Published: March 30, 2022
Rated: T
Writer: Ethan Sacks
Artist: Paolo Villanelli
Colourist: Bryan Valenza
Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham
Production Design: Nick Russell
Cover Artist: Giuseppe Camuncoli & Jesus Aburtov
The synopsis;
T’ONGA’S BOUNTY HUNTERS FACE THEIR DEADLIEST MISSION YET!
• T’ONGA, BOSSK, TASU LEECH, ZUCKUSS, 4-LOM and LOSHA are plotting to kidnap the leader of a major crime syndicate.
• But is the crew walking into a trap?
• And what is the diabolical DENGAR planning that could jeopardize everything?
The review;
The direct Camuncoli and Aburtov cover shows Vukorah striking a pose with Bossk and Zuckuss lying at her feet and nonchalantly holding 4-LOM by the throat against a wall. If this cover doesn’t get you excited for what is to come inside, well, nothing will! There are 2 variants for this issue. The Paolo Villanelli and Antonio Fabela variant is a very different kind of face off, this time between T’onga, Bossk, 4-LOM and Lady Proxima. Finally, there’s the Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary variant, which shows Greef Karga and Mythrol from The Mandalorian. This series is drawing to a close, but the standard from Chris Sprouse, Karl Story and Neeraj Menon hits the usual highs. Let’s hope there is special release of all these covers in one bind.
There’s been quite a long break since the last issue was released. In fact, that gap has been 11 weeks. Yes, you read correctly. It’s been a whole 77 days since issue 20 hit the shelves! The covers have teased that we are to expect some great action within the pages of issue 21.
T’onga is woken from her sleep by a dream of her last moments with Nakano Lash. On waking she heads for the bridge and take s the incoming call. Syphacc wants in on their mission, but T’onga wants none of it. Too many close to her have been hurt and she is haunted by ghosts. Dengar is the one pushing Syphacc to infiltrate T’onga’s team at the behest of Deathstick. He is displeased with his failure to succeed.
On Corellia, T’onga and her team meet with Lady Proxima, queen of the White Worms. The joining of the Unbroken Clan with Crimson Dawn has damaged Proxima’s own empire and Vukorah has turned many of her followers away from her. The Unbroken Clan security has been strengthened and includes personal bodyguards for Vukorah herself. But T’onga has a plan to infiltrate their lair.
Bossk and Tasu Leech are delivering T’onga to Vukorah, while a co-ordinated attack on the guards on the perimeter are disabled. Losha is in a sniper position and waits for the signal to take out Vukorah’s forces. Right on queue she takes out her targets and the skirmish has begun. The surprise attack yields early ground, but Vukorah is strong, and she quickly stabilises and strikes back hard. Zuckuss arrives in a highjacked Unbroken Clan transport to pick up Vukorah, but this plan is rumbled. Vukorah takes out Leech and Bossk and goes after T’onga. Grappling with each other, T’onga has trick up her sleeve, literally. A poisoned syringe is thrust into Vukorah’s neck, and she collapses almost instantly.
Now the team are ready for extraction. 4-LOM is moments away in the Edgehawk, but there may be some trouble before he can reach them as small fighters approach firing on their position.
The gap between issues has been well worth the wait. And talking of gaps, Sacks has taken us back to fill in some of the gaps left in the first arc of the series nearly 2 years on. That works really well as I sense that this information will now help build this phase of the storyline.
This issue really does push the overall Crimson Reign story arc onto the next level. The subterfuge within both camps to try and take each other out is very cleverly constructed. I love the way Sacks is managing the complexity of the storyline. It feels to me that Bounty Hunters story is the main story that is leading the overall arc. I know there are other people who will input and throw him situations to work with, but he is doing this supremely well.
The artwork is exemplary yet again. Villanelli and Valenza are excelling themselves in this issue. With so much action, the impact of each frame is optimised from cover to cover. Again, the lettering from Lanham compliments the action portrayed. When packaged all together, this leads to yet another outstanding issue.
With issue 22 already titled “All Out War” and the cover preview on the last page, we are in for a humdinger of an issue… again!
Availability;
Bounty Hunters is an ongoing series available from Marvel Comics. This issue retails at $3.99 and is available via the Marvel App, ComiXology and all good comic book stores.
