Review: ‘The Mandalorian Season 2’ #3 Provides An Okay Adaptation of Bo-Katan’s Introduction
When it comes to The Mandalorian comic adaptation, I’ve been particularly critical of it in the past. In my review of The Mandalorian Season 2 issue #1, I got on it for its unremarkable art and story that simply works better as a television episode. However, that doesn’t mean the series as a whole doesn’t have good moments. Issue #2 proves this. That issue got a much higher rating from our staff as the comic improved on the original episode.
Credit where credit is due, The Mandalorian Season 2 issue #3 is a fine adaptation. There’s nothing glaringly wrong with the comic. It has some great scenes that are well-adapted to the medium. While the overall quality is higher in this issue, there are still some parts of it I wasn’t a big fan of.
Issue #3 adapts the episode where Din Djarin meets Bo-Katan Kryze for the first time. It’s a great episode in the show as it combines some high-octane action mixed with interesting character revelations that move the plot forward.
Unfortunately, the dialogue-heavy moments of the episode don’t translate well to the page. Much of the pacing, subtlety, and facial expressions that create compelling dialogue are lost in translation. To be fair, I think creating compelling dialogue in comics is very difficult. Comic stories often work best when they’re told through actions, not words. And so here is another case where the show works better than the comic.
However, the action moments are executed very well, and it’s here that the adaptation works. I’ve said it before, but this is where the art looks its best. Artist Georges Jeanty does have a knack for capturing the flow of action and putting the right emphasis on the right moments. And it’s the same here. I only wish the script gave Jeanty more action so that he had a better opportunity to shine.
The writing and the plot follow the same beats as the show, so those who’ve seen the show know what to expect. I just wish that writer Rodney Barnes was able to change the script a little to give Jeanty more action moments, which is where Jeanty excels. But as it is, The Mandalorian Season 2 issue #3 is only an okay adaptation that works great during action sequences, but not so much during important dialogue sequences.
Score: 5/10
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.
