Published: April 6, 2022
Rated: T
Writer: Ethan Sacks
Guest Artist: Natacha Bustos
Colourist: Arif Prianto
Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham
Production Design: Nick Russell
Cover Artist: Giuseppe Camuncoli & Jesus Aburtov
The synopsis;
“A CLEAR AND PRESENT DENGAR”
• The most underestimated bounty hunter in the galaxy in his greatest adventure yet!• DENGAR makes his move — and the Underworld will be forever changed.
• Meanwhile, time is running out for T’ONGA and her crew to break VUKORAH… Will a young girl pay for their failure with her life?
The review;
3 covers for issue 23 of Bounty Hunters. The direct cover by Giuseppe Camuncoli brings us Dengar, front and centre in the crosshairs of someone he has upset along the way and that list is pretty endless! The Lucasfilm 50th anniversary set continues with a The Rise of Skywalker themed cover featuring Emperor and General Hux. A great cover from Takeshi Miyazawa for the Japanese Creator variant. It’s a fine illustration of Dengar and Bossk, with what is possibly IG-88 on the floor behind.
Paolo Villanelli is given a break for this issue and Guest Artist Natacha Bustos takes up the reigns. The title A Clear and Present Dengar is a clear indication of who will be our lead character for this issue.
We start the issue with a flashback to Dengar’s past on Corellia. He’s in a swoop race against an unseen opponent who is closing on him fast. Dengar tries to sabotage his adversary, but his attempts are futile as Han Solo avoids his attempts and turns the tables on him. This results in Solo winning the race as Dengar crashes out in humiliation. Chided by his colleagues as Solo celebrates with Qi’ra, Dengar strikes out with his broken handlebar and bludgeons a sharp mouthed Gran, he won’t tolerate being disrespected.
Milvayne, present day. Dengar is pinned by guards of Lord Khamdek. His actions against the Mourner’s Wail in recent times has not gone unnoticed. They confirm he has no weapons and Khamdek is now ready for him. He is escorted through the restaurant to talk with Khamdek who demands to know where his granddaughter is. Dengar wants to eat, then they’ll discuss Cadeliah.
T’onga, assisted by Losha are interrogating Vukorah onboard the Edgehawk. T’onga’s threats to inflict pain and mutilations on Vukorah aren’t working as she laughs them off. She knows that she isn’t the type of mercenary that revels in such actions, despite her claims.
Dengar’s table manners have taken away Khamdek’s appetite, but now it’s for business. Cadeliah is safe, for now, but she would be more valuable if she was no longer the heir, but the leader of Unbroken Clan, should anything happen to Khamdek. He laughs off Dengar’s notion.
Khamdek rises to leave the table and advises Dengar that this was his last meal. A waiter delivers one more course and opens the salver to reveal a blaster. He overpowers Khamdek’s guards as he grabs the blaster and with one head shot, takes down the leader of the Unbroken Clan. Chaos ensues, and Dengar battles his way out for his escape. Throwing himself from the balcony he lands in the seat of a speeder seat, piloted by his partner, Manaroo.
T’onga is contemplating her next move. Contacting the Bounty Broker Syphacc is what she must do. She requires an extra member for her crew, and he has just the person.
Bossk warns T’onga he does not trust their new ally as Dengar boards the Edgehawk.
This issue feels like a one-shot to bridge between arc’s as it deals with Dengar’s introduction into T’onga’s crew. The scenes in the restaurant after Dengar assassinates Khamdek is reminiscent of the Club Obi-Wan scene in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Ethan Sacks is delivering issue after issue with twists and turns all the way. I was not expecting Dengar to take out Khamdek and that is the game changer that could blow the underworld clean open in issues to come. The flashback scene at the beginning was well put together and reinforces the fact that Dengar is always portrayed as the nearly man of the world of bounty hunting.
Natacha Bustos has been brought in to cover this issue, like Ramon Bachs was earlier in the series. For me, Bustos’s work doesn’t feel quite right, and it doesn’t fit with the storyline or the series. There is nothing wrong with her artwork, it just doesn’t work for me. I would prefer to see Bustos’s style applied to the Star Wars Adventures title formerly published by IDW. I also believe we’ve been spoiled having Paolo Villanelli creating the artwork for this series. Villanelli has a unique talent of portraying action that is nigh on impossible to replicate.
I want to make a special shout out for Travis Lanham for this issue. His lettering is exceptional! He really manages to help set the tone for the battle in the restaurant scenes.
Not long to wait until issue 24 is on the shelves, so I am really looking forward to see how bad things go now Dengar is onboard the Edgehawk.
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.
