Star Wars officially introduces new queer character, and she's awesome

Star Wars is embracing a new queer character, and she’s gunning to become a better smuggler than Han Solo, making her our new favourite rogue.

Rynn Zenat is an X-Wing pilot and former spice smuggler, making her debut in a brand-new comic from Marvel that will usher in more stories from the sequel era.

Appearing in Star Wars #3, she can be seen calling her girlfriend Preeti Delmin, after hearing of the loss of Luke Skywalker, as he goes into hiding.

The pair exchange an “I love you”, cementing their relationship as Star Wars’ new power couple.

Readers are quickly falling for Rynn, who feels like a mix of the original trilogy’s trio of characters, with Han’s smuggling, her piloting skills next to Luke, and her fierceness as a woman in the galactic space, akin to Leia.

Rynn has the potential to become a big part of the future of the Star Wars universe, and it seems creators Alex Segura and Phil Noto are keen to emphasise the queer couple as something to celebrate.

Disney has always shied away from embracing LGBTQIA+ characters, most notably after fans shipped Finn and Poe in the sequel trilogy, and swerved the romantic tension that seemed to fill the air when the pair were on-screen.

There have been other queer characters within the franchise, but they’re usually relegated to the comics or novels, with a reluctance to put them front and centre on cinema screens.

The new Star Wars comics will attempt to tell more stories set after the events of Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, with a few familiar faces supporting new characters on adventures.

So far, it seems to be paying off, and fans are encouraging each other to read the comics if others are eager for more stories while Disney holds off from any new films.