Published: October 7, 2020
Rating: Rated T
Writer: Charles Soule
Penciler: Ramon Rosanas
Colourist: Rachelle Rosenberg
Cover Artist: Carlo Pagulayan, Jason Paz and Rain Beredo
The synopsis;
PAIN LEADS TO ANGER AND ANGER LEADS TO AN ELEMENT FROM EPISODE IX! As DARTH VADER battered and broken by the EMPEROR as punishment for his rebellion, drags himself across the blasted surface of MUSTAFAR with vengeance on his mind! But can he survive the onslaught of a certain mysterious SITH ASSASSIN? And how will his world change when he learns his enemy’s GREATEST SECRET?!!
The review;
Charles Soule has a way of going deep, really deep. His understanding of characters is exceptional, and this series has been no different. Soule has so far shown us the turmoil that Luke has to go through from the end of The Empire Strikes Back, making readers rethink what they think they know from the movies. A new arc brings the opportunity to look at other characters besides Luke (although I’d be happy with just Luke for the entire series!) and I’m excited to see what Soule has in store for this next issue…
Soule does go in depth into a character and it isn’t Luke. Far braver, it is Commander Zahra, a character not seen in the films. Yet the story is a compelling one and shows us how and why this character acts the way she does. What is very clear from the start of the issue, is that this is a character who is very practical and although she may not like it, can make the right decision for the betterment of the Empire. A lot of the villains during this time frame, particularly for the Empire, have a lot of personal issues that get in the way of their duties. For Zahra, although she has these issues, she is able to put them aside, allowing her to her job effectively. In some ways, this makes her a worthy enemy, as she can’t be distracted. Even though Soule gives a glimmer to the end that she might make it personal, I do wonder what will happen. Will she fall into the same trap as other villains or hold true to the lessons that she has learnt? Sole could go either way, but I feel it would be more interesting for the character, as well as the reader, for her to do the latter, to lose the prize she so greatly desires. For a character that has only been created for this series, Soule takes a risk by focusing so much on her, yet it’s a risk that pays off. There is something about this character that works so well, that makes you want to know more.
One of the main reasons for liking this character so much, is that it allows Soule to show us more of Governor Tarkin. Although primarily focused on the time between Episode Five and Six, Soule is able to leap back to before A New Hope and show us a very loved (or should that be hated?) villain. The time spent with Tarkin always felt too short and Soule corrects this through showing us Zahra’s training. We see Tarkin as he always is, ruthless. He is hard master and never much for praise. It is quite obvious how Zahra ended up the way she is. Tarkin giving the task on Eriadu was wonderful to see. If you have read the other books and comics in Star Wars canon, Eriadu plays a significant role. The appearance of the Carrion Spike likewise was a thrill to see.
Of course, Tarkin is not the only surprise. Through him, we also get to see Director Krennic from Rogue One and further arguments about the Death Star. All of these little things really show how knowledgeable how Soule is about the universe and allows him to connect everything for the reader. I’m always impressed by this, making the galaxy feel truly alive. Soule goes one step further however, to linking part of the story to what is to come. In the comic, there is mention of the Nihils. Having read Star Wars Adventures 30, the name jumped out at me as one of those species that will be in the upcoming High Republic series. Clues to this series are littered everywhere, teasing fans.
For this arc, Soule has a new artist with him, Rosanas. Rosanas is not as detailed with human likeness as Saiz in the previous arc, which would perhaps be considered a detriment to the issue. Yet, Rosanas really shines in his design and layout of the ships, and there are a lot of ships! He is perhaps the perfect artist for this issue, which focused on the Empire, has far more ships in than previous issues. The ships look superb, beautifully constructed that they pop out of the page. As we head towards more battles, I can’t wait to see what Rosanas does.
After a focus on Luke, our hero, Soule does a U-turn, giving us the start of an arc that is from the point of view of the Empire. We get to learn more about the villain our heroes will face, which allows Soule a chance for us to revisit old characters that are no longer at this current point in time. After such an intense first arc, this is a refreshing break. Not only do we have an enemy who might be very dangerous for our heroes, but she is the apprentice to one of the greatest minds that existed in the Empire. It allows readers to become more invested, knowing that Zahra has this connection to Tarkin. This new arc promises something different but equally as rewarding as the first, and I can’t wait to see what direction Soule will take us in. I’ve got to the point where there is no point predicting Soule (you never can) but instead to just sit back and enjoy the incredible ride…
Availability;
Star Wars is an ongoing series available from Marvel. This issue is available via the Marvel App and all good comic bookstores. This issue retails at $3.99.
