'Star Wars 9' Theories: New Poe Comic Teases Origins of the First Order
Poe's work with the New Republic may have led him to fight alongside the Resistance.
by Mae AbdulbakiPoe Dameron’s backstory is one of the unresolved mysteries of the new Star Wars sequel trilogy, but that’s about to change. As a core character helping to lead the Resistance, Oscar Isaac’s rogue pilot has become a fan favorite. Though much isn’t known about his origins, a new Star Wars comic book gives us new insight into Poe’s history and hints at the beginnings of the conflict between the Resistance and the First Order prior to Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
StarWars.com recently unveiled new comic book series featuring Poe and General Hux. Titled Marvel’s Age of Resistance, they document characters’ stories prior to joining the Resistance and the First Order, respectively. The comic books have been confirmed as canon and, though this isn’t the first time Poe’s been mentioned as a former pilot for the Republic, it is the first time the franchise is delving into the specifics.
Poe has always been a fighter.
The history of the New Republic is an interesting one — a government set up to replace the original democracy of the Galactic Republic, which was ultimately toppled under Emperor Palpatine’s regime. Its inclusion in the comic series and its ties to Poe hint at the brewing tension between the First Order and the Resistance prior to The Force Awakens. Though the New Republic is mentioned in Episode VII, Poe working as a pilot for the government provides insight into its inner workings.
If you recall, the First Order destroyed the New Republic’s planet of Hosnian Prime, which served as the capital. Perhaps Poe discovered the First Order’s plot against the New Republic prior to their attacks and decided to warn the Resistance. This would definitely serve as a parallel to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, but works in reverse since we met Poe before these events. And while it’s now disbanded, there’s always a possibility that we could glimpse remnants of the former Republic in The Rise of Skywalker.
Poe helps Finn escape and many fans had hoped they'd get together in canon.
Additionally, Poe #1 writer Tom Taylor teases that Lucasfilm and Marvel “let me do something… interesting with this story”. The tweet is vague enough to keep spoilers at bay, but intriguing enough for fans to speculate on what exactly Taylor’s referring to. Many believe his comment hints at Poe finally being presented as queer in canon. If that turns out to be true, it’d be a great way to confirm the first LGBTQ character to appear onscreen in a Star Wars movie, but only time will tell.
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hits theaters December 20, 2019.
