The Other Han Solo

On Coruscant a family sits at dinner. At the head of the table is Han Solo. To his right are Leia (his wife) and twin children (Jaina & Jacen). On his left are his brother-in-law Luke, Luke’s wife Mara, and their son Ben. Zekk is there too.

“Who, may I ask, invited Zekk? He’s not family,” Han grumbles.

“Not yet,” Luke and Mara say in unison.

The conversation changes to the politics. Specifically, tensions between Corellia and the Galactic Alliance and the Jedi Order. Han, being Corellian, is not happy with the regulations that the Galactic Alliance is trying to force on its member states (Think the United Kingdom vs. the European Union).

Han points a fork in Luke’s direction and gripes, “When the time comes for military action, the Corelians have always brought our forces up… We did it for the Old Republic and the New Republic. We did it in the Vong war!”

The sport of arguing with ones family about politics during a Thanksgiving Dinner has become an American pastime. It is the lucky fathers who get to watch their children grow. It is the lucky fathers who can fill a family table. Despite his gruff demeanor, Han is one of the lucky ones, especially considering that in an alternate reality he has no daughter. He has no nephew. In an alternate reality, Han Solo was killed at the hands of his own son.

But back to the “Other” Han at the dinner table pointing his fork at Luke Skywalker. This “Other” Han, is a very fortunate man indeed, but he has had a tough past and he has a tough future. This has contributed to his gruff demeanor.

Who is this “Other” Han?  What has lead him to this point?

The Early Years

When “Solo” releases in cinemas this May, fans will see the younger years of the Han Solo from the Disney canon. But fans learned about the younger years of Han Solo (the “Other” Han Solo) a long time ago.

Han’s origins are explored in “The Han Solo Trilogy” by A.C. Crispin. At a young age Han Solo was a Corellian street urchin, an orphan without a family. Han turned to piracy at a young age, working for a man named Garris Shrike. But by the age of 19, Han is done with piracy. Han has a dream. Han wants to join the Imperial Academy and become a pilot.

Han does achieve his dream, but it is short lived. After graduating in the top of his class, Solo finds himself serving under Commander Nyklas who is overseeing some wookiee slaves working construction. One of the wookiee slaves attempts to escape the construction site with some wookiee children in tow. This wookiee is, of course, Chewbacca. When Commander Nyklas orders Han to kill Chewbacca, Han refuses and stuns his commander. Chewbacca escapes and Han is court marshaled and dishonorably discharged from the Empire.

Acquiring the Millennium Falcon

Solo was not happy about being kicked out of the Empire. He had given up his life-long dream in order to save some big hairy Wookiee. Now that Wookiee was following him around claiming that he owed Han a life debt.

Han spent his unhappy post-Empire days drinking and playing Sabaac. He was strapped for cash and down on his luck, so he turned back to the only life he had ever really known, piracy.

As the years passed, Han and Chewie met people. They made many friends (such as Mako Spince & Salla Zend). They made many enemies (such as Boba Fett & Jabba the Hutt). And eventually Han met a man named Lando Calrissian. It was on Cloud City during a Sabaac tournament that Han Solo won the Millenium Falcon from one Lando Calrissian.

Some fans think that the introduction of Han's dice in "The Last Jedi", is foreshadowing an event that may happen in "Solo". Will we finally see this fabled Sabaac game on screen?

The Death of Chewbacca

Han and Chewie travelled together for 30-years in the Millenium Falcoln. Together, they made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs. They rescued a Princess. They helped destroy two Death Stars. Then came the Vong War. Then came Sernpidal.

The Yuzzhan Vong war paralyzed the Galaxy for many years, but it all started at Sernpidal. The Yuzzhan Vong disrupted the orbits of Sernipdal’s moon, sending it on a collision course for the capital city. Han, Chewbecca, and Han’s son Anakin were on the planet at the time and attempted to rescue as many people as possible, cramming them aboard the Falcon. The Falcon escaped Sernipal, but Chewbacca did not.

When Chewbacca died in the 1999 book “Vector Prime”, it was big news in the Star Wars community. Some fans lauded the novel for being bold and raising the stakes of Star Wars books. Other fans thought the death was a cheap ploy. Other fans sent death threats.

It is interesting that we live in a world where we can watch Chewbacca lose his best friend, Han, on screen and at the same time have books where we see Han lose Chewie.

Droma

In the aftermath of Chewbacca’s untimely death, Del Rey books introduced a new character named Droma, as a potential new sidekick to Han. Fans never really latched on to Droma, however, and the character kind of faded into the background as the book series continued.

Solo in the Multiverse

The events in “The Force Awakens” and “The Last Jedi” rewrite the story of Han Solo’s later years. The events of “Solo: A Star Wars Story” will rewrite his younger years. The “Other” Han Solo has slowly faded into obscurity and will continue to do so. Where some franchises embrace parallel universes (ie Star Trek, Marvel, & Fringe) it seems Star Wars only has room for one version of Han Solo.

That is not to say that fans cannot enjoy the “Other” versions of Luke, Leia, & Han. The old expanded universe told amazing stories for over 20 years. Going back and reliving some of those adventures can feel like sitting back in a well-used and comfortable armchair. It can feel like coming home.

Happy reading Star Wars fans!