Han Solo & Chewbacca #9: It Belongs in a Museum

This almost year long run has brought with it a blend of events befitting of the mighty Chewbacca and Captain Solo, set a few years before the events of A New Hopewhen they were mere errand boys for a vile gangster. In many ways Han is still the scrum rat he was on Corellia, just fetching for a bigger villain. This particular issue invokes Han’s spirit from the Solo film very well. It features Lando’s name dropped, as well as a brief memory of another character from that film. Han even looks like a cross between Harrison Ford and Alden. Ehrenreich who both played the character. Han, and by association Chewbacca, continue their traditions of being chased by some kind of gang, Imperial entanglements, almost dying multiple times, and somehow getting and losing the upper hand in the end. This kind of action might remind readers of another Ford character.

There is something about this issue that seems very Indiana Jones. The near death misses, like Chewie’s fall ending with a safe resolve, and high speed action are staples of both Han and Indy. However there are lots of great dialog exchanges over gunfire with enemies and allies that scream more action movie than sci-fi/fantasy epic. The fact that the issue suddenly throws a wrench onto the works where the McGuffin of the whole series turn out to be an ancient artifact with mysterious powers is also very Indiana Jones. There is also some backstabbing and turnabout that certainly fits in with Star Wars, but are certainly present in every one of the Indy films. The issue also pays homage to the old Legends continuity by having Han visit Nar Shaddaa. That was the moon he operated out of in the old Dark Horse comics, specifically “Dark Empire.”

The art is very well done. Action is relayed very well and faces are quite expressive in conversations. The color schemes seem split between favoring a metallic blue of spaceship interiors in some sections and the low red natural light of Nar Shaddaa in others. This whole series is a great companion piece to the films, acting as a prequel to the original one, but its hard to say this issue adds all that much to the overall saga. It seems more like the whole series is mostly a side story with no real impact on who Han will become or how far he has come since Solo. It it just classic Han. The same can be said for Chewbacca. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. This issue is supported by lots of great material to provide an engaging short story that is fun with lots of twists and turns, but at the end of the day is just a coo Han and Chewie story. There is nothing more classic than that