The fourth issue in the six-issue mini-series is action-heavy as the bounty hunters struggle to make good use of the small window in which before Imperial reinforcements can arrive. There are also some quick flashbacks to pasts of the various members that help fill out the issue but don’t necessarily add much to the current plot. Despite getting most of his compatriots killed, Valance’s plan did prove to have an outside chance at succeeding… although getting betrayed by a member of his team certainly didn’t help his chances.
While, in theory, I’m all for more tales involving Luke Skywalker and Rey, the events of The Last Jedi don’t allow much leeway or time for any such stories to take place. What writer Cavan Scott attempts to do is shoehorn a story during the small period of time after Luke has agreed to train Rey but before she has discovered the Jedi Master has cut himself off from the Force and she leaves to return to the fleet.
The story itself isn’t bad, and offers a fun panel of Chewbacca dealing with the unexpected consequences of Rey unleashing the Force, but there’s only so much that can be done in such a short period of time. And the art by Derek Charm doesn’t do Mark Hamill any favors. (I hear the comic adds 30 lbs.) Still, the comic does offer a fun cover featuring Rey.
The most interesting aspect of the first issue of the new Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order – Dark Temple are the first few pages as we see an Inquisitor arrive on the Battlefield. Sent by the Emperor, Second Sister discovers a group of Stormtroopers in a bunker fighting the last hold out of the locals, unable to move forward, and frightened of a legend growing in their midst that a Jedi exists on the other side.
From there the comic drops back into extended flashbacks for the remainder of the issue introducing us to the calm Jedi Master Eno Cordova and his impulsive Padawan Cere Junda (who nearly ruins a peaceful negotiations in an unrelated story that introduces the pair). When a temple is discovered on the planet Ontotho, the Jedi are sent to investigate.
Here’s our first look at the new streaming series The Mandalorian which will follow a lone Mandalorian gunfighter (Pedro Pascal) after the events of The Return of the Jedi and before the emergence of the First Order. The show will premiere on Disney+ on November 12th.
The main story of Star Wars Adventures #23 takes place after the Battle of Endor and the destruction of the second Death Star. Wanting to spend a bit more time piloting the Millennium Falcon, and give Han and Leia some privacy, Lando persuades Chewbacca (who doesn’t want to watch Han and Leia get all lovey dovey) into another mission. Being Lando, however, he fails to adequately explain the risks before getting the pair into trouble.
Looking for information about pirates hitting Rebel supply lines sends the pair into a Battle Race where they don’t fair too well against the other competitors (at least until a Star Destroyer shows up to rally the other racers to Lando’s side and fight off a remnant of the Empire). The story is goofy fun, and has the added bonus of working in a character from the prequels as well.
The bounty hunters led by Beilert Valance have successfully cut off Darth Vader from the rest of the Imperial forces and driven him into a trap on Heva. However, the group will soon learn that cornering a Dark Lord of the Sith and killing him are two very different matters. Be careful what you wish for.
