Star Wars 49 is the forty-ninth issue of the 2020 canon comic book series Star Wars. The issue was written by Charles Soule, illustrated by Jethro Morales and Rachelle Rosenberg, and published by Marvel Comics on August 21, 2024. The issue continues a Leia Organa-focused story that began in the prior issue.
Publisher's summary
LEIA AND THE REBEL ALLIANCE! The last remnants of ALDERAAN have come under threat from an old enemy! LUKE SKYWALKER and LEIA ORGANA could save these few survivors of the destroyed planet, but the Princess of Alderaan must choose between her people…and the REBEL ALLIANCE itself!
Opening crawl
| THE PATH OF LIGHT |
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Plot summary
Leia Organa had left the Imperial Commander Ellian Zahra to die at the hands of a deadly creature on Panisia. She is shocked to find Zahra alive and leading a crew of raiders who just nabbed her escape pod. Zahra explains to Leia how she survived the beast's attack and how she despises Leia for the false moral superiority Leia displayed by leaving Zahra to die instead of killing her. Zahra survived the battle with the beast, leveraging the sword Leia left for her, but lost her right arm and leg and received deep scars on her right cheek and neck. Zahra then got to a supply cache on the planet and found a raider crew willing to finance cybernetics in exchange for lending her expertise.
Zahra announces that her intention is to heal Leia and sell her to the Empire. When Leia asks about the fate of the Alderaan Survivor Fleet, Zahra informs her that she destroyed it all except for the Thranta and Jora Astane's barely alive body.
Zahra's IG-100 MagnaGuard droid informs her that Evaan Verlaine's X-wing starfighter escaped to hyperspace and is likely to be calling for Rebel reinforcements. Zahra instructs her crew to prepare for a jump to hyperspace. The droid also informs Zahra that a second escape pod has been detected, which is likely to contain Luke Skywalker.
Hoping to get even more credits and a grand re-entry into the Imperial Military, she has her crew reel Skywalker's pod in, but stops it a short ways away from the hangar entrance since she recognizes how dangerous a Jedi can be. Luke slices the pod open with his lightsaber and uses the Force to pull himself into the ship.
Irate at this setback, Zahra orders her crew to fire their blasters at Luke. Leia warns Luke that Zahra is trying to jump to hyperspace and to buy time. Luke uses the deluge of blaster fire to damage the hangar, and leverages the Force to create maximal damage. Zahra decides to take matters into her own hands, but Leia smacks her in the head with a makeshift weapon. Zahra swings her sword back at Leia, cleaving Leia's improvised weapon in two. Leia reminds Zahra she is worth more to the Empire alive, so Zahra stabs her through her right shoulder.
Zahra's droid informs her that enough damage has occurred that the ship is incapable of a hyperspace jump, causing the raiders to evacuate, abandoning Zahra. The incensed former Imperial attacks Luke, but he dodges her attacks and slices through her blade.
Soon, the Rebel reinforcements arrive, prompting Zahra to race to a starfighter. Luke decides to let her live so she has the opportunity to be better in the future, so Leia asks the Rebels not to attack her starfighter unless she attacks first. Zahra, consumed with revenge, turns her ship around to attack Luke and Leia in the hangar, so Leia gives the order to take Zahra out.
Later, back on Home One, Evaan Verlaine comes to check on Leia as she recovers from her shoulder wound. Verlaine comes with the good news that Zahra had lied about her attack on the Alderaanians; she only destroyed a few ships, but most were able to flee unscathed. She then presents Leia with a holoprojector so she can speak with Alder-Espirion Beon Beonel. Beonel informs Leia that the Survivor Fleet disbanded in order to protect them from future attacks and to allow the Alderaanians to reintegrate into galactic society. His encouraging words bring Leia some peace.
At a later point, Leia gives a speech around a briefing table to Luke, Lando Calrissian, Chewbacca, C-3PO, and R2-D2. She emphasizes her commitment to the fight against tyranny, but acknowledges that people are multi-faceted and that she thinks about what she wants after the war. She calls on her friends that it is time to rescue Han Solo from the clutches of Jabba the Hutt.
Development
Writer Charles Soule first teased the issue on Threads.[3]
Media
Cover gallery
Collected in
Appearances
| Characters | Organisms | Droid models | Events | Locations |
| Organizations and titles | Sentient species | Vehicles and vessels | Weapons and technology | Miscellanea |
Characters
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Organisms
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Droid models
Events
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Locations
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Organizations and titles
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Sentient species
Vehicles and vessels
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Weapons and technology
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Miscellanea
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Sources
Notes and references
- ↑ 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) #49 on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)
- ↑ The events of Star Wars 49 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: Timelines.
- ↑ Charles Soule (@charlesdsoule) on Threads (post on January 24, 2024): "Star Wars 48-49 are Leia-focused and (I think) will be really good. Leia was just a kid through the OT. 19 in ANH, 22 in Empire. It was a lot." (backup link)
External links