Sooman

Last Updated: 11/10/2023

Name: Sooman

Humanoid: Yes

Classification: Insectoid

Homeworld: Sooma

Coloration: Red or Yellow

Biology: Soomans were an Insectoid species that stood approximately 1.8 meters in height. They had lanky segmented bodies, with smooth exoskeletons that were usually dark red or bright yellow in coloration. They had large abdomens that gave way to thin chest areas. Their legs and arms were segmented, with visible joints at both their hips/shoulders as well as their knees/elbows. There were two head variations a Sooman could have, potentially denoting distinct subspecies, or at the very least societal class. Red Soomans (Upper Class) had elongated faces with large beaks, while yellow Soomans (Lower Class) had tall heads with flat faces. Soomans could speak Galactic Basic, and were known for being a fierce but brittle species.

Lore: The Soomans were an aggressive warrior race, with at least one kingdom based out of their homeworld of Sooma. They had connections with the outside galaxy by the time of the Galactic Civil War era, although they appeared to be an independent species. Sooma itself was a lush, grassy planet boasting a fair amount of riches. Most of their architecture featured domed structures, although the reason as to why is unknown. The Soomans had a poor relationship with their neighboring planet of Alzar and the Alzarians, the Sooman dictator King Zornog not helping relations with his perpetually violent attitude. Unfortunately, the Soomans were almost completely wiped out during the brutal Stenax Massacres, leaving their race on the brink of extinction. 

Legends/Canon: So far the Soomans have remained exclusive to media from Star Wars Legends.

Unexplored: Within the confines of Star Wars Canon, the Soomans can be given any history, lore, or characteristics as they are a completely blank slate. However, if any of their Legends lore does make its way into Canon, then here are some questions worth exploring to help flesh the Soomans out. For starters, we need to further explore Sooma. What sort of resources or exports did it boast, why were the Sooma so rich, and what caused their cities to be built up in such a manner? When did the Soomas evolve sentience and what sort of species did they evolve from? Why did they evolve into both the red and yellow variants? What sort of civilizations, societies, and governments sprung up on Sooma? And when were they discovered by the outside galaxy?

Did the Soomans have any galactic allies, whether governments, worlds, organizations, etc.? What caused them to have a deep-seated rivalry with the Alzarians, and how far did their conflicts go? If they were affected by the Stenax Massacre, what was the outcome, how many of their kind survived, how did they recover, and did they receive any sort of outside aid from groups such as the Rebel Alliance? Were they ever caught up in any other major galactic events during eras such as the High Republic or reign of the Empire? And did they have any unique religions, philosophies, habits, cultural practices, beliefs, etc. that would make them stand out or even well known among the galaxy? Exploring these things, as well as their overall design via illustrations, art styles, or even live action would really help to solidify the Soomans as a distinct sentient species among the Star Wars galaxy.

Additional Notes: There are definitely some elements about this species I like, despite them being from early Star Wars and having elements indicative of that somewhat… “dated” period of EU designs. I also saw a piece of fanart recently with an updated rendition of the red Soomans which really made me appreciate the species’ design more. I sorely hope we can see them expanded upon and updated in future Canon projects, and they would definitely make for a great addition to The High Republic multimedia event!

Additional Images: