Now Read This!

 

By various (Dark Horse Books)
ISBN 1-84576-029-8

This volume of the series, set during the time frame of the original triptych of film blockbusters, shines its spotlight on Princess Leia Organa, with four tales set at key points of her Rebellious life.

Set just before the opening of the original movie, ‘Princess… Warrior’ (reprinted from issues #5-6 of the Star Wars: Empire comic book) tells of the tragic events that stem from her half-hearted attempts to aid the Rebellion, and how she learns the hard tasks and responsibilities that leadership demands. Randy Stradley adapts Brian Daley’s radio script, with art from Davidé Fabri and Christian Dalla Vecchia.

‘A Little Piece of Home’ by Ron Marz and Tomás Giorello (issues #20-21) follows Leia’s search for a new Rebel sanctuary to the palatial planetoid preserve of an past boy-friend and where old feelings are rekindled. As so often before grim reality once again intrudes with heartbreak and disappointment the only rewards.

Issue #22 originally provided ‘Alone Together’ as Han Solo’s latest flirtation provides character insights into the nature of her perceived rival for the Correllian’s affections. When Deena Shan, Leia, Chewbacca and Solo are trapped on a world with a deadly monster her rivalry turns into something more positive in this fluffy change of pace tale from Welles Hartley, captivatingly pictured by Adriana Melo.

Star Wars: A Valentine Story was the original venue for ‘Breaking the Ice’ a sadly lacklustre offering from the usually excellent Judd Winick and Paul Chadwick. Set immediately before the Rebels moved to the Ice planet Hoth (The Empire Strikes Back) it depicts the gradual warming of the frosty relationship of the arrogant and insufferable Han Solo and the haughty and controlling Princess.

Although not a great issue by the impressively high standard of the franchise, this book is still a readable and pretty package foe readers and fans of al ages and persuasions.

Star Wars © 2005 Lucasfilm Ltd. & ™. All Rights Reserved.

 

By Scott Allie, Ryan Benjamin & Curtis Arnold (Dark Horse Books)
ISBN 1-84023-655-8

This intriguing series concentrates on tales of the Star Wars universe told from the perspective of the evil Rulers rather than the heroic resistance. In this first collection (issue #1-4 of the monthly comic), set in the weeks just prior to the events of the film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, betrayal is in the air.

As the Empire’s greatest weapon nears completion, Darth Vader is dispatched to the galactic hinterlands in pursuit of an apparent survivor of the massacre of the Jedis, unaware that a different kind of revolt is brewing at home. An unhappy collection of generals have decided to assassinate the Emperor, and their plan seems perfect.

As their machinations proceed and Vader is diverted to the Death Star to oversee the final arrangements, the creators of this volume manage the nigh impossible task of instilling a sense of tension, despite the sure and certain knowledge we all share that this plan simply can’t succeed because it didn’t.

How the plan fails is a good strong yarn, with a chance to see the charismatic Vader at his scene-stealing best, and the close echoes of the plot by his own generals to kill Adolf Hitler lend the fantasy some much appreciated undercurrents which are so often absent from space opera adventuring. Scott Allie’s script is economical and Ryan Benjamin art is open and dynamic, making this a page-turning delight for fan and civilian alike.

© 2004 Lucasfilm Ltd. & ™. All Rights Reserved.

 

By Ryder Windham & Daniel Wallace (Dark Horse Books)
ISBN 1-84576-108-1

Now here is a smart idea. The Star Wars franchise has spawned an awful lot of comic books and this lavish coffee table volume lists them all, both as comic series and in their graphic novel compilation form. Stuffed with illustrations and usefully categorised by the continuity’s main narrative eras (from 25,000 years prior to 25 years after the first film – now irrevocably designated Episode IV: A New Hope). There’s also a section for anthologies and Manga editions, lists of all the pertinent information a new reader or Trivial Pursuit nut might ever need from plot summations to creator credits, and even spoiler warnings so you can quench your thirst for information without spoiling the thrill of the eventual read.

Obviously there’s no real attention to the individual quality of the stories, so there’s always the risk that you might not like what you eventually do read, but that’s a risk you take every time you buy a book or comic. At least you’ll have some idea of what to look for in the first place and as the illustrations are taken from the comics themselves you can also get a feel for what the things will look like.

Hopefully this will lead to a plethora of such editions, not just for such media-based Dark Horse managed properties as Aliens, Predator or Robocop, but for the unbelievably convoluted major comics players from other companies. Wouldn’t you like to see an overview of Batman, Spider-Man, Superman or X-Men at a glance?

© 2006 Lucasfilm Ltd. & ™. All Rights Reserved

 

By Various (Dark Horse Books)
ISBN 1-84576-464-1

Boba Fett is called ‘the Galaxy’s Greatest Bounty Hunter’ and I suspect it’s the profession rather than the character that makes this anti-hero so popular with Star Wars aficionados. This collection of his adventures (garnered from the one-shot comics Overkill and Agent of Doom plus issues #7 and #28 of Star Wars: Empire) just highlight what a shallow character he is even by the low standards of the Star Wars franchise. I’m convinced that the key to the success of Lucas’s baby is that very archetypical nature of all the participants and even scenarios.

‘Sacrifice’, by British veterans John Wagner and Cam Kennedy, set just after the destruction of the Death Star, has the faceless killer hired by a planetary Governor to capture the leader of an opposition group stirring dissent in the mines that make up the planet’s only source of income. Obviously, fate conspires to place Fett on the right side by story’s end, and it’s a tribute to the creators’ abilities that such a hackneyed yarn reads quite well. Of greater interest is ‘Wreckage’ by Ron Marz and Adriana Melo where the bounty hunter finds himself outmanoeuvred by an Imperial Admiral during a sabotage mission. Especially impressive is the practically wordless nature of the narrative.

‘Overkill’ by Thomas Andrews and Francisco Ruiz Velasco practically reduces Fett to a supporting role in a battle of political will and family rivalry as an ambitious Imperial officer makes a power-grab on an important refinery world. Cam Kennedy returns to illustrate John Ostrander’s excellent ‘Agent of Doom’ as Fett takes a cut-rate job killing two genocidal slavers in an attempt to reclaim his tarnished reputation (ruined in the wake of his defeat in the film Return of the Jedi).

Boba Fett is by nature a cipher, and his missions pretty much write themselves. There’s lots of action; he never fails; bad guys get punished. So it’s a tribute to the creators that the walk-on characters carry most of the narrative and carry it quite well.

© 2007 Lucasfilm Ltd. & ™. All Rights Reserved.