SDCC 2016: Marvel Cup O'Joe Panel Recap

By: Dominic Jones

Relatively speaking, it has been a light weekend for Star Wars news here at San Diego Comic Con. There was the reveal of a new character from Rogue One, a few book announcements and Hasbro unveiled their new slate of action figures for this year, but in comparison to previous years (especially last year) it hasn't been much.  This trend continued at the Marvel Cup O'Joe Panel where Star Wars writer Jason Aaron, Darth Vader writer Kieron Gillen, and editor C.B. Cebulski joined Marvel's Chief Creative Officer Joe Quesada, and other Marvel creatives, on stage to talk about what's to come in Marvel comics.  While both writers shared some details about their work in the galaxy far, far away, there were no announcements regarding what will be replacing Darth Vader (which wraps up with issue #25) as an ongoing series or what mini series will come after the current six issue Han Solo series.

Despite the lack of announcements, both Aaron and Gillen did share some interesting insight into what it's like working on Star Wars stories and the process of creating the story with the Lucasfilm Story Group.  I was in attendance at the panel and live tweeted the Star Wars tidbits.

Both began by giving updates on their current series,

Aaron: Scar Squad was an opportunity to have effective stormtroopers and understanding why someone would become one. #StarWars #SDCC

— Star Wars Underworld (@TheSWU) July 23, 2016

Gillen: After "Vader Down" they realized they were near the end. Promises "ludicrously" epic conclusion, lots of death #SDCC #StarWars

— Star Wars Underworld (@TheSWU) July 23, 2016

Later in the panel, during the Q&A, a fan asked about what it's like working with Lucasfilm,

Gillen: Working with Lucasfilm is "easier than you think", there's lots of give and take. #StarWars #SDCC

— Star Wars Underworld (@TheSWU) July 23, 2016

Aaron: "I've been blown away by what they've let us do" #StarWars #SDCC

— Star Wars Underworld (@TheSWU) July 23, 2016

Gillen: Story Group encouraged them to explore Sith philosophy in Darth Vader #24 #StarWars #SDCC

— Star Wars Underworld (@TheSWU) July 23, 2016

Marvel editor C.B Cebulski was also on the panel and chimed in at this point about an encounter he had with the maker himself, George Lucas, at the opening of Disneyland Shanghai,

I knew today was going to be a special day here at Shanghai Disneyland, only I didn't realize just how special... pic.twitter.com/GUGmJrYsXR

— C.B. Cebulski (@CBCebulski) June 16, 2016

.@CBCebulski : George Lucas told him he reads all the Marvel #StarWars comics and really enjoys them! #SDCC

— Star Wars Underworld (@TheSWU) July 23, 2016

And finally, both Gillen and Aaron shared other tidbits about the experience of working on Star Wars,

Aaron says he listened to John Williams' score and made R2-D2 noises while writing #StarWars for the first time! #SDCC

— Star Wars Underworld (@TheSWU) July 23, 2016

Gillen on writing the big three in Vader Down: Han was easy, Leia was hard, and Luke was ok #StarWars #SDCC

— Star Wars Underworld (@TheSWU) July 23, 2016

Even though there was no announcements, we did get some interesting information out of this panel. Mainly that George Lucas is keeping up with the Marvel comics!  When the picture of him buying them in Midtown Comics in New York popped up online a few months ago, I assumed it was staged and that George was buying something else!  Now, it seems he was actually there to buy them.

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