Star Wars comic #69: Rebels and Rogues, Part II: The Stranger by Greg Pak

"Star Wars #69, Rebels and Rogues, Part II: The Stranger!" written by Greg Pak, illustrated by Phil Noto

     This was a fun read that encapsulated all three storylines quite well! We get to see Dar Champion's ineffectiveness on Lanz Carpo due to the Carpo Organization's corrupt pull. We find Luke meeting a potentially Force-sensitive rogue while trying to distract the Empire from the Rebel refueling station on Sergia. And we have Chewie/3PO having a moral dilemma over the seemingly sentient rock beings they come across on K43. So much is going on but nothing feels convoluted or confusing as each tale is told individually one on to the next. And the story definitely doesn't drag one bit. This arc is simply delightful so far!
     I can't say for sure, but I'm wondering if "the stranger" is the woman Luke meets as that would go along with the cover art and she is really the only stranger that has any sort of impact on the story as of yet. Hmmm... I'm really liking that they've been naming each of these issues beyond the arc title. Always gives you just that little extra to ponder over.
     We start on Lanz Carpo where Dar Champion has just saved Han and Leia from some of Carpo's thugs and Leia has revealed that she has a standing date with Dar! As a consequence of all this, we get a wonderful interchange between Han and Leia. "Is his last name really Champion? Or did he just make that up?"--Han "Is your last name really Solo?"--Leia. This is too freaking good!! I love how jealous he gets! Apparently she doesn't yet know the story behind his last name. I wonder when and if he ever told her...
     After the three red Carpo guards get swept away from imprisonment by Carpo gangsters, Dar Champion gives Han and Leia a key to the Honeymoon Suite of the Grand Regent hotel. Ooooh! You know Han's getting some ideas *wink*. But in all seriousness, he actually looks a bit nervous about the predicament... Then we run into a Besalisk like Dexter Jettster (see below)!! And someone lurks in the shadows... I cannot wait to find out who's watching them!!

     We then arrive on Sergia where Luke warns the Rebels that probe droids are looking for them. And he makes his way into town to...actually, I'm not all that sure what he means by he's seeking out "other pods"...a little confused here. As he puts it, "I'll take care of whoever's in those other pods." No clue...
     But regardless, he runs into a girl named Warba who presumably feels the Force!! Oh yeah, and he whacks a mop handle in a giant alien's groin lmao. There's also a donkey alien!! He even "Hee Haw"s (see below)!! Luke's story is shaping up to be quite interesting!

     And finally, we find ourselves on K43 where a little rock monster rips off some of Chewie's hair (see below...poor Chewie--I'm guessing they'd never come across furry creatures before) and 3PO has no clue what is going on--he even says that their language is not in the 6 million forms of communication he knows! 3PO does attempt speaking with them and we get this wonderful line when his communication turns into the rock monsters attacking the two: "I must have confused third person with first person imperative!" I love him so much!!

     As Chewie and 3PO are escaping certain death by the hands of the rock monsters, 3PO poignantly says, "Well. They may not be flesh and blood. And who knows how their brains and emotions function, given their inorganic composition... But they are alive. Just as much as I am, I suppose." Awww!! Too sweet...Chewie looks over at him with an understanding and agreeable expression (see below) and the two head back to the planet's surface to turn off the bombs. I absolutely LOVE that Chewie sees 3PO as a sentient being whose feelings matter!! Makes the incident on Cloud City with Chewie carrying around 3PO's parts even more heartfelt.

Trivia:
-There's such a thing as "sand mynocks"!
-Plain Hundas are a beautiful bovine-like creature!! See an image below.

     So some truly intriguing happenings as our characters are moving along in their respective stories. I absolutely love the team up of Chewie and 3PO, Luke's story is turning out to be super fascinating, and Han/Leia's story is definitely mysterious. I'm really excited about where this arc is going to go next!!