By Darko Macan & various (Dark Horse/TitanBooks)
ISBN 1-84023-274-9
There’s nothing to keep the fans hopping like a popular licensed property that co-ordinates its various side-ventures. Still, I suppose it shows that the owners have faith in the fidelity of their fan base. Here’s good example that – luckily for us – still manages to be an excellent example of comic book magic.
In the Star Wars novel (all words, no pictures or sound effects!) Vector Prime, Chewbacca the Wookie was killed. This caused ructions throughout the extended Star Wars community. And unlike comic-books where death is seldom final, the big hairy galoot stayed dead. So Dark Horse were able to produce a delightful four issue miniseries that featured many talented artists illustrating short episodes from the hirsute hero’s life, under the plot device of a memorial tribute with the people who knew him contributing their thoughts and favoured memories.
Despite its downbeat approach the concept is powerfully effective and this collection is a warm and evocative delight. Darko Macan blends loss, heroism, wit, humour and sentiment in a telling way. The art from Brent Anderson & Willie Blyberg, Igor Kordey, Jan Duursema, Dave Gibbons, Dusty Abell & Jim Royal, John Nadeau & Jordi Ensign, Martin Egeland, Kilian Plunkett and Rafael Kayanan although disconcertingly varied in style is uniformly gripping and effective.
All too often these books are about the winning and losing. It’s genuinely nice to see so readable a tale about being left behind.
Star Wars © 2001, 2007 Lucasfilm Ltd. & ™. All Rights Reserved.