– Spoiler Review –
Age of Resistance – Poe Dameron #1 reveals how the hotshot became inspired to be more than just another flyboy, and it comes from a surprising and fitting person.
While we’ve seen Poe Dameron joining the Resistance in Before the Awakening, and plenty of his missions for the Resistance, what inspired him to be more than a hotshot and think beyond his cockpit? Age of Resistance – Poe Dameron #1 gives readers a glimpse when a thief makes off with valuable intel from a New Republic space station and Poe chases after them. As Poe’s flight for the thief places them both within a dangerous Lost Souls asteroid field, he soon finds the thief helping him survive the ordeal, as while he’s a fantastic pilot, his cocky, flyboy nature would’ve been his doom, much like all those who’ve tried to brave the asteroids and given it a haunting name. Of course this leaves Poe with plenty of questions, like why would the thief help him and not kill him, and it leaves readers wonder who or why as well…and when the answer is revealed, it’s wonderful surprise which adds new context to Poe’s parts in The Last Jedi. Why? Because leader of the thieves helping him escape the nebula is none other than Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo!
I really loved this reveal, as it played on expectations that a hotshot pilot other than Poe would likely be a man (technically it was Nien Nunb flying but she was guiding), while it allowed the two to have dealings with one another before meeting in The Last Jedi and it gave their positions in the film a new dynamic. Knowing Holdo acts the same regardless of the situation, be it how to proceed with fleeing the First Order or surviving a run through an asteroid belt, as types of tests to help those she’s dealing with better themselves, it adds extra flavor to their interactions in TLJ. In a way, Holdo has inspired Poe twice now, once to seek answers about the truth the New Republic is hiding, as the droid head she steals details ways the NR is hiding the growing First Order presence, and secondly to remove his bravado from command so his actions will cost less lives. It’s also great to see their rather antagonistic dealings in TLJ almost flipped here, as her flippant attitude and reckless flying enchants him, while in the film her quiet planning prompts him to rebel initially. Tom Taylor planned this reveal with true finesse, capturing the essence of both Holdo and Poe in the process, making for the quite the entertaining issue that looks to be skin-deep from the flying antics and eventually opens up to show it had plenty of layers.
Art comes from Ramon Rosanas, with colors by Guru-eFX, and I really love the dynamic nature of the piloting through the obstacles in the asteroid belt, with clear, crisp, and easy to follow action. He continues to be the best of the “Hero” artists for any of the ages, as not only is the art defined and stylized for a true Star Wars-flair, the panel layouts fly into one another with grace.
Here are a few other things:
- Included in BB-8’s activation code is Ben’s name, which some people have taken as confirmation of a theory that Ben Solo himself built BB-8! Considering BB-8 and Poe came together while still in the New Republic, before meeting Leia, one has to wonder why Ben is part of the code if young Solo wasn’t involved with building him in some capacity, though the BB units were just coming into the galaxy at the end of the Galactic Civil War. Maybe it was similar to C-3PO’s origins, where he was built by some company but Anakin put him back together…like grandpa like grandson.
- Between the Battle of Chyron and Holdo’s mission to steal a Clone Wars-era device hidden within the Lost Souls asteroid field before, I can’t wait until we start getting more of her background, especially if it’s as fun and refreshing as her appearance in Leia: Princess of Alderaan and the recent Resistance – Special issue!
- If you want more of Poe Dameron flying missions for the Resistance, (and to learn a lot more about Karé, glimpsed here briefly) look no further than the overall excelled comic series!
Age of Resistance – Poe Dameron #1 offers quite the fun surprise, factoring Amilyn Holdo into another important moment in Poe’s development as a great leader.
+ The reveal of Holdo and what it means for Poe and her in TLJ
+ Hotshot Poe being inspired
+ Art matches the hotshot nature of their meeting
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website @MynockManor.
AGE OF STAR WARS Maxiseries Review
AGE OF RESISTANCE
Finn | Phasma | Special | General Hux | Supreme Leader Snoke | Rose Tico | Rey | Kylo Ren | Miniseries Review
AGE OF REBELLION
Princess Leia | Grand Moff Tarkin | Special | Han Solo | Boba Fett | Lando Calrissian | Jabba the Hutt | Luke Skywalker | Darth Vader | Miniseries Review
AGE OF REPUBLIC
Qui-Gon Jinn | Darth Maul | Obi-Wan Kenobi | Jango Fett | Special | Anakin Skywalker | Count Dooku | Padmé Amidala | General Grievous | Miniseries Review