Thankfully this creates a nice foil to challenge Lando and we go deeper into the time period following The Empire Strikes Back. As the Rebels work to escape from the Empire and gather anew they need to establish a new code for communications which the Imperial commander won’t intercept.
The Rebels including Leila, Lando, Lobot and Poe Dameron’s father Kes Dameron work with R2 and 3PO in the hopes of convincing the old protocol droid to help them. Lobot acts as a conduit as Lando relates how Lobot had sacrificed much of his mind to save Lando. Lando helps convince the droid to help the Rebel communications but also continues to play all sides as he lets Bib Fortuna know of the Rebel plans.
Leia establishes a new Starlight Squadron which includes the always awesome Wedge Antilles, Poe’s mother Shara Bey and best of all Mart Mattin, the character created as a tribute to Lucasfilm Story Group’s Matt Martin. Shara and Kes share a moment before her squadron leaves.
As the squadron runs into trouble, the old droid back on the station discovers he can correct Lobot’s thought processes. As Starlight Squadron faces Imperial attack the Rebel Code becomes vital. Lando realizes using Lobot as a conduit for the droid is harming him, but Kes Dameron threatens Lando at gunpoint to force the droid to send the needed codes to save Shara and the Squadron.
This issue shows how great Charles Soule is at pulling disparate parts of the Star Wars saga into a focused story with real stakes. Seeing Lando’s friendship with Lobot and the complexities of his having to convince a droid to work with him is fantastic. Including Kes and Starlight Squadron pulls together elements from the new expanded universe and gives the stories a broader canvas which is vital when telling stories in this era between episode V and VI.
The art feels a bit simple at times, with the ancient droid looking a bit too nondescript and Leia not looking quite like herself. But on the whole the characters look great and the action and battles have a kenetic aspect which is tough to achieve on the comic page. This book is a solid entry to a new epic filling in the gaps of a vital era and bringing together some great characters from the larger Star Wars Universe.
Story: 4.4 of 5 stars
Art: 4.0 of 5 stars
Colors: 4.2 of 5 stars
Overall: 4.2 of 5 stars
Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Jan Bazaldua
Colors: Rachelle Rosenberg
Letters: Clayton Cowles
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Author Profile
- M.R. Jafri was born and raised in Niagara Falls New York and now lives with his family in Detroit Michigan. He's a talkative introvert and argumentative geek. His loves include Star Wars, Star Trek, Superheroes, Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, Transformers, GI Joe, Films, Comics, TV Shows, Action Figures and Twizzlers.
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