Ewoks (2024) 2

Ewoks 2 is the second issue of the 2024 canon comic book limited series Star Wars: Ewoks. The issue was written by Steve Orlando, illustrated by Álvaro López, Laura Braga, and Antonio Fabela, and published by Marvel Comics on November 13, 2024.

Publisher's summary

THE BATTLE ON ENDOR CONTINUES! BOUNTY HUNTERS 4-LOM & ZUCKUSS invade Bright Tree Village! Will WICKET and EWOK WARRIOR MEEDRO be able to defend the village? And who is the Red Ghost?

Opening crawl

THE RED GHOST STRIKES

Long, long ago, deep in an enchanted forest on the distant moon of Endor, an evil group of outsiders set
up their strange machines, bringing a war from the outside galaxy. Another group of outsiders, seeking
only peace for the galaxy, fought them off and restored the natives' village to its once-serene nature. But
even after the heroes leave and new threats loom, the forest moon will always be protected by….

After the fall of the Empire, it is a time of peace and rebuilding on the
forest moon of Endor. But following the invasion of their home by what
the Ewoks call "cruel ones," the native villagers of Bright Tree Village
are at odds--are all outsiders bad? Or, as young Wicket proposes, is it
a balance of openness and cautiousness that is the true way forward?

All the while, a team of Imperials and bounty hunters, including
4-LOM and Zuckuss, have traveled back to Endor looking to reclaim
weapons of the Empire, and they've come face to face with the native
forest dwellers….

Plot summary

The Ewok Chirpa, chief of Bright Tree Village, speaks to the outsiders who have evoked the name of the dark deity the Adversary in their request for shelter. These visitors are Imperial General Tern Koyatta, the former scout trooper Khu Fornot, the Dowutin scavenger Koll Orvenk, his body-less RA-7 protocol droid E-X77, and the bounty hunting duo Zuckuss and 4-LOM, who have arrived to the planet to recover a weapons cache for Grand Moff Ubrik Adelhard. 4-LOM claims they are pilgrims honoring the oldest of deities, that he is a representative of the Adversary joined by his court. Secretly watching from afar, Wicket Wystri Warrick and Meedro recognize these outsiders as cruel ones but choose to stay hidden until the right moment.

When Chirpa expresses hesitation to accepting their demands for shelter and a guide, 4-LOM doubles down, claiming that they are searching for the Adversary's sacred hoard and that denying the Adversary would spell trouble. Various Ewoks, including Teebo and Logray debate if their claims are true and if they should be providing things to emissaries of the Adversary, the rival to the benevolent Golden One. Recognizing that refusing the requests of these dubious strangers may be more dangerous than granting them, Chirpa decides to let them stay the night. Despite the decision, Teebo, Kneesaa a Jari Kintaka, and Frangtee are among those that continue to debate the prudence of giving hospitality to these outsiders, especially since they appear to be cruel ones. Logray nevertheless reminds them all that although the Adversary represents darkness, he is not evil, just another part of nature's cycle. Chirpa thanks the shaman for his sage words and gives permission for anyone to guide the outsiders if they so wish.

Fornot and Koyatta joyfully whisper about the supposed gullibility of the Ewoks. They are soon alerted to a war cry from above. They find Asha Fahn, the Red Ghost and daughter of Chirpa, dropping from above. She strikes Zuckuss in his face, dislodging his respirator. Koyatta cowers behind Orvenk as Fornot processes how the myth of the Red Ghost is real. He realizes that she is protecting her father, Chirpa. He deduces that this is all some kind of trap, and using his prejudice as fuel, asserts that he is in danger. The trooper starts to fire at the crowd of Ewoks. This prompts Zuckuss and 4-LOM into action. The Gand fires at Asha while 4-LOM strikes Teebo. The droid calls for the deaths of any resisting Ewoks and to plunder them for all they are worth, even their hides.

Kneesa runs for her father, Chirpa, but the two are separated by Orvenk. He decides to show them mercy as he is a scavenger, not an assassin. The mercy is not enough, however, and Fornot soon aims his blaster pistol at the two, considering getting revenge for his comrades who died at the hands of Ewoks. Before he can decide, Meedro and Wicket swing into the action to save them. Zuckuss and Asha confront one another and the Gand prepares to eliminate the Red Ghost. He is stopped by a rock thrown by Kneesa and Chirpa who proceed to pounce on the bounty hunter. The family is pleased to be reunited with Asha. Their reunion is again cut off, this time by 4-LOM, who prepares to assassinate Chief Chirpa, claiming that the defying the Adversary will be Chirpa's ending. Wicket and Meedro attack the droid.

Koll Orvenk tries to encourage the Ewoks to scatter so they can survive, but he soon hears Koyatta's pleas for rescue as he is pinned down at spear-point by Wicket.E-X77 asks for Wicket to stand down so that the Dowutin does not have to resort to violence. Wicket is reluctant to let up, but at Koyatta's orders, the protocol droid head relays a message that although the Ewoks have numbers, Koyatta's team has superior weapons. He asks them to end their resistance to protect their people and home lest they will destroy the entire village. As Fornot and Orvenk debate letting the Ewoks live (the Dowutin wants them to survive), Koyatta is able to grasp Wicket's spear and throw him off. The General prepares to impale Wicket with his own weapon, but Orvenk grabs Koyatta from behind and convinces him to stand down.

Tensions settled, Koyatta has the droids translate new terms: They will let Bright Tree Village stand, but they now demand a hostage. Some of the Ewoks immediately ask for Asha to be the hostage, much to Koyatta's delight. Meedro volunteers to go along, but Koyatta does not like the idea of a willing prisoner and asks for a second hostage. Fornot thinks it might be a good idea to set a thermal detonator and leave. 4-LOM, still playing at being associated with the Adversary, tells the Ewoks they brought this cruelty onto themselves by not yielding immediately. In basic, Wicket speaks up. He demands that Koyatta not take any hostages and to leave at once. The General thinks it is fascinating and Ewok can speak basic. He also likes Wicket's name, so he stuns him to take as his other hostage.