Published: July 21, 2021
Rating: T
Writer: Justina Ireland
Artist (Present Day): Ibraim Roberson
Artist (Flashback): Luca Pizzari
Colourist (Present Day): Edgar Delgado
Colourist (Flashback): Giada Marchisio
Letterer: VC’s Ariana Maher
Cover Artist: Mahmud Asrar & Matthew Wilson
The synopsis;
JABBA NEVER FORGIVES! JABBA NEVER FORGETS! JABBA THE HUTT is one of the most powerful and ruthless gangsters in the galaxy—and BOBA FETT, his most trusted bounty hunter, has failed him. How will Jabba deal with betrayal? VIOLENTLY. And what does this have to do with a bounty hunter with ties to the HIGH REPUBLIC? Justina Ireland and Luca Pizzari’s Hutt-sized spectacular is the first of four action-packed “War of the Bounty Hunters” tie-ins about the criminal underworld’s most notorious hunters and scoundrels, all told by the best Star Wars writers and illustrators in the galaxy.
The review;
Kicking off the War of the Bounty Hunters one-shots is the slimy leader of the Hutt cartel himself, Jabba the Hutt. Considering that Jabba is more gross than scary, Marchiso and Asrar’s direct cover actually manages to make him appear quite menacing, shaping his fingers into a claw-like grip and shadowing his eyes so they reflect an eerie red. Chang’s variant is a gorgeous rainbow-coloured portrait of new bounty hunter Deva Lompop along with a battle-worn Boba Fett, and she’s also in dramatic centre-stage of Coello’s fantastic variant.
While the War of the Bounty Hunters comic event is mainly focussing on fan favourite scum and villainy, from Fett to Zuckuss, this issue introduces a completely new character. Deva Lompop is the co-creation of writer Justina Ireland along with artist Ibraim Roberson, and she’s an absolutely terrific new alien that mixes sassy fighting skills with a killer rainbow mohawk. And while Jabba the Hutt #1 may be her introduction her species lives for centuries, so expect to see her in future High Republic works.
On the dusty desert dunes of Tatooine Jabba the Hutt is furious over Boba Fett’s loss of his prize – Han Solo. Unable to contact the bounty hunter and determined not to lose the Corellian in carbonite, the Hutt leader calls in a debt from Deva Lompop, a renowned Shani bounty hunter. Wanting to be free of her yoke to the Hutt she accepts the mission to track down Fett, but it’s not the first time the two bounty hunters have been at odds…
Ireland has woven a terrific story for Jabba the Hutt #1, and the title “trust issues” is the whole moral behind it. In a bounty hunter world of double-dealing and backstabbing, there is no such thing as true trust. It’s all about who has what information, the risks of a deal and what can be gained from playing along. Each character in this comic has their own agenda and they will do whatever it takes to make it happen. Which makes this a story about the morally grey, where no character is in the right or wrong because those lines are blurred by motive. As Jabba rightly states, there is no trust, only debt and possibly a smidgen of honour amongst the bounty hunter code.
By being hundreds of years old, Deva knows exactly what she’s doing. Now here is a Star Wars femme fatale. She’s beautiful, deadly and utterly ruthless. There’s almost a snakelike vibe to her, from her green skin, python-style extendable jaw and a praying mantis nature in that she eats parts of her prey….and ex-boyfriends. Her interactions with Boba Fett are so interesting to read, as she belittles the much younger Fett as much as she can, whilst the Mandalorian mainly ignores her to just get on with the job. There’s tension and rivalry and it’s just a waiting game to see who will snap first.
The story skips between past and present, depicting one of Deva’s previous jobs for Jabba along with her current mission, both emphasising her frustration with the wily Hutt who always seems to renege her debt. It never feels jumpy though, with the storylines mingling together really well and giving quite a bit of backstory to the Shani.
Bringing all this action and betrayal to life is Roberson and Pizzari’s amazing artwork. Having two artists illustrate one comic story works so well and even though the styles are different they complement each other. This issue masterfully balances detailed locations that sprawl over the panels with close-up character studies. There’s a cinematic quality to the comic panels as the angles change multiple times on a single page. Jabba’s flab, wrinkles and slobber are all on point, and it’s really interesting to see some more of his palace interior. Meanwhile the action sequences are incredible as both Fett and Deva bring out their arsenal of weapons, with the skin-melting gas that the Shani uses being particularly gruesome.
While Jabba the Hutt #1 continues the War of the Bounty Hunters arc, it works perfectly as a story within its own right, offering a greater glimpse at the conniving Jabba. There’s links to the other comics as well as hints as to what’s to come in the storyline, along with tantalising fans about what Deva’s role might be in the High Republic. She’ll clearly be up to no good, but that’s exactly what fans want from a bounty hunter!
Availability;
Jabba the Hutt #1 was published July 21, 2021 by Marvel Comics. This issue is available via The Marvel App and from all good comic book stores and retails at $4.99.