Beyond Victory 1

"Right now, I've got a race to win. For Pyya."

―Volo Bolus^[2]

Beyond Victory 1 is a canon one-shot comic book that takes place between the events of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Episode IV: A New Hope, and serves as a prequel to the video game Star Wars: Beyond Victory - A Mixed Reality Playset. The issue was written by Ethan Sacks, illustrated by Steven Cummings, Will Sliney, Shogo Aoki, Wayne Faucher, and Rachelle Rosenberg, and published by Marvel Comics. It was available only as a giveaway at the ILM and Meta Quest booth during Celebration Japan 2025, which ran from April 18-April 20, 2025.

Opening crawl

against the odds

The thrill of danger. The rush of speed. There's nothing in the galaxy quite like
podracing. For some pilots, it's a chance at credits and fame, but others fly to forge an
enduring legacy. When it's all on the line, sometimes you just have to race...

Plot summary

"We need a racer. One who is good enough to get us in—and desperate enough to do anything for credits."

―Sebulba, to Luuda Fluxion^[2]

At the Galma outskirts of the planet Batuu, a hologram projection of a Troig commentator welcomes the audience to the first regional qualifying race of that season. A Weequay in the audience member throws their beverage at the hologram while the Troig explains that the first four racers to finish the race will qualify for the Hydian-Hutta Podracing Circuit, with the other Troig head noting that the audience behavior would not have been allowed on Tatooine. In the audience viewing chamber, Luuda Fluxion asked Sebulba what they are doing there and that they need a plan to solve their credit problem, though the latter affirms that visiting the qualifier is part of the plan. An Ongree—who was a fan of Sebulba since he broke the speed record on the Corellian Death Relay—then approaches the pair to ask for the Dug's autograph. They commented that they did not expect for Sebulba to come to the qualifier after his "disgraceful" permanent ban. Offended by the comment, Sebulba kicks the Ongree over to a waiter who was carrying multiple beverages and spilling it over to Bossk, causing an all-out brawl within the crowd. Fluxion and Sebula casually leave the scene as they continue on with their plan, which is to get a good but desperate racer for their crew.

At the racing circuit, Volo Bolus gets up to their podracer as the qualifier is about to begin. Bolus talks to their friend Pyya Bocc over the comms about how they really need to win to get new parts, which Bocc then tells Bolus to focus on qualifying instead and not to crash. Another racer Coy Vrizh starts a short banter with Bolus, though the racing pair Raka and Staka chime in to trash on the two racers' chance of winning. The race then begins with Raka and Skata taking the early lead. As Bolus starts to catch up to Rak and Staka, the pair box Bolus, who then accuses the two of cheating. Unhappy about the comment, Raka and Staka box them into a wall, damaging Bolus' binder coil. However, Bolus does not give up as they have made a vow in the past.

In a flashback, months prior to their race on Batuu, Bolus, Bocc, and Deland Tyerell race through the outskirts of Malastare's Industrial Sector with their speeders as they head to a photo destination. The three of them trespass to a restricted area for a shortcut, alerting three security droids to chase after them. Passing through the area, one of the security droids notifies the three trespassers that they are violating Trespassing Ordinance 347 and proceeds to open fire. Tyerell then drops his Ronto Wrap in the chase, though it accidentally hits one of the droids, compromising its visual acuity and causing two of the droids to crash into each other. As Bolus, Bocc, and Tyerell leave the restricted area, a third droid continues its chase and shoots down a tree which ends up falling on itself. Upon reaching their destination, Bolus gives their Ronto Wrap to Tyerell. The three of them then sit on the edge of cliff to enjoy the scenery. From where they are sitting, Bolus adds that it feels like they are the champions of Malastare and imagines the future when one of them achieves the podracing title, however, a crying Bocc cuts Bolus' dream.

Returning to present time, Bolus seems to be distracted while Bocc was trying to get a hold of them to deal with the damaged binder coil. Bolus' podracer starts to lose control as both of its engines are out of sync until the the binder coil is fixed. The engines' chaotic movement causes another podracer Paghee'Dhe to crash at the side of the track. Vrizh passes Bolus in the race, though they share a pity and hope to see Bolus at the finish line. Bocc urges Bolus to go to the pit stop for a maintenance check, but Bolus insists that they have no time shortly before communication cuts off. Bolus improvises and hangs on the side of the cockpit to try to reach the damaged binder coil on one of the engines. Looking from the side, both Fluxion and Sebulba are shock to see the Bolus' dangerous action with the latter getting an excitement from it. As the brawl continues, multiple individuals are witnessing it all from the side, including the Tonnika sisters and Hondo Ohnaka. Ohnaka is particularly excited as he wins a bet on a Wookiee who took part in the brawl. Sebulba and Fluxion then jump down from their viewing chamber and steal a pair of macrobinoculars from an audience member to get a closer look at the race.

Bolus, who is still hanging on the side of the cockpit to fix the podracer's binder coil, is forced to maneuver their vehicle as to not hit an massive debris on the track. With the continuous struggle to reach the engine, Bolus starts to doubt themselves without Bocc's help. Continuing the flashback from months prior, Bocc explains that they were diagnosed by a doctor about a sickness and unsure how much time they still have to live, forcing Bocc to drop their podracing dream. Instead, Bocc begs for Bolus to live their shared dream of winning the championship before they all hug it out. Returning once more to the present, Bolus finally reaches the engine and fixes the binder coil. As Bolus closes in on Raka and Staka, the two Rodians attempt to repeat the same tactic on them, though Bolus catches on and successfully avoids the attack. Raka and Staka's botched attempt on Bolus ends up causing their podracer to crash. Upon reaching the finish line, Vrizh takes first place with Bolus getting a close second. Fluxion watches in disbelieve at Bolus' placement with Sebulba taking an interest at the racer as their final crew member. Fluxion doubts on Bolus' chance of suvival if they take the job, though Sebulba only responds with a sarcastic pity.