From the Comics: What Happened to Chewbacca’s Medal

Many Star Wars fans know that Chewbacca didn’t receive a medal at the end of A New Hope but that he did receive it at some point in the Star Wars expanded universe. However, with continuity shifts and Disney’s restructuring, the final fate of his medal is not quite as commonly known as it was before. In today’s “From the Comics” we’re taking another look at the situation and explaining where Chewbacca’s medal can be found today.

At the end of A New Hope, both Luke Skywalker and Han Solo were given a Medal of Bravery by Princess Leia Organa. Chewbacca was seemingly left out. This transgression on the Wookie’s character was corrected in the “Day of the Death Star!” comic book story, from 1980. This UK comic book finally showed Chewbacca receiving his medal and explained that he was given it in a private ceremony. Though this story was cannon for years, it was wiped from continuity when Disney acquired the Star Wars franchise.

Within modern continuity, Chewbacca’s acquisition of a medal is first reconfirmed in the junior novel Smuggler’s Run: A Han Solo & Chewbacca Adventure. In this book, narration describes Chewie holding his medal and thinking about how small it looks in his hands. Though this does not bring the private medal ceremony back into continuity, it does confirm that Chewie was given a medal at some point between the destruction of the Death Star and the evacuation of Yavin IV.

Later on, fans discover the final fate of Chewbacca’s medal through the Star Wars: Chewbacca (Review) comic miniseries. In this comic, Chewbacca crash lands on the Outer Rim planet of Andelm IV, where the native population is forced into slavery by a vicious gangster with ties to the Empire. While there, he teams up with a young girl, named Zarro, to topple the gangster’s regime and free the people. Before leaving, Chewbacca shows his admiration for Zarro’s bravery by giving her his medal. She initially protests but accepts it after Chewie humorously tells her that the medal’s appearance clashes with his “warrior vibe”.

This appears to be the final destination for Chewbacca’s Medal of Bravery. It is possible we’ll see it again in the future but, as of right now, fans can rest easy knowing that it is safe with a young girl on a faraway planet.

Recommended Reading

If you’re interested in reading these comic adventures for yourself, we recommend picking up the following titles:

• Star Wars Weekly 97– which details the original ceremony where Chewbacca received his medal. This comic can currently be found collected in Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Original Marvel Years Vol. 2 or Star Wars: The Complete Marvel Years Omnibus Vol. 3.
• Star Wars: Chewbacca (Review)- which shows Chewbacca giving his medal away.

 

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