Star Wars (2025) #1
OUT OF THE DARKNESS
AN EPIC NEW ADVENTURE BEGINS FOR LUKE, LEIA AND HAN IN THE WAKE OF RETURN OF THE JEDI!
New York Times best-selling author ALEX SEGURA launches the bold next era of STAR WARS.
LUKE SKYWALKER must defend the NEW REPUBLIC from a bloodthirsty gang of mercenaries!
HAN SOLO investigates a deadly underworld mystery – and saves a surprising ally!
LEIA ORGANA must grapple with a new alliance opposed to the goals of the New Republic!
Writer: Alex Segura
Artist: Phil Noto
Letterer: Vc Clayton Cowles
Colorist: Phil Noto
Cover artist: Phil Noto
Editor: Mark Pannicia
Publication date: May 7 2025
Could there be a more appropriate way to kick off the third volume (fourth if you count the classic ’77 – 86 run) of Marvels main Star Wars title than Luke Skywalker blasting around in Red 5, chasing down pirates? That’s what greets us in the opening pages of this debut issue from writer Alex Segura and artist Phil Noto as Luke and his fellow rebels finally engage the enemy but quickly encounetr a problem – a mile-long problem in the form of an Imperial Star Destroyer, and suddenly it’s a dog fight as the rebels are swiftly outnumbered. Sandrin, one of the squadron, is killed as her X-wing is destroyed, and Luke orders a retreat. The firepower has clearly taken them by surprise, but as they retreat, Rynn spots a damaged pirate fighter heading for the surface and roars off in pursuit, Luke following close behind after ordering the rest of the squadron to head back to Chandrila to report to Admiral Ackbar.
Landing on the surface, Luke has a bad feeling, a sense of the darkness he encountered in the dark cave on Dagobah, but as Rynn approaches the enemy vessel the canopy pops and a humanoid steps out, one with a black tattoo covering half his face as we cut to Chandrila, the capital of the New Republic and Mon Mothma and Princess Leia discussing the Pirros, long-time members of the former Republic who are now under new and very differect leadership. Mon is cautious, but Leia is optimistic and that optimism follows her into the negotiations with the Pirrosi Prime Minister Kezrin Almovar, optimism cut to the quick as the Prime Minister lets Leia know of her reticence to join the New Republic. She believes the Republic is weak after the Battle of Jakku and the work of Moff Adelhard, and is keener to remain the leader of her local sector than a small fish in the largest pond.
A stalemate, as we switch to the Outer Rim and Alshuey Town on the world of Guat’a on the Outer Rim and we watch through the door or a cantina as an encounter goes down, fractious worlds fired as we see Beilert Valance prepare to take on a cadre of Imperial armoured goons. A shot is fired across them they pause, and for good reason – Han Solo is stood next to his Corellian former army colleague. A firefight breaks out and Han and Valance leap for cover, Han explaining how he’s there alone without New Republic back up. Valance is annoyed, believing Solo should have picked up on these ‘creeps’ long ago, but despite taking a few out by hitting a nearby generator they’re forced to run for the Millennium Falcon to make good their escape.
We’re back on the unnamed planet in the Fenril sector where Luke and Rynn are now dealing with the attacking humanoid, who comes at them with a blade. Luke easily disarms him and asks who he is, and the man beckons Luke closer as we cut to Leia on Chandrila who is shocked that the Republic have been expelled from the summit, and to the Outer Rim where Han and Valance run up the Falcons ramp as Han voices his concerns about the Zantarrk gang. We see Luke’s assailant silenty reach for his pocket, and then explode right in front of Luke, as Leia is told in no uncertain terms the New Republic are not wanted at the summit. In the Falcon’s cockpit Han is concerned at where the pirates are getting their firepower as Rynn tries to shake Luke back to consciousness.
We switch once again to the edge of the Fenril sector as a Blockade Runner is stopped by pirates from entering the sector, and the captain believes this is more than a simple heist, this feels like war. We end with Prime Minister Almovar via hologram telling Leia that the worlds of the Fenril sector have united, stopping all trade with the New Republic and defending its borders as the Corellian CR90 Corvette comes under heavy assault.
Well, that’s how you start a new volume, with a statemement of intent, some familiar characters (Mon Mothma, as drawn by Phil Noto to look like Genevieve O’Reilly this week of all weeks is chefs kiss perfect) and the matter at hand laid out from the off. Pirates, using former Imperial weaponry, keen to carve out their own regions of the galaxy (something we saw explained in The Mandalorian and which very much runs from this era to that of the various Mandoverse series) and giving the fledgling New Republic a tough time. This is far from the venerable, dependable and organsied Republic of old (albeit one that rotted from within, ripe for coersion by Darth Sidious) but rather a completely new endeavour. The galaxy needs to heal after the Galactic Civil War and less than a quarter of a century after The Clone Wars, but with the leaders of the Rebellion now at the top table of the Republic, that’s not going to be the smooth task they might have anticipated while celebrating with the Ewoks on Endor.
With Andor generously giving us entire new perspectives on the galaxy many may not have considered before, the post-Battle of Jakku galaxy is arguably even more complicated, and with much of the conflict unknown at this point, this new series (ably written by Alex Segura and beautifully crafted by Phil Noto, who smashed it just as he did his much-missed Poe Dameron series almost a decade ago) looks set to deliver us some classic stories with our OT big three very much in place. A very solid start indeed (and a feast for the eyes).
