Published: September 2, 2009
Writer: Tom Taylor
Artist: Colin Wilson
Colourist: Wes Dzioba
Letterer: Michel Heisler
Cover Artist: Jo Chen
Editor: Randy Stradley
The synopsis;
The forces of the New Republic, led by Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, are determined to prevent the Yuuzhan Vong from establishing a beachhead on the planet Rychel, but they are not prepared to face the monstrous living weapons of their enemy.
For Finn Galfridian, who has already lost his family and witnessed the enslavement of his own world, this is his first taste of war – and Luke is afraid it may be the boy’s last. When face to face with the alien invaders, will Finn succumb to his anger, or follow Skywalker’s orders?
The review;
At the end of issue 2 we saw the Jedi Master’s questioning the strength of Finn Galfridian’s character and whether he was possibly just out for revenge against the Yuuzhan Vong. Issue 3 sees him really put to the test on the planet of Rychel. It is a planet under siege by the Vong with Luke Skywalker leading a rescue mission as he had done on Artorias.
But, before we get to see any of that, we see something special, an all-action Luke Skywalker! I like to think I understand where the sequel trilogy of movies took Luke and why. I will hasten to add that’s not an admission to agreeing or disagreeing with those decisions, so please don’t throw something at me for saying so. I also see an argument for Luke to be like this version too. As a seasoned reader of Legends literature this fearless leader of the New Jedi Order is all well and good, but knowing the events of the Vong invasion and how these events changed the galaxy, Luke could have very easily become ‘sequel Luke’ and justifiably. Instead we see Luke take the battle to the heart of the Vong attack forces. I loved the frame where Finn looks on in awe, bottom jaw hanging loose muttering the word “Whoa…”, that mimicked my own reaction when I read that sequence for the first time too! Finn really does have a young Anakin Skywalker vibe to me. He has dealt with so much in a such a short space of time and has so much potential to be a Jedi, but there is an acid test that he must face, which the Masters seem to be looking at it more as a Jedi trial. For a battle to be seen as the place for this by Luke could possibly be very reckless.
We also see more weapons from the Vong arsenal. The siege monsters are enormous fearsome snake like beasts and the Chazrach foot soldiers are relentless. The fate of Master Le’ung is quite a shock, but it helps reveal the true extent of what could be a major weapon of the Vong against the Jedi. A sneak attack from behind allows Le’ung to be impaled as he could not sense his attacker in the Force. As I outlined in my introduction to the series, this is one of the key differences of the Vong. This sequence is quite something in the way his impaled limp body is hurled into the open maw of a siege beast and devoured.
Then there is the ultimate test of Finn. Now carrying Master Le’ung lightsaber, Tsalok confronts Finn after he has rescued a family from a building. When the building collapses Tsalok becomes trapped under the debris. This sequence is so well drawn and the words that go with it are put together brilliantly. With Luke watching on, Finn passes that test with flying colours, showing mercy to Tsalok and cutting him free allowing him to walk away. It’s obvious from their actions that the Vong do not understand compassion, but Finn has a word of advice that resonates with so many of our real-world issues, and that word is “learn”. We can all learn from someone else’s actions, but also from our own mistakes and I feel this part of the story has such an amazing moral stance.
Finn takes the outcome of the battle badly, but Luke’s outlook is pragmatic. While there are heavy losses and people left behind to the Vong, the reality is they have rescued all they can. It is quite scary that Luke accepts these losses so easily, but during the ongoing battles with the Imperial forces he has lost so many. This is also a fact that Princess Leia also laments during her conversation with Admiral Holdo before the evacuation to Crait in The Last Jedi.
On board the Tsam Pah, the Artorian prisoners seem to be finding a new leader. The queen has taken her planets losses badly and is unresponsive, almost catatonic. She seems to have shut down from everything. Kaye, the princess, has taken up the mantle and although seeming submissive to her captors, there is a glint in her eye that I’m sure will spell trouble for them. Someone else who can see that is the grizzled warrior who is now one of the captives. He is initially introduced to us making the warning communications back in the prelude issue. The deal he makes with Kaye is for the head of Tsaving Lah, the commander of the Tsam Pah. Kaye’s quip in reply is amusing and light-hearted, but also shows that she is someone the Vong are going to have to reckon with in the future issues.
One thing of note is about Dulac. He is now getting his comeuppance, now a captive of the Vong after helping them invade Artorias. He is now being conditioned by the Vong on the ‘Embrace of Pain’ which can only be described as a type of medieval stretching torture device.
The artwork is stunning throughout this issue and the storyline is told so beautifully and has an amazing pace. There is also a glint of humour surrounding Kaye and her actions. Finn’s character development in this issue is brilliant and seems more like Anakin now than ever. These comics are so well put together and link in intrinsically with the era of Legends books.
I cannot wait to see where issue 4 takes us!
Availability;
Star Wars: The New Jedi Order: Invasion ran for 3 series from 2009 to 2011, encompassing 17 issues. Invasion – Refugees #3 is currently available in digital format 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.
