Published: July 20, 2022
Rating: Rated T
Writer: Charles Soule
Artists: Ramon Rosanas, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Will Sliney, Phil Noto
Inker: Daniele Orlandi (Darth Vader)
Colourists: Rachelle Rosenberg, Arif Prianto, GURU-eFX
Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Cover Artist: Carlo Pagulayan
The synopsis;
A Celebration across the Galaxy for STAR WARS’ 25th issue! With stories set from the Prequel to the Sequel eras, experience new tales of OBI-WAN & ANAKIN, DARTH VADER, POE DAMERON and KYLO REN. Join Charles Soule, along with his previous artistic collaborators, for this era-spanning celebration!
The review;
The last arc was incredible. There’s no way getting away from the fact that it really has set the bar high for whatever is to come next. Almost two months later and we get to see what Soule has in store for us. A celebration? Era-spanning? A whole host of amazing artists? It sounds very promising and very different to what has come before. It seems like a smart move by Soule, but will it pay off? We see an introduction form the man himself, explaining that this is his 100th issue and he wanted to celebrate, sounds like a good excuse to me! The contents shows that we have four mini stories, all set in different eras. What I do like is that the timeline for each tale is clearly explaining, there’s no wondering when a story takes place, we know going in.
The first tale is called The Lesson featuring Obi-Wan and Anakin between Episode One and Two. It looks at the importance of the lightsaber as a weapon but also as a symbol. Soule shows us that Anakin is always wanting to do more, that he is never fully satisfied with just things as they are. Give him a lightsaber, he wants to create something different, something more, something unique. This isn’t a bad thing at all, but it shows his determination to always pushing himself. What I like is that Soule shows us that Obi-Wan wanted to do the same. We know Anakin always wants more but that doesn’t mean he’s different from any other Jedi. Obi-Wan also thought like him. He wanted to create two short lightsabers connected by a chain. Anakin’s reaction, I imagine much like most readers, is one of awe and thinking that would be incredible to see! Before we get too excited, Soule gives us the reason for the lightsaber, a symbol that shows the galaxy so much. It shows one of skill but also restraint. This explanation is exactly what we have come to expect of Soule, thought provoking and allowing us to view something we’ve known for decades in a new light. It’s a very strong start to this issue supported by the wonderful artwork of Ramon Rosanas, who captures the two Jedi wonderfully.
The second tale is also called The Lesson but follows Darth Vader just after Episode Three. Obi-Wan says in the first tale that the Sith would have a different explanation to why a lightsaber, here Soule gives it to us. It makes for a great comparison to the first, both been taught to Anakin/Vader. For the Sith the lightsaber isn’t a symbol of restraint but of inferno. Unlike the Jedi, it isn’t their only weapon, showing their lack of restraint. This, combined with the previous tale really feels like Star Wars. As we all know, many of the truths we cling to greatly depend on our point of view. Soule uses the symbol of the lightsaber, used by both good and bad, and explains how it can be a symbol for the two opposing forces. Add the artwork of Camuncoli and this feels like the perfect end to the two stories. The flow of the lightsaber movements from both Rosanas and Camuncoli really capture the different styles from all the characters. They complement each other very well.
See You Around Kid takes place between Episode Eight and Nine and looks at Kylo Ren. This tale brings in the humour for the comic, some much needed relief in an issue that up to this point has had some deep-thinking concepts. We see Kylo moving from planet to planet, visiting ones from previous scripts, from The High Republic (of course!), from The Book of Boba Fett, it’s all here. And all of it? To show that Kylo can still sense Luke, that he is haunted by the mere thought of Luke plaguing him. It’s a short reminder of the stress that Kylo is undergoing as he moves further away from being a Jedi. The artwork by Sliney is very strong, capturing the atmosphere of many different planets in a very short space of pages.
The final tale is A Eulogy to Snap and takes place after Episode Nine. As Poe Dameron was the first comic series I ever reviewed, this is the one I was most intrigued about. It opens very abruptly, the Battle of Exegol and Snap is dead. And that is because that’s to the focus of the issue, the focus is saying goodbye to Snap, to have the pilots remembering him and letting him go. This feels like a great epilogue to the Poe Dameron series, the farewell to snap and to Mr. Bones. The artwork of Phil Noto really captures the emotion of each character and how the loss has cut them all deep.
This was not the issue I thought we’d have, a great break from the turmoil that is Star Wars. It was the perfect move for Soule to make after such a tremendous conclusion to the current arc. Although each part is very short, you nonetheless feel satisfied. There is depth here, showing us things that we may have thought but have yet to see. And always with Soule, it is so well written. Backed up by an array of incredible artists and you have a wonderful celebration of the hundred issues of Charles Soule. Here is to the next one hundred!
Availability;
Star Wars (2020) is an ongoing series available from Marvel. This issue retails at $3.99 and is available via the Marvel App, ComiXology and all good comic bookstores.
