Review: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker #1

After extensive delays, Marvel finally is releasing its adaptation of Star Wars The Rise of Skywalker. The film itself has some great performances and effects shoring up a horrible plot. Here we are left with a flat retelling of a ridiculous script. The comic could have been an opportunity to give this tale some nuance, some deeper characters and some more time with beloved friends. Instead the small additions are just hackneyed emotional details making Rey and Kylo feel sillier.

The plot is paper thin, Kylo works to resurrect a Sith Fleet and the Emperor. Rey and her sidekicks try to stop him. Every other character and moment is simply a cameo to their story. This book was a chance to give Leia’s part in this story the depth and focus that the loss of Carrie Fisher made impossible on film. Instead we get a flimsy retelling of her short stilted dialogue towards Rey and one scene with Rose. Chewbacca, Finn and Lando are similarly underemphasized throughout the issue.

The artwork of the Emperor and the Sith Fleet is done well, but all of the other characters are off. Rey, Finn, Luke and Lando are unrecognizable. As Rey and friends head to Pasaana all of the originality of these scenes feels dampened by the art here. The action and colors of those scenes are not transferred in any way to the comic page. This book gives us all the plot but none of the feeling of adventure in The Rise of Skywalker.

The lack of flare, the lack of characterization and the basic plot device of the wayfinders makes this book a reminder of all the worst aspects of the film. Readers deserved something which added depth to the film. Imagine if the creators took the time to give us Finn’s thoughts or Leia’s struggles throughout this tale. There was so much opportunity to redeem the mistakes of the movie in this retelling, instead we just get a product which exacerbates them.

Writing: 0 of 5 stars
Art: 2 of 5 stars
Colors: 2 of 5 stars

Overall:
1 of 5 stars

Writer: Jody Houser
Art: Will Sliney
Colors: Guru-eFX
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Author Profile

M.R. Jafri

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.