Review: ‘Return of the Jedi – The Rebellion’, the Eve of the Battle of Endor
To celebrate 40 years of Return of the Jedi, Marvel Comics are releasing a series of one-shots based on characters and stories derived from the film. The most recent issue, The Rebellion delves into a story based on the events that take place just days before the Battle of Endor as the Empire tries to assassinate Mon Mothma. This series is intended to be short and sweet, really piecing together stories that may subvert expectations but also fill in some gaps for a satisfying expansion of such an action-packed era of Star Wars.
The Rebellion does meet the brief, but the question remains as to whether it is a story worth telling. In my opinion, there can be nothing in these final weeks leading up to one of the most fateful battles in the galaxy that should not be dealt with in a cautious manner; every little moment should weave in the gravitas that an epic’s pre-chorus deserves.
The greatest thing about this issue, and arguably the entire series, is that it acknowledges some of our most beloved characters and the positions they are forced to contend with during this time of rapid upheaval. It is Admiral Ackbar and Mon Mothma that truly shine in The Rebellion, but the chunky 30-page Star Wars comic ought to have dedicated more pages to its stars, to officially stick the landing and execute a story worthy of its historic significance.
Spoilers ahead…
The issue does do an excellent job of immediately capturing the intensity that comes from the knowledge that it is the eve of something truly important. A mysterious Arconan bounty hunter, later revealed to be named Lan-Drus, muses to herself as she scopes in on Mon Mothma, our legendary Rebel Alliance leader. Half of Lan-Drus’ head has been replaced with what looks to be the top part of an IG unit head, which is a fearsome design choice that really makes the most of the unique physicality of the species. Her right arm is also completely robotic, possibly taken from the same unit.
Admiral Ackbar is informed that Mon Mothma’s life is at risk, during a crucial stage of the fight with the Empire. Mon Mothma proves once again why she was the one to guide the Rebellion to victory as she insists on obtaining top secret intel regardless of the danger it put her in, and refused to have protection, arguing that the Alliance’s resources could be better spent on fighting the Empire.
The imagery here of Admiral Ackbar is so achingly solemn and you can practically feel the pressure of the moment, the weight of everything that is about to happen. It is my favourite artwork from this issue, and one of the most powerful in the series.
As we progress through the story, we are reintroduced to some more familiar faces — Kes Dameron and Shara Bey — the parents of Poe Dameron who were introduced in the novel Shattered Empire by Greg Rucka. Kes Dameron is a Pathfinder, a member of a Rebellion special forces unit most prominently shown operating under Sergeant Ruescott Melshi in Rogue One, and Shara is a pilot in Green Squadron, who would of course play a significant role in the Battle of Endor. Ackbar calls upon the duo to discretely discover the identity of the assassin sent to kill Mon.
This heavy artwork of Mon Mothma in deep contemplation of her role in the Rebellion, and her potential death mirrors the previous depiction of Admiral Ackbar as he plans to save her life. It creates a subtle line of connection between the two leaders, a connection both strained and strengthened by the enormity of their challenge ahead.
Lan-Drus is revealed to be working with the Spice Runners of Kijimi, which was then recently taken over by Zeva Bliss, the mother of Zorii Bliss. In the course of Kes and Shara’s investigations, they run into Alfris Sotin, another familiar comic character and broker within the criminal underworld who once betrayed the Spice Runners of Kijimi.
This issue surprisingly zeroes in on the ancestral background of both Poe Dameron and Zorii Bliss, which gives further context to their relationship as we see it in the sequel trilogy. This may have been a specific choice as part of the franchise-wide attempt to connect the events of Return of the Jedi to the sequel trilogy.
Mon Mothma travels to the snowy planet of Desinta to meet the anonymous informant, who reveals himself to be Tomasso, a high ranking member of the Spice Runners and an old friend of Mon’s. There, Lan-Drus attempts to snipe Mon, who is saved by Tomasso in a very selfless act of bravery as he takes the blast for her. Kes and Shara manage to prevent a second shot from Lan-Drus, and are rescued by Mon, who reveals the critical information she has learned from Tomasso.
Mon Mothma once again credits the Bothan spies who learned of the construction of the second Death Star, but it is revealed that the Emperor and many other high ranking Imperials are currently stationed there, ready for the Rebellion to deal its mortal blow.
One of the more interesting aspects of the issue is the way in which Mon Mothma is so determined to prove the Rebellion’s strength that she virtually places herself directly in the line of fire with no protection whatsoever. She accepts her death when she goes to retrieve the information from her informant, and without the interference of Kes and Shara, she would have been killed, all to prove that the Rebellion could survive even without its leader. This is especially interesting when it is understood that the Empire does not have these tightly bound threads of cause and loyalty; if the Emperor were to be killed, the whole system would, and does, disintegrate. Regardless, Mon’s faith in her cause is shown to be so firm, she risks her life simply to demonstrate the persistence and the strength the Rebellion has even without her leadership.
This issue had lots of positive elements, but the main storyline was perhaps was a tad unnecessary. Readers were given a very derivative plot that did not quite rein in the intensity it needed to given the fact that readers already know of Mon Mothma’s fate. This issue should have felt like the dark before the dawn, and yet it allowed its gifted gravitas to fizzle out with a relatively mediocre story that added little to the larger narrative.
You can read our review of the previous issue in this series here.
Rating: 5/10
Rosalie Lambert is a law student from Australia with a deep love for Star Wars, fantasy, and epic stylistic storytelling. Growing up in the country, Rosalie has always loved nature and outdoor activities, and has a passion for human rights and social justice that she wants to work towards in her field of study.
