New Years 2022

 

And so ends 2021. It was the first year in a long time without any new Live Action Star Wars (Except for the single episode of Book of Boba Fett that aired this morning). And yet 2022 is going to set records for being the biggest year in Star Wars TV history. As many as 30-40 episodes of live action Star Wars television will air in 2022. Which is absolutely stunning considering only 17 episodes have aired in the short history of live action Star Wars TV so far. The point is... 2022 is going to be great for Star Wars fans.

This year (2021), I ended up reviewing 50 Star Wars comics. This was not something that I planned on doing, it just kind of happened. Amazingly, those 50 comics are less than half of the Star Wars comics that premiered this year.

So as we eagerly look to the future, here is a snippet of my past year:

The 50 Comics of 2021

Star Wars

Star Wars #12

Star Wars #13

Star Wars #14

Star Wars #15

Star Wars #16

Star Wars #17

Star Wars #18

Darth Vader

Darth Vader #10

Darth Vader #12

Darth Vader #13

Darth Vader #14

Darth Vader #15

Darth Vader #16

Darth Vader #17

Doctor Aphra

Doctor Aphra #8

Doctor Aphra #10

Doctor Aphra #11

Doctor Aphra #12

Doctor Aphra #13

Doctor Aphra #14

Doctor Aphra #15

Bounty Hunters

Bounty Hunters #10

Bounty Hunters #12

Bounty Hunters #13

Bounty Hunters #14

Bounty Hunters #15

Bounty Hunters #16

Bounty Hunters #17

The High Republic

The High Republic #2

Star Wars Adventures

Star Wars Adventures #3

Star Wars Adventures Annual 2021

High Republic Adventures

High Republic Adventures #2

High Republic Adventures Annual 2021

Ghosts of Vader’s Castle

Ghosts of Vader’s Castle #1

Ghosts of Vader’s Castle #2

Ghosts of Vader’s Castle #3

Ghosts of Vader’s Castle #4

Ghosts of Vader’s Castle #5

War of the Bounty Hunters

War of the Bounty Hunters Alpha #1

War of the Bounty Hunters #1

War of the Bounty Hunters #2

War of the Bounty Hunters #3

War of the Bounty Hunters #4

War of the Bounty Hunters #5

War of The Bounty Hunters One-Shots

War of the Bounty Hunters – Jabba the Hutt #1

War of the Bounty Hunters – 4-Lom & Zuckuss #1

War of the Bounty Hunters – Boushh #1

War of the Bounty Hunters – IG-88 #1

Crimson Reign

Crimson Reign #1

Life Day #1

Life Day #1

Since 1978, Life Day has been a part of the Star Wars Galaxy (though Lucasfilm has rarely acknowledged the holiday). Still, since the Disney acquisition Life Day has had a little more light shed on it. Happy Life Day everyone! 

Always remember:
Celebrate the light; Celebrate the might; Celebrate the fight; Celebrate the love.

“Life Day”

Captain Han Solo has lost his ship and his co-pilot. Kanjiklub has taken them both. Figures. This kind of stuff always happens on Life Day. But can Han save the day with a little bit of sleight of hand and some alcoholic beverages for good measure?

“Deck the Halls”

Nib Assek and her padawan Burryaga have arrived on Kashyyyk for Life Day and something is amiss. A mysterious vendor has sold tree ornaments to the Woookiees, however the ornaments are actually Drengir eggs.

“Paid on Delivery”

It’s Life Day and Chewbacca has found himself selling goods to Trandoshans. What more, the Trandoshans are using Wookiee slaves to mine chmeicla weapons harvested from the gut of a Sarlacc. Needless to say this does not sit well with Chewie. 

“Gift of Light”

There is an Imperial agent on Kudo and the locals are fighting back using secret messages encoded in the carols of children.  Can R2 and 3-PO save Life Day by couriering these messages back to their masters?

The High Republic Adventures Annual 2021

The High Republic Adventures Annual 2021 is a collection of short tales from each of the five writers from the “High Republic” multimedia Star Wars project. Though I have been following casually for the last couple of years, I haven’t read every title. Yet, I have enjoyed the some of titles that I have been able to make time for.

“Set for Life” by Charles Soule

Bell Zettifar, Loden Greatstorm, Indeera Stokes, and Porter Engle are probably my favorite characters in the High Republic series, so it was nice to spend a little time with them in comic format. This tale is a Master / Apprentice tale and like many Master / Apprentice tales before it, the master (Loden) teaches the apprentice (Bell) an important lesson. The lesson is actually a pretty noble one about selfishness vs. selflessness. It’s probably something that readers should internalize, especially during the holiday season. 

A solid 8-page story. Good stuff.

“No Stone Unturned” by Claudia Gray

“Into the Dark” was not my favorite Star Wars book. I found my mind wandering most of the time I was reading it, and I can only recall vague details. I couldn’t tell you much about Leox Gyasi or Affie Hollow. As for their navigator Geode, the slab of rock that’s basically just a rock, I like Geode. He is controversial among the toxic fanboys who have never read “Into the Dark” and that makes me like Geode even more.

I’m still struggling to understand the conclusion of this story. I know it has something to do with the angle of the sun hitting a jewel, but the writer/artist may have made some errors with the science.

“First Mission” by Justina Ireland

Vernestra Rhow is the Ahoska Tano of the High Republic. She is a padawan with the potential to be a real fan favorite. The plot of this tale is pretty shallow, but it does give us some beautiful renderings of Stellen Gios’ lightsaber.

“Crash and the Crew Do What They Do” by Daniel Jose Older

Alys Ongwa aka “Crash” makes her debut in this comic. Crash is a Corillean bodyguard to be featured in the upcoming novel “Midnight Horizon” by Daniel Jose Older. What makes this tale amazing, however, is the art by Jesse Lonergan. He’s got a sort of sixties underground independent comics style that I’ve always loved. The style meshes well with Science Fiction in general and it kind of harkens back to the original 70s Marvel comic line.

“The Haul” by Cavan Scott

I think Cavan Scott is probably the most talented of the five writers to pen the High Republic series, although Claudia Gray could also be a contender for that title. The character of Lourna Dee feels very at-home in the Star Wars universe. She’s an instant classic, probably more so than any other character of the High Republic (expect maybe Marchion Ro). This comic also includes Porter Engle, The Blade of Bardotta and he’s cool too. 

However, even with all these combined elements, “The Haul” is not a story. It has characters who do things, but it doesn’t really have a beginning, middle, and end. It’s basically all middle. And I get it, each of these writers had 8-pages (maybe a total of 30 panels) to tell a story. It’s not easy to make a really good story out of 30 panels. But as the final tale of this comic it just leaves me dissatisfied.

Back next week to review “Life Day #1” by Cavan Scott!

Crimson Reign #1

In the Old Expanded Universe (before the Disney acquisition), there was really only one Star Wars story set between “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi”. That story was “Shadows of the Empire”, a cross-media sub franchise that manifested as a novel, a video game, comics, toys, and even a soundtrack. 

Disney has now launched their own “Shadows of the Empire” type story to cover the single year of history set between the 4th and 5th Star Wars episodes. This time it is limited to the comics, but it is hitting many of the same beats:

Han Solo in carbonite, Bounty Hunters chasing him down, Criminal Syndicates at war.

In Crimson Reign #1 Prince Xizor of Black Sun even gets name dropped for the first time in the Disney Star Wars Universe. Though he does not make an appearance, one assumes that he will show up before all of this is over.

It is Qi’ra of Crimson Dawn, however, that assumes the role that Xizor played in the original “Shadows of the Empire”. Qi’ra was portrayed by Emilia Clarke in the 2018 film Solo, and it is fairly obvious we won’t see Emilia Clarke reprise that character on screen. “Solo” was a financial let down for Disney for a variety of reasons, and though some fans hoped for a sequel to that film, that ship has probably sailed. That isn’t to say that Disney won’t pick up any of the “Solo” plot threads on screen, after all a Lando TV show has been announced (though the status of the development for that show is currently unknown). 

All of this is to say that Lucasfilm has decided to continue Qi’ra’s storyline in the comics.

Crimson Reign #1 sets the direction for the next five months of Star Wars comics. Like “War of the Bounty Hunters”, Marvel's four ongoing Star Wars series set between “Empire” and “Jedi” are tied up in a big crossover event which will conclude with a third arc entitled “The Hidden Empire” in the latter half of 2022.

The purpose of these crossovers are clear: readers will be pressured to purchase more comics and Marvel and Disney get to rack in the dough. The more creative purpose though is that the single year which exists between “Empire” and “Jedi” is a relatively short span of time in regards to the franchise's narrative. Afterall, one of the tentpole characters is quite literally frozen in time. 

It is a tumultuous time for the Galaxy at large, the final year of Imperial rule. Palpatine is desperate to hold onto his power, and others are desperate to end him. Sure, The Rebellion is altruistic enough to want to restore the Old Republic, but other organizations have less noble goals. Some just would like a piece of the pie.

And as the galaxy turns and changes, one can’t help but notice that Star Wars comics will soon have to change as well. For seven years now Marvel has chronicled the goings-on in the galaxy betwixt the confines of the Original Star Wars trilogy. But this age of Marvel is probably heading to a close. At some point- maybe not next year or the year after, but at some point Marvel will have to move on and cover the time period between “Return of the Jedi” and “The Force Awakens”. This is a much bigger playground- a larger chunk of galactic history (30 years for those counting) and Marvel’s main Star Wars line can probably live comfortably in that era for a very long time.

Yet, as Marvel continues its Shadows-of-the-Empire-esque experiment, I cannot come along for the ride. While I probably will read these escapades at some point, I will not continue to cover them week to week in blog form. Reviewing 34 issues of “War of the Bounty Hunters” was quite enough for me. As 2021 wraps up, this blog will change once again. Change is inevitable.

What will 2022 bring for this blog? I honestly have no idea. I had no idea that I would review 50 individual Star Wars comics in 2021 until it happened. None of us know what the future will bring, just as Disney is unsure of what it is doing with the Star Wars franchise.

Star Wars has never had a grand plan (even though many still evangelize that Lucas planned everything in advance). Star Wars is like everything else in life: you throw porridge on a wall and hope some bits stick.

As a wise sage once said "Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future."

In Defense of Jaxxon the Space Rabbit (and Hoojibs too)

 In Defense of Jaxxon the Space Rabbit

Gatekeepers beware, Jaxxon is here. If you’ve never heard of Jaxxon, the giant green rabbit, you may be confused how such a cartoonish character managed to sneak into the sacred garden of Star Wars canon. But the reality is that Jaxxon has always been a part of Star Wars (at least as long as 1978). Jaxxon kicked his way through some of the earliest issues of the 1970’s Marvel Star Wars comics. It is true that Jaxxon was initially not very popular with fans- but over the years the jade space bunny has gained more of a following.

The truth, that many fans refuse to admit, is that anthropomorphic rabbits do have a place in the Star Wars universe. Maybe not in the theatrical films or within the episodes of the Mandalorian. But stuck between the pages of the comics aimed at younger readers is a perfect venue for Bugs-Bunny-like heroes. For the last four years Jaxxon has appeared in the annual edition of “Star Wars Adventures” published by IDW comics. This Halloween, he was also featured in the “Ghosts of Vader’s Castle” line (again from IDW). 

Even though Jaxxon has mostly been regulated to kids titles, it’s easy to see how he could appeal to adults. Jaxxon is not some fluffy, cute critter. The character knows how to sling insults and fight his way out of dire situations. He constantly lands himself in trouble (mostly by taking up dangerous smuggling missions) but he always manages to get out of it using his luck and his wits. Jaxxon, in fact, is almost an amalgamation of Han Solo combined with Chewbacca. Jaxxon has recently found his way into titles aimed towards older readers including Star Wars #108 (2019), “From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back” (2020), and a Black Series Hasbro action figure (2021).

And if imitation is really the best form of flattery, then there is no greater testament to Jaxxon’s lasting appeal than the introduction of a new anthropomorphic rabbit to the Star Wars universe. "Star Wars: Visions", which premiered in September 2021 featured an animated short titled “Lop and Ocho”. The eponymous “Lop” being a Lepi (the same bunny-like species of Jaxxon). Though Lop is brown instead of green, the inspiration is clear and the implication is that Star Wars rabbits are here to stay.

Now, plenty of Star Wars “fans” continue to rail against any part of the universe that they find distasteful, and it is true that there isn’t much tasteful about Jaxxon. Although it is notable that some of the same fans that disparage Jaxxon, have no problem with Jar Jar Binks or Ziro the Hutt.

Adventures Annual 2021

Despite his appearance on the cover of Adventures Annual this year (which is becoming something of a tradition for the IDW line) Jaxxon is nowhere to be found within the pages of the double-sized comic. Instead Cavan Scott and crew have decided to bring back another rodent from the vintage Marvel comics of the 1970s. Hoojibs are a species of rabbit-like creatures which are less anthropomorphic and more… basically just rabbits. The creatures were first introduced in Star Wars #55 “Plif” (1981). The titular, Plif, was a representative of the Hoojib back in the 70s comics and is the main Hoojib featured in the 2021 Adventure’s Annual. Hoojibs lack mouths, but feed off of electricity and communicate telepathically. Though they look fairly defenless, having the ability to consume energy is actually pretty useful when fending off droids and blasters. In this way the Hoojibs may be perfectly evolved to fend off the dangers of the Star Wars universe.

Hoojibs are cute and some fans might think that cute little creatures have no place in their toy collections. You know, apart from R2-D2, Ewoks, BB-8, Porgs, and Grogu. Ok… so Grogu kind of cements the point that tiny cute creatures with telepathic powers kind of actually have a comfy home in Star Wars. It doesn’t mean that every Star Wars fan has to dress up in furry outfits like a bunch of bronies, but it does mean that Star Wars is massive enough that it can be a buffet of personal preference and options. Don’t like the rabbits? Fine, skip the rabbits and move onto the robots and space wizards. But please know that some people like the rabbits. And they are getting more popular every day.

War of the Bounty Hunters Part 6

Issue #29 - War of the Bounty Hunters #5 - “Attack at Dawn”

Did you know that the Hutt Armada once launched an attack on the Galactic Empire over the frozen body of Han Solo? I didn’t. It certainly seems like something that a rich 10-year-old with too many action figures would dream up in his basement. But, why not throw the kitchen sink into this giant Marvel crossover series? That is the entire point of crossovers, is it not?

The War of the Bounty Hunters ends where it began. Boba Fett is delivering the frozen Han Solo to Jabba’s Palace. And yet according to the final page, The War of the Bounty Hunters mini-series is only the first installment of a trilogy which (apparently) will continue with “Crimson Reign” and conclude with “The Hidden Empire”. Keep those wallets handy, fans.

Issue #30 - Doctor Aphra #15 - “Party Favors”

Aphra is being pursued by agents of the Crimson Dawn which included the Bounty Hunter, Deathstick. Fortunately Aphra is being pursued in a space museum and she is, afterall, an archeologist. Aphra is able to ID a deadly weapon cherished by The Ascendant, which was apparently a group of dark force users even darker than the Sith. She uses the weapon and manages to escape. Yet what she discovers about Crimson Dawn foreshadows the future of the Marvel Star Wars line. And the future is Crimson. 

Issue #31 - Darth Vader #17 - “Just Rewards”

Ochi of Bestoon was sort of a throwaway character from “The Rise of Skywalker”. Marvel, however, seems to really like the character and has made him a big part of the “Darth Vader” line as well as the Marvel Star Wars lines as a whole.

From the beginning of this crossover I was skeptical that the story would have no lasting impact on Star Wars lore. And yet as “War of the Bounty Hunters” wraps up it becomes clear that the story is not a one-off, it is a set-up for things to come. So on one hand, the crossover is not just a gimmick and on the other hand… I guess I have to keep reading. I can’t just put down the comics just yet.

Issue #32 - IG-88 #1 - “Born to Kill”

And as much fun as a huge interconnective crossover event is, sometimes small one-off stories are the real heart and soul of the comics industry. Stories like this one. IG-88 lies dead, sliced to pieces by Lord Vader. IG-88 is resurrected and programmed with a mission. IG-88 is defeated by Boba Fett and again left for dead. IG-88 ponders his place in the universe.

Comics can do many things that other mediums can’t. A giant sprawling crossover is one. A small examination of characters that wouldn’t otherwise have a voice is another. 

Issue #33 - Star Wars #18 - “Collision Course”

Han Solo had one great love in his life: The princess that turned the scoundrel into a hero. This is what we all used to believe. But Han Solo had two great loves, many of us do. The princess he ended up with and his first great love- the love he met when he was still a scrumrat.

In “Collision Course” both of these women come face to face. Each with vastly more power and galactic influence than Han will ever have. Qi’ra boards the Millenium Falcon without weapons- only wanting a conversation and for 20 pages that’s what this issue delivers, a simple conversation between two women… about a man. Technically it does not pass the Bectdel test, but as I mentioned earlier the two women in question are no damsels in distress. They are two of the most influential people in the galaxy, they just happen to love the same man.

Issue #34 - Bounty Hunters #17 - “Escape From the Executor”

Beilert Valance lies in pieces, defeated, betrayed by Boba Fett. 

Valance is not the most popular Star Wars character. He’s not as recognizable as Boba Fett or Bossk. And yet he’s been around longer than any of them. A Bounty Hunter. Once lost to obscurity and now with his own comic line.

Or does he?

Valance the Hunter is now… Valance: Servant of Lord Vader? Interesting if true... 

This blogpost was meant to be a conclusion but after those six issues there is only one way to conclude: To Be Continued…