Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: A New Legacy! During Star Wars’ Imperial Era, Stormtroopers were regarded as little more than cannon fodder by the Empire, as the Imperial higher-ups didn’t care about their well-being in the slightest – except for Task Force 99. Each member of this elite squadron of Stormtroopers (also known as SCAR Squadron) was hand-picked by Darth Vader himself. They were the best of the best of the 501st Legion (which was also known as “Vader’s Fist”), making them the deadliest Stormtroopers in the Empire. And now, Star Wars fans will finally learn their fate.

In a release from Marvel, the publisher announced the 10th anniversary one-shot special: Star Wars: A New Legacy. This comic is a celebration of all the Star Wars comics published by Marvel after the franchise returned to the publisher in 2015. Marvel was the original publisher of Star Wars comics back in 1977 before the franchise moved over to Dark Horse Comics. Then, in 2015, Marvel got Star Wars back, and it’s marking that milestone with this exciting special from a number of writers and artists that helped make the current era of Star Wars comics so iconic.

Star Wars: A New Legacy will feature three original stories by writers and artists that include Charles Soule, Jason Aaron, Kieron Gillen, Ramon Rosanas, Leonard Kirk, and Salva Espin. One of those stories will be about Task Force 99 (by Jason Aaron and Leonard Kirk), and will finally bring the elite Stormtroopers’ stories to a close.

What Fans Can Expect from Star Wars’ New Task Force 99 Story

Task Force 99 was Last Seen in Star Wars #61 (2015)

The last time fans saw Task Force 99, the squadron was stranded on the isolationist moon called Hubin after a run-in with Luke, Leia, Han, and Chewie. This was during the period of time between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, which explains why SCAR Squadron wasn’t a problem for the Rebel heroes in Episodes V or VI. While Task Force 99 was able to relay some key information to the Empire about Rebel activity following their last appearance, they weren’t seen again after Star Wars #61.

Considering Task Force 99’s last appearance, there are a few ways their story could play out in Star Wars: A New Legacy. One scenario is a survival-based story that would see the elite squad fighting for their lives on this isolated moon without outside help. This could be a classic ‘man vs nature’ tale, and could help the once-villainous Stormtroopers find some semblance of redemption. However, this upcoming story could also see Task Force 99 getting off Hubin, which could lead to even more storylines to come.

How Task Force 99 Can Have an Impact on the Future of Star Wars

Task Force 99 Could Become an All-New Threat Post-Original Trilogy

If Task Force 99 somehow finds a way off the isolationist moon after being stranded there in Star Wars #61, it would have to be after the events of the original trilogy, otherwise they would have regrouped with the Empire and joined Darth Vader in either Episode V or Episode VI (or both). So, what would become of an elite Stormtrooper squad with no Empire to serve? Perhaps they would join the New Republic, or maybe they’d use their unparalleled skills to become Imperial warlords (which were rampant immediately following the fall of the Empire).

The idea of Task Force 99 finding their way in the galaxy without Darth Vader or the Empire is a fascinating concept, and could prove troublesome for the Star Wars heroes. But, no matter what Aaron and Kirk have in store for fans, the main takeaway is that Star Wars will finally reveal the final fate of Task Force 99, and that alone should get fans excited about Star Wars: A New Legacy.

Star Wars: A New Legacy by Marvel Comics is available January 29, 2025.

Source: Marvel