Hyperspace Stories 2 is the second issue of the canon all-ages anthology comic book series Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories. The issue was written by Cecil Castellucci, illustrated by Megan Huang and Michael Atiyeh, and published by Dark Horse Comics on September 21, 2022. It focuses on Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa on the planet Banas.
Publisher's summary[]
A new era of Star Wars comics begins here!
After the destruction of the Death Star, the Rebel Alliance searches desperately for a safe haven to escape from the iron grip of the Galactic Empire. Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa investigate a mountainous world that could prove useful as a new base, only to discover all is not as it seems. On the run from imperial stormtroopers, Luke and Leia must make a perilous trip across an unforgiving landscape if they are to escape capture, or worse, at the hands of the Empire.
Luke and Leia versus the Empire!
Plot summary[]
An Easy Mission[]
From the Rebel fleet, Commander Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa embark on a mission to Banas where they hope to set up a monitoring outpost. Alliance command detects no Imperial presence near the planet, yet still asks Luke to protect the high-value rebel leader. Leia, however, feels her own competence enough that the Alliance is being overprotective. As the pair arrive to Banas, they discuss its status as a mostly forgotten pit stop for short-haul starships in the Outer Rim. Further, the settlement they land at is scarcely populated, with a launch pad intended for small ships to fuel up and get basic supplies. These factors, along with the lack of reported Imperial presence, make it an ideal location to monitor the number of short-range Imperial ships that pass through, which could serve as a warning sign for the Imperial Navy amassing ships in that part of the Outer Rim.
Leia and Luke use the cover of looking for a replacement injector coil and a mechanic to explore the settlement. The ideal outcome would be finding a local sympathetic to the cause with binoculars and a datapad, but they recognize that they may need to install their own spy. The pair soon notice a couple of locals exchanging an unfamiliar ore. Leia finds this odd given that the planet was strip-mined centuries earlier. Nevertheless, they come to realize there may be value in that ore, as two snowtroopers emerge onto the street. The rebels quickly duck into an alley and then discover that there is indeed an Imperial presence on Banas. They see a somewhat large operation led by an officer by the name Commodore Kurtruk, and glean that there may have been some kind of valuable lode of ore discovered. They also come to realize, however, that not only has their mission gone astray, but that the Imperials will be seeking them out for questioning before they can escape the planet.
Time for Plan B[]
Hoping for a chance to strategize, Leia and Luke hide in a local salvage shop and service aptly called Lost and Found, operated by a local by the name Halorum. She tersely lays down her strict rules and is suspicious of the strangers in her shop, making it hard to find the space to regroup. Leia soon finds a doll representing a Wookiee which reminds her of a similar doll she cherished as a child.
While Luke and Leia discuss the ways things change during the course of a life, they see a mother and her child enter the shop hoping for refuge. The woman tells Halorum that the Imperials are conducting a sweep and that she does not have scandocs. She then tells Leia that they are boarding and searching newly landed ships as well. Luke soon notices Kurtruk and two snowtroopers approaching Lost and Found, and Leia pays Halorum a hefty sum to purchase the doll for the scared child and hopefully secure Halorum's silence. Luke attempts to sweeten the deal by performing a Jedi mind trick on her to no success. Halorum, suspicious of the humans, reminds Luke that she is a neutral party, but decides to help the rebels. Since the back door is blocked with junk, she directs the humans to a large pile of carpets for them to hide underneath.
When Kurtruk and her troopers enter, she indicates that she is indeed searching for the pair of humans who recently left their ship on the main launch pad. Halorum plays dumb and creates a cover that the mother and child are her relatives. The troopers start tearing through the merchandise, breaking things, much to Halorum's dismay. She is able to stop them from searching through the carpets under which Luke and Leia are hiding, however. Halorum does admit the humans paid her off, but she tells the Imperials they went west, which is the only easy walk from the shop to get off-world transport. This satisfies Kurtruk, and she departs.
A Challenge of the Body[]
Later, Luke and Leia emerge from the carpets to find the shop in disarray, Halorum in a state of righteous fury and fear for the future. Luke recognizes they cannot go back to their ship without being caught, so they plan to get off planet by going east, opposite the direction the Imperials expect. Halorum confirms there is a small launch pad in that direction, but that there is no established path in that direction out of the mountains. She informs the humans that the trek east is nearly impossible, with only a few individuals having ever survived the journey. Leia realizes it is the only way forwards, so she asks Halorum to guide them as far as she dares. The shopkeeper does not go along, but she tells them to find her cousin Moular at the launch pad on the other side of the mountain range and ask him for help. Halorum admits she knows they are rebels and asks them to pay her back by getting rid of the Empire. In the meantime, she will keep the mother and child safe.
Luke and Leia set off to traverse the mountain range, following Halorum's advice. One evening of their multi-day journey, Leia tells Luke the story of her own Wookiee doll, and Luke tells her about the heat of Tatooine, a comfort in the bitter cold. At some point in their journey, on a flatter portion, they hear a TIE fighter approaching, and they duck into a cave for cover. Within, they find a trail marker. Following it leads them to a mining operation led by Kurtruk. The rebels deduce that the Imperials are using the ore to miniaturize magnets and other components, which would give their fleet a technological advantage in the war. As the pair attempt to retreat with the intelligence, Luke accidentally kicks some rocks, alerting Kurtruk to their presence.
Splitting Up[]
Leia and Luke evade blaster fire as they sprint out of the cave and back into the wasteland. Luke ignites his lightsaber to redirect blaster bolts as Leia dives behind cover. Within her snowtroopers closing in, Kurtruk sees through her binocs that it is Leia Organa who is within her grasp. She thus doubles her efforts to capture the princess in hopes of getting promoted. The rebels, on the other hand, come up with a plan to run in opposite directions to split the Imperial forces with the hope to rendezvous at the launch pad.
On Luke's journey, he encounters a large, fanged feline, which he repels with the Force. He then hides atop a perch. Leia, meanwhile, tends to her wounds in hiding. She sees a pack of the beasts attack the snowtroopers and Kurtruk. In the aftermath, the wounded princess staggers onto the launch pad feeling despondent. Moular quickly runs to her, already prepared for the arrival of two human rebels. Leia asks for Moular's support, and he happily agrees to give her a ship so long as she defeats the Empire. Leia is grateful, but saddened that Luke is not there. She fears he may be gone for good.
Luke Skywalker casually emerges from the starship having already eaten a hot meal and made the deal with Moular. The two embrace before setting off to regroup with the Rebel fleet. Leia decides to keep tabs on Banas given the Imperial interest. All things considered, they deem the mission a success.
Media[]
Cover gallery[]
Collected in[]
- Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories Volume 1 – Rebels and Resistance
- Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories Library Edition Volume 1
Appearances[]
| Characters | Organisms | Droid models | Events | Locations |
| Organizations and titles | Sentient species | Vehicles and vessels | Weapons and technology | Miscellanea |
Characters
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Events
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Locations
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Organizations and titles
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Sentient species
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Vehicles and vessels
Weapons and technology
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Miscellanea
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Sources[]
SWCA 2022: 6 Things We Learned From the Lucasfilm Publishing Fiction Panel on StarWars.com (backup link)- SDCC 2022: New Star Wars: The High Republic Tales and More Reveals from the Lucasfilm Publishing Panel on StarWars.com (backup link)
- "Launchpad" — Star Wars Insider 213
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories #2 on Dark Horse Comics' official website (backup link)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Hyperspace Stories 2
- ↑ Hyperspace Stories 2 takes place after Luke Skywalker is promoted to commander. Star Wars (2015) 55 establishes that he was promoted after the Battle of Mako-Ta, which Star Wars: Battles that Changed the Galaxy states took place twenty years after the formation of the Galactic Empire, which Star Wars: Timelines dates to 19 BBY. Therefore, the assault must have taken place in 1 ABY. Hyperspace Stories 2 also takes place before Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back, which Timelines dates to 3 ABY.
External links[]
