Jordan’s Review: Marvel’s Han Solo #3
After being delayed for about a month, Han Solo #3 finally hit the shelves today, as writer Marjorie Liu and artists Mark Brooks, Dexter Vines, and Sonia Oback continue to deliver the goods in what has been arguably the most entertaining Star Wars miniseries from Marvel to date. Read on for the full review. Spoilers ahead…
If you missed out on the first two issues of this series, I highly recommend that you start with those as they are excellent additions to Marvel’s Star Wars library. But to get you up to speed before tackling this issue, I’ll start with a little review of what has happened thus far in the series.
Shortly after A New Hope, Han Solo and his partner Chewbacca have returned to a life of smuggling where Han struggles with his newfound sense of morality interfering with his ability to perform his job as well as he used to – that is – before his chance encounter with an old hermit, two droids, a princess, and a farm boy altered the course of his life forever.
Failing to make ends meet, but too prideful to admit it, Han is soon contacted by Princess Leia with an offer he can’t refuse on a mission for the Rebellion. Han and Chewie would be entered in the infamous “Dragon Void” race. At each planetary stop during the race, Han would rendezvous with a rebel informant and get them off-planet and to safety before an unidentified rebel turncoat kills them all one by one.
After rescuing the first rebel informant, the race came to a screeching halt in the last issue as Imperial officer Tormine threatened to shut down the race and take the few remaining pilots into custody. This third issue in the series begins in the midst of this skirmish as Tormine continues his threats against the racers.
Annoyed by the luminous orbs that surround the legendary racer Loo Re Anno, Tormine instructs his troopers to get rid of them. Anno informs the officer that the orbs are living beings and pleads with him to let them be as Han stands up for her, which earns her respect.
It isn’t until the mysterious giant-jawa-like race runners step in and warn Tormine of the possible repercussions of his actions (that the fuel stations sponsoring the race would be most unhappy with the Empire if the race was cancelled) that he allows the event to continue.
After the brief Imperial hiccup, the race is back on, and Han returns to the Falcon to find that Chewie and the Duro informant have barely made it back to the ship in one piece. With an even greater resolve this time around, Han, Chewie and their new friend embark on the most dangerous leg of the race yet – a 12-hour haul through a debris field that would require the racers to maintain a very high speed throughout or risk becoming disqualified.
In the last hour of the course, Han hits some debris which threatens to slow down the ship, but he is saved by a quick tow from the Pantoran, trying to make amends after attempting to sabotage the Falcon at the beginning of the race.
The racers arrive on the next planet where Han goes off on his own to meet the rebel informant. Unfortunately, cameras are everywhere and Han must lose them to avoid further suspicion. One of Anno’s orb creatures comes to his aid and destroys the nearby cameras, allowing Han to rendezvous with the informant, a large cat-like character who we learn has actually dealt with Han and Chewie in the past.
Who is this mysterious tiger-alien and what role will he play in the story moving forward? Is he the traitor or will it be the next informant that stabs them in the back? Or perhaps something even more sinister is at work? What’s the deal with the floaty orb creatures that happen to bear a strong resemblance to the Force guides that Yoda encountered on Dagobah during the Clone Wars? Why are they helping Han on his mission? Hopefully these questions will be answered in the final two issues of the series.
I really enjoyed this issue. The pacing is exciting, the mystery is intriguing, and the art is fantastic. Bermejo’s third ugly cover aside, Brooks’ pencil work has given readers the best Han Solo to date in Marvel comics and Liu’s writing continues to prove that she understands the characters in her story.
My overall opinion of the miniseries will be greatly shaped by its conclusion, but with three great issues out of a total of five having been released already, I can at least say that this series is very good and worth a read. The next two issues will hopefully move my opinion from “very good” to “great”. But for now let me just say this about Han Solo: if you are a Han Solo fan, a comic fan, or just a Star Wars fan in general, this is a series you should be reading.
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.
the only bad thing about this series is the cover artworks :/
Seriously. He looks like a cracked out Robert DeNiro on the cover.
He looks like Han morphing into Poe Dameron.
Cover art is terrible plus the Falcon has the wrong sensor dish!
Here is hoping the trade paperback has a good cover.
Continues to be awful. And what’s the deal with the TFA radar dish?
It’s really weird because it was the correct shape originally (in the earlier version they released), but was actually CHANGED to the new dish when the comic was actually released. It’s like they’re doing it wrong on purpose.
I THOUGHT so! I mean, I couldn’t be bothered to check, but I didn’t remember it being wrong when the ‘Next Issue” art was released. yeah, werid.
Yep. It’s almost like a running joke now.
Meth: not even once
I really hope they decide to extend this over 5 issues. I know most of the other characters books got tired after 5 issues but I think this Han Solo story could run a long time if they stay creative.
So…are they gonna make Han look like Aldren instead of Harrison Ford at some point in the comics?
No.
It seemed to me like they were blending the two, in this comic already.
I agree, I see the resemblance already.
I feel like if the Han Solo movie is a success they will continue to have Han movies or Han in movies for the foreseeable future. To the point where eventually they might just pass the Original Trilogy. At that point mainstream audiences would be so familiar with that version of the character the wouldn’t care if he aged past ANH age Solo.
While I am excited for Star Wars. Its kinda sad to think that Han Solo is no longer exclusively associated with Harrison Fords likeness and what that might mean in the future of the character.
Judging from the “Next Issue” art, this whole Aldren thing is a smokescreen, and Han will in fact be played by Corey…Haim? Feldman?
That is one ugly Han Solo.
That floaty orb came in handy, though! Like the story – good Cannonball Run vibes…
Wow, this issue was great. Everything about it was awesome.