Marvel to Continue Kenner Toys Inspired Variant Covers for Star Wars Comic Books

When I swung by my local comic book shop last month to pick up the first issue of Marvel's new STAR WARS comic book series this Luke Skywalker variant cover inspired by the original Kenner Toys action figure packaging caught my eye.  While I hadn't planned on buying up any of the over-hyped, over-priced variant covers that flooded stores and the Internet with this comic book's release this one was priced at the regular price for the issue and I just thought it was very nicely done.  The Luke Skywalker action figure on the cover was the very first Star Wars toy I ever received as a kid and the image on this comic book cover brought back some nice memories.  So I was nostalgic and picked it up.

While I thought this action figure design for the comic book cover was just another of the nearly hundred one and done variant covers released to promote this inaugural issue of the Star Wars brands return to the Marvel banner, I was pleasantly surprised to see that it appears there will be a few more of these covers being printed at least in the near future for upcoming issues.  Star Wars #2 which will be released on February 4, 2015 will have a Kenner Toys' Han Solo variant cover and Darth Vader #1 coming out on February 11, 2014 will also have one.  Additionally the upcoming Princess Leia mini-series will have an action figure variant cover for its first issue as will March's Star Wars #3 with a Ben Kenobi version.

I was somewhat worried before the first comic book was published that Marvel was just going to sketch up a comic without a lot of effort because they knew Star Wars fans would be digging into their pocketbooks no matter the quality of the product.  Fortunately, that hasn't been the case, the script and artwork in Star Wars #1 was exceptionally well done. In fact Star Wars #1 was one of my favorite comic books reads in the last few years...it really was that good.  As long as they continue the quality level demonstrated in this first issue I'm hooked on reading these comic books each month.  The continuation of these variant covers is just icing on the case, but also a sign that Marvel really is interested in providing Star Wars fans with a quality product.  So A Geek Daddy blog gives the new Marvel Star Wars comic books its nod of approval! 

UPDATE:  I just read Star Wars #2 and it was to quote Tony the Tiger "GREAT!!! "  I can't wait to get my hands on Star Wars #3 next month which is probably the first time I've felt that excited  about a comic book issue since I was 8 years old.