Warning! Spoilers for Star Wars: War of the Bounty Hunters #1
On paper, Star Wars comic confirms that this stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf herder is actually the most important man in the galaxy.
Star Wars: War of the Bounty Hunters by Charles Soule is a new Star Wars series from Marvel Comics set between Episodes V and VI. After Han Solo is frozen in carbonite, Boba Fett is charged with bringing him to Jabba the Hutt, but even for the galaxy's best bounty hunter, the job proves more challenging than anticipated. In the prelude issue, Boba is forced to stop on Nat Shaddaa for help after Solo’s carbonite casing begins to malfunction. While Boba goes to the fighting pits to clear his debt, a group of mercenaries come and steal Solo away, and the first issue reveals who was really behind the theft.
The end of the issue confirms the survival of Crimson Dawn, the villains from the 2018 Solo movie, who are now in possession of the frozen Han. However, the biggest twist of the story so far reveals that Crimson Dawn is now under the control of Qi’ra, Han’s love interest who was played by Emilia Clarke in the movie. As Qi'ra ires her prize, one of her assistants asks why she went through such trouble to get her hands on Han. Qi’ra explains that Han “is directly connected to almost every powerful faction in the galaxy…They all love him, hate him, need him, owe him, or are owed by him. Han Solo unites the galaxy.”
Strange as it may seem for a simple smuggler to be so significant, Qi’ra is absolutely right. Over the years, Han has made friends or enemies of just about every powerful figure in the galaxy, and it's those abundant associations that, for better or worse, make him incredibly valuable. Whether they want to save him or kill him, everyone seems to want a piece of Han Solo, and they'll all go to great lengths to get him now that he's on the market. Not only that, but fans also know that Han eventually fathers Kylo Ren, who has a critical role to play in the sequel trilogy. He also serves as something of a surrogate father to Rey, and his death in Episode VII is a big motivator for her in subsequent movies. All this to say, Han continues to impact the galaxy even after his death.
It’s difficult to say for certain who is truly the most important Star Wars character, especially given how sprawling the franchise has become, but Han is a serious contender. Without any Force abilities or notable lineage, Han Solo became a vital part of Star Wars lore with nothing but his own wit and will, and the reputation he’s built will surely stand the test of time.
