Published: May 10, 2022
Rated: T
Writer: Ethan Sacks
Artist: Will Sliney
Colourist: Rachelle Rosenberg
Letterer: VC’s Joe Sabino
Production Designer: Carlos Lao
Cover Artist: E. M. Gist
The synopsis;
SPY INTRIGUE IN THE CLONE WARS ERA!
• ANAKIN und PADMÉ are in disguise aboard the HALCYON tracking a senator suspected of having separatist ties!
• But their secret mission will put them on a collision course with ASAJJ VENTRESS!
• And, fifty years later, the ship’s crew risks a desperate escape through a deadly solar storm!
The review;
We have 3 covers for issue 3. I’m loving the style used by E. M. Gist for the direct covers for this series. Superb details and the colour schemes are so striking. Will Sliney’s connecting variant gives us the middle piece of his jigsaw. Added by Lee Loughridge on colours, Sliney brings us the full ensemble from the issue. Then there is a thing of beauty from Annie Wu. This variant features Asajj Ventress and the use of light, dark and colours is amazing. This must be my clear favourite of this week’s covers.
Last time around we saw Crimson Jack in pursuit of the Halcyon towards a solar storm on the Mid Rim. Captain Keevan was sure that the storm poses less of a threat than Jack and his pirates, so a high-risk manoeuvre was on the cards. Surely, she won’t?
And the answer is… YES! Last second evasive action sees Jack’s lasers miss the Halcyon and disappears into the heart of the storm. There is some panic onboard and D9-09’s topic of conversation isn’t the most reassuring for the passengers. Komrrin is displeased and demands he recite an uplifting tale from the history of the Halcyon to ease the nerves. Cimina suggests “something with action and romance and Jedi!”
With that, there can only be 2 people front and centre for his story, Anakin and Padmé, who are on an undercover mission on the Hutt owned Starcruiser. Their mission is to spy on Senator Zast Tri’vak and his potential collusion with Separatists.
A passing ship sets off a proximity alert, a glitch? Unbeknown to the crew, they have just been boarded by Asajj Ventress. Anakin is alert to her presence almost immediately and realises who is there to extract Tri’vak.
He reaches the senator at the same time as Ventress and foils her escape. They both activate their lightsaber’s and start to duel. Security tries to break up the skirmish, but Padmé and a child passenger get involved and stun blast the guards.
The Hutt’s intervene and bring the proceedings to a halt. Ventress plots her escape and on her way, she kills Tri’vak with lightsaber and then her blades to take out a view port and vents the room to the vacuum of space. She throws herself into the void where her ship awaits and makes her escape. Anakin acts to seal the breach and a disaster is averted.
Cimina marvels at the bravery of Senator Amidala, but the story has Komrrin asking for D3-09 to request to disembark Halcyon alone.
I must admit this wasn’t my favourite issue so far, but it was still a solid story. It fits well with this week’s release of Star Wars: Brotherhood by Mike Chen as it features the acerbic Asajj Ventress. While a little disappointed, I still enjoyed where Sacks is taking us. The part where Jack has quite literally decked one of his officers really did make me chuckle. This reminded me of Hondo in The Clone Wars series when he is verbally undermined by his crew members.
The one thing that does stand out for praise is the way Sacks has written for Ventress. He has captured her tone well and her retorts are textbook. An interesting talking point is what is Komrrin going to achieve if leaves the Halcyon. Does he have some previous with Jack that is yet to be revealed?
To compliment Sacks’ version of Ventress, Sliney captures her beautifully. I’m not sure how he manages to catch her characteristic hip slinking walk in one still for her introductory frame. That feat is totally beyond me! During some of the duelling frames, I felt Anakin’s body posture and head positions feel a bit off and at odd angles at times.
With Lando and Hondo on the preview page for issue 4, and throw in Crimson Jack for good measure, and you’ve got the biggest group of pirates and swindlers outside of Chalmun’s Cantina in Mos Eisley.
Availability;
Halcyon Legacy is a 5-part mini-series published by Marvel Comics. This issue retails at $3.99 and is available via the Marvel App, ComiXology and your local comic book store.
