The final issue of Marvel Comics’ recent Star Wars series has revealed an in-universe name for the year that took place between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Framed as a key story and lesson Luke Skywalker was telling to Ben Solo, this final issue and one of the last adventures of this era is fascinating. However, the name Han Solo apparently gave this period before the Battle of Endor is notable in its own right (and couldn’t be better).
In Star Wars #50 by Charles Soule, Madibek Musabekov, and Rachelle Rosenberg, Luke Skywalker meets with his nephew and apprentice years after the Galactic Civil War had ended. Recounting a key adventure involving the dark chance the Rebels once had to end Emperor Palpatine for good before the Battle of Endor, Luke Skywalker and Ben Solo initially discuss this dynamic year between Episodes V-VI in its entirety. As such, Ben Solo mentions that his father had the perfect name for this period where the galaxy was in a massive state of flux: “The Hansicle”.
While Luke, Lando, and Princess Leia had several adventures and conflicts before Return of the Jedi as seen throughout Marvel’s Star Wars series that first began in 2020, Han wasn’t there for any of it. After all, he’d been frozen in carbonite the entire time.
The “Hansicle” Is The Perfect Name For The Year Between Episodes V-VI
When Han Solo Was Jabba the Hutt’s Trophy
“The Hansicle” name for this period is truly perfect from the perspective of Han Solo himself. After all, he spent the entire time frozen and hanging as a trophy in Jabba the Hutt’s palace before the Rebels were finally able to rescue him a year later, as seen in Return of the Jedi. As far as Han Solo was concerned, it was all no big deal, seeing as how he missed everything else that was happening in the galaxy while he was out of commission.
This new in-universe name humorously undersells all that truly happened during this single year of the Star Wars timeline. In truth, the Force itself was in flux, as was the entire galactic underworld thanks to the efforts of Crimson Dawn’s leader Lady Qi’ra (Han Solo’s ex). That said, it is worth noting that the year did begin with all eyes being on Han in his frozen carbonite prison.
So Much That Happened Before Return of the Jedi
The Syndicate War, Dark Droids, Lando’s Trial, And More
Looking back, Marvel’s Star Wars began on quite a high note with Lady Qi’ra’s Syndiate War, pitting various syndicates against one another and auctioning off Solo as the instigator (having stolen the smuggler while Boba Fett was still en route to Jabba). This single year also saw a massive revolution of droids led by a dark droid collective known as The Scourge. Lando being put on trial for betraying the Rebellion, and Darth Vader himself spending the year making moves against Palpatine himself in the wake of Luke rejecting his offer to join him in Empire Strikes Back.
In spite of all that, “The Hansicle” truly is a great name for this era, especially considering how the frozen smuggler did serve as the start of all these exciting adventures during this one year on the Star Wars timeline. At any rate, it’s going to be very exciting to see what’s coming next from Star Wars and Marvel Comics and their upcoming series set in the aftermath of Return of the Jedi with new Battle of Jakku stories.
Star Wars #50 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.
Star Wars (2020)
- Writer
- Charles Soule
- Penciler
- Jesus Saiz
- Writers
- Charles Soule
- Publisher(s)
- Marvel Comics
