Return of the Jedi – Lando 1

Publisher's summary

LANDO AND CHEWIE ANTE UP TO SAVE THE GALAXY! When Lando Calrissian and Chewbacca find themselves on a perilous mission to steal from Jabba himself, a dangerous figure from Lando's past threatens their plans and their lives. Chewie finds that putting his trust in Calrissian is a gamble that just might pay off, as Lando calls on his skills as a smuggler to make it out alive. Part of a series of one-shots celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Return of the Jedi, this story by Stephanie Phillips (COSMIC GHOST RIDER, ROGUE & GAMBIT) and Álvaro López (CAPTAIN MARVEL) bring you a new, high-stakes adventure with some of Star Wars' most beloved characters.

Opening crawl

With Han Solo having been captured by the
bounty hunter Boba Fett and delivered to
Jabba the Hutt, Lando Calrissian and
Chewbacca might be his only hope.

Using his knowledge of the seediest areas of
the galaxy, Lando embarks on a mission that
will bring them one step closer to rescuing his
old friend Han.

But, with Lando's past betrayal, Chewbacca's
patience is running thin, and both the Empire
and Lando's past seem to be getting closer by
the second….

Plot summary

Lando Calrissian is at Narin's, a shop operated by the eponymous Nikto, hoping to secure detailed schematics of Jabba's Palace. Narin sets the data at an expensive 5,000 credits without room for negotiation. Nevertheless, Lando tries to sweet-talk the Nikto into a lower price. Tired of the games, Chewbacca seizes Narin by the throat with a furious roar. Lando gets his Wookiee friend to back off, but Narin still throws Chewbacca out and nearly throws Lando out too. Lando convinces Narin to let him stay, but Narin decides to double the price. Lando accepts the high price and exits to acquire the necessary credits, passing a Zabrak on the way out. This Zabrak recognizes Lando and tells Narin as much. The Nikto already realizes the large Imperial bounty on Lando is worth far more than the price he could get for the palace schematics.

Chewbacca and Lando walk through the streets, the latter lamenting how the schematics are necessary due to the numerous secret passages and immense danger of Jabba's Palace. He tries to think of a way to acquire the necessary funds quickly. Just then, a pair of chance cubes fall at Lando's feet, reminding him of a local friend who may be able to help.

Lando and Chewbacca head to the club operated by Elocin. He asks her for a loan, and she declines. She believes Lando is untrustworthy, given his history of disappearing for ten years after their last encounters. Knowing there is no other option, Lando offers to play her for the credits. Elocin is skeptical. She fears Lando will cheat, but also doesn't think he has anything to offer she cares about. Chewbacca decides his labor, in the form of ten jobs for Elocin's crew, will be Lando's ante. Lando does not want to risk Chewbacca, but the Wookiee takes matters into his own hands to shake on that deal.

Elocin and Lando go head-to-head at sabacc. Lando gets a lucky start, even achieving a Full Sabacc against one of Elocin's powerful hands. Lando eventually goes all in, hoping to get Elocin to fold. She too goes all in. Before either can reveal their hand, their dealer droid is shot. The chaos reveals Narin and a legion of Stormtroopers, led by an Imperial officer. The Nikto points out Calrissian to the Imperials. Chewbacca and Lando flip over the table and start blasting at the Stormtroopers.

Elocin wonders why she did not just kill Lando when he walked in. Lando says she probably should have, meaning she would be rid of him for good, though it also would kill Solo and Chewbacca. He suspects Elocin still cares for Han, despite her best efforts. This convinces her to help Lando. They prepare to run in opposite directions while Chewbacca throws the table at the troopers. Using slain troopers as human shields, Lando, Chewbacca, and Elocin are able to find moments of respite in the battle.

Calrissian hears a cry of alarm from Elocin. He finds her held at blaster point by the officer. Lando lowers his blaster, but asks Elocin if she remembers the maneuver she did when the speeders almost took her head off. Remembering, Elocin slips through her cape to drop down as Lando tackles the officer, both of them crashing through the glass ceiling of a fighting pit inhabited by two monsters. The two throw punches, and the officer pins Calrissian down. One of the monsters grabs the officer and eats him as the other stalks Lando. Chewbacca reaches down into the pit, but is still too far away. Lando runs at the beast, jumps on its snout and grasps Chewbacca's hand, allowing them both to climb to safety. The two rebels re-enter the firefight against the Stormtroopers to support Elocin. They win the day, but Narin escapes the club.

Later, back on the Millennium Falcon, Lando and Chewbacca sulk at their failure to acquire the schematics. Just then, a call from Elocin comes through. She tells Lando she transferred the schematics to the Falcon. She acquired them by tying up Narin and stealing them herself. Lando asks her what cards she had in their last hand of sabacc. She keeps her secret, but tells him not to come back soon. Lando Calrissian and Chewbacca take off, ready to save Han Solo.

Media

Cover gallery

Final cover by Ryan Brown

Reveal cover by Ryan Brown

Virgin cover by Ryan Brown

Connecting variant cover by Lee Garbett

Variant cover by Rahzzah

Variant cover by Brian Stelfreeze

Collected in

• Star Wars: Scoundrels, Rebels and the Empire

Appearances

This Appearances list is incomplete. You can help Wookieepedia by expanding it.

Sources

• We're On Our Way to Star Wars: Return of the Jedi – Lando #1 – Reveal on StarWars.com (backup link)
• This Week! in Star Wars Young Jedi Adventures Release Date, Billy Dee Williams Joins Star Wars Celebration Europe, and More! on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
• "Launchpad" — Star Wars Insider 218

Notes and references

External links

• Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi – Lando (2023) #1 on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)