Canon Comic Review: Poe Dameron Annual #2

– Spoiler Review –

Poe Dameron Annual #2 is the series’ last (for now…) and at least it’s a much better effort than the first, as Jody Houser spins an exciting, fun side-story for Black Squadron that surprises with a few hard tugs at the heartstrings.

Poe Dameron Annual 2 Full — Rod Reis Cover

In the main Poe Dameron series, writer Charles Soule has had Black Squadron sent out on a variety of missions to secure resources, from fuel, positive propaganda, Lor San Tekka, and more, but he never really focused on a credits run. Jody Houser, writing her first original story for Star Wars comics after previously writing the Rogue One and Thrawn adaptations, covers the credit acquisition storyline, and like Soule before her, finds a way to weave in connections to the past, but also hits some emotional beats I wasn’t quite ready for. General Leia, thanks to intel from C-3PO’s droid spy network, has the lowdown on a priceless data archive being sold to the First Order, so she wants Black Squad to acquire it before them, plunder its hidden info, and sell it for a high price to get their organization some funding. At the same time, Han Solo and Chewbacca, back to their old ways following a family tragedy, get caught up in the middle of it because of course the two old smugglers need some credits to pay off some debts.

Houser might not do anything really new to Black Squad, which consists of Poe, Snap Wexly, Jess Pava, and Karé Kun, but she captures the dynamic of the Squad rather well in the pages of Annual #2, and really, why fix what’s not broken? The rest of the Squad doesn’t get as much to do as Poe, but considering how Han and Chewie tie into everything, it’s a bit understandable when you consider this is a single-issue story. There’s a pretty neat appearance from Poe’s now deceased, and sorely missed by us fans, father-figure L’ulo in a flashback sequence where he and Poe exchange some deep sentiments on being pilots. Black Squad is none too pleased they have to use outdated ships to disguise who they are when they go to steal the data archive and Poe shares with them something L’ulo first taught him about flying, “It’s not the ship.” The flashback, consisting of a single page, not only contains that nugget, but also has L’ulo’s sage words on how you can’t pick what the galaxy needs pilots for, though pilots get to choose why they fly, words which tore the hole open in my heart about his passing I didn’t realize wasn’t closed yet (thanks, Houser!). Hotshot pilots like Poe and Han Solo haven’t spent much time thinking about why they fly, just that they can and they’re good at it, and while Poe at least knows it’s for the righteous cause of the Resistance, Han gets a bit of emotional whiplash once an event within this issue causes him to realize he’s not flying for the right reasons anymore (though it doesn’t quite bring him back).

Poe Dameron Annual 2 Shalvey Variant — Declan Shalvey and Triona Farrell Variant Cover

The person holding the data archive for sale is a Kudon named Mek Nu’Tiv, and what she and the Resistance both believe is the First Order trying to buy it is actually Han and Chewie pulling an old scam on her, which Black Squad arrives for just as it all falls apart in the classic Solo way. Thankfully, Black Squad is accustomed to their plans falling apart, so they roll with the punches to see if they can still come out the chaos with the data archive, though they are none-the-wiser to Han’s involvement even up until the end. Han gets to the data archive first and once he sees what’s inside, he flashes back to him and Leia throughout the years, from key moments of the original trilogy to a panel of Han watching Leia holding a baby Ben and thanks for pulling at that heartstring as well, Houser! It’s in that moment he realizes he’s been flying for himself for too long now, instead of what he really cares for, his wife, and decides to forgo the payday and help the Resistance acquire the data archive, silently clearing Poe’s way so he can escape with Black Squad and the data. Han’s always cared, of course, but as we know from The Force Awakens, he won’t truly come back until then.

So what’s in the box that causes Han to instantly think of Leia? I was almost afraid it’d be a whole Pulp Fiction thing where we’d never actually see the contents, but once Poe returns with the box, Leia opens it and reveals its surprising contents: the archive of the Great Library of Alderaan! The archive was smuggled out by Alderaanians due to concerns to Imperial erasure, while Leia reveals it’s a place she and her father, Bail Organa, went when he had some rare free time, giving us another flashback this issue, but this one wins due to its absolutely adorable young Leia! How Leia’s dealt with the grief of losing her entire planet throws Poe off, as she’s willing to sell it to get the credits they need to fight the resurgent evil, knowing her planet is gone and the data can be copied before she sells it anyways. Poe’s like those of us who can’t bring themselves to throw away odd little mementos from our childhood and Leia’s the type of person who’d see if she can sell the mementos before she throws them out to make room for what matters now.

Houser’s ability to connect the past to the “present” sequel-trilogy set story really helps make this issue shine, as it’s a fun adventure on the surface, but how its events effect those involved adds some bittersweet but satisfying emotional hooks to the proceedings; Needless to say, I’m very excited to see what Houser will do with her part of the “Age of…” maxi-series, Age of Republic, this December! On art was Andrea Broccardo (art) and Steffani Renee (colors) and I actually enjoyed the look overall, despite a few creepy face moments where people’s eyes looked like they were bugging out. Broccardo drew the final issue of Kanan, which I quite enjoyed his work there, and also the two Doctor Aphra issues in The Screaming Citadel crossover, but due to his style being so distinctly different than Marco Checchetto and Salvador Larroca’s, who both contributed to TSC, I didn’t like his work there. Now that it stands on its own, it’s easier to look past some of the facial shortcomings, as the rest of the art has a whimsical, but sharp edge to it, and Renee’s colors, while a bit dark, never feel muted.

Lettering fun was provided by Joe Caramagna, with Tom Groneman as Assistant Editor.

Here are a few other things:

I enjoyed both covers for Poe‘s second Annual, but I liked the variant a bit more. Rod Reis has been doing the excellent, uncanny close-ups of characters for the Galactic Icons Variant Covers and his take on Poe here is no exception, but there’s something about Declan Shalvey & Triona Farrell’s variant, from it’s old-timey buzzwords, layout, and similar artwork to Broccardo’s which is really freaking cool. You can see both above.
I liked the look of the Kudon, even if it made me think of Prince John in Disney’s animated Robin Hood (1973) film with the animals (an absolute favorite of mine)…basically a lion with the body of a human, or more like a panther with the Kudon.
It was cool to see the Z95 Headhunter, as well as the older Clone Wars-era ships the rest of the crew was flying, but nothing beats the color schemes of Nu’Tiv’s fighters…besides maybe the ships in the upcoming Star Wars Resistance.
I am itching with anticipation to see what happens in Poe Dameron‘s final issue, #31, as I’ve been placing bets on a Star Wars Resistance character, Lando Calrissian, or even Terex showing up to save Black Squadron. So as much as I enjoyed this issue, it’s slightly eclipsed in my mind due to the anticipation for the finale of the series! Also, I only said this might not be the last Annual because Soule previously teased issue #31 might not be the end to the series, though I imagine a return would probably not be until after Ep. IX comes out, at the earliest.

Poe Dameron Annual #2 was a pleasant surprise, full of fun, adventure, and a little emotional attachment.

+ Connecting past with present
+ Surprising little emotional hooks
+ Action-adventure fun

Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website @MynockManor.

Canon Comic Review: Poe Dameron Annual #2

+ Connecting past with present

+ Surprising little emotional hooks

+ Action-adventure fun

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