Star Wars comic books are returning home as The Walt Disney Company’s Lucasfilm has granted Marvel Entertainment  (which published the first Star Wars comic in 1977) exclusive rights for Star Wars comics and graphic novels beginning in 2015.

“We’re incredibly excited by this next chapter in the Star Wars saga,” says Andrew B. Sugerman, executive vice president, Disney Publishing Worldwide. “Bringing together the iconic Lucasfilm and Marvel brands to tell new stories will allow us to continue to thrill lovers of the original Star Wars comic books and entertain generations to come.”

Marvel Comics published the first Star Wars comic book, Star Wars #1, in March 1977, and continued its Star Wars series for nine years. In 1991, Dark Horse Comics took over the license.

“Dark Horse Comics published exceptional Star Wars comics for over 20 years, and we will always be grateful for their enormous contributions to the mythos and the terrific partnership that we had,” says Carol Roeder, director, Lucasfilm franchise publishing, Disney Publishing Worldwide. “In 2015, the cosmic adventures of Luke, Han, Leia and Chewbacca will make the lightspeed jump back to Marvel, to begin a new age of adventures within the Star Wars universe.”