Marvel’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Issue #1 Review

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Han is a veteran of crazy deals and bad ideas, but will this one be too much for him and Chewie to handle? Meanwhile, Dok Ondar awaits his treasure, a baby Sarlacc.

Han is a veteran of crazy deals and bad ideas, but will this one be too much for him and Chewie to handle? Meanwhile, Dok Ondar awaits his treasure, a baby Sarlacc.

This article contains plot points for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge #1

Buckle up baby because this ship is about to blast off to the far reaches of the galaxy. Just before the Unknown Regions lies a remote planet once known for its lush vegetation and majestic mountains. On May 31st, this planet called Batuu, and its main attraction Black Spire Outpost will be open to earthlings via Disneyland Resort in Disneyland and a few months later via Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando. For now, there is plenty of tie-in material to satiate our appetites for all things Batuu.

All Aboard!

One of the tie-ins is a five-issue comic book miniseries eponymously called Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Written by Ethan Sacks (Age of Republic: Mace Windu), with art by Will Sliney (Beckett One Shot, Solo: A Star Wars Story adaptation), Galaxy’s Edge #1 does a magnificent job giving future tourists an idea of all the sights and sounds they can expect to encounter at Black Spire Outpost on Batuu. Hold on, lady! We’re going for a ride!

Remex is on a mission on Batuu.

Galaxy’s Edge #1 opens up in the present with a Clawdite named Remex walking through the main thoroughfare of Black Spire Outpost. Remex is approached by an 8D8 droid selling Ronto wraps, one of the many food items available on Batuu. It’s a testament to how much Disney Imagineering and Lucasfilm want Galaxy’s Edge to be uber immersive when a reference to ronto wraps is mentioned on page one. Sliney’s background art paints a picture of the countless denizens that traverse the streets of Black Spire; gamorreans, toydarians, yarkorans, droids, and humans.

Remex looks up and notices an unwelcome party has arrived on Black Spire: the First Order lead by Lieutenant Agnon and the Red Fury squad of stormtroopers. Rumor has it Resistance spies are hiding out on Batuu, and the First Order is determined to find them even if it means burning the city down. It’s safe to assume Remex is one of the Resistance spies Agnon is searching for, because the arrival of the First Order shuttle caused Remex to change his appearance to human. Shortly after, Remex meets up with two more, Kendoh, a human woman and Wooro a buff aqualish.

Dok Ondar, I Presume

The three are late in meeting the one and only Dok Ondar, the keeper of antiquities in Black Spire. This serves as the first appearance for Dok Ondar, he was previously mentioned by Qi’ra in Solo: A Star Wars Story. The level of detail Sliney puts into Dok Ondar is beautiful. His character is reminiscent of Mandrake from the Harry Potter movies in terms of wrinkles. Kendoh inquires about “procuring the unprocurable” when Wooro notices a baby Sarlacc as part of Ondar’s collection. Dok Ondar procedes to tell the story of how he obtained the rare species.

Dok Ondar does not like to be kept waiting.

The story flashbacks to Han and Chewie approaching I’ vorcia Prime Preserve (a former nature preserve until the Empire destroyed the ecosystem) in the Outer Rim. They were hired by Dok Ondar to purchase a few baby Sarlacc’s. As they land the Falcon, Han assures Chewie his plan’s legit, “Have I ever lead you astray?” The answer is yes, twice. It’s not immediately obvious when this flashback occurs. The way Han is illustrated, he looks like post Return of the Jedi Han, but there’s no mention of the Rebel Alliance, so it’s possible it takes place somewhere between Solo and A New Hope. Han and Chewie meet up with two of Dr. Genzhor’s assistants, Ooris and a duwotin who remains nameless.

It’s Not My Fault!

Things go sideways for Han rather quickly as Ooris pushes Han into a pit of Sarlaccs, luckily for Han he didn’t land in one. The duwotin’s attempt to subjugate Chewie with shock staffs, but Chewie is too strong. Han is able to take out one duwotin with his blaster, while Chewie takes on two more. Sliney’s panels are action-packed with fluid flow from one to another. One panel shows Chewbacca tossing a duwotin into a sarlacc. Wookiee’s are strong, but duwotin’s are not small people (see Grummgar in The Force Awakens). All the while Han is dodging baby Sarlaccs which are mobile and extremely aggressive when young (they develop a root system later in life).

It's not wise to upset a wookiee.

Meanwhile, Ooris is trying to steal the Falcon, but Chewie gently removes him from the cockpit and hangs him from the bottom of the Falcon from a rope. Chewie then picks up Han and the two fly off with a baby Sarlacc. Han promises never to take on any more animal wrangling jobs ever. Chewie knows better. Han and Chewie arrive with one baby Sarlacc although Dok Ondar was hoping for all of them.

Chewbacca shows off his agility.

In the present day, Kendoh desires something more valuable and shows Ondar on a tablet what she wants. It’s never revealed what the item is, but Ondar says “there are some things even Dok Ondar will not traffic.” All that is revealed is that it’s a weapon of immense power. A preview of issue #2 refers to a long lost Jedi lightsaber, and that Greedo is the one hired to find it.

Ronto Wrap Up

Galaxy’s Edge #1 is a fun, action-packed ride, with classic characters and new. The art by Sliney is the standout. Sacks script calls back to lines of dialogue spoken in the original trilogy, which gives Han’s character an air authenticity. The cover art by Rod Reis is beautiful to look at, it includes several well-known Star Wars aliens without making it look overcrowded. And of course, there’s plenty of sequel trilogy references as well. If Galaxy’s Edge #1 is any inclination of what is awaiting Star Wars fans at the Galaxy’s Edge theme park, it’s sure to be the immersive universe it’s promised to be.