Indiana Jones are two of the most iconic characters in pop culture. Both portrayed by the legendary Harrison Ford, Han and Indy are unapologetic rogues who spend their lives pursuing adventure. Tragically, because of their very different worlds, there's never been a way for the characters to appear together... except for the time they absolutely did.
'Into the Great Unknown' is a clever ten-page story that fans of both Star Wars and Indiana Jones need to see. In the story, Han Solo and Chewbacca crash-land the Millennium Falcon on Earth, leading to a dark crossover with the ultimate archeologist.
'Into the Great Unknown' appeared in 2004's Star Wars Tales #19, from the creative team of W. Haden Blackman, Sean Murphy, Steve Dutro, and Dan Jackson.
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Han Solo and Chewbacca Crash Land on Earth With No Hope of Escape
The Pair Find That Earth Isn't As Hospitable As They Would Have Liked
The comic story starts with Han Solo and Chewbacca in the Millennium Falcon experiencing technical difficulties. Without any working navigation, Han has no choice but to jump through hyperspace before the ship is ready. The ill-timed hyperspace jump combined with the damage to the ship places Han and Chewy in an unknown galaxy; one that’s not so far, far away.
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Han scans the surrounding planets until he comes upon a mysterious blue planet that has lifesigns. As Han and Chewy descend on the planet (which the reader knows to be Earth), Han expresses his hope that the locals are friendly. As an entertaining aside, Han notes that the forest in which they crashed looks like Endor, begging the question if the Falcon crashed in the Redwood Forest - the real-life filming location for Endor. However, almost immediately upon landing, Han and Chewy are ambushed by locals wielding bows, arrows, and spears. Though the pair fight as best they can, Han is struck by multiple arrows and mortally wounded.
Realizing his imminent fate, Han asks Chewy to return him to the captain’s seat on the Millennium Falcon and tells his friend that he never expected his end to come in this manner. Han tells Chewy, "[I] always thought it would be you… getting killed… saving me or my kids… trying to repay that damn life debt… but I'm going first into the great unknown…" Chewy lets out a mournful cry as Han es away, leaving the Wookie alone and without his trusty partner. But where does Indiana Jones come in?
Over a Century Later, Indiana Jones Makes a Shocking Discovery
The Famed Archeologist Finds Himself Perplexed
126 years later, three humans journey through the woods: archeologist Indiana Jones, his sidekick Short Round, and their guide. Jones is tracking down local rumors of Bigfoot sightings when he comes across the decaying Millennium Falcon lodged in the trees. Upon investigating the inside of the ship, Jones comes across the skeletal remains of Han Solo, still in his captain’s seat and dressed in his iconic black vest.
Jones recognizes that the remains are human in nature and muses about how something "feels familiar" to him. When Jones turns away to exit the ship, he tells his small party that he’s ending the search for Bigfoot, as some things are better left as "the great unknown." From a distance, Chewy watches on, still protecting the Millennium Falcon and his fallen friend.
It's a tragic story that perfectly suits how Indiana Jones' world often throws up impossible realities, from mythic artifacts to otherwordly technology. Learning that Bigfoot is a stranded alien is about how Jones' adventures tend to go, but that concept is made much more touching by fans knowing the alien in question so well. While 'Into the Great Unknown' may not be considered canon to either movie continuity, it's wild that Star Wars served up an officially Indiana Jones crossover to fans, imagining a tragic but logical way for Harrison Ford's characters to meet.
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Hailing from Corellia, Han Solo deserted the Empire to become a smuggler, and he spent years working for the Hutts as a spice runner. Han's life changed forever when he agreed to transport Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker to Alderaan from Tatooine, and he soon became an important member of the Rebel Alliance. Han's romance with Leia Organa became the stuff of legend, and they married shortly after the Battle of Endor. Sadly, their relationship ended in tragedy when their son Ben fell to the dark side - eventually killing Han. Still, memories of Han helped bring Ben back to the light.
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Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.
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Created by George Lucas, Indiana Jones is an action-adventure multimedia franchise that began with the launch of its first film, Raiders of the Lost Ark, in 1981. The series follows Dr. Henry "Indiana" Jones, Jr., an archaeologist who adventures across the world with various friends as he faces off against the likes of Nazis and other groups bent on collecting ancient artifacts of power. Seeking to preserve history, Jones races against his incidental foes to stop them from conquering - or destroying- the world.
