– Spoiler Review –
Allegiance #3 speeds right into what is sure to be a big, explosive finale over the waters of Mon Cala.
In my review for issue #2 last week, I expressed my disappointment regarding how the First Order’s incoming presence would likely force the Mon Cala’s hands in joining the Resistance’s aid, ending any potential for the Quarren/Mon Calamari to debate it out. Thankfully, Allegiance #3 makes me feel a little better about how this miniseries is handling things, as they do get to have some proper debates and the Resistance tries it the Mon Cala way before any hands are forced. Restless Rey, noticing the debate isn’t going anywhere after the attacking Quarren warriors at the end of last issue set them up, hears trial by combat and eagerly takes the chance to speed things up. In a nod to how this isn’t just a comic trilogy about the Mon Cala joining the fight, the Quarren Rey challenges pits her against one of the Separatist droids used to attack Mon Cala into submission back in the Clone Wars. Rey, still not on top of her Force game, struggles in the battle, though gets a few good licks in before the machine’s attacks get innocent bystanders in the way and Rey attempts to save them instead. Rose comes in clutch, showing off some savage aim with a single shot downing the droid (due to Rey exposing a weakness), but her interference voids the contest and banishes the Resistance from the planet. Since I’m now appeased, a Quarren sneaking a bomb onto the platform the Leia, Rey, Rose, Chewie, and Threepio are leaving on, ending the issue on an epic explosion and the news the First Order armada is on its way, was a rather exciting development. I struggle to comprehend how this will all wrap up in a single issue, coherently and not feeling rushed as the series already is, but since I misjudged this series before, maybe they will find a way to do the coming battle justice.
Over in Finn and Poe’s mission, the fun and humor continues, with Poe doubting his friend’s plans and Finn running into some rather large setbacks. Retained from the films is the friendship/banter of Finn and Poe, and enjoy Poe just hoping his buddy is successful in his distracting tactics while he loads the weapons cache. Finn charges into several scrapes to buy his friend time, as there’s a cool battle with shapeshifter Remex, who turns into both a Lasat (!) and Wookiee to beat him up, and then he comes face to face with hulking Aqualish brute, Wooro. Finn’s misguided optimism is on full display here, as he tries to act valiantly but runs away when he realizes it’ll take more than fists to beat the brute, leading him to the rusted old snowspeeder we saw last issue. Like Luke Skywalker before him, taking the harpoon gun, Finn downs an enemy far larger than he…but gets himself knocked out in the process due to the harpoons recoil! I had a good, hearty laugh at that, and with Finn down, the Stormpilot shippers better be prepared for next week, as you can bet Poe is going to swoop in to save his boo; plan your week accordingly.
Like the battle between Rey and the trash-monster, Luke Ross (art) and Lee Loughridge (colors) are at it again with plenty of the action sequences this issue. Rey battling the old Separatist war droid or Finn getting knocked around by the shapeshifter Remex are delightful, fluid scenes, while the ending panel of Rose over the droid’s still smoking eye feeling appropriately heroic or the double knock out plan from the end of Finn’s battle with Wooro provided extra humor to the moment. There were plenty of other great panels, but Ross and Loughridge went big in the final one, making the bomb sure feel overwhelmingly impossible for our heroes to survive.
Here are a few other things:
- Last week, it seemed more than likely we’d see Aftab Ackbar in The Rise of Skywalker, and after this Monday’s final, and rather epic trailer for the film, you can clearly see him in a scene!
- The crawl states that Finn and Poe are separated after the initial attack by the Kendoh gang last issue, but they clearly weren’t and start off the issue together and then get separated. I would’ve understood if the line was meant to move their storyline along off-panel due to their only be 4 issues for the series, but since that’s not the case, I wonder why it was worded this way.
- Since Kylo Ren and the First Order are so important to the conflict, it’s sure odd they aren’t in more of this series, though it’s a transparent problem by only going 4 issues for Allegiance.
- You can already see the immediate aftermath of the explosion in the official site’s preview of Allegiance #4. Scrolling past it also nets you a sneak peek of Doctor Aphra Annual #3, an issue I’m particular excited for!
Allegiance #3 alleviates some of my concerns, though not all, and sets up quite the battle for the final issue, due next week!
+ Restless Rey pushing things along/Rose with the save
+ More Finn and Poe shenanigans, especially Finn punching above his weight
– Concerns over ultimate ending feeling earned
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website @MynockManor.
ALLEGIANCE
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