Star Wars Adventures #3 Comic Review

By: Kyle Scully

Life Day

Written by, Michael Moreci

Art by, Megan Levens

Colors by, Charlie Kirchoff

Letters by, Jake M. Wood

The Hostage

Written by, Shane McCarthy

Art by, Megan Levens

Colors by, Charlie Kirchoff

Letters by, Jake M. Wood

There are many generally accepted truths about Star Wars. Darth Vader is a great character. Duel of the Fates might just be one of the best lightsaber fights in the whole saga. The Star Wars: Holiday Special is a shapeless, Wookiee-filled entry with no conflict, bad effects and even worse acting. 

Star Wars Adventures #3 brings Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon Jinn to the Wookiee celebration of Life Day, a central component of The Holiday Special. Writer Michael Moreci tackles this dark entry in the Star Wars canon and makes into something much palatable. Qui-Gon is able to use the event as an important teaching moment for Obi-Wan just before the event is interrupted by Trandoshan raiders. Qui-Gon is taken along with several Wookiees leaving Obi-Wan to mount a rescue on his own. 

This was a fun, energetic story with two iconic Star Wars characters. The dialogue really captured both Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon’s voices. You know it’s a good book when you can hear Liam Neeson speaking in your head. The art is bright, dynamic and easy to follow. Life Day, as presented in this book, seems much more joyful and celebratory than it ever came across in the special. 

The action is sharp and direct. The movements within each panel detail strong gestures and powerful motions. Lightsabers strike fast. Punches are thrown hard. There some especially nice splash pages that highlight some particularly engaging moments. The book ends on a solid cliffhanger but it doesn’t leave you wondering what will happen next. Hopefully the next issues offers a few surprises, otherwise its promising start could end up falling flat. 

The back-up story features Darth Maul being held prisoner by a rival crime organization. The crime boss thinks he has the upper hand but of course he’s very misguided. It doesn’t take long for Maul to take control and remind the man how powerful he really is. The same artists as the first story provide some strong work unfortunately this tale isn’t nearly as engaging. Maul is a great character but the narrative is incredibly predictable. A captured Maul feels very unlikely which robs the story of any authenticity. You never once believe he would get taken against his will. The Savage Opress cameo is a nice treat and I’ll take as much Maul as I can get but he deserves better than this formulaic entry. 

This book is a solid entry and I’ll certainly pick up the next volume but some overly standard tropes keep it from being a great issue. 

Star Wars The High Republic Adventures #1 "Collision Course" Review

By: Kyle Scully

Written by: Daniel Jose Older

Art by: Harvey Tolibao

Colors by: Rebecca Nalty

Letters by: Jake M. Wood 

The stories of the High Republic are strong with the Force and the first issue of Daniel Jose Older’s Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #1 aptly continues this trend. The book opens with the Great Disaster already in full swing. Padawan Lula Talisola is on her way to save Bralanak City on Trymant IV from falling debris caused by the disaster. Master Yoda and Torban Buck join her but are mostly relegated to cameos. 

The book splits focus between Talisola and a Bralanak citizen, Zeen Mrala. Mrala is afraid of her potential force abilities, a power she’s kept hidden her whole life. This effort is challenged during the course of the story and reaches a tipping point before the final page. The pace is quick and the artwork is detailed without ever feeling cluttered. Older’s attention to character is the book’s greatest strength. 

Talisola and Mrala are introduced to the audience through intimate confessions about what they’re hiding from everyone else. It’s a nice way for the reader to really feel like they’re getting to know their lead characters almost immediately. It’s like reading a diary or overhearing a private conversation. These are people who are afraid and it’s those fears that they’ll be forced to confront sooner than later. Great heroines like the two in this book are only great because they have things to overcome and this duo are no different.

Despite some great character work the book wasn’t quite perfect. Part way through there was an odd page featuring a map that described the various locations of the Great Disaster in relation to the events on Trymant IV. It felt like it belonged at the front of the book rather than in middle. 

Additionally, I believe the Nihil make an appearance in this book but it was never clear. Maybe I needed to read other material to better understand this but I don’t think that should be the case especially with a first issue. The Jedi also tried to force the Nihil to give up their ship for their own evacuation. It wasn’t really clear up to that point that they were evil or that the Jedi knew who they were so it felt like a bit of misfire that they would be so confrontational so quickly. I wish they had made some sort of diplomatic effort to start. 

The artwork featured fine details and great color. Mrala was a standout with her vibrant pink and purple hues. I appreciated that Talisola was a young woman of color. I love representation and it needs to be much more prevalent in Star Wars. Splash pages, something I’m a big fan of, make some truly spectacular appearances. I did find a few pages difficult to follow. The action seemed to jump ahead a little too much and it got slightly complicated.

While not a perfect first issue, there was a lot to love from Older’s initial offering. I’ll definitely be picking up the second issue to see where this story goes and more importantly to see the continued evolution of these new and exciting characters. 

Star Wars: The High Republic #1 Review

By: Kyle Scully

STAR WARS: THE HIGH REPUBLIC #1

Writer: Cavan Scott

Artist: Ario Anindito

Inker: Mark Morales

Colorist: Annalisa Leoni

Letterer: VC’S Ariana Maher

Cover Artist: Phil Noto

The High Republic is here! The exciting new Star Wars storytelling initiative arrives with several new books (including Light of the Jedi) as well as a terrific new comic book written by Cavan Scott. 

All the stories tie together but what’s nice is that it’s immediately clear you don’t need to read everything to enjoy some things. The comic references events I’m unfamiliar with but keeps a pace that makes those gaps feel irrelevant. The crux of the story focuses on Keeve Trennis, a young padawan, facing her trials on the way to becoming a full-fledged Jedi Knight. She’s guided by her Jedi Master, Sskeer, but ultimately deviates from the planned trial to take on one of her own. The story is constructed in a way that centers on Keeve’s personal journey but still manages to incorporate a larger threat to the Starlight Beacon, a High Republic cornerstone. 

Keeve herself is a great character in all facets of storytelling including action, dialogue and design. It’s no wonder she was chosen to lead this book. In addition, I love that she is a person of color. Star Wars needs more representation and this is a very small step but one I still appreciate. 

To be fair, this is not a fresh story. Many padawans have faced their own trials in many different incarnations but its familiarity is the perfect way to be introduced into this new world. Keeve’s journey brings her to the Starlight Beacon where she meets other Jedi including Avar Kriss (also featured in Light of the Jedi). This book presents her as a bit of an enigma. There just isn’t enough time to truly meet her but she’s a strong presence. Yoda makes an appearance and while he doesn’t have a lot to do he definitely feels like Yoda. If you’re talking Yoda his voice is the most important part. The scenes on the Starlight Beacon feel a bit like Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, which is the highest compliment I can give. If Kriss is anything like Kira then this book is going to be something truly special. 

The art is another wonderfully strong element in this book. Star Wars is for everyone and the art always has to reflect that. A book like this can’t be too dark or too cartoony and it finds a smart balance. The colors are bright and vibrant, the characters are expressive but the threats always feel real and compelling. 

I love the little details found within the artwork. Keeve’s saber is so delicately drawn it feels like you could almost reach out and touch it. There are also some great splash pages including a ripping action beat featuring Keeve and Sskeer. Keeve herself goes through a lot of emotions and the art highlights each one without falling into any repetitive traps. 

The final pages leave you with some lingering questions. Sskeer seems upset about something despite Keeve becoming a Jedi Knight. It’s not a strong finish. The book almost feels like a one-shot but it’s enough to leave you curious. This book does enough to hook me and I’ll be using all my Jedi powers to pick up the next issue.  

Star Wars Adventures: Shadow of Vader's Castle

By: Kyle Scully

Star Wars Adventures: Shadow of Vader’s Castle #1

Written by: Cavan Scott

Art by: Derek Charm, Nicoletta Baldari, Nick Brokenshire, Francesco Francavilla 

Letterer: Valeria Lopez

Cover Artist: Francesco Francavilla

Published by: IDW

THE STORY: The book features three stories centered around Vader’s Castle. Intertwined throughout, two Mustafarians dare to enter the foreboding castle and destroy it once and for all. It’s worth noting, this all takes place after the battle of Endor. 

THE REVIEW: Darth Vader’s Castle has been part of Star Wars lore ever since Ralph McQuarrie drew the fortress in advance of The Empire Strikes Back. It found life in the expanded universe and Rogue One marked its first film appearance. Its legacy lives on in comics. Star Wars Adventures: Tales From Vader’s Castle, Star Wars Adventures: Return to Vader’s Castle (both written by Cavan Scott) and now a new entry Star Wars Adventures: Shadow of Vader’s Castle #1 continue the haunting tales of the mysterious castle.   

The book opens right before Obi-Wan lands on Mustafar to confront Anakin during the events of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. I loved these pages. A young Mustafarian dares a glance of Anakin only to find he’s not the Jedi he expected but an agent of evil. The art is big and energetic. It boasts a lot of red and yellow swaths of color. Giant panels easily convey Anakin’s pain and guilt. His former allies are ghostly images that taunt Anakin towards the dark side.  

Diving into the three short stories, I found the first entry to be the most compelling. It gave some insight into the origin of Vanee, Vader’s servant who appears in Rogue One and some of the previous Vader’s Castle books. It also serves to showcase Vader’s immense power and his innate ability to manipulate and control. It’s clear the castle’s location wasn’t an arbitrary choice. Charm’s art is superbly stylistic and meshes well with the overall aesthetic of the story. Anything darker might make the proceedings too scary for children. At the same time, Charm’s art handily works with the script to form a perfect artistic combination. 

The next yarn felt like the book’s weakest point. A young Twi’lek retrieves a jewel for the Emperor. It reminded me a lot of Aladdin but without much of its charm. The art feels unfinished and messy. Character images don’t quite fit with some of the dialogue and the tale ends as abruptly as it starts. It also didn’t feel terribly connected with the castle or Vader. 

The final narrative about a wayward scientist was a bit off the beaten path but it continued to explore Vader’s psyche. The quick plot manages to squeeze in a few twists and the way Vader handles the situation proves how cunning he really is. The art is a bit lacking. It feels busy with too many lines and the colors are a little too pastel for such a dark story. 

The whole book ends on some dramatic action and a well-crafted turn that puts a firm grip on the book’s horror aspirations. 

FINAL THOUGHTS: This comic is a bit of a mixed bag but I don’t regret picking it up. I enjoyed the art, the horror elements and the it’s skill in highlighting Vader’s strengths and what makes him a true monster. 

Star Wars: Adventures #1 Tales of Villainy Review

By: Kyle Scully

The Obstacle Course, Part 1

Written by: Michael Moreci

Art by: Ilias Kyriazis

Colors by: Charlie Kirchoff

Letters by: Jake M. Wood

Published by: IDW

Invasion of Echo Base

Written by: Nick Brokenshire

Art by: Nick Brokenshire

Colors by: Nick Brokenshire

Letters by: Jake M. Wood

Published by: IDW

THE STORY: This book features two stories. The first centers Rey training through an obstacle course set-up by Finn and Poe until they run into some trouble. The second focuses on the Imperial invasion of Hoth from Darth Vader’s perspective. THE REVIEW: Rey’s story feels like coming home. The central trio doesn’t miss a beat from their film counterparts. Their voices perfectly reflect the tone and cadence featured in the films. 

While the characters are fun and playful the story itself is lacking. Rey’s trip through the obstacle course never strikes as compelling or fraught with any real danger. You know in your core that it’s only a set-up meant to lead to bigger things. The gangsters the group runs into only manage to come across like generic, typical opponents seen throughout the history of the galaxy far, far away. 

The story also struggles to answer when it takes place. It takes a few pages before I finally realized the story takes place prior to The Rise of Skywalker, which left me feeling a little deflated. I had hoped to read a story that actually took place after the last film. Someday maybe but today is not that day. 

The art itself is fun and loose, highlighted by striking character designs that would fit nicely on an animated show. The book has a vibrant energy and joyful colors that really bring the world to life. It does run into problems though. There are times when the following the story panel to panel becomes difficult. I’m not ashamed to admit it, there were moments I got a little lost. 

Overall though this was a cute story with familiar characters that lacked a real punch and didn’t end on very strong cliffhanger. 

While a new, original story wasn’t very compelling it felt odd then that Vader’s invasion of the rebel base ended up being much more captivating. There’s less to say about it but Vader’s presence and point of view moving through the wreckage of the rebel’s defeat had me hooked from its very first image. 

Vader is a Sith Lord on a mission who will stop at nothing to succeed and it shows in every frame of this story. His lingering feelings for Luke shine through some trilogy defining images and his unforgettable black silhouette. 

The artwork is crisp and detailed but never feels overdone. Each panel helps tell the story in such a way you could understand it and read its emotional core without a single line of dialogue. A few panels shine by showing of Vader’s power and underlying strength through both action and occasionally the way the artist positions Vader within the frame. 

Vader is the saga’s most fascinating character and this story only serves to remind you why. 

This solid book features two well-crafted stories. They might not be perfect but it’s a thoroughly engaging Star Wars experience nonetheless. 

Star Wars: Bounty Hunters #5 Review

By: Kyle Scully

Star Wars: Bounty Hunters #5

Written by: Ethan Sacks

Art by: Pablo Villanelli 

Colors by: Arif Prianto 

Letters by: Travis Lanham 

Published by: Marvel Comics 

THE STORY: 

Bounty hunters Valance and Boba Fett square off in a fight over the lives of Vash, a fellow hunter who betrayed them years ago and her young ward. 

REVIEW: 

Bounty Hunters are some of the most intriguing and colorful characters populating the Star Wars universe. Ever since Greedo met his fate, bounty hunters have held a certain sway over fans of a galaxy far, far away. 

Star Wars: Bounty Hunters is meant to sedate this interest and give the audience a swath of bounty hunter exploits while they wait for shows like The Mandalorian. The last issue ended with T’onga’s death at the hands of Boba Fett. It was a moment that left a bad taste in my mouth. She was the book’s best character and to be killed so unceremoniously felt like a tragic waste. 

This issue opens with a flashback highlighting Nakano Lash’s back-story. She lives but her mother is seemingly killed off-frame. This continues the comic’s trend of killing women without a second thought. It’s a troubling repetition that hangs like a cloud over the rest of the book and without spoiling the ending it’s safe to say it doesn’t end there. 

In the present, Boba Fett wants his revenge against Lash for betraying him and the rest of the team years earlier. Valance fights Fett to protect Vash and the child she’s been harboring from the syndicate. The fight is the issue’s biggest strength. It features some great banter, terrific artwork and bright colors. The artwork is easy to follow and the action continues the book’s ability to utilize the hunters’ personalities in their fighting styles. There are also some beautiful splash pages littered throughout the book that deserve special merit. 

Otherwise, the book is fairly simplistic. Characters don’t develop and we never find out why Valance is so determined to protect Vash or see her mission through. Fett feels more like a company note than a needed inclusion in the story. I’m still waiting to find some depth to Valance’s character but I’m not holding my breath. 

The savior child trope found in this book isn’t particularly unique especially in the Star Wars landscape and they have yet to really explain why or how this child despite her lineage will unite the different clans. 

The next issue teases more familiar bounty hunters, and I’m a sucker for anything Star Wars so I’m certain to buy it, but thus far the book is fairly run of the mill in its story and characters. It also feels terribly cruel to its female characters so I find it difficult to recommend unless you absolutely must collect every Star Wars comic book on the shelf.