– Spoiler Review –
The plot thickens for Shadow Wing as they face an unexpected enemy in TIE Fighter #2, the next installment of the Alphabet Squadron novel tie-in miniseries, while a back-up story delights with the little details.
Shadow Wing finds itself under attack from fellow TIEs and the very Star Destroyer it was sent to rescue, and while they put up a good fight, once their carrier is destroyed Commander Broosh makes the surprising call to surrender due to them both being outnumbered and the unknown entities controlling the Destroyer and TIEs offering them the chance to live. Once they land, Shadow Wing finds out Admiral Gratloe has broken off from the Empire, keeping control of the mining operation, as he believes there’s no point in losing one’s life over more war and he figured he needed a little compensation for his service. Broosh shows interest in Gratloe’s offer, much to the rest of the squad’s surprise and suspicion. Broosh comes with a reputation for sacrificing his pilots to keep alive, something Lyttan confronted him about in the previous issue, so the concern on the other pilot’s faces over his actions is more than earned. But Jeela knows it’s been a ploy and she unpacks hidden weapons so they can escape and get the Star Destroyer as commanded.
Like issue #1, TIE Fighter #2 has a flashback backup story, though last issue’s revealed Shadow Wing member Zin is actually a Rebel spy, and introduced a main character in the sister novel series Alphabet Squadron. There’s no follow-up on Yrica’s intro or the Zin reveal in this issue, so I’m curious if these are threads left for the novel series to explore or will be touched on here before the five issues are done. For #2’s story, it reveals a big question on the mind of fans who previously read Han Solo – Imperial Cadet, as Lyttan was originally introduced in the miniseries alongside his brother Tamu, so where was Tamu now? We get to see Lyttan make a holocall to Tamu, who now serves on a medical frigate and is still married, but now has kids! If you haven’t read the mostly enjoyable Imperial Cadet, you’ll still be able to enjoy the scene, but for those who have, it adds an extra emotional layer as it’s intriguing to see these two older and little more wiser now, feeling wistful about their cadet days. In the interest of wondering if these backup stories will be important for later, will we see Shadow Wing visiting Tamu’s medical frigate or will be blown up over Endor or some action post-RotJ in the novels? Or was this just a great little scene for those who read Imperial Cadet? Only time will tell, but I’m very intrigued to see what surprises come next in the flashbacks.
Already the expansion of the story by Jody Houser has made this miniseries more and more intriguing, though I hope it doesn’t come at the expense of getting to know more about all of Shadow Wing, but I guess that is what the novel series would be for, isn’t it? On art for the main part of the story, we have Rogê Antônio (art) and Arif Prianto (colors) again. They have one of my favorite panels of the issue, as Shadow Wing’s surprise about Broosh’s surrender is shown by revealing their faces under their helmets, but keeping a ghostly outline of the helmets over their faces. They work well with both the big space battles and the intimate little moments as they uncover what’s happening in the mining operation. For the flashback, there’s newcomer Josh Cassara (art) and Neeraj Menon (colors), who has helped out on some Age of Rebellion issues. I loved the style for the hologram chat between Tamu and Lyttan, as well as the boisterous face Cassara gives to the two, funny brothers, which both betrays the seriousness of the situations they find themselves and shows their younger selves are still hiding beneath their older, wiser selves.
Here are a few other things:
- In the first issue, I was unsure of where this series landed, but I knew it was closer to Return of the Jedi than The Empire Strikes Back, but thanks to a recent interview* and some comments this issue, it’s clear this is basically taking place during RotJ. Both Gratloe and Tamu mention something big coming, the rumors swirling of some major part of the war, and we know that’ll be the showdown over Endor.
- *Over at the official site, writer Jody Houser spoke about her work on the Age of Republic miniseries, and teased a “familiar face” to be part of Shadow Wing before TIE Fighter is over. Is she talking about Lyttan or is this about someone else…but who could it be!?
- The first cover was alright, but this second one by Tommy Lee Edwards is pretty striking! The solicits have shown the work only gets better.
TIE Fighter #2 keeps roping me in, and while it might be more plot than character work, these little flashbacks/backup stories get to focus in and reveal intriguing new details.
+ Expanding story…
+ Tamu is alive and well!!
+ Use of these flashbacks/backup stories
– …but could it be at expensive of characters?
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website @MynockManor.
TIE FIGHTER
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