Published: January 12, 2022
Rated: T
Writer: Ethan Sacks
Artist: Paolo Villanelli
Colourist: Bryan Valenza
Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham
Production Design: Nick Russell
Cover Artist: Giuseppe Camuncoli
The synopsis;
FORLORN FOR 4-LOM!
• T’ONGA and her bounty hunters are desperate to recover 4-LOM for their mission…but the upgraded killer droid is the one hunting them aboard a ghost ship.
• Can ZUCKUSS survive a reunion with his onetime partner?
• Meanwhile, VUKORAH makes her move…and the criminal underworld will never be the same!
The review;
Three covers for issue 20 of Bounty Hunters. Giuseppe Camuncoli has the honours for the direct cover once more and his treatment to T’onga’s crew casts them in eerie red light and looking similar to how military vehicles are lit for their troops during a night mission. The 30th Lucasfilm Anniversary cover is in homage to the animated Resistance series and features Kazuda Xiono and BB-8. Last, but in no way least we have the Ken Lashley and Juan Fernandez variant featuring 4-LOM and Zuckuss. This cover is amazing! It’s a striking illustration and is definitely a glimpse into what is in the pages beyond.
Last time out, Valance was undertaking a mission for Darth Vader, and he completed it in his usual outlandish and unorthodox style. T’onga and her crew were embarking on a mission to seek out 4-LOM in their quest to fond Cadeliah, and that is where we pick up the story for this issue.
The Wreck Belt orbits Lotho Minor and a damaged Hutt ship that seems to stand out from the rest. Zuckuss is sure the signal from his former partner 4-LOM is emanating from it. It could be a trap, but they need to board as they need 4-LOM’s slicing skills to trace Cadeliah. After boarding, the team decide to split to search the vessel. T’onga and Losha stumble across the body of the former ship’s captain, while Bossk and Tasu Leech also find a strange effigy of Zuckuss, both of which have been stabbed multiple times with knives. They try to warn Zuckuss, but something is interfering with their communications.
On Corellia, Vukorah has returned to the Unbroken Clan Palace to see her stepfather, the Grand Leader. He is not pleased to see her, but Vukorah isn’t there for the warm welcome. She challenges his rule and accuses him of shrinking away since the death of his blood born daughter. This raises his anger, and he renounces his connections to her. Vukorah reveals the sword given to her by Qi’ra which he recognises. She thrusts a fatal lunge with it into his midriff and as he slumps over the blade, she tells him of the granddaughter he never knew existed and will now never meet. With her mission complete, she is now the Grand Leader of the Unbroken Clan and pledges their allegiance to Crimson Dawn.
Back onboard the wrecked Hutt vessel orbiting Lotho, Zuckuss has found 4-LOM. 4-LOM has been waiting for Zuckuss to arrive. His new programming dictates he must kill Zuckuss, but he has other plans. T’onga, Losha, Bossk and Leech attack to protect Zuckuss, but he knows how to defeat his former partner. With great dexterity he gains the upper hand over the now spiderlike 4-LOM and is able decapitate the droid and override his new programming. They put him straight to work in slicing to find Cadeliah and intercept a Crimson Dawn transmission.
Their slicing is not gone unnoticed with Crimson Dawn. Deathstick is made aware of the theft of the information, so there is only one person she can call on now to assist her next. This is a mission for Dengar.
This is almost the direction I was expecting the story to be taken on after Valance’s appearance in the Darth Vader series, but instead we got the really cool 2-issue mini arc of his mission laid down by Vader. This issue also has a slightly slower pace than previous, which is not a bad thing.
Star Wars comics have been a bit ‘high-octane’ since the start of the War of the Bounty Hunters cross over, and Ethan Sacks has used this to his advantage. He has fed off the brilliant story laid down by Daniel José Older in the 4-LOM and Zuckuss one shot comic, where he has beautifully setup what can be seen as an extension of that issue. The bond between the 2 bounty hunters goes beyond a partnership in business and is comparable to the bond between Lando Calrissian and Ellthree. While not a conventional relationship, it is almost like a marriage with a love that connects them, and Sacks has executed that impeccably.
I do need to mention Bossk at this point. Sacks has never hidden his personal love of him, and the glints of humour really do stand out. He has developed a sarcastic, but endearing relationship between Bossk and Tasu Leech, which I find is amusing and familiar like some of the sports locker room or workplace banter I have experienced over the years.
There is so much more to come from the Unbroken Clan and Crimson Dawn now Vukorah has finally taken the mantle of #.
At this point I need to say “welcome back” to Paolo Villanelli. While Ramón F. Bachs did an amazing job for issues 18 and 19, it was great to open the pages and recognise Villanelli’s workmanship once again. His art has slotted back in with Sacks words easily and reaffirms how well coordinated this pairing is. Bryan Valenza’s colours are very complimentary to Villanelli’s art, and the lettering of Travis Lanham are to his usual high standard.
I just can’t believe that it is going to be nearly 2 whole months before we get issue 21. The wait will be a long one, but there’s plenty of Star Wars literature to keep me entertained until then.
Availability;
Bounty Hunters is an ongoing series available from Marvel Comics. This issue retails at $3.99 and is available via the Marvel App and all good comic book stores.
