PRINCESS LEIA
PART 1
It is a time of both hope and mourning within the Rebellion. While on a secret mission to deliver stolen plans for the Death Star to the Rebel Alliance, PRINCESS LEIA ORGANA was captured by the Galactic Empire and forced to witness the battle station’s power as it destroyed her home planet of Alderaan.
With the help of a farmboy pilot and a fast-talking smuggler, Leia escaped her captors and completed her mission. Using the plans, the Alliance was able to destroy the Empire’s ultimate weapon.
Having proven themselves a formidable enemy to the Empire, the rebels are in more danger now than ever, leaving them with little time to celebrate their triumph, or lament their loss….
The Precis
As Princess Leia is captured aboard the Tantive IV by the evil Sith Lord Darth Vader she manages to get the secret plans of the Empire’s new ultimate weapon into a R2 unit who escaped in a pod onto a nearby planet. The princess was taken into the Empire’s custody and was held prisoner on the ultimate weapon, known only as the Death Star. Here, on the very deck of the super weapon, she was forced to watch her home planet of Alderaan get obliterated as a display of the sheer destruction that the Death Star can bestow.
Luke Skywalker accompanied by Han Solo and Chewbacca were able to infiltrate and rescue the Princess from the Death Star and were now able to return to the Yavin base. As the Alliance now had the secret plans they were able to plan an attack. Luke Skywalker and Han Solo accompanied by other X-Wing pilots were successful in their attack and managed to completely destroy the Death Star in what was to become the Battle of Yavin. It was a bitter victory though as many still mourned the loss of Alderaan.
Now the Empire knows of the Rebels whereabouts it is time for them to find a new base. The Princess is eager to help out but soon learns that she has a high bounty on her head by request of the Empire. However, this threatening bounty acts as no barrier for the Princess as she finds a young Rebel pilot by the name of Evaan who is more than willing to take her commands as a royalist. The Princess plans to set out but she is too valuable an asset to let go without a fight…
The Review
In this brand new series brought by Marvel the reader will be able to delve into the stories of adventures of Princess Leia which were never seen on the screen. This issue portrays the classic bravery and outgoing courage of the Princess contrasted with her new formal royalist Evaan to create a very interesting companionship. Packed with wit, emotion and action this series is sure set to be a very intense and exciting ride with unexpected turns!
The actual artwork used within the series has a heavy use of sketches. Although this usually makes work look rushed and tacky, in this issue it’s really worked. Through using sketches a greater visual understanding of the texture of characters can be produced. It can help characters such as the Princess come across as her rough and rebellious self, usually only achievable through film. The colouring also accompanies the illustrations very well and almost creates a classic vibe of the early Marvel Star Wars comics.
There’s a good thick layering of dialogue throughout the issue which helps drag it out into a greater time consuming piece and makes the reader feel like there really getting an in-depth story. Some really interesting and diverse angles are used too creating a greater emphasis on the scenarios within each scene. The Princess looks quite different from the Carrie Fisher screenplay Princess though, this time she looks much younger and a lot more agile. But her actions and courage makes up for that. Overall this first issue has made a real impact, bringing new concepts to the table and leaves the reader wanting more.
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