– Spoiler Review –
First there was Jabba’s Palace, next there was Ewoks, and now…there’s Lando Calrissian! The latest issue of the Return of the Jedi series of one-shots celebrating the film’s 40th Anniversary finds Lando trying to help the Rebellion rescue Han, but his past deeds and Chewie’s growing frustration over his friend’s situation threaten to upend everything. Can he pull things together like the slick swindler he is or will this be another setback for his reputation? Find out in our review of Stephanie Phillips and Álvaro López’s Return of the Jedi – Lando #1!
As Lando Calrissian attempts to haggle with a contact for schematics for Jabba’s Palace as they work on rescuing Han Solo from his carbonite prison, Chewie’s growing frustration over the loss of his friend leads him to mess up the deal and increase the price. Short on funds, Lando always has a backup plan, as he’s used to things goin awry, and he takes them to see an old acquaintance, Elocin, though his charms aren’t quite working on her anymore. Chewie makes a surprising decision and Lando’s backup plan begins: playing Sabacc! When does it not include playing sabacc for money?! The Empire arrives and mucks things up further but the swindler and his changing heart and commitment to the rebel cause comes in handy, leading to Elocin helping them with the Palace’s plan regardless.
I legitimately laughed several times, to the point my wife was surprised how much I was, as Phillips’ take on Lando might even beat out Charles Soule’s excellent portrayal these last few years in just one issue. A lot of the strength of her work comes from the interactions with Chewie, the new character Elocin, and of course López’s art, as through these characters and the larger situation we see how far Lando has come in this era. With Elocin, an old flame as always,* she’s over him and none of his charms work on her. It was refreshing to see he can’t just smile and wink his way through past wrongs all the time and having Elocin stand strong against his usual ways made her a notable deviance as well. Chewie’s choice means she’s willing to play Lando for the funds, though their game never gets to end once the Empire arrives, thanks to the person Lando originally tried to buy the plans from, and she questions helping them in the first place. This is the one time this issue Lando’s words make more of a splash than his actions, talking her down from killing him by appealing to her lingering feelings for Han (when did this happen!?) and Chewie. As they fight to avoid being arrested, Lando’s actions speak much louder than his words, putting his own life on the line when saving her after she’s captured, leaving Elocin with no regret over taking his side and helping him. It’s definitely something Lando has always needed to learn, that his words won’t always do the trick, and seeing him prove how he’s changed, how he’s not just out for himself anymore via his actions this issue only highlights how far he’s come; Elocin’s surprise at his change tells us just as much as his actions do, as well. I’d like to learn and see more from Elocin, not even the implied history between her, Lando, Han, and Chewie, but rather more of her doing her own thing out in the galaxy or coming around to help the Rebellion after Lando’s actions here.
Chewie’s sadness and issues with Han’s frozen status has thankfully been explored a few times in this era, but it’s always felt like he could get more time in the spotlight. Sure, he plays second fiddle to Lando this issue, but what we do get here was nice to see. As Lando’s ways aren’t working with Elocin, Chewie offers himself up as Lando’s bet against Elocin’s 10K credits, where he’d complete 10 jobs for her without question, and Lando tries to shoot it down but the Wookiee’s insistent. He wants Han back more than anymore and for a Wookiee with a long lifespan, 10 jobs is nothing next to the chance to get back the person he cares about who doesn’t have as long of a life to live. He’s sort of the reason they even have to go to Elocin, losing his patience with Lando’s haggling and almost strangling the contact, so him deciding to put himself on the line is a natural step in his eagerness to save Han; Look buddy, I’m just as surprised this era of comics has taken that long to get to Return of the Jedi as well! Allowing Chewie to be such a vital part of the situation is something I hope to see more.
Álvaro López provides art, with Antonia Fabela on colors, and Travis Lanham lettering and the team did something I’ve not quite experienced with comics: made playing sabacc as interesting as the scene in Solo: A Star Wars Story! Across 6 pages, the team’s work makes the sabacc game absolutely fascinating, limited dialogue giving way to expressions of surprise or concern in the crowd, Lando’s delight as he reveals a Full Sabacc, Elocin’s growing frustration with the game, a drop of sweat on Lando’s forehead, a close up on his smile, and more really make for a dynamic scene which kept me hooked, and like I said, gives me the same vibes as the film’s scene did. I’d love to have López back for more, as his character work is pretty fantastic, where the different angles as characters turn their heads or look around don’t result in them looking a little different, but instead it feels like watching a film and the actor has moved their head, as sometimes I feel like artists make heads disproportionate as they have them looking different ways than straight on. Elocin’s look is such a standout, you really want to know her deal the moment you see her, the swooped over hair, cunning yet soft eyes, armored parts of her outfit, and the cape matching Lando’s splendor. It’s clear from her look she’s seen some stuff and wants to be prepared for anything, the cape the only fancy look to her outfit, the rest seems ready for action if need be, which certainly is the case later in the issue. Fabela’s color palette is very bright, very bold, fitting for an issue with Lando at the forefront especially since he’s still able to stand out in his yellow shirt and baby blue cape. I liked the overall single colors for background moments, as it makes the casino/gambling house they are in feel larger than life, while it lets us focus in on the people, López’s facial work, and the action. Lanham’s lettering, beyond helping make the sabacc a memorable moment, went big when needed with Chewbacca’s howls, but it found a sweet little medium when he confirms to Elocin he’s willing to bet himself, as while his dialogue still breaks the bubble, it’s all in a single line, reserved and sound.
Here are a few other things:
- *Really wish, like Queers Watch states, we didn’t get another instance of Lando’s proclivity for women when he’s supposed to be pansexual and yet there’s been zero confirmation of any attraction to men. Time to stop being cowards with Lando’s LGBTQIA+ status, please and thank you, Lucasfilm!
- This issue is actually set later in the timeline than the current comics, as there’s an editor’s note explaining it takes place after Star Wars #38 (Vol. 2), out in September, which is when Lando makes another visit to Jabba’s Palace in this era. Is it to end his deal with the Hutt? To begin to grease the wheels which sees him as one of the Palace guard? Either way, I’ve been very curious when they were planning to end this era of the comics and move elsewhere and if this is after issue #38 and now they have the Palace’s schematics…Return of the Jedi’s events aren’t too far away. I’m still predicting they’re going to wrap up this era with all current on-goings hitting issue #50 (#45 at the least) and this seems to point towards such a goal.
- What’s next for the RotJ one-shots? There’s The Empire, The Rebellion, Max Rebo, Emperor Palpatine, and Smugglers, which all should be out before the end of the year.
- I saw RotJ in theaters last Friday for its latest rerelease (picture’s a little blurry but didn’t notice it until too late)! Hope everyone else gets a chance to check it out on the big screen; it was my first time since I was a child and saw the Special Editions!
Return of the Jedi – Lando #1 sees Stephanie Phillips explore how much Lando’s changed with a delightful issue full of laughs and action.
+ Phillips’ Lando brought laughter and maturity
+ Elocin has me intrigued/glad Chewie got to have his moments
+ Sabacc’s never been so intense in a comic before!
– Another lady on Lando’s wall…
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him on Twitter @BrushYourTeeth. You can follow the website on Twitter @MynockManor and Instagram @mynockmanor.
RETURN OF THE JEDI ONE-SHOTS
Jabba’s Palace | Ewoks