Published: December 1, 2021
Rated: T
Writer: Ethan Sacks
Artist: Ramon Bachs
Colourist: Bryan Valenza
Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham
Production Design: Nick Russell
Cover Artist: Giuseppe Camuncoli & Nolan Woodard
The synopsis;
THE GALAXY’S GREATEST!
• In the wake of the shocking events of WAR OF THE BOUNTY HUNTERS, the underworld has become more dangerous than ever.
• T’ONGA has assembled the greatest team of bounty hunters in the galaxy — including BOSSK, ZUCKUSS and TASU LEECH for a special mission!
• Can she keep them from killing each other long enough to become a real team while she grieves the loss of an old friend?
The review;
Camuncoli and Woodard team up once more to bring us the direct issue cover, which is a group picture of the new bounty hunter gang formed by T’onga. One thing that I did notice is Tasu Leech. While he is sporting a knife as his weapon, he is bare chested with only a huge codpiece as his only form of protection. That really does make the mind boggle! For the Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary cover, Chris Sprouse and co deliver yet another superb montage from Rogue One featuring Jyn Erso and Saw Garrera. Then we have the variant cover by Daniel Acuña, and no disrespect to Camuncoli, but I would love this to have been the direct cover. Featuring Vader in a threatening pose overlooked by his ‘new and improved’ Beilert Valance. This is my hands down favourite this issue and sets the tone beautifully for what lies ahead.
Last time out we saw that Vader had now taken control of Valance after stopping his escape from the Executor. The issue starts with Valance’s memories of his first real interaction with the Empire’s army as a child on Chorin. Inspired by meeting Captain Tarl Sokol who is known as The Spine Dragon of Anaxes, Valance will seek out his Imperial dream, and we all know how that ended.
In a medbay on the Executor, Valance is refusing to give his heart to the Empire and cooperate with Vader. This is when he finds out that he has died on the operating table when his own heart failed, and this now has been removed from his body. Crushing news for Valance, does Sacks’s cruelty towards Valance know no end? Well, no it doesn’t actually. Not only has he lost his heart, but they now have access to his memories as well, including the location of the Rebel’s harbouring Cadeliah. This is the advantage Vader needs and Valance unwillingly accepts what he’ll have to do.
The next phase of the story is just fun. Any bar brawl in Star Wars always has something special about it, but the ironic humour in this is quite subtle, but definitely there. That humour surrounds Bossk. His off the cuff remarks about “starting to like” Tasu Leech for his willingness to stab something or someone and then deciding to sit there and drink as he is “still growing my legs back” are really well placed. Also, the fact that when his drinks are destroyed, he then joins the fray with scant regard for his impediment.
There is a coming-of-age moment for Losha as well during the brawl. T’onga can see Losha is struggling to take down a Kerrakk, but she takes a back seat on the advice of Zuckuss and calls out what Losha should do to win the fight. She deals the fatal blow and is now intitated in the bounty hunter way of life. She had always wanted live quiet life on farm since marrying T’onga, but the events after their brush with Nakano Lash has left her as part of the crew.
The story is brought to a close with an unexpected reveal of Valance’s new boss, Ochi of Bestoon. The mission he is about to embark on is going to be an even bigger test of Valance’s resolve. Valance is to lead a team to assassinate a Crimson Dawn traitor within the Imperial ranks, none other than his idol from childhood, The Spine Dragon of Anaxes; the now General Tarl Sokol
The first thing I noticed was the change in artwork. I have never hidden the fact that I am a huge fan of what Paolo Villanelli and Arif Prianto have delivered in the previous 17 issues, but I have not been left disappointed by issue 18. Ramon Bachs and Bryan Valenza have taken on the mantel brilliantly and delivered Sacks story with aplomb. I also need to mention the sterling work of Travis Lanham. His lettering has been so consistent so far, but this issue sees some of his best work yet for this series.
And as for Sacks’s storyline, it just gets better with every issue. I’ve talked a lot about redemption for Valance in my recent reviews, and as expected that has been torn away from him after going so close. His body has been given to the Empire, now his mind and Vader can now use that against him to become his personal assassin. The anguish Sacks has put Valance through is just plain and simply cruel. Like me, he is a fan of this cult comic book character, but how can you willingly put one of your favourites through such torment?
But this issue just isn’t about Valance, the demographic of the new bounty hunter team that has been assembled is gelling and proving to be an interesting proposition. With Vader heavily involved in this issue, I hope we will get to see more of Valance and his side missions with Ochi of Bestoon in the pages of Greg Pak’s Darth Vader series allowing for Sacks to develop this unlikely crew and their own story.
But in all honesty, I’m just loving this series and for the moment I am just bristling to see where we go next. Bring on issue 19… and soon!
Availability;
Bounty Hunters is an ongoing series available from Marvel Comics. This issue retails at $3.99 and is available via the Marvel App and all good comic book stores.
