Published: February 9, 2022
Cover Artist: Francesco Francavilla
Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer
Editor: Heather Antos
Repair Stop, Part II
Writer: George Mann
Artist: Butch Mapa
Colourist: Charlie Kirchoff
Letterer: Johanna Nattalie
A Very Nihil Interlude
Writer: Justina Ireland
Artist: Nick Brokenshire
Letterer: Johanna Nattalie
The synopsis;
First, from author George Mann (Doctor Who): after stopping to repair the Millennium Falcon, Rey, Chewie, Finn, and BB-8 must escape a bounty hunter set on turning them over to the First Order!
Then, an exciting Nihil story from High Republic author Justina Ireland!
The review;
The end of an era. Unfortunately, we are here at the end of the series with issue fourteen. But what a line up. First, we have George Mann finishing his Repair Shop story, illustrated by the talented Butch Mapa. After last issue, I can’t wait to see how this concludes. Then the second story is a The High Republic story from the wonderful Justina Ireland. Having only recently finished Out of the Shadows I’m really looking forward to seeing what Ireland brings with such a title! The work is illustrated by Nick Brokenshire, who last time he illustrated a The High Republic tale, had me slowing my reading right down to take in all the gorgeous detail. It looks like Star Wars Adventures is going to be going out with a bang!
After setting up all the foundations in the last part, Mann is able to sit back and let the action of the story carry the momentum. What really sets this apart is the detail, the detail in the story with mentions of Boba, Krrsantan and others (very well timed considering what’s been happening on Disney Plus), the artwork which has little pieces everywhere for you to smile at and the the little details of how Rey acts. It is this latter part that really shows who Rey is. Like a Jedi should, she doesn’t answer every problem with violence or combat, she tries every possible solution before she gets there. With Kief it almost works. But it is the training that she has and Rey’s respect for life that allow her to take a calmer approach to situations.
The story follows through to its end. In true Star Wars fashion, it is the usual culprit that saves the day for the heroes. I want to say it’s too obvious, I want to say that it should have been different, but it’s the perfect ending, it’s a Star Wars ending. Mann knows how to make sure that a story follows the format of what we all love, keeping that feel of a galaxy far, far away. As a reader, you don’t feel cheated because that is how it always should be.
Again, Mapa’s artwork is stunning and keeps to the high standard he set for himself in part one. There are a lot of panels here that have no text, that rely on Mapa guided the story by himself. The most striking is when Kief is walking through the town with Moebin. You feel the movement that is surrounded by heaps of detail to feast your eyes on.
The second tale A Very Nihil Interlude is by Justina Ireland, who is one of the coconspirators of the High Republic. The series has been a huge success and we, as fans, can’t seem to get enough. To have this as the very final story for Star Wars Adventures seems right, particularly when Ireland starts with ‘A long time ago’. Added to the fact is Brokenshire’s artwork which feels like very classic comic art. I almost felt like I was back in the nineties, reading some old Star Wars comic, almost as if the series and Star Wars comics have come full circle.
The main draw of this comic is seeing the Nihil, Deva Lompop. A surprise as the last time readers would have seen her was in the Marvel crossover event War of the Bounty Hunters. She is also in Ireland’s new High Republic book, which as soon as I’ve finished Daniel Jose Older’s Midnight Horizon, I will be immediately reading. As with everything High Republic, everything is linking, with some of the links not yet even know to readers. It’s what makes reading this series so enthralling. Lompop appears to be a fun and hilarious character. Her being Nihil says a lot, yet Ireland uses this story t show a different side of her, a side that sets fairness. It seems like a very strange trait for someone who is part of the Nihil and it’s one that I’m sure will come up in Ireland’s forthcoming book Mission to Disaster.
Lompop is helloing a girl called Vroma, who is being subject to bullying. For younger readers, this story allows children to think carefully about their actions, about how they might treat others, or that they might need to find some support for themselves. Vroma discusses how she is feeling, her emotions and again, I think this is so important for younger readers to read about. Important messages from Ireland, who then plays on this, particularly if you’re an adult reader. For children will read this as the situation it is, adults will be waiting, holding their breath thinking how far Lompop is going to go. It keeps you on edge and makes for a very enjoyable read.
The artwork by Brokenshire is what I have come to expect, wonderful! The detail, the movement, the whole of his work takes me to another place, and I’d happily gaze at Brokenshire’s artwork for hours. There is an extremely well-done panel towards the end of the story with Lompop. I won’t say which as I would hate to ruin the story for anyone who hasn’t read it, but you’ll know it when you see it. Brokenshire, I send you a chef’s kiss for that panel!
What I think is so impressive with all the High Republic tales, even short ones like this, you always feel like you have had a meaty story that is not simply filler. You can’t help but get the impression that Ireland is setting up Lompop, and the reader, for what is to come, to give us a rare insight into an upcoming character. The fact that we’ve already been introduced to the character in the Original Trilogy era, even better.
Star Wars Adventures, in its first run under Denton Tipton, to this, has always been about fun and showcasing the talent out there in the wider comic community. It has been able to delight fans of all ages and who enjoy all eras of Star Wars. This issue really showcases what this series does best. Two great writers, writing about two very different eras, illustrated by two incredible artists with important messages thrown into the mix. This has been everything I have wanted from Star Wars comics, something I can enjoy and awe at but doesn’t have the burden of being a long connecting series. You can dip your toe in at any time. Not only that, but I have been able to discover many writers and artists I wasn’t aware of and be amazed and impressed by their talent. To have published writers like George Mann and Justina Ireland guesting for this comic is incredible and I’m glad they have been able to end the series on a high. Butch Mapa and Nick Brokenshire I have been able to discover through this series and I always get a thrill when I see their names at the top of an issue. This is the ending this series deserved. Star Wars is losing a series that really encapsulated the soul of Star Wars for me. To all those that have been involved (and there is a lot), thank you for some truly wonderful stories.
Availability;
Star Wars Adventures (2020) is an ongoing series available from IDW Publishing. This issue retails at $3.99 and is available from all good comic bookstores in the USA and from Forbidden Planet in the UK.
