Warning: SPOILERS for Star Wars #2
Star Wars' Lando Calrissian is many things: a smuggler, a gambler, a scoundrel, and one day a hero of the Rebellion. However, it looks like he didn't become said hero of the Rebellion immediately after he decided to help the movies' heroes in The Empire Strikes Back.
After reconnecting with the Rebellion, Lando and Chewie fly off in the Millenium Falcon, trying to figure out a way to save Han from Boba Fett -- but Lando has other plans in the works. Marvel's Star Wars #2 confirms that he may regret stabbing Han Solo in the back, but Lando is still a massive scoundrel, caring more about his own self-interest than he does helping the Rebellion. Especially now that fans know about his other deal -- with Jabba the Hutt.
In the first issue of the new Star Wars series, from writer Charles Soule with art by Jesús Saiz, the fallout from Empire is felt by all aboard the Falcon. Leia, torn between her desire to save and Han and return to the Rebellion, chooses the latter. However, it's revealed that the Empire has successfully broken the Rebellion's transmission codes, meaning that if any of the Rebel cells try to contact one another, the Empire will know and intercept. But the first issue also reveals that Luke's connection to the force is fractured, causing the young hero to question whether it's his destiny to become a Jedi at all. Lando, on the other hand, has lost all of the power and resources he once had as Cloud City's baron administrator. Which is exactly why he offers to go to Tatooine to discover whether or not Boba Fett has delivered Han to Jabba -- or if Jabba even knows his man has been captured. At least, that's what he tells Leia, Luke, and Chewie.
Leia is hesitant, unsure if she can trust Lando, but Lando promises he'll return with information from his connections and that he can be trusted. Chewbacca joins him on the Falcon and they travel to Tatooine. Once Lando gets into the palace, he learns that Boba has yet to arrive with Han. He then is granted a meeting with Jabba. Lando tries to cut a deal with Jabba, asking for fighters to take back Cloud City in exchange for a deal on Tibana gas, Cloud City's main export. Jabba has no need for any such deal, as he already a deal for gas in place with the Empire. With his plans to regain his wealth foiled, Lando exchanges the only thing he has left: information. With Jabba ready to throw Lando in his rancor pit, Lando tells Jabba that Boba has Han, and also promises to let him know anything of interest he might hear while with the Rebellion. Jabba decides to let Lando go. Rejoining Chewie at the Falcon, they go back to Leia, Luke, and the Rebel cell.
It looks as though it's going to take some time before Lando fully commits to the Rebel cause. He's still looking out for himself, doing whatever he can to get ahead and survive, even if that means selling out the Rebellion, using them for his own ends. Star Wars fans know that this will eventually change before the events seen in Return of Jedi and that Lando will become a general due to a victory at the off-screen Battle of Taanab. Perhaps it will be featured in a future issue? In the meantime, something is going to have to change for Lando before he becomes the hero that destroys the second Death Star.
Star Wars #2 is on comic book store shelves now.