Jordan’s Review: Marvel’s Han Solo #2

Han Solo #2 - Cover

 

After a great first entry last month, Marjorie Liu and Mark Brooks continue their five-issue limited run on Han Solo with this week’s release of Han Solo #2. Read on for the full review (spoilers ahead)…

 

Han Solo #2 - Han and Chewie

 

After having taken a step back from the rebel cause after their heroic saving of the day at the Battle of Yavin, Han Solo and his companion Chewbacca have returned to a life of smuggling.  After turning down job after job, Princess Leia Organa has made the pair an offer they can’t refuse – a chance to race the Falcon in the esteemed and notorious Dragon Void race as a cover to find a mysterious rebel spy who may have turned traitor.

 

Han Solo #2 - Fighting and Running

 

It may be just a cover, but Han’s not going to pass up an opportunity like this one.  Against all odds and more notable opposition, he very much intends to win this race, while saving the day in the process.  By the end of issue #1 the race has just begun, and issue #2 picks up right where it left off, in the very explosive first leg of the race.

 

Han Solo #2 - Never Felt More Alive

 

Drawing on his hard-earned blue collar experience as a smuggler and his daring wit, Han quickly proves that he knows what he’s doing as he – along with only 3 other racers – make it past the first obstacle of the race.  Despite his self-proclaimed fame as the pilot who made the Kessel Run in less than 14, pardon me, 12 parsecs – he is still an unknown among the other more prestigious racers.  However, after touching down at their first stop, Han soon realizes that he has been quickly thrust into the spotlight as fans clamor for his autograph.

 

Han Solo #2 - Lousy No Good Pantoran

 

As Chewie goes off to find their rebel contact, Han confronts a fellow racer who deliberately tried to shoot him down during the first run, only to discover that he might have drawn more attention than he intended as Imperial Stormtroopers arrive and arrest all of the racers, inciting outrage in the spectators and racers alike.  After an attempt at fleeing Imperial imprisonment , an officer enters the scene and crushes all hope of Han going anywhere anytime soon.

 

Han Solo #2 - Fan Riot

 

I have to say that I have been pleasantly surprised with the Han Solo series.  I found Issue #1 to be very entertaining, and issue #2 has proven that it wasn’t a fluke.  If this trend continues, Han Solo just might be my favorite of Marvel’s five issue character-centric mini-series.  Writer Marjorie Liu, who previously made a decent name for herself at Marvel with her work in the X-23 series, has thus far really captured the essence of Han Solo, giving readers a well-paced story that is both entertaining and rewarding.  Coupled with the pencils of Mark Brooks and the brilliant coloring of Sonia Oback, this comic is a feast for the eyes as well.

 

Han Solo #2 - Officer Arrives

 

I still hate Bermejo’s cover art in this series, but you know what they say about judging a book by its cover .  Brooks more than makes up for it with his fantastic pencil work, so as Han would say, “She may not look like much, but she’s got it where it counts, kid.”  Do yourself a favor and check out this series if you haven’t already.

 

Han Solo #2 - Next Month

 

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Jordan Pate is Co-Lead Editor and Senior Writer for Star Wars News Net, of which he is also a member of the book and comic review team. He loves all things Star Wars, but when he's not spending time in the galaxy far far away, he might be found in our own galaxy hanging out in Gotham City or at 1407 Graymalkin Lane, Salem Center, NY.

Jordan Pate (Hard Case)

Jordan Pate is Co-Lead Editor and Senior Writer for Star Wars News Net, of which he is also a member of the book and comic review team. He loves all things Star Wars, but when he's not spending time in the galaxy far far away, he might be found in our own galaxy hanging out in Gotham City or at 1407 Graymalkin Lane, Salem Center, NY.

13 thoughts on “Jordan’s Review: Marvel’s Han Solo #2

  • July 6, 2016 at 8:53 pm
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    These covers are awful but this comic thus far is AWESOME

    • July 6, 2016 at 9:34 pm
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      Was about to say something similar – what the hell is with the disconnect between the goddawful cover art and what looks like decent story art? My favorite part of the next issue’s cover is that they couldn’t quite find a picture of the Falcon in the right position to trace, so they just traced the main hull (from the same pic as is on the Legacy BMF box) then slapped on some too-small mandibles pointing the wrong way. Each one of these is worse than the last.

      • July 6, 2016 at 10:02 pm
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        I never understood why comic creators decide that art on the cover of the comic doesn’t accurately show what is on the inside. In such a visual medium you would think the opposite would be true.

        • July 7, 2016 at 6:13 pm
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          i’d say it largely depends on what comics you’re looking at. most of the stuff from Dark Horse has stellar covers very well rooted in actual themes from the volumes (Mike Mignola is the master of depicting the comics content on the covers without giving out any spoilers, and, as you finish the issue, you often go back to explore all the symbolism on the first page you might have missed at a first glance), also, a lot of indie comics have some stellar cover art. it’s just the big corporations (DC, Marvel) seem to not care enough these days

          • July 7, 2016 at 7:28 pm
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            The Walking Dead and Ghostbusters and TMNT on IDW covers are always awesome. As you said its usually the big two that do such great deviations. I guess their artists are busier than others? Idk what it could be.

          • July 7, 2016 at 10:51 pm
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            I’d say its just a lack of quality control in my opinion; how many titles do they run every week, every month? i don’t wanna guess, but the number has to be ridiculous. over at Dark Horse Scott Allie is able to oversee around 50-60% of what they put out, at DC and Marvel they probably have dozens of editors if not more..

            in other news, Brian Lee O’Malley new book Snotgirl #1 comes out on 20th! that shit’s gonna be so great, talk about amazing cover art

    • July 6, 2016 at 9:44 pm
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      I agree with you on the cover art. My comic shop had a couple of the alternate covers out for sale at the same price as the regular one so I grabbed one of them. Great story so far. Fun read.

      • July 7, 2016 at 3:41 am
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        Good story & true, the variants are WAY better…bummed about the cliffhanger

  • July 7, 2016 at 3:23 am
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    Seriously who wants the first thing they see when they pick up this book is a shot of a dead aliens ass?! Awful cover.

    • July 7, 2016 at 10:35 am
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      Yet sadly not the worst cover Marvel’s done this year when it comes to SW.

    • July 7, 2016 at 11:14 pm
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      And did…did that alien split his pants?

    • July 8, 2016 at 10:35 pm
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      Exactly! Total turn off…

  • July 10, 2016 at 1:29 pm
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    Interesting to see Xizor’s species is now canon? Are they still referred to as Falleen? A Q for Pablo.

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