Published: May 4, 2024
Rated: T
Cover Artist: Phil Noto
Return to Echo Base
Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Ibraim Roberson
Colours: Rachelle Rosenberg
Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles
The Curse
Writer: Greg Pak
Artist: Ramon Rosanas
Colours: GURU-eFX
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
The synopsis;
Are there REBEL survivors stranded on HOTH? LUKE SKYWALKER, LEIA ORGANA, LANDO CALRISSIAN and CHEWBACCA mount a dangerous rescue mission to ECHO BASE! Lightsabers! Blasters! Snowtroopers! All-out action amongst the wreckage of AT-AT walkers, Rebel airspeeders and frozen weapons of mass destruction!
DARTH VADER employes a surprise character from the past to help him find LUKE SKYWALKER. But SABE, [sic] former handmaiden of PADME AMADALA [sic] is also on a quest for the son of Vader. Having worked for him as an IMPERIAL COMANDER, Sabe has enough resources to cause chaos for anyone who stands in her path. How will this affect the DARK LORD’S plans to remove PALPATINE from power?
The review;
It’s that time of year again when you can go to your local comic book store and get a free comic. It has been a tradition that has gone back years, and it is always intriguing to see what offers they have up. This year for Star Wars, Marvel are giving us two stories in one. The first is written by Charles Soule, writer of the main Star Wars series and co-creator of the High Republic. To say I’m excited by this one would be an understatement. Soule understands Star Wars better than most and he is able to bring those small details to such grand stories that reading his work is always a pleasure. Joining him is artist Ibraim Roberson, who has worked on Darth Vader, Yoda and a whole host of Star Wars (and non-Star Wars) titles. The title of their piece, ‘Return to Echo Base’ already has been intrigued, linking back to The Empire Strikes Back sounds like perfection to me! The second story – ‘The Curse’ – is written by Darth Vaderwriter Greg Pak. Pak is not only just known for that, but he has also worked on numerous comics. From a personal standpoint, his work on Battlestar Galactica I thought was incredible and I can’t wait to see what he brings us in the FCBD issue. Joining him is Ramon Rosanas, who has worked on the main Star Wars series, really helping to bring that to life.
Now the challenge with having two stories in one issue, is the space. Both pairs of teams can do an amazing job, you only need to read their previous works to understand that. Here, there is a huge space limitation, not of one issue, but of half an issue. To be able to tell a story of worth, to captive fans and new comic readers, it’s a tall order. Let’s see how each team fairs…
First is Soule and Roberson with ‘Return to Echo Base’. Of course, the first thing if you’re a fan of the regular series, is when is this placed. While we can’t be too sure (although with the Imperial officer I presume it’s after issue thirty-six), we do know that Lando is with the group. I love that while Leia and the Rebels are all trying to help others, Lando is the realist. There are survivors on Hoth, and the Imperials are sure to be watching it. It doesn’t seem to make a difference and Lando very quickly realises that he needs to toe the line and go along with the plan, no matter how fool hardy.
Soule then shows us the other side of it, the Imperials. They are getting bored and fed up as attacking Hoth seems far too obvious of an attack for the Rebels to make. You kind of understand their point if – well – the Rebels weren’t doing that exact thing. We find out that the Empire feels that the deployment is punishment for the officer in charge, who let a certain smuggling ship through on Coruscant – all because he couldn’t handle the smell! Well, maybe not quite, but I love the reference back to the ongoing series. It’s certainly not needed, and for new readers, will not impede their enjoyment of the story. Yet for fans who have been following the main story, it’s a great nod back to what we’ve already read.
As for nods back, although the story is quick, it has all those small little details we’ve come to expect from Soule. Luke using the force to help him, seeing him grow in power. The Imperial troop transport for fans of the vintage toy line (and for fans of Rebels and The Mandalorian). We also see a return to the ice cave where Luke was in The Empire Strikes Back. It’s a short story and I’m sure with more space Soule can have done even more. With that said, the pacing, the little snippets here and there, fit perfectly for this sort of comic.
The artwork by Roberson is fantastic. The detail of the characters, particularly on something filled with them – like on Home One – looks stunning. He is really able to capture the cold of Hoth so well and that final page, with the effects on the Imperial team really made me sit up. A superb job!
Onto the tale ‘The Curse’ from Pak and Rosanas. Pak is very quick to establish where this fits, straight after the latest issue of Darth Vader, number forty-five. We see Vader at his best, crushing anyone and anything before speaking with the Emperor. I’m impressed Pak is able to fit so much into just two pages of this issue, setting up everything that’s needed for new readers. The Emperor, who Vader is working against, can see a huge advantage of the hate that is pouring out of him. Vader is becoming more powerful and therefore more useful to Palpatine. It hasn’t gone unaware that Luke has also grown in power and isn’t the innocent, naive boy he once was.
While all this allows new readers to catch up, Pak then sends us to Sergia. Immediately I was in Obi-Wan mode, thinking, ‘now that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time, a long time’! Pak wrote a story arc for the very first Star Wars main series. I was struggling to remember which numbers until thankfully, they’re shown in this issue (it has been a few years to say the least!). I love that Pak brings this full circle to work that was written almost a decade ago, and brings back Warba, someone who worked with Luke. You can see she has been influenced by her experience with Luke and is better for it. She isn’t the only surprise, Sabe returns too! There are a lot of threads that Pak is pulling on, a lot of previous stories that he is wrapping together beautifully in this story. Yet even if you haven’t read the previous stories mentioned, you don’t need to. It all makes sense. It’s an impressive feat that Pak is able to do this and the payoff for readers who have been with Marvel Star Wars since 2015 will really enjoy the return of these characters and planets. I could mention the end but all I shall say is, thank goodness Darth Vader (2020) #46 is released next week!
Rosanas captures the atmosphere on both locations brilliantly. First, we see the dark areas of Zee-Nine City before we go to the light, desert planet of Sergia. Both look great. Yet it’s the handling of Vader that I really like. He is kept to a minimum which really adds to the effect of when he does appear. Rosanas’ crowning moment is Sabe’s thoughts around the campfire and the image of Padme, Anakin and a handmaiden. With The Phantom Menace back at theatres this weekend, this image couldn’t be more perfectly timed to be placed into a comic.
Let’s start with the obvious, this is a free comic. At that price alone I don’t think any reader could complain. As a vehicle to get new readers into comics and Star Wars comics, this is exceptional. You have two world class writers with a duo of artists who bring these stories to life. Just on the surface, it works brilliantly. Throw in two stories that refer back to previous stories, those little Easter eggs that make long-time readers smile to themselves, going all the way back to the very early days of the Marvel/Disney era, and you have two stories that not only satisfy the new fans, but warm the hearts of the older ones. This is a great duo of stories, stories I would have been very happy paying for, let alone been provided for free!
Availabiliy;
Star Wars #1 was released by Marvel Comics for Free Comic Book Day 2024. Copies were only available via participating local comic book stores.