Star Wars (2020) 7

For other uses, see Star Wars 7.

Star Wars 7 is the seventh issue of the canon comic book series Star Wars. It was written by Charles Soule, illustrated by Ramon Rosanas, and published by Marvel Comics on October 7, 2020.

The issue features the story "The Will of Tarkin Part I: Predators," in which the Alliance Fleet prepares for battle with Commander Ellian Zahra, as she reflects upon her training from Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin.

Publisher's summary

SHE WILL HAVE REVENGE! COMMANDER ELLIAN ZAHRA has been tasked by the terrifying DARTH VADER with the job of tracking down the remnants of the REBEL FLEET, scattered since the BATTLE OF HOTH. From the bridge of her flagship the TARKIN'S WILL, she hunts the galaxy, eradicating all resistance, her secret goal to destroy LEIA ORGANA. But why such hate for the PRINCESS OF ALDERAAN? The truth – will be REVEALED!

Opening crawl

THE WILL OF TARKIN
Part I: PREDATORS 
The heroic Rebel Alliance is scattered
and on the run from the evil Galactic
Empire after losing the Battle of Hoth.

Princess Leia attempts to rally her
friends before all hope is lost. The
freedom of the galaxy is at stake.

But their cunning new foe, Commander
Zahra, will stop at nothing to crush the
Rebellion once and for all....

Plot summary

The hunt for Leia

The Rebel Fleet's Fourth Division, deep in the Inner Rim, receives a transmission from the Seventh Division. It contains a standard rendezvous confirmation. C-3PO worries that responding will expose their location to the Empire, but Leia instructs Commander Grek to transmit the codes and prepare for an immediate strike.

Aboard the Imperial Star Destroyer Tarkin's Will, Lieutenant Gorr confirms the rebel transmission has been received. Commander Zahra recognizes the codes as Leia's group and orders Gorr to set a course for the Fourth Division. Gorr, however, points out that the Seventh Division is much closer and more efficient to attack. They can leave the Fourth Division to their colleagues. Zahra reluctantly agrees and instructs him to set a course for the rebel fleet's Seventh Division. The crew quietly notes how personal the hunt for Leia is for Zahra.

A protégé's past

Years earlier on Eriadu in the Outer Rim, Grand Moff Tarkin addresses three Imperial officers, including Zahra. He tells them he needs one protégé, not three. He explains that he chose them because they have no other ties, no family, and no distracting entanglements. They all aced the Empire’s selection exams, but now they face a test no exam can replicate.

Tarkin points to the Carrion Plateau, the land his family has owned for generations, and the namesake of his flagship, the Carrion Spike. A Veermok hunts in the forest. It's an albino, standing out against the foliage, and while it should have died at birth, it has survived through constant struggle to become the deadliest predator on the plateau.

He tells Zahra, Beldin, and Hannevik that they will be the first people not named Tarkin to hunt here in generations. He will leave in 12 hours at dawn. To join him, they must find the beast and bring him its head.

The next morning, Zahra returns, heavily bandaged, with the head of the beast. When Tarkin asks what happened to her colleagues, she tells him she learned not to play fair the day terrorists killed her parents.

The Rise of a Commander

A montage shows Zahra's rise under Tarkin's tutelage. She is present when Tarkin expresses doubt in Director Krennic's abilities. She tortures a rebel prisoner under Tarkin’s watchful eye. Tarkin recommends to Vader that he ask Zahra for her assessment of a rebel position, praising her grasp of tactics. Finally, Zahra stands before Tarkin, who tells her she has distinguished herself and has a new mission.

Tarkin projects a holographic image of a warlord named Burnium Ro, operating from a stronghold on the Mid Rim world of Ikkrukk. He orders her to take a strike force and destroy Ro's operation. He says she can use his flagship, the Carrion Spike, for the mission, as he has duties on the Death Star.

Zahra asks why he's offering so much firepower for one warlord. Tarkin says Ro is using rhetoric and imagery associated with an obsolete criminal organization called the Nihil, who once wreaked havoc and were agents of chaos. Zahra notes that this goes against everything the Empire stands for, as they bring order and peace. Tarkin requests Ro’s head.

The warlord's decoy

As the Imperial ship nears Ikkrukk, Zahra orders a probe droid network to be set up as a mobile surveillance net, noting she trusts a droid over a flesh-and-blood spy any day. They soon receive a notice that Burnium Ro is leaving a social club in Grail City. Zahra orders her forces to wait and follow Ro back to his nest.

The Imperial warship reveals itself and fires on the criminal facility. The probe droids report no remaining signs of life. Zahra returns to the Death Star, and Tarkin asks for Ro's head. Zahra responds that she thought it was a figure of speech and assures him the mission was a complete success. Tarkin presses a button on his control panel, revealing a holographic projection of Ro speaking about how he avoided death. Tarkin reveals she killed one of his decoys and calls it an embarrassment.

A week later, Zahra is restricted from entering Tarkin's office. A security officer informs her that Tarkin has ordered her to report to the personnel office for reassignment. Zahra attempts to take an Imperial shuttle, knocking out the stormtrooper who refuses her. She sends a message to Tarkin, telling him she has taken a shuttle without authorization and will return with Ro's head. As she departs, Tarkin's warship explodes.

A fateful encounter

The scene returns to the present as Imperial forces attack the Rebel Fleet’s Seventh Division. Zahra asks for an update on the Fourth Division. Gorr notes the rebels were already gone. Suddenly, more ships arrive: the Rebel Fleet's Fourth Division.

Development

Star Wars 7 was originally solicited for June 24, 2020,[3] but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]

Continuity

In one panel, Leia Organa mistakenly refers to Commander Grek as a commodore.

Media

Explore all of Wookieepedia's images from this article subject.

Editions

Cover gallery

Collected in

Appearances

By type
Characters Organisms Droid models Events Locations
Organizations and titles Sentient species Vehicles and vessels Weapons and technology Miscellanea

Characters

Organisms

  • Hound (Mentioned only) (In flashback(s))
  • Rat (Mentioned only) (In flashback(s))
  • Veermok (Appears as a corpse) (In flashback(s))
    • Eriadu veermok (Appears as a corpse) (In flashback(s)) (First pictured)

Droid models

Events

Locations

Organizations and titles

Sentient species

Vehicles and vessels

Weapons and technology

Miscellanea

Sources

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Marvel-TemplateLogo Star Wars (2020) #7 on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)
  2. ↑ Star Wars: Timelines dates the events of Star Wars (2020) 7 to 3 ABY.
  3. ↑ Premium-Era-real Marvel Comics JUNE 2020 Solicitations on Newsarama (March 19, 2020) (backup link archived on March 19, 2020)
  4. ↑ Premium-Era-real MARVEL Not Releasing Any New Titles This Week Print or Digitally, But May Change in Future by Arrant, Chris on Newsarama (March 31, 2020) (backup link archived on March 31, 2020)
  5. ↑ Premium-Era-real Star Wars #7 by John Tyler Christopher on Reedpop (backup link archived on October 13, 2020)

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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