SWNN Review: Marvel’s Star Wars #11
I think I’ve finally gotten used to the pace of this new arc. It’s Jason Aaron’s chance to put our heroes through frenetic hell to see what they are made of and how the events of the Death Star brought them close together. This issue made me really feel like we were watching a fractured team scrambling to save each other. The seeds of Han and Leia’s romance are still far from germination (at least on her end), but when one of their friends needs help, they are able to step aside from the melodrama and come together as a team. The sentiment is nice and we see why their first goodbye on Hoth erupted into such a spread of emotions.
We are right back where we left off, on the Smuggler’s Moon, and an impromptu getting session between Chewbacca and Dengar. The physicality of the fighting between these two, and there are pages worth, is pretty messy. Bravo to Stuart Immonen for keeping it as organized as a fight between a bounty hunter and a giant Wookie could be. One of my early critiques of the series was the clutter of frames, coupled with the pace of the story. In this issue I feel none of that.
Luke is still in the servitude of Grakkus the Hutt. Just a refresher, Grakkus is a Hutt set on expanding his collection of Jedi paraphernalia, and he just got his hands on the Faberge-eggs of Jedi collectibles. Grakkus now has Anakin Skywalker’s lightsaber and The Journal of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Not only that, but Grakkus gets to promote the premiere fight on Smuggler’s Moon.
The death of the last Jedi. If I were the scum the Jedi Order of the past had foiled, I’d pay good money for a ticket like that. If you look closely, you’ll see the mysterious Gamemaster, who trained Luke in the last issue, swapped out the Skywalker sable with a different one. Luke has jumped head first into everything so far, proving he’s not afraid, but may be a bit unrealistic when it comes to getting himself out of trouble. Especially when….
Kongo the Disemboweler will be who he is fighting. Anyone know what augmented species this is? I have to say it’s pretty cool to see a giant, cyborg beast. As Grakkus and the Gamemaster look on, we learn the Gamemaster is still enslaved by Grakkus and was only kept alive to train other fighting slaves.
Meanwhile, on the emotional battlefield, Han finally comes clean to Leia about his wife. In all honesty, I wasn’t crazy about the explanation. It belittles the character of Sana and just makes Han sound like a jerk. Perhaps there is more to come, but the taste we are given is sour. I’ll let you read on to discover that. Solo realizes he’s not coming off as the most likable chap, so we are left somewhere in hyperspace with him stewing in his frustrations.
The fight between Dengar and Chewbacca swings back and forth. Just when you think one is up, then he is down, repeat. You can see why Dengar was at the front of the pack of bounty hunters in TESB.
Luke is doing okay in the fight, but is only getting lucky between dodging the claws of the beast. There is nothing heroic or Jedi about this. When Luke gets a chance to catch his breath or center in on the Force, the fight comes back to him, and he looks a long way from the brooding Jedi in ROTJ.
I had a feeling the Gamemaster was not who he seemed. I’ll let you read on to find out who he is working for.
Han Solo sure has a way with people and showing up in the nick of time at the last moment. I’ll leave you all with that parting shot of the smuggler’s arrival on the moon of his namesake.
I had a lot of fun reading this issue. They have really brought it back around to feel like we are reaching the end of a long chase. This issue feels like glue of the others. I’m very excited for the next issue, especially since it brings us closer to the Vader Down convergence. This issue is well worth your time and money. Head down to your shop now.
You can order a digital copy at Marvel.com or at Comixology.com, or visit the nearest comic book store.
Kyle Larson lives in Portland, Oregon. When he's not running trails, he's reading and writing.
from beginning till end I loved this issue!
first star wars comic from marvel I really start to like, can’t wait till next one.
Wish I could say the same from the comic of my favorite Antagonist…
You didn’t like the star wars Darth Vader comics? And even if it was a mini series what about star wars shattered empire?
Darth Vader comics are great, I think at least. There are some strange subplots that are thrown around here and there but they definitely make Vader seem like an imposing foe as he should be. Doctor Aphra is an okay character and clearly a female Indiana Jones archetype, but she has her purpose and her along with the two droids and the bounty hunters bring some extra fun to the story.
Anything that belittles Sana is okay with me. Character serves no purpose other than being a lame subplot they can string out for a few issues.
On another point entirely, is it just me, or is Luke rocking his yellow “flight” jacket a lot in recent material? Does this have any significance? Y’know, like in relation to the (similar) jacket Finn is seen wearing in TFA? Coincidence maybe? (Qui-Gon would disagree…)
It’s the most logical costume for Luke in these stories (which immediately follow A New Hope). As for Finn’s jacket being similar, Ponda Baba and Biggs Darklighter wore similar jackets as well. It’s just a style choice within the SW Universe.
That’s where my point originates from… could this style of jacket be some sort of “special issue” for Rebel/Resistance pilots – and therefore does the one that Finn is wearing have “special” significance? (This has been hinted at recently…)
OMG… does Luke wear Biggs’ flight jacket after his buddy dies in the first Death Star battle?
Considering it didn’t look like Luke had packed much for his trip off Tatooine (and if he had, it would most likely have been more bathrobes and other desert-gear), I always assumed the flight jacket was official Rebellion-issue. He was, after all, receiving a medal, and usual military etiquette would dictate some sort of uniform for that. Considering we know Leia is dressing in Alderaan-Rebel gear for at least part of “The Force Awakens,” I assume the flight jacket is still an official uniform…and it gets passed to Finn somewhere down the line.
Here’s a pic of Biggs found from Google (star wars.com). Makes me lean more toward the “Rebel issued” view… BUT if it is “Rebel issue” then would Biggs be wearing it in “public?”…
It isn’t what you think, and Han’s reputation is still intact, methinks.
I’m not sure if this thing he’s fighting is good for the continuity, sure it’s cool, but does it make the Rancor fight in ROTJ more lame??
I was guessing it was a cyborg rancor, but I really have no idea… I would think that Luke has developed in the meantime, both skills and patience…
Cool. This issue looks really good. I like the fast paced action and danger. I wanna see how they all get out alive
Each issue that comes out is soooo gooood!