Star Wars Adventures Free Comic Book Day 2018

Set before the events of Star Wars: A New Hope, this brand-new narrative pits the notorious bounty hunters Zuckuss and 4-LOM against two of the galaxy's most wanted rogues! Its release is strategically timed to closely follow Star Wars Day 2018!

At the Valtos space port, located on the planet of Valtos, Han Solo, the smuggler, was in the process of loading cargo crates onto the Millennium Falcon. He then tried to contact Chewbacca, his Wookiee co-pilot, inquiring about his whereabouts and urging him to return quickly. As he continued loading, 4-LOM, a droid bounty hunter, ambushed Solo, opening fire. 4-LOM managed to disarm Han Solo by shooting the blaster pistol right out of his hand, causing Solo to seek cover behind a crate while attempting to contact Chewbacca once more, pleading for his swift return. However, Zuckuss, 4-LOM's bounty hunting partner, stealthily approached Solo from behind and incapacitated him with an electrified net gun that fired a stun net. Zuckuss cautioned Solo against resisting, warning that the net would tighten if he did. The Corellian smuggler attempted to bribe Zuckuss by offering double the payment for the bounty on his head. But 4-LOM dismissed the offer, aware of the slim chance of Solo being able to cover the bounty placed by Rekias Nodo. Recognizing the name, Han Solo attempted to warn the bounty hunters that Nodo would ultimately betray them, but they remained unconvinced. Zuckuss informed Solo that his cargo would fetch a considerable sum on the Black market and instructed 4-LOM to load him onto their speeder for transport to their starship.

The interior of Zuckuss and 4-LOM's ship, the Mist Hunter, was offensively odorous to Han Solo. 4-LOM explained that the ship's atmospheric gases reminded Zuckuss of his homeworld, Gand. Solo passed by a prisoner named Beris Ford who was also being held on the ship. 4-LOM then confined Solo to a prison cell, secured by a force field. Once 4-LOM had departed, Solo called out to Ford, who was in the adjacent cell, promising to orchestrate their escape. Ford questioned whether he was supposed to be impressed, to which Solo replied that being rescued by Han Solo was a rare occurrence. Beris Ford remained oblivious to Solo's identity, prompting Han to instruct him to simply remember the name.

Inside the cockpit of the Mist Hunter, 4-LOM informed Zuckuss that they were ready for departure and should leave before Chewbacca returned. Zuckuss replied that he would be ready after inspecting the cargo one last time. Despite 4-LOM's skepticism, Zuckuss sensed that something was amiss. Suddenly, Chewbacca emerged from behind a stack of crates and ambushed Zuckuss. 4-LOM struggled to understand the unfolding events as Chewbacca sent Zuckuss crashing to the floor. Zuckuss attempted to reach for his snare rifle, but Chewbacca managed to seize it first. The snare rifle then deployed a stun net, ensnaring Zuckuss.

Beris Ford and Han Solo were discussing their escape strategy when Chewbacca arrived to liberate Han Solo from his confinement. After Chewbacca released them both, Ford questioned the point of allowing themselves to be captured in the first place if they had planned to escape. Solo explained that it was a rescue operation, revealing that Beris Ford's family had paid a substantial amount of credits to secure his release from the Mist Hunter. Zuckuss, suspended from the ceiling in the stun net, lamented his lack of foresight. Solo instructed Chewbacca to place Beris Ford into a barrel, despite Ford's protests. They then commandeered a speeder and raced back to the Millennium Falcon.

As they prepared for takeoff, 4-LOM and Zuckuss appeared, attempting to prevent Han Solo and Chewbacca from leaving. However, Solo seized a barrel and rolled it towards the bounty hunters, knocking them off balance. They then departed the planet aboard their ship. Solo ejected the barrel containing Beris Ford into space, ensuring it was equipped with a homing beacon so that Ford's family could locate him. Han and Chewbacca were optimistic about their situation until 4-LOM and Zuckuss reappeared in their ship and initiated a pursuit of the Falcon.

The narrative explores a bounty placed on Han Solo by Rekias Nodo, a character who was originally seen in Choose Your Destiny: A Han & Chewie Adventure.

• UPC 827714015577; May 5 , 2018 ; IDW Publishing [1] 00111; Cover A; Derek Charm