Maz Kanata has been a mysterious figure in the Star Wars Canon but one new comic is finally shedding light on her and her crew.
Superhero teams and groups of heroes regularly banding together is something more often seen in the Marvel superhero universe. However, Star Wars is no stranger to groups of characters coming together to get jobs done. But usually, those tasks are reserved for pirates and villains out to take advantage of the weak on un-patrolled systems and planets. Though Maz Kanata’s actions often bare a resemblance to that of the villainy in the Star Wars galaxy, her intentions are for good, and her new group of mercenaries is perfect for heroic special missions.
Introduced in the new Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #1 (by Daniel Jose Older, Toni Bruno, Michael Atiyeh, Comicraft’s Tyler Smith, and Jimmy Betancourt), Jedi Padawan Sav Malagan sneaks her way into Maz Kanata’s castle and finds herself on an adventure with some of the most seasoned scoundrels in the Galaxy. After proving herself an asset, Sav is invited to be part of Maz’s crew. But their first mission may reveal a new villain’s plot to destroy the Jedi.
Maz’s Crew is Similar to Marvel’s Howling Commandos
After uncovering a plot by Arkik Von and his Dank Graks to possibly overthrow the Jedi, Maz feels like there’s someone else more powerful pulling the strings. Despite these scoundrels being on the outskirts of the law, they realize that if the Jedi order were to fall that the entire galaxy would suffer. Thus, the group plans a covert mission to thwart the true source of the threat. Comprised of Quiet Shan, Alak, Coromont Vizzle, Therm Scissorpunch, Dexter Jetster, Sav Malagan, and Maz Kanata, the crew of this special mission is not unlike Marvel’s Howling Commandos.
They are a seasoned group of individuals with similar backgrounds, yet each with their own identities and strengths. The group also realizes that they are stronger together, and are needed by those that don’t even realize they need help, i.e. the Jedi. And what a covert group like this can do with the ability to blend into the communities of the Star Wars underbelly will allow them to be more effective with a mission of this nature.
Maz’s Mercenaries Represent the Most Exciting Part of Star Wars
Some of the best Star Wars stories are those that center around a group of unlikely allies that are brought together to fight against a common enemy. As the Star Wars galaxy is known for being richly diverse, the characters that Maz has brought together for this mission are perfect examples of this tradition. Her crew consists of new and familiar faces, but a few are particularly exciting to see get the chance to finally be fleshed out.
As one of the standouts in the group is Maz herself (a character that little is still known about) this adventure is sure to shed more light on her connection to the force (as first mentioned in The Force Awakens) as well as her abilities in battle. Dexter Jetster is a character that was introduced in Attack of the Clones, but here, will finally be shown in action. And the most exciting member of the team is the new padawan, Sav Malagan. Though she grows to be one of the most skilled Jedi on Takodana, she may prove to be an even better pirate.
