"Han Solo and Chewbacca #2: The Crystal Run, Part 2" by Marc Guggenheim
"Han Solo and Chewbacca #2: The Crystal Run, Part 2" written by Marc Guggenheim, illustrated by David Messina and Alex Sinclair
We start off with a flashback (see below) that on the surface is incredibly heartwarming, but in reality might carry some traumatic undertones for Han at least. Ovan, Han's dad, and Han are sitting on a fence by the shipyards and Ovan tells his son (yes, we get to see CHILD Han!!! and he is precious), "These ships. This is what I build. What I give to the galaxy. But no matter how many hours I put in, I'm nothing, a nobody. Han, my boy, when you grow up, don't build ships like me. You're meant for better. You're meant to fly them." I would be lying if I said this flashback didn't make me tear up... Getting to the core of why Han was so fixated on flying ships in Solo is fascinating and, admittedly, surprising. We knew Han didn't like his father so much. And we knew that he ran away from home at 8 to join the White Worms. So something went wrong somewhere. But despite all this, that one sentence, "You're meant to fly them." stuck with him and resonated with him and was his driving force for much of his formative years. Clearly it makes sense why this memory might be both heartwarming and traumatic at the same time. Poor Han.
And the next panel is, somewhat unsurprisingly, Han punching Ovan straight in the jaw, accusing the man of trying to con him. Regardless of his disbelief that Ovan is really his father, Han uses the older man to obtain a plasma cutter for opening the impregnable safe he scouted out in Issue #1. Courtesy of Han's scouting mission, new security has been added to the penthouse and so Han, Greedo, and Ovan break into Locris's Headquarters (the security company) and steal uniforms. They make it into the penthouse and get the safe open...but nothing's there!!! Han says, "Greedo, you flarthing son of a gundark...the safe is empty." The interactions between Han and Greedo are SO much fun to read!! Han really, really HATES the Rodian, lol. It doesn't help that Greedo picks up a fancy display after Han tells him not to touch anything and it turns out the display has a tracker on it that sets off an alarm, alerting the real security guards...dun dun dun!!! As they try to run away, Greedo says, "Solo, I didn't mean to--" and Han replies, "Be an idiot? Yeah, I imagine it just comes naturally to you." I just really think this is some superb dialogue and I am enjoying every minute of reading this series!!
To add to the awesomeness, we see Bib Fortuna involved in nuna fighting!! Like chicken fighting but on Tatooine. I mean this is ridiculous and SO wonderful (see below). Bib Fortuna is a freaking character! The story line he's a part of is the Marshal from last issue blackmailing him (something about why Bib was dragged back to Ryloth--not sure if this is referring to in the past or recent time...) into giving away Han's location. Bib agrees that if the other two (Greedo and Chewbacca) are able to complete the heist without him, Han is fair game. Again...dun dun dun!!!
And lastly, there are some truly tender moments between Ovan and Han, and it becomes clear that Han is coming to the realization Ovan is in fact his real father. One being when Ovan without any prompting recalled the memory from the beginning of the issue. Another being when Ovan shows Han a holo of him and Han's mom (see below). I really hope the two get a chance to make up with each other in some way. I know we don't ever see Han talk about his father again, but just knowing that the childhood admonition of "You're meant to fly them." was mixed with more positive than negative emotions after they reunited would be wonderful.
Looking SO much forward to where this one goes from here...!!!
-Marie E. Wilson a.k.a. @AliaMorgaine
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