Published: June 22, 2022
Rating: Rated T
Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Steven Cummings
Inker: Victor Olazaba
Colourist: GURU-eFX
Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham
Cover Artist: Leinil Francis Yu & Sunny Gho
The synopsis;
“THE SCARLET QUEEN”
LADY QI’RA has used every tool at her disposal to generate chaos in the Galactic Empire, all to further her goal of eradicating the Sith. But as the final phase of Qi’ra’s grand plan is revealed, she is about to learn a lesson that the Jedi Order also came to understand. Underestimate EMPEROR PALPATINE and pay the price.
The review;
It has been a long wait for this final issue to come out, two months in fact! Last issue was a very by-the-book issue. It didn’t have quite the depth or epic scale that this series had delivered previously, but then this is Charles Soule and not everything is always as it seems. There are still many questions left to be answered and I am hoping for some (heck- even one or two!) but more than anything I want to see a return to form and possibly a reason to go back to issue four, to reread the hidden gems that are lurking. Nothing is ever as it seems when Soule is around and I’m excited, nervous, and hopeful to what this issue has in store.
This comic brings the cinematic feel back to the series. Last review, I said I wanted a bit more Original Trilogy love and this certainly delivers. Let’s start with the artwork by Steven Cummings, it is incredible. The opening scene on Coruscant (well, Imperial Centre) with Palpatine in his throne room, the city through the window, it really pulls at those Original Trilogy heartstrings. But this homage comes back again and again throughout the issue. What really shone through was the colour. This issue is an issue of two halves, the one half is Palpatine and Vader, the other Qi’ra and Crimson Dawn. The scenes of the Empire are coloured in dark blues, creating an oppressive tone; for Crimson Dawn they are yellow and bright. This symbolism is very clear and works so well for the story.
My favourite scenes in all of this are the Emperor. This is not a fleeting visit but directly watching a conversation with the Emperor and Darth Vader. Soule does not hold back here, and I could have happily had the entire issue just be these two talking. Even though he has been in the background, Palpatine is very aware of what is going on. Vader might be the front man, the man getting his hands dirty, but Palpatine is aware of all the little movements and the political implications. He doesn’t sit around; he is still very active, and I like that Soule shows this side of him. However, the jaw dropping wow moment for me was when Vader says that Qi’ra’s fighting style reminded him of Palpatine’s. It is an obvious link as she was trained by Maul, but to see Palpatine and Vader discussing this, to be making those links themselves, was nothing short of incredible. The fact that Vader can comment on the Emperor’s style, that they have sparred together is (yes, obvious) but is so great to see confirmed and in print. Soule really shows us being the curtain, to how the relationship is between the two dark lords. The fact that Palpatine initially thinks Vader is accusing him of training Qi’ra, it shows that although the two trust each other, it is certainly not fully, that there are still the echoes of the rule of two.
We are also introduced to the Head of the Imperial Security Bureau (ISB – and oh how wonderful it feels to type that again!), Director Barsha. As a fan of the Expanded Universe, I love that it has come back and are helping to unravel the conspiracy against the Empire. Why they haven’t gone with the Director from Legends, I’m not sure but I’m also very interested to know why Soule has decided to keep his face in the shadows. This feels like it will be an important reveal in the future. His shadowed face adds to the visual colours; an organisation that works from the shadows to aid the darkness. It’s almost poetic.
Crimson Dawn and Qi’ra feel almost pushed to the background, which fits the story of the issue perfectly. I was worried the Emperor would be too powerful too soon for Qi’ra, yet again Soule shows that she has planned everything, that she knows what to do. Her plans immediately are put into action, and we see – well of course we don’t see much. I mean, he can’t tell us everything with a final mini-series still to come. The Archivist and the Knights of Ren follow to where the key from the last issue leads. The set up for this is full of tension and again the art shines through. The Archivist can uncover the relic and we see – well of course, we don’t get to see anymore. So, Soule is still being Soule but he does it in a way that makes you more excited for the next series than to be annoyed. What we do know, is that Qi’ra is going to put the Empire into chaos and disorder, the very things that the Emperor and Vader have been fighting against.
The last page announces the final mini-series – The Hidden Empire. A name that shows exactly how Qi’ra has operated and will see a fruition of her plans. It promises to provide more answers and I do wonder how much involvement we will see from Palpatine; I hope it’s even more!
This is a very worthy finale to this series. Except for the last issue, this series has really raised the exception from this event. The writing, the cinematic feel, the artwork, has been superb. Qi’ra really gets to shine and how her place in the Star Wars galaxy that was denied to her on the big screen. Yes, there are pangs that this was never made into a film (or even better, a television series) as Soule can provide something here for fans from every generation. Yes, issue four missed the mark for me, but for Sequel Trilogy fans, I’m sure it’s fascinating. This issue helps to wrap somethings up and set the seven for the next series. Yet the real treat is being a fly on the wall for the exchange between Palpatine and Vader. It maybe just words but it says so much about their relationship and their relationships with the rest of the galaxy. I cannot wait for The Hidden Empire to begin; it promises to raise the bar even higher.
Availability;
Crimson Reign is a five-part series available from Marvel. This issue retails at $3.99 and is available via the Marvel App, comiXology and all good comic book stores.
