Published: July 19, 2023
Writer: Alex Segura
Artist: Matt Horak, Brent Peeples & Rafael Pimentel
Colourist: Jim Campbell
Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham
Cover Artist: Ryan Brown
The synopsis;
MON MOTHMA MUST DIE!
• ADMIRAL ACKBAR is the only one with the knowledge of THE EMPIRE’s plans to kill Mon Mothma.
• Enter POE DAMERON’s parents, SHARA BEY and KES DAMERON, to thwart the threat!
• But do they have what it takes to take down the unknown assassin in time?
The review;
Flinging out a webbed hand towards the armada gathering in the stars beyond, it’s impossible not to hear Admiral Ackbar shouting “It’s a trap!” in Brown’s direct cover. It’s a fantastic piece that focusses on the Mon Calamari, using only a select few colours for maximum impact. Meanwhile the Admiral stands strong alongside Mon Mothma in Dodson’s variant, which is beautiful in its simplicity and muted tones. Reis’ variant again focusses on the Rebel leader, this time overlooking Kes Dameron and Shara Bey in action, and finally Garbett’s connecting variant features a disguised Lando Calrissian.
As the Rebel Alliance gathers its forces for one final strike against the Empire and the second Death Star, an urgent transmission is received from a spy. Mon Mothma is in grave danger. An assassin has been hired to deal a massive blow to the Rebellion, one that could change the course of galactic history. While Mon is determined not to waste any resources on her own safety, Admiral Ackbar secretly sends a pathfinder and a pilot to deal with the assassin before it’s too late.
Alex Segura was the perfect choice for this story. He effortlessly combines pivotal characters from Return of the Jedi alongside others who will be instrumental for the Sequel Trilogy. Having already written Poe Dameron: Free Fall, he’s familiar with Kes Dameron and Shara Bey, showing how well the two work together and combine their different skillsets to uncover the identity of Mon Mothma’s would-be assassin. Spycraft is something that isn’t seen often in the Star Wars galaxy, apart from the odd reference to bothans, so it’s fascinating to have such a unique perspective from inside the Rebellion.
While Kes and Shara are instrumental to the story, The Rebellion #1 naturally places a lot of its focus on Mon Mothma. She’s almost an ethereal presence when she’s introduced in Return of the Jedi, gliding onto screen and delivering her message with such stoic gravitas. Since then, her appearances and cameos have always portrayed Mon as a calm and collected leader, one who is willing to make difficult decisions for the greater good. However, this has also made her character somewhat difficult to relate to – something which changed after Andor. Suddenly, a new side to Mon was uncovered and Segura combines the two.
Outwardly, Mon Mothma is still the calm and collected leader to the Rebellion. When Ackbar tells her of the potential threat to her life, Mon is adamant that she’s unafraid. Knowing that this is a crucial time not only for the Rebellion, but for the entire fate of the galaxy, she doesn’t want to waste resources on herself. Mon is selfless to a fault. Yet in her own private thoughts, Mon has doubts and she’s tired. All she wants is for her plans to unfold successfully and without the added threat of an assassin.
Thankfully there’s Admiral Ackbar. Even in the few moments the characters have shared, it’s clear that he and Mon Mothma have a lot of respect for each other. Ackbar is a pragmatist and a realist. He knows that the Rebellion – and a future republic – will need Mon Mothma at its helm. So, while he wants to protect Mon as a friend, he also wants to protect what she represents. Hope.
Which is why he calls in Kes Dameron and Shara Bey. Again, Ackbar has a double purpose and there’s an element of friendship in this too. He’s allowing the husband and wife one more mission together before the Battle of Endor – just in case things go wrong. That’s not what the couple want to think about though, with Kes digging into some old underworld contacts in search of information on the assassin. Being an elite pathfinder, Kes is quick with a blaster and has the brains to match, much like his cameo in Shattered Empire by Greg Rucka.
The race against time to find Mon’s assassin is a thrilling storyline as the two of them jump from planet to planet in search of any information they can find, all while dodging the Empire. And the assassin is a beguiling character. Even though she’s the villain, there’s still something really compelling about her, especially the way she views her work. There’s a reverence given to each job, which blaster she’ll use, and how she goes about laying a trap. Segura really gets into the assassin’s head, seeing the job from her own point of view as well as how the Rebellion perceives it as a threat.
Through all this spying and double-crossing is the artwork by Horak, Peeples, and Pimentel. There is a fantastic mixture of panel types. Some of the most stunning focus on Mon and Ackbar’s interactions, which carry such weight on the page, capturing the sense of Mon’s seriousness. Another one has the Rebel leader in her quarters, staring at her reflection and taking a much-needed moment of contemplation. Then there’s plenty of blaster filled action as Kes takes on criminal middlemen to uncover the truth, while Shara sports a costume that would make Leia proud. With so many locations and iconic characters, every page is just a treat to explore.
During Return of the Jedi, Mon Mothma explains how they have a chance to strike a devastating blow to the Empire. Segura shows how this almost didn’t happen. It’s practically impossible to imagine this scene not occurring, yet the tension in The Rebellion #1 is palpable as Mon Mothma is unafraid to risk herself for the greater good. If you want a glimpse into the moments before the Battle of Endor, and how it nearly never came to pass, then The Rebellion #1 is essential reading. You’ll never watch Return of the Jedi in the same way again.
Availability;
Star Wars: The Rebellion is a one-shot comic published by Marvel Comics. This issue retails at $4.99 and is available via ComiXology and from all good comic book stores.
