A new Star Wars one-shot comic from Marvel has been announced featuring Life Day, the Wookiee holiday seen in 1978's less than stellar Star Wars Holiday Special. While the Holiday Special has long been viewed as one of the worst chapters of the entire Star Wars franchise, it seems as though Marvel is looking to reclaim the core concept of Life Day with this new comic, featuring an all-star team of writers and artists who will depict different Life Days that have occurred across the span of the galaxy's vast timeline. While some will of course involve Han Solo and Chewbacca, others will go as far back as the days of the High Republic.
Released in 1978 (but never rebroadcast), the Star Wars Holiday Special was a veritable train wreck, featuring a chaotic narrative that cut away to odd musical numbers, strange guest appearances such as Bea Arthur, and very poor quality makeup and distracting costume choices. However, the heart of the special saw Harrison Ford's Han Solo helping his first mate Chewbacca evade the Empire in order to get home in time to celebrate Life Day with his family, an annual Wookiee holiday celebration. That being said, the delivery was so poor that Harrison Ford has denied its existence, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill made jokes about how awful it was, and even Anthony Daniel's C-3PO described it as a "turd." Furthermore, Star Wars creator George Lucas himself has denied his involvement as well.
That being said, it looks like Marvel Comics will be attempting to give Life Day another shot with Star Wars: Life Day #1, featuring four short stories about various Life Days from writers Cavan Scott, Justina Ireland, Jody Houser, and Steve Orlando. According to the announcement on StarWars.com, "Life Day is the last thing on HAN SOLO’S mind when he and CHEWBACCA find themselves outgunned and under fire. But Chewie won’t give up hope, remembering the lessons of Life Days past and present. As for Life Days yet to come… well, they’ll have to survive the night first!" Here's the previewed cover art from artist Phil Noto and synopsis for the upcoming issue:
- STAR WARS: LIFE DAY #1
- CAVAN SCOTT, JUSTINA IRELAND, JODY HOUSER AND STEVE ORLANDO (W)
- IVAN FIORELLI and more (A) • Cover by PHIL NOTO
- VARIANT COVER BY CHRIS SPROUSE • VARIANT COVER BY JAN DUURSEMA
- THE GALAXY’S FAVORITE HOLIDAY! Happy LIFE DAY! Celebrate the galaxy’s favorite holiday with a collection of festive tales from all across the STAR WARS SAGA!
As revealed by some of the writers in the announcement, Life Day #1 won't just be focused on Han and Chewie. It seems as though other Life Day tales will be remembered by Chewbacca as well, going as far back as the High Republic era. As an example, Justina Ireland's story will reveal a Life Day celebrated by none other than the High Republic's premier Jedi Wookiee: “I’m really excited to have a chance to tell a Life Day story about the furriest Padawan around, Burryaga! After all, you can’t spell ‘Life Day’ without ‘Areeeeeoooo!'”
In any case, Star Wars: Life Day #1 seems as though it going to be a lot of fun, while also attempting to redeem one of the worst projects Star Wars has ever had the displeasure of releasing. That being said, its one good element was the animated sequence featuring the first canonical appearance of the legendary Boba Fett. Perhaps one of the stories will feature the infamous bounty hunter? Either way, Star Wars fans will be able to re-live the magic of the Star Wars Holiday Special by picking up the Life Day one-shot this November (just in time for Christmas).
Source: StarWars.com