Review: ‘Hyperspace Stories’ #10 – The Bad Batch Shine in Their Comic Debut
The Bad Batch has quickly become a fan-favorite in Star Wars. Since their debut in 2020, Clone Force 99 has won the hearts of many. Whether it be because of the sibling camaraderie, the eccentric personalities of each member, or the fun action that comes with the squad, the Bad Batch has a great amount of charm. Thankfully, all of these qualities translate well into the squad’s comic debut.
Hyperspace Stories #10 is the Bad Batch’s first appearance in Star Wars comics. Each issue of Hyperspace Stories spotlights a different set of characters in the series. And for this month, it’s the Bad Batch’s turn. One’s enjoyment of Hyperspace Stories is going to vary depending on how much they love the featured characters. But for fans of the Bad Batch, there’s a lot to enjoy in issue #10.
The basic premise is simple and clever. The comic takes place before The Bad Batch series and centers on the four original members: Hunter, Wrecker, Tech, and Crosshair. The four of them come up against the droid army’s version of the Bad Batch. A mad scientist has devised his makeshift platoon of experimental droids that he wants to test on the Bad Batch.
Each of the members shines in Hyperspace Stories #10. There are plenty of moments where the squad members display each of their key characteristics. Wrecker gets to cause a lot of destruction, but also displays his soft, childlike behavior. Crosshair’s cold voice comes through clearly, but he also gets to show off his sharpshooting accuracy, and so forth.
But it’s also very short. Coming in at about 20 pages of original content (not counting recaps or promotional materials), the plot has to move quickly. Because of this, the writing and dialogue moves along at a breakneck pace. There are a few key moments where I wish a panel or two were added just so that it could explain some decisions, or add visual clarity, and it’s the one gripe I have.
Speaking of the visuals, it’s worth highlighting Riccardo Faccini’s art. His penciling may not be “clean,” but rather, it’s more sketch-like. His art style really matches the Bad Batch, giving it a cartoony and frenetic feeling that suits the characters. And props to colorist Nicola Righi as well. Each page pops with color and gives Clone Force 99 a nice aesthetic that’s great for comics, and reminiscent of beautiful imagery in the show.
Hyperspace Stories #10 perfectly encapsulates what makes the Bad Batch so much fun. Each member gets a good amount of time in the spotlight. The art is colorful and joyful, emphasizing the childlike and lighthearted nature of the squad. Fans of the series will probably get a lot of enjoyment from this issue. Hopefully, the Bad Batch will get their own comic series sometime very soon.
Score: 8/10
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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.
