– Spoiler Review –
Glimpse back at the Tico sisters’ past, and why they fight, in Age of Resistance – Rose Tico #1, an issue which gives the two characters the backstory they deserve.
Rose’s exuberance is one of my favorite aspects to the character and Age of Resistance – Rose Tico #1 manages to capture it and expand on it, as we see the early days of sisters Rose and Paige on their homeworld, but it even carries on once the First Order’s slow destruction of their world begins, and it doesn’t end when they learn their past is fully destroyed while fighting with the Resistance. It’s infectious, as it combines with her resilient nature, as even if she’s not a good pilot, better at knowing how things work, she never gives up and keeps trying. Either she’s trying to learn flying in their family’s flight simulator or later she’s using her knowledge to sabotage the First Order’s mining ships (bombers, like the ones in The Last Jedi, repurposed to mine their planet of Hays Minor with reckless abandon), but she’s always willing to give what needs doing a try and hopes for the best. Tom Taylor captures Rose to a T (for Tico!), and makes me even more excited for more of her character, be it in upcoming books/comics and of course, The Rise of Skywalker.
Throughout the issue, we’re treated to narration from one of the sisters, and by the way the sister idolizes the other one, it’s seems fair to assume it’s Rose talking about Paige, especially how it’s framed to how Rose, within the story, is looking up to her sister’s skills. By not telling us who’s talking about who, it unfortunately reveals the surprise of it being Paige talking about Rose and how she’ll go onto great things, though it doesn’t hamper the impact of her words. How they lift each other up, and complement one another, makes Paige’s death in TLJ all the more impactful for Rose and viewers (for me, at least!), as it helps catalyze her to really fulfill what Paige feels Rose is capable of. Also getting to see what happens to their homeworld, and how the First Order slowly chokes it to death, eventually killing their parents when they strip the planet fully for its ore, gives us the backstory details the two characters deserved. Paige’s heroic death, and the connection the two sisters share through their necklaces, gains tons of added depth and it definitely will be in the back of my mind in the many future TLJ viewing experiences.
Leia pulls double duty this week of Star Wars comics, as she’s not only in Age of Resistance – Rey #1 (review is in! incoming soon), she makes an important appearance in Rose Tico. When the two sisters learn of their planet’s destruction, despite their best fighting efforts with the Resistance since their parents sent them away, they’re ready to pull a Rose on Canto Bight and put a fist straight through the First Order by themselves, but Leia stands before them, ready to chat. Considering Leia went through a similar moment many years ago, she has some wise and witty words for them, with Taylor’s script channeling Carrie Fisher in the best of ways, talking them into making evil people mad for much longer than a quick, immediate response. It’s a short, but beautiful interaction.
Speaking of beautiful, Ramon Rosanas’ art continues to showcase why he’s my favorite of the all the Hero artists in the entire “Age of Star Wars” maxiseries, and he’s joined by Guru-eFX on colors and Travis Lanham for lettering. The opening page is a favorite, for how it shows the sisters’ necklaces connect with their planet as the backdrop, the way he captures a young and plucky Rose, how later they look like their actresses when grown up, and the great explosive filled panel after Rose and Paige sabotage those fighters.
Here are a few other things:
- Catch the first couple of pages of this issue in the preview over at the official site!
- We’ll see Rose again next month in Marvel’s Allegiance miniseries.
Age of Resistance – Rose Tico #1 gives the Tico sisters the spotlight they deserve, adding depth to The Last Jedi in little, but impactful ways.
+ Rose through and through
+ Sisterly bond, especially through narration
+ Leia’s wise words
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website @MynockManor.
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