Published: June 16, 2021
Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Ramon Rosanas
Colourist: Rachelle Rosenberg
Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Cover Artist: Carlo Pagulayan
The synopsis;
WAR OF THE BOUNTY HUNTERS TIE-IN!
• The REBELS finally have a lead on the location of HAN SOLO!
• It’s time to save the captain of the MILLENNIUM FALCON from his frozen carbonite tomb!
• A general, a Jedi, and a Wookiee will mount a desperate rescue mission… But they have no idea what actually awaits them.
The review;
We have just had the first official ‘War of the Bounty Hunters’ issue from Charles Soule and it was everything I have to come expect of Soule. Exciting with a mind-blowing turn of events that I think has kept fans very happy. Here we get to see him return to his regular series, linking in with the war that is playing across all issues. Last issue’s prelude was very welcome, a great way to bring the series into the crossover event. What will this issue bring? Who can ever predict with Soule at the helm…
Before I even begin to discuss the actual story, I need to discuss the artwork by Ramon Rosanas. It’s incredible. From the very first panel, a flashback/dream of Cloud City, to the rest of the issue, the artwork is perfection. This storyline is set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, the imagery that is being used by Rosanas has a constant feeling of the Original Trilogy. Now you may say this is due to it being set there, but it is more than that. The angles that Rosanas uses for each panel, this isn’t something done by accident, they are all well thought out to reflect the films. The most obvious example of this are the cockpit panels in the Millennium Falcon. These are precisely as they would appear in the Original Trilogy. It is this level of detail and care that Rosanas goes to, that really make the comic a visual delight. Add the colour work from Rosenberg and you couldn’t get a better atmosphere for the issue. Rosanas (again!) has outdone himself.
Where to even begin in terms of story! Lando is the focus of this issue, which only seems right as we’ve had some time away from him. Even though we are in a crossover event, it’s good to see Soule returning back to the foundations of this series that he set up a year ago. Soule has made it quite clear throughout the run that there is a trust issue surrounding Lando with the other characters. Of course, rightfully so, yet when we see the end of The Empire Strikes Back, it does all look like happy families. Soule brings this back to the forefront: Can Lando be trusted? We know the end, we know that the Rebels will eventually trust him, but Lando’s actions say that this is going to take a long time. The only person who is able to rely on Lando is Lobot, and even then mistakes are made. In a lot of ways, Lando is the replacement Han here, who tries his best but nothing seems to go right. Now it might seem obvious for Lando to take that role, but in 1996 with the release of Shadows of the Empire, a new character, Dash Render was created to take that place. Back then it never occurred to anyone that Lando would be able to do it, even though now it seems silly to do otherwise.
But Soule isn’t just using Lando as a surrogate Han. Lando is very aware that he has made a mistake that needs rectifying, at least to a point. He knows that he owes Han and his friends and that he can help them. Yet he still has his own agenda. Soule has karma (or the force maybe) show Lando his mistake. That him trying to figure out everything by himself only causes pain to those he holds most dear. I’m not sure if Lando has completely figured that out in this issue, but I also wonder how many more times he can repeat the same mistake before learning from it.
Although Lando is the focus of the issue, the effects of the ‘War of the Bounty Hunters’ issue are very prevalent. These are the characters that have suffered the most from Crimson Dawn, who have dealt with them the most. To see their reactions, to have them remembering about the events of Solo are simply amazing. A lot of fans, myself included, have really hoped for a sequel to Solo, which seems dead in the water. Soule shows us what could have been, where the story might have gone. Chewie’s reaction to the name Crimson Dawn, Lando talking about Elthree, it really connects the two stories beautifully. Yet, it’s not just that with Soule, he goes beyond. Leia mentions Hold, referencing Leia: Princess of Alderaan (and The Last Jedi). When Soule reaches out for all these different connections in the galaxy, it never feels forced, it never feels like Soule is trying to get all these different pieces to fit. For me, that is the magic, that Soule is able to present these things, these revelations as simply part of the history that is Star Wars.
Soule does an incredible job in this issue, dealing with the consequences of the massive twist in ‘War of the Bounty Hunters’. These are the characters who it matters the most to, who’s reactions we want to see. Along with the incredible artwork, it feels like this issue is Episode 5.5, with its cinematic feel and grand plan. Already this crossover event is feeling like it is something incredibly special, something as special to us fans who were there in 1996 for the release of Shadows of the Empire. Soule doesn’t need to create new characters, all the players are already there for him to use, all the pieces for his grand event are waiting. And that’s the real beauty here, the thing that is really showcased in this issue. Soule is drawing on everything in the Star Wars universe to give us something that will be original and memorable. Perhaps what is even more crazy to think about, that we’re not even a quarter of the way through this event. What other surprises maybe in store? Whatever the answer, I know that Soule has got me, hook, line and sinker…
Availability;
Star Wars (2020) is an ongoing series from Marvel Comics. It retails at $3.99 and is available via The Marvel App and from all good comic bookstores now.
