The mighty Chewbacca didn't always get the respect he deserved. But throughout the Star Wars legend he stood tall and furry, a tower of loyalty, compassion and growly strength. And then, in the novel Vector Prime, the unthinkable happened: Chewie died.

Of course it was a heroic death. As I understand it (I didn't read the book), someone threw a small moon at him. And yet, the galaxy seems just a bit smaller without him there at Han Solo's side.

Thus we have Star Wars: Chewbacca, a graphic novel from Dark Horse that memorializes the big, walking fuzzball through nearly a dozen anecdotes told by those who knew him.

None of the short stories in Chewbacca sets the Star Wars universe on its ear. They're small tales, mostly, little incidents in the life of a Wookie from courtship and feud to duel and melee. Some are funny, some serious, some a little sad. All in all, they're kind of sweet. It's a nice little tribute to a beloved character, and it's intended mostly for those fans who can't get enough Chewie.

Of course, it's important to remember to "let the Wookie win."

by Tom Knapp
Rambles.NET
21 April 2007