Published: November 18, 2020
Cover Artist: Mauricet
Rabbit Hunt
Writer: Cavan Scott
Artist: Francesco Gaston
Colourist: Charlie Kirchoff
Letterer: Neil Uyetake
A Rebel Bounty
Writer: Nick Brokenshire
Artist: Nick Brokenshire
Letterer: Neil Uyetake
The synopsis;
Framed for a crime he didn’t commit, Jaxxon finds himself at odds with the Empire, the Rebellion, and his ex-partner Amaiza Foxtrain! Co-starring Luke, Leia, Han, and Chewie in the days leading up to The Empire Strikes Back! Plus, an all-new tale of everyone’s favorite droid bounty hunter from The Empire Strikes Back—IG-88! (With apologies to 4-LOM.)
The review;
I’m sure many of us are welcoming seeing the end of 2020. Yet all is not lost, with the year drawing to a close and Christmas fast approaching, it is annual season! Star Wars Adventures is here with its contribution to the festive season and it promises to be a good one. Cavan Scott makes no secret how much he loves Jaxxon and here we find that he has penned another story around everyone’s favourite rabbit. It is wonderful to see Scott back for Adventures, as his work had a huge impact on the previous run of this series. He is joined by Star Wars newcomer, Francesco Gaston, whose style I’m interested to see. The second story is written and illustrated by Nick Brokenshire, who is no stranger to Star Wars Adventures. He has done work in the previous run as well as having the privileged position of contributing to the debut issue of the current run. If you have read my review of this issue, you will know how impressed I was with his look at the Battle of Hoth. I can’t wait to see what he has in store for the annual (and hoping that IDW has given him some more space in the issue!). All in all, this should be an annual worth remembering…
The first story, ‘Rabbit Hunt’ brings his old Marvel favourite back into modern times (having already stories around him for Star Wars Adventures Annual 2018 and in the new release A Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back). Let me start by saying (and with the risk at being shouted at by Scott and my editor Steve) that I have only read a handful of the old Marvel issues, and even though I keep saying I’ll get round to reading them, something always comes up. They were a bit before my time, what with watching Star Wars for the first time in 1990 when I was five. Therefore, I’m very aware that any easter eggs that Scott might put in for fans of the older series might completely bypass me! Thankfully, Scott is very aware that he is writing an older character that a lot of newer fans won’t know (or love) as much as he does. In the first few pages, Scott is quick to establish who Jaxxon is and readers will find themselves entertained by this character in short order. I can’t help but find so many similarities between him and Bucky O’Hare, an old cartoon that use to be on the BBC in the early nineties. This is Jaxxon’s story and Scott weaves the character through characters and settings that are well known to fans.
What is immediately apparent, is that this story doesn’t take itself too seriously and has a lot of fun. Adventures has always been aimed at younger readers, and Scott is able to appeal to them, as well as the older fans who would have read the original Marvel series. The story is a rollercoaster that keeps getting faster and faster until… well, I’ll let you read to find that out! There are appearances by Dengar, Luke, Han and Chewbacca, that help to cement this as a true Star Wars tale. Out of these, it is the relationship that Jaxxon has with Chewie that is the real highlight. The two seem to have a bond as the only two main aliens, and their banter (that is usually aimed at Han) is hilarious. I don’t know if this reflects the Marvel series, but I would love to see more of this duo out on their own.
The artwork by Gaston is very cartoon like, possibly why Bucky O’Hare sprang to mind. With the direction of the story, the style suits the narrative very well, particularly coupled with the vast amount of movement that is here. But where Gaston really shines, are the sets. You only need to look at the care and detail in the background shots to go wow. The falcon on the landing pad was exceptional, which Gaston follows through perfectly with the interior shots.
This story is all about having fun, and as such, Scott doesn’t go too deep with the characters. We get some laughs, some easter eggs (even ones I knew!) and we get to learn more about who Jaxxon is as a character. It is the sort of story I would expect from an annual, something that is light-hearted and brings a smile and a laugh through the darker days.
The second tale, ‘A Rebel Bounty’ follows IG-88 on a bounty. I remember reading Star Wars comics back in the Dark Horse era. The art style of the nineties, the stories, they all felt so unique. What really stood out for me, were the possibilities. The ideas, the conceptions of different races and ideologies, anything could go and when picking up a comic, you had no idea where it could go. This tale feels like that in so many ways. The artwork, from the drawing to the colour work, all feels like it is from that time, and I mean that as a huge compliment. You can tell that every panel was made with such care and love for this franchise. From the gotals at the start of the issue, to the surprise appearances from a more modern character, you can tell that Brokenshire knows his stuff.
But it is not the artwork that is even the peak of this story (and that is already high standard). It is the story that follows. In Star Wars Adventures 1, I wished that Brokenshire had had more time to tell his story, as I could have just kept reading. Here, he has the space (at least more of it, if not enough) and he shows just what an amazing story he can construct. Like those early nineties’ comics, this doesn’t have any limitations to it, and we are taken somewhere that I never could have guessed. The concept behind the Order of the Sight and the character that IG-88 is sent after is wonderful and such a delight to read. There is enough there to satisfy readers, but it also leaves doors wide open to wanting to know more (and I want to know more!). I didn’t think Brokenshire would be able to beat his contribution in the first Adventures, but I am very glad to say that for me, he has surpassed even that story.
Annuals are a time honoured tradition dating back decades, that allow a series to celebrate what it’s about, as well as introducing new readers to writers, artists and hopefully encourage them to read the series. This annual has something for everyone, from old fans who remember Jaxxon the first-time round, to fans (like me) who first read the Dark Horse Comics, all of this reimagined for the readers of now. The artwork and the writing are vastly different across the two stories and really shows how diverse Adventures is for fans. If you haven’t read Adventures yet or are looking for something to share with your own padawans, then look no further, Adventures has something for everyone. This annual is the perfect gateway into the series and the team at IDW are really ending the year on a great note. Now, Brokenshire, about that Order of the Sight…
Availability;
Star Wars Adventures Annual 2020 is a single annual available from IDW Publishing. This issue is available from all good comic bookstores in the USA and from Forbidden Planet in the UK. This issue retails at $5.99.
