Comic Review: Star Wars (2025) #9

January 23, 2026, 5:01 PM, GMT

Published: January 21, 2026
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Alex Segura
Artist: Ramon Rosanas
Colourist: Chris Sotomayor
Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Cover Artist: Phil Noto

The synopsis;

THE END FOR THE NEW REPUBLIC?!
• LUKE, LEIA, HAN and VALANCE struggle to reunite and help their Nagai allies fight for freedom!
• A shocking death as a hero falls at the hands of the ZANTARRK STORMTROOPERS!
• A villain’s desperate, final gamble puts everything the NEW REPUBLIC stands for in peril!
• Can an ancient JEDI RELIC rescue our heroes from certain death – or doom them?

The review;

It is the penultimate issue of this series, a series that has had a few up and down moments through its short run. However, last comic was easily one of those ups. The writing from Alex Segura was good – deep without been complicated. The real highlight for me was the artwork by Pete Woods. From the very first full-page panel, he enticed the reader and kept them engaged for the whole tale. I would have thought Woods would have returned but instead we get Ramon Rosanas. Rosanas is no stranger to Star Wars, having illustrated numerous series. He has a fantastic style; one I can’t wait to see in this installment. Segura is writing his finale, tying off the loose ends and bringing everything to a conclusion. The wheels are already in motion, where they stop in this comic is anyone’s guess.

We return to Nagai and Rosanas takes a leaf out of Woods’ book and gives us a full page spread. It’s not set in space, which is a shame, as it just can’t compete with the opening shot from last issue but that doesn’t mean Rosanas isn’t going to give us his all. The spread is of Han and Valance running from blaster fire. It looks fantastic and it must be said for the rest of the artwork in this issue. These artists are really pushing each other to new heights. Rosanas has never disappointed and he doesn’t start here. The faces, the expressions are spot on. When the New Republic fleet enters the fray, the detail on all the ships, the sheer scope of the fleet is a feast for the eyes.

But onto the story itself, and as last issue, it’s Han and Valance that really take the stage for me. While Han is running, he is talking to Leia, asking for help. This actually says more about Leia, but I get ahead of myself. It’s the interactions between Han and Valance, just like before, that make the issue. Valance starts to see that Han has become so soft since joining the Rebellion, since becoming a father and since becoming a general. Han, as is Han’s way, takes instant offence to this. Han is always on the defensive, always thinking that people are taking a shot at him. Yet it is Valance, someone who is part machine, who has had to have a very hard skin, to explain to Han that this is a huge positive, that it shouldn’t be a negative. Not only do we see Han’s walls come down a little, something we see very little of in a galaxy far, far away, but we also see Valance being the caring soul that we always hope he can be. It’s a touching moment between the two of them and I can’t think that I really want to see more of this.

While Han and Valance are having their moment, we see that Leia needs to help Han. When we first see Leia, she is with Ben and I thought Segura was trying to show that Leia can’t get involved because of her child. Her responsibilities extend far past her now, that she has her own child to consider. Yet, as soon as she is off the comm with Han she is talking to Mon Mothma. Mothma must explain to Leia that she has responsibilities that far exceed that of Han and her friends, namely the New Republic. At no point is Ben mentioned and I think Rosanas stages Ben in these panels to show that this child, the need of the child for his mother is practically ignored. Segura goes from showing us that Leia needs to care for Ben to demonstrating that Ben is such a low priority for Leia. No wonder he eventually turns to the dark side! It is certainly an interesting take on the character, one that is slightly uncomfortable to admit to a character we admire, but it is true to the character. Putting the galaxy first before her own personal life.

We see Luke in this part of the story with Tuula, but it is very minimal. The opening shot of them starting across the expanse of Nagai can’t help but evoke memories of Luke and Ben gazing across the dunes of Tatooine. When Luke does finally come to the battle, you can see he is very impatient, still having those youthful moments that show he still has some way to go before he fully matures into the Jedi he is meant to be. When he faces off against Oskure, he uses the Crown of Verity on her. As an artifact that was introduced so early on, I guess I was expecting a little more when it was actually used. But it almost seemed worthless. Perhaps that was the point? For me, it just deflated the issue a little. What did work for me, and drawing on the old lore of Legends, was how much Oskure wanted to try the Jedi, to taste his power. In old Legends this was something most Azanti craved because of the connection to the force.

All in all, this is a solid penultimate issue to begin the closing of the series. The most compelling aspect is still Han and Valance, and I hope that their friendship, this duo, see more time together in the pages of comics. Done right it could be fantastic. It seems obvious where this series is heading, how it will end, but I wouldn’t be surprised if something unexpected happens in that final part.

Availability;

Star Wars (2025) is an ongoing series published by Marvel Comics. This issue retails at $4.99 and is available from comiXology and your local comic book store.