The stormtroopers act as the backbone of the Empire's might in the Star Wars galaxy, serving as a sea of white-armored soldiers, hiding any personal identity behind uniformity and an emotionless helmet. However, in Dark Horse Comics' Star Wars Tales, that helmet is taken away for one soldier, revealing the tragic backstory of the first stormtrooper to have ever been seen by audiences in A New Hope, the first Star Wars film. This particular stormtrooper was the first to breach Princess Leia Organa's ship in the very first scene of the movie, but his story is much deeper than that.
In 2001's Star Wars Tales #10, a short story was featured entitled "Trooper." Written by Garth Ennis and drawn by John McRea, the backstory of this unnamed trooper is revealed, and he's begging and praying that he's not called upon to be the first trooper to breach the captured ship, as the first to breach almost always dies. He remembers his simple and mundane life back on the planet of Greater Marinas he was living on before the Empire arrived. Seeking to change his station in life, he decides to enlist with the Empire, suffering through a grueling and brutal training regimen among other recruits, not being allowed to help his fellow trooper in times of struggle, lest he suffer consequences from his superiors.
While the Empire did give him a way out of his simple life, the trooper quickly realizes that his overlords do not care about him in the slightest. They only care about what he can do for them, and if he can follow orders to gain victory over those who would dare to defy the Empire. He quickly grows disillusioned with his service to the Empire, which is why he's praying to not be the first breacher. Those prayers go unanswered.
However, the Force favors this trooper in this moment, as the Rebels do flinch, and he makes it though despite being first, carving a path with his fellows stormtroopers for the entrance of Lord Vader, all while somehow surviving. Perhaps he will make it through and be able to leave his life in the Empire behind, going AWOL. But those dreams are quickly dashed. This same trooper was the one who found Princess Leia, and is promptly shot in the face by the defiant Rebel leader. Sadly, this first trooper ends up giving his life in service to an Empire that he never believed in and wanted to be free of.
It's an extremely sad tale, and while this particular story is now considered to be non-canonical, it's not unlike the story and themes found in the journey of Stormtrooper FN-2187, otherwise known as Finn, who left the First Order in The Force Awakens in search of a new life and meaning, finding people who actually cared about him and his well-being. Finn would go on to become a major Resistance hero in the sequel Star Wars trilogy. Perhaps the nameless trooper in this story would have joined the Rebellion in a similar manner, had he been given the chance.
from ScreenRant - Feed https://ift.tt/3j8mQm5
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