Published: August 3, 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;
“LAST STAND ON THE HALCYON”
• Star-crossed lovers who crossed the wrong syndicate try to escape on the Halcyon.
• But even in the chaos of the early days of the New Republic, can they evade a murderers’ row of bounty hunters stalking them – including BOSSK?
• And years in the future, the pirate CRIMSON JACK closes in on the legendary Galactic Starcruiser.
The review;
I can’t believe we are at the end of this series. That means the Will Sliney’s connecting cover is now complete and features the crew from Bounty Hunters, Sacks’s other Star Wars title. The variant cover by Valerio Giangiordano features Bossk with blaster bolts flying past his head. This is a really cool cover and another great piece of art. Finally, I need to give a special mention to E.M. Gist, as his covers for this mini-series have been stunning. The framing and the colours chosen has made the feature art ping off the page and stand out on the comic book store shelves every Wednesday and give off a virtual come and buy me vibe. This issue is no different with the bright yellow frame which sees, yes, you’ve guessed it, Bossk and the Halcyon.
A big thank you to Mark Alders for reviewing issue 4 of Halcyon Legacy for me last month. When I started reading issue 5, I realised I still hadn’t got around to reading issue 4, so had to have a very quick catch up before embarking on the final issue of the series. The situation for our travellers onboard the Halcyon has taken a major turn for the worse, but will Crimson Jack finally get his Resistance spy?
Crimson Jack is now on the bridge of the Halcyon calling the shots. His band of pirates are doing their pirate things to the crew and passengers by relieving them of their treasured belongings. Jack is there to capture a Resistance spy for the First Order and Shorr Komrrin needs to escape. Yet again, D3-O9 recites a story from some 25 years previous.
Stolak and R’Tess are enjoying the start of their cruise onboard the Halcyon. The Stargazer Comet is to collide with the star Daca, but there is something strange about Stolak’s demeanour as he slopes away from R’Tess. Unknown to them a mystery passenger has embarked.
Bossk finds Stolak quickly and a fight soon breaks out which see Stolak overpower the Trandoshan. He heads back to his room to meet R’Tess. They settle in their room, and she decides to create a portrait of Stolak. He is on edge, and she senses something is wrong. He has been living a lie, he is not exactly who he says he is and owes some credits to some unsavoury types. He borrowed the money to help R’Tess, who is suffering with an illness.
4-LOM makes an entrance and tries to capture Stolak. During the scuffle, a tactfully placed pen stops the bounty hunter in his tracks allowing them to escape… into the hands of Zuckuss, T’onga and Wooro. T’onga is feeling sentimental and knows why he owes the credits. They send them up to the observation deck to see the collision of the comet and star. Although once the spectacle is over, they escort him away in shackles.
Komrrin has been captured and is brought before Jack. He returns to ship with his spy. Onboard the Hacyon, R’tess and the crew lead a mini revolt and overpower those pirates Jack has left behind. He contacts the First Order to tell them his news, only to find that Komrrin is not the spy he thought he was.
The Halcyon arrives at Sesid and Cimina goes to the planet surface. She finds who she is looking. Resistance spy Vi Moradi is there to meet her. She hands over the data to her new companion. Mission completed and on to the next.
These tie-in mini-series really do work well. Ethan Sacks has proven before with his Galaxy’s Edge mini-series that he is adept at bringing us a credible story with flashbacks that help cement the Halcyon into Star Wars lore. He avoids making it feel forced, which is some achievement considering the campaign to promote the Galactic Starcruiser hotel at Disneyland. Bringing Vi Moradi into the story at the end was a great move. This is brings in another level of storytelling that helps form a stronger connection with the previous Galaxy’s Edge tie in novels and comics.
One thing that has helped me with this is to see the return of Crimson Jack. A larger-than-life character from the early Marvel Comics of the late 70’s. I’m also glad that Will Sliney has given him some less provocative attire than in his original appearances!
The artwork of Sliney as always is spot on. Whoever he works with, he always seems to get it just right every time. His work is enhanced by Rachelle Rosenberg. There are certain artist and colourists that work well together, and this pairing really works for me. Sliney works regularly with Lee Loughridge, but this series has seen this pairing work so well.
Overall, issue 5 is the best of the mini-series, but saying that, I have really enjoyed it from start to finish. Oh, and again, thank you Ethan for bringing back Crimson Jack!
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.
