Review – Star Wars #20 (Dark Horse Comics)

August 12, 2014

2–3 minutes

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Writer: Brian Wood
Artist: Carlos D’Anda
Release Date: 13th August 2014

The latest in the Star Wars series has, I’m sorry to say, not quite done it for me. Perhaps I expected too much. Having reviewed the Rebel Heist series last week, I was still wired to the unique brilliance of the miniseries and so whatever followed would have to be equally awesome in order to hold my attention. Unfortunately, it was not to be.

It begins well; Carlos D’anda’s bold, artwork conveys an asteroid field of icebergs wonderfully, and the banter between Han and Leia as they repair the ever-faulty Falcon amid these bergs is both funny and biting. The story has kept Leia as the main focus in her role of leader and apparent babysitter to the wide-eyed Luke and childish Han. The variety of expressions conveyed is lacking though, and as stressful as their jobs must be, their faces are fixed in permanent scowls for much of the comic.

The most outwardly expressionless character, the bounty hunter-droid IG-88, is the star of this issue. He’s dangerous, ruthless and has a dry wit, though many of his lines are typically ‘bounty-hunterish’. I can’t help but feeling that he was included because using Boba Fett would have been overkill and one major character too many in the book.

I liked the introduction of Leia’s childhood friend and Rebel Alliance agent, Seren Song, in issue 19. However she didn’t make the impression I’d hoped for in this book and, upon closer inspection appears to be Leia’s clone, albeit with black hair and different clothes. I’m sure Alderaanians look alike to a point, but come on…

The art may not be all there in the close-ups, but panels of the Millenium Falcon and Seren Song’s Y-Wing fighter blasting through space are brilliant, as is the showdown between our Rebel heroes and IG 88.

One final flaw is the story itself, it seems hastily written and more functional than exciting, although the dialogue makes up for this somewhat. There are a few jokes, some banter and the occasional attempt at character development, but all in all this issue seems like the comicbook equivalent of the ferry crossing between England and France – something one has to go through to get from one exciting place to another.

There are some good points to this issue, but overall I was sadly underwhelmed. Get it if you want story continuity for issue 21’s release, otherwise, save your pennies.

Rating: 2/5

PREVIEW ARTWORK.

[Click thumbnail for full size image]