Comic Review: Mace Windu #2 (of 4)

Last month saw this series get its initial release. I was skeptical, I was worried and most importantly I thought we might lose some of the much-needed mystery that makes the character of Mace Windu so appealing. I shouldn’t have been concerned. Issue one was a superb comic, full of excitement, full of Mace Windu being cool and just generally being what I (and I’m sure many readers) need when they pick up a Mace Windu comic. Marc Bernardin writes the character so well, I’m very eager to see where this issue will head. Bernardin is joined once again by artist Georges Jeanty, whose work was equally impressive last issue that I want to see what take he brings to the story. So, lets dive in!

This is certainly a slower paced issue than the first. That’s not necessarily a bad thing as it allows writers to set the groundwork for the rest of the story arc – which is exactly what Bernardin does here. This is all about getting to know Azita a bit more and how she relates to Mace. Make no mistake, Mace is the main character here, but what we really see is Mace been the action man, the person to take on the threats. He leaves a lot of the talking to Azita. While some readers might prefer to hear from Mace, it allows the character to keep his mystery. It’s the sort of storytelling that works so well with characters like Vader and Batman; you allow your reader to find out about them through others, rather than directly from themselves. It’s exactly how Mace needs to be handled.

The comic opens with Mace just casually force moving some rubble and doing it with his coolness level on high. We are quickly thrown into darkness and it’s here I want to comment on the work by Jeanty. His work this issue is superb but it’s this beautiful contrast with the darkness, the focus on Mace and Azita’s faces, that then shifts to the wow factor of the crystal caves. The shift between the two is flawless and Jeanty really leaves an impression on the reader. The other part I was really impressed with was his detailing of Windu’s lightsaber, it looks just as it should. It’s a small detail but one I’m very pleased to see has been done correctly.

We learn much more about Azita, about her morals and her general views on life. You can’t help but like the character. Her easy-going manner and the way she has to keep a look out for herself in a galaxy filled with turmoil is endearing. She needs money and doesn’t care too much how she gets it. She is willing to do bad things and Mace does question her about this which leads to an interesting discussion: do we have free will? Things happen to people whether they want it or not. Azita points out that even Mace didn’t choose whether he wanted to be a Jedi or not. It’s an interesting idea and one I would imagine will come up again in this series. mace doesn’t think it’s worth dwelling on a what if he didn’t become a Jedi, which is very in keeping with the character. We also eventually learn she is from Haruun Kal. Been a huge fan of the original Shatterpoint book by Matthew Stover – that created all this backstory – I was delighted to learn that both Azita and Mace have this common birthplace. I do hope we get to hear more about it. The back and forth between these two characters I could read all day. Azita is laid back where Mace is there to complete his mission. Two very different people. The highlight of these discussions is when Mace is explaining about the lightsaber. He tells Azita that although it’s called a lightsaber that it is actually a shield to defend. It was a simple line, but Bernardin really captures the essence of what the Jedi believe and words it very well.

The two characters get attacked in the caves by bore worms. I’m sure it is an incredible coincidence that last week’s Bad Batch episode featured an ice worm that looked very similar to the bore worm. Although a coincidence (well until I hear otherwise), it does provide some connectivity to the wider galaxy, that the characters in both the television shows and comic series of very different characters, are encountering creatures so similar.

Finally, Bernardin really shows us where the next issue is going to head. The Shroud, Jabba – or rather – not Jabba but Cuthus, lots of different factions and groups all heading to Azita. We don’t know who they all are but that also makes me excited to see what else Bernardin will bring to the table. One thing is clear, Mace is certainly going to have his work cut out for him.

The first issue is always the opening gambit. It needs the wow factor, the coolness to get readers in. Issue two is about slowing things down and laying down the foundations that will help continue the story through its arc. Bernardin does that here, laying a lot of character work down for Azita. He has written a character that is both charming and suspicious and I think is the perfect match for Mace. Along with the superb artwork by Jeanty, this is another successful issue, utilising Mace perfectly and not overly.