Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larroca are back with the next installment in the Darth Vader as the book takes its turn as a political maneuvering story. Or rather, it’s a story with political maneuvering and a wrench called Vader in the middle. Despite his history with Shu-Torun and Queen Trios, Vader doesn’t really care about the planet and its unique political system. He’s more concerned with making sure it remains loyal to the Empire and that he gets the job done. Everyone is working around him towards their own goals with varying levels of success.
Category Archives: Reviews
Review: Kanan #11
Today… today is a big day. So let’s start by me providing you with a soundtrack and then we’ll start the last ever gif review for the ever amazing Kanan comic by Greg Weisman and Pepe Larraz.
Let’s do this. Continue reading
Rebels Review: Homecoming
Rebels this week was kind of perfect. Actually, I feel pretty comfortable saying that this was by far my favorite episode since the show started up again in October. When it becomes clear that Hera’s Phoenix Squadron needs an Imperial carrier, she’s forced to contact her estranged father Cham Syndulla and ask for his help. Things, however, don’t exactly go as planned. (This is Star Wars. When do things ever go as planned?)
Wings of the Master was great but this was the Hera episode I’ve been waiting for since I read A New Dawn. We finally get those missing pieces of her backstory that, when put together with the rest of Rebels and the books, help us really understand who she is. This is her time to shine. Honestly, the only thing that could have made this episode more perfect is if we’d finally gotten to see our Space Married favorites kiss on screen and what we got was almost just as good. Obviously this episode is a great Hera spotlight but we also get to see a completely different side of Kanan as he both fanboys over the great General Syndulla and is totally nervous about meeting Hera’s father and making a good impression. (I’m with you, FPJ. They very obviously have feelings for one another.) They’re Space Married. So. Freaking. Space Married.
But back to Hera. While one could argue that it’s the culmination of everything we’ve seen so far, Homecoming gave us so much about Hera Syndulla that made her feel like a real person with flaws to balance her strengths. Homecoming (with an assist from last week’s Space Whale episode) helps take her further out of the occasionally restrictive Space Mom trope and really let her shine as her own person. Homecoming defines Hera in her own terms and not by her relations to other people on the Ghost or by her strained relationship with her father.
It’s impossible to discuss this episode without giving Vanessa Marshall all of the applause. Hera had been relatively unique in that she spoke with an American accent instead of the usual French one that most of the twi’leks have. Turns out there was a very good story reason for that and fans got to hear her slide back into a French accent during a very heated argument with her father. It’s something that undoubtedly rings true with a lot of fans, myself included. Intense emotions and family have a way of making even the most practiced person slip back into the vocal tendencies of their youth. Marshall’s performance, especially in that scene, was flawless.
Another part of what really made this episode so strong was that it featured the entire crew. This has been a show that has reinforced the importance of found family and it tends to be at its best when it consistently shows them working together even when one character takes the spotlight for a little bit. Even though this was clearly Hera’s time, Ezra, Sabine, and Zeb still had their little moments. No one was forgotten or conveniently written into a coma.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go watch this episode another twenty times and hope that maybe this time, Hera and Kanan will actually kiss. #SpaceMarried
Review: Star Wars #16
It feels like it’s been ages since we last saw our heroes so Star Wars #16 by Jason Aaron and Leinil Yu is a welcome return to the Rebel Alliance. While Han and Luke are off making poor life decisions with the Rebellion’s money, the ladies have far more pressing matters at hand.
How great is it that Sana Starros isn’t just a one-arc character but is instead returning in this issue? Actually, how great is it period that the majority of this issue revolves around Leia, Sana, and Aphra? The Han and Luke parts are fine but I could have been perfectly happy with an issue or even an entire arc focused just on the women. Unsurprisingly, Aphra is not going quietly into the night even though she’s been captured. While I continue to be very concerned about her safety and continued living (looking at you, Darth Vader,) I love that this issue shows that she hasn’t lost any of her fire. Leia has an interesting line about how the Empire will scour the galaxy for her which may seem innocuous but shows how much the Rebels don’t know about Aphra and Vader’s side project.
Speaking of Leia, the interactions between her and Sana build wonderfully upon when we last saw them on Nar Shaddaa. They may not be friends but they can work together towards a common goal and really not give a crap about Han Solo. In fact, it’s rather refreshing that he never really even comes up in their conversation. At the same time, it’s going to be interesting to watch and see where her story goes. Will she also go for being in it for the money to actually actively supporting the Rebellion or will the payday always be her driving force?
Both on-goings are moving along nicely from the aftermath of Vader Down and Star Wars #16 definitely gets a recommendation from me.
Rebels Review: The Call
The Call introduces the new best creatures to inhabit the GFFA: the Purrgil, strange space whale-cephalopods that interrupt the Ghost crew’s mission to steal fuel that is meant for the Empire, fuel that is desperately needed.
Low on fuel, Hera is forced to redirect any non-essential systems, including heat and the lights. This gives the ship a very enclosed and almost claustrophobic atmosphere throughout the episode, as well as some pretty high stakes: they fail this mission, and the Ghost may never leave the ground again. The entire episode is quite dark aesthetically, not being set on any planets, but the overall tone is of hope and wonder.
Something that Rebels can do well—and The Clone Wars did well—is expand the universe in more mystical ways because of the animated medium. The Call shows how this can be done well, developing the ancient mythology of Star Wars through the Purrgil and their connection to hyperspace travel and the origin of hyperdrives. Star Wars has such an old galaxy that spans a few millennia, that any glimpses into the way things came to be are always quite interesting and refreshing.
Not only does this episode expand on the lore of the universe, but it also broadens Ezra’s understanding of the Force and of his abilities, showing how much he has changed and grown since Rebels first began. No longer is he the bitter, selfish child on Lothal, but a calm, compassionate boy who has a deepening connection with nature and others around him, a connection that even Kanan doesn’t seem to have.
There’s something almost beautiful about seeing the way Ezra interacts with the Purrgil, and especially so when he finally understands what they’re doing. While the others are quick to either dismiss the Purrgil or consider them a threat, he wants to learn what causes them to act as they do and help them with their distress.
Hera and Ezra have rather subtle development in this episode, though Ezra’s is more obvious. Over the course of The Call, Hera seems to gain the sense of wonder that Ezra has to begin with, a kind of childlike curiosity at the mysteries of the world. Vanessa Marshall’s acting is, as always, amazing. Kanan, for some reason, seems even snarkier than usual, though he still stops to let Ezra explain himself.
The whole crew has grown a lot since the beginning, and it’s clearer in each episode how much they’ve learned to help each other. They banter, but they plainly care for each other, which is one of the strengths of the show. Though an episode not based around their ensemble so much, The Call still shows this in little ways.
Filled with great visuals and absolutely stunning shots, The Call is largely a mystical episode that ends on good feelings—something that is likely needed during this time in the season. Though it may not be a plot-heavy episode, it’s a gorgeous one that is a welcome moment of peace before the storm the rest of the season is bound to be. The Purrgil are a great addition to the GFFA, and this episode will probably make a good standalone in the same way many of the lore-expanding episodes of The Clone Wars did.
I am personally keen to see how Ezra develops further over the rest of the season, as The Call has definitely shown him as a wiser character than he once was. He’s a good kid, and he’s only getting better.
Review: Darth Vader #16
Have we all recovered from Vader Down yet? No? It’s okay, me neither. This week, Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larroca take us on a brand new adventure to the planet Shu-Torun where the ore barons are rebelling and being very inconvenient for the Empire. Who else would the Emperor dispatch to deal with the situation but Darth Vader?
While it’s probably not completely mandatory, I strongly suggest picking up and reading the Darth Vader Annual before delving into this arc as it provides all of the backstory. The dynamics between Vader and Queen Trios are what really make this issue stand out to me. In a way, it’s like a mirror to the dynamic between Vader and Palpatine in that you have an individual who is used to having power and to having their orders obeyed who is then faced with a stronger individual that they must defer to. I’m curious to see how far it’s taken and how far Trios and Vader can push each other before one of them snaps.
The shift from Skywalkers to royalty is certainly a welcome one at this point in the series. It’s a nice change of pace in the book’s second year before that storyline became stale. Plus, Shu-Torun also gives the creative team a chance to expand the universe and create another monarchy for a particular brand of Star Wars nerd to geek out of.
Of course, this review wouldn’t be complete without expressing A LOT OF CONCERN IN REGARDS TO THE SAFETY AND WELL BEING OF DOCTOR APHRA. (I’ve got my eye on you, Gillen. I’ve read too many of your comics to think she’s safe!)
Oh and also? The cover of this issue by Mark Brooks along with the one teased at the end of the issue is drop death gorgeous.
Darth Vader #16 is a worthwhile follow up to Vader Down and I’m excited to see where the story goes!
Rebels Review: Legends of the Lasat
This week on Star Wars Rebels, we finally got some backstory about our favorite grouchy muscle guy on the Ghost, Garazeb Orrelios. We also got a return of fan-favorite scoundrel with indeterminate loyalties, Hondo Ohnaka!
“Legends of the Lasat” features the crew’s mission to rescue two refugees, who turn out to be Lasat, aka Zeb’s species. Only thing is, Zeb thought he was the last of his species. So why isn’t he overjoyed to see more of his people still alive?
Turns out the two Lasats are kind of wacky, and you can’t fault Zeb for thinking they’re kind of crazy. They want Zeb’s help finding their new homeworld. Zeb hesitates at first; then the other Lasats defer to him as part of the honor guard, and refer to him as captain. That made me sit back and go, “aw, Zeb, you’re important!” I really need to know more about his history.
In the end Zeb uses his apparently magical bowrifle to send the Ghost into a sea of black holes to find the new home of the Lasat. Yes, you read that correctly: a sea of black holes. This is definitely one of those stories that puts Star Wars firmly in the “space fantasy” genre.
There’s a lot of mysticism in this episode, which can sometimes (*cough* Mortis *cough*) make me roll my eyes, but here it didn’t bother me. I like the idea of people other than the Jedi and Force users being spiritual and respecting the Force. To go along with the mysticism, the Rebels team really overdid itself with the episode’s visuals. The scene of the Ghost approaching the cluster of black holes was absolutely gorgeous (and I’m not the only person who thought of the Maw at first glance, right?). I’ll never grow tired of seeing crazy hyperspace shots, whether it be in Rebels or in The Force Awakens. And the music…wow, the music was just incredible. Why is that not in my earholes yet?
We got a lot of nice character moments with Zeb in this episode, seeing him as a reluctant hero and then accepting his destiny to help his people find a new home. Turns out that there are already Lasats living on the planet when they arrive, which makes it easier for Zeb to return to the Ghost. He’s already found his new home with Kanan and crew, but he’s more than willing to help other Lasats they may come across find their way to the new homeworld. After all, they have the hyperspace coordinates now and don’t have to black hole diving again! (This also makes me hopeful that, maybe, perhaps Zeb can survive the Galactic Civil War and live in peace afterwards?)
I’m definitely looking forward to seeing more Zeb episodes in the future. He’s a funny character, but with a lot of depth, and Steve Blum plays him wonderfully. I’m also dying to know what happens to Hondo! Last we saw him, he was with the Imperials, having sold out the Ghost crew. Does he get away? Do they kill him? They can’t kill Hondo, despite his questionable loyalties! Inquiring minds need to know what happens, Dave Filoni!
“Legends of the Lasat” was a solid episode, and I hope this trend of character-focused episodes continues into the second half of Season 2.
If you haven’t already, check out Rebels Recon for the best Pablo Hidalgo question yet.
Review: Obi-Wan and Anakin #2
Do you know what would have been a better title for this lovely comic by Charles Soule and Marco Checchetto? “Obi-Wan and Anakin and HOLY CRAP PALPATINE NO!”
After crash-landing on Carnelion IV, Obi-Wan and Anakin find themselves pulled into the middle of an intense battle between the Open and the Closed. It’s not long before it becomes clear that there’s more going on here than either group is letting on. In the past, young Anakin pays a visit to Chancellor Palpatine.
I wish that I could focus my musings on this issue to be more about the Carnelion IV parts but everything Soule is doing with Palpatine is incredible and he’s not even doing that much. Palpatine’s page time in this book is short but a combination of Soule’s writing and Checchetto’s art packs a hell of a punch. There’s a page that got an honest-to-goodness audible reaction from me and that doesn’t happen every week with comic books. If Soule wasn’t already lined up to write Poe Dameron after this, I’d be clamoring for a Palpatine book from him.
That’s not to say that the main story isn’t good. I’m curious to see both where it goes and who exactly sent the distress call. There’s also clearly a ton of history between the two people that could likely make for a fascinating tale all on its own. It’s also fun getting to see Master and Padwan work together but also have their moments to shine.
The best compliment that I can pay this comic so far is that it’s not quite what I expected but it’s definitely something that has me impatiently waiting for more every time I finish an issue and if that’s not a solid recommendation from me, I don’t know what is.
Review: Kanan #10
What time is it? Kanan comic time! Get excited because it’s time for another gif review of Kanan #10 by Greg Weisman and Pepe Larraz!
(I’d like you to note how many of these fine gentlemen are also rocking the sweet Kanan ponytail.)
Rebels Review: A Princess on Lothal
Here comes the General! No wait, that’s not quite right… here comes the Senatorial Aide-Princess of Alderaan! This week, Rebels finally brought in the one character I’ve been hoping for since the show was first announced? How’d they do? Not too shabby.
The Rebels and the people of Lothal need help and Bail Organa is hardly one to turn a blind eye so he sends his daughter to the planet with three ships. One problem: the Ghost’s crew has to make it look like they’re stealing the ships so no one can suggest that Alderaan is aiding the Rebels. They’re going to have to come up with a really good plan to pull this heist off even with a Princess on the inside.
It’s impossible to discuss the episode and not talk about Leia first. I love that we got to see her in the show and that it didn’t feel forced. Like many have said, she’s the easiest film character to fit into this storyline without making it feel like a stunt casting. However, I was left wanting far more from her by the end. This is the story I want to hear more about because this is a 15-year-old girl who routinely leads these sorts of missions and faces down Imperial officers like it’s nothing. That said, I wish this had been a higher profile mission and not something that felt like a tool for convincing the Governor to come out of his exile and join the Rebellion. It also seemed a little odd that not a single one of the crew reacted to her title. Obviously I want the core crew of the Ghost to stay the stars of the show but I think we could’ve seen more of her interact with the crew in a bigger story and it’s too bad this is the only time we get to see her this season.
The episode did give us a lot of fun chances to compare and contrast Leia and Ezra. They’re the same age and yet their maturity levels couldn’t be more different. They may both be talented with the Force but they approach problems very different ways. There was an especially nice moment with them where he asks why she helps the Rebellion and her answer is a textbook perfect example of using privilege to the advantage of others.
I do have to note that this episode did two things very well. First is the score. Kevin Kiner always does a good job but he especially knocked it out of the park during the final battle scenes. Second is that this was an episode which really showed the crew as a team. While Ezra and Kanan still got a bit more screen times, the entire crew had to contribute in a meaningful way to their victory. It’s something that the second season has been sorely lacking in many episodes this season and I hope we continue to see more of it.
A Princess on Lothal was a fun an enjoyable episode but ultimately one that could have been a far better showcase for Princess Leia Organa.