There's someone new in the galaxy, and we have a first look at this emerging presence. But who is the mystery woman on Shattered Empire's second issue cover? She looks a little bit like Han Solo's wife, Sana Solo, who was introduced in the main Star Wars comic book title, in a story that takes place prior to Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back. It's not her. Star Wars: Shattered Empire is an upcoming Marvel comic series that canonically bridges the 30 year gap between Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. And from what we've seen so far, there's going to be more than a few new faces to make things interesting. About the cover, the official Star Wars website had this to say.

"A picture is worth a thousand words. It's been said very often. But the one above feels more like a thousand questions. Who is that standing beside the starship that resembles an A-Wing? Is she a Jedi? A friend to the Rebels? It's a safe bet bounty hunters continued offering their services after the collapse of the Empire. In Marvel's Star Wars: Shattered Empire by Greg Rucka and Marco Checchetto, The First Order is still decades away, and it's safe to assume Luke, Han, and Leia have a lot on their plate after overthrowing the governing force that controlled the galaxy. This illustration by Checchetto is perfect. Simple, spoiler free, and full of intrigue. Just the way comic book covers were meant to be."

Star Wars: Shattered Empire is just one small part of the massive tie-in book series coming our way over the course of the next four months, leading up to the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens in theaters this December. The entire run of stories is being referred to by LucasFilm and Disney as 'Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens'. While everything revealed in these various comic books, novels, sticker books and other releases will somehow tie into the upcoming movies and spinoffs, that doesn't mean this mysterious character will be featured in the movie, or even referenced.

Star Wars: Shattered Empire deals directly with the aftermath of the second Death Star being destroyed in Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi. Emperor Palpatine's twenty-year reign of terror has come to an abrupt and fiery end in the skies above the forest moon of Endor. A decisive victory for the Rebel Alliance, to be sure, but even with the loss of its leadership, the Empire's Moffs and regional governors retained their hold on important systems from the Core to the Outer Rim, thanks to the might of the Imperial Starfleet. Now, with a power vacuum atop the Empire, those Moffs will jockey for position and control, and the heroes of the Rebel Alliance will soon discover that a wounded and fractious Empire may be more dangerous than any threat they faced before.

Writer Greg Rucka and artist Marco Checchetto are behind this Star Wars comic that will, "reveal the untold story of the aftermath of the Battle of Endor and the political machinations that ensued." This book and the others in Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens series, will all be part of the official Star Wars canon that includes all of the movies and TV shows Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. Unfortunately, this synopsis doesn't give us too much to go on, as for how the comic ties in to Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but it's possible that the story could set up some of the mysterious characters in the upcoming movie. Take a look at the issue two cover, along with a variant cover that features Princess Leia in her Endor fatigues. So, who do you think this mastery woman is?