Naval Cadets: Should you survive basic training and earn
your wings in flight school, you will have earned the
honor of dispensing the Emperor's justice upon countelss
systems across the Galaxy - as TIE Fighter pilots!
Star Wars: Han Solo - Imperial Cadet is a 2018 Marvel Comics Star Wars Expanded Universe mini-series written by Robbie Thompson and illustrated by Leonard Kirk.
Taking place during the three-year Time Skip at the beginning of Solo, the story picks up shortly after Han Solo escapes Corellia by signing up for the Imperial Navy. Being a former street thief Han is finding it hard conforming to the Empire’s military discipline. Will he be even be able to make it through basic training, or will Han’s Solo’s dream of flying amongst the stars be grounded forever?
Tropes featured in this comic include:
- Accidental Marriage: The Star Wars equivalent of a Vegas wedding nearly happens to Tamu in chapter 3
. - Drill Sergeant Nasty: Triosa Broog. She and Han get along swimmingly.Broog: Cadets, 124-329 wants to know what basic training has to do with flying. Well, I believe showing is better than telling. So you can all show 124-329 how important training is by running up that mountain in full gear. And when you get back, you can run it again to make sure he really understands. Enjoy the view, 124-329.
- Foregone Conclusion: The audience already knows that Han will get kicked out of the Navy and reassigned to Mimban by the end. There's even some early dialogue Foreshadowing it:Dree: Why'd you sign up? To get off Corellia?Han: To get back to Corellia.Valance: Hah! Not happening. Rate you're going, you won't even make flight training. They'll send you to someplace warm and wretched. Like Urthak. Or worse, Mimban.
- I Can Explain: Han says this word for word when is caught playing hooky... in a stolen TIE Fighter.
- Interquel: Set during the three year Time Skip that occurs early on in Solo, starting from Han joining the Empire on Corellia and ending with his reassignment to the Infantry on Mimban.
- "Not So Different" Remark: The Academy headmaster, Commander Yurib Nakan, is forgiving of Han's cowboy behavior because he was quite the cowboy himself in his younger days.Nakan: Do you know what kind of cadet I was, Solo?Han: I'm going to go out on a limb here and say "the best"?Nakan: The worst. Insubordinate. Arrogant. Spent more time in the brig than in a cockpit. Sound familiar?
- The Rival: Cadet 404-193, aka Beilart Valance.Valance: As you can see on the leaderboard… you're still right where you belong.
- Shadow Archetype: Yurib Nakan is essentially what the older Han would have been like had he remained a loyal Imperial officer.Nakan: I came from chaos, Solo. Just like you. I eventually became the best for one reason and one reason only: I followed orders. The Empire is order, Solo. The end of chaos.
- Training from Hell: Would you expect an Imperial Boot Camp to be anything less?
- You Are Number 6: Carida Academy makes it clear to Han that while he is a boot, he doesn't have a name, only a number.Han: I thought this was where we train to be pilots?Security Guard: That's only if you survive basic training, Cadet 124-329.Han: My name is Han...Security Guard: Not anymore, 124-329. Now move out!
