The Star Wars comics have teased Rose Tico's new role in the Resistance, but even before the trilogy's end in The Rise of Skywalker, it appears her most important (and most criticized) decision in Star Wars: The Last Jedi has all the potential of a great running joke for fans.
If anyone has forgotten Rose's unconventional method of saving Finn's life in The Last Jedi, they can be forgiven (the last fight and death of Luke Skywalker steals the spotlight soon after). But it's famed for being one of the... least logically sound twists of the film. One which the larger Star Wars universe is now embracing as Rose's gift for surprise.
When the fleet of Resistance pilots make their collective suicide run on the First Order's battering ram, their mission becomes moot once the weapon begins its firing sequence. Poe orders the pilots to retreat, but Finn refuses to turn back... and eventually, so does Rose.
Finn's determination to give his life to hopefully destroy the battering ram (and give the Resistance more time) is admirable, but misguided. At least in the opinion of Rose, who--having previously been shown retreating along with the other pilots--suddenly appears flying at full speed perpendicular to Finn, using her craft to smash his out of the way just moments before the weapon fires. Is it possible for her to have covered the distance and then some while Finn flew flat-out the opposite direction? Of course not. But it turns out that's something of a 'signature move' for Rose, according to the extended canon.
The physics-defying tackle was clearly on the minds behind Star Wars: Journey to The Rise of Skywalker - Allegiance, who pay homage to Rose's move in Issue #4. The official preview finds Leia, Rey, and Rose seeking help from Admiral Ackbar's son Aftab, on his home world of Mon Cala. When an attempt is made on Leia's life, Rey and Rose leap into pursuit of the terrorist bomber. Well, it's Rey who leaps into immediate pursuit, while Rose decides to confiscate a hover scooter... and use it the only way she knows how.
Yes, the blindside ramming proves just as effective against a fleeing terrorist as it does against a friendly Finn, and the visual gag pays homage to The Last Jedi directly enough for fans to spot the joking reference. Perhaps this should be taken as evidence that in The Rise of Skywalker, Rose has found her perfect attack strategy is striking only at 90 degree angles to her opponent (it would certainly explain why Rose didn't appear in early marketing...). For that fans will have to wait and see. But in the meantime, find the full credits and plot synopsis for Allegiance #4, arriving this coming Wednesday.
- Journey To Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker - Allegiance #4 (of 4)
- Release Date: October 30th, 2019
- Written by: Ethan Sacks
- Art by: Luke Ross
- Cover Art by: Marco Checchetto
- BEFORE THE EXCITING EVENTS OF STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER! POE DAMERON and FINN have their own mission: to hunt down a weapons cache on the remote moon of Avedot, unaware that they are being hunted by the most notorious criminal gang in the galaxy.
Journey To Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker - Allegiance #4 will be available at your local comic book shop on October 30th, 2019.