With Solo: A Star Wars Story still raiding cinemas across the planet, adding huge chunks of background to this ever-expanding story, the many and various literature releases are layering in plenty of new information in to what we already know of the galaxy. Topps are no exception, bringing knowledge along with the fun of collecting and placing stickers in the Official Sticker Collection which covers 15 spreads and 2 single pages.
I’ve chosen four spreads to focus on, looking at the characters, vehicles and locations of Solo: A Star Wars Story. First off the most exciting sequence of the film, the train heist.
Anyone who’s seen the film knows just how thrilling this sequence is, and not just for the action on the screen but for the next vehicles, characters and locations we visit. This spread gives us a look at goggled Chewie, the Range Troopers and the AT-Hauler (which, like the U-wing from Rogue One is a vehicles I hope we get to see a lot more of in other media) as well as a great selection of stickers in regular, small, shaped, logo and holofoil variations.
The technical info on the vehicles is also very cool, telling us that the AT-Hauler, is 21.1 meters wide in flight and 11.2 meters when landed, but has a top speed of only 78 mph, signifying clearly that this is a hauler and not built for fights.
Solo gives us a selection of new armoured characters, and this panel focuses on the additions to the Imperial battalions across the galaxy. The prequels began to expand on the classic troopers of the time to give us specialised troopers and Solo continues that, with Mudtroopers, the aforementioned Range Troopers and Patrol Troopers. Patrol Troopers are seen on Corellia, checking and covering the weaving steel streets of Coronet City and appear to be a healthy mix of classic Stormtrooper and Biker Scout. The Range Troopers battle Beckett and his crew on the top of the Conveyex during the train heist and are clothed for cooler climes while the Mudtroopers slog it out in the bogs of Mimban.
Interestingly, we learn that the Mudtroopers and other similar garrisons are comprised mostly of local militia strong armed into the service of the Empire, making up the majority of the Empire’s forces while Stormtrooper battalions were trained and brought through. That knowledge alone is worth the effort of buying and collecting this sticker set.
How could we review the spreads of this album without looking at its central hero, Han Solo. We get to see Han as a younger man on Corellia as he tries to escape with Qi’ra, an older and slightly wiser Imperial trooper and eventually the smuggler we know and love during his mission to Kessel. Again we have regular, small, holofoil, shaped and logo stickers and don’t forget that some of the holofoil stickers are limited editions, so check the wax peel offs on the back of the stickers for that.
Later spreads take a closer look at the Falcon, Lando, Qi’ra, Chewie and Kessel but let’s give our lead villain some attention.
Dryden Vos was a much-needed addition to the story of Solo, giving us a look at the clients he would work for. We knew Jabba and had read about Ploovoo-two-for-one back in the day and know that as his career dips and dives he would get entangled in Kanjiklub but to see this opulent, wealthy, charismatic and very dangerous man as one of his earliest bosses gives some depth to his smuggling experiences. Here we see Dryden aboard the First Light, his exquisite command ship, built vertically like a skyscraper and laden with priceless artifacts. Along with his tailored clothes and extravagant parties, it says much about Drydens tastes as well as his infamous short temper.
If you’ve not already started your collection then get busy, this won’t be in shops forever and be sure to tune in to next Tuesday’s episode of Making Tracks where we will announce the winners of our recent competition to win a set of Starter Packs, extra stickers and for one lucky person an uncut sheet of Solo stickers.
