May the Fourth be with You: When Chewie Met Solo

LEGO Han Solo and Chewbacca in front of the Millennium Falcon. Photo uploaded to Flickr by Chris McVeigh on AUg 5, 2009. https://www.flickr.com/photos/powerpig/

Han Solo and Chewbacca’s partnership as smugglers in a galaxy far, far away has become as iconic as the Lone Ranger and Tonto, Captain Kirk and Spock or some could even argue Batman and Robin, but most casual fans of the Star Wars franchise—never having read the Expanded Universe books—are unaware of how the two smugglers and (eventual) rebels first met, or even how Solo and Chewbacca are able to communicate. Many would be surprised to find out that Chewbacca was not Solo’s first Wookiee companion.

The following is a brief history of the events in Han Solo’s early life that led up to his initial meeting with his co-pilot and first mate, Chewbacca. While these events are not featured within the films of the Star Wars franchise, they are considered canon, as they were told through the licensed books and graphic novels. They are additionally validated by the Star Wars Wiki, Wookieepedia. Those interested in reading the Star Wars novels should be aware this article contains SPOILERS.

[Once again, beyond this point are SPOILERS of the Star Wars Expanded Universe novels written by A.C. Crispin.]

Like most fictional heroes, Solo was orphaned as a young child. A pirate named Garris Shrike took him in. Shrike was a cruel man who used small children to collect money as beggars, and when Solo grew up, Shrike trained him to pickpocket and become a swindling thief. Solo became close acquaintances with a Wookiee, named Dewlanna, who worked as a cook for Shrike. Dewlanna raised Solo as a surrogate mother, taking special care for him, giving him an education, and teaching him Shyriiwook, the most widely recognized language of Wookiees.

Humans did not have the vocal capabilities of speaking Wookiee languages, and the same is true for Wookiees speaking human languages. Both Solo and Chewbacca understood each other’s languages, which were “Basic” and Shyriiwook respectively, so they could speak their own language to communicate, and more often than not, banter.

After being under Shrike’s control since childhood, performing countless unsavory jobs for the pirate, Solo was ready to leave him for a better life when he was about 19 years old. As he was saying goodbye to Dewlanna, an enraged Shrike attempted to stop Solo with armed guards. Dewlanna sacrifices her life for Solo, who is able to escape Shrike’s clutches.

Five years later, after becoming an esteemed pilot at the high rank of lieutenant for the Imperial Navy, Solo and Chewbacca’s destinies become intertwined forever after a dramatic first encounter. Chewbacca, who was nearly 200 years old, had seen his fair share of adventures, and recently was a captive of the Empire, who uses Wookiees as slaves. Chewbacca managed to unite his fellow Wookiee prisoners to escape slavery, and he took it upon himself to free other Wookiees from slavery. On his most recent mission, he managed to free Wookiee children, but was unable to escape himself, as the talented Lieutenant Solo led an Imperial fleet of TIE Fighters on Chewbacca’s ship.

Solo entered the ruined ship to find Chewbacca injured and helpless. Solo’s commanding officer, Pter Nyklas, ordered Solo to skin the Wookiee alive, but Solo refused, and he was able to convince Nyklas to keep Chewbacca around as he was a viable slave.

Solo saves Chewbacca from his commanding officer Nyklas. Phot was uploaded by JMAS to Star Wars Wiki at http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/File:Han_saves_Chewbacca.jpg

Nyklas agreed, but he whipped and punished Chewbacca relentlessly, and Solo intervened when Nyklas was on the verge of whipping Chewbacca to death. Solo stunned Nyklas with a ray gun to free Chewbacca. The two were able to escape the Imperial Navy, and from that point on, Solo and Chewbacca became outlaws with a bounty on their heads by the Empire.

Chewbacca swore a life debt for Solo, and he would continue to service his human savior for as long as they should live. Solo and Chewbacca became smugglers, and eventually, would pilot the Millennium Falcon, which Solo won in a cards tournament. For fives years, they continued to smuggle on that ship, until their lives were changed by an old man, a farmboy and a couple of droids. As much as Solo wanted to continue his life as a rebel without a cause, he needed Chewbacca’s influence to help him make the right choice and join the Rebel Cause, and their participation in the Battle of Yavin was vital in the destruction of the first Death Star.

Solo and Chewbacca became Rebel heroes who could utilize their skills as smugglers to help bring down the Empire with a swagger that has illuminated fans of all ages for a long, long time.