When it comes to characters who exude the art of cool, there is one that stands out in science fiction, Han Solo. Harrison Ford’s portrayal of the smuggler defined what we think of the hero. He has become the prototype for what we believe all heroes start off as, reluctant. He’s basically every man and what the audience felt was their window into this expansive world.

No one necessarily wants to go against the grain. and neither did Han Solo. He just wanted to make some money by transporting Luke Skywalker, Obi Wan Kenobi, R2D2 and C3PO. Little did he know he would get caught up in an intergalactic uprising which would change the course of his life. He’s a major part of why the franchise is so popular. Fans everywhere have become ensconced in the movies’ mythology.  In Star Wars Solo: Graphic Novel Adaptation, we find out how this fabled character became who he is, legendary.

We meet Han, as he steals a speedster, with his childhood friend, Q’ira, but before they could leave, they are shake down by the local gangster. This leads Han to take matters into his own hands, as he provides a distraction, giving way for their escape, where they head to the closest spaceport, and where Q’ira is snatched while Han finds his escape, vowing to find her. This is when Han decides to become a cadet in the Imperial Army, so that he can learn to become a pilot. Fast forward three years later, Han is charged with being a deserter, and thrown in a pit, where he meets Chewbacca. Chewie provides their way out, where we our heroes meet Beckett and his band of marauders. They are recruited to do a job, one that can get them killed, as they are pulled into a train heist, where they lose someone on the crew. Han, Chewie and Beckett meet with their employer, which gives Han, an unexpected reunion with the one person he though he would never see again, Q’ira. This leads the crew to another job, to steal coaxium where we are introduced to Lando Calrissian, as he has the perfect spacecraft for the heist, the Millennium Falcon. When they get to the planet, they are imprisoned and from within, Han and Chewie incite a full-on slave rebellion. This leads to our heroes getting into a dogfight with Imperial fighters while Han races the Millennium Falcon through Kessel in twelve parsecs. They finally arrive in Savareen, where they are met with resistance, and someone long thought dead, is alive. By book’s end, a few double crosses leave the crew a little lighter, Han a little smarter and Q’ira, powerful.

Overall, a concise adaptation of this excellent origin story, one that will make fans love the character even more. The adaptation by Alessandro Ferrari hits all the right marks, while remembering who the adaptation is for. The art by Roberto Santillo is gorgeous. Altogether, a story that feels epic even in short page count.

Story: Lawrence Kasdan and Jonathan Kasdan
Adaptation: Alessandro Ferrari Art: Roberto Santillo
Story: 10 Adaptation: 9.0 Art: 9.7 Overall: 9.8 Recommendation: Buy

IDW Publishing provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review