Published: April 6, 2022
Rated: T
Writer: Ethan Sacks
Artist: Paolo Villanelli
Colourist: Arif Prianto
Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham
Production Design: Nick Russell
Cover Artist: Giuseppe Camuncoli & Jesus Aburtov
The synopsis;
ALL OUT WAR ON THE STREETS OF CORELLIA!
Besieged by an entire syndicate of killers, T’ONGA, BOSSK, TASU LEECH, ZUCKUSS, 4-LOM and LOSHA have no choice but to fight their way out through the streets.
Meanwhile, DENGAR strikes…and the Underworld may never be the same!
The review;
Giuseppe Camuncoli and Jesus Aburtov collaborate again for the direct cover, and it really catches the premise for what we are about to read. There are 2 variants this week. The Villanelli and Iacono combo gives us T’onga’s crew in a hero style cover that is really cool. Paul Renaud has been entrusted with the final variant and it is stunning. Featuring Deathstick, I think if you can find this at retail, it’s well worth picking up and may well become very collectible in the future.
Well, I wasn’t expecting to be reviewing issue 22 quite so soon! Like the proverbial bus, you wait 11 weeks for one and two turn up at the same time. But, in saying that, I am not moaning one bit. I cannot hide how much I am enjoying this series and the cliff hanger Sacks left us with at the end of issue 21 is allowed to pan out quite swiftly. So, let’s see what the team have in store for us.
With Vukorah incapacitated and in their possession T’onga and her crew are besieged by forces from the Unbroken Clan. Not only this, but an aerial bombardment has also them pinned down. The team try to secure a passage out of the area, with Losha providing sniper cover from her perch way above them. But the Unbroken Clan eventually find her, and she must break cover and attempt to regroup with the rest.
At the secret Crimson Dawn base, Qi’ra is entertaining Cadeliah. She isn’t hungry but has eyes for the cutlery on the table. With sleight of hand, she has managed to obtain a knife and lunges across the table at Qi’ra. The attack is swiftly cut short by her bodyguard, Vicrul of the Knights of Ren. Qi’ra lays down to Cadeliah how dispensable she is but chooses not to follow that route. Cadeliah is released and settles back in her chair and starts to eat.
Back on Corellia, the fight continues. The Unbroken Clan are setting up a heavy cannon and now really is the time to move, but there aren’t many options. T’onga sees a Nuna Merchants transport and suggests it as their escape vehicle much to the ire of her colleagues. It’s their only viable option and once more they break cover and attacked those between them and the transport.
Losha is high above them and catching them up with Unbroken Clan close behind. With the transport secured, they are moving quickly. Losha needs to join them soon and a grappling hook is the answer to slow her decent. Throwing herself at her assailant and firing the harpoon, she ascends to rendezvous with the transport. Her landing is successful, and she re-joins the team. Speeder bikes in pursuit, a well-placed missile halts the transport in its path.
In the wreckage Vukorah stirs, but a swift elbow to the jaw puts her back into her slumber and she is hiked back up onto Bossk’s shoulders. They make their way to the landing pad where 4-LOM should be there to meet them, but he isn’t there.
In a Mourner’s Wail safe house, where there is a knock on the door. The viewing slot is opened, and a message is delivered in the shape of a thermal detonator which rips through the room. Dengar enters the carnage and finds the only survivor to give him a message for Lord Khamdek, meet with him for dinner the following evening.
Tempers fray on the landing pad with their means of escape not being there. The Unbroken Clan have caught up with them, but thankfully they can use Vukorah as a bargaining chip. And bang on cue, the Edgehawk soars up behind them. A blast from its cannons hits the group of Unbroken Clan clearing their path to escape.
Onboard Vukorah stirs once more, and she warns T’onga that their recent actions in capturing her will lead to Cadeliah’s death.
I’ve used one word before, and I am going to use it again: consistency. The story up to this point hasn’t faltered once. It is captivating with every issue. I love the way Sacks has managed the shift for which characters he uses to pursue the storyline goal. We started with Fett, Valance and Lash, this moved on to Valance and Dengar and now the full focus is on T’onga and her team.
The demographic and the snide camaraderie within that team is so well written. There is a love hate relationship between so many of this crew, but this sees them work as a team, bringing their own talents to the fore. This reminds me of my days playing football (soccer) when I was younger. The locker room banter could be savage, but somehow this produces a bond that makes the unit better when they get out onto the playing field.
It really feels like this phase of the story is cementing in any gaps left in those first few issues back at the beginning. The way this is being done is very clever. While running under the overall Crimson Regin arc, Bounty Hunters still feels more like an independent publication. While the other titles seem to rely on each other to carry them along, I’ve always felt the storyline is robust enough to carry itself.
Paolo Villanelli excels himself with this issue. Another consistent part of the series that has been part of its strength. It’s also nice to see Arif Prianto back in the fold. The full-page illustration of the Edgehawk and T’onga’s crew on page 20 is just incredible! For me it’s worth framing and the lettering just finishes it off perfectly. Travis Lanham does another sterling job of bringing everything together.
What has Vukorah got up her sleeve? Will Khamdek meet with Dengar? What’s the next move for T’onga? So may questions, that only issue 23 can answer!
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.
