The Road to Episode Infinity: June 2019

Thursday, June 27, 2019

Age of Rebellion - Comic Review

Princess Leia in “Princess Scoundrel”

Leia has recently acquired a new persona after defeating the bounty hunter Boushh on Ord Mantell. Now she must save Lando Calrissian who is being pursued by bounty hunters on planet Arkanis. Now Leia must convince a den of bounty hunters- including the Trandoshan, Bossk- that she is one of them. Does Leia have what it takes to be a dangerous bounty hunter as well as a Princess?

Grand Moff Tarkin in “Tooth and Claw”

What madman could order the destruction of an entire planet? This comic attempts to answer that question as well as explore a bit of the origin of Tarkin. We all knew Tarkin was ruthless, but in this tale he also comes across as a bit unhinged- maybe even clinically insane. It is a side of Tarkin that I have never considered before.

Han Solo in “Running From the Rebellion”

Han Solo is an outlaw with no aleigences. Except to his friend Chewbacca… and Luke… and Leia… The truth is that Han has never wanted to play the part of a Hero. He wants nothing to do with the Rebellion (even though he provided funding to one of the earliest rebel cells). Yet Han cannot escape the Rebellion either. From Yavin to Hoth, Han spends three years trying to cut ties and run. It’s only when he is saved from Jabba’s Palace that he accepts his true role.

Chewbacca does not receive an individual issue in the “Age Of” comic series- despite the fact that he plays a role in all three Star Wars “ages”. Chewbacca serves an important role in the pages of this issue. Chewie is Han’s conscience, steering the smuggler in a moral direction. Chewbacca is older than Han, wiser. He remembers what life was like before The Empire. Also (unlike Han) Chewbacca does have a family, a tribe. Chewbacca has something to fight for.

Boba Fett in “Hunter’s Heart”

On planet Carajam, Boba Fett rides a robotic steed and he hunts. Boba Fett, in many ways, is what Han Solo would like to be. He owes no allegiances. He’s in it for the money. He keeps no moral code. A job is a job and nothing else matters. The Old Expanded Universe always wanted to try and give Fett a purpose, a family, a backstory, but most fans probably prefer Fett the way he is presented in this stand-alone comic- standing alone.

Lando Calrissian in “Cloud City Blues”

On Bespin, Lando Calrissian is the Barron Administrator of Cloud City. But it’s hard to run a business, much less a business that is also a city… in the clouds. Harder still to keep his employees satisfied. Lando stumbles upon a job that could make all his troubles go away. Easy in- Easy out. But when the job turns out to be a moral quandary will Lando play the role of the hero or the businessman?

Jabba the Hutt in “Good To Be Jabba”

On Tatooine, Jabba the Hutt is a crime lord. But it’s hard to run a crime syndicate. Harder still to keep the Tusken Raiders satisfied and the merchants satisfied and the denizens of his court satisfied. But, when the merchants and Jawas and Imperials threaten to start a war on his planet, can Jabba outplay his adversaries?

Luke Skywalker in “Fight or Flight”

Luke Skywalker is becoming a Jedi Knight. He has even built his own lightsaber. On a mission in the Outer Rim, he is exactly what the Rebel Alliance needs. A Hero. But Emperor Palpatine will stop at nothing to see that Skywalker fails. Palpatine attempts to tempt Skywalker toward the Dark Side. Will Luke take the bait or is he stronger than the Emperor suspects?

Darth Vader in “To The Letter”

Darth Vader, is in the early days of his rule as a Sith Lord. But he is not all powerful. Even Vader must bow to Palpatine himself. All his life Anakin Skywalker had a master. Watto, who he was in servitude to. Obi-Wan Kenobi and the Jedi Order. Anakin’s journey has always been to escape, rise above, or dispose of those masters. Will Vader kneel to Palpatine or find a way to overthrow the Emperor himself?

IG-88 in “The Long Game”

This comic paints the bounty hunter, IG-88 as a patient, calculating killer who excels at a long con. The Old Expanded Universe had only a few stories centered around this deadly droid and the ones that were told were quite strange- implausible even. Yet, this comic tells us that “When it comes to the bounty hunter IG-88, everyone has a tall tale to tell… some distant day, folks’ll realize, they’re all true,”

Yoda in “The Trial of Dagobah”

In the original trilogy Yoda was as much as an enigma as the rest of the old Jedi order. He did not carry a lightsaber and he was seemingly a pacifist. Yet the prequels tell us that Yoda led a grand army and carried a laser sword. And this comic tells us he hunted animals with a bow and arrow. The moral presented in this story is that all beings are fallible. Yoda let the Jedi Order crumble on his watch. He let the Old Republic fall. And he has a lot to make up for. He has penance to pay.

Biggs Darklighter and Jek Porkins in “Stolen Valor”

This tale is a humorous and dark story in the vein of Daniel Clowes. Inside these pages Porkins is disenchanted with the whole bloody war and he has existential questions about what it all means. It also features a vacation to planet Irff where Biggs and Porkins build sandcastles and ride sea monsters. The story is both ridiculous and heartbreaking. None of it can really be considered canon, but it is a fresh new take on a Galaxy Far Far Away.

Dark Horse Comics (Link)

Dawn of the Jedi Dawn of the Jedi

Tales of the Jedi Tales of the Jedi

Knights of the Old Republic Knights of the Old Republic

Star Wars: Republic Star Wars: Republic
Dark Times Dark Times
Empire & Rebellion Star Wars: Empire & Star Wars: Rebellion
Brian Wood's Star Wars Brian Wood's Star Wars
Dark Empire Dark Empire
Crimson Empire Crimson Empire
Invasion Invasion
Legacy Vol. 1 Star Wars: Legacy
Vector Star Wars: Vector
Legacy Vol. 2 Legacy Volume 2
Infinities Infinities
The Star Wars The Star Wars

Star Wars Tales Star Wars Tales

Marvel Comics

Original Marvel Comics Original Marvel Comics
Star Wars #108 Star Wars #108
Alan Moore's Star Wars Comics Alan Moore's Star Wars Comics

Han Solos Vs. Space Crocodile Han Solo vs. Crocodile in Space

Marvel's New Star Wars Line Catching Up With Comics

Age of Republic Age of Republic
Age of Rebellion Age of Rebellion
Age of Resistance Age of Resistance

Star Wars #1... Again Star Wars #1... Again
Ewoks in Comics Ewoks in Comis
Who is Doctor Aphra Who Is Doctor Aphra

The Last Jedi Expanded Universe The Last Jedi Expanded Universe
Who is Jaxxon Who Is Jaxxon

IDW Comics
Tales from Vader's Castle Tales from Vader's Castle

Return to Vader's Caslte Return to Vader's Castle

Sunday, June 2, 2019

Star Wars #108: 38 Years in the Making

Star Wars #108 is the sequel to the original run of Marvel comics, which ended in issue #107 in June of 1986. This original comic line was of questionable canon, even before Disney purchased Lucasfilm, and the characters of this comic line have been largely forgotten by fandom. Nonetheless, Marvel revived this series for a single issue “Forever Crimson” a sequel of sorts to Star Wars #50 “The Crimson Forever”. So before reviewing Star Wars #108, let’s start with Star Wars #50:

May 19^th 1981
Star Wars #50

“The Crimson Forever”

Chapter I

This double-sized issue (written by Archie Goodwin) starts shortly after the events of “The Empire Strikes Back”. Lando and Chewie are on a mission to rescue Han Solo from the clutches of Jabba the Hutt. But an urgent plea from Princess Leia brings them to a hidden Rebel base on the volcanic planet of Golrath. Here, Commander Luke Skywalker lies unconscious, stricken by a deadly plague known as “The Crimson Forever”. The plague, it seems has been caused by a mysterious red crystal, perhaps of exogalactic origin. It just so happens that Chewbacca has encountered this crystal before which leads us to…

Chapter II: Rage in the Red Nebula

Han Solo and Chewbacca are trying to dodge an Imperial blockade which brings them to a remote trade planet called Terminus. They don’t last long on Terminus, however. They are soon captured by treasure hunters who enslave them and send the two on a mission to hunt down two red jewels from the Red Nebula way out in Wild Space. Fighting through traps and monsters, Solo is able to nab one of the jewels but only momentarily. Han is ambushed by the treasure hunters who take the jewel from his clutches (ala Raiders of the Lost Ark) and leave Han stranded on the planet. Unfortunately separating the jewels is a bad idea, since it causes the illness known as “The Crimson Forever”.

Chapter III: Against the Scarlet Night

Leia, Lando, & Chewbacca are on a mission to reunite the jewels of the Red Nebula, hoping to end the sickness that ails Luke Skywalker. In the nebula they find an old mining ship once owned by the House of Tagge (more on them later). Aboard the seemingly derelict ship, they find that “The Crimson Forever” has struck the crew. But soon they are captured by Domina Tagge and her gang of bounty hunters (IG-88, Bossk, Dengar, 4-Lom, a Zuckuss). Domina Tagge is the youngest of the Tagge family and has inherited the house after her three older brothers were defeated by Luke and the other Star Warriors (see issue #37 “In Mortal Combat”). Domina reveals that her plan is to use the crystals to destroy her enemies- namely The Galactic Empire and The Rebel Alliance. However, while Domina and her crew have been carrying out their evil plans, they have inadvertently stranded themselves in the Red Nebula. Domina and her gang make a deal with Leia, trading a ride home for the second life crystal and soon both gems are reunited ending “The Crimson Forever” forever (or at least, for now). Luke is saved from permanent hibernation and all is resolved… (or is it?)

38 Year Later….

May 29^th 2019

Star Wars #108

“Forever Crimson”

Chapter I: “The Legend of Valance the Hunter”

Valance the Hunter was a character established in “Star Wars #16: The Hunter”. Originally a stormtrooper, Valance was almost killed in an X-Wing bombing raid. When he woke up he was more machine than man. He was so angry about his new life as a cyborg that he grew to despise all machines, specifically droids. He especially hates Luke Skywalker the boy he calls “droid lover”. Though in “Star Wars #27: Return of the Hunter” C-3PO convinces Valance to change his mind about droids and their masters. In “Star Wars #29: Dark Encounter” Valance actually gives his life to defend Luke Skywalker’s identity from Darth Vader. Vader defeats Valance at Rubyflame Lake and Valance sinks to the bottom, never to be heard from again. Or so it seems…

Chapter II: Near Misses and Narrow Escapes

It is the age of the New Republic. The Empire has fallen and Han Solo and Chwebcca are on Planet Stenos. They have been hired to smuggle a single piece of purple fruit known as an oranky bloom. When things go south they run into Jaxxon and Amaiza Foxtrain. Jaxxon is a giant green rabbit and Amaiza a white haired gunslinger, both introduced in “Star Wars #8: Eight for Abuda-3”.

Meanwhile…

Chapter III: A Scavenger’s Mistake

Captain Thea of The Wandering P’orp (claiming to be a New Republic soldier, but secretly working for Domina Tagge) is purchasing a heap of junk that has been scavenged from Rubyflame Lake. Since the durasteel was tough enough to survive the geothermal heat of the violent lake, they figure it will come in handy. Unfortunately, Captain Thea and her crew do not notice that within the pile of junk lies the lifeless metallic body of Valance the Hunter!

Chapter IV: Old Worries in the New Republic

Leia, Luke, R2, 3PO and Plif (a small creature introduced in “Star Wars #55: Plif!”) are negotiating peace talks on the planet Noquivzor, though it isn’t going well. Suddenly the Millennium Falcon arrives with Han, Chewie, Jaxxon, and Amaiza bearing bad news. Domina Tagge has resurfaced and is back to her old tricks. The galaxy is once again, in danger.

Chapter V: For Fear of What Might Wake

The crew of the Wandering P’orp is ferrying their newly purchased durasteel to Domina Tagge when on chunk suddenly comes to life. It is the cybernetic skeleton of Valance the Hunter. The skeleton starts demolishing all organics onboard but spares a translation droid who tells Valance the legend of the “Life Jewels” of the Red Nebula. When these twin jewels are together, they give the power of healing. Valance, hoping to become organic once more, decides to seek out these jewels.

Chapter VI: On The Way To Forever

Arriving in the Crimson Nebula, the crew of the Millennium Falcon (Which now includes Han, Chewie, Luke, Leia, Jaxxon, Amaiza, R2, 3PO and Plif) are ambushed by the ship of Domina Tagge.

Chapter VII: Snatched Away From The Sun

As the two ships battle across the stars, the Falcon sends down an escape pod carrying Luke, Leia, R2, and Jaxxon to the derelict ship housing the “Life Jewels” (which have been there since the end of “Star Wars #50: The Crimson Forever”. The Star Warriors track down the jewels but are then ambushed by Domina, Bossk, Dengar and IG-88. Then in a moment of betrayal, Jaxxon takes off with the crystals.

Chapter VIII: The End Of The Hunt

Valance arrives on the scene and fights off Jaxxon for the Life Jewels. Luke arrives on the scene and convinces Valance to spare the life of Jaxxon. Valance is about to use the gems to restore his organic body when Domina arrives on the scene and shoots the hunter in the back. Domina throws one of the jewels into the fiery heart of the Red Nebula, hoping that the separation of the gems will bring back the “Crimson Forever” plague, but Valance, still holding one jewel, jumps into the nebula himself. Before Valance is burned alive by the fiery core of the Nebula, he joins the Life Jewels finally restoring his organic form. Valance the Hunter, in the last moments of his life, finally finds peace.