Published: August 29, 2018
Cover Artist: Elsa Charretier
Intermission Part 2
Writer: Elsa Charretier & Pierrick Colinet
Artist: Elsa Charretier
Tales From Wild Space: The Blue Brothers
Writer & Artist: Nick Brokenshire
The Synopsis;
Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala embark on an adventure filled with danger and romance in a story by fan-favourites Elsa Charretier and Pierrick Colinet!
The Review;
After my first foray into reviewing Star Wars Adventures last month, I was eager to read this months. There was no anxiety, no worry that my favourite characters would die, just complete enjoyment of knowing I could read a Star Wars comic and simply enjoy. I have to say it is a unique feeling amongst the dread I sometimes feel when picking up the latest Star Wars comic, book and even movie. This series is simply bliss.
The first story in this issue is the second part of Intermission. Last month, I was very impressed with the writing from Charretier and Colinet, mentioning that they really got Star Wars. This month they have surpassed themselves further. The story opens with the droids C-3PO and R2-D2, which in my opinion is where Star Wars should always start. Although the story is set in the Clone Wars it was with sheer delight that I found myself reading a Threepio from the Original Trilogy. His sarcastic remarks, his bickering with Artoo, it was all there and very well done. The dialogue is so completely in keeping with the character that the voice I heard in my head was Anthony Daniels. Some may argue that this shouldn’t be the Threepio we see here; to be honest, I don’t care. This is the Threepio I have longed to see again, the one I grew up with as opposed to the one that seems to dominate our screens now, a caricature of the original. In the most recent films, the droids have taken a back seat, yet here they steal the show and it is like breathing in Star Wars again. The droids are crucial to anything to do with the franchise and I very much appreciate seeing them here, being themselves, saving the day and reminding me what I love about Star Wars.
The other aspect that I really enjoyed was the take on propaganda. Last month, the issue seemed to focus on the mundane goings on of a media star (this is not meant negatively). Yet this part of the story expands this further, showing how even stars are helping to shape the war through the use of propaganda. It provides another angle to the war, and tied in with the ending of the story, presents a good moral lesson for younger readers.
The second story, The Blue Brothers, is the shorter of the two and is Master Graf once again telling a tale to his companions. Because it is a retelling I am able to not take these stories too seriously, as with any telling, there is always some exaggeration. The tale deals with Max Rebo, who is well liked by fans, on Tatooine. Although the story is short, it is highly enjoyable. The most striking thing about the story is the artwork; it is a feast for the eyes. In almost every panel there are numerous aliens, creatures and droids, some referencing characters from the films. It takes a while just to absorb everything in each panel. It is a different style of story to Intermission and I like that both are included.
What both stories have in abundance is humour. The jokes are very well written, there is the humour that every reader will get and there is the humour that can only be appreciated if you’re a little older. It is also not overdone in either tale and this helps to make it feel like Star Wars rather than some children’s comic.
I am quickly finding that Star Wars Adventures is the time I can really relax and enjoy myself. The writing in these issues is fantastic and Charretier and Colinet are fast becoming two of my favourite Star Wars writers. They leave me wanting to read more, so I do hope they continue to! In Intermission they show a love for Star Wars and are able to tap into the formula of what makes Star Wars great. In the other part of this comic, The Blue Brothers, we are then treated to some gorgeous artwork that keeps your eyes looking around each panel. In other words, there is something here for everyone. If you want to see what Star Wars is all about, with fun and engagement, then look no further…
Availability;
Star Wars Adventures is an ongoing series available from IDW Publishing. This issue is available from all good comic book stores in the USA and from Forbidden Planet in the UK. This issue retails at $3.99.
