Review: Takashi Okazaki Kills It in His ‘Star Wars: Visions’ Comic
Star Wars: Visions is one of my favorite projects going on in Star Wars. It’s the perfect playground for artists and creators to bring their spin to the universe. And now, the animated property is making its way into comics and manga to resounding success. Star Wars: Visions – Peach Momoko was an absolutely gorgeous comic that left me breathless.
And now, in Star Wars: Visions – Takashi Okazaki, the comic brings to life a wonderful samurai epic. Gorgeous, meditative, and visually stunning, this comic is a must-buy. These Star Wars: Visions comics will surely be wonderful, sought-after collectibles in the near future.
Spoilers below…
Much like Peach Momoko’s Visions comic, Marvel hands over full creative control to Takashi Okazaki. He serves as both writer and artist on this story.
This issue is a prequel to the first episode of Star Wars: Visions. It tells the story of how the Sith Ronin met his droid companion. However, it’s told in a bit of an unorthodox way. The sequence of events is a bit jumbled. The story jumps back and forth between present events and past flashbacks. Not only that, but the main focus is not on the Ronin, but on the swordsman he’s hunting down.
It’s an interesting setup. Some are going to like it. Some are going to wish it was told in the more traditional, chronological order. Personally, I’m not a fan of this form of storytelling, but I appreciate the uniqueness of it. Really, where the story excels is in the tone and the atmosphere. Much like the Akira Kurosawa films that inspired the original episode, the story is all about minor details, environments, and the swift and intentional hits of the samurai. I would’ve also liked a few more Star Wars attributes to help it feel a little more connected to Star Wars (maybe the inclusion of Force abilities), but I also respect the integrity to keep it more along the lines of a classic samurai tale.
The real draw of the comic is in the art. Here, Okazaki has some amazing two-page spreads. The digital examples provided are not enough. If you can, grab a physical copy and hold it up closely. The artwork is painstakingly detailed, with gorgeous linework and great layouts.
Nitpicks aside, Star Wars: Visions – Takashi Okazaki is one comic fans won’t want to miss. I’m absolutely glad that Marvel is letting these talented individuals come in and contribute to Star Wars. Let’s hope that these collaborations continue because these are real feasts for the eyes.
Score: 9/10
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.
