Star Wars

• Title: Star Wars #11
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Brian Wood
• Artist: Carlos D’Anda

Although Han and Chewie are still off on their own trying to procure weapons for the Rebellion, most of the other individual storylines converge as the Star Destroyer Devastator catches up to the Rebel Fleet.

Leia returns just as the fighting begins, and Luke and Wedge aren’t far behind flying T.I.E. Interceptors as part of the squadron attacking the Rebel’s carriers and supply ships. With some nifty flying and a bit of luck the pair manage to make it on-board without any of their friends accidentally killing them. The real surprise, however, is the other Imperial T.I.E. Fighter Pilot who surrenders to the Rebels who turns their almost sure defeat into news of disaster that will enrage Darth Vader to ignore his orders to oversee the Second Death Star and continue his search for young Skywalker.

Fans of space battles, X-Wings, and Interceptors should enjoy this issue as much of it has to deal with in space that our main characters (not surprisingly) manage to survive. With all but Han Solo’s story wrapping up it will be interesting to see what direction the series takes from here. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $2.99]

• Title: Star Wars #10
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Brian Wood
• Artist: Carlos D’Anda

The latest issue of Star Wars touches on all the ongoing stories and Leia comes face-to-face with the man who handed the Empire the weapons which destroyed her homeworld, Han and Chewbacca narrowly escape the clutches of Boba Fett while finally getting out of Coruscant, and Luke and Wedge buy time while preparing their escape from the Devastator after successfully finishing their mission.

In the bowels of the Star Destroyer, Luke and Wedge share a nice moment discussing the still painful losses at the Battle of Yavin and Luke’s not-so-secret relationship with Prithi. The sequence works in reinforcing the time of the current series as well as the emphasizing the losses the Rebellion suffered during their greatest victory.

Prithi may not be able to wait long enough to help her friends escape, but her quick thinking alerts the Rebel Fleet to the impending Imperial attack led by the overconfident Bircher which just may be the key to reuniting the two pilots with their friends. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $2.99]

• Title: Star Wars #9
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Brian Wood
• Artist: Carlos D’Anda

Although we get glimpses of Han and Chewie‘s continued escape from Coruscant and Luke and Wedge fighting off barrage of Stormtroopers while searching for answers on-board the Star Destroyer Devastator (which attracts the attention of a certain Dark Lord of the Sith), most of Star Wars #9 focuses on what Leia finds in the shattered remains of her homeworld aboard a ship hidden in the asteroid field of what once was Alderaan.

After realizing just who the collector of the remaining vestiges of Alderaan truly is, and what he’s responsible for, Leia is left at an impasse as to what do with the shell of the man whose expertise allowed the destruction of her world.

Making Tag Ragaren a sympathetic character is a nice twist for the issue, although I could have done with a little less of Leia’s tale and more of an equal focus on Luke slicing through Stormtroopers with his lightsaber and Han and Chewie continuing to try and evade a some very persistent bounty hunters and make it off the Imperial homeworld in one piece. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $2.99]

• Title: Star Wars #8
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Brian Wood
• Artist: Carlos D’Anda

As Luke and Wedge put themselves in danger by allowing themselves to be taken prisoner aboard the Star Destroyer Devastator (before escaping to go in search of the Empire’s spy inside the Rebel Alliance), Han and Chewie try to get themselves out of danger on Coruscant by separating and dealing with the pair of bounty hunters on their trail.

Aboard the Falcon, Chewie must deal with Bossk, while Han and the friendly local smuggler try to get the most out of their junk freighter and stay one step ahead of the deadliest bounty hunter in the galaxy – Boba Fett. Meanwhile Leia has snuck away from the fleet to fulfill her other objective and find a new home base for the Rebellion which takes her closest enough to stop at the ruins of Alderaan and make a surprising discovery of an old Clone War battleship hiding inside the asteroid field.

Star Wars #8 gives us separate stories involving all three of the big name characters as well offering readers appearances by Bossk, Boba Fett, and Darth Vader. Fans should feel right at home. Worth a look.

[Dark Horse, $2.99]