These start after Truce at Bakura, after Luke officially and totally hands the squadron over to Wedge. In the X-Wing Rogue Squadron comics, Wedge is rebuilding it after the losses over the years with those from the movies and new ones from these stories as well. It’s a precursor to the X-Wing novels, also by Michael Stackpole.
X-Wing Rogue Squadron ½
This is just a precursor, before it was Rogue Squadron it was Red Squadron. This short is reprinted in various graphic novels and omnibuses. Besides Wedge, it also has Biggs Darklighter, Jek Porkins, Doc (a Twilek) and a smuggler captain named Dantels. It’s set not long before A New Hope. it’s ending is a bit inaccurate (no matter if you count the re-added movie scene, or the radio drama) but is just there to show Luke showing up to join the Team.
Rebel Opposition
X-Wing Rogue Squadron comics starts with a the Rebel Opposition, and introduces the new characters along with some old from the movies. We jump into the action with a mission to Cilpar for supplies. Only the supplies are missing and the contact is too. It looks like their is a spy among the rebels, but who?
The local resistance believes the Rebels of the New Republic are working with the Empire – and Wedge has his job cut out from him convincing the Resistance of the truth.
Of them all, I’d say Tycho is the member of the old hands that gets the most story expansion. We also introduce Elscol and her history.
There are some minor glitches, for instance, Wedge says early on they know their contacts cover name is Targeter and that Targeter is female. Later they are calling Targeter a man. Also for some odd reason they colored Wedge’s eyes blue.
The new recurring characters:
- Wedge Antillies, – human male (Premiered: ANH)
- Tycho Celchu, – human male (Premiered: ROTJ)
- Wes Janson, – human male (Premiered: TESB)
- Derek Klivian aka Hobbie – human male (Premier: TESB)
New Characters
- Plourr Ilo- (human female pilot, Rogue Squadron+
- Dlrr Nep – (Sullustan Pilot, Rogue Squadron,)
- Targeter – (human female Alliance / New Republic intelligence agent)
- Elscol – (human female leader of Cilpar resistance)
- Groznik -( Wookiee loyal to Elscol)
On the whole its a good though not great story. I found the traitor rather predictable. I found the odd helmets the Imperial TIE pilots were wearing a bit odd too. But it is post Emperor, so maybe they only needed helmets instead of full masks because it was a ground based squadron. Also, getting regular TIE helmets might be more difficult. Who knows?
The Phantom Affair
Rogue Squadron arrives on Mrlsst, a university world. They are their for the Phantom Ship Project, but they have to bid for it, against the Empire! The Empire has sympathetic allies on campus, who are insisting Endor never happened and try and enforce that belief with violence. And someone frames a Squadron member for stealing the plans.
Meanwhile, there is a mysterious ‘Ghost Jedi’ on campus, who seems against the Empire. Who or what is he? And if he is not real, who is behind him?
New Characters
- Mirax Terrik -(trader/smuggler, human female)
- Booster Terrik – (smuggler, human male)
- Koyi Komad – (Twilek female waitress)
This is my favorite comic arc not just of X-Wing Rogue Squadron comics, but of all the Star Wars comics. Every panel is like a full color storyboard dor a movie, each moment caught perfectly. The movie characters are easily recognizable. The humor is spot on and so are the characteriations. This, along with the original Tales of the Jedi, are what got me collecting the Star Wars comics. But to me, none topped this. The story itself is great, and in the ideal Star Wars fashion, the adventure reveals a new hope for Mrlsst and the university.
Battleground Tatooine
Rogue Squadron goes to backup an agent on Tatooine, using an invitation from Huff Darklighter for cover. Half go to visit the anniversary of Biggs Darklighter’s death, with Winter (aka Targeter) along to get access to something in Huff’s vault. Winter’s diversionary team runs afoul of Rogue Squadron’s other members, who then get hired in their place.
But someone else is after the data. A twilek and an Imperial who want access to a secret stash of arms. But they need something from Ryloth to get it. Some of the Rogues follow, but the Imperial in charge doesn’t just betray them – he even leaves his own troops stranded. Big mistake. He’s made an enemy of his own men, and soon the Rogues and the former stormtroopers move in to deal with the grand prize, hidden on Tatooine.
This story is a bit wild. It’s as much a conflict between Rebel intel as the the Rogues and the Empire. We start to see a lot more of Winter and she begins to get futher development. It was also an interesting look at Ryloth. While the Phantom Affair gives a brief hint that the New Republic has helped restructure the government, corruption still reigns, and slavery is still practiced.
- Firth Olan (Twilek criminal)
- Bib Fortuna (Twilek criminal)
- Semtin (human Imperial male)
- Sixtus Quin (human male Imperial stormtrooper)
- Huff Darklighter (Moisture farmer, father of Biggs Darklighter)
The Warrior Princess
A common name but with a twist. Eiattu needs a leader to end the infighting bring their world back into a peaceful government. Right now Moff Tavira reigns, the people follow the Liberation Army and the Priamsta, the ruling class, are all in conflict. They need the last Princess of Eiattu to return. She turns out to be the last place anyone expects, in Rogue Squadron.
There are some serious twists in this one. Our Rogue Princess can’t trust anyone not in the Squadron…unless, perhaps, it’s the fiance she was engaged to as a child. The Priamsta thinks the nobility will rule. But the Princess remembers what they did to her family, and she’s lived fighting for freedom for all against the Empire. But the Liberation Army isn’t who he seems either…
This story brings in a bunch of new characters,
- Nrin Vakil (a quarren male),
- Ibtisam (Mon Calamari female),
- Feylis, (human female)
- Herian (Bith female).
Not too surprisingly this story is once more a blast with great character development for the ‘Princess’, as well as giving us instant characterization of the new Rogues too, with the bickering between Nrin and Ibtisam being a highlight.
Requiem for a Rogue
If you know what Requiem means, you know this one is going to hurt. It means someone in Rogue Squadron is going to fall. Requiem means a song for the dead!
The Rogues leave Eiattu to look for a missing Bothan ship. They find it crashed on a strange world. They are immediately attacked by TIES and Wedge goes down hard. The rest join up around the Bothan ship, planning to search for Wedge tomorrow. But something is affecting them all, Dlrr is hearing music, and the natives charge them with Imperial blasters! The Bothans too, are acting odd.
Wedge finds out the truth: this world has a Sith Temple. An Imperial with delusions of grandeur has control of it, and the natives. Worse, the dark side may be working on the Bothans and even the Rogues. Ending a leftover Sith menace is going to cost some their lives.
This is another intense story, but it hurt because I really liked one of these characters. Then again, it is Rogue Squadron and its no secret that the best get the impossible jobs: if their wasn’t a high rate of attrition Wedge wouldn’t have to rebuild the squadron for the X-Wing novels.
The art is pretty good and I enjoyed the story. Seeing the Rogues sans Jedi going against the Sith power was interesting. We don’t often get non force users taking on evil force users.
In the Empire’s Service
The Rebels are now pushing to take Imperial territory. Brentaal IV is the target. The Rogues are teaming up with General Salm’s Y-Wing group. But this time, they have some serious competition. ISB Director Ysanne Isard with Sate Pestage plan to lead the Rogues into a trap, pitting the top pilots of the Alliance against the Empire’s crack squadron, the 181st.
Ultimately they are going to get a surprise about the Commander of the 181st, and his surprising connection to Wedge Antillies! This is a really good twist in X-Wing Rogue Squadron comics and also a bit frustrating as I feel it should’ve been explored more.
New Characters:
Rogues:
- Avan Beruss (Corellian human male)
- Dar Keyis (Churba human male)
- Jandro Jcir (Rodian male)
- Xcarcee Huwlah (Tunroth male)
Empire
- Baron Soontir Fel (Corellian human male, Imperial 181st Commander)
- General Lon Isoto (Brentaal IV)
New to comics:
- Ysanne Isard
- Sate Pestage
Family Ties
This short arc in the X-Wing Rogue Squadron comics is really good. When you have a defector you have to take care of the threat to family as well. Especially when one has ties to your Commander! Several of the Rogues head to Corellia, to find that a child has already been kidnapped. They have to find a child relative as well as a missing wife! Bonus awesomeness: future novel characters appear here!
New to comics:
- Corsec Inspectors Corran Horn and Iella Wessiri, future novel stars!
Masquarade
Another of the X-Wing Rogue Squadron comic series where I love the art style. Space combat action combines with a bit of political spy intrigue as a high ranking member of the Empire wants to make a deal to save himself. Princess Leia is headed to negotiations on Eiattu with the Princess there, while also meeting with this Imperial elsewhere! …but then gets kidnapped. Or does she? Winter has long been mistaken for Leia – either mistaken by accident or on purpose. With the help of Rogue Squadron, Tycho and Han Solo, along with the new team member Baron Fel, they have a chance to take Coruscant without a fight.
But its not going to be that easy, with Ysanne Isard and Leonia Tavira are trying to out manuever them. And even their own team members might end up getting in the way!
- Introducing Baron Fel for the Rebels
Mandatory Retirement
This is the final arc of the X-Wing Rogue Squadron comics and it goes out with a bang. With once more excellent artwork, the Rogues once more pay more than they want. Nor are they happy that they are paying the price to rescue and Imperial who hates everything they stand for, just because he was outed while trying to make a deal to save himself!
The Rogues with General Salm’s Aggressor find themselves in over their heads. This also featured the return of Mirax Terrik.
I was saddened by who bit the dust in this one, the series felt like it had more life in it. There is a nice note from Michael Stackpole in this last of the X-Wing Rogue Squadron comics about how upset people were it was ending. But it was left so others would have room to tell more stories. If only they had!
X-Wing Rogue Squadron Comics Continuity
You can find the overall influence of X-Wing Rogue Squadron comics and other material on the lore here.
Wedge, Janson, Hobbie and ‘Targeter aka Winter, Mirax, Koyi Komad and Booster Terrik are regulars in the X-Wing novel series. Some also appear in Wraith Squadron. As for the others? You’ll have to read it and see!
Elscol will make a future appearance as will Sixtus Quin. Sixtus Quin, by the way, is the first time we actually see a brown skinned stormtrooper. (I will not say ‘African’ as the continent doesn’t exist in Star Wars!)
Huff Darklighter’s appearance in X-Wing Rogue Squadron comics Battleground Tatooine is markedly different from his appearance in Empire comics. He’s bald and portly here with an ego to match. He’s much thinner with a full head of white hair in Empire. Of course it’s also true he could’ve put on weight after. As for the ego, it’s hard to say, since he only briefly spoke in those.
Dantels from the Rogue Squadron 1/2 issue is later a series regular in both Empire and Rebellion comic series.
Minor glitch in X-Wing Rogue Squadron comics Requeim for a Rogue: for some reason, instead of calling Wedge ‘Commander’, they keep calling him ‘Captain’. Perhaps someone had ‘Captain Antillies’ from Revenge of the Sith/A New Hope stuck in their mind.
Of minor note: In Family Ties one of the streets is named Halcyon.
Rogue Squadron will go on to many future adventures, including in the Rogue Squadron and Rogue Leader games, Thrawn Trilogy and duology, Crimson Empire, Dark Empire, I, Jedi , Jedi Outcast, New Jedi Order. They will defend Yavin 4 during the Reborn crisis. They almost always use X-Wings, though at one point they were in E-Wings and B-wings.
To the best of my knowledge, we started the trek here in X-Wing Rogue Squadron comics regarding how Wedge’s sister was involved – yet never get to see a reunion with Syal Antillies aka Wynssa Starflare! So frustrating!
Several other members of the Fel family do show up later. The ultimate fate of Baron Soontir Fel is revealed in the Thrawn duology Specter of the Past and Vision of the Future by Timothy Zahn. Chak Fel, his son, will appear in Survivor’s Quest. Jagged Fel appears in New Jedi Order.
