Review: The Scoundrel Chooses the Greater Good in Marvels Han Solo and Chewbacca #10

The final issue of the Han Solo and Chewbacca series has come! It’s wild to think we are already through this ten-issue deep comic run filled with fun adventures from start to finish. With each issue, Marc Guggenheim seemed to get better and better at capturing the heart and soul of Han Solo. Not to say Guggenheim wasn’t adept at writing Han from the beginning. He did a fine job from the start! When it comes to a legacy character like Han Solo, it takes a minute to capture the right mix of feel and tone. Guggenheim perfects the art of writing a Han Solo comic throughout this arc.



The final issue of Han Solo and Chewbacca left me wanting more adventures with these two and their mysterious ally Phaedra, but this is what you want as a reader. I’d much rather be yearning for more, than to get to the end of this and simply read it only because I’ve invested in nine other issues. The payoff isn’t incredible in this one, but it does leave the door open for some fascinating stories to tell in the future and gives wonderful easter eggs and nods to things very familiar to fans of the famed smuggler.



Spoilers ahead...







The ninth issue of Han Solo and Chewbacca left us with Chewie entangled with Marshal Vancto and Han and Phaedra being held at blaster point by Corbus Tyra on the Falcon. In short, Han and Chewie’s luck is right about where it usually is. To my surprise, the issue doesn’t begin immediately where the previous one left off. Instead, we found ourselves at Jabba’s Palace on Tatooine. Greedo has turned over the ever so hunted after urn to Jabba.



The urn has been the source of all this commotion. It was supposed to hold the ashes of Jabba’s rival. However, we learned previously the secret behind it. Instead of ashes, it contains the neural core of Ajax Sigma. Ajax Sigma was a droid insurgent who sought the freedom of all droids. It grew so violent that it drew the eye of the Jedi Order and was ultimately struck down by my favorite Jedi Master of the High Republic era: Loden Greatstorm (I named a fantasy football team after Loden Greatstorm this year).



Greedo, of course, is unaware Jabba is expecting a droid’s neural core and thinks he is pulling one over on the crime lord. Jabba, rather than let Greedo know of his error in judgment, pays him the sum of 80,000 credits. Poor Greedo continues to be multiple steps behind everyone from start to finish.



Greedo stands before Jabba.



Afterward, we flashback to 36 hours earlier, to our favorite duo trying to wiggle their way out of another tight spot. Han has Corbus in a headlock and sends Phaedra to pilot the Falcon as the rival smugglers are once again trying to destroy the ship in hopes of claiming the urn for themselves.



The first awesome easter egg in this comic came soon after. With Han now holding his blaster at Tyra’s head, it looks like it is about to end for the man. Suddenly a remote target droid flies in and blasts Han in the back. The attack gives Corbus enough time to gain the advantage.



Remote training droid as seen in A New Hope.



Take a look at the remote droid. That’s right. It's the same one from Episode IV Luke uses to train. Han ultimately scares the droid into slinking away somewhere else on the ship. I love little nods like this to the original trilogy.



Phaedra is desperately trying to escape the enemy ship, but as the blaster fire rains down on the Falcon, it’s clear that piloting is not one of her strengths. Explosions rock the ship from side to side, leaving the struggle between Han and Corbus a difficult one to win. Once another big blast rocks the ship, Han decides he better end the wrestling match and pilot his ship. A nice haymaker to the jaw from Han sends Corbus flying.



Han punches Corbus Tyra.



As Han enters the bridge, Phaedra’s hilarious sense of humor shines again. When we first were introduced to her, I didn’t give her character much thought. Now, I am sitting here wondering who on earth she is? Where does she come from, and what other stories could she be involved? We don’t get any of these questions answered in this comic but given the amount of storylines needed to tie up it’s not a big deal.



As Han takes over, he quickly realizes the Falcon has taken too much damage and prepares the ship for a crash landing. It’s not the first time Han has, or will, make an awkward crash landing on his beloved ship. This one goes about as well as it could under the circumstances. The only problem is during all of the commotions on the planet they crash onto, Corbus escapes.



Corbus Tyra runs away.



While Han and Phaedra were busy trying to keep the Falcon from blowing up, Chewie has entangled himself in a difficult affair. Currently battling with Marshal Vancto, it appears he might be trapped. Suddenly, the rival smugglers who have been a pain in Han and Chewie’s side step in and start blasting. Now, they weren’t blasting at anyone in particular. It seems they didn't mind which of the two they hit. One of them made the unwise move of getting too close to a raging Wookiee. Chewie picks her up and full force-throws her into Vancto to make his escape.



Chewie throws a smuggler.



Once Vancto recovers, he rounds up the crew of smugglers and takes them aboard his ship. Thinking he is home free and has collected a nice haul of wanted people, he lets his guard down. It’s unwise to let your guard down with an upset Wookiee on the loose. Chewie holds a blaster to his head and makes a deal to help him return to Han.



Back on the Falcon, Han takes off after the escaping Corbus, and the two face off on a makeshift bridge. Corbus has the empty urn in hand and still doesn’t believe it was “empty,” as Han said. Of course, Han knows he can’t let that neural core fall into the hands of someone like Jabba the Hutt or Corbus Tyra.



The conversation was eerily similar to the final dialogue between Han and Tobias Beckett in Solo: A Star Wars Story. It ends much the same way, with Han firing a blaster straight at his chest. As Tyra tumbles off the ledge, I couldn’t help but give a bit of a fist pump. How dare anyone mess with my favorite smuggler?



Han shoots Corbus Tyra.



Once reunited with Chewie, the two have an important decision to make. What to do with Ajax Sigma’s core? It’s too dangerous to fall into the wrong hands. Han is a smuggler, but we know through and through, just like Qi’ra, “he’s the good guy.” We know he is going to make the right decision here. He and Chewie go deep into the woods and bury it. Phaedra and Chewie make a few jokes about how Han is a “softy,” and even though Han rejects these notions outright, he knows deep down it is somewhat true. Han is jaded and scarred because of his past, but there is a deep tenderness and desire to help the greater good buried within him that a young Princess will soon bring out of him.







The closing pages of Han Solo and Chewbacca #10 give us a couple of exciting prospects to look forward to...



First, we learn that Corbus Tyra is alive! That’s right. Somehow he survived the blaster to the chest and the fall that presumably should’ve killed him. His being alive is pure Star Wars so how can we be upset about it?! If anything, it will lead to a great comic in the future where he and Han face off again. He was working with Greedo to give the ashes to Jabba in exchange for the credits. Corbus knows there is something else in the orb. Whether or not he found the core buried by Han and Chewie remains to be seen.



The second piece of exciting news is the massive Star Wars crossover event coming soon with Ajax Sigma set to reappear! He’s already making his presence felt across other comic series, and now it looks like another comic collaboration could have this insurgent droid at the forefront. For more information on the crossover, check out our article here!



In conclusion, the Han Solo and Chewbacca series was a banger from start to finish. The variety that exists within this universe is beautiful. This was a mostly light-hearted tale, allowing us to sit back and adventure out with some of the most fun characters in Star Wars. Other comics, like Hidden Empire, carry a much heavier tone layered with deep seriousness. What makes Star Wars stand out is its ability to captivate audiences seeking multiple forms of storytelling. The comic run was thoroughly enjoyable, and I recommend it to anyone who loves a good scoundrel.


<p style='text-align: center;']Rating: 9/10</p>


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