Disney’s Star Wars land comics series starts off with a fun callback to Return of the Jedi

Disney’s first Star Wars land opens in a little over a month, and the media giant is kicking things off with a new Marvel Comics series titled Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Issue #1 is out Wednesday, and fans will be delighted to know that it includes a fun callback to Return of the Jedi.

While the story itself is fairly light, this issue does double duty as a sneak peek inside one of the most ambitious theme parks ever conceived.

Galaxy’s Edge introduces a new band of mysterious outlaws: two aliens named Remex and Wooro, and a human named Kendoh. The threesome arrives on the planet Batuu at the Black Spire outpost, only to find themselves wanted by the First Order. Their mission takes them to Dok-Ondar, a well-known IIthorian and a collector of rare treasures. Most of the narrative is a flashback starring Han Solo and Chewbacca, an action-packed romp that’s heavy on the acrobatics.

While Han and Chewie pull off some excellent stunts, the stars of this comic are an adorable pair of baby sarlaccs, miniature versions of the subterranean creature that famously devoured Boba Fett in 1983.

Ethan Sacks, Will Sliney/Marvel Comics

But we wouldn’t be surprised if we end up seeing these little buggers in real life as one of the many curiosities on display at Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities, a high-concept gift shop being built inside the actual theme park.

We’ve known about Dok-Ondar’s shop for a while now. Not only will it be selling replica lightsabers from all throughout the 40-plus-year history of the Star Wars franchise, it’s also going to be a kind of museum. Disney Parks staffers claim to have engineered the place top to bottom, filling it with dozens of Easter eggs for die-hard fans to gobble up. In fact, one particular panel from today’s comic is a dead ringer for a picture shown at this year’s Star Wars Celebration.

Ethan Sacks, Will Sliney/Marvel Comics

Charlie Hall/Polygon

The next issue of Galaxy’s Edge is due out on May 22, just a week before the land opens. Just what other secrets are hidden in plain sight is anyone’s guess. The series will run all through the summer and into the fall. Marvel previewed some early covers during a panel at this year’s Star Wars Celebration, which I’ve included in the photo below. They star Greedo, Hondo Ohnaka, and Doctor Aphra, respectively.

Charlie Hall/Polygon