Dark Horse has launched a number of new Star Wars comics in 2013, including Brian Wood's post-Episode IV-era Star Wars and Gabriel Hardman's Star Wars Legacy sequel. But the publisher has announced a new Star Wars project that easily ranks as one of their most unexpected and unique to date. We'd almost expect this was an April Fool's Day joke if it weren't first revealed at WonderCon yesterday.

Dark Horse's newest comic is called "The Star Wars." This eight-issue mini-series is adapted from George Lucas' original screenplay draft of what would eventually become the original Star Wars film we all know and love. The Star Wars features Annikin Starkiller and his family as the main characters, along with a number of other familiar elements that would be reworked in later drafts. For example, Luke Skywalker is a respected Jedi general, Han Solo is a reptilian alien, and the Sith Knights and their Death Star are the great menace to the galaxy.

The Secret History of Star Wars

This comic sees LucasBooks editor J.W. Rinzler adapt Lucas' screenplay, with artist Mike Mayhew providing the visuals. It's clear from the preview page below that Mayhew is paying homage to painter Ralph McQuarrie's original concept designs for the movies.“I’m not sure where I first read about The Star Wars -- it was years and years ago -- but the idea of Luke Skywalker being an older Jedi General, and Han Solo being a six-foot-tall lizard, turned my Star Wars fan brain on its side,” said editor Randy Stradley in Dark Horse's press release. “I always assumed this would be one of those stories that would be ‘lost to history,’ so getting to work on bringing it to life is kinda like a dream come true.”“While researching in the Lucasfilm Archives I’ve found many treasures -- but one which truly astounded me was George’s rough draft for The Star Wars. His first complete imaginings were hallucinating to read -- mind blowing,” said Rinzler. “While working with George on another book project, I once asked if we could adapt his rough draft. He was hesitant. Years later, with Dark Horse’s invaluable help, we showed him a few drawn and colored pages of what it might look like. He gave us the okay.”The Star Wars #1 is set to launch in September 2013.

Jesse is a writer for IGN Comics and IGN Movies. He can't wait until he's old enough to feel ways about stuff. Follow Jesse on Twitter , or find him on IGN