Published: July 7, 2021
Rated: T
Writer: Ethan Sacks
Artist: Paolo Villanelli
Colourist: Arif Prianto
Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham
Cover artist: Giuseppe Camuncoli, Marte Gracia
The synopsis;
THE FOLLOWING
• Hunted by the mysterious assassin DEATHSTICK, a wounded VALANCE and his reluctant partner DENGAR are running out of options!
• T’ONGA is outgunned and outnumbered… but she does have one last surprise up her sleeve!
• And the shadowy force behind all of the danger makes its move!
The review;
Giuseppe Camuncoli and Marte Gracia have made a great start to their run of covers for Bounty Hunters and this issue is no different. A great action picture of Valance and Deathstick slugging it out is a sure-fire way to get my attention. For the variants, we are treated to the fifth (of 36) Lucasfilm 50th anniversary covers. Created by Chris Sprouse, ably assisted by Karl Story and Neeraj Menon, we are given a fantastic illustration of Yoda and Artoo on Dagobah. And then we have the first of the Headshot variant series of covers, again by Camuncoli, but this time assisted by Frank Martin. Beilert Valance is the poster boy on this occasion, on what will only be a highly sort after run to collect.
The unlikely pairing of Dengar and Valance have just escaped a near miss with Deathstick, but she’s still out there hunting them both. Valance is needing repairs, but Dengar has a contact in that sector of Nar Shaddaa in the form of Mama Stammoch. To say she is an interesting character is an understatement, and she is accompanied by a hoard of brigands. In typical Star Wars style, Dengar owes Mama already for some gambling debts, so their relationship isn’t as straight forward as he makes it out to be.
T’onga and Losha are still battling it out with Crimson Dawn alongside the forces of the Mourner’s Wail. Casualties are heavy on both sides, but a certain Nexu ways in and starts to turn the tide and eventually the Wail, with their help, overcome their opposition. Once the battle is over, the story of Cadeliah (yes, remember her from all those months ago?) gets revisited and refreshes our memory of where this all started as the dispute about the rightful heir to the Mourner’s Wail and the Unbroken Clan. You need to note as this story has developed, the hunt for Solo has become a biproduct of Valance’s original quest.
We get to see a bit more about what is driving Dengar. I have already said that he and Valance are an unlikely pairing, but a call to Bib Fortuna reveals that he is holding Manaroo, Dengar’s Aruzan female partner hostage. There is another layer to this partnership to revealed in the coming issues I now presume.
Dengar has a heart to heart with Mama and this is the part that I got the most from in this issue. The conversation gives us a potted history of the syndicates and where Crimson Dawn sort of sits in with everything that has gone on. From this, I get the feeling that while this arc of Bounty Hunters is contributing to the overall War of the Bounty Hunters storyline, I think that it has retained more of its own identity compared to the other Star Wars titles. This issue really does feel on the periphery of everything that is going on elsewhere and seems less engaged. I expect that to change over the coming weeks as the events of this comic take place before War of the Bounty Hunters #1. Seeing the further development of the plot laid out in the first few issues is not a bad thing where I am concerned.
Then enter Deathstick! Mama realises she in their tail and an explosion announces Deathsticks untimely arrival! From this point, to say “all hell breaks loose” is the best way to sum it up. A carefully placed thermal detonator and an escape in a speeder doesn’t get them much respite. Pursued by Deathstick’s droids, the pair flee with Dengar pulling some pretty spectacular moves in an Anakin Skywalker in Attack of the Clones type way. One stunt too many sees an issue with their stolen speeder, Valance and Dengar jump clear thinking they have Deathstick and their pursuers fooled. Little do they know that Qi’ra is even pulling the strings of their adventures too.
These final sequences of events are where Paolo Villanelli’s artwork comes to life. The movement and energy just jumps off the page throughout the attack on Mama’s workshop and the speeder chase. The balance of colours is first class and really does evoke the memories of how Nar Shaddaa has been portrayed previously. Add some sterling work on the lettering and the sequence just flows beautifully.
In recent months, I have done nothing but heap praise on Sacks, Villanelli, Prianto and Lanham, and if this level of storytelling is accompanied by art on this level, that won’t change anytime soon. Sacks has managed to use this issue to fill in some small gaps that fans will have left from Solo: A Star Wars Story about the crime syndicates and how they all intertwine with each other. Because of this, I am left with so many questions about the events between Solo and the demise of Darth Maul in Rebels. When does Qi’ra take overall control from Maul? Does Maul quit Crimson Dawn to go after Kenobi or is he toppled? Why have Crimson Dawn been in the shadows for such a long time? Who knows, some may get answered, but I doubt we will get all the answers that we would want. Personally, I would love to see Sacks given the opportunity to fill in the blanks by penning a comic book series (with the same art team), or novel, or even a live action or animated version of these events. So, Disney, if you’re reading, please give him a call, I’m sure he’d pick up!
The story continues to grow exponentially, and it will grow once more with War of the Bounty Hunters #2 and Doctor Aphra #12 next week.
Availability;
Bounty Hunters is an ongoing series available from Marvel. This issue is available via the Marvel App and all good comic book stores. This issue retails at $3.99.
