Published: December 9, 2020
Rating: Rated T
Writer: Charles Soule
Penciler: Jan Bazaldua
Colourist: Rachelle Rosenberg
Cover Artist: Carlo Pagulayan, Jason Paz and Rain Beredo
The synopsis;
“OPERATION STARLIGHT” BEGINS, AS THE REBEL PATHFINDERS UNDERTAKE A DESPERATE MISSION TO THE IMPERIAL CORE. In the Imperial Museum on CORUSCANT, an ancient droid holds the key to salvation of the REBEL ALLIANCE. The Rebels’ elite operations team, the PATHFINDERS, must pull off a daring heist right under the nose of the EMPEROR himself, with LANDO and LOBOT along for the ride!
The review;
It has been a month since issue eight and I’m still thinking about the comic. Soule really set the foundations ready for Leia moving forward and after such an explosive issue I can’t wait to see where he takes us. There is no way to predict with Soule where he will go, somewhere that seems familiar and then turn it on its head, or head somewhere truly unknown. All I know is that this series is treading new ground in terms of character that is really making me rethink how I see the characters in Return of the Jedi. It has been a very long wait for this issue…
Let me start with the artwork for this issue. From the very first page, Bazaldua greets us with jaw dropping art. The way that Leia is talking yet a background of stars behind her with the Rebel fleet is simply incredible. I starred at this page for what seemed like ages. Somehow, there is a 3D quality to this shot that seems to defy it is a drawing on a page. The ships in the background are equally impressive and I do have to mention Rosenberg at this point, as her colouring of them is flawless. Talk about a great way to start an issue. This incredible artwork continues throughout the comic, seamlessly moving from one scene to the other.
Yet Leia is not the focus of this issue (I did say you could never predict Soule). The focus is on the Pathfinders, led by Poe Dameron’s father. This group of Rebels, at least in concept, was introduced in Shattered Empire and I’m so pleased to see them doing what they do best. They harken back to the old Rogue Squadron from the Legends Universe, taking on the impossible tasks. It is very clear where Poe gets his boldness from and daring nature. I would happily read an entire series on these individuals!
However, before I go much further, I must mention the elephant in the room with this issue. This comic felt far, far too condensed, particularly when it is following a group I want to see more of. The Pathfinders must travel to Coruscant. They are with the Rebel fleet one panel, and the next, they are on Coruscant all safe and sound. It threw me out of the story a little to have such a time shift. We’re talking about Coruscant, one of the most heavily defended planets in the galaxy, and we have a ‘great thanks Lando you got us through’ moment. It doesn’t seem right. This is Charles Soule however, so I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Would I have liked to see Lando’s tricks? His fancy flying? Of course, but Soule needs to glance over this to tell the main part of the story. It then happens again at the end if the issue. This time, it’s not just a simple entering of a planet or exiting, a lot has to happen. The droid needed has to be located, a character is killed, and the team need to escape back to the Falcon, leaving Coruscant undetected. And as I’ve said I want to see more of the Pathfinders doing their thing, so why are we rushing past it? These jumps make the issue feel very disjointed, something I’ve never experienced when reading Soule’s work. This feels like it should have been two issues (easily) and yet it has been heavily condensed into one. My other little complaint with the issue, is Lando, who at the start of the issue seems very naive of how codes work. Would he really not know why you couldn’t send a new code using a code the Imperial’s have already broken? Not the Lando that I know! These things together make the issue feel a little sloppy in places and certainly not what we’ve come to expect from Soule.
There are still good things about this issue. The curator, the idea behind him, his design I think is exquisite. This is the sort of villain I love to see, someone a little more unique, different to the typical formula that we find in Star Wars. However, with such a brief appearance in this issue, I do wonder if we will actually see him again. He seems the perfect fit for reappearing in Doctor Aphra (I’m just saying). The humour in this issue, usually through Lando’s sarcastic comments, is also very much on point and in keeping with the character.
What I enjoyed most though, were the droids. I’ve said it before and I will say it again, the droids in Star Wars are like the backbone of the story. It is them who guide us through much of the Star Wars saga and are the ones that always end up saving our heroes. This series, Soule has continually made sure they are featured predominantly, and this issue is no different. Whereas we’ve had a lot of attention on Artoo, this time it is Threepio. Yes, the characters roll their eyes at him, yes Artoo tells him off, but it all feels right and like the Star Wars we fell in love with. In recent years, the droids have always been diminished into the background and it is so refreshing to see Soule making sure they get their time on the pages.
This maybe a first that I’m wanting a bit more from one of Soule’s issues. Up until now, Soule has not put a foot wrong in this series, going deeply into the emotional turmoil that is playing havoc with our heroes. This change of direction, while welcome, feels very fleeting and disjointed. You’d be forgiven if you thought you’d had one too many bantha ales and thought you’d forgot half the story in this issue, but that is what it feels like. A lot of the action, the tricks of Lando, the clever thinking of the Pathfinders, it’s all missing and I can’t quite understand why Soule would do such a thing. I really hope that the next issue in this arc isn’t as disjointed, as Soule can do far better and create a far more cohesive story. Only time will tell. Until issue ten, I guess I should cry out… “Help me Soule, you’re my only hope.”
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.
