– Spoiler Review –
Star Wars: Visions has made it way to comics and novels before, initially focused on expanding the world of “The Duel” short, but now Marvel is expanding their comic efforts with a series of one-shots exploring new and returning Visions stories. It all kicks off with Star Wars: Visions – Peach Momoko #1, which sees the titular creative bring her unique and evocative style to a brand-new story.
Much like Peach Momoko’s short story in Darth Vader – Black, White & Red #1, this one is also without a single line of dialogue, but the credits page contains all you’ll need to know about the Visions world she’s created. Star Wars: Visions – Peach Momoko #1 is set in a universe where, generations after a Sith lord died, the dark side itself has become legend, but a mysterious cult, the Cult of Ankok, has risen with the enticing promise to end people’s suffering. The main players are Kako, who has a hatred for Ankok despite being a Sith commander’s descendant; Gel, Kako’s android partner; Popo, a girl with a storefront who gets caught up in the issue’s larger events; and Tata, a messenger for Ankok himself. Like all things Momoko, it’s better seen to be believed, as despite the lack of dialogue, the scene setting applies just enough context for readers to be pulled along through her dazzling pages and understand, to some extent, exactly what happens between these four characters. Of course I was hoping for a little dialogue, but I found myself happier with Momoko’s choice the more I’ve thought about the issue, and reread it, since its initial release.
Even with her unique stylings and the lack of dialogue, Visions – PM felt distinctly Star Wars, especially thanks to the heart of its story focusing on found family and the power of the individual against what seems like impossible odds, plus how the struggle with the dark is a never-ending one. Kako and Gel are only two against a sea of red-hooded individuals coming to Tata’s temple to receive the promised alleviation of their woes, but due to how strange tentacles come out from the dead body of what I’m assuming is Ankok and shove their way into people’s throats (which Kako nor Gel partake in), they have an uphill battle to stop this false hope from continuing. When purchasing some food from the market, specifically Popo’s stand, the young girl notices Gel’s an android and becomes inquisitive, eventually following the pair after they leave her stall. They take her on to their cause, as it seems she’s not a fan of what Tata is peddling, and she joins them on their next foray into the cult’s lair. Kako goes out of her way to be noticed, summoned up to the stage, and Tata commands the strange tentacles to seize Kako and surround herself. We find them in some type of connected cerebral realm, which Kako seems to think she can break but soon finds herself being consumed further…until something happens, the dead body’s avatar in this realm dissolving and then something seems to have struck through the giant Tata in front of Kako. When we return to the real world, a blaster bolt has split the sky, burning across Tata’s cheek and piercing the skull of the seemingly dead body hanging above her, which proceeds to shatter into dust like it did in the cerebral realm. But who did it?! Popo! The resulting chaos, and with help Gel who is mostly destroyed, gives Kako an opening, leading her to ram a hidden lightsaber into Tata’s gut, ending the Sith cult once and for all. Popo doesn’t take long to risk it all to save her new friends, showing the power of found family, and how even the littlest act of rebellion can bring the whole thing tumbling down. The issue ends with the reminder the darkness is always there, ready to rise again, and the fight against it is never truly over, thanks to a few unnerving panels which left me eager for more of Momoko’s vision.
Over the first two Volumes of Visions shorts, there have been many where, once the story was over, I was fine with where it ended and didn’t quite need more, not in a bad way, and there have only been one or two I’ve just not enjoyed too much, but there have been a few special ones leaving me begging for more. Visions: Peach Momoko #1 is one where I’d be happy to have more, as the story and the universe are intriguing enough, while a huge part of it is Momoko’s art. When I say evocative, I can’t really think of a better word as many of the design choices and visuals evoked many different feelings as I was reading, with the biggest culprit being the tentacles which reach out to the assembled citizens and shove down their throats. They are repulsive looking and evoked almost gag-like reflexes from me as they snaked out from the dead Ankok body, thick and swerving, veiny and red, almost muscley, so they feel alive, while people’s faces as they accept it in, wide mouths looking uncomfortable and pupils bloodshot red, give the impression the quick and easy fix offered here isn’t all its cracked up to be. But one moment I was truly impressed by was the double page spread when Popo’s shot splits the air, as while there is no dialogue and no sound FX on the page, these panels felt truly, deadly silent, as if everyone was holding in their breaths as reality set in, especially compared to the chaos before and after them. To make an already silent medium somehow evoke an even more silent feeling is nothing short of masterful. The initial panel we’re pulled to is Tata still smiling, but a line cutting through the insert, looking like she’s been shot, and it’s nestled over a wide view of the podium where she sits and Ankok’s body on its throne above her, which shows the shot is not only through her, but it goes up to and stops at Ankok, giving us our first hint she is likely spared from the shot. The next panel is below this scene, where we see the shot has grazed her face and she’s noticing it now too, and the panel next to it is Ankok’s head now has a third eye, this one not natural. The next page starts with a panel of Popo shouting, gun in her hand, while everyone around her swarms, not knowing what to do, how to respond. It’s so LOUD compared to the silent, hanging views of what’s transpired, and it’s wild Momoko’s art was able to produce such an effect.
Here is one other thing:
- The next issue in the series of one-shots returns to the universe of “The Duel,” going even further back into the Ronin’s history, and is out January 2024! After that, we don’t have any announcements yet, but it seems like these are every other month.
Star Wars: Visions – Peach Momoko #1 is exactly the kick-start a series of Visions comics needs, as it builds an enticing new vision of a galaxy far, far away without forgetting what makes the Saga so special.
+ Story matches Saga’s themes
+ Art work producing both unease and a sense of silence despite no dialogue
+ Left me eager to see more of this Vision
– This is minor, but a little dialogue would’ve been appreciated
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 VISIONS REVIEWS
Vol. 2: “Sith” | “Screecher’s Reach” | “In the Stars” | “I Am Your Mother” | “Journey to the Dark Head” | “The Spy Dancer” | “The Bandits of Golak” | “The Pit” | “Aau’s Song”
Vol. 1: “The Duel” | “Tatooine Rhapsody” | “The Twins” | “The Village Bride” | “The Ninth Jedi” | “TO-B1” | “The Elder” | “Lop & Ochō” | “Akakiri”
Related Material: Art of Star Wars: Visions Vol. 1 (book) | Star Wars: Visions #1 (comic) | Ronin: A Visions Novel (novel)