Star Wars (2020) #44
THE TRIAL OF LANDO CALRISSIAN, PART 1:
THE OPENING ARGUMENTS
After Lobot’s neural implants began to fail him, Lando took his unwell friend to Jabba the Hutt’s palace, where the Talky droid who once helped them resides.
In order to assure the droid’s cooperation in helping his friend, Lando was forced to reveal to his fellow rebels every painful detail of his dealings with Jabba the Hutt, including selling sensitive sellings of the Rebel Alliance.
Lobot was saved, but now Lando has to face the consequences of his actions….
Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Madibek Musabekov
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Colorist: Rachelle Rosenberg
Cover artist: Stephen Segovia
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Publication date: March 6 2024
A man who has been caught in plenty of sticky situations, the one facing Lando Calrissian in the opening pages of the 44th issue of Star Wars surely trumps them all. Accused of being a traitor to the Rebellion – claims he has done little to refute – he lies in a prison cell, staring at the ceiling and we cut to Admiral Ackbar, General Madine, Leia Organa and Mon Mothma via hologram all watching him in his cell. Military men Madine and Ackbar are clear – they believe he should pay the highest price for his treason, but it’s Mothma who points out that the Alliance is a volunteer organisation while Leia reminds them all it’s fuelled by hope (a word she smartly notes is used far too often, but neveretheless is completely the right word). Lando is popular, and has had many clear and visible wins for the Alliance. Should he be tried publicly and sentenced, it would undoubtedly affect morale. Mothma suggests a private trial, overseen by a select few out of the eyes of the public, where he will be fairly tried for his crimes. Leia is taking the longview, how they yearn to restore the Republic, and so must show they are fit for purpose. Due process and a fair trial works towards that, and Ackbar and Madine grudgingly agree.
In Lando’s cell he is joined by Lobot, who is annoyed at Lando’s actions, despite them being for his benefit rather than for Lando. He asks Lando what will happen to him should Lando be found guilty, which seems likely. he can’t believe they will allow him to simply depart, and tells Lando he needs an advocate in court, an arena where he may have a slim chance, and leaves the cell to ask that Lando be allowed to make a call, speaking to Leia as he stands outside the cell. We see Lando speak with his unseen brief, remembering that in another world he would have been with Mon Mothma on the world of Uveron, which is where we briefly step to see the bright lights of a cityscape and a quartet of people who take to the skies on what appear to be metal wings.
Back to the Rebel fleet and the Millennium Falcon lands as Luke and Leia wait, and coming down the ramp we see Lando’s lawyer Salli Georgio followed by her droid Three-Ell and Chewie who is carrying her luggage, until he unceremoniously drops it to the deck. Leia offers to show her to her quarters so she can freshen up and relax, but Salli claims to be good to go and begins to walk away, next seen in the ‘court room’ as the holo of Mothma oversees this first session. They begin to lay down the prodecures, how they shall adhere to the Corellian Code of Military Justice, a code that Salli claims to be not familiar with. She’s stalling for time, waiting for an opening to present itself, but as the prosecutor brings the Talky Droid to the stand it’s quickly clear that Lando is in deep water, as everything he ever said to the droid is in its memory banks, and it recites key and damning moments in the court. The droid is incredibly valuable to the Rebellion, which makes handing it over to Jabba the Hutt even more treasonous.
We cut back to Uveron as the winged warriors take out security guards, and back to the trial as Salli tries a different tactic, of blaming Lando’s decisions on Luke and his Jedi powers. Lando can’t believe this is her ploy, to annoy the court, and she reminds him that due to him confessing to everything he has little hope of being set free. “The trick here isn’t to make them think you’re innocent. The trick is to convince them that they don’t care that you’re guilty.” She admits she’s stalling, waiting for an opening and once arrives as on Uveron the winged soldiers break into the room and we see the hologram of Mothma as she is being abducted. Everyone freezes as Salli quietly utters “Yep. That’ll work” and we roll out of yet another fascinating issue of the comic.
While not completely swayed by the idea of our scrappy, rag tag, ad hoc rebellion having military trials and executions for treason (it’s perfectly logical, but just doesn’t ‘feel’ right in a volunteer army fuelled by hope and freedom) the execution of the doubts within the ranks is played perfectly, to the degree that any doubts this reader may have about the scenerio are quashed by the manner in which the situation is framed and presented. The military men (former Imperial Madine and former Imperial slave Ackbar) are clearly in favour, while Leia (the one who has understandably been on Lando’s case ever since Bespin) is the voice of moderation. Mothma channels her Andor era self, keen for the right outcome but also aware of the optics, and in the middle is an uncharacteristically quiet and contemplative Lando, the eye of the storm around which this all rages.
What next issue brings is uncertain, but after this gripping opening chapter of The Trial of Lando Calrissian it’s entirely welcome to arrive as soon as it likes.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Soule, Charles (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 23 Pages - 04/03/2024 (Publication Date) - Marvel (Publisher)
