Star Wars: Age of Resistance: Rey #1 Review

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Luke Skywalker wasn’t the last hope for the Resistance. In Star Wars: Age of Resistance – Rey #1, readers learn that there is indeed another. 

Warning: This article contains plot points for Star Wars: Age of Resistance – Rey #1

Star Wars: Age of Resistance – Rey #1

Story: Tom Taylor | Art: Ramon Rosanas | Colors: Guru-eFX | Lettering: VC’s Travis Lanham | Production Designer: Anthony Gambino | Cover Artist: Phil Noto | Assistant Editor: Tom Groneman | Editor: Mark Paniccia

When audiences first met Rey in The Force Awakens, they learned an important fact about her backstory: at a young age she was left behind by unknown parents on Jakku. Much of the focus of audiences until, and even after, The Last Jedi has been on who those parents were. Fans speculated that she could be the child of Han and Leia, Luke Skywalker, or Obi-Wan Kenobi, and in some cases a clone of various characters. Regardless of who her parents were, the fact remains that she was left alone on Jakku. As equally important to her parentage, in terms of Rey’s character, is how being abandoned shaped her character. Star Wars: Age of Resistance – Rey #1 addresses this issue and themes of abandonment as Rey finds a place in her new life with the Resistance.

Abandoned Again

Leia has a special request of Rey at the beginning of Rey #1. She asks Rey to tell her about how Han died. Leia already knew the story. She felt Han’s death through the Force (or perhaps it was that Kylo killed him). The experience is difficult for both women. Leia heard the story of how her son murdered her husband from someone that was there. Rey relived another abandonment in her life. In fact, that is how she felt. During The Force Awakens, Rey came to see Han Solo as a father figure. Kylo sensed it when he probed her mind. At the time, he claimed that Han would disappoint Rey. In a way, he was right. Just when Rey found belonging, Han risked his life in an attempt to redeem his son. He died for that, and Rey was metaphorically abandoned once again.

This scene enhances Leia and Rey’s moments together in The Force Awakens. In that regards, it has much the same effect that Supreme Leader Snoke #1 had in enhancing moments concerning Kylo Ren from both The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. Why did Leia embrace Rey when she arrived on D’Qar? She already knew that Rey was important to Finn and Han, and she already knew that Rey experienced Han’s death first hand — she probably felt it through the Force. When Leia and Rey have their sentimental goodbye before Rey departs for Ahch-To with Chewbacca, it is the aftermath of this scene. 

Not Alone

Rey has a question for Leia: how do you lead the Resistance against all of the tyranny of the First Order all alone? Leia’s response: I’m not alone, and neither are you. Leia points out that Rey is part of something bigger. Naturally, readers might expect her to say that she is part of the Resistance, or that she has the Force, and those with the Force are never alone for they have a powerful ally with them. That isn’t what she says though. No, Rey isn’t alone because she has the hope of the galaxy with her. Everyone that isn’t the First Order, whether they know it or not, is hoping for Rey to succeed. They need her to succeed. So, when Rey is feeling hopeless, she has a reason to carry on.

As Rey departs, Poe asks Leia if she thinks Rey will find Luke. Leia is confident she will. Poe responds that she had better, because Luke might be their only hope. Leia disagrees. She believes “there is another.” This is no small statement. Leia was the “other” hope (more precisely “another”) that Yoda spoke of in The Empire Strikes Back when Obi-Wan says that Luke was their last hope. Leia sees that same potential in Rey. Is there a larger vote of confidence than that?

Necropolis

On the way to Ahch-To, Rey and Chewbacca run into a little trouble during Rey #1. Rey’s earlier efforts to bypass the compressor in The Force Awakens were only a temporary solution, and they are forced to land on a nearby junk planet known as the Necropolis. While there, Rey comes to an agreement with the planet’s leader and caretaker, Ara-Nea. Ara-Nea resembles both the Queen from Aliens in some respects. Rey gives her 500 credits for the right to scavenge the parts they need to repair the Millennium Falcon.

However, Rey soon learns this is all a trap. Given her past as a scavenger, Necropolis is a comparable feast. There are entire ships among the wreckage, and there are plenty of them. This alerts her to the fact that the entire situation is a trap. She soon finds herself in combat with a monster, that she escapes from when she finds a Firespray (the same sort of ship that Boba and Jango Fett piloted). This was an incredible, and unexpected, easter egg. It will undoubtedly excite many fans and have them speculating whether this means anything about Boba Fett himself. Rey’s experiences with monsters is a common theme for recent Star Wars comics. She also fights one in Allegiance #1, but she was a little less sure of herself then. At the Necropolis though, Rey knows what to do, and she uses her Force persuasion to convince Ara-Nea to surrender herself to the people she enslaved on the Necropolis.

Final Thoughts on Age of Resistance: Rey #1

Rey #1 concludes with Rey arriving on Ahch-To. Despite Chewbacca’s concern, she reassures him that it is okay, she isn’t alone. Her thoughts reveal that she took Leia’s comforting words to heart, and she carries the hope of the galaxy with her. It is a fitting end to the story. Rey spent much of The Force Awakens trying to find a place of belonging. She was incredibly moved when Finn lead the rescue effort to find her on Starkiller Base. Rey isn’t used to this type of kindness from anyone, or belonging to something bigger than herself. This story is also a pleasant introduction to her determination in The Last Jedi. When Luke rejects his lightsaber and the call to save the galaxy, Rey is perplexed. She doesn’t give up though. She can’t. She carries the hope of the galaxy with her.