Comics Han Solo & Chewbacca

https://www.starwars.com/news/marvel-han-solo-chewbacca

Spoiler

The galaxy’s greatest smuggler and his Wookiee co-pilot are taking on a new job: starring in their own comic.

Han Solo & Chewbacca, a new series from Marvel, will launch in March 2022, StarWars.com can exclusively reveal. Written by Marc Guggenheim and pencilled by David Messina, the monthly comic follows Han and Chewie a few years before the events of Star Wars: A New Hope, as the duo teams up with Greedo — in better times, apparently — on a heist for Jabba the Hutt. StarWars.com caught up with Guggenheim to talk about the tension within Han, what he has planned for our favorite nerf herder and walking carpet, and how Star Wars changed his life.

StarWars.com: The story takes place pre-Episode IV, but post Solo — a time in Han’s life that has yet to be explored. How do you view him at this point?

Marc Guggenheim: It’s interesting because the cornerstone of Han’s character is that he wants to be a jerk, a selfless criminal, but has this idealistic streak that always gets in his way. He aspires to cynicism, but deep down, he’s a hopeless romantic at heart. Now, you might think that that inner conflict didn’t present itself until the end of Episode IV, when Han returns to help Luke destroy the Death Star, but it’s already on full display at the end of Solo: A Star Wars Story, which, of course, predates Episode IV. So one of the things I’ve been playing with is the tension between the “hopeless romantic” Han reveals himself to be at the end of Solo and the hard-bitten cynic we meet in Episode IV. To be very reductive about it, I’ve searched for opportunities to force Han to choose between his lesser and greater angels.

StarWars.com: And Chewie?

Marc Guggenheim: Chewbacca’s been alive hundreds of years longer than Han. He tries to offer Han the benefit of his experience, to offer a more evolved perspective on things, but Han usually goes his own way. And the thing is, Chewie is just fine with that. He’s good to go with the flow and let Han call the shots because he knows that, no matter what, Han’s got his back. Chewie’s an interesting character to write, obviously, because he only speaks Shyriiwook, so a lot of this I have to get out by dint of the circumstances Han and Chewie find themselves in, as well as Han’s reactions to what Chewie is saying.

I’m gonna be doing a future issue exclusively from Chewbacca’s point of view, so that should be a lot of fun. Hopefully, we can get into Chewie’s head in a way we never have seen before.

StarWars.com: What can you tell us about the kickoff story and Han’s journey in it?

Marc Guggenheim: At its most basic, the story is Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid but with Han and Chewie as Butch and Sundance. In the first issue, Jabba the Hutt gives them what should be an easy job: Steal something and bring it back to him. But the job turns out to be anything but easy as everything that can go wrong promptly does. I’ve structured the story such that each issue ends with some kind of cliffhanger. Sometimes, it’s a revelation; other times it’s placing Han and/or Chewie in an impossible spot, but either way, each issue ends with a plot reversal that drives you to the next issue. I’m particularly excited about the last page of issue one. The story takes a turn that, if I’ve played my cards right, is completely inevitable yet totally unexpected. Either way, it’s definitely going to have people talking.

StarWars.com: The Star Wars underworld has proven to be really ripe for storytelling, especially the last few years. How have you enjoyed playing in that sandbox?

Marc Guggenheim: So, so much. The seedy underbelly of the galaxy is just such a rich playground for interesting characters and stories, particularly with all the lies, double-dealing, and double-crosses. And then when you place Han and Chewie into the middle of all that, you get some really exciting drama. I love the fact that Han and Chewie are really the only two people in the galaxy the other trusts. They have each other’s backs, always and forever, and that relationship is beautifully contrasted with all the scum and villainy their job requires them to deal with.

StarWars.com: In terms of character appearances, are you trying to stick to who and what we know in Solo/A New Hope eras, or are you hoping to bring in some surprise appearances and expand?

Marc Guggenheim: Whenever I work with someone else’s intellectual property, I always strive to have my cake and eat it too. It’s Star Wars, so of course I want to play with the toys in the toy box. For example, in issue one, Jabba sends Greedo on the job with Han and Chewie, and we get a better sense of why there’s so much animosity between them in Episode IV. T’Onga from Bounty Hunters is also part of the story, along with a few other characters who have been established in the comics. Then there’s the character who we meet at the end of issue one, who no one will see coming.

At the same time, I always like to make some contributions of my own, so the series will also introduce a few new faces, including a “Marshal” — think the corporate equivalent of a bounty hunter — who is going to be hunting Han and Chewie and be a real thorn in their side. That character’s my tip of the hat to the “super posse” in Butch and Sundance and they’re simply a blast to write. David Messina has come up with an incredible, iconic design for them that’s going to blow people away.

StarWars.com: It’s hard to believe, but this is actually the first Han and Chewie series ever. How does it feel to be at the helm?

Marc Guggenheim: It feels incredible. My father took me to see Star Wars when I was six years old. I thought he was taking me to see The Bad News Bears and I will never forget the moment that the Star Destroyer flew overhead and I realized I was most definitely not watching a comedy about a bunch of misfit kids playing baseball. It’s one of the most seminal moments in my life, a moment that I can honestly say changed my life. All of which is a long way of saying that writing this book is like a hundred dreams come true for me. I’m really putting my back into it. I want to leave it all out on the field and have no regrets when I write “the end” on the last issue.

 

Hmm, I am a bit surprised (but not disappointed) that this is the choice of era/setting and characters for the next ongoing. What interests me most is their description of the "Marshal" -- "the corporate equivalent of a bounty hunter."

 

Cool. While I'll get this at the same time though I am not overly excited about it as we have already had several Han Solo minis. I guess this is the time to do it though since Han isn't in any of the main stuff they are doing right now.

 

A couple of thoughts:

First: this undoubtedly throws a wrench into One Canon attempts at combining Solo with the Crispin and Daley trilogies, but I welcome a challenge.

Second: per what I’m now calling the Aurra Sing Rule, this announcement indirectly confirms that there probably aren’t any plans for a Solo followup on screen in the foreseeable future. Interestingly, that might say something about the Lando show.

Third: this wouldn’t have been my first pick for a new ongoing, but I am pleasantly surprised and I’m hoping that it will strongly channel Daley’s novels by putting Han and Chewie far away from their regular cast.

 

SOLO 2 is dead, long live SOLO 2

 

Isn't there a 10 year gap between SOLO and ANH?

Room for young Solo to still appear in live action (even if its just in a tv series) and also this comic.

 

Nice, more Solo things before ANH...

 

It’s definitely not impossible in the future, but as of late we the fans have been reminded by people at LFL that oftentimes, if a character isn’t going to be used in a screen production any time soon they are more likely to appear prominently in EU material. I’m taking this announcement to mean that for the next two years or so, we’re unlikely to see Han (or Chewie) in a screen production in this timeframe.

 

I've been hoping something like this would become a thing for a while now. There's limitless potential for fun smuggling hijinks between Solo and ANH. Bonus points if they end up in the Corporate Sector at some point...

 

Ooh I like this idea. Have the Marshal work for the Corporate Sector Authority, tasked with cracking down on smugglers. Marshal... with the Security Division, with the Espos?

Well, now that that idea's in my head, I feel more intrigued by this series than I did at first -- I'd love to see more stories set within the Corporate Sector, if that's what they go for. But regardless of whether that happens or not, I'll still be along for the ride to see what other characters they cameo. "T’Onga from Bounty Hunters is also part of the story, along with a few other characters who have been established in the comics."

 

Sir, we have a Mr Brian Daley holding on Line 1.

 

#ReadHanSoloChewbaccaHappens?

 

https://www.starwars.com/news/marvels-march-2022-star-wars-comics-exclusive-preview

Spoiler: Issue #1 solicit

STAR WARS: HAN SOLO & CHEWBACCA #1

Written by MARC GUGGENHEIM
Art by DAVID MESSINA
Cover by ALEX MALEEV
Variant cover by ADAM HUGHES
Variant cover by PHIL NOTO
Variant cover by DECLAN SHALVEY

NEW SERIES – HAN SOLO IS BACK!

But wait! Isn’t HAN still frozen in Carbonite? Yes. But you can’t keep a good smuggler down. Set a few years before Episode IV: A New Hope, Han, his partner, CHEWBACCA and GREEDO, embark on a heist for JABBA THE HUTT. It’s supposed to be an easy job. What could possibly go wrong? Well, for starters, how about a reunion with the very last person Han expected to see? The last page is a jaw-dropper…

 

I'm wondering if this series is actually a sign of things to come. When the Qi'ra Trilogy is wrapped and the main comic completes its current run between ESB and ROTJ, could we see the next slew of titles be set in this pre-Episode 4 period?

The next Vader series could pick up and cover the period between his duel with Ahsoka and his team-up with Thrawn. The main Star Wars series could end up being centered on Leia and the droids. We could even see an Aphra comic in this period, no? Get a look at her life before she met Vader.

 

a reunion with someone he doesn't expect to see after Star Wars #18 implied Qi'ra having been on the Falcon post SOLO? It has to be Qi'ra this is SOLO 2

 

naw its someone different

 

I'll agree that the likely suspect is Qi'ra given her current prominent presence in other series... but here's a thought completely out of left field... the very last person Han would ever expect to see is

Spoiler

Beckett. Perhaps restored to life somehow by Crimson Dawn for use as a pawn in their schemes? And of course still aching to learn to play the valachord.

 

Please, no more resurrections. This is not Marvel, death is not a revolving door. If characters don't stay dead, death is meaningless and loses all impact. That's why the end of Infinity War fell flat for me; it was obvious that they wouldn't stay dead. SW doesn't need to go in that direction.

 

its a new oc with a new history with Han

 

I think this is the most likely option, though I feel that the Sana Starros introduction has probably topped any introduction of a character with a history with Han, so I don't know.

It could also be someone from the Imperial Academy miniseries; I forget the name of the woman Han bonded with and encouraged to go back to her home planet, but she is an option. Could be Valanace, but maybe that's not jaw-dropping.

 

The solicit saying the last page is a "jaw-dropper" is what's probably making people (including myself) think it's a pre-existing character rather than a new one (although comic solicits do tend to be hyperbolic). The only way I can see a new character making readers' jaws drop would be if they're related to Han in some way, like a parent or sibling.

Watch it be the Imperial officer who gave Han his name. "Not so 'Solo' anymore now, are you... Han Duo!"

 

Surely it'll be Lando? He's not someone Han would expect to see again after Solo, which suggests their parting on Savareen is what Lando's still so grumpy about in ESB. This comic could easily spark off their post-Solo EU adventures.

 

https://www.starwars.com/news/marvel-april-2022-star-wars-comics-exclusive

Spoiler: Issue #2 solicit

STAR WARS: HAN SOLO & CHEWBACCA #2

MARC GUGGENHEIM (W) • DAVID MESSINA(A) • Cover by PHIL NOTO
Variant Cover by ADAM HUGHES • VARIANT COVER BY MIKE McKONE

THE HEIST IS ON!

• HAN, CHEWIE and GREEDO have to pull off an impossible heist for JABBA THE HUTT!
• But who can Han trust?
• SPOILER: Han breaks into his target’s safe, but you won’t believe what’s inside!

 

Via CBR: "Han Solo & Chewbacca Writer Confirms Book of Boba Fett, Solo: A Star Wars Story Cameos"

Spoiler: quotes from article naming the cameos

 

Another article from CBR. Interview with series writer Marc Guggenheim:

Spoiler: interview

In an interview with CBR, Guggenheim peeled back the curtain on Han Solo & Chewbacca, which takes place between the events of Solo: A Star Wars Story and A New Hope and sees the fan-favorite smuggler and Wookiee embark on a dangerous heist for Jabba the Hutt, with none other than Greedo in tow. He also clued readers in on some of the larger implications the story will have in relation to the current Star Wars titles set after The Empire Strikes Back, including the ongoing Crimson Reign limited series.

CBR: You’ve worked on Star Wars comics in the past, including the Age of Republic and Age of Rebellion specials. What has Han Solo & Chewbacca allowed you to do with the franchise, that perhaps you haven't had a chance to do yet?

Marc Guggenheim: The Age of Republic and Age of Rebellion stories were a blast, but they were short stories. Han & Chewie affords me a much bigger canvas, with the ability to tell a more long tail story. With that extra "screen time," I can bring in other characters from around the galaxy and create some new ones. I can also let moments breathe a bit more because everything doesn’t have to be wrapped up in eight or 10 pages.

Thanks to War of the Bounty Hunters and Crimson Reign, both of which feature Qi’ra at the forefront, there’s been an increased focus on elements from Solo: A Star Wars Story lately. How did Solo impact your approach to Han Solo & Chewbacca?

First, I happen to be a huge fan of Solo: A Star Wars Story. I don’t feel that that film gets nearly the amount of love it should. I find it thoroughly entertaining and a great Star Wars movie. But also, it was co-written by Lawrence Kasdan, who for my money, is the single greatest writer of Han Solo ever and I’ve tried my best to emulate his brand of dialogue.

And what are the odds we may get an appearance from Qi'ra?

3,720 to 1. Just kidding. Qi'ra not only makes an appearance in Issue #3, there’s also incredibly tight integration with the events of Crimson Reign #2.

Another element of Star Wars that’s receiving increased focus is the seedy underworld, thanks to shows like The Book of Boba Fett and The Mandalorian. In your opinion, what is it about that aspect of Star Wars that's breathing new life into the franchise?

I think what people are responding to is something that’s always been inherent in Star Wars, namely, that it’s a big galaxy. There is enormous room for stories that don’t involve Rebels, Stormtroopers, Skywalkers, or Jedi. The Mandolorian and The Book of Boba Fett just serve to illustrate this point.

I grew up on Brian Daley’s Han Solo and L. Neil Smith’s Lando Calrissian book trilogies. So, from my (ahem) certain point of view, these corners of the franchise have always been fodder for wonderful stories.

With Chewbacca, you’ve got a character that speaks Shyriiwook instead of Basic, so there’s an increased focus on the visuals and lettering to do some of the heavy lifting in terms of how he emotes and expresses himself. Did this present a different sort of challenge?

It’s absolutely a challenge but it’s a fun one. In fact, I’m doubling down on it — literally and figuratively — in Issue #4, which is told exclusively from Chewie’s P.O.V. and features newly minted Disney+ star Krrsantan. So in that issue, we have two Shyriiwook-speaking characters. Should be a piece of cake. No problem, at all...

Speaking of visuals, you’re working with artist David Messina on this series. What’s something he brought to the table that surprised you or that you’re excited for readers to see?

David is an amazing artist and an amazing Star Wars artist, so I wasn’t surprised that his work on this series is stunning. But what’s truly remarkable is how perfectly he captures Han’s expressions and mannerisms. David’s artwork is the next best thing to taking photos of Harrison Ford as Han. He really gets all of Han’s colors — irony, annoyance, roguishness, and a hint of idealism.

You’re introducing a few new characters in this series, including someone called the "Marshal," who you described as a corporate bounty hunter. What else can you tell us about them, or any of the other new faces readers will get to know?

Han Solo & Chewbacca was pitched as a Star Wars version of Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid. Well, if you’re gonna have Butch and Sundance, you need a lawman to go after them. As I thought about this, I got more and more interested in how justice is dispensed in the galaxy. We know about Imperial justice but the Empire isn’t out there policing the entire galaxy. There have to be officers of the law who aren’t affiliated with the Empire who are keeping the peace. For example — and I’m, of course, speaking hypothetically here — if a smuggler and a Wookiee robbed, say, your casino, who do you go to for justice? That led to the invention of a "lawman for hire," someone more reputable than a bounty hunter, someone who acts a bit more under color of law.

Another new character we meet in the first issue is a scoundrel named Khel Tanna. She also does jobs and pulls heists for Jabba the Hutt and she detests Han with a seething passion. She’s tough as iron and a helluva lot of fun to write.

A lot of Star Wars fans were interested to hear that Greedo would factor into Han Solo & Chewbacca, not as an antagonist but as an ally of sorts.

Of sorts. It’s a bit of an arranged marriage.

What makes him valuable as a companion to Han and Chewie?

Well, that’s the thing. As far as Han and Chewie are concerned, he’s not valuable at all. To the contrary, they view him as an albatross, a weight around their necks. And they’re not entirely wrong. But what interested me was exploring the origins of the animosity they clearly have in A New Hope. Not only that, but in A New Hope, Han doesn’t seem to respect Greedo much. He certainly doesn’t view Greedo as a bounty hunter. This story will shed some light on why Greedo detests Han so much and why Han holds Greedo in such low regard.

And will we get a "Maclunkey" drop?

I believe it’s spelled "ma klounkee" and, yes, I’d love to work that in as a fun Easter egg if I can.

Some unlettered pages and character design sheets:

Spoiler: art

Hey, there's one of Klaud's species in the cantina scene. Trodatome?