– Spoiler Review –
Star Wars issue #54 is an exciting penultimate issue of the “Hope Dies” arc, containing a sacrifice that sets everything into motion.
It’s been hard for “Hopes Dies” to keep the feeling of menace from the Imperial trap laid for the Rebellion afloat across these issues, as our focus on the Big Three hasn’t allowed the true chaos to sink in. Plenty of rebel heroes, men and women, non-human and human, have been lost, though they’ve felt out of sight and out of mind, especially as we don’t have a good reading on the full scope of the Rebellion’s fleet and what remains issue after issue. By bringing the menace directly in contact with several characters helped bring the overpowering-might-of-the-Empire feeling back from the beginning of the arc, despite a lack of concern for the larger battle, as we already know the Rebellion will come back from this brink and win the war (for the most part). Vader hunting down Leia and General Draven’s task-force inside the Executor tickled feelings of the final Rogue One scene, as he easily slaughters his way through the insurgents, and instead of trying to rival that scene, by putting a recognizable face in front of Vader’s wrath, writer Kieron Gillen manages to at least raise the stakes of the encounter. In an effort to ensure Leia, a true figurehead of the Rebellion, lives to fight another day, and as recompense for his actions when launching an attack on Eadu. Draven spearheads the effort to block Vader’s advance, giving his life in the process. It’s a pretty great way to show he regrets his decisions and was impacted by Jyn Erso’s sacrifice as well, making him a better person and leading him to be a vital component in the grand scheme of the Galactic Civil War, just as his attack on Eadu lead to the members of Rogue One having to give their lives for the Death Star plans. While I enjoyed this death for how it showed the character changed and gave us some stakes to the fight, it has risen some controversy (of course) because the reference book Rebel Files has Draven alive until at least the Battle of Endor. Story Group member Matt Martin has acknowledge the problem and has stated the comic takes precedence and Rebel Files will be changed to reflect this in the future. Unfortunate little problem, but considering I’ve never read Rebel Files, and potentially plenty of people who read this issue haven’t either, this might not have seemed like that big of a deal and I frankly never would’ve known if I didn’t find myself on Star Wars Twitter often. For those who had read RF, I completely understand the confusion and frustration with the error, but I’ve always looked at the novel/comics/movies as taking precedence regardless, though it’s because I don’t find myself reading all the material released and I can therefore ignore some of that if I choose.
Thanks to Draven’s sacrifice, Leia is able to escape with the files needed to undo Queen Trios’ sabotage of the Rebellion fleet, but flying a TIE in such a heated battle means her path back to a rebel ship isn’t going to be easy. Leia manages to show how Ben Solo didn’t get all his fancy flying from his dad, as she manages to evade both Luke and Han in X-wings, and the combo platter of Han realizing the TIE isn’t flying like an Academy-trained pilot (he should know despite being kicked out), Luke getting a feeling from the Force something is different about the TIE, and Leia blowing another Imperial out of the sky allows her to identify herself as friendly. Luke takes some injuries in their attempt to bring her in safely, but is still reeling to take the fight to the Empire. Dodonna and Ackbar jump their ship to safety the moment it’s free of the sabotage with Leia’s stolen codes.
General Dodonna’s reluctance to go back and save everyone else with the unlock codes is understandable, though a little surprising. Keeping one Cruiser makes sense, but the fact is the entire rest of their movement is back at Mako-Ta base, and what are they without everyone else? How much longer will it take to rebuild if they don’t take the chance to go back and save more? Dodonna listens to reason from Luke and Leia, eventually ordering the Cruiser back into the frying pan, setting up the giant finale to the “Hope Dies” arc.
As I mentioned in the beginning, this new story thread was a nice breath of fresh air for the plot and keeping the Empire’s overwhelming odds in focus were both smart moves on writer Gillen’s part as we head into the finale. Once again, the ship battles and space-set scenes from artist Salvador Larroca and colorist Guru-eFX are a delight, and while the issues with facial tracings don’t get any better, I can take solace in knowing it’ll be over soon, as the next arc brings new artists!
Here are a few other things:
- Not only do we get a new artist (or two) for the next arc, but Han goes shirtless and Luke maybe gets a love interest? The darker tone of Gillen’s work so far looks to take a back seat in “The Escape.”
Star Wars #54 puts the fate of the remaining Rebellion in the hands of our heroes for what is sure to be an exciting finale to “Hope Dies.”
+ Draven’s sacrifice inspired by Jyn and as a redemption for his own actions
+ Leia’s deft escape
– Art change isn’t here yet
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website @MynockManor.
Star Wars
Kieron Gillen — Ashes of Jedha (#38-43) / Arc Review by Chris | Mutiny at Mon Cala (#44-49) / Arc Review by Chris | Hope Dies: #50 | #51 | #52 | #53 | #55 / Arc Review by Chris | The Escape (#56-61) / Arc Review by Chris | The Scourging of Shu-Torun (#62-67) / Arc Review by Chris | Kieron Gillen Retrospective
Jason Aaron — Jason Aaron Retrospective (#1-37)
Greg Pak — Rebels and Rogues (#68-72)