein & John Stephenson

PUBLISHER:

Blackthorne Comics

DESCRIPTION:

Cancelled continuation of the 3-D comic book series.  Issue #4 was fully completed.  One issue may have been titled "The Spies of Botha".

SUMMARY:

SOURCE INFO:

Rich Handley, "Comics That Almost Were", Star Wars Galaxy Collector #4

RELATED LINKS:

TITLE:

The Truce at Bakura comic adaptation

CREATOR(S):

unknown

PUBLISHER:

Dark Horse Comics

DESCRIPTION:

Cancelled 4 part comic book adaptation of the novel by Kathy Tyers.

SUMMARY:

The fledging Rebellion—scarcely one day after the Battle of Endor — face a new threat that threatens to engulf them and the Empire…

SOURCE INFO:

RELATED LINKS:

TITLE:

Jodo Kast and Dengar: Preying for Time (Boba Fett: Twin Engines of Destruction prequel)

CREATOR(S):

Andy Mangels

PUBLISHER:

West End Games / Dark Horse Comics

DESCRIPTION:

Short story commisioned to appear in the Star Wars Adventure Journal, but cancelled due to the WEG bankruptcy.  Later proposed as a 2 or 3 part comic mini-series.

SUMMARY:

After a pirate attack on a New Republic ship, bounty hunters Dengar and the Boba Fett look-alike Jodo Kast reluctantly team-up to take the respective bounties on sevral of the escaped pirates that initiated the strike.  May also have involved Fenn Shysa, another Boba Fett look-alike sporting Mandalorian armor.

SOURCE INFO:

Rich Handley, "Comics That Almost Were", Star Wars Galaxy Collector #4
TheForce.Net interview with Andy Mangels

Echo Station: Interview with Andy Mangels

RELATED LINKS:

TITLE:

X-Wing Rogue Squadron: The Mandalorian Candidate

CREATOR(S):

Michael A. Stackpole & Andy Mangels

PUBLISHER:

Dark Horse Comics

DESCRIPTION:

Planned comic book mini-series / story arc

SUMMARY:

The New Republic discovers that an unwitting counteragent lurks among them, which forces Rogue Squadron and the Mandalorian-armored bounty hunter Boba Fett to form a shaky alliance to ferret out the plans of the agent — and to discover his employers.

SOURCE INFO:

TheForce.Net interview with Andy Mangels

RELATED LINKS:

TITLE:

Original version of Marvel Comics Star Wars #107

CREATOR(S):

Jo Duffy (writer) & Cynthia Martin (pencils)

PUBLISHER:

Marvel Comics

DESCRIPTION:

The Star Wars cancellation by Marvel was not expected by the creators and issue #107 needed to be retooled to conclude the series.

SUMMARY:

The Circle is Now Complete: Classic Marvel Talents (article at StarWars.com - page 2)
"To my recollection, that last three-fourths of an issue never saw print. Jo and I got our kill fee and it went into the bin, and I believe we scrambled to get another issue together that would tie up a few plot threads. I felt pretty bad about the cancellation, as I had just hit a kind of stride with the [series] and was starting to feel like I could produce some exceptional work. But that's the way it goes." - Cynthia Martin in the above article

SOURCE INFO:

The Circle is Now Complete: Classic Marvel Talents  

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TITLE:

Marvel Comics Star Wars beyond #107

CREATOR(S):

PUBLISHER:

Marvel Comics

DESCRIPTION:

Marvel comics cancelled the series abruptly with issue #107 with little notice to the creators.

SUMMARY:

Return of Suprema
Return of the Tagge Co. family members
Longer Nagai storyline

SOURCE INFO:

Marvel Age #10
The Circle is Now Complete: Classic Marvel Talents (article at StarWars.com)

RELATED LINKS:

TITLE:

Dark Force Rising comic book adaptation (w/ artist Gil Kane)

CREATOR(S):

Gil Kane (artist) w/ Kevin Nowlan (inker)

PUBLISHER:

Dark Horse Comics

DESCRIPTION:

SUMMARY:

SOURCE INFO:

RELATED LINKS:

Unpublished pages from Star Wars: Dark Force Rising #1 by Gil Kane

SOURCE INFO:

Rich Handley, "Comics That Almost Were", Star Wars Galaxy Collector #4
Star Wars Literature Compendium: The New Republic Part 3 - The Empire Fights Back

MORE INFO:

 Unofficial copies of these have circulated for some time.

TITLE:

Full version of Empire's End

CREATOR(S):

Tom Veitch

PUBLISHER:

Dark Horse Comics

DESCRIPTION:

Originally planned to be a 6 issue comic mini-series to complete the Dark Empire trilogy

SUMMARY:

SOURCE INFO:

RELATED LINKS:

TITLE:

Boba Fett vs. The Empire

CREATOR(S):

Tom Veitch

PUBLISHER:

Dark Horse Comics

DESCRIPTION:

Planned comic mini-series.

SUMMARY:

Umak Leth, the designer of the World Devastator, betrays the Empire, and Boba Fett is sent to get him.

SOURCE INFO:

Rich Handley, "Comics That Almost Were", Star Wars Galaxy Collector #4

RELATED LINKS:

TITLE:

Exiles of the Force

CREATOR(S):

unknown (idea proposed by Jim Baike)

PUBLISHER:

Dark Horse Comics

DESCRIPTION:

Planned 4 part comic mini-series

SUMMARY:

Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa Solo, and our heroes must come together to defeat a new Force-related threat.

SOURCE INFO:

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TITLE:

Crimson Empire III

CREATOR(S):

Mike Richardson & Randy Stradley

PUBLISHER:

Dark Horse Comics

DESCRIPTION:

Cancelled 6 part comic mini-series.  Hard Currency from Dark Horse Extra #21-24 seemed to be set up as a prequel.  It was also said to tie into the New Jedi Order storyline.

SUMMARY:

Kir Kanos is about to finish his mission — but not before duelling with his, and the Empire’s, arch - enemy, Luke Skywalker…

"I [Mike Richardson] patterned Crimson Empire after the Japanese tale of forty-seven Ronin - not in the story itself, but in the quest for revenge. How I see it in the first Crimson Empire series is that it deals with laying out the groundwork and its interaction with the initial characters, with actually somewhat of a tragic ending to the first series. I see it as a trilogy: the second part being the quest for Luke Skywalker - for his part in the death of the Emperor; the third part, the revenge on the ruling counsel. It'll be a story-cycle that takes them through personal discovery, great adventure, and intrigue in the Empire itself. And ultimately the opportunity for revenge, where Kir Kanos finds himself." - Mike Richardson

SOURCE INFO:

Star Wars Insider #36 p65

MORE INFO:

 Published by Dark Horse Comics in 2011

TITLE:

Specter of Thrawn

CREATOR(S):

Timothy Zahn & Michael A. Stackpole

PUBLISHER:

Dark Horse Comics

DESCRIPTION:

Cancelled comic mini-series supposed to be released between the two The Hand of Thrawn duology novels

SUMMARY:

A supposedly dead enemy of the New Republic is seemingly about to return to life.  The legacy of Thrawn’s life haunts the galaxy, even as plans are put in motion that may one day bring him back to life.   - from Andrew Gordon's speculation

Set on the university world Mrlsst, the story was to revolve around a campus protest situation. Wedge Antilles, Corran Horn and most major characters were to appear in cameos or flashbacks.  The story would have focused on Iella Wessiri, as well as introduced the character Releqy It'Kla, the daughter of Elegos It'Kla.  Iella and Releqy would have hosted a seminar about the dissolution of the Empire and the growth of the New Republic.  Then throw in some political unrest and terrorism for good measure too. - from Rich Handley's interview of Mike A. Stackpole

SOURCE INFO:

Rich Handley, "Comics That Almost Were", Star Wars Galaxy Collector #4

RELATED LINKS:

TITLE:

Alternate Dark Horse Comics invasion storyline

CREATOR(S):

Mike Richardson & Randy Stradley

PUBLISHER:

Dark Horse Comics

DESCRIPTION:

Dark Horse Comics originally proposed an idea of doing an invasion storyline to LFL, however Del Rey ran with the idea in a different direction with the New Jedi Order. 

SUMMARY:

Nom Anor is the advance scout of a non-humanoid race of extra-galactic invaders.  The invaders carry a "bladed" weapon that would allow them to fight toe-to-toe against Luke and any other Jedi they might encounter.

SOURCE INFO:

Dark Horse Forum topic: So Randy Killed the Family Dog?
The idea for the "Invasion" storyline originated with DH (we had already introduced Nom Anor as the first glimpse of it before the aforementioned meeting took place), but the novels expanded on the idea before we could -- and in directions we never intended to go. Frankly, everybody at DH was pretty soured on the idea of playing in the NJO after that.

Personally, it's difficult for me to look objectively at any of the NJO stuff, because I only see how "wrong" it all is (in comparison to what we had planned).

Which is not to say what happened is wrong, or even anybody's fault. It's simply indicitive of the main problem with trying to codify everything in the EU: you have dozens of authors, spread over three or four companies, and scattered over who knows how many countries, each trying to use existing continuity to serve the needs of his or her own story. Even if you had four times as many editors at LF as they currently do, I don't think it would be possible to stay on top of every contradiction.
- Randy Stradley in the above topic

MORE INFO:

Dark Horse Forum topic: Nom Anor, DHC's "invasion" storyline and the NJO
Everything Shelly says is true, as far as it goes. What became the NJO was part of a group planning session. But there are aspects that I am sure Shelly is not aware of.

Nom Anor had already appeared in the comics, and Mike Richardson already had plans for an "invasion" storyline to spring out of Nom's presence. Unfortunately, Lucasfilm did not approve some of DH's ideas.

One I specifically remember had to do with an aspect of Nom's appearance (no, he was not an "energy creature"). Lucasfilm insisted that the invaders be humanoid in structure. So that undercut one of the ideas we had.

Then, Del Rey's writers had ideas -- which LF embraced -- that further diverged from what we had originally wanted to do.

By the time it became clear the DH would only get to play a supporting role in the events surrounding the death of Chewie, we (and by "we," I mean Mike Richardson and myself more than anybody else) were feeling we should leave the "new" invasion to DR and focus our efforts elsewhere.

For anybody who cares (and I can't imagine why anybody would), those are my memories of the way things happened. But, in the imaginary canon that is Star Wars, all that matters is what actually got published.

If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go back to not thinking about Mandalorians...
- Randy Stradley in the above topic

None that I can think of. Pretty much all of the ideas we had revolved around an invasion. Pretty hard to insert an invasion earlier in the timeline, and another one after NJO would just be silly.

I did have a pretty good idea (I think) for a "bladed" weapon for the invaders that would allow them to fight toe-to-toe against Luke and any other Jedi they might encounter. Might still get to introduce that someday...
- Randy Stradley in the above topic

Jedi Council Forums topic: DHC's original plans for the NJO

TITLE:

The Hatred Vector

CREATOR(S):

unknown

PUBLISHER:

Dark Horse Comics

DESCRIPTION:

Cancelled 4 part comic mini-series planned as a possible lead up to the Yuuzhan Vong invasion in the New Jedi Order novel Vector Prime

SUMMARY:

Preparations are made for the Yuuzhan Vong invasion of the galaxy.

SOURCE INFO:

Star Wars Insider #47

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TITLE:

Marvel Comics plot ideas

CREATOR(S):

various including: Randy Stradley

PUBLISHER:

Marvel Comics

DESCRIPTION:

SUMMARY:

Randy Stradley plot ideas: 
- Luke Skywalker is pitted against an Imperial Royal Guard seeking revenge for the death of the Emperor
- Han Solo and Chewbacca are lured to a remote abandoned ship graveyard by a creature using the distress beacons to attract new prey.  With limited psychic powers, the creature uses the victims' fears to cloud their minds making them easier prey.  After the creature captures Han, Chewbacca charges in to the rescue.  Chewbacca's thoughts are bombarded with images of being mocked and discriminated against by humans.
- A light-hearted story involving Luke, C3PO and other characters run into a simian-like species  whose culture is ruled by a mass gambling addiction - declined when asked to rewrite the story to include Hoojibs by Marvel editor Ann Nocenti.

SOURCE INFO:

Rich Handley, "Comics That Almost Were", Star Wars Galaxy Collector #4
The Circle is Now Complete: Classic Marvel Talents (article at StarWars.com)

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