Poe Dameron: Unknown Enemies

“I’ve traveled too far, seen too much, to ignore the despair in the galaxy.”

So said Lor San Tekka at the beginning of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” And its that experience, wisdom, and guidance that Black Squadron have been in search of in the events that lead to the film. Out today, writer Charles Soule and artist Angel Unzueta‘s POE DAMERON #23 continues the search for Lor San Tekka, as General Leia Organa sends her most trusted Resistance pilots on a mission that’ll lead to a dangerous attack from an unexpected foe…

Marvel.com spoke with Charles Soule about the issue and this surprising threat.

Marvel.com: Charles, where exactly do we find Poe and the Black Squadron at the start of issue #23?

Charles Soule: In trouble. Of course. From the beginning of the series, the team’s goal has been to track down Lor San Tekka, the fabled explorer and expert in Force-related lore whom they hope can point them to the location of Luke Skywalker. (This series takes place just before “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” so we get to see a lot of how the moments that happen in that film are set up.)

In the issues just before #23, Poe and Black Squadron finally found Lor on a planet called Cato Neimoidia, which we saw way back in the prequels. He was in prison there for trying to steal a Force artifact, and Black Squadron, along with Leia Organa, tried to break him out. That worked…but then things went very wrong. That’s where we pick up in issue #23.

Marvel.com: Any chance you can give us a hint on who the mysterious attacker will be in this issue?

Charles Soule: Well, part of that is tied to the twist ending of issue #22…but let’s just say it’s one of their own.

Marvel.com: How high is the danger factor for Black Squadron in #23?

Charles Soule: Very! Black Squadron is under attack by a huge swarm of kamikaze droid fighters, Lor San Tekka is in dire need of rescue, and old, deadly enemies are raising their heads again for the first time in a while. It’s bad news.

Marvel.com: What’s going through the minds of Poe and the squad? Are they worried about how this mission will end up?

Charles Soule: Not only are they afraid they’ll fail the mission, but also each other, and the entire galaxy. The stakes are very high here—it’s all or nothing.

Marvel.com: We met Lor San Tekka briefly at the beginning of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” What else can you tell us about him and his importance to the Resistance? 

Charles Soule: Lor San Tekka knows how to find Luke Skywalker, but he’s also a treasure trove of information about the galaxy as a whole. He knows where new allies might be found, new hidden spots to set up secret bases, and of course, more about the Force than almost anyone alive. If he’s lost…not good.

Join the Resistance in Charles Soule and artist Angel Unzueta’s POE DAMERON #23 today—January 24!