Poe experiences his first encounter with the Resistance and learns his future may not lie with the Republic in Star Wars: Age of Resistance – Poe Dameron #1.
Warning: This article contains plot points for Star Wars: Age of Resistance – Poe Dameron #1
Star Wars: Age of Resistance – Poe Dameron #1
Story: Tom Taylor | Art: Ramon Rosanas | Color: Guru-eFX | Lettering: VC’s Travis Lanham | Production Designer: Anthony Gambino | Cover Artist: Phil Noto | Assistant Editor: Tom Groneman | Editor: Mark Paniccia
Poe Dameron is well known to Star Wars fans as the charismatic leader of Black Squadron in The Force Awakens and the Resistance pilot that learns valuable lessons of leadership over the course of The Last Jedi. Poe wasn’t always a pilot for the Resistance though. Prior to his work for the Resistance, Poe had a career as a naval pilot with the Republic. However, Poe came to suspect that the Republic was not the best fit for him, and Age of Resistance – Poe Dameron #1 details one instance that lead him to that conclusion.
An Emergency at Brooksdion Station
As Poe Dameron #1 begins, Poe is wistfully gazing at the stars from Brooksdoin Space Station and telling his squad-mates about how he always knew he belonged in space. Despite some good natured ribbing from Karé Kun (one of Poe’s eventual squad mates from the Poe Dameron series by Charles Soule), Poe explains how gravity just slows him down, but out in space, nothing holds him back.
Poe Dameron #1 could go on like that if it weren’t for an emergency. Someone has snuck aboard the space station and stolen the head of the Admiral Mathieson’s protocol droid. This poses a security threat as the droid recorded every conversation the admiral had for heh previous five years. Poe and his wing-mates are dispatched to stop the thief, who has departed the station in a small passenger ship.
Interdiction Failure
Outfitted in the sleekest, shiniest X-Wings the Republic has to offer, Poe and his companions give chase to the thief. However, this thief proves resourceful. She leads them on a chase that eventually runs into a dangerous asteroid field known as the “Lost Souls.” Apprising the danger, Poe orders his wing-mates to fall back as he continues the chase. To his surprise, the thief works with him as they both navigate the dangers of the asteroid field avoiding mines, gases, and giant space slugs similar to the famous exogorth from The Empire Strikes Back. Once they survive the asteroid field, the thief shoots Poe’s X-Wing. She can’t have him following her any longer, but his companions will be able to find him.
The Thief Revealed
Throughout the course of Poe Dameron #1, there are clues as to the identity of the thief of the droid’s head. First, the thief displays a little bit of cockiness. Plus, the piloting of the civilian craft is exceptional. The communications by the thief also give the indication that the pilot is one of the best in the galaxy. First impressions are that this might be Han Solo and Chewbacca. Plus, there are references to flying through gaps and experience in such matters. However, Han wasn’t really an agent for the Resistance in the early days. Also, if it were Han, chances are he would have been piloting the ship.
The thief’s use of the term “flyboy” to refer to Han is also suggestive. Leia was known to use this term. In fact, she called Han by this very title during the escape from the detention block on the Death Star. Plus, there is a sense that the thief was perhaps trying to recruit Poe, and that is what Leia does. Alas, it wasn’t her either.
The final panels reveal the identity of the thief though. It is none other than Vice Admiral Holdo. In addition, her pilot was Nien Nunb. This was a great reveal and foreshadows things to come. First, after Poe attempted to disable Holdo’s ship, she responded to his hails with vague confusion and distracted him by acting as if their line was bad. Poe later repeats this tactic in The Last Jedi when he attacked the First Order fleet and feigned misunderstanding when General Hux answered him. Also, this issue preserves Holdo’s anonymity. In The Last Jedi, Poe was surprised by the reveal of Holdo in the movie, and Poe Dameron #1 preserves the moment.
Final Thoughts on Poe Dameron #1
Overall, Poe Dameron #1 is a good issue of Age of Resistance. Poe proves himself a little to Vice Admiral Holdo with his leadership and flying skills. Perhaps this, accompanied by Leia’s fondness for him, was why she was willing to give Poe so many chances during The Last Jedi. That said, this issue really only scratches the surface of Poe’s character. The conclusion that the Republic is corrupt and that the Resistance is needed to defend against an evil that is out there (the First Order is not named) is delivered rather abruptly. Still, this qualifies as the seed planted in Poe that grows into his enlistment with the Resistance.
On another note, the Republic T-85 X-Wings were amazing. Ramon Rosanas did an excellent job bringing them to the pages of Poe Dameron #1. These were previously glimpsed in Resistance, as flown by Kaz Xiono and his wingmates, but they were still impressive on the page of these comics. Rapier Squadron flew them as well. Unfortunately, Poe had to give them up for the older T-70 model used by the Resistance.
Poe Dameron #1 works well with Greg Rucka’s Before the Awakening as an introduction to Poe’s earlier life before his time with the Resistance. Overall, it doesn’t have the depth of story and revelations that General Hux #1 or Captain Phasma does, but still, it is a worthy addition to the Age of Resistance series.
Dennis Keithly is a graduate of the University of Missouri, North Texas attorney, husband, father of two, and co-host of Starships, Sabers, and Scoundrels. In addition to Star Wars, Dennis is a fan of science fiction, fantasy, and super heroes in general. When not engaged in fictional universes, Dennis is reading a good book or watching the NHL, football, or studying the NFL draft.