– Spoiler Review –
T’onga and crew’s search for Cadeliah takes a wild turn as they are willingly lead into the belly of the beast in Bounty Hunters #24, a surprising spot where new readers curious what the series is up to or all this Valance Nation talk is about can jump in.
While Bounty Hunters is barrelling towards the finale of threads first introduced in the beginning of the series, Bounty Hunters #24 surprised but delighted me by slowing down and setting the stage, reiterating why certain characters were doing what, with dialogue gently catching up new and old readers alike about what’s going on and who’s doing what and who is on whose side. Considering things have been a little complicated since the Crimson Reign part of the joint comics storytelling starting, it’s nice to have some clarification and refocusing on this series over the larger story.
My refreshed feelings towards Dengar continue in issue #24, as it feels like Ethan Sacks relishes in writing the character, as he quickly alienates T’onga and her crew through rude or snarky comments, all part of his act and personality that keep him arm’s length from everything. Because while we know he’s in Crimson Dawn’s pockets at the moment, he’s always looking for the highest bidder, but a little glimpse behind all the bluster with a conversation between him and Manaroo lets us see he’s really looking out for number 1 and 2, him and Manaroo, hoping to retire and get out of the game for good. Considering his fate by the time of The Rise of Skywalker, even if he does get some peace, it won’t last forever, not for a man who makes enemies like Emperors build Death Stars. Regardless of his loyalties, he fulfills his job to both the Dawn and T’onga’s crew, getting the misfit hunters on board the Vermillion while leading them right into a Dawn trap.
T’onga and Losha together on the job has been a joy to read, but it’s caused tension between the married couple. T’onga was protective of her wife, maybe to fault, spurned on both by knowing how dangerous the bounty hunting profession was and the death of her brother. Everything changed when Losha got involved, leading to her first up close and personal kill and the high of appreciation by their fellow hunters. It hasn’t been too charged between them since, but the tension rises once again when T’onga makes the decision for Losha to stay behind with the ship, and the “captive” Vukorah. She’s angry of course, but also wants to be there to help her wife in case they get into any trouble, but T’onga reminds her if they do while on the Dawn’s flagship, they’ll likely be dead, but they’ll have all the time they want to talk through this argument afterwards. It’s both an ominous portend of what’s to come and sets the stakes for their trip into Dawn territory, especially since we know Dengar is working both sides. Hopefully these two will get the chance to work it out, but with the situation T’onga and crew find themselves in aboard the Vermillion and Vukorah’s captivity not what it seems, it’s not looking good. The potential for Losha’s death to restart fridging and bury your gays trope discussion is high if it happens, but after everything with T’onga’s death scare early in the series, my hopes are also high this will be tackled with more nuance thanks to hindsight.
Despite warnings from nearly everyone, especially Tasu Leech, T’onga has them follow Dengar into the Dawn’s lair anyways. A short elevator rides delivers them right into the waiting sights of the Dawn, though the individually skilled hunters, their teamwork building the longer they put up with one another (and bond over hating Dengar), manages to fight back the forces against them. It’s the first of many gauntlets of course (without even counting the very real possibility Cadeliah isn’t on the ship), it could never be easy, but their next one is a little surprising though unique choice: the Knights of Ren. This should technically take place after Crimson Reign #4, so the group is fresh off a mostly successful raid of Vader’s castle on Mustafar, but I have a feeling they won’t be as successful here. I’ve been enjoying having the Knights around during this period as it adds to their history and fleshes out their place in the galaxy, but the teams using them in this cohesive comics story have to be careful to not overuse them to be defeated antagonists or else all the goodwill the comics have built back up for them after the mediocre showing in TRoS will vanish.
Elsewhere in the issue, Valance and his team are protecting a General on Garel (Star Wars Rebels fans know!), and despite his valiant efforts, the man still ends up dead. Thankfully Valance was there to save the General’s daughter, but his frustration with the Dawn’s chaos reveals a slow return to Imperial ideals, thinking they might not be the worst group in the galaxy if they aren’t above a young girl’s potential death just to get to their targets. The fact his handler doesn’t feel like his efforts were worthwhile should be a good reminder the Empire is still the Empire, so we’ll see if their order vs the Dawn’s chaos is enough to make him forget that for awhile or not, because the opening crawl for the issue seems to suggest it already is but I didn’t quite get that sense here.
Natacha Bustos’ guest artistry for last issue visit was fitting for its lighter, chaotic tone, so it’s only fitting for the return of series mainstay Paolo Villanelli when things heat up as much as they do this issue. Now that we’ve had it, I really think it would’ve been fun to have Bustos appear more often, whenever the series wasn’t too action-focused or less serious, and then come back to Villanelli’s aggressive style when the bantha poodoo hits the fan. Villanelli can also hit the emotional notes when he needs to, as T’onga’s face shows she’s both stern on her decision but also as unhappy as Losha about the choice, while his mannerisms for Dengar capture the humor Bustos was more predisposed towards. Valance kicking a speeder bike into the leg of an AT-ST was a fun visual, giving me Ewoks on Endor vibes, and everyone in robes to sneak onto the Vermillion was a good variety for their usual run-and-gun and Villanelli’s work (very Obi-Wan hiding Leia in a trench coat vibes and here for it). Arif Prianto using like a calming blue when Dengar’s messing around with everyone and as he reveals his true intentions to Vukorah aided the lighthearted tone, while I like the shift to the dirty yellow effects when someone becomes agitated or angry or violence is about to ensue. He uses the same background effect when Losha comes after T’onga for her decision, but the color is a less aggressive blue, showing the difference in the emotions behind the character’s anger compared to other’s. Lanham’s works has some cool SFX this issue: the “crunch” as Valance smashes to the ground below while catching the girl; the “scre” as the AT-ST falls due to it’s worn out, scorched look, which is somewhat used again when Dengar crack’s a Dawn soldier’s head; and all the pew pews and whatnot in the ambush provide a good feeling of chaos.
Here are a few other things:
- The solicits for issues in September are out and the Bounty Hunter‘s 27th issue solicit does a good job of hiding the fates of all the non-plot armored characters after the raid on the Vermillion, but read them at your own risk.
- Speaking of that, writer Ethan Sacks as been very active on Twitter, playful about characters’ fates and toying with Valance Nation, so if you weren’t already following him, make sure to change that now, especially as a fan of the series.
Bounty Hunters #24 is great place to join the ride, and what a ride it looks to be as the story ramps up to a big finale.
+ Jumping on point, if you wish!
+ Only going to get crazier from here
+ Art displays T’onga’s torn feelings on her decision
– A little disconnect between opening crawl and Valance’s part
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.
BOUNTY HUNTERS REVIEWS
War of the Bounty Hunters: #12 | #13 | #14 | #15 | #16 | #17 — Crimson Reign: #18 | #19 | #20 | #21 | #22 — The Raid on the Vermillion: #23