Summary
Fans of theStar Warsmovies and shows know that the vast universe is home to a plethora of people and creatures, some of which can be frightening and dangerous. Those who have explored deeper into the written stories know that what fans see on screen is only at the cusp of what is actually out there in the galaxy far, far away.
Some notable beings that are briefly mentioned inStar Warscanon include Abeloth, the Mortis Gods,the Grysk, and many more. One entity that is especially strange, though, is the mysterious, terrifyingly dangerous Starweird. With only a few mentions in all ofStar Warslore, there is very limited information on Starweirds and where they came from. It is safe to say that they have a fitting name, as they are found among the stars, and they are for sure among the weirdest species in all ofStar Wars.
What Are Starweirds?
Little is known about Starweirds and their origins, but stories have been told about adventurers' encounters with them. Starweirds are a humanoid species that resembles a human skeleton more than a fully put-together body. They are unnaturally tall, with long, thick white hair and cloth-like skin that hangs from their bodies like a tattered flag on a post. Their face is skeletal, with empty eye sockets, no nose, and razor sharp teeth. Their hands are equipped with long, skinny fingers, with black claws extending at their tips.
Starweirds have very long legs, but they do not walk; rather, they float or fly. They are very strong, thought to have the ability to wield the Force, particularly the Dark Side. However, their physical strengths are equally damaging. They can use their claws to easily slice through opponents, and their screech is so loud it can cause great pain and even bleeding. On top of having a deadly attack, Starweirds are also very strong defensively. They experience little to no effect from a blaster shot, and can even continue fighting afer being stabbed with a lightsaber or a similar weapon.
Starweirds have only ever been found in deep space. They often stow away on theunderside of a shipand infiltrate its defenses before breaking into the cabin and wreaking havoc among those on board. No one is quite sure where Starweirds originated from, or what their motivations and intentions are. It’s assumed that they are ancient beings of the Force, much likethe Mortis Gods, but that information is only speculation.
Due to their mysterious backgrounds, many across the galaxy don’t believe the Starweirds to be real. Instead, they associate them with legend and myth, or consider them to be just a plot device for scary stories passed down through generations. Even those who believed them to have existed thought they were long extinct by the time of the Battle of Yavin. After all, the stories told about them typically end with entire space crews being annihilated, with no one able to return and tell the story firsthand. However, a few Jedi encountered the deadly creature during the Clone Wars, and again some years after the Battle of Yavin, and lived to tell the tale.
Published by Wizards of the Coast, 2000
Published by Marvel Comics, 2023
Starweirds made their first official appearance in the 2000 d20 systemroleplaying game, appropriately titledStar Wars Roleplaying Game. Here, they were creatures that one might encounter when out on a quest. However, little information was given on who they were and where they came from. It should also be noted that as a roleplaying game, no events that take place in theStar Wars Roleplaying Gameare considered canon in theStar Warsuniverse.
Fast-forward more than twenty years (real time, not ABY), and Starweirds have their first official canon appearance in the Marvel Comics issue ofDoctor Aphra. Though the comic series began in 2020, Starweirds don’t appear in theDoctor Aphraseries until issue numbers 32, 33, and 34, all of which were released in 2023.
In this arc of the comics (which takes place between 3 and 4 ABY), Luke is kidnapped by Doctor Chelli Lona Aphra (a sort of vigilante archaeologist) and taken to the Sason Temple in search of Kythoo’s Bell, an ancient artifact that was meant to act as a security system against an imprisoned Starweird. Willing to test the legend’s validity, Aphra brings Luke along to the temple to investigate.
Inside the temple, both Luke and Aphra fall into a pool, where they encounter the imprisoned Starweird. They learn that two Jedi,Shaak Ti and Aalya Secura, were responsible for locking the dangerous creature away. As the story progresses, Luke and Aphra learn why the Starweird was in captivity, as they are forced to fight against it.
With theDoctor Aphraseries officially welcoming the Starweirds intoStar Warscanon, maybe fans will eventually see the great beast appear in future works on screen.
Star Wars
Star Wars is a multimedia franchise originally created by George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd with the 1977 motion picture. The science fiction franchise follows the adventures of characters (both humanoid and alien) in outer space including those who can wield a mystical power known as the Force. Since the release of the original trilogy of movies, the franchise has expanded to include multiple films and branched out to other media like comics, video games, tv shows, theme park attractions, and more. The IP and Lucasfilm were sold to Disney in 2012.
