Star Wars (2015) Issue 1

 

-Writer: Jason Aaron

-Artist: John Cassaday

-Colourist: Laura Martin

-Cover Artists: Cassidy & Martin

First off, I love how much this book resembles the films. Starting by devoting an entire page to “A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away...” followed by a title card and opening crawl before sending us on our adventure via an opening shot of a ship approaching a planet. Very cool.

Our heroes are making a daring attack on an Imperial weapons factory. Han Solo is posing as the emissary from Jaba the Hutt, there to meet an Imperial negotiator about supplying the Empire with resources they need, especially now after the destruction of the first Death Star.

The plan to destroy the massive, automated factory goes smoothly, until the trouble starts. Luke discovers the Empire is keeping slaves in the facility, and Chewie (on lookout duty) sees that the Imperial negotiator has arrived, and it’s none other than Darth Vader himself. To make matters worse, the Millenium Falcon is being picked apart by scavengers and only C-3PO is there to stop them.

It isn’t long before all Hell breaks loose with Han and Leah leading the rescued prisoners to an AT-AT and Luke rushing off to face Vader, the man who killed both his mentor and his father (well... at last that’s what he believes).

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I really appreciate the attention to detail. There were clear efforts taken to make this comic look like a Star Wars movie, like an extension of the Skywalker saga.

The art is excellent, the humour is quips and in-keeping with the rest of the franchise. The action is very well executed.

Darth Vader is shown as particularly ruthless, at one point using a pair of Stormtroopers as unwilling human shields.

Leah is commanding and organized. Han is still trying (badly) to be a rogue with no allegiance. Luke is impulsive and over confident.

This issue is a great start to the series!