Almost ten years have passed since Disney relaunched Star Wars with The Force Awakens, and we’re still unpacking the era the sequel trilogy created. That lingering debate only intensified after the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which split the fandom in ways few films have. Despite mixed feelings, I’ve been hungry for more stories set in the sequel timeline — and Rodney Barnes’ new miniseries Star Wars: Han Solo — Hunt for the Falcon, illustrated by Ramon Rosanas, scratches that itch. Its first issue does something unexpected: it gives Han Solo an “Old Man Logan”-style beat.
For those who know the trope, Old Man Logan — created by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven and later adapted into the 2017 film Logan — reimagines a hardened, world-weary version of a classic hero. At first the idea of an even more cynical Han felt worrying; Solo already arrived at the original trilogy as a grizzled survivor, and the thought of him retreating into an eternally bitter persona sounded off-putting. Thankfully, the opening issue sidesteps caricature and offers a more subtle, human portrait.
Image: Marvel/Pete WoodsThe story opens on a familiar but tarnished beat: Han losing another bet. With Lando Calrissian at his side, he watches a pod-race collapse into disaster, and when the chosen pilot flops, Han leaps into the ring to salvage the outcome himself. It’s a small, telling moment — a man desperate to claw back even one victory amid mounting losses. Between the dissolution of his relationship with Leia and the tragedy surrounding his son Ben Solo, this Han carries visible wounds, and he’s hunting for something to reclaim.
That sense of mourning threads through the issue. Lando urges him to accept a quieter life, but Han resists; his nostalgia isn’t solely for danger and glory, it’s for what those adventures once meant—connection and belonging. Panels lingering over old holo-shots of Han with Leia and Ben underline the comic’s quieter truth: his pursuit of the Falcon isn’t just about a ship, it’s about a life he’s trying to retrieve. In that way, the book mirrors Logan’s core idea — the protagonist is attempting to run toward adventure while actually running from the aches of his past.
Of course, the Falcon is in the hands of gunrunner Gannis Ducain, and reclaiming it means tracking Ducain down — the engine that propels the plot forward.
Image: Marvel/Dan PanosianA detour to Kashyyyk shows what Chewbacca’s life looks like now: family, kin, and responsibilities. Chewie signs on for the mission, but only after asking if his Wookiee family can accompany them. Han brushes the idea aside, and the expression on his face speaks louder than the refusal — he craves family more than he admits. The comic suggests that these escapades are less about recapturing youthful thrills and more about trying to stitch back a broken life.
Given that by The Force Awakens the Falcon is parked in Unkar Plutt’s yard, it’s reasonable to expect Han’s mission to go sideways. Hunt for the Falcon could even bridge into the moment when Rey, Finn, and BB-8 first cross paths with the ship.
Image: Marvel/Ramon RosanasWhat keeps the comic grounded is that Han’s rough exterior still conceals a core of affection. The scoundrel’s bluster hasn’t erased his capacity to care — and that continuing contradiction is handled with care here. I found the first issue compelling and nuanced, and I’m eager for the next installment. While Han’s arc leans into the melancholy tones reminiscent of Logan, I hope the series also discovers the moments of warmth and levity that made that film so resonant.
Star Wars: Han Solo — Hunt for the Falcon #1 is out now.
Source: Polygon
