– Spoiler Review –
TIE Fighter #4 is the penultimate issue of the miniseries, which looks back to take us forward to what is sure to be an action-packed finale.
After the losses suffered by Shadow Wing’s 5th Squad last issue, they don’t get much time to mourn or get closure on what happened, as the Empire is gearing up for an operation meant to wipe the Rebellion from the galaxy aka Endor. But while most of the 204th is heading to Endor, Squadron Five has orders to take out a mobile Rebel defectors camp, a location they only learned thanks to the recently deceased Zin Graw’s intercepted communiques with the Rebellion, as revealed in issue #1’s back-up story. Whereas these types of stories receive closure and resolution, Zin’s true intentions remain obtuse to the rest of her squad, including the man who loved her, Ganem, something I appreciated as in real life closure doesn’t always come easy or often. Just like last issue’s sudden deaths of liked characters led to a quick moment of hate for the Rebellion, writer Jody Houser doesn’t let TIE Fighter #4 shy away from the reality of war, and nor does its sister novel series, which started with Alphabet Squadron last month (review coming Friday! It’s here!).
The rest of the squad deals with the losses and betrayals in their own way: Commander Nuress finds the opportunity for the attack with the help of ISB; Lt. Commander Broosh believes the failure to identify Zin’s traitorous ways fall on him; Jeela is her usual removed self, happy to shoot off some steam instead of chatting about what happened; and then there’s Ganem, Zin’s boyfriend, who is struggling with how Zin protected him from investigation for his rebellious words when she was the one in contact and sympathetic to the Rebellion. The back-up story this issue is a bit of a flashback to Ganem before he enters the Imperial Academy, chatting with his Grandma in their Coruscant home. His POV on the war comes from her, as her wisdom from being around long enough lets her prophesize the Empire will fall, especially without a successor in place, even if she still thanks the Emperor for ending the Clone Wars; it’s a unique way of looking at the events of the larger galaxy.
Art on the main story continues with Rogê Antônio and Arif Prianto on colors, while artist Ig Guara and colorist Jean-François Beaulieu take on the back-up story. I continue to enjoy the edgier and darker art of the main team, which contrasted highly with Guara and Beaulieu’s back-up story, their art fit the lighthearted tone of Ganem’s Grandma’s words, and the main team’s art continues to feel appropriate for the realistic main tale.
Here are a few other things:
- Best of luck to these new cadets joining the squad, as I can’t imagine things will go well for them.
- Much like the Dree brothers coming from Han Solo – Imperial Cadet, there’s another cameo from the series with Flight Instructor Yurib, who doesn’t seem to approve of the Empire taking all the cadets for the big battle operation. Hard not to agree with the guy!
- As I said earlier, my review of Alphabet Squadron will
go live Fridayis live!
TIE Fighter #4 deals with the fallout of last issue while pushing ahead to the inevitable finale.
+ Fallout is realistic
+ What could happen in the finale?
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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