Disneyland’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is about to feel very different. Beginning this spring, original trilogy characters will officially become part of the land’s story — and Marvel Comics is filling in the narrative gaps.
A new five‑issue comic series, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – Echoes of the Empire, is designed to explain how legendary heroes and villains like Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Darth Vader connect to Batuu. Rather than ignoring continuity, Disney and Lucasfilm are leaning into it.
This comic acts as the missing story chapter many fans have been waiting for.
What Is Galaxy’s Edge – Echoes of the Empire?
Echoes of the Empire is a Marvel Comics miniseries set on Batuu, the remote outpost that anchors Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland. The story follows Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and Chewbacca as they arrive on Batuu while searching for a powerful relic. That discovery does not stay secret for long. The Galactic Empire soon becomes involved, putting the heroes on a collision course with familiar threats.
The series is written by Ethan Sacks, who has previously worked on Galaxy’s Edge stories, with artwork by Roi Mercado and Jethro Morales. The creative team has been closely tied to Disney Parks storytelling, which helps keep the story aligned with the land’s immersive design.
Issue #1 arrives in comic shops on April 22, 2026, with the remaining issues releasing weekly.
Why This Comic Matters to Disneyland Fans
When Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened in 2019, it was firmly set between The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. That choice limited which characters could appear in the land.
Now, Disneyland is expanding that timeline.
Starting April 29, 2026, Galaxy’s Edge will begin welcoming original trilogy characters into the land. Guests can expect encounters with Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, and Darth Vader, while sequel‑era characters like Rey and Din Djarin remain part of the experience. Echoes of the Empire provides the in‑universe explanation. Instead of feeling like a reset, the comic frames the change as a natural evolution of Batuu’s story.
Think of it as a Star Wars Holocron — one that explains why these characters are here and what is at stake.
Variant Covers and Collector Appeal
Marvel is also leaning into the collector side of the fandom. Echoes of the Empire #1 will feature multiple variant covers, including artwork highlighting The Mandalorian and Grogu.
For fans who enjoy collecting park‑connected comics, this series is shaping up to be one of the most important Galaxy’s Edge releases to date.
Sam’s Take
The Original Galaxy’s Edge Challenge
Disney recently announced that the storyline for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland will expand to include additional eras from the Star Wars universe. For longtime fans, that news immediately answered one lingering question: Where is Darth Vader?
When Disney originally created Galaxy’s Edge, Batuu sat inside a narrow timeline. The land took place between The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. That decision made Kylo Ren the central villain and excluded some of the most loved characters in Star Wars history.
Darth Vader was missing. Luke Skywalker was absent. Han Solo never appeared. Fans noticed right away and kept asking about them.
How Disney Is Expanding the Galaxy’s Edge Timeline
When Disney confirmed the expansion, some fans assumed the company would abandon the timeline completely. It felt easy to think that anything could appear at any time. That is not what Disney is doing.
By expanding the story through the Echoes of the Empire comic series, Disney adds new eras without breaking continuity. Darth Vader and Kylo Ren will not exist in the same moment. Each story takes place on Batuu, but at different points in the Star Wars galaxy.
This approach solves several problems at once. It allows Disney to reach more fans, brings long‑requested characters into the land, and supports new merchandise and storytelling opportunities.
Why Most Guests Will Love This Change
For some die‑hard fans, this idea may feel difficult to accept at first. However, most guests will never think twice about it. They will meet Darth Vader, then Rey, then The Mandalorian during the same visit.
This flexible storytelling also explains updates coming to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. The attraction will expand its mission set to include locations tied to the upcoming The Mandalorian and Grogu film.
Disneyland Now, Walt Disney World Still Unknown
It is also important to note that these story and character changes have only been officially announced for Disneyland.
At this time, Disney has not confirmed how — or if — the expanded Galaxy’s Edge timeline will be applied at Walt Disney World. Batuu at Disney’s Hollywood Studios may continue operating within its current framework, or it could evolve differently over time.
That flexibility gives Disney options. It allows each coast to experiment, respond to guest feedback, and tailor experiences without forcing a one-size-fits-all solution.
In the end, Disney is not abandoning the Galaxy’s Edge timeline. Instead, the company is letting it grow at Disneyland first, while leaving the door open for future changes elsewhere in the galaxy.
