Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories: Codebreaker #3
Nowhere To Run, Nowhere To Hide
The First Order searches high and low for Poe and BB-8 after the heroes’ daring escape!
Can the pair make it off world without being captured?
Writer: Ethan Sacks
Penciller: Marc Yarza
Inker: Jose Marzan Jr
Colorist: Nicola Righi
Letterer: Comicraft
Cover artist: Diego Galindo
Editor: Spencer Cushing
Publication date: August 27 2025
We kick off the third issue of Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories: Codebreaker in the Market District of Nar Kaarga city as Poe Dameron and his Muun companion Cheka continue to run from the First Order. Their holo-images are everywhere, and despite Cheka being somewhat annoyed at how she looks on the holo, and with BB-8 hounding them, they head to Dameron’s Devaronian associate Groshank, who has secured them berths on a shuttle to Hosnian Prime. Poe is almost speechless with gratitude, but as they leave we learn that Groshank is quick to sell them out as we follow Poe and Cheka through the corridors of Nar Kaarga and learn of her past. Born with incredible recall and mental capacity, thanks to her father who thought her skills would help the family climb the social ladder she was first used by the Banking Clan of Scipio and then on to the First Order. When her father realised his error he tried to intervene but was killed by the First Order. Poe sympathises, having lost his mother at a similar age, but when he tells her she’ll be safe with the Resistance she believes she’ll just be used by them instead.
They’re interrupted by BB-8 when suddenly a familiar face; Grummgar, from the Maz Kanata scenes of The Force Awakens, who is after the bounty on Cheko and is in no mood to talk. He hurls Poe into a stall and goes for Cheko, only to be burned on the foot by BB-8 who he kicks away. Poe distracts him once again but is leapt on by a Kowakian Monkey Lizard and himself distracted he punches the giant to little availl, only to be whacked by Grummgar back into the stall. Cheko yells out what he should have done; hit the 2.7 meter high Dowutin on the side of his head behind his ear, and as Grummgar moves in to finish Poe, grabbing him around the throat, BB-8 attacks again and as Grummgar yells in pain and shock as the Monkey Lizard this time leaps on him, Poe takes Cheko’s advice and hits the Dowutin with a pipe behind the ear, felling the giant.
Their respite is brief as First Order Stormtroopers move in, but a gaggle of Puffer Pigs give Poe an idea, and we see them inflate, blocking the troopers as they make good their escape. Pausing for a moment and out of ideas. Poe doesn’t know what to do next, but above them in a kiosk is a droid who suggests they take the next transport to visit the Museum of the Battle over Bothawui. Out of ideas and options they take the suggestion and soon they’re racing away, arriving at the impressive station. Poe instantly goes on high alert as he disembarks; a Battle Droid awaits, but it turns out to be a guide to the museum, refitted for its new purpose, and we see all manner of Clone Wars era vehicles and droids in this historical museum. It’s hugely impressive (and beautifully drawn by penciller Marc Yarza and inker Jose Marzan Jr, and the tour continues as Poe requests a transmitter and is soon contating Resistance Command, telling them of the codebreaker bring the girl Cheka, how she could defeat Kylo Ren, and that he needs an extraction now his X-wing has been destroyed. However, the message goes through the Halla sector, to Governor Skorshon who tells the Resistance officers he’ll deliver Dameron’s message to General Organa himself.
We return to the museum and learn more about Cheka. She longs to be a pilot, but as she chats with Poe, BB-8 loses his balance, knocking a display of battle droids down and setting off an alarm. Or at least that’s what Poe thought; the klaxon was a proximity alarm, and we end the issue looking out of the window to see the First Order navy arrive over Bothawui, and the infamous Banshee of Bestine remind his troops that their primary mission is to get the codebreaker, but that Dameron was his.
Great fun once again from Ethan Sacks as we continue our journey with Poe through the pre-Episode VII era. There’s undoubtedly a younger reader vibe to this, a snappiness and brevity to the proceedings that might not fit so well in a more mature title (for instance, Sacks very own run on Bounty Hunters at Marvel) but here the tone fits perfectly as Poe (still very much the unburnished gem that Leia is trying to polish in the sequel trilogy) plays the role of protector while BB-8 nips at his ankles and beeps his approval or disapproval. Sacks has proved to be a master of the timeline, delivering engaging stories in the High Republic (Halcyon Legacy), prequel (Jango Fett, Age of Republic), original (Bounty Hunters) and sequel (Allegiance, Galaxy’s Edge and now Codebreakers) eras. Where he goes next in the galaxy is anyone’s guess, but the last six years have shown that wherever he takes us, a good time will be had by all.
Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories: Codebreaker writer Ethan Sacks was a guest on the latest episode of Canon Fodder, a chat you can hear below.
