Bounty Hunters (2020) #31
“BEDLAM ON BESTINE, PART THREE”
Valance has had his whole world shattered after learning that the Empire he has been serving bombed the rebel base where the love of his life had taken refuge, leaving her presumed dead.
Reunited with T’onga and his fellow bounty hunters, the cyborg hero is now out for revenge. But in his anger, he’s drawn out Darth Vader for a showdown—one he is not likely to survive!
Meanwhile, Vukorah is struggling to maintain control over the Unbroken Clan now that word has gotten out about the existence of a rightful heir to the syndicate throne. With Cadeliah being protected by Crimson Dawn, the current leader of the Clan is isolated and in danger….
Writer: Ethan Sacks
Artist: Paolo Villanelli
Letterer: Travis Lanham
Colorist: Arif Prianto
Cover artist: Giuseppe Camuncoli
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Publication date: February 15, 2023
When the first question of the issue is “Please tell me Valance isn’t stupid enough to pick a fight with Darth Vader” and Zuckuss is the one to confirm that yes, he is indeed that stupid, you know you’re entering yet another full throttle issue of Bounty Hunters, and as Valance rages at the sith lord – lying about protecting the ones he loves while blowing them to oblivion – Vader is already tired of the conversation as Beilert unleashes fire on Vader. T’onga and crew can see Valance will be outmatched, and so she leaps onto a speeder bike to get him out of there while the rest return to the Edgehawk as Valance hurls a rock at Vader, the dark lord crushing it and giving Valance the distraction he needed to leap in. Without his lightsaber Vader is susceptible, a moment that quickly passes as he regains his blade, slicing into the speeder bike and turning back to face Valance.
Knowing he’s outmatched, he goads Vader that at least the villagers will survive, just as TIE Bombers unload on the village, sending them fleeing for the caves as Lieutenant Haydenn returns to Vader’s side, her blaster aimed at Valance. They once shared something special, a relationship Valance reminds her of but instead she pledges her loyalty and love to the Empire, blasting him in the head and sending him spiralling off a cliff.
We swing to Corellia, where the Unbroken Clan stronghold reveals two men who are keen for Cadeliah – currently in Crimson Dawn custody – to replace Vukorah, but insist on secrecy; a secrecy shattered by the spy cams that allow Vokorah to listen in on the conversation. We step to the past, as Vukorah and her sister Krynthia, the future leader of the Unbroken Clan, play as children before their father comes in and leads Vukorah away. Her place is not to rule, and to show her where her loyalties lie he makes her kill her pet Loth Cat. In the now she runs a monitor through with her blade as we return to Vader and Haydenn, Vader angry at Valance being allowed to escape, even though the likelihood is he died on impact. Below we see Team T’onga find him sat near flaming wreckage, Valance insisting they leave as there’s nothing left to stay for.
We see Haydenn lost in thought, thinking of the shot to Valance’s head – right where his armour-plated skull is – and comes back to the present as she instructs Inferno Squad to find Valance and wipe his memory, a chip that holds vital information regarding what appears to be a second Death Star battle station.
Little surprise at this point to hear me state just how much I emnjoy this title, from the kinetic energy of the art to the snappy, sarcasm-loaded delivery of the lines. It’s a consistent rollercoaster ride from issue to issue, and a highlight of the reading month delivered by Ethan Sacks and team, a job which really deserves a firm handshake and a hearty thank you. A title of this style would be very easy to misjudge, but Bounty Hunters continues to smack the puck hard and fast.
