– Spoiler Review –
Everyone keeps thinking they have time on their hands, especially the Rebellion after their recent slate of victories, but a family has news that’ll shatter such perceptions…if they can get word to the Rebellion now the Empire’s on their tail in Star Wars #27 (Vol. 2).
Last issue began a new arc for Charles Soule’s time on the mainline Star Wars comic, showing a Rebellion confident about what’s to come and shoring up their resources to make even more damage against the Empire. But unbeknownst to them, the second Death Star looms in space, waiting to be completed and unleashed on the galaxy…though its secrecy is threatened by two deep operatives of Crimson Dawn’s expansive spy network, who right now are the Rebellion’s only chance to learn of the dangers ahead after they’re activated by Qi’ra. We only just got to know Bev and Melton, her a cargo worker and him Moff Jerjerrod’s personal aide, and the fact they have two children, so issue #27 lets us get to know them more as they attempt to gain the Rebellion’s help as they flee the Empire now chasing them. By the end of the issue, Melton and Bev give me Danthan and Miramir vibes, aka Rey’s parents, and their doomed storyline in Shadow of the Sith, as I’m rooting for these two and their family to get to the Rebellion and reveal the second Death Star’s existence simply due to how Soule’s written them so far, but I feel they might have a similarly dark fate. Until we know what happens to them, we have hope they’ll make it plus Soule’s writing to make them relatable and people we can root for, so no matter what comes, there will be either tears or popping bottles. It’s not going to be an easy road for them, as neither are quite equipped for being spies on the run all while trying to protect their children, as they fumble through the inevitable comm message by the Death Star II to their shuttle as they flee, while they are barely able to shoot down the pursuing TIEs. Melton’s choice to go to Coruscant, as the Rebellion’s hesitancy to help them takes its time going up the command chain, is a very intriguing one but it sort of makes sense: there are so many people on the planet it could be very hard for the Empire to find them, even though they are in the Empire’s backyard. They soon might have help, though from a surprising source….
The way their message for help bounced around the Rebellion was very believable and interesting. The initial message takers (one being Tenzigo, from Rogue One!) on an Outer Rim listening post, are unsure of its validity and pass it along to HQ. When it’s there, Lando overhears the message as he watches over Lobot, who’s plugged into their network for signal analysis, and immediately considers it a trap. Even after a little debate, he’s sure it’s probably a lie, so when the analysts send it up to command, Hera Syndulla shares the intelligence brief and it’s not even mentioned…until Luke Skywalker asks for more information and says he has a good feeling about it! Is the Force calling Luke to the young family, much like he will later in life when trying to help Rey’s family? Have he and Hera talked much beyond moments like this, about Kanan or Ezra? Regardless, the idea Luke could be heading to Coruscant, this close to Return of the Jedi, is an intriguing one full of potential. And if there’s any truth to the covers for issues out in October and November, Luke in an Imperial outfit and Luke, Lando, Chewie, and Threepio at a fancy party (sounds about right for Coruscant), we have a lot to look forward to!
Art-wise, like I said for last issue, I’m really liking Andrés Genolet’s style, for its emotive characters and issue #27 doubles down on those strengths while adding more to enjoy. Beyond the script and how we see Bev and Melton take each new moment by the seat of their pants, it’s Genolet’s artwork that makes them relatable and readers empathetic to these new characters, showing the fear or worry plain on their faces as they tackle each new situation. And even in the way they interact with one another, Melton’s soft touch on Bev’s shoulder, telling her they can’t win if they go out guns blazing, as she’s reaching for weapons after they crash on Coruscant, or them holding hands as they talk through what to do next, this couple cares about one another and seeing that makes it easy to care about them and their plight. For Rachelle Rosenberg’s colors, I loved the icky green she uses for Coruscant level 2685, it’s unlike anything she’s used this issue for other locations, bright and cleaner colors across other spaces, so it sets the location apart and gives the impression of how far these two have fallen in the ecumenopolis’ streets. That the first beings they meet are only against helping the family because Imperials are already on their way, betrays the notion it’s a dark and seedy place, so I like that juxtaposition. Lando’s purple outfit, a rarity I feel like in Star Wars sometimes, was a neat look, while the red of the TIE fighter pilot’s visor was a menacing choice. Clayton Cowles’ lettering highlights how much of an underdog this little family is in the way his SFX when Bev shoots down one TIE is aggressively large, comically so, giving the impression of how hard won the littlest of victories is for them. I also liked how in the initial scene of the family getting into contact with the Rebellion, the dialogue boxes consume a lot of the page, giving the impression of their bureaucratic way of dealing with the plea for help and not being emotional.
A family in need and Rebellion too focused on the big picture might just miss the biggest reveal of the era, but in steps a Jedi Knight, making Star Wars #27 (Vol. 2) an intriguing next step in this series’ latest story.
+ Rooting for Bev and Melton
+ Lots of potential with this story
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 — Death Star II: #26