"Look at the size of that thing!"

If he thought that "thing" was big then, Wedge Antilles ought to see it now. More than twenty years after its initial assault on the public, the Star Wars phenomenon has done nothing but increase in magnitude and grandeur. "Star Wars: A New Hope" ranked 15th among the top one hundred movies ever made. The release of the trilogy special editions resulted in lines similar to those seen when the movies made their first debuts, and launched George Lucas' dreamchild to the top of the movie-grossing charts (where it was sunk by, if you’ll forgive me, a much less interesting re-telling of the Titanic story). Toys and related games disappear from shelves with astonishing rapidity, and, novelizations consistently reach the best-seller lists.

Considering the scope and breadth of the stories that have followed in the wake of the original trilogy, it's amazing that among the most popular stories are those about the X-Wing fighter squadron. For having such a relatively small role throughout three movies, the character of Wedge Antilles and those of a few others (both old and new) have developed an astonishing following all their own. Wedge would be proud (and possibly a bit embarrassed) to have realized such renown, but more likely he would be puzzled by the notoriety he has reached. How in all the galaxies did this happen?

The heart of the intrigue lies with the very size of Wedge's role, a small one, in "A New Hope". "First and foremost, he's a survivor," says X-Wing author Michael Stackpole. While most of the X-Wing squadron pilots are being blown out of the sky above that first Death Star, Wedge's craft is only slightly damaged; no longer able to contribute to the fight he is forced to pull out of the trench. While surely George Lucas included this minor plot point for the purpose of heightening the tension, as the climax of the movie drew near, it also allowed the character to reappear in the next installment, even if only for a brief period of frenzied action on the ice world of Hoth. It isn't until "Return of the Jedi" that Wedge's character is given an important role. Still, he remains in the background during the celebration on the forest moon at the movie's end. Yet, according to Stackpole, "He's the only secondary character to appear in all the movies and, bucking tradition, the hero's friend doesn't get scragged to motivate the hero." It is perhaps his remaining in the background that draws people to him.

Who has not been around someone, at some point, who seems to draw all the attention - an individual who has such charisma that everyone else remains hidden behind the flow of the other? Michael Stackpole agrees that Wedge is just such an individual. "Wedge is the kind of background character that we can all imagine ourselves being, or being friends with. He's our viewpoint on the whole fight against the Empire. He shows us that an ordinary guy pushed to do extraordinary things in such a struggle can succeed; which gives us hope that we can do the same." Often, this position is perfectly fine with the "second banana" -- a second banana who might even refuse such attention.

According to Aaron Allston, author of "Wraith Squadron" and "Iron Fist", there are many such stereotypical heroes in fiction, and the character of Wedge Antilles is one such hero. He's what Allston calls the "Trusty Lieutenant." "He's the sort of guy," Allston says, "who has most or all of the skills of the main hero, and does his job with similar resiliency, but just doesn't get all the attention (or particularly want it), and often takes a #2 role when the flashier heroes are around." This is certainly true of Wedge's role in the movie trilogy, and is also a reasonable assessment of Wedge's character as it is depicted in the novelizations.

What makes that type of individual appealing to the masses? "It's my guess," says Allston simply, "that a lot more people than I realized appreciate the 'Trusty Lieutenant' type." Possibly. It's much easier for most people to identify with the ones who do their jobs without fanfare and allow another to assume the mantle of glory, and this certainly fits the character of Wedge Antilles. "He's reliable," agrees Mike Stackpole. "He's the guy who is there when he's needed. He takes responsibility on himself to do the job he's given, he's fair but strict when dealing with subordinates, and a fairly sharp guy when it comes to planning and execution of assignments (in the novels). He and folks like him are the backbone of the Rebellion, without which it would have collapsed utterly, no matter how many Jedi arrived on the scene." This uncannily similar assessment is probably what allowed Allston to so successfully succeed Stackpole and the author of the X-Wing series.

But what about the newer members of Rogue Squadron, created by Stackpole and Allston? What makes their stories so popular and interesting?

Eric Trautmann, former WEG staffer, has several theories of his own. For one thing, "Mike [Stackpole] and Aaron [Allston] are excellent writers. That doesn't hurt the Rogues' popularity. The generally high quality of the comic books is also a factor." This makes perfect sense. In the cases of Mike Stackpole and Aaron Allston, both have made the character of Wedge Antilles consistent with not only each other's stories, but also with the work done at West End Games. The creation of new characters in both areas has also given readers the enjoyment of an expanded universe in Lucas' galaxy far, far away.

In addition, Trautmann sees a further reason for the growing popularity in the development of a more rounded vision of the character of Wedge Antilles. "The Rogues' (specifically, Antilles') involvement may have been minor in the films," says Trautmann, "but it is the most obvious example of something that, to my mind, was the coolest thing about Star Wars. At WEG, I long maintained that the Star Wars universe was so fully fleshed-out and vivid that if the cameras had been pointed ten feet to the left, the viewer would have seen a completely different (but no less compelling) story. After Wedge survived the Death Star at Yavin, fans wondered, 'Well, who was THAT guy?' Now we know."

How true! Watching "A New Hope" after having read any of the new stories revolving around the Rogue Squadron, one has a completely different reaction when Wedge pulls out of the trench with a damaged ship. He is no longer a stranger, he is a future commander who will have a high tolerance for hotshot pilots with short fuses, as well as a remarkable sense of humor. It's fun!

As fine as these reasons seem for explaining Rogue Squadron's popularity, there may be an even more basic explanation. "Burn out may be a factor, too," continues Trautmann. "Fans may be tiring of the adventures of the aging Heroes of Yavin as the novel line grows. I mean, near the end of the current timeline, Han, Luke, Leia, and company are, well, kind of old. It strains credibility for this semi-geriatric group to keep saving the universe from the 'superweapon/clone plot' of the week."

Before you jump down his throat about this comment, let me examine Trautmann's thoughts. First of all, George Lucas' original story is two decades old, the two sequels hot on its heels. Nearly a whole generation has passed, and while the original theatergoers are still enthralled, newer devotees are more likely drawn to the story by the merchandising line, new comics and novels, and video games. As Trautmann points out, Han, Luke, Leia, etc., have aged considerably, and while this is not a problem for Chewbacca, whose lifespan far surpasses that of his human companions, it does pose a problem for the humans, not to mention the outdated droids--we all know how swiftly technology changes. Let's face it: young is in. It always has been. It's a fact (thanks to various novelizations) that the original heroes are aging along with the rest of us. I don't know about you, but the older I get the slower I get, the longer injuries take to heal, and the further I am removed from the idealism of my youth. It would be hard to believe that Luke, Han, and Leia are any different--sooner or later, they will have no choice but to hand over the reigns of the galaxy to a younger generation.

Second, with the promise of an Episode One, there is sure to be a storm of new characters and story ideas flung into the current maelstrom. Fans may not be tiring of the original characters yet, but most of those characters have become hemmed in by the post-movie storylines; there are not too many directions left for them to take. Lucas' universe is so vast that there is plenty of room for new heroes and heroines to work alongside, as well as without, the old standbys. This is the direction in which Aaron Allston is pushing his Rogue Squadron story; with the formation of the Wraith Squadron and its plethora of new and interesting people, Allston is preparing for the eventual departure of oldsters like Wedge.

Third, there is also the idea of variety. Peter Schweighofer, formerly of West End Games, puts it this way: "The Star Wars universe is immense. Not every story can revolve around Luke, Han and Leia. Many authors have introduced new characters in their works who have gained a fan following (Mara Jade being the one who instantly comes to mind). Having a fan following for Wedge Antilles and the Rogues makes sense. We see them in cameos throughout the films; but there's plenty of room to explore their own stories. The Official Star Wars Adventure Journal and Bantam's Tales from the Empire anthology proved that fans care about other characters living in the Star Wars galaxy. While their stories might not be as grandiose as the main film characters', they're still packed with the heroic action Star Wars fans have come to expect and enjoy."

This is probably the most interesting theory of all. Simply, fans know all there is to know about Han, Luke, and Leia. And, they all have their own interpretations of those characters. Wedge Antilles and the rest of the Rogue Squadron, however, are mysteries. There is still much to be learned about all of them, and fans are eager to do just that. The fact that authors such as Stackpole and Allston have made their characters such interesting and realistic people doesn't hurt, either.

In addition to characterization is the even simpler of issue of action. Any scene that involves the Rogue Squadron generally also involves action--stellar dogfights, espionage, play-acting on the characters' parts--all of which appeal to a vast segment of the story's following. Mike Stackpole continues, "Finally, he's reliable. He's the guy who is there when he's needed. He takes responsibility on himself to do the job he's given, he's fair but strict when dealing with subordinates and a fairly sharp guy when it comes to planning and execution of assignments (in the novels). He and folks like him are the backbone of the Rebellion, without which it would have collapsed utterly, no matter how many Jedi arrived on the scene."

Action is, of course, not what has given Star Wars its place among the most influential movies of all time, but it cannot be denied that the action sequences are an integral part of the story. What more vicarious thrill can we have than to follow another on his quest to defeat his inner demons as well as those that exist outside himself? To follow Luke down the Death Star trench allows us to share in putting a (temporary) end to the evil that has not only put an end to his childhood but is also threatening his future. Who has never imagined himself famous and heroic? The closest that most of us come to achieving the adrenaline rush such danger might cause is on the drop of a giant roller coaster or in having survived the rush hour drive home from the office. In watching or reading about an X-Wing pilot's dive and roll, we get an opportunity to imagine ourselves as saviors of a battling galaxy. Through them, our lives can be made exciting, important. For the large majority of us who live fairly mundane lives when compared to rushing about the galaxy fighting evil lords and saving damsels in distress, having the occasion to experience such stimulating existences for even a short while is a necessary salve to our sense of adventure.

So, does Rogue Squadron deserve such a wide following? Is there logic in the expanding popularity of a few personalities and incidents whose minor, but obviously significant, roles originated in movies nearly twenty years old? Obviously, we see something in those individuals to make them worthy of a second, third, and fourth look. Perhaps in our impatience to complete the story, we even need to see them again and again. The picture we have of that galaxy far, far away is incomplete, expanding not unlike that exploding Death Star in several directions at once, but still unfinished. Eventually, we may wind up with a 360 degree panorama, but until then, Rogue Squadron and Wedge Antilles allow us that broader view of the Lucas universe. And, as intimidating as those individuals might find this improbable celebrity, their very discomfiture would probably make them even more endearing. Who adores an obnoxious hero?

See you at the next rendezvous.

Melanie Guidi

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