– Spoiler Review –
Star Wars #26 (Vol. 2) starts the next chapter of Charles Soule’s run on the series and is a great place for new readers to jump on. The Rebellion is back together and looking to bring the fight to the Empire, Luke has knowledge to unlock from a book he recently procured, and two new faces emerge as vital to the future of the Rebellion, Qi’ra’s plans for Crimson Dawn, and the galaxy itself.
After Charles Soule’s landmark 100th written comic for Marvel’s Star Wars output, an issue which was an intriguing collection of stories that tie into his previous works, Star Wars #26 (Vol. 2) picks back up with the main story, but like I said, it’s an easy place for any reader to jump on. Throughout the issue, Soule imparts just enough details to get long-time readers caught up and new ones on board: the Rebellion discusses their next steps now that their fleet is reunited and the threat of Commander Zahra is over, including a deal with Qi’ra, the leader of Crimson Dawn, for supplies; Luke Skywalker recently gained an ancient text with knowledge for him to unlock about the Force; and Qi’ra’s sleeper agents have been activated across the galaxy, including two unlikely faces become vital to the future of, well…everything. It’s a well-paced issue, despite all the exposition, and it has an exciting hook of an ending that promises plenty of adventure ahead, but also carries a promise the end might be closer than us readers or the characters realize.
The issue starts with an Imperial Unity Day parade on Bar’leth, the same planet that hosts the University of Bar’leth that’s been important to Doctor Aphra’s recent adventures, but what looks like a Holonet-wide celebration of the Empire’s might and ‘unity’ turns into an absolute disaster as the reformed Rebellion fleet leads a quick, precise attack on the parade. With no civilian causalities, nor any of their own, the Rebellion’s attack is transmitted far and wide, upending the Imperial Propaganda Office’s insistence the Rebellion is dead or monsters, offering hope across the galaxy and a glimpse at their soul. The Rebellion certainly feels hopeful right now, exemplified by Evaan Verlaine (another Alderaanian who joined Leia on an adventure after A New Hope, has recently been part of Starlight Squadron trying to reunite the Fleet, and has more stories ahead), as she asks Luke Skywalker to brandish his lightsaber, its light confirming to many in the Rebellion that light and hope are on their side. Rebel Leadership feels emboldened as well after Leia’s precision mission goes off without a hitch. Admiral Ackbar is still pragmatic, of course, and lists what they need, like a base to resupply and refit their Fleet. Commander Grek just wants more numbers on their side, which General Syndulla agrees with, saying they need to re-establish contact with their intelligence network. And Leia reveals her deal with Qi’ra for supplies, something Amilyn Holdo is ensuring the Crimson Dawn leader doesn’t screw them over with, while planning on using a bunch of small victories like today to turn the tide. Mon Mothma feels the same with their path forward, believing they have nothing but time on their side. But we all know that’s not true, the second Death Star’s evitable revelation changing everything for the reinvigorated Rebellion, but they still don’t know about its existence…though that might just change soon.
This is when the issue surprisingly switches to an Imperial Black Facility codenamed Second Sun, where Moff Jerjerrod receives a visit from an officer from the Imperial Security Bureau, Major Sharin. The codename for the facility and Moff Jerjerrod’s presence should be enough to tell you exactly where we are, as well as the list of security features Jerjerrod’s aide Lieutenant Melton tells Major Sharin they’ve implemented, but the final page reveal of just what Second Sun is still lands, leaving the hopeful opening amongst the Rebellion with a lot less wind in its sails. Major Sharin’s a tough cookie, even knowing how secretive the facility is, but it’s because she and the Emperor himself don’t want anything left to chance after the Rebellion’s recent strike and Commander Zahra’s failure to destroy the Rebellion, and she decides to stick around to make sure these security measures really are enough to keep Second Sun secure. The issue continues to zag when you think it’ll zig, following Lt. Melton after he leaves the Moff and Major, who gives himself a pep-talk about soldiering on just before something he sees on his datapad causes him surprise. Zagging again, we cut to one of the dock workers unloading parts and supplies, being jolly with her fellow workers as they all take leave for the day with the end of their shift. Bevelyn returns to her room, greeting her husband, Lt. Melton, and after the two exchange pleasantries and hug, saying she’ll shower and he’ll start dinner, it turns out instead they’re really using it as a guise to chat clandestinely. Jon Melton and Bevelyn are two of Qi’ra’s spies and the message he saw earlier was her activating all of her assets across the galaxy, including them, something she did at the end of the Crimson Reign miniseries (also written by Soule). A heavy chat between these two new characters ensues, weighing the risks and punishment for getting caught versus bringing the galaxy the news of the second Death Star’s nearly finished construction. They make the choice to take the risk and as Major Sharin sets off to leave, satisfied with the security protocols, she finds Bev and Jon stealing her shuttle, the irony of the situation hilarious. Bev quietly kills Sharin and then… reassures their two children! They weren’t just concerned about their own lives doing this, but their children’s as well! It’s a great series of reveals by Soule, culminating in the final panel of the shuttle flying away from the second Death Star, looking roughly like it does in Return of the Jedi, hinting how little time the Rebellion has left.
I really enjoyed this development, centering the revelation of the second Death Star on two seemingly random characters, giving a face to Qi’ra’s spy-laden plans and weight to their importance to this timeframe, as it’s her spies that look to deliver the most important information for the Rebellion. I’m curious if this’ll mean we might finally get some Bothans, as Mon Mothma’s ominous line that many died to bring them this information still hangs in the air, unresolved in canon (especially without a single Bothan in sight so far!). Could Bothans help Jon and Bev, alongside their kids, to deliver this news? Or is just one part of the larger whole on the second Death Star and the Bothans’ contribution will continue to remain elusive? Either way, this whole situation won’t just spell the end of the Rebellion’s hope they have all the time in the galaxy, but it seems to hint the end is nigh for this current iteration of the Star Wars series as well. This tracks with the reveal last week of the Revelations one-shot, a 40-page issue out in November that promises glimpses at the past, present, and future, including hints at what’s to come in 2023 for Marvel’s Star Wars comics, and it feels a lot like the Empire Ascendant one-shot in 2019 that helped transition Marvel’s output to the current era it’s in. Since Hidden Empire also begins in November, Soule’s finale to Qi’ra’s comic trilogy, barring any delays or staggered releases, it could conclude in April ’23, and I imagine these other series will follow shortly before whatever comes next. So I’m guessing we might finally move past this era of connected storytelling into whatever else they have up their sleeves sometime mid-to-late 2023!
I won’t lie, when the opening crawl for this issue mentioned Luke found a mysterious book linked to the Jedi, I was like…when?! But it all came back in a flash, Luke’s even more mysterious and surprising journey to a very strange planet full of the lingering impressions of the Force-users who have visited it (whether they’ve left or not…) including Elzar Mann from the High Republic-era, which ended with him barely escaping and taking a book with him. Considering that came out in January, and we haven’t followed-up on the thread since, it’s not inconceivable to have forgotten the development, and that’s why new readers won’t feel too left out it’s being brought up again. It’s only really mentioned this issue, so we don’t quite see him browsing through it yet but knowing Soule we’ll get some follow-up eventually.
Andrés Genolet joins the series, with Rachelle Rosenberg still on colors and Clayton Cowles lettering, to bring a fresh new look alongside this new chapter of the story. Genolet’s style feels scrappy to me, in the best way possible, as it’s rough around some edges, especially in action scenes or large crowds, but it better accentuates what’s really in focus anyways, while the more extravagant faces allow for intense, animated emoting from characters to match the larger-than-life script. Major Sharin is as intense as they get and I felt it not just from her scrupulous efforts but from the way Genolet emotes her toughness and threatening nature, combined with Jerjerrod’s clenching reactions from the level of her combativeness. The recognizable characters still look as we expect, from Mon Mothma hueing very closely to Caroline Blakiston’s portrayal in RotJ, Leia being a mix between Carrie Fisher and recent comic renditions, to even his Jerjerrod has glimpses of his actor as well, while Genolet’s emotive abilities quickly endure us to new characters like Jon and Bev because there’s so much earnestness to their faces. Especially once we know they have children too, looking back at the panels as they debate what to do, what chaos to bring per Qi’ra’s orders, there’s a deeper consideration to be found, a deeper meaning and a heavier weight as they make the choice, and I love that Genolet’s work conveyed that and then the revelations allowed us to see it even more clearly afterwards. Rosenberg’s colors shine brightly when Luke ignites the yellow saber he currently has, shining hope into the rank and file of the Rebellion, but when we’re with the Rebel leadership, while the bright light of the table in front of them lights their faces, also showing the hope washing through them now, there are shadows cast by the light, even on the edges of their faces, which portend the truth of the situation they don’t even realize yet. There’s a crisp and cleanliness to the interior of the second Death Star that Rosenberg’s colors convey, giving Jerjerrod’s impressions of the place and its timely potential construction some merit. Cowles’ lettering also builds on the impression of hope within the Rebellion, seen with the big, impressive shout from the rebel attackers cheering the rebel alliance’s name after their victory. It’s rare he’s ever used such type and font for dialogue so it really stands out how excited and hyped the rebels are about their cause now. There is a lot of dialogue and a lot of exchanges, as well as some page turning reveals, and Cowles helps guide us across the pages, through the chats, and keep surprises intact. My favorite panel has to be the final page, the second Death Star engulfing the entirety of the page, the Imperial shuttle large due to its closeness but still so small compared the space station behind it, while Bev’s words about it all being okay hide in the corner, even smaller than the ship, hidden almost, to highlight how impossibly large the odds are against them from her words to the kids being right.
Here are a few other things:
- Melton initially tells Bev what’s going on by calling Qi’ra “Auntie Q,” and she quickly tells him just to speak plainly, but I don’t believe the nickname/codename for Qi’ra is anything but that and not Jon being related to Qi’ra actually. There are enough context clues from their chat that it’s clear they joined Qi’ra and the Dawn and that’s as far as their connection to her goes.
- Even if it’s just for a panel, it was still a damn delight to see Hera Syndulla this issue! She has a key role in the absolutely stellar Alphabet Squadron Trilogy that takes place post-RotJ and will be in live-action for the first time with the upcoming Ahsoka show in 2023, but for now if you want more Hera beyond rewatching Star Wars Rebels, the Rebels comics were recently collected by Dark Horse and available to purchase!
Star Wars #26 (Vol. 2) finds the Rebellion in its most hopeful circumstances and then wonderfully drops the large, hulking, unmissable shoe: the second Death Star. Hop on now as writer Charles Soule and the art team of Andrés Genolet, Rachelle Rosenberg, and Clayton Cowles bring us even closer to the events of Return of the Jedi!
+ Fresh place to jump in
+ Hope is back for the Rebellion…
+ …but a bigger threat looms!
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.
STAR WARS (Vol. 2)
The Destiny Path: #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 | #6 / Arc Review — The Will of Tarkin: #7 | #8/Arc Review — Operation Starlight: #9 | #10 | #11 | #12 — War of the Bounty Hunters: #13 | #14 | #15 | #16 | #17 | #18 — Crimson Reign: #19 | #20 | #21 | #22 | #23 | #24 — Special Issue: #25