– Spoiler Review –
Phasma’s villainy is assured as Captain Phasma #4 wraps up the miniseries in a chilling manner.
Last issue I felt like the relentless pace of the miniseries made me wish there was more, but after this chilling finale, I’m pretty content with how Kelly Thompson wove this tale of survival/revenge through only four issues. There wasn’t much doubt Phasma would complete her objective, which is prevent a First Order officer named Rivas from revealing her traitorous actions at Starkiller Base, but the lengths she’ll go to survive is what really sets this tale apart. It was made apparent in issue #1 when she doesn’t let the exploding planet stop her from pursuing Rivas, and by issue #4 she’s willing to set up an entire colony of people to die if it means letting her reach her goal. The Phasma novel does an excellent job revealing this unquenchable survivalist instinct in the eponymous character, while this comic miniseries really aides in driving the same point home, in a shorter, compact, but just as deadly manner. If you didn’t fear her nor think Phasma was legitimate threat, Captain Phasma is a thrilling, short read that’ll change your opinions in a heartbeat. And it’ll also make you wonder about her character’s trajectory in the films, as she’s obviously loyal first and foremost to herself, so what does that mean when and if things go even more south for the First Order?
While those she ends up killing in the name of survival in the novel are more surprising, I was still quite taken aback when Phasma ends up tying up ALL loose ends in issue #4, including TN-3465 aka Pilot. It had seemed like Phasma had grown some sort of soft spot for her pilot and companion on this journey, but she takes zero risks and gives what was a potential friend a quick, painless death. I didn’t think we’d see the end of Pilot, as I had not only grown to enjoy her character because she didn’t seem like that bad of a person despite being in the First Order, but it didn’t seem necessary or a possibility….up until she overheard Phasma and Rivas talking and Phasma noticed Pilot had moved from where she’d been ordered to stand. Even then I really didn’t see it coming, but it makes a lot of sense for Phasma to have done it, even if I didn’t like it.
After Kelly Thompson’s enjoyable, memorable Star Wars Annual #2 issue, I’d been hoping we’d have her return to write more comics and the sentiment returns, a little more viciously, after Captain Phasma. A big kudos for taking me unaware with Pilot’s death (and even the evil BB droid!) and weaving a succinct, deadly, and entertaining tale that helped paint the chrome-plated First Order Captain in a much more fitting, sinister light.
Marco Checchetto’s art and Andres Mossa’s colors were a continuous thing of beauty for the miniseries, capturing both Phasma and the planet Luprora’s fierceness in stunning, bright detail. Also, their work on Officer Rivas’ final moments to Pilot’s stunned look after learning the truth about Phasma really drove home the dilemmas swirling inside each character, while heightening our knowledge of how fearful Phasma’s cold determination makes others.
Here are a few other things:
- Given Phasma’s desire/penchant for survival, I’m 100% worried for Finn when he faces her in single combat in The Last Jedi, as teased in last week’s trailer!
- Also, some big thanks to those I don’t mention enough or not at all, but will have a whole section of my year in reviews devoted to them: Letterer Clayton Cowles, for all his excellent work on ensuring the dialogue and scene settings don’t get in the way of the beautiful art; Assistant Editor Heather Antos and Editor Jordan D. White, for bringing back Thompson, putting Checchetto and Mossa on art, and bringing us this story in the first place.
- UPDATE: Check out our reviews for The Last Jedi, where you’ll learn about Phasma’s fate.
Captain Phasma‘s memorable, relentless journey to The Last Jedi is complete.
+ Phasma ties up ALL loose ends
+ Stunning art once again
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website @MynockManor.
Journey to The Last Jedi: Phasma (novel) | Leia – Princess of Alderaan (novel) | The Legends of Luke Skywalker (novel) | The Last Jedi (movie)