Published: August 14, 2024
Rating: Rated T
Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Jethro Morales
Colourist: Rachelle Rosenberg
Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Cover Artist: Stephen Segovia & Rain Beredo
The synopsis;
DIRE CIRCUMSTANCES FOR LEIA AND THE REBEL ALLIANCE!
• The last remnants of ALDERAAN have come under threat from an old enemy!
• LUKE SKYWALKER and LEIA ORGANA could save these few survivors of the destroyed planet, but the Princess of Alderaan must choose between her people…and the REBEL ALLIANCE itself!
The review;
I spoke about it somewhat last review but there really is no getting away from the fact that this series is soon to end. This is the penultimate issue of this incredibly well written series that has filled in so many important blanks between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Last week was the perfect example of why this series has worked so well. It doesn’t need action and adventure – although they have been incredible – but looking deeper into the turmoil that are characters in, how they are dealing with the situations that we know (or don’t) that they find themselves in. Leading the charge through this entire series has been the incredibly talented Charles Soule. His previous works, ongoing works, heck, even his future works, speak for themselves to his skill and the way he understands Star Wars. I am sure he’s coming back with something after this but that doesn’t make up for the fact that this series is set during my favourite time period. But enough of the future, I need to focus on what I’m doing now! Issue forty-nine! Joining Soule this issue is Jethro Morales again, a style that captured Leia’s emotions so well last issue that I’m eager to see where we head next. Soule surely is thinking about timing up loose ends this issue, ready for the farewell next month, and Zahra is certainly a loose thread.
We get a very quick recap of how Zahra survived and now has come back to get Leia. Not only for revenges sake but also as an offering to the Empire so that they take her back. Zahra never felt like a loose thread, but this comic ensures that she isn’t ever coming back. The main reason for Zahra is as a catalyst for Leia to look at herself. The main thrust of the series has been the development of Luke and Lando. Both of these characters have had their final arc, the end goal of how they appear in Return of the Jedi. Soule has always had these little sides with Leia throughout the series and it seems right we end with her. Zahra makes her question herself. First of all, she questions what is mercy, that shouldn’t she give everyone the chance to change? She shows that although she can give them the choice, ultimately, it is they who must choose what they do and that it isn’t Leia’s fault if they choose wrongly. Leia always carries so much on her shoulders, including those who she believes she has failed. You can see Luke knowing this and trying to make her understand that it isn’t on her, that not everyone can be saved.
The second thing Zahra is a catalyst for is the Alderaan Survivor Fleet. Zahra tells Leia it is destroyed, and I can only begin to imagine the pain that caused – and probably how empty she felt. Losing your planet is one thing, knowing that there will be those off planet. But to think you’ve lost the last members is even more final. I’ll be honest, I didn’t know if Soule was going to follow through with it, it would have been an interesting development but not necessarily the right one. Having the fleet survivor and the conclusions they come to is so important for Leia. She has been using the destruction of her planet, of the Survivor Fleet as a badge of identity. But Leia is so much more. To be held by the past is to not move with the future. It is certainly not something Leia’s family would have ever wanted for her. Soule uses this issue to see Leia let go of this side of her, to embrace her new life and love with Han. It’s a touching moment and a crucial one for the future. The fleet disbanding I’m a little disappointed with, I was sort of hoping for a new series that was Star Wars meets Battlestar Galactica but hey, maybe that wouldn’t be as good as I have in my mind.
The artwork this issue by Morales is wonderful. The first opening shot of the hangar, the angle that Morales uses is so captivating. It’s for good reason, as he uses the same angle later to show the hangar on fire. Beautiful mirroring. It’s the moments in space that really caught my eye. Seeing Luke’s escape pod rescued (I mean technically rescued right?) just looked so well done with the lighting effect. That’s not to say Morales can’t show emotion, Leia’s face during a lot of this issue really conveys her pain.
I would be remiss if I didn’t talk a little about Luke. Luke, we know is starting to head to the height of his power. We see it right from his first appearance in Return of the Jedi, the confidence he has in himself and the force. Soule shows it here to with… well… the space float out of the escape pod. Now what can I say. I mean it is established in Star Wars canon because of The Last Jedi. Clearly Leia has learnt how to do that from watching Luke doing it here, so technically makes sense. Should Soule have used it, I’m not sure. But even Soule knows he’s pushing it here and Zahra’s reaction to it I’m sure is Soule laughing at the whole thing. It’s because of this, that is why I can give forgive his use of it here and laugh along. Morales captures that exasperated face on Zahra just to give it the icing on the cake.
Availability;
Star Wars (2020) is an ongoing series available from Marvel Comics. This issue retails at $4.99 and is available via ComiXology and all good comic book stores.
