Han Solo - Imperial Cadet 1 is the first issue of the canon comic book miniseries Star Wars: Han Solo - Imperial Cadet. It was written by Robbie Thompson, illustrated by Leonard Kirk, and published on November 7, 2018 by Marvel Comics.
Publisher's summary[]
YOUNG SOLO'S ADVENTURES CONTINUE! HAN SOLO escapes Corellia by joining the IMPERIAL NAVY, vowing to return for QI'RA. But how does a thief used to the chaos of the streets adjust to the order and discipline of the military? Not well! Han's dream of becoming a pilot is quickly grounded as he realizes he may not even survive basic training!
Plot summary[]
Escaping Corellia[]
In Corellia's Phien District, Han Solo and Qi'ra steal a suitcase from a group of gangsters in a warehouse. After Solo blasts a hole in a wall, the two flee by grabbing on to a repulsorlift droid. One of the rival gangsters shoots at the droid, causing them to plummet into the streets below. The pair land on top of a hovertrain but are pursued by the rival gangsters on speeder bikes and airspeeders. Solo sabotages one of the carriages' controls, causing it to serve into the path of the pursuing vehicles. While inspecting their stolen cargo of food rations, Qi'ra tells Solo that they could have stolen more if their operation had been organised better. Solo reassures Qi'ra that Lady Proxima is going to be thrilled.
After returning to the Den of the White Worms, Solo and Qi'ra are beaten by Lady Proxima's enforcers for failing to steal four cases of rations. As punishment, the pair are thrown to the sewage pits for a week. While in their watery "cell," Qi'ra comforts Solo, vowing that the pair would one day escape Corellia and Lady Proxima, and answer to no one. Solo resolves to find a way out despite the odds stacked against them. He suggests that they could steal something from one of Proxima's jobs. When Qi'ra warns that they have no protection and are vulnerable to traffickers or being sold to the Crimson Dawn or Hutt Cartel, Solo reassures Qi'ra that he is not going to let it happen.
Following several adventures and fights, Solo steals a vial of coaxium and an M-68 landspeeder. Solo also passes his dice to Qi'ra as a symbol of good luck. While traveling through Coronet's spaceport, the two are separated when Qi'ra is grabbed by Rebolt and Moloch. Solo is separated by the barrier and vows to come back. Qi'ra tells him to run. While stormtroopers rush to the scene to investigate the breach, Solo stumbles upon a recruitment expo hosted by the Imperial Military.
He speaks to the Imperial recruitment officer Drawd Munbrin, telling him that he wants to train as a pilot. When Solo asks how long the training will take, Munbrin replies that it depends on how good Solo is at following orders. Solo confirms that he has to be back on Corellia as soon as he can. When Munbrin asks Solo his family name, Solo reveals that he doesn't have a family because he is alone. Munbrin then gives him the surname Solo and dispatches him on the Sentinel-class landing craft ID-83 to the Naval Academy of Carida.
Induction[]
While the shuttle disembarks at the Imperial Naval Academy on Carida, Solo gazes out at several parked TIE fighters. An Imperial officer tells Solo that he will only get to fly a TIE figther if he survives basic training, addressing him as Cadet 124-329. When Solo protests that his name is Han, the officer tells him that he will only be known by his cadet designation.
After landing, Solo enters a delousing chamber where droids rip his clothes off and give him a haircut and shave. After receiving a cadet's uniform, Solo and the other cadets are addressed by Training Officer Triosa Broog who tells them that they are part of the Galactic Empire. She adds that they no longer have names but numbers. If they survive their training, she tells them that they will earn a name and a place in the flight-training program. She tells the cadets that they will be honed into weapons of the Imperial Navy. Whiles adapting to the rigors of Academy life, Solo longs for Qi'ra.
As part of basic training, Solo and his fellow cadets have to don Swamptrooper armor and train in the swarms. When Solo grumbles about wanting to learn how to fly, Broog calls him out in the presence of his fellow cadets. As punishment, she forces the entire unit to run up a nearby mountain in full gear twice. During the run, Solo is beaten up by several cadets including Beilert Valance (404-913), who derides him as an orphan and a scrumrat.
Cadet Kanina Nico (803-308) interevenes and tells Valance to let Solo go. Valance is initially are unwilling to back down but one of the Dree brothers warns Valance that assaulting Nico would end them all a night in the brig. Solo thanks Nico but she is dismissive towards him. Lyttan and Tamu Dree befriend Solo. They explain that Kanina hates everyone particularly Valance, who thinks that being the best means beating others into submission. The brothers explain that they joined the Empire to avoid starving on Boiyuh. When they ask Solo why he signed up, he replies that he signed up to get back to Corellia. Another cadet dismisses the idea of going back to Corellia, reasoning that the Empire is more likely to send them to a warzone like Urthak or Mimban.
The escape attempt[]
Solo resolves to do something he regards as "stupid." Later, he sneaks into a hangar and steals a TIE fighter. Solo is quickly pursued by several TIEs and TIE/rb heavy starfighters. Solo flies between two of the pursuing starfighters, causing them to collide and crash. Before Solo can move further, he is shot down by another TIE fighter and crashlands. Solo survives the crash and surrenders to several armed stormtroopers, offering to explain everything.
Media[]
Editions[]
- UPC 759606091454; November 7, 2018; Marvel Comics[1]
- 00111; Cover A; David Nakayama
- 00121; Cover B; Lucasfilm Ltd.
- 00131; Cover C; Elsa Charretier, Matt Wilson
- 00141; Cover D; Luke Ross, Java Tartaglia
Cover gallery[]
 Cover A  Cover A, unlettered  Cover B  Cover B, unlettered  Cover C  Cover C, unlettered  Cover D  Cover D, unlettered |
Appearances[]
| Characters | Creatures | Droid models | Events | Locations |
| Organizations and titles | Sentient species | Vehicles and vessels | Weapons and technology | Miscellanea |
Characters
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Locations
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Organizations and titles
|
Sentient species
Vehicles and vessels
Weapons and technology
Miscellanea
Collections[]
Sources[]
NYCC 2018: Alphabet Squadron Revealed and More from the Lucasfilm Publishing Panel on StarWars.com (backup link)- The Galaxy in Comics: Han Solo's Attitude Doesn't Fly in Imperial Cadet #1 on StarWars.com (backup link)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Star Wars: Han Solo - Imperial Cadet (2018) #1 on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)
- ↑ Solo: A Star Wars Story The Official Guide establishes that Han Solo served in the Imperial Navy between six to nine years after the formation of the Galactic Empire, which Star Wars: Galactic Atlas dates to 19 BBY. The events of Star Wars: Han Solo - Imperial Cadet take place during Solo's time in the Imperial Navy, therefore sometime between 13 BBY and 10 BBY.
