Comic Review: Rogue One – Chirrut & Baze #1 (One-Shot)

It has been three months, three long months since the last one shot for Rogue One came out. These one shots, stories that fill in some of the blanks that were left in the film, are here to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the movie. So far, their quality is outstanding, adding something fresh to the movie while also creating a sense of nostalgia. To say I’ve been eagerly awaiting this next issue would be an understatement. The writer for this particular comic is Stephanie Phillips. She has only had one Star Wars credit for another one shot featuring Lando. Her list of other works she has done is – to put it lightly- vast! Joining her is artist Sean Chen, first time in a galaxy far, far away, but has done a lot of work, particularly for Marvel. I was very keen to see what this duo could bring to this instalment of the anniversary celebrations. I feel Chirrut and Baze have a lot of gaps that could be explored, I wonder which path will be taken?

The story is set, well, we don’t actually know any specifics. What we do know is that it takes place before Rogue One on Jedha. While some might not like having this placed a bit more firmly down in the timeline, I actually quite like that this leaves things a bit flexible. Let’s start with the opening scene. This is the gambit, the bit that will attract readers or put them straight off. This grabbed me hook, line and sinker. As soon as the comic opens, you have the two main characters – Chirrut and Baze – fighting like the old married couple we see in Rogue One. Chirrut is correcting Baze, but what makes this work so well is that Phillips has gotten the voices spot on. You can’t not hear the characters as you are reading: the intonation, the little pauses. I was already laughing by the second page. When the action begins, Chen’s work flows beautifully. You can’t tell that this comic is going to be impressive.

We then go back five days for Phillips to fill us in with how the characters came to be here. I like the little flashback, although it doesn’t take us long to get back to where the story started. Throughout it, the humour of the issue, the love between two friends, shines so brightly. Phillips really captures what made this pair so special in the original movie. The humour is not overdone; it’s not gags but the humour that comes from friends bickering. As I read it, I realise just how much I miss seeing these two in any form of story.

While the whole atmosphere shines through brilliantly what really comes into focus for me is Chirrut. We get to see the rebellious side of him. He is going up against the Empire. He is not doing it because he is a Rebel or an organisation trying to wrestle freedom, he is simply doing the will of the force. That is what comes through loud and clear. You can’t tell see him listening to the kyber crystals, you can see him having complete faith in very action he does. While we see this in Rogue One, it is in brief moments between other characters all vying for screen time. Here, Phillips can allow us to see just how Jedi like Chirrut is. I mean, if I didn’t know he wasn’t a Jedi, I would have sworn he was one.

This plays a brilliant contrast with Baze, who is a complete unbeliever. He wants to get revenge, he wants to stop the Empire. His faith does not come from the force but from his faith in his friend. Like Chirrut’s faith, this comes through loud and clear throughout the whole comic. This is a story about friendship more than anything else. It is about two people doing what they can, when they can.

I would have been happy with this as a comic, but Phillips is not content with just showing us friendship, she delves deeper and starts relating this to the world now. During the story, our heroes encounter a miner, who questions why he should worry about the big guys when he’s just a small part in a large galaxy. A question some of us might ask with current events. Phillips uses Chirrut’s voice to beautifully explain this: that the problems of the people up top flow downhill until it affects everyone. I thought that this was so eloquently put – and all with Chirrut’s voice. It is a powerful moment in the comic, and I know one that will stay with me.

The art is wonderful. It is very different to a lot of art we see in Star Wars comics and for this I like. There is a pastel quality to it all, but it still fills so like Star Wars. You only have to look at the action scene with Chirrut and the security droid to see the care, the detail and the wonderfully flow that Chen adds to the story. This artwork really suits these characters.

These one shots are becoming the highlight of my comic releases and this one is no exception. A writer and artist we don’t see in the Star Wars universe and yet they have brought readers a story that is thought provoking as well as a nostalgic blanket to wrap ourselves in. Phillips writes Chirrut and Baze perfectly, capturing their characters so well that you think you are watching a live action retelling. Bring in the beautiful artwork of Chen and you have a comic that meets the high expectations already set by the predecessors of this series. As with the other comics I’m left with the same thought, I just want more! Phillips and Chen could easily do a series with this duo, and I’d be first in line to read it!

Availability;

Star Wars: Rogue One – Chirrut & Baze #1 is fourth of a 5-part mini-series of one-shot comics published by Marvel Comics. This issue retails at $4.99 and is available from comiXology and your local comic book store.