Jelena’s Review of Poe Dameron #8

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Writer: Charles Soule

Artist: Phil Noto

Cover Artist: Phil Noto, Rod Reis

 

New Story Arc Starts Here!

 

  • Agent Terex has sworn vengeance against Poe Dameron!
  • But how does he always seem to know what Black Squadron is doing?
  • Could there truly be a traitor in their midst?

 

After a brief, one issue long digression, we are back to our main story. If you remember, at the end of issue #6 Leia asked Poe to look into the fact that Terex knows every step Black Squadron is making.

 

When we find Poe at the beginning of this issue, he is not a happy camper. The fact that he has to investigate his own squad and that he is now looking their past actions through the lens of suspicion is messing with his equilibrium. Even BB-8 notices his frustration, not that he’s really hiding it.

 

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At the same time, Terex’s ship Carrion Spike has undergone necessary repairs after the damage it sustained on Megalox Beta and it’s nearly battle ready. Terex is keeping the ship well out of the First Order space.

 

In his cabin, Terex goes down the memory lane – he remembers the Battle of Jakku and the last days of Empire. We find out that Terex was telling the truth when he said a few issues back that he used to be a stormtrooper. He and his fellow stormtrooper Corlac lose their armor and themselves in the chaos of Jakku. While Corlac sees the loss of the Empire, it is clear from the start that Terex can’t let it go.

 

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In the meantime, Poe’s X-wing goes through its own repairs with the help of mechanic Oddy. Just as he is about to allow Oddy to fly it, they are interrupted by C-3PO who has a new assignment for him from General Leia. One of the droids working for C-3PO’s information network send a message about obtaining huge amount of information about the First Order, including the location of Supreme Leader Snoke. The transmission was, however, interrupted and Poe has a task to travel to planet Kaddak to retreave the information and, if possible, the droid. Poe is to travel with only one other pilot, in a cargo ship, so he wouldn’t attract the attention. Because he is suspicious of his squadron, he chooses Oddy.

 

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On the Carrion Spike, Terex takes full control of the ship, cutting all communications with the First Order.  We learn that Terex and Corlac escaped Jakku thanks to Terex’s complete dedication of building the ship from the scraps of downed ships. Corlac has connections on the planet in the Outer Rim where they can start new lives. But, Terex is completely dedicated to the idea of the Empire, it’s law, order and safety; he wants to find the place where imperial forces are regrouping so he could rejoin and help them.

 

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We realize that the planet Corlac and Terex escaped to was Kaddak. Dressed in a strange, samurai-like armor, Terex arrives to  the planet to find ‘something important that he lost’.

 

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I have to admit, judging by his past actions, Terex didn’t strike me as a believer, I thought him to be a cynic and an opportunist, but I have come to realize in this issue that his disdain for the First Order comes from the fact that they are not the Empire. After learning more about his background, I am wondering how someone who was so completely a piece of imperial machinery that he couldn’t recall his real name became Terex that we know, leading a decadent life on Tarkin’s former ship.

 

Poe is in a very unenviable situation as he is forced to suspect people he had known and fought with for years. I am now questioning my own suspicion of Karé and wondering if Poe made the right decision when he chose Oddy for his companion, not just because of the possibility that he might be a traitor but because of his lack of experience. If Kaddak is as horrible as Poe claims, Oddy’s chances seem grim.

 

This was the kind of issue I like even with no action; it’s the issue that enriches the characters and their backstory and sheds light on their motivation. It is said that the best and the most dangerous villains are those who are convinced that they are right and Terex is definitely heading into that direction. I hope we will get even more insight into the former stormtrooper.

 

Naturally, we know the confrontation between Terex and Poe is inevitable and it’s bound to be explosive. I am a fan of Soule’s art so I hope for some samurai-like action because Terex’s armor is fantastic. But, for that, we will have to wait for…

 

THE NEXT ISSUE on December 7, 2016.

 

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Poe Dameron is on a secret mission from General Organa herself…to escort none other than C-3PO on a dangerous mission to the planet Kaddak! Also: a sneak peek into Terex’s past…

 

 

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Staff member, comic and book reviewer. Cheers for the Light Side, but would drink with Grand Admirals.

Jelena Bidin (LadyMusashi)

Staff member, comic and book reviewer. Cheers for the Light Side, but would drink with Grand Admirals.

4 thoughts on “Jelena’s Review of Poe Dameron #8

  • November 10, 2016 at 1:43 am
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    in profile, terex looks like poe’s evil twin.

  • November 10, 2016 at 2:39 am
    Permalink

    Agent Terex is one of the best things about this comic series. I hope he shows up in VIII.

  • November 10, 2016 at 12:44 pm
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    This might be my favorite issue of the Poe Dameron run. The backstory of Terex is super interesting.

  • November 10, 2016 at 7:14 pm
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    Love that Ugly.
    Walker head fighter.

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