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Star Wars (2020) 45

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For other uses, see Star Wars 45.

Star Wars 45 is the forty-fifth issue of the 2020 canon comic book series Star Wars. The issue was written by Charles Soule, illustrated by Madibek Musabekov and Rachelle Rosenberg, and published by Marvel Comics on April 3, 2024.

Publisher's summary[]

THE GREATEST TRIAL IN THE GALAXY CONTINUES! LANDO CALRISSIAN is on trial for crimes against the ALLIANCE. The evidence is clear, and his friends have turned against him, from LUKE SKYWALKER to LEIA ORGANA. Lando's only hope…is DARTH VADER?

Opening crawl[]

THE TRIAL OF LANDO CALRISSIAN, PART 2:
WITNESS TESTIMONY 
In order to help his friend Lobot, Lando was
forced to make a deal with the Talky droid that
helped him once before, as well as confess to
his traitorous misdeeds in the past involving
the droid and secrets that were sold to Jabba
the Hutt.

As Lando stood trial for these crimes before a
committee of top Rebellion leaders, a mysterious
group captured Mon Mothma from her remote
location!

The other rebels were in shock, but Lando's
lawyer, Salli Georgio, thinks she can use this to
the advantage of her client….

Plot summary[]

Leia Organa, General Crix Madine and Admiral Gial Ackbar of the Rebel Alliance High Command meet to discuss the actions they need to take in lieu of Mon Mothma's kidnapping. Recognizing that with the vast amounts of critical intelligence she knows, the entire rebellion could be at risk, they decide to enact some contingencies. Firstly, Ackbar executes Tactical Plan Eighteen. This quickly brings in all shuttles, freighters, and starfighters into larger ships' hangar bays and directs the larger ships to scatter to random locations and stay separate until receiving the all-clear signal. General Madine activates Commander Kes Dameron's Pathfinder unit, who are located near Uveron after a recent mission, to investigate the site of the kidnapping. Leia decides to keep the reality of the situation as confined as possible to avoid despair.

Once Home One is in hyperspace, the three return to the court room to continue Lando Calrissian's trial. Calrissian's lawyer, Salli Georgio attempts to use a legal loophole in the Corellian code of military justice, which she previously feigned ignorance about, to leverage Mothma's absence into a mistrial for Lando. The magistrates, Madine and Ackbar, handily dismiss her attempt.

The court proceeds with Captain Darrien Muskray, legal representation for the Alliance, questioning Leia. In the examination, Leia recounts how she met Lando on Cloud City, how he betrayed Han Solo with the surprise appearance of Darth Vader and Boba Fett, and about the deal Lando made with the Empire to protect his business. The two then elaborate how Solo was frozen in carbonite. Leia finishes by stating that Lando's good deeds since were a temporary attack of conscience, rather than a change of heart.

In the cross-examination from Georgio, she starts by complementing Leia before prying for more details about Lando's deal with the Empire on Cloud City. Leia reveals the threatening of the people of Cloud City, about Vader continually worsening the deal. Georgio presents Leia with evidence of Lando's bank statements just before the happenings on Cloud City, which were soon thereafter frozen by the Empire. The amount of credit is significant. Georgio posits that Lando could have protected his financial assets by abandoning the people of Cloud City, but instead chose to stay at great cost to himself.

In Uveron City, Dameron and his team speak with Administrator Benin, who was in charge of security for Mothma on Uveron. Their investigation of the outside of the pavilion is fruitless, but inside, they find a painted arrow pointing to a holodisc. They quickly realize the pre-recorded message is of high-priority for High Command.

The recording shows Mon Mothma tied and gagged. The mysterious perpetrators ask for an immense ransom of 200 million credits within the day, lest they extend an offer to the Empire. Realizing they simply cannot afford it, High Command finds themselves in a bad position with few ideas what to do.

In Lando's prison cell, Georgio attempts to discuss with him what angle they need to take and what ins they may have to curry goodwill towards him. Lando suddenly sits up with an insight. He has Georgio get Chewbacca, and Lando explains to him that he recognized the voice heard over the hologram when Mothma was kidnapped and finally placed it. He says that the voice is Hachi, a mercenary of the Scarabi, who Lando brokered some jobs for in a past life. He realizes that the intelligence would not mean as much from him, since it may be perceived as subterfuge or a distraction, so he asks Chewbacca to deliver it to High Command. Georgio is disappointed they are not using the intelligence to broker a deal, but Lando says he deserves what is coming to him. In spite of all of the bad things he thinks he is, he realizes he is also a rebel.

Development[]

As he did for Star Wars 41,[3] artist John Tyler Christopher did two[4] negative wash[5] covers for Star Wars 45[4] after getting what he described as an amazing opportunity[5] he needed to quickly take. One cover features bounty hunter Boba Fett.[6] Fett's cover[4] was first teased with a green image[5] that served as the cover's background.[4] Ahead of presale[7] exclusively held on his website,[8] Tyler revealed Fett's cover with yet-to-be-approved art,[6] which he needed to note on the Tweet,[9] In the end, however, it was approved without the need to change anything.[10]

According to Tyler, the preorders had needed to be placed in order to give him the chance to use both characters as cover-focuses.[5] Presale for the covers started on February 8[11] and ended on February 10.[8] In that sale, both covers were sold as a RAW bundle. Tyler did promise that fans would be able to purchase each cover individually or as "grades" during public sale, by which point he promised his store would have the issues themselves in hand.[11] He also tweeted out an alternatively colored "sunset" version of his Fett cover to make a "stupid pun" about the end of the presale.[12] Tyler did not reveal the subject of his second negative wash cover, only describing it as Fett's secret cargo in the context of the online presale.[10] In time, the cover was revealed to be Han Solo frozen in carbonite.[13]

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Organizations and titles

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Weapons and technology

Miscellanea

Sources[]

Notes and references[]

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Star Wars (2020) #45 on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)
  2. ↑ The events of Star Wars 45 take place after the Escape from Cloud City and before the Rescue of Han Solo, which are dated to 3 ABY and 4 ABY, respectively, by Star Wars: Galactic Atlas.
  3. ↑ John Tyler Christopher (@johntylerchris) on Twitter (post): "Now that Asajj has been revealed as the Phantom Cover, we are getting ready to ship the PREORDERS of her and Darth Maul, this week! With as cold as it is here in the Midwest, hopefully they don't arrive in a block of ice!" (backup link)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Star Wars #45 Bounty Bundle by John Tyler Christopher on johntylerchristopher.com (backup link archived on February 11, 2024)
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 John Tyler Christopher (@johntylerchris) on Twitter (post): "In the interest of full transparency, an amazing opportunity arose for our next exclusive. The only thing is, in order to use the characters, we will need to hold PREORDERS on Feb. 8th. It will be two Star Wars Negative Washes, and we'll be announcing next week. Thanks a million!" (backup link)
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 John Tyler Christopher (@johntylerchris) on Twitter (post): "Feb. 8th, exclusively at http://johntylerchristopher.com #bobafett returns, and he's bringing a trophy in tow. Sorry for the quick turnaround, but this was a use it or lose it opportunity I didn't want to miss out on! Art awaiting approval. #starwars #marvel #marvelcomics #bountyhunters" (backup link)
  7. ↑ John Tyler Christopher (@johntylerchris) on Twitter (post): "Here' the estimated dates for Boba & his Bounty Bundle. Dates may change, in the event of damages or other events." (backup link)
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 John Tyler Christopher (@johntylerchris) on Twitter (post): "He's about to escape with his bounty. PRESALE ending February 10th at noon (et). Exclusively at http://johntylerchristopher.com #StarWars #MarvelComics #marvel #BobaFett" (backup link)
  9. ↑ John Tyler Christopher (@johntylerchris) on Twitter (post): "Sorry for the post and delete and then repost! Needed to have the "not final art" tag on the piece. We'll keep you posted if there are any changes, and repost when we get the thumbs up. Sorry again!" (backup link)
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 John Tyler Christopher (@johntylerchris) on Twitter (post): "Feb. 8th at noon, the approved with no changes #BobaFett hunts exclusively at http://johntylerchristopher.com Here's your chance to make sure you get your man, and the secret cargo he's carrying! Thanks for your patience and understanding. #starwars #marvel #marvelcomics #bountyhunters" (backup link)
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 John Tyler Christopher (@johntylerchris) on Twitter (post): "Feb. 8th at noon (et), Boba & his Bounty arrive! Like before, they will only be available as RAW bundles. Both will be available individually and as GRADES durning the PUBLIC sale after we receive the books." (backup link)
  12. ↑ John Tyler Christopher (@johntylerchris) on Twitter (post): "At noon (et), the sun will set on Boba. A Sunfett, if you will. Feel free to swing by http://johntylerchristopher.com to get a copy! (This is not the cover art, and was made exclusively for a stupid pun) #bobafett #StarWars #MarvelComics #Marvel" (backup link)
  13. ↑ John Tyler Christopher (@johntylerchris) on Twitter (post): "May the 9th be with you. At 6pm (et), exclusively at http://johntylerchristopher.com.#BobaFett always delivers his man! The #HanSolo trophy is ready to be displayed in your own personal palace. Just don't trust any stinky Jedi. #StarWars #Marvel #MarvelComics" (backup link)

External links[]

Star Wars (2020)
The Destiny Path: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6
The Will of Tarkin: 7 · 8
Operation Starlight: 9 · 10 · 11 · 12
War of the Bounty Hunters: 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 17 · 18
Crimson Reign: 19 · 20 · 21 · 22 · 23 · 24
Stand-alones: 25
The Path to Victory: 26 · 27 · 28 · 29 · 30
Quests of the Force: 31 · 32 · 33 · 34 · 35 · 36
Dark Droids: 37 · 38 · 39 · 40 · 41
The Sith and the Skywalker: 42 · 43
The Trial of Lando Calrissian: 44 · 45 · 46 · 47
The Path of Light: 48 · 49 · 50
Trade paperbacks
1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9
Related media
Star Wars (2015) · Star Wars (2025)
"An Echo of Victory" · Revelations (2022) · "A Trick of the Mind"
"Return to Echo Base"
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