The Creative Team:
Published By: Marvel Comics
Released On: April 05, 2017
Rating: Rated T
Writer: Jody Houser
Penciller: Emilio Laiso
Cover Artist: Phil Noto
The Synopsis:
The Rebellion is here! The biggest movie of the year jumps from the big screen to the comic book page! All looks lost for the Rebellion against the Empire as they learn of the existence of a new … less
The Rebellion is here! The biggest movie of the year jumps from the big screen to the comic book page! All looks lost for the Rebellion against the Empire as they learn of the existence of a new super-weapon – the Death Star. New heroes Jyn Erso and Cassian Andor set out on a desperate mission to steal the plans to destroy the new super-weapon.
Written by Jody Houser (MAX RIDE) and drawn by Emilio Laiso (STAR WARS ANNUAL; HERCULES), join as the story is set up for the epic saga to follow…
The Plot:
Lah’mu, Erso family home. 15 years ago…
As an Imperial shuttle approaches the planet surface, Galen reassures his daughter Jyn of his love for her and that he will always protect her.
Galen meets with Director Krennic and his Deathtroopers outside, while they are talking Lyra Erso leaves Jyn hiding in the long grasses and shoots Krennic. The Deathtroopers return fire – killing Lyra.
Eadu, Imperial Base. Now…
Bodhi Rook an Imperial pilot is talking to Galen Erso on a landing platform lashed by wind and rain to discuss their actions in helping create and the guilt this has caused them.
Wobani, Imperial Labour Camp.
Liana Hallik is escorted by Imperial Stromtroopers to her prison cell where her cell mate awaits her.
Jedha City.
An Imperial Star Destroyer hangs ominously over the raised City of Jedha. Imperial Stormtroopers load orange cargo containers on to shuttles. An Imperial shuttle lands in the wastelands of Jedha and Bodhi Rook starts to walk towards his onlookers. He surrenders to them asking to be taken to Saw Gerrera.
Ring of Kafrene, Trading Post.
The ring of Kafrene is two asteroids joined by a spire like buildings making them one entity. An Imperial guard exits a shuttle and ducks down an alley way, to re-emerge in spacers garb. He quickly locates a fellow pilot who has an injured arm. In a heated conversation reveals the location of the defecting pilot, but two Imperial Stormtroopers close on them. They are quickly taken down by the spacer and then he turns the gun on his pilot friend. The noise attracts more Stormtroopers, but he climbs to safety and escapes.
Wobani.
Liana Hallik is being transported with her cell mate to their days work when the transport suddenly stops. The doors are blown in and the compartment is stormed by rebels. They are looking for Liana and she resists striking down her hunters and making for the exit. As she leaps for freedom a hand slaps her down mid-air and drives her to the found. Standing over her is an Imperial droid telling her she’s been rescued.
Later…
A Rebel U-Wing leaves the planet surface with Liana and her Rebel captors on board.
Yavin 4. Rebel Alliance Base
Three figures stand around a tactical display with Liana, Mon Mothma introduces herself and reveals they know Liana’s real identity is Jyn Erso, daughter of Galen Erso. Stood with her is the spacer from Kafrene, he is introduced as Captain Cassian Andor of Rebel Intelligence. They know she has been in the company of Saw Gerrera in recent times and ask for her to facilitate an introduction. Jyn retells the story of how she was brought up by Saw, but the last time she was with him, he left her alone with a blaster and never returned. Her father is a lead researcher on the Imperial secret weapon, but has sent the defecting pilot to Jedha to find Saw Gerrera. The plan is to retrieve the pilot and rescue her father to take him to the Senate to reveal the Emperor’s new weapon. Jyn agrees. Mon Mothma meets with Bail Organa to discuss the plot in the hope that diplomacy will be the answer.
A U-Wing is being prepared for a mission and Cassian approaches only to be called away. Jyn approaches with a blaster hidden under her tunic. A familiar droid introduces himself as K-2SO, a reprogrammed Imperial droid. As they board he questions, Cassian as why Jyn has a blaster and states that ‘is is a bad idea’. As they take off Cassian remembers back to the conversation he was called away for and unbeknown to Jyn the mission to find her father is not an extraction, but an assassination.
Star Destroyer, Executrix.
An unhappy Grand Moff Tarkin is talking to Director Krennic on the bridge overlooking the super weapon. Tarkin has concerns that the defecting pilot could have valuable information that could get into the wrong hands. It is suggested that there be a test of the weapon to prove it is now operational.
Jedha City.
2 wily old characters sit on top of a downed X-Wing being watched by Imperial Stormtroopers. One armed with just a staff goes by the name of Chirrut and the other carrying a heavy repeating rifle is known as Baze. Chirrut seems to acknowledge something, feeling during repeating his mantra, he stops. Baze questions why he stopped as Chirrut looks to the skies.
To be continued…
The Review:
The cover is a great illustration. I like the way that the image is cut by a clean circle at the bottom to reveal the title. There are nine variant covers that are tied to comic book suppliers and artists. The Jyn Erso and Orson Krennic 3.75” figure cards are great, as is the 40th Anniversary cover which features the Modal Nodes band playing in Chalmun’s Cantina with two Jawa’s looking on as Kabe dances with his drink. For me though I personally like the movie poster style, it uses promotional pictures and a silhouette style drawing to outline the Death Star and X-Wings.
Comic book adaptations usually follow the film quite accurately and the pictures tell the shortened dialogue. This is the case here, but interestingly we find extra scenes from the novelisation, but also some parts from the cutting room floor, which did not make the film. This makes this version a very interesting prospect and shines a different light on a story we all know.
I loved the Rebels Report in the front of the comic book. I thought this was a good way to introduce the main characters.
The story in places does seem to be clipped too far and early on the story seem disjointed during the early scenes, which for me feel too short. Some of these though are expanded in flashbacks later in the story. The same goes for the dialogue, but the humour of K-2SO is lost with his two appearances in this adaptation.
The lead characters, especially Jyn Erso are well drawn and the general feel of the colours in the artwork do capture the big screen palette. In all the artwork is very good, but at times slightly inconsistent on the amount of detail used.
Overall it’s a very good adaptation combining screen, novel and cutting room floor, it’s just a shame that it didn’t emerge from Marvel until the DVD/Blu-Ray release in April.
I’m already looking forward to reviewing issue two.
Issue Cover Variants:
Availability:
This issue was released on 5th April 2017 and is available via the Marvel App and all good comic book stores. As this is an extended issue its price is set at $4.99 for the standard cover.
