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