Published: May 19, 2021
Rating: Rated T
Writer: Ethan Sacks
Penciler: Paolo Villanelli
Colourist: Arif Prianto
Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham
Cover Artist: Mattia de Iulis
The synopsis;
PRELUDE TO WAR OF THE BOUNTY HUNTERS: “THE THREAT IN THE SHADOWS”
• As VALANCE and his reluctant partner DENGAR race to intercept BOBA FETT and his precious cargo, who are the deadly pursuers that are after them?
• A dark secret from Valance’s past connection to HAN SOLO may get him killed all these years later.
• But who is the mysterious leader of an assassination squad that is driving Valance into a life-and-death confrontation with his old friend?
The review;
Issue 12 of Bounty Hunters bucks the recent trend for vast amounts of variant covers. There are only 3 covers with Mattia de Iulis continuing his run for the direct issue. Some pieces of art are given names and my chosen title would be “Solo, through the eye of Valance”. A highly detailed illustration of Han Solo’s reflection in Beilert Valance’s artificial left eye, the variant is a crimson washed version. We are also nearing the climax of The Empire Strikes Back series of covers. Number 35 of 36 shows the Millennium Falcon undocking from the Medical Frigate in search of Solo, and is a very apt choice for this specific issue of Bounty Hunters.
We know the general direction we are heading in after reading issue 11. The movement in the overall storyline from that point with the progression in War of the Bounty Hunters ALPHA and Star Wars #13. The Prelude to the War of the Bounty Hunters story arc is well and truly up and running across all of the main Marvel Star Wars titles.
In the last issue, Valance and Dengar have teamed up after defeating the Ohnaka Gang and are in pursuit of Boba Fett. But they are also being pursued by Zuckuss and 4-LOM who are still intent on claiming the bounty for a dead or alive Valance. Although Dengar and Valance patched things up and vowed to work together, the distrust between them is bubbling just under the surface. One small event tears through their paper-thin pact and Dengar is ready to turn against Valance once more.
We know there is history between Valance and Solo, after the then Imperial Cadet helped rescue Valance during their academy days. Valance has his issues, but he feels he still owes Solo. But that debt seems to be compounded when on a previous visit to Abregado-Rae. Valance is in yet another pickle and has to agree to assassinate an unknown smuggler to get himself off the hook. The smuggler is Solo and although Valance makes sure the mission fails, Solo thinks that it was Valance trying to kill him.
Everyone has always said that Han Solo was crazy to try and outrun the Imperial’s through the asteroids near Hoth, so Valance has now also added that to his repertoire of crazy stunts. And we all know what hides in asteroid belts don’t we? Exogorth’s, aka Space Slugs! Weapons disabled by the pursuers, they are sitting ducks, so Dengar decides to pay off the bounty debt to Zuckuss and 4-LOM by giving then Fett’s location. This will take the heat off them, for now, but more bounty hunters wait in the wings to join the pursuit of Fett and his carbonite frozen prize.
The flashbacks have been really cleverly used in Valance’s backstory. This is all done in a style similar to those of Timothy Zahn in the recent Thrawn Ascendancy series books. This all leaves me with one clear question; could we see Valance’s perceived debt to Solo be his downfall in the events of War of the Bounty Hunters? This is a style that Sacks has used before during the Galaxy’s Edge mini-series and it worked very well for him then. Throughout this series he has shown that using these memories can build a backstory that would otherwise have gone unknown, but it is the way this is told that helps. It is done in a concise and constructive manner and although this issue is a 60:40 ratio of current action to memories, it never feels unbalanced or forced.
The full-page layout of Valance watching the Millennium Falcon blast off from the Abregado-Rae Spaceport is an outstanding piece of art from Paolo Villanelli. The flares of light from the engines are sublime and Arif Prianto has worked his magic not only in this frame, but the whole issue.
Consistency. It’s a word that we use regularly these days in life. And consistency is the word I want to use for Bounty Hunters as a series. Not only in the story from Ethan Sacks, but the art, colours and lettering seem to hit that consistently high level every issue. I find myself craving the next issue and although I enjoy reading all the current Star Wars titles, this one resonates with me and draws me in every time.
It is quite shocking when you think that this is just the build up to what will be one whole storyline covering the next 6 months. That’s a total of 34 comics, including one shot issues! I’m not sure if Marvel has ever tried something on such a major scale. I’m more than certain we haven’t seen anything like this in the Star Wars Galaxy before, and I am convinced it’s going to be one hell of a ride…
Availability;
Bounty Hunters is an ongoing series available from Marvel Comics. This issue is available via the Marvel App and all good comic bookstores and retails at $3.99.
