Review: ‘Yoda’ Issue #10 Wraps Up the Series With an Emotional and Beautiful Send-Off
With Star Wars: Yoda issue #10, I’m at a loss for words. The final issue of the Yoda series is an emotional, beautiful, and moving tribute to the beloved character as Yoda steps into “the cave” on Dagobah. And through Yoda’s journey, readers get to ponder and think about a deep lesson that resonates within all of Star Wars. This issue — and the whole series — is worth reading for all Star Wars fans, and I cannot recommend it enough.
While Star Wars News Net does often discuss spoilers in its comic reviews, this review will not feature any. The reason is that, while I certainly could, discussing spoilers won’t support my argument. The surprises and emotional moments in the comic are best discovered for yourself and can only be understood within its context. For that reason, this review won’t feature any major story spoilers but will discuss reveals from past issues.
Issue #10 sees the return of writer Cavan Scott. Scott wrote the first three issues of the series, all three of which were standouts of their own. Here, Scott returns to wrap up the series and adds deep emotional levity to the final issue.
Per Yoda‘s reveal in the last issue, Obi-Wan is on Dagobah trying to talk to him, but Yoda is more than unwilling to talk. Yoda doesn’t want to speak with him as he tries to avoid an important topic. But Obi-Wan’s persistence eventually wears him down, and both happen to walk upon the infamous cave from The Empire Strikes Back. Obi-Wan encourages Yoda to go through the cave and finally confront what’s bothering him.
The Yoda comic series has always been a meditative book, featuring profound lessons. Each issue is melancholic and stirring, with memorable side characters that serve as vessels for life lessons. In issues 4-9, the stories centered on Yoda’s “failures.” Those stories helped to show him as feeling fractured and despondent. It’s a feeling that has stuck with him ever since Revenge of the Sith and almost inexplicably disappeared by the time of The Empire Strikes Back.
But with issue #10, we see how Yoda found joy again in his life. I won’t spoil what Yoda sees within the cave, but for those that stuck with the series, they’ll be greatly rewarded.
I’ll also mention that the art in this issue is strong. The line-work on Yoda and Obi-Wan is plentiful, helping to accentuate the age on their faces. And each of the creatures and visions that Yoda sees in the cave is highly detailed and hauntingly composed. There is some very dark and foreboding imagery that helps to show that Yoda is in a dark place mentally.
All in all, however, Yoda issue #10 is a masterpiece as Yoda remembers an important lesson. While some issues in the series don’t hit it out of the park, its batting average is over .500, and the final issue makes collecting the previous issues all the more worth it. It’s a true triumph for the character and the creators of the series.
Score: 10/10
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.
