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Star Wars Adventures
Star Wars Adventures: Chewbacca and the Slavers of the Shadowlands
Journey back nearly two hundred years before the events in A New Hope as Chewbacca relates a story from his youth on Kashyyyk. Determined to prove themselves eligible for the rites of adulthood, Chewie and his young friends venture into the perilous Shadowlands in search of adventure. But they find far more than they bargained for when they stumble upon slavers plotting a raid on the Wookiee village.
The accidental encounter becomes one of Chewie's most formative experiences—one he wishes hadn't happened at all!
• Fantastic art by comics newcomer Jennifer Meyer!
The accidental encounter becomes one of Chewie's most formative experiences—one he wishes hadn't happened at all!
• Fantastic art by comics newcomer Jennifer Meyer!
80 pages, Paperback
First published August 31, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 26, 2011
I always love backstories and although the framework takes place 6 months after the Battle of Yavin, the actual story, being retold by Chewbacca, takes place during the Old Republic era when he was a teenager. The story itself is OK but the artwork is really good. I love that the artist is a woman.
March 11, 2019
This is the first of the Star Wars Adventures series that I straight-up don't like. I found the art to be...off somehow. It's kind of messy, a bit manga-looking, and the character design is slightly goofy. There were several times when I couldn't quite tell what was supposed to be happening. And the story of young Chewbacca simply didn't interest me in any way.
May 18, 2024
The framing device helped ground this story, which was fascinating because of the era in which it was set. I liked seeing more of Chewbacca's earlier life. The art, though... I can appreciate a soft, cutesy style (and I did like it here), but it didn't match the tone of the story and felt a bit off as a result.
June 2, 2019
A great insight into Chewbacca's youth, and his learning an important lesson the hard way...
May 21, 2021
Star Wars Legends Project #269
Background: Chewbacca and the Slavers of the Shadowlands was published in August 2011, the sixth (and last) in the Star Wars Adventures series of graphic novellas. It was written by Chris Cerasi with art by Jennifer Meyer. Cerasi wrote a smattering of miscellaneous Star Wars works, but was more prominent in his role as the LucasBooks editor for all Dark Horse Star Wars comics. This is Meyer's only Star Wars credit.
Chewbacca and the Slavers of the Shadowlands has a framing story set 6 months after the Battle of Yavin, but the main story is a flashback that takes place 185 years earlier, when Chewbacca is a young Wookiee. Han Solo and Princess Leia appear in the framing story, but of course Chewbacca is the main character throughout, along with a number of one-off characters. The main story is set on Kashyyyk.
Summary: While travelling aboard the Millennium Falcon, Chewbacca reminisces about a formative experience he had as a young Wookiee on Kashyyyk. Jealous and anxious to prove himself after a friend is first to experience a formative rite of passage, Chewbacca leads a number of other young Wookiees on a reckless expedition into the treacherous Shadowlands of Kashyyyk, and finds himself facing challenges and consequences that will haunt him for the rest of his life.
Review: This is a very well-plotted story for the length we have to work with. I like the way the framing device establishes a context for why Chewie is the character that he is when we know him during this period of his life. The art is great and does a really good job of distinguishing the various young Wookiee characters from each other, and they make it easy to quickly become invested in the story. We know that Chewbacca survives this experience, but nothing about the others, and that makes the stakes feel very real.
It does feel like the tone is a little uneven at various points in the story. Some really intense stuff happens that will likely be a lot for a younger audience, but at the same time most of this is clearly aimed at that same audience. The villains in particular, while clearly evil, are pretty cartoonish (even by the standards of being drawn in a comic. Still, overall this is a quick and enjoyable read, and a must for Chewie fans.
B
Background: Chewbacca and the Slavers of the Shadowlands was published in August 2011, the sixth (and last) in the Star Wars Adventures series of graphic novellas. It was written by Chris Cerasi with art by Jennifer Meyer. Cerasi wrote a smattering of miscellaneous Star Wars works, but was more prominent in his role as the LucasBooks editor for all Dark Horse Star Wars comics. This is Meyer's only Star Wars credit.
Chewbacca and the Slavers of the Shadowlands has a framing story set 6 months after the Battle of Yavin, but the main story is a flashback that takes place 185 years earlier, when Chewbacca is a young Wookiee. Han Solo and Princess Leia appear in the framing story, but of course Chewbacca is the main character throughout, along with a number of one-off characters. The main story is set on Kashyyyk.
Summary: While travelling aboard the Millennium Falcon, Chewbacca reminisces about a formative experience he had as a young Wookiee on Kashyyyk. Jealous and anxious to prove himself after a friend is first to experience a formative rite of passage, Chewbacca leads a number of other young Wookiees on a reckless expedition into the treacherous Shadowlands of Kashyyyk, and finds himself facing challenges and consequences that will haunt him for the rest of his life.
Review: This is a very well-plotted story for the length we have to work with. I like the way the framing device establishes a context for why Chewie is the character that he is when we know him during this period of his life. The art is great and does a really good job of distinguishing the various young Wookiee characters from each other, and they make it easy to quickly become invested in the story. We know that Chewbacca survives this experience, but nothing about the others, and that makes the stakes feel very real.
It does feel like the tone is a little uneven at various points in the story. Some really intense stuff happens that will likely be a lot for a younger audience, but at the same time most of this is clearly aimed at that same audience. The villains in particular, while clearly evil, are pretty cartoonish (even by the standards of being drawn in a comic. Still, overall this is a quick and enjoyable read, and a must for Chewie fans.
B
November 4, 2022
Boring.
July 21, 2013
I'd previously read and enjoyed two other Dark Horse Star Wars Adventures books, so when I had the opportunity to buy another, I did so, even paying cover price. Chewbacca & The Slavers of the Shadowlands was poorly written, in my opinion, and I didn't like the art. Next time I'll wait until I can get a used/discounted copy of another SWA book.
November 21, 2013
also bought it for a dollar. really liked the art and the action scenes, kinda like a manga, the story was weak and a a little bit lame, then again i'm 23 years old, the drama in it might impress kids though. but some action scenes sent shivers down my spine and i reread them more than once.
started and finished the whole thing while doing my laundry in the laundromat.
started and finished the whole thing while doing my laundry in the laundromat.
April 27, 2015
Absolute garbage. The story was simplistic and dumbed down even though it was obviously written for a child. The artwork was horrible in that it lacked detail and definition and essentially was a mess of water colors. The opening segue with Han, Leia, and Chewbacca was so stereotypical rehash it was insulting. Awful.
December 5, 2012
I was really surprised by this one. Received it free through a promotion and thought it would be awful, but it was actually pretty good.
Reminded me a lot of Mouse Guard in the Star Wars universe.
Reminded me a lot of Mouse Guard in the Star Wars universe.
December 22, 2013
I came across the artist for this in an anthology collection she'd contributed to, really like her style and looked into what else she had done. How could I not like a book with a great artist and my favorite character from Star Wars. I hope the powers that be send more work her way.
June 28, 2012
Eh, it was ok. Nice to see a story from Chewbacca's point of view and about his home planet but it really hits you over the head w/ the moral of the story. :P
October 9, 2012
Public library copy.
August 3, 2014
Chewbacca, the coming of age badass tale.
March 11, 2016
I like this book.
August 7, 2016
Yeah - this was pretty average - almost a 2 star.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews