The initial issue of the Star Wars comic book series, titled Star Wars 1, is considered canon. This issue, released on January 1, 2020 by Marvel Comics, was penned by Charles Soule and brought to life through the illustrations of Jesús Saiz. It presents the story "The Destiny Path Part I," which unfolds directly after the rebels' escape from Cloud City.
"I am your father" - those haunting words! Following the dramatic events of The Empire Strikes Back, the heroes of the Rebellion face a period of intense hardship. After a devastating defeat at the Battle of Hoth, the Rebel fleet is scattered. Han Solo is now in the clutches of the bounty hunter, Boba Fett, having been frozen in carbonite. Luke Skywalker, lured into a trap on Cloud City, suffers a brutal lightsaber duel against Darth Vader and learns a horrifying truth: Vader, not someone else, is his father Anakin! Barely escaping the dark lord's grasp, wounded and reeling from this revelation, Luke joins Princess Leia, Lando Calrissian, Chewbacca, C-3PO, and R2-D2 in a desperate fight to rejoin the Rebel Alliance. The fate of the entire galaxy hangs in the balance! Can they achieve victory after enduring so many losses? Unbeknownst to Leia, Luke, and their band of freedom fighters, they have stumbled from one Imperial trap into another! Introducing the cunning and vengeful Imperial Commander Ellian Zahra, commanding the Tarkin's Will! Writer Charles Soule (known for DARTH VADER) and artist Jesus Saiz (of DOCTOR STRANGE fame) will transport us to a galaxy far, far away next year! Featuring covers by RB Silva (POWERS OF X)! Prepare for the GREATEST SPACE ADVENTURE OF ALL TIME, commencing this JANUARY!
Aboard the Millennium Falcon, Luke Skywalker is shown dwelling on the moment when Darth Vader, on Cloud City, revealed himself as Anakin Skywalker. Meanwhile, Chewbacca and Lando Calrissian are in disagreement over whether they should attempt to rescue the recently captured Han Solo. The crew, which includes Leia Organa, C-3PO, and R2-D2, is experiencing tension due to Calrissian's recent act of betrayal. Calrissian emphasizes that, while they are not currently equipped for a rescue, they are aware of Solo's destination: Jabba's Palace on Tatooine. Organa questions Skywalker about his duel with Vader, to which he responds that he reached out in the Force to Obi-Wan Kenobi, but received no response. Organa instructs Chewbacca to set a course for the Rebel Alliance fleet, and the Falcon enters hyperspace.
Simultaneously, at the Alliance's Rendezvous Point Delta-Three in the Mid Rim, the fourth division of the rebel fleet is being torn apart by Imperial starships. Commander Zahra observes the destruction from the Imperial Star Destroyer Tarkin's Will. Lieutenant Gorr praises her for her strategic brilliance, which involved trapping the rebel fleet between the Imperial blockade and a star. Zahra responds by saying she conceived the plan years prior. During their conversation, an X-wing starfighter manages to break through the blockade in an attempt to escape. Zahra takes manual control of one of the Star Destroyer's guns and destroys the rebel ship.
Elsewhere in the battle, a rebel CR90 corvette maneuvers through the chaos. Rebel soldiers Needle and Frell are on board, debating the merits of space battles. Their colleague Kes Dameron, ignoring their discussion, watches an A-wing starfighter engage the enemy. The A-wing is being piloted by his wife, Shara Bey. Bey and her Green Squadron allies are being overwhelmed by Imperial starfighters when they detect a ship emerging from hyperspace: the Millennium Falcon.
Gorr informs Zahra, aboard the Tarkin's Will, that Organa is likely aboard the Falcon. Recognizing Organa's importance to the Rebellion, Zahra dispatches a TIE fighter squadron to attack the ship and orders the other Star Destroyers to focus their fire on the Falcon.
Organa contacts the other ships, inquiring about how the Millennium Falcon can assist. She learns that the blockade must be breached for the fleet to jump to lightspeed. Despite Calrissian's objections, she intends to attack a command cruiser to create an opening in the Imperial blockade. Organa leaves the cockpit to operate one of the Falcon's guns as a squadron of TIE fighters approaches. Calrissian persuades Chewbacca to allow him to pilot, and the Wookiee eventually agrees. Despite his injuries, Skywalker decides to take control of the Falcon's belly gun.
Back in the cockpit, Chewbacca is preparing to use the Falcon's newly installed missiles to attack the cruiser. However, the Falcon is hit by an explosion that severely damages its shields.
At the belly gun, Skywalker experiences a crisis of confidence as he recalls the loss of his hand and the recent revelation about his parentage. Outside, the TIE fighters are about to destroy the Falcon when they suddenly lose control of their ships and collide with each other. Skywalker is unconsciously using the Force. Now unhindered by the TIEs, the Falcon launches its attack, disabling the command cruiser. Seeing the gap in the Imperial defenses, the rebel ships make their escape.
Gorr informs an enraged Zahra, on the Tarkin's Will, that over ninety percent of the rebel ships managed to escape through their blockade and jump to hyperspace. Zahra then communicates with Darth Vader via hologram. Zahra tells the Sith Lord that they were unable to destroy the fleet due to the Millennium Falcon's interference. Vader instructs her not to destroy the Falcon because of an important individual on board, and orders her to locate and destroy the remainder of the rebel fleet.
Meanwhile, the rebel fleet regroups at Backup Rendezvous Point Gamma-Nine. Despite Calrissian's significant assistance during the battle, Organa remains distrustful of him. She asks a rebel leader how the Empire located their division of the fleet. The leader explains that another division was also found simultaneously. Organa realizes that the Empire must have cracked the rebel codes. They cannot warn the other divisions without alerting the Empire to their location. Calrissian points out that the other divisions could be destroyed without their knowledge.
Elsewhere on the ship, Skywalker attempts to contact Yoda through the Force. When his former master does not respond, he becomes frustrated and nearly shatters the window behind him. He wonders if Yoda and Kenobi's silence indicates that he is no longer meant to be trained as a Jedi, and questions his purpose without his training.
- UPC 759606096008; January 1 , 2020 ; Marvel Comics ; First printing [1] 00111; Cover A; R.B. Silva & Guru-eFX 00121; Cover B 00131; Cover C; Mahmud Asrar & Matthew Wilson 00141; Cover D 00151; Cover E; Chris Sprouse, Karl Story & Neeraj Menon 00161; Cover F; Jen Bartel 00171; Cover G; Adam Hughes 00181; Cover H; Arthur Adams & Jesus Aburtov 00191; Cover I; Phil Noto 00116; Cover J; Phil Noto 00117; Cover K; R.B. Silva & Guru-eFX