Review: ‘Return of the Jedi – Max Rebo’ Is Good, Actually
As much as I want to hate it, I really can’t. Return of the Jedi – Max Rebo is an entertaining comic if, — and it’s a big if — fans can get past the “meme factor.”
Written by one of the best Star Wars writers around, Daniel José Older, the story and writing by Older is what helps bolster the comic from being more than just a meme. It sounds ridiculous on paper. “Are they really gonna give Max Rebo an over-the-top, melancholic backstory?” Yes. And guess what? It works because it also knows it’s over-the-top and pokes fun at it.
Return of the Jedi – Max Rebo takes place during the rescue of Han Solo from Jabba’s Palace. And while Max Rebo is playing for Jabba and performing in his palace, he learns of another assassination plot soon to occur against Jabba. But this other plot involves two of his band members, and it’s up to Max Rebo to intervene and stop his band members from attempting this suicidal mission. While the whole story can be considered ridiculous, and the focus on a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it side character is outlandish, it’s nonetheless enjoyable and, ironically, well-written.
Minor spoilers below …
The first two pages immediately set the tone for the rest of the comic. Return of the Jedi – Max Rebo looks to give the short, stubby-looking keyboardist the “sad clown” treatment. He talks, he has deep inner thoughts, and he has a depressing backstory. But all he can do is play music for others. All the while, death surrounds him, and Jabba is … just being Jabba.
So why does it work? It works thanks in part to Older. Older takes the story seriously, but also acknowledges its ludicrous premise. If fans remember “Tatooine Rhapsody” from Star Wars: Visions, the episode where a rock band performs for Jabba to save another band member’s life, and if they enjoyed that episode, they’ll most likely enjoy this one. They’re very similar in concept.
However, not everyone enjoyed that episode. That’s completely understandable as it’s wildly different from anything else in Star Wars. And the same can be said here. While the tone is not the issue here it’s the fact that the character is a meme and that the comic itself is a meme. It is humorous in its way, but it is still a hurdle for readers — including myself — to jump over to enjoy it.
That being said, the art in itself is nothing noteworthy either. It’s not bad compared to other Star Wars comics, but neither is it visually outstanding. And while Max Rebo is the center of the story, he doesn’t do much within the overall plot, not having much of an effect. But overall, for Star Wars readers that are okay with having a character be “memeified,” they will find this comic to be a fun read that gives the character a dark backstory, while still poking fun at the whole idea.
Score: 7/10
Born and raised in Hawaii, Jay Goodearl runs the YouTube Gaming channel “Good Games, Dude” His channel aims to open up video games to beginners and immediate players and help them understand what makes games the art form that it is.
