BY MATT TUCK
Star Wars: Legacy has even more reason to be on your radar now that a new character is being rumored for The Mandalorian’s third season.
Judging by the volume of rumors, virtually every character ever created is a prime target for The Mandalorian. Now you can add Darth Talon to that list.
THE NEVERENDING RUMORS
There are so many Star Wars Disney+ rumors circulating across the internet that it is nearly impossible to keep track of them all. That is the main culprit behind virtually every Star Wars key issue from its 1977 comic origins to the Dark Horse Comics days and back to Marvel Comics is on fire.
Last year, Mando ruled the comic speculation market. From Ahsoka to Bobba Fett and even Bo-Katan, any character who appeared in live action saw their keys skyrocket. Now that Ahsoka’s live-action series is on the horizon, there are so many possibilities for emerging stars, and speculators don’t want to be left out in the cold.
Reportedly, the Mando creative team is considering using little-known sith lord Darth Talon as a major villain for season three. Considering we saw both Ahsoka and Luke Skywalker in season two, not to mention Mando has his Darksaber, which is not far from being a lightsaber, adding a sith lord makes sense. With Disney’s push for more strong female characters, Darth Talon certainly fits the bill.
WHO IS SHE?
Talon is a Twi’Lek warrior who rose in the ranks of Darth Krayt’s New Sith Order, becoming Krayt’s assassin. Under his guidance, she would receive her Darth Maul-like black tattoos and red lightsaber.
The trouble with Talon is that she is from a distant future that takes place about a hundred years after the events of Rise of Skywalker. If she is indeed being eyed to take on a starring role in season three of The Mandolarian, then her origin will need to be retconned to fit her into the Mando timeline, not that doing so would be a tall order. This is Star Wars, after all.
THE KEYS
What key issues should you be scouring eBay for? Primarily, you will want these three in your collection. The problem is that they were already expensive, and a new rumor will make them even hotter, so you will want to act fast if you don’t want to pay outrageous prices. In some cases, it may be too late already. Here’s more.
THE FIRST COVER APPEARANCES
There were actually two comics released simultaneously with Darth Talon on the cover. The first was Star Wars: Legacy #0. According to Key Collector Comics, this issue served as a promotional issue that solicited the debuts of several new characters. As soon as the news of Talon raced across the internet, this issue saw an immediate price hike. Just yesterday, a 9.8 sold for $400, doubling its 90-day fair market value.
Alongside this one was Star Wars: Legacy #1, which also had Talon on the cover art. Again, she was not featured in the actual story for the issue, so both of these rank simply as first cover appearances, but those are highly collectible.
Speaking of Legacy #1, get ready to shell out the big bucks for a high grade. For the past three months, the 9.8 has averaged just shy of $600, and the last two copies sold for $800 and $700 on January 26. And to think that two years ago, just one 9.8 traded hands for a measly $41.
THE FIRST FULL APPEARANCE
Talon would make her full debut in Star Wars: Legacy #2, though she did not make it onto the cover of this particular issue. Because she is not on the front, this is less coveted than Legacy #0 or #1, which is good for collectors on a budget. Still, prices have been high for this comic, especially in the near-mint-plus grade. At a 9.8, Legacy #2 has a 90-day FMV of $329.
THE GAMBLE
Paying such high prices for these 9.8s is a risky gamble, but it could result in huge dividends. The more conservative approach may be to aim for the 9.6s, which bring down the prices considerably.
Matt Tuck is the author of the novel, Lost Bones of the Dead. He's also a teacher, freelance writer, comic collector, and an international man of mystery. You can follow him on his Facebook page, The Comic Blog.