Mace Windu 1

Mace Windu 1 is the first issue of the 2024 comic miniseries Star Wars: Mace Windu. The issue was written by Marc Bernardin, illustrated by Georges Jeanty, Dexter Vines, and Andrew Dalhouse, and published by Marvel Comics on February 7, 2024.

Publisher's summary[]

ONE OF THE GREATEST JEDI MUST STOP AN INCENDIARY SECRET FROM FALLING INTO THE WRONG HANDS! Even in the years before THE CLONE WARS, MACE WINDU was known for his discipline, determination and combat skills. When a scientist's discovery threatens the balance of the galaxy, Mace is led down a treacherous path of mystery and action. Introducing AZITA CRUUZ, a pirate with a deadly secret, who the HUTTS and the REPUBLIC will stop at nothing to control!

Opening crawl[]

MACE WINDU

In the time before the fall of the Republic and rise of the Galactic Empire, Jedi Knights are
keepers of the peace. Before joining the Jedi Council, one brave Jedi travels the galaxy on a
daring mission. He's known as….

Plot summary[]

"You called. The Jedi have answered."

―Mace Windu to Azita Cruuz^[3]

On the ocean moon of Devshi, Jedi Master Mace Windu emerges from the water after infiltrating the prison complex on the ocean floor, and swims over to nearby docks. Spotting a Lutrillian worker, Windu questions if he’s seen a group of droids passing through, and the man tells him that five of them stepped out of the prison elevator and fled on a skiff. Windu introduces himself and informs the man that he is in need of a vessel and captain. The Lutrillian explains that he only runs the docking remotes, so Windu uses a Jedi Mind Trick to gain his aid. The Lutrillian, named Regump, and Windu take off in pursuit of the droids on a skiff of their own, and the latter uses The Force to push the boat faster through the water in order to gain on their fleeing target. Windu is able to get close enough to hurl his lightsaber at the skiff and take out their engines, leaving them dead in the water. After the two board, Mace’s plan comes to fruition, with the steam short-circuiting all the droids. Investigating the downed droids, Mace realizes that they all worked at the prison, but their programming was overridden, and one of them was carrying a system-wide Skeleton key.

With his mission complete, Windu returns to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant and meets with Grand Master Yoda. Inside the briefing room, Yoda asks Windu if he has heard of coaxium, Windu is familiar with the incredible unstable hyper-fuel. Another Jedi named Gara presents the planet Ro Mira, a moon in the Vergara system, a deadly ice planet. Beneath the surface, coaxium refinery uses blue-hot lava to create a new coaxium formula. Due to this new coaxium formula boosting sublight engines, ships now have the ability to run blockades and outrun Republic patrols if it were to fall into the wrong hands. Windu is informed that someone called Azita Cruuz has stolen the formula, and is offering a large amount in exchange for a large sum of credits and safe passage off world. Windu is instructed to track down Cruuz and her cargo before anyone else takes it from her.

Windu arrives at Ro Mira, landing his Jedi Starfighter outside the city. Windu surmises that he should go to the origin of Cruuz's request and searches the security cameras for where she went next. Passing through an alleyway, Mace is approached by a shady group seeking for a way off of the planet. The group begins circling the Jedi, Windu has a vision of the future, showing him defeating them all in hand-to-hand combat. Informing the attackers, they decide to back off and leave the Jedi alone.

Windu concludes that Cruuz would hide somewhere with tight security, but also a constant stream of people coming in and out. Entering the local hospital, he asks for a patient who doesn't know their name, but previously worked at the local refinery. Claiming to be a representative of the refinery, he begins closing in on Cruuz, however, several refinery authorities are already in pursuit of her. Cruuz escapes the hospital and begins running across rooftops, until she slips and falls to the ground. Refinery authorities are in hot pursuit aboard a speeder, eventually pinning her against a wall and holding her at gunpoint. However, Windu arrives to save Cruuz, lightsaber in hand, and offers the authorities to drop their weapons and run. The authorities don't listen and open fire, Windu defends them and defeats the authorities. As saviour of Cruuz, Windu gives her a hand, informing her that the Jedi have answered her call.