Han Solo #4 Review

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In Han Solo #4, Han Solo has a traitor on board as the last leg of the Dragon Void Run commences.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Han Solo #4.

Han Solo #4

Writer: Marjorie Liu | Artist: Mark Books | Colors: Sonia Oback & Matt Milla | Cover Artist: Olivier Coipel | Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna

Suspicion and identity are the themes of Han Solo #4 and the series overall. As the galaxy’s most famous smuggler attempts to complete a mission to retrieve endangered Rebel spies, he is torn. His inner conflict stems from his commitment to the mission for the Rebellion and his desire to win the Dragon Void Run.

The Conflict on Board

The previous issue ended with a conflict on board the Millennium Falcon. The latest Rebel spy that Han Solo retrieved had a score to settle with Han and Chewbacca. The spy was an unnamed feline-like species. Her name is Dorae. It turns out she had a baby Rathtar she wished to sell to pay off some debts. Unfortunately for her, Chewbacca killed the Rathtar before she could do so. The loss of the Rathtar prevented her from paying off debts and a debt was born.

Another spy is already on board. Bot was previously retrieved by Han and Chewbacca. He makes the first attempt to stop Dorae, but he is ineffective. However, Loo Re Anno and the Twi’lek sisters arrive on board and help quell the dispute. One of the “Witnesses” that accompanied Loo Re Anno took a liking to Han Solo. It became spooked and ran to find help when Dorae held up Han and Chewbacca. The witnesses appear to be sentient beings that look like floating globes of light.

Some harsh words are exchanged, but Han Solo uses the distraction to restore order and smooth the conflict over. The seeds of suspicion have been planted. The spies do not trust each other. Bot believes Dorae to be the traitor to the Rebellion and the cause of death for other Rebel spies.

The History of the Dragon Void Run

After the resolution of the conflict aboard the Falcon, Loo Re Anno pulls Han Solo aside. She explains the beginnings for the Dragon Void Run to him. Solo assumed it was simply the grandest race in the galaxy. It was a spectacle. The winner was set for life.

Loo Re Anno reveals that the race is much more than that. Her own grandmother helped found it. For Loo Re Anno’s people, life before the Dragon Void Run was a life of solitude. The Dragon Void Run gave them unity. Through the race, they strove to become something greater. Now, Loo Re Anno is the last of her kind.

Of course, this race symbolizes Solo’s identity crisis. Loo Re Anno recognizes Solo’s struggle. He denies that he wants to be something more than a smuggler. This conflict of identity started with issue one of this series. Solo turned down job after job. He offered so many reasons. One of these reasons is that he desires to be his own person. However, Leia and the Rebellion keep drawing him back in despite his excuses that sticking his neck out for them would get him killed.

Elements of Rogue One

Lucasfilm and Marvel work in elements from Rogue One in Han Solo #4. As the Millennium Falcon prepared to leave the planet, Imperials pursue Rebels to the Falcon. The Imperials utilized a small tank reminiscent, but not identical to, the hover tank seen in the Rogue One trailers. However, the troopers manning the tank appear to be the same as those seen in Rogue One trailer. As the new movie approaches, this is a welcome tie-in.

The Final Contacts and a Decision

The Rebel spies that rendezvous with the Falcon include the final spy Han was sent to retrieve. The spy is a young alien named Adan. U’il, a female Falleen, escorts him to the Falcon. Readers saw U’il earlier in the series working for the Rebellion. Their arrival causes more distress among the passengers aboard the Falcon. For one, it is a near certainty that the traitor that has been killing Rebel spies is now aboard. Second, with all spies aboard, Solo’s mission is essentially complete. He retrieved everyone. All he needs to do is return to Leia and the Rebel fleet.

Of course, he won’t quit the race. His identity crisis continues. He justifies his decision to stay in the race as an excuse to figure out how the Stormtroopers knew to ambush his ship when they did. There is something to that, but this is his one chance to compete in the race. Besides, he has drawn a connection with Loo Re Anno, which she plays upon in moments.

Camaraderie Amongst Competitors

The racers emerge from hyperspace only to find an Imperial fleet. Things look grim. U’il advises they flee, and Han agrees that would be the wisest course of action. After all, he has a mission to complete. That is the priority. Then Loo Re Anno delivers a pep talk. It is simple. They came to race, did they not? Have they come this far to be stopped? The panels alternate between the competitors. Each bears a confident look. Han responds to Loo Re Anno in the negative. He orders his crew and passengers to strap in. Whether Loo Re Anno knew it or not, she spoke the perfect words to ensure Han’s participation.

The Traitor Strikes

The issue concludes on a distressing note. As Han orders everyone to strap in, the panels shifts to the passages behind the cockpit. The body of Adan lies slumped on the floor. He is clearly dead. So, who is the traitor? Please indulge some speculation. The other entities known to be on the ship are Han Solo, Chewbacca, U’il, Bot, and Dorae. Han Solo is obviously out. The reader’s attention has been focused on him since the Falcon went to hyperspace. Chewbacca is most certainly out. Star Wars fans know that he survives to see The Empire Strikes Back. If he had done anything, he most certainly would have mentioned it to Han.

This leaves U’il, Bot, and Dorae. Taking U’il first, she appears an unlikely candidate. She accompanied Han Solo to the cockpit. When she last saw Adan, he was alive. In addition, she urged that they flee from the Empire. She wouldn’t care about the Imperial presence if she were a traitor. Also, Princess Leia seems to trust her. U’il convinced Han Solo to let her and Adan on board by using Han’s nickname for Leia: “Your Worshipfulness.” Of course, she might have wanted to learn the location of the Rebels. However, if that were so, she probably wouldn’t kill any Rebel agents.

Therefore, Bot and Dorae are left. Unfortunately, precious little is known of what they were up to when the Falcon went to hyperspace. The last panel to feature them prior to the Imperial encounter included Han, Chewbacca, Adan, and U’il. It is unknown what they did or how the rest of the passengers dispersed after Han and U’il went to the cockpit. Adan’s murder could have happened as everyone moved to the cockpit. Bot is the last one in the cockpit. That suggests he might be the killer as anyone else would have seen Adan’s body on the way in. Whether he is capable is in doubt. Dorae seems more likely in that regard. Therefore, it could be either of them or perhaps both. The conclusion of this series in the next issue should answer this question.

Favorite Panel of Han Solo #4

Mark Brooks might have the best art in Star Wars comics yet. He revealed that after issue two, George Lucas requested to purchase the pages of the first two issues of the series. It is easy to see why. The art is consistently good. For the favorite panel of Han Solo #4, I chose a panel featuring Han and Chewbacca in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon. They narrowly beat the timer to avoid disqualification from the race by lifting off at the last possible moment. The view of this panel is from behind them. Through the cockpit, the other competitor’s ships are seen lifting off. It is very cinematic, and for that reason, I chose it for this issue’s favorite panel.