Published: May 3, 2023
Writer: Stephanie Phillips
Artist: Álvaro López
Colourist: Antonio Fabela
Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Cover Artist: Ryan Brown
The synopsis;
LANDO AND CHEWIE ANTE UP TO SAVE THE GALAXY!
• When Lando Calrissian and Chewbacca find themselves on a perilous mission to steal from Jabba himself, a dangerous figure from Lando’s past threatens their plans and their lives.
• Chewie finds that putting his trust in Calrissian is a gamble that just might pay off, as Lando calls on his skills as a smuggler to make it out alive.
• Part of a series of one-shots celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Return of the Jedi, this story by Stephanie Phillips (COSMIC GHOST RIDER, ROGUE & GAMBIT) and Álvaro López (CAPTAIN MARVEL) bring you a new, high-stakes adventure with some of Star Wars’ most beloved characters.
The review;
A series of one-shots focused on Return of the Jedi. A simple idea that I imagine some fans maybe thought, oh, ok, so small one offs that in the grand scheme of things don’t mean that much, why should I care? Yet we are two down and the quality of the work that we have seen so far has been simply astounding. I mean, ‘Ewoks’ by Alyssa Wong had no actual words and yet touched so many of us. To see that expectations for this series have soared would be an understatement. It has already shown a wide variety of writers and artists as well as reaffirming that the one shot is an incredible construct that deserves more love and respect. Not to put too much pressure on this comic’s writer and artist: Stephanie Phillips and Alvaro López. Both are newcomers to Star Wars but I’m incredibly excited to see what new twist they may bring for us. As a Batman fan, I have loved some of Stephanie’s previous work for DC Comics and one only has to look at López’s back catalogue to realise he’s taken on Star Wars could be good, really good. So, with my head soaring in the clouds with what is to come, let’s see, “what have we here?” (I’m really hoping your subconscious put on its best Billy Dee Williams impersonation as I was reading that).
Before I even mention the writing of this issue, I can’t escape the artwork: It’s incredible! Lopez does an amazing job throughout this issue, and it is all in the detail. We open in a dealer’s shape called Narin and immediately I had to pause my reading. There is so much contained in the panels of the shop it’s hard to believe. From helmets to blasters, to droids to training remotes, Lopez goes to town on these little nuisances that will satisfy any Star Wars fan. Even the data disc is the one that we see at the end of Rogue One. You can be sure that López is a fan. But even as readers are taken out of the shop, there is a wealth of detail in every single panel, aliens galore, little pieces that really just bring this world to life. I could go on and on about this detail, yet the artwork doesn’t stop there. The compositions of the panels, how they are split for one picture to help show the movement of a scene really stands out. Lopez uses the technic several times and each time I just looked on in awe. When it finally comes to the Sabacc game (because if this is an issue centred around Lando, why wouldn’t it have Sabacc), Lopez carries the tension of the game, the movement between panels really makes you feel like you’re watching the game live. Finally, blaster bolts. The sheer chaos that ensues is captured so well by so many bolts zooming out and into panels. Lopez shows he is an absolute master of his art, bringing this entire story to life in a beautiful way.
I’m not going to lie, I’d have been happy with just the artwork, yet Phillips creates a wonderful story that is fast paced, engaging and filled with plenty of action. Although this is an issue called ‘Lando’, the star of the show for me is Chewbacca. He interjects the humour but also shows us just how serious this all is. The humour comes from Chewie’s lack of patience for negotiation. Poor Lando is trying his best to haggle, to get the best deal, and Chewie is the blunt instrument who just gets in the way. It creates some fantastic moments but only for the reader! When Chewbacca finally starts to negotiate the tone suddenly becomes a lot more serious. Phillips wants us to know the fun is over and the tense moments have arrived when Chewie offers himself up as a prize. We know Chewbacca’s history, that he was once enslaved by the Empire. To have had that experience and still be willing to go back to a life similar to that, demonstrates just how much Han means to Chewbacca. Again, we do know this, but I always enjoy those touching moments that show just how far the Wookiee will go for his friend. Not only that, but it also shows a huge amount of trust in Lando. Let’s not forget that Chewie found it hard to trust Lando in The Empire Strikes Back, and although a lot has happened since then, Han’s capture is still in part due to Lando. This building of trust shows that a lot has happened with the characters.
Lando has history – a lot of it. We see how it creeps up again and again. Phillips really alludes to his previous life, and I admit, I really want her to come back and explore some of these snippets she gives us. An old flame called Elocin, who happens to know both Lando and Han in what sounds a rather intimate way. Narin, a crooked dealer who only looks after himself. It all adds to the backstory of Lando, which is still hardly explored, even with the books and comics. Phillips also sets up Star Wars (2020) #38 (Due out in September 2023), which if you are enjoying this, should definitely be on your reading list. This is written by Charles Soule and the series at the moment is very much focused on Luke. So, to know that things are going to shift a gear to Lando is certainly very interesting. As much as we learn about Lando’s past, Phillips also shows us his present. He is on the run, he’s not a gambler and swindler that can just do what he wants, the Empire is actively looking for him, painting a target on his back. He can’t act like he use to, he’s not that person anymore and if he tries to be, the Empire will be waiting. It really shows just how much Lando’s life has had to change since The Empire Strikes Back. The comparison by Phillips of the different periods of the life make that abundantly clear.
My head is still soaring in the clouds. This issue sets the bar for these one-shots even higher. Deep writing looking at two of fans favourite characters that is matched by stunning artwork that just begs to be looked at again and again. This is a story that fits so much into a single issue, yet you never feel short changed. The pacing is fast, the action intense and the stakes high. They may have been new to a a galaxy far, far away but Phillips and Lopez really show how much they belong here, and I really hope we get to see them again. Phillips has left so many threads that surely, they need unpicking.
Availability;
Star Wars: Lando is a one-shot comic published by Marvel Comics. This issue retails at $4.99 and is available via The Marvel App, ComiXology and from all good comic book stores.
