As Lucasfilm celebrates their 50th anniversary, Star Wars comics are receiving variant covers in commemoration. Upcoming issues of Star Wars: Bounty Hunters and Darth Vader will feature variants based on The Mandalorian.
Lucasfilm has been known for Star Wars and Indiana Jones, and has been among the most ambitious studios that has ever existed. Utilizing all storytelling mediums including television, video games, audiobooks, movies, and more, their most popular ongoing project is The Mandalorian on Disney+. After a series of false starts with Disney era’s sequel trilogy and spin-offs, fans largely agreed that The Mandalorian was a return to consistent quality storytelling in the Star Wars universe. Now, the series headlines the studio’s 50th anniversary with comic book variant covers. Previously, an announced variant cover for Darth Vader #20 revealed the Mandalorian with Grogu.
In an homage to The Mandalorian’s debut episode, Bounty Hunters #21 will include a variant cover depicting Greef Karga and Mythrol Grace. Although they appear on the cover and could theoretically appear in the issue, it’s likely this is only a variant meant to celebrate Lucasfilm’s 50th anniversary. The issue will be written by Ethan Sacks with art by Paolo Villanelli and a main cover by Giuseppe Camuncoli. However, the variant is illustrated by Chris Sprouse, Karl Story, and Neeraj Menon. Bounty Hunters #21 releases on March 16 and is currently available for preorder.
Throughout The Mandalorian, Greef Karga is portrayed by Carl Weathers, with Mythrol Grace portrayed by Horatio Sanz. The series has come far since its first episode, as it has permeated pop culture with a new corner of the Star Wars galaxy. However, the blue alien is instantly recognizable as the first target that Din Djarin took down.
With the two variant covers celebrating Lucasfilm’s 50th year, it’s likely that more variant covers are on the way incorporating The Mandalorian. Other ongoing titles which have yet to receive a variant themed to The Mandalorian include Star Wars, Crimson Reign, The High Republic, and Doctor Aphra. Since this variant is featuring such a minor character as Mythrol, there seems to be a hint that characters featured even more prominently than Greef Karga might show up. As The Book of Boba Fett recently concluded, it’s also possible that Boba Fett or Fennec Shand could be included on a variant, as they first appeared in The Mandalorian.