Because nerds cannot live on Star Wars alone, we’ve got all the news from the comics world this week in today’s edition of Comics Relief. Which, actually, includes some Star Wars news, so you can just forget what I said. Before we get to the Force though, here’s some news on Marvel’s early birthday plans for Captain America next year. Read on for all the details…

Marvel Releases Beautiful New Captain America 75th Anniversary Variant Cover in January

Right now, the hero formerly known as the Falcon, Sam Wilson, is rockin’ it as the new Captain America in the pages of the All-New, All-Different Marvel relaunch. But since 2016 is the seventy-fifth anniversary of the original Captain America, Steve Rogers, Marvel is celebrating by releasing an amazing stunning variant cover for All-New All-Different Avengers #4 from artist Mark Brooks, show Cap fighting the good fight back in World War II. One of Marvel’s Free Comic Book Day releases is what appears to be a new Captain America relaunch. Could it be that maybe Steve is returning to the costume? This cover could be our first clue. The issue goes on sale January 20. [Newsarama]

IDW Brings The Empire Strikes Back: Artist’s Edition to Comic Shops this April

IDW Publishing has announced that legendary late artist Al Williamson’s Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back comic book adaptation will be newly collected in an oversized Artist’s Edition book this upcoming April. The special edition will clock in at over  a 160 pages in hardcover, and measure a 14”x21”.

The entire adaptation was first published in issues #39 through #44 of the original Marvel Star Wars comic, and will be reprinted in its entirety. Also included will be plus pages from Star Wars #50, #98 and the Star Wars: Return of the Jedi mini-series. Al Williamson was seen by most as the best artist by far on the classic Star Wars comic, and this new oversized edition will no doubt give fans the best rendition of his artwork yet. [Bleeding Cool]

Dark Horse set to release new He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Hardcover book next year

Dark Horse Comics published an epic history of the He-Man franchise earlier this year with their hardcover book The Art of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. Now the publisher is planning on following up that book with a new hardcover guide to the entire classic animated series from the 1980s, alongside its companion show starring He-Man’s sister She-Ra.

According to the press release, the book will feature nearly 600 pages of fascinating story synopses, behind-the-scenes artwork, and trivia for every single episode of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and She-Ra: Princess of Power. It also includes never-before-seen Bruce Timm artwork and reveals Orko’s face for the first time ever. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: A Complete Guide to the Classic Animated Adventures will be available in stores on August 17, 2016. You can check out a preview of the cover below: [Newsarama]

Comics Legend George Perez brings out some Star Wars art from the vaults

Artist George Perez has been a legend in the world of comics for over forty years, having illustrated long runs on the Avengers and the Justice League, co-created The New Teen Titans and Crisis on Infinite Earths, as well as totally relaunching Wonder Woman in the mid ’80s, in what is possibly her most cherished comics incarnation. But one comic he’s never drawn? Star Wars.

Well, all except for one page, which he shared over on his Facebook, which he says was commissioned by George Lucas for a Stars Wars Comics art book some time back. Pérez was given free reign to draw whatever he wanted for the piece, and ended up with the following self-contained, one-page story, featuring the classic original trilogy trio of Han, Luke and Leia…and what looks like Queen Amidala? You can check out the image below, and for more Star Wars Perez art from special commissions, click the following link: [Comic Book Resources]

Titan Brings Penny Dreadful to comics in 2016

One of the breakout TV cult hits of the past couple of years has been Showtime’s gothic horror series Penny Dreadful, which features characters and monsters from classic Victorian horror, all mashed up together into one narrative. It’s kind of like The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen…. the comic book that is, not the horrible movie. Now UK Publisher Titan Comics has announced that next year, Penny Dreadful is coming to comics, written by series writers Chris King, Krysty Wilson-Cairns, and Andrew Hinderaker, with artwork by Heavy Metal artist Louie De Martinis. For more on this story, click on our news item at the following like: [Nerdist]

New Comic Series Covers the twenty year gap between Independence Day movies

The trailer for Independence Day: Resurgence dropped this week, and along with it, the first info on the new comic book series from Titan Comics was revealed as well. The new comic book will detail the twenty year period between the two films, and is set to be written by Victor Gischler, with art from Steve Scott. Independence Day #1 will be available in American and U.K. comic book stores on March 2, 2016. In the meantime, check out the great variant covers for the first and second issue at the following link: [io9]

DC Previews five more Dark Knight III Variant Covers

While on the subject of variant covers, has there has been a comic in recent memory (aside for Star Wars #1 back in January) that has had more variant covers that Frank Miller and Brian Azzarello’s Dark Knight III: The Master Race? And even more are on the way. Issue #2 hits on Wednesday, December 23rd, just in time for Christmas, and here is a sneak peek at the variant covers from artists like Jim Lee, Eduardo Risso, Cliff Chiang, Klaus Janson, and Frank Miller himself. You can check out all the of the most recently released covers in our gallery below [Bleeding Cool]

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IMAGES: DC Comics / Marvel Comics / IDW / Dark Horse Comics / Titan