Published: March 10, 2021
Rating: Rated T
Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Ramon Rosanas
Colourist: Rachelle Rosenberg
Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Cover Artist: Carlo Pagulayan, Jason Paz and Rain Beredo
The synopsis;
REFLECTIONS ON THE LOST!
LEIA ORGANA and KES DAMERON share stories of their lost loves! Learn how POE DAMERON’S parents met! Learn the real reason HAN SOLO is so important to THE REBELLION!
The review;
Last issue really asked some important questions, of how far the Rebellion is willing to go to meet its ends? This issue also seems like it will be a pause in that narrative, a time of reflection for our main characters, as well as an opportunity to see Han Solo. Soule writing Han? Yes please!
Soule is one of those writers that no matter what period he is writing or which character, he writes Star Wars. The films have always had little character moments in them, time out from the main action to allow the characters to breath and show the viewers the types of people they are. We saw it with Chewie repairing Threepio on Cloud City, we saw it with Luke cleaning Artoo on Dagobah. But where we don’t see much of it with, is Leia. Here Soule corrects that and provides an entire issue that pauses the running narrative in order for him to give us those true Star Wars character moments. We see Kes and Leia take some time to look back on older memories and to share with each other. The first story is Kes remembering how him, and Shara met. What really struck me here is that Leia hears this story, that she knows Shara and Kes. The Sequel trilogy looks a lot different knowing how much Leia knew about Poe’s parents, about the stories that they shared with Leia and also their son. It almost makes Leia seem like a godparent to Poe, making his distrust of her decisions in The Last Jedi so much more of a betrayal. But as well as Leia, we get to know the back story of these two characters, characters that we don’t know too much about even though we know so much about their son.
Soule shows us a Leia that has her guard down. She is usually so strong and very focused on the task at hand, but here we see her taking a moment. We don’t see these often, and like Soule did with Luke, we get a sense of the turmoil that Leia is feeling at this time. She has lost Han and must hold onto that feeling of hope. Perhaps what makes this so much easier to believe in, to believe in Leia’s idea of hope, is that ultimately, we know that both their partners are going to be ok, that the hope will be rewarded.
A new artist joins this issue in the form of Ramon Rosanas, who does an excellent job of illustrating and designing some new scenes. The pacing in the crest racing is excellent, the design I could really enjoy. But there is also a loving care to detail with the scenes from The Empire Strikes Back. Hoth looks exceptional and the detail of the Rebel ships was a joy to behold. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the colouring by Rachelle Rosenberg who colours the panels of Cloud City to perfection, really making them pop out of the page.
But the star of the show, of course, could it be anyone else? Han Solo. Soule has been very limited to what he can do with this character because of his absence during this time frame. It is usually the effect that we feel on other characters, but this pause is a fantastic way to keep this fan favourite in the series without him actually being there. Soule has a habit of writing stories that make you see the films in a different light. As mentioned, the relationship with Poe and Leia feels different from knowing the moments Leia has spent with Kes. Equally, the scene with Han makes us rethink how he acts in The Empire Strikes Back. Although he is always complaining, getting annoyed with the Princess, we can see the quiet charm he has on the Princess, the sacrifices that he is willing to take for her and the Rebellion. He is a hero even if he doesn’t want to sing about it from the highest tower. As Leia notes (as have we all), her and Han are very different, yet it is moments like this that really make you realise why it was so easy for Leia to fall in love with him. From a character who is portrayed as so strong in A New Hope to how she is with Han in the following films, it is these moments that explain it, that Han relieves some of the burden from her. In true Star Wars fashion, Han also brings with him that wonderful sarcastic humour, the laughs kept on coming with everyone Soule wrote for him. And tauntauns? I thought they smelt bad…. obviously, Han knows this better than most!
A pause in the narrative to bring in Han Solo is a genius move that Soule absolutely knocks it out of the park. The story allows two of our main characters of this arc to bond, to share and feel their loss. It is a very touching moment between them and one that provides a huge insight to each character. Soule is able to expand on what we know about Poe’s parents as well as taking us back to Hoth and that real The Empire Strikes Back atmosphere. On both accounts, Soule makes us question how we see characters and motivations in the films, to further probe into what makes our characters act the way they do. It is just what the story, and the fans, need, the execution flawless. Whether you’re following this series or not, this is an issue that will please all fans (reminding me a little of Dark Horse’s Valentine’s Day story). Although I’m looking forward to returning to the running narrative, I hope this isn’t the last we see of Soule’s pauses to let our characters quietly reflect…
Availability;
Star Wars (2020) is an ongoing series available from Marvel. This issue is available via the Marvel App and all good comic bookstores. This issue retails at $3.99.
