Star Wars Just Fundamentally Changed Lando’s Original Trilogy Canon

Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Star Wars #45 For all of his charm and performance as a scoundrel and con man, Star Wars has proven that Lando Calrissian has always been a Rebel from the moment he first debuted on-screen. Granted, Calrissian began his life as a genuine con man looking to make his next big score. However, it’s been confirmed that things were much different for the Baron Administrator of Cloud City by the time he was first introduced to audiences in The Empire Strikes Back.

In Marvel Comics’ canonical Star Wars #45 by Charles Soule and Madibek Musabekov, Lando Calrissian is facing a Rebel Alliance tribunal after he admitted to selling Rebellion secrets to save the life of Lobot, his right-hand man and one of his oldest friends. To that end, his lawyer Salli Georgio is doing all she can to advocate for Lando’s character. This includes a surprising fact about Calrissian during the events of The Empire Strikes Back when Darth Vader came to Cloud City to set a trap for Luke Skywalker:

Things still look bleak for Lando in the face of his recent crimes which undoubtedly jeopardized the security of the Rebellion. However, this new reveal certainly helped Calrissian’s standing while also fundamentally changing his original trilogy arc in a key way.

Lando Stayed On Cloud City To Protect His People

He Could Have Left When The Deal Got Worse

Without question, Lando was caught in a difficult situation in The Empire Strikes Back. However, rather than being caught with a bad hand he was forced to play, Lando Calrissian chose to stay even when the deal continued to get worse. He chose his people over his own safety and well-being. While it doesn’t change the fact that he sold out Han Solo and Luke Skywalker whom he’d yet to meet, the alternative was his people being imprisoned by the Empire.

Had Lando only been the con man and scoundrel he professes to be, he would have left the second things took a turn for the worse. Instead, he chose to stay and fight for the people under his protection. As such, it’s certainly a win for Georgio to point out this fact during Lando’s trial, though it will likely take more for Lando to be cleared and get back in the good graces of the Alliance, let alone eventually becoming a key general Lando is in Return of the Jedi.

Lando Calrissian Has Always Been A Rebel

His Star Wars Redemption Is Imminent

This new Star Wars issue definitely proves that deep down, Lando Calrissian has always been a Rebel hero at heart, even before he officially joined up with the Alliance. Additionally, this point is hammered home even more with Lando still trying to help save the recently kidnapped Mon Mothma despite having problems of his own with his trial. While Lando Calrissian believes that he deserves everything that’s coming to him and that he doesn’t deserve a second chance, he’s continually proving that he deserves one and that his redemption is right around the corner in the Star Wars canon.

Star Wars #45 is available now from Marvel Comics.