Star Wars: X-wing – Rogue Squadron

Star Wars: X-wing Rogue Squadron #1 (July 1995)

Star Wars: X-wing – Rogue Squadron is a series of comic books written by Michael Stackpole (who also wrote the Star Wars: X-wing book series) and Darko Macan and published by Dark Horse Comics. The first issue was released on July 1, 1995. It ran for 35 issues. The story is set in the Star Wars galaxy approximately one year after Return of the Jedi.

The 2005 prequel series X-Wing – Rogue Leader tells of Luke Skywalker's final involvement with the squadron.

Story arcs

The Rebel Opposition (1995)

The art is by Allen Nunis. The Rebel Alliance's Rogue Squadron defend the New Republic against the remnants of the Empire shortly after the events of Return of the Jedi.

The Phantom Affair (1996)

Rogue Squadron must travel to a neutral planet to secure new cloaking technology from the Empire being sold to the highest bidder.

Battleground: Tatooine (1996)

Rogue Squadron goes to Tatooine to find a secret cache of weapons hidden by Sate Pestage, on the Darklighters' farm.

Requiem for a Rogue (1997)

Rogue Squadron is sent to track down a lost Bothan ship full of innocent civilians; victim of a rare computer bug that transposes spatial coordinates. They soon learn that the mission is far more complicated. Wedge Antilles is shot down and presumed dead. The wild, savage humanoid natives are armed with Imperial blasters. Most everyone is acting completely out of character.

The Rogues must work with the Bothans to simply survive, rescue Wedge and discover the source of the strange energies making everyone off-kilter.

In the Empire's Service (1997)

Rogue Squadron and General Horton Salm's Defender Wing must take the Brentaal System from the hands of a slothful Imperial General, who has an ace up his sleeve. Recently assigned to Brentaal is the 181st Squadron, the Fighting 181st, led by none other than the deadly Baron Soontir Fel.

The Making of Baron Fel (1997)

Rogue Squadron mourns their lost comrades from the Battle of Brentaal, while on a mission of mercy on Corellia. The newly defected Baron Fel's family has been taken hostage, and its up to Rogue Squadron to get them out safely. During Soontir Fel's interrogation, he tells a tale of Imperial corruption and deception, and slowly executes a plan to defect to the Alliance. Along the way the Rogues encounter future allies and enemies in the form of two maverick CorSec officers, and an incompetent Imperial Liaison Officer.

Masquerade (1998)

There are few occupations more dangerous than flying an X-wing fighter for the Rebel Alliance, but Rogue Squadron is about to discover that diplomacy can be more deadly than a fleet of Star Destroyers! Sate Pestage, the interim Emperor, is losing his grip upon the Galactic Empire and seeks contact with Princess Leia to negotiate his defection to the Alliance in return for offering up the keys to the Imperial Throneworld of Coruscant. But Pestage's moves have been anticipated by Isard, the woman who would take the Empire's reins for herself, and a lethal game of chess ensues with the fate of the Empire--and Rogue Squadron--hanging in the balance!

Mandatory Retirement (1998)

When Imperial Intelligence chief Ysanne Isard discovers that acting-Emperor Pestage has cut a secret deal with the Rebel Alliance to sell out the Empire, it appears that the Rebels' ticket to Imperial Center has been punched. But when Pestage is captured in his sanctuary on a far world, Rogue Squadron is assigned to go after him. If the New Republic wants to claim Imperial Center and turn the tide of war, it is imperative that they rescue Pestage, now wanted by the Empire for high treason. Unfortunately, Isard is also going after Pestage - with a brace of Star Destroyers and her own designs on the Imperial throne! Mandatory Retirement is the thrilling conclusion to the epic "Rise of Isard" story arc and a key link in the Star Wars mythos!

Special issues

• X-wing Rogue Squadron: Apple Jacks Special Bonus Story
• X-wing Rogue Squadron 1/2

Prequel series

X-Wing – Rogue Leader is a three-part comic book series set approximately one week after the Battle of Endor in Return of the Jedi. It was published by Dark Horse between September 28 and December 21, 2005.

Several participants in the destruction of the second Death Star are sent, a little while after the events of Bakura, to scout out Imperial activity in Corellian space. It quickly turns dangerous as Ten Numb is captured by rampaging Imperial Forces. The Rogues' attempt to rescue him comes too late as he does not survive the torture.

Rogue Squadron becomes more official as many more officers volunteer in the wake of the rescue attempt. The first assigned mission; to escort a Rebel convoy, and it then turns mysterious when Imperial fighters show up instead. The Rogue squadron pilots must depend on the aid of insurgents who hate them in order to survive.

Following the story's resolution, Luke Skywalker explains that he cannot stay with Rogue Squadron as he must focus on building a New Jedi Order.

Trade paperbacks

• Star Wars: X-wing Rogue Squadron – The Phantom Affair
• Star Wars: X-wing Rogue Squadron – Battleground: Tatooine
• Star Wars: X-wing Rogue Squadron – The Warrior Princess
• Star Wars: X-wing Rogue Squadron – Requiem for a Rogue
• Star Wars: X-wing Rogue Squadron – In the Empire's Service
• Star Wars: X-wing Rogue Squadron – Blood and Honor
• Star Wars: X-wing Rogue Squadron – Masquerade
• Star Wars: X-wing Rogue Squadron – Mandatory Retirement
• Omnibus: X-wing Rogue Squadron – Volume 1
• Omnibus: X-wing Rogue Squadron – Volume 2
• Omnibus: X-wing Rogue Squadron – Volume 3
• Omnibus: The Other Sons of Tatooine
• Epic Collection: Star Wars – The New Republic, Volumes 2–3

References

Footnotes

Citations