This is it. This is the issue we’ve been dreading since this time last month. Kanan: The Last Padawan #2 by Greg Weisman and Pepe Larraz hits comic stores today. It’s the follow up to an issue that had all of us still talking at Celebration so how does this latest issue hold up?

When the final page of the previous issue contains the words ‘Execute Order 66,’ it’s not hard to correctly predict what will happen in the next issue and nor can it really be considered a spoiler if you’ve been watching Rebels or perhaps seen a little film called Revenge of the Sith. It’s a dark day on Kaller and it’s hard to not have your heart break a little as Caleb Dume has his entire life ripped away from him in mere minutes.

The thing about this issue though is that it moves fast. There’s no wasted time before the clonetroopers carry out their orders or before Depa protects her padawan or before Caleb is all on his own without a clue what to do. Because of the pacing, there’s heartbreak but neither the reader nor Caleb have a chance to mourn. It’s a great writing choice by Weisman and I look forward to the eventual issue when Caleb does have a long enough moment to breath and then really take in everything that’s happened and truly mourn.

What will break your heart is how Pepe Larraz draws Caleb with that adorable puppy face that you just want to smush and then stand up beside Depa and protect. Basically, it’s not fair. That said, I’ve got nothing but good things to say about the artwork in this book. Larraz has a fun, expressive style that’s a great fit for this book.

Kanan #2 gets a 4/5 from me this week along with a strong recommendation that you read this book.