Star Wars: Shattered Empire Reveals A Connection With Star Wars: The Force Awakens

The new Star Wars comic series, Star Wars: Shattered Empire, debuted Wednesday with it’s first issue being published by Marvel Comics under the Journey To Star Wars: The Force Awakens banner. With it comes some interesting connections to the upcoming seventh installment in the Star Wars franchise.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD AT YOUR OWN RISK

While Aftermath takes place a few months after the destruction of the Death Star, Shattered Empire directly takes place during the Battle of Endor itself. The story of the first issue centers around A-Wing pilot Lieutenant Shara Bey as she goes toe-to-toe with tie-fighters during the attack on the Second Death Star and then goes down to Endor to meet with a particular individual.

This first issue features multiple revelations, and fans should read it for themselves, so if you do not want things spoiled for you, I strongly advise that you do not read on. If you do then go ahead!

Lieutenant Bey meets her husband on the moon, and Sgt. Kes Dameron has quite a familiar and interesting last name for those fans who are waiting for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, doesn’t he? For those who aren’t aware, the name of Oscar Isaac’s character in the upcoming film is a pilot named Poe Dameron. Not much is currently known about his character except that he’s a very confident pilot who views himself as “the best pilot in the galaxy.” He flies with the Resistance, working to take down the First Order, an enemy military force that bears an awfully close resemblance to the Original Trilogy’s Galactic Empire.

The obvious assumption is that Lt. Bey and Sgt. Dameron are the parents of Star Wars: The Force Awakens protagonist Poe Dameron. In fact, we may have just seen Poe being conceived, at the celebration on Endor, when the pair are reunited for the first time after the battle. The timing of this plot works well because that would make Poe around 30 years old during the events of The Force Awakens and Isaac is in his mid-thirties as well. (it would not be the first time an actor/actress has portrayed a character close in age to their role).

Marvel Comics currently has no official comment on any relation with the characters, and Lucasfilm PR has not returned a request for comment at the time of publication.

Well, it’s only the first issue, so this is just the start. Still, from the little we know and have seen of Poe so far in footage and interviews, it’s easy to believe Shara and Kes would have a child like him. Shara, under the callsign Green Four, demonstrates incredible piloting acumen. Her sharp flying (and shooting) assists none other than Lando Calrissian and Luke Skywalker during the battle, and she winds up piloting none other than General Han Solo for an op just after. Kes, meanwhile, is the head of a Pathfinder unit – consider them like the U.S. Marines expeditionary units or Army Airborne Rangers – they’re the first into a field of war, and the last out. It’s an elite position, and living up to that would certainly inspire a young Resistance pilot to show some leadership.

Lucasfilm has been teasing that the Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens publications would be important for months. Now, as they begin, we have already started to see just how important. With new characters, possible relations, and an intriguing adventure to top it all off, it looks like Shattered Empire and others of its ilk will be must-reads for Star Wars fans.