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Warning : carry spoiler forDoctor Aphra Annual#1 .
In theStar Warsworld , Wookiees are a beloved but underappreciated bunch . Chewbacca pave the way for the species , acting as Han Solo ’s conscience and helping the gang out of many a sozzled speckle . Later , George Lucas paid a far too abbreviated visit to their home humankind of Kashyyyk inEpisode III : Revenge of the Sith , and Wookiees enjoyed further exposure duringStar Wars : The Clone WarsandRebelsanimated serial . Despite their mostly noble aim and overall impressive skill solidification , the race is often step down to fend for characters – in part due to their grunt and snarl - based words , which makes for intriguing communication sans subtitles .
However , from time to sentence , Wookiees get their hazard to glow . Such is the case in the Kieron Gillen - penned and Mark Laming and Will Sliney - drawnDoctor Aphra Annual#1 . One of the crown jewels of the current far - away galactic canon , Gillen ’s Aphra book already explores a fascinating side ofStar Wars , often left developing , as well as the depth ofintergalactic interconnectivity . This time around , her prodigious furry companion , Black Krrsantan , gets his own origin tale of sorts .
Gillen ’s look at the mercenary furball is both fascinating and exciting – particularly because he lets the Wookiee win .
A Fluff Piece?
The belated ongoingDoctor Aphrasaga revolves around the good doc ’s find of an ancient and apocryphal Jedi sect and its remnants , in particular , a computer - infused Force user named Rur . A reference to a previously non - canon history from ‘ fourscore MarvelStar Wars , she and her father call for for the fabledOrdu Aspectu , discovering a computer - immix Jedi capable of controlling technology . Later , she team up up with a young Luke Skywalker to find a path to access Rur ’s crystal . Aphra ’s mercenary bearing split up down a little , though , and she helped Luke and his comrades escape from the Screaming Citadel . To deduct some lost time and effort , though , she decided to illicitly sell off the digital night Jedi to the highest bidder . To do so , she ’d need a little help with promotion : infix alternative journalists Dixnet Dat and Domthro Rus .
As two rising star on the uncensored Undervine ( “ the number one alternative to the mainstream Holonet ” ) , they ’re appear for a secure hook . What better way to wet-nurse in viewers and cement their report than by exploit the exploitation of Wookiees – and Black Krrsantan is no slouch when it amount to atrocity . Of naturally , while they search their human , er , Wookiee - involvement story , Krrsantan ’s “ agent , ” Aphra and hermurderbots , BT-1 and 0 - 0 - 0 , break into the newsperson ’ ship to covertly advertise her artefact vendue .
Meanwhile , the two newsies and readers are treated to an interesting bite of the dangerous furball ’s history .
Born of Brutality
Krrsantan was no dissimilar . Unlike the Rebel - leanings of other phallus of his mintage , he was already an outcast and maintain his mercenary attitude throughout the line . That does n’t mean he ’s pro - trafficking , though , as he sets a trap for a grouping of slavers , annihilate a routine of murderous thugs in his search for the Xonti Brothers , who capture biography material body and train them as pit fighter . He then allows himself to be captured .
The slaver brings Krrsantan to their base , where the Brothers start their stringent training , putting him and a gaggle of alien species through brutal conditioning . Only several aliens come through the test , realize the “ award ” of education as champion fighters . In the process , Krrsantan also receives some light augmentation . Nothing noticeable or cybernetic , but the Brothers add “ skeletal enhancements and subdermal plating , ” upping the amount of penalisation he can give and take . After that , they sell him to fight bosses , who send him into struggle .
The large surprise is n’t the black - furred Wookiee ’s winner in the “ ring , ” but his response to the Xontis ’ treatment of him .
A New Spin on Wookiee Life Debts
The original trilogy was never forthcoming about why Chewie stick with Han Solo . Over the age , fan assumed there was a inscrutable connection between them , but it was n’t until the now - legend tale that his debt instrument to Han was gift a name . Canonically , the first mention of liveliness debt is duringEpisode I : The Phantom Menace , when Qui - Gon Jinn saves Jar Jar ’s biography and subsequently explains the Gungan ’s sudden allegiance to Obi - Wan ( and viewers ) . Most recently , Chuck Wendig ’s novel , Aftermath : Life Debt , dug deeper intoChewbacca ’s debt , as well as porting Solo ’s Imperial Navy pastandChewie ’s liberation from the Expanded Universe into official lore .
Wookiee custom and theStar Warsconcept of living debts make new facets inDoctor Aphra Annual#1 . Black Krrsantan ’s pit attack aircraft origin also reveals a different take on the concept , suggesting the accolade bonds work in both pre - constituted but also unusual ways . Gillen already suggested that the burly Wookiee looks after the dependable Dr. to make certain she pays off her considerable debt to him – something she never seems able to do , and he does n’t look to engage extensively , curiously enough . Towards the conclusion of the sham audience , Dixnet daringly berates Krrsantan for stick in himself into his own cocksucker story .
After jeopardise to “ peel [ the ] loudmouth wordsmiths , ” he also pass on a curious nugget of Wookiee finish : rather than seeking retaliation , he take to owe the Xonti Brothers a life debt . He considers them responsible for for creating his situation and reveals his intention to “ repay them ” in kind for change his sprightliness . Although his reimbursement bears a distinctly ominous ring , perhaps Krrsantan only have in mind that someday he ’ll find them and thank them with standardized “ variety . ” But his tone ( translate via the journalists ) almost suggests a “ dying debt , ” one which he ’ll definitely make good .
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Despite being one ofStar Wars ’ most placeable and darling exotic backwash , Wookiees stay a clean occult culture ( barring the awe-inspiring Life Day solemnisation from theHoliday Special ) . In past , secondary source flesh out their acculturation and traditions in some detail\ , before being written off as non - canon fable . fortuitously , comics likeDoctor Aphraand novels likeAftermath : Life Debtare doing their best to restore the good portion of the Expanded Universe and tally new aspects the curious mintage .
Hopefully , Gillen and others will be granted further leveraging by the Story Group to research Wookiees ( and other curious cultures ) , specially since his work with Black Krrsantan has been illuminating and entertaining . These pleasurable moments add depth to the saga and will help fan appreciate Wookiees , or at least Chewbacca , asThe Last Jediand theHan Solomovie attain theaters over the next year .
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Doctor Aphra Annual#1 is currently uncommitted .
