Today's review is of the first two trade paperbacks of the new story arc, simply called Star Wars and set immediately after Episode IV.
In the Shadow of Yavin
The Rebels have destroyed the dreaded Death Star, but at great cost: their previously-secret base has been exposed, forcing them to flee and search for a new home. As X-wing starfighters (piloted by notable characters like Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia (!), and Wedge Antilles) scour various worlds, and Han Solo conducts a secret mission to Coruscant, the Empire consistently seems one step ahead. Is there a spy in Rebel command?
Rating (art): A-
Rating (story): B-
From the Ruins of Alderaan
The story started in the prior volume continues: Leia goes undercover and off-the-record to try and unearth the spy in their midst and find a new Rebel base; Han tries to get himself out of hot water on Coruscant, running into Boba Fett in so doing; Luke & Wedge get deliberately captured by a Star Destroyer in hopes of finding the traitor.
Rating (art): B+
Rating (story): C
Overall
As the newest and, sadly, last Star Wars story arc to be published by Dark Horse (the license goes to Marvel in January), both trade paperbacks are great in concept but lacking in execution. The time period and theme are great- the stories attempt to fill in some gaps between movies, and in so doing give more background to Vader's pursuit of Skywalker, the seeking of a new base, and more. Some plot elements are super-cool (like Leia returning to the remains of Alderaan, and what she encounters there). The art is very good for the people (though the starfighters leave something to be desired). I wanted to like this- I really did. But, in the end, the same elements that plagued some stories in the Rogue Squadron story arc come up here- confusing or unbelievable plots, big plot holes, twists without relevance . . . in short, they dropped the ball. Good concept, poor execution. There are a few more paperbacks released in this arc, but I doubt I'll read them.
Rating (overall): B-
The Rebels have destroyed the dreaded Death Star, but at great cost: their previously-secret base has been exposed, forcing them to flee and search for a new home. As X-wing starfighters (piloted by notable characters like Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia (!), and Wedge Antilles) scour various worlds, and Han Solo conducts a secret mission to Coruscant, the Empire consistently seems one step ahead. Is there a spy in Rebel command?
Rating (art): A-
Rating (story): B-
From the Ruins of Alderaan
The story started in the prior volume continues: Leia goes undercover and off-the-record to try and unearth the spy in their midst and find a new Rebel base; Han tries to get himself out of hot water on Coruscant, running into Boba Fett in so doing; Luke & Wedge get deliberately captured by a Star Destroyer in hopes of finding the traitor.
Rating (art): B+
Rating (story): C
Overall
As the newest and, sadly, last Star Wars story arc to be published by Dark Horse (the license goes to Marvel in January), both trade paperbacks are great in concept but lacking in execution. The time period and theme are great- the stories attempt to fill in some gaps between movies, and in so doing give more background to Vader's pursuit of Skywalker, the seeking of a new base, and more. Some plot elements are super-cool (like Leia returning to the remains of Alderaan, and what she encounters there). The art is very good for the people (though the starfighters leave something to be desired). I wanted to like this- I really did. But, in the end, the same elements that plagued some stories in the Rogue Squadron story arc come up here- confusing or unbelievable plots, big plot holes, twists without relevance . . . in short, they dropped the ball. Good concept, poor execution. There are a few more paperbacks released in this arc, but I doubt I'll read them.
Rating (overall): B-
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