Writer: Michael A. Stackpole, Mike Baron
Penciller: Allen Nunis
Inker: Andy Mushynsky
Letterer: Steve Dutro
Colorist: Dave Nestelle
Cover artist: Dave Dorman
The Synopsis;
When Rogue Squadron leader Wedge Antilles is downed in a bloody battle against Imperial All Terrain Scout Transports, he is forced to form an uneasy alliance with the Cilpari natives, whose dislike for the Rebels is only dwarfed by their hatred for the Empire. Wedge must regroup Rogue Squadron before the Cilpari alliance is shattered, and rejoin the battle to save the galaxy!
The review;
I couldn’t wait to get stuck in to this story again! What’s not to love about the front cover Star Wars fans? X-Wings depicted screaming for high-altitude, while dodging laser blasts from AT-STs. Let’s face it, when a virtually defunct ‘Scout Walker’, as they were called back in my day, bursts though the trees in The Mandalorian, it’s one of the coolest moments in the series. The AT-ST screams Star Wars. So, when our heroes were ambushed by a Moff, actually commanding one in the last edition, you can almost hear the mechanics of the menacing vehicle leap out of the page!
Anyway, I have been digressing too much about the walkers. Though they are super cool, right? Back to the story. Michael A. Stackpole wastes no time. We’re straight into more explosions. Our heroes are on the run from the AT-ST. In a moment of impending doom for the two bands, the Rebels get their weapons back and the awkward allegiance is forged through a firefight. Meanwhile, while an AT-ST explodes, I just love the explosions in this, we are taken back to our two stranded Rebel pilots, taking refuge in a cave and feasting on their kill. The pair are approached by someone they mistake for Leia, it’s not the Princess but a Rebel ally, Dame Winter, a crack shot with a blaster and also here for a piece of essential exposition. Her fabulously depicted uniform is very reminiscent of Leia’s on the Forest Moon of Endor. Winter fills the two in on what’s been happening, the Moff was to hand over his facilities to the Alliance after the fall of the Empire, but went back on the deal and took out two suburbs. And we get a hint of another deeper, darker secret as to whom may be behind things.
Back to the action with the others and hope is almost lost, but then the ever-reassuring sight of the X-Wings silhouetted against the sky. The R2 units bring them into land. You can almost hear the music n your head! However, there’s no time to finish off the Moff! Reinforcements force the two bands of Rebels to retreat….
Next a dash on stolen speeders to another one of the planet’s mysterious temples. It’s great to see the Wookiee swinging from the trees, as he keeps up with the speeders!
Tycho has gone undercover to extract information from the Imperials. But he finds himself flying a TIE under the leadership of Major Grode. The last thing we hear from Tycho in this issue is … “we’ll blast them into atoms…”
This issue really fleshes out the issues of trust and mistrust touched upon in issue one. Is anyone who they say they are? You’re kept guessing and there are more fast turns than Wedge Antilles on X-Wing manoeuvres!
I can’t wait for the next issue…
Availability;
Originally released by Dark Horse Comics, the Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron series ran from 1995 to 1998, for 35 issues. Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron #2 is currently available in digital format from the Marvel Online Comic Store, via the Marvel App, comiXology or by subscribing to Marvel Unlimited. A physical copy can be found in one of the many trade paperback releases from Marvel. Please check with Amazon UK and US or your local comic bookstore for availability.
