Return of the Jedi – Lando #1
LANDO
With Han Solo having been captured by the bounty hunter Boba Fett and delivered to Jabba the Hutt, Lando Calrissian and Chewbacca might be his only hope.
Using his knowledge of the seediest areas of the galaxy, Lando embarks on a mission that will bring them one step closer to rescuing his old friend Han.
But, with Lando’s past betrayal, Chewbacca’s patience is running thin, and both the Empire and Lando’s past seem to be getting closer by the second….
Writer: Stephanie Phillips
Artist: Álvaro López
Letterer: Travis Lanham
Colorist: Antonio Fabela
Cover artist: Ryan Brown
Editor: Danny Khazem
Publication date: May 3, 2023
Before diving into this review it needs to be said that if you’re a fan of the Empire to jedi run of marvel comics back in 1982 – ’83 and beyond, then you’re going to love this comic. Bringing what feels like the most lovingly observed recreation of those now four decade old issues, Return of the Jedi – Lando #1 brings us an adventure that not only clears up the last vestiges of a long-simmering frustration for one character but brings together all the tools required to launch the final act of a redemption arc for another.
Depending on your point of view, Lando Calrissian either got off lightly for what happened on Cloud City or was forced to pay penance for what was an impossible situation. For almost all of the stretch between Episodes 5 and 6, Lando has had his interigty questioned, his motives dissected and his loyalty challenged. It says much for the character that he stuck around to rescue his old friends in the face of this, when he could have made plans elsehwere to clear his conscience and rescue Han Solo, and while of course he had to do what he does, the journey to get here has been well observed. It could be easy to lean into his ‘guilt’, in much the same way Stormtroopers are often shown to be disposable bowling pins who couldn’t hit the board side of a Star Destroyer, and here we see Lando and Chewie on Tatooine chasing down information essential to gaining access to Jabba the Hutts vast palace and saving Solo. The Klaatooinian information broker Narin wants 5000 credits to hand over the information, and as Lando bargains so Chewbacca loses his cool and grabs Narrin, infuriating him and telling Lando the deal is now for 10,000.
Lando is annoyed – he was haggling with Narrin, while Chewie is frustrated, and that continues as they head offworld and seek out Elocin, a blue-skinned former associate of Lando who refuses to lend him the credits, but after Chewie offers himself up as a ‘prize’ to be won (ten jobs as part of her crew in return for loaning Lando the funds) she agrees, and the game is started. Chewie is wise enough to know that at the sabaac table Lando is in his element, and we start a tense game with crowds watching, the final hand approaching just as Narrin and a squad of Stormtroopers tear in, marching towards Lando to arrest him. Elocin is angry, feeling that she shouldn’t have trusted Lando, but as a firefight breaks out and Chewie starts throwing furniture and Stormtroopers everywhere we see their bond as Lando calls an audible, reminding Elocin of ‘that time with the speeders that almost took your head off‘ and she ducks, as Lando barrels into an Imperial officer, smashing through a window and taking them down into a fighting pit where two huge creatures are battling.
Lando escapes with the help of Chewie while the officer isn’t so fortunate and they escape back to the Falcon in the driving rain only to be contacted by Elocin who not only caught Nerrin but managed to get the plans for Jabba’s palace out of him at zero cost to anyone. We end as Lando thanks Chewie for betting on him, and as the Falcon leaps to hyperspace Lando points out that they now have everything they need to save Han.
Super simple and huge fun, there are just enough old-school touches to harken back to those halcyon days while propelling the storytelling forward to the events of Return of the Jedi. While there are a few questionable moments (any other hero character would have decked that Imperial, but Lando – a man with some experience of decks – somehow couldn’t, and breaking glass in the GFFA seems highly unlikely, especially around a pit with two huge battling beasts) this was a joy to read, and with some artistic throwbacks to Al Williamson this now makes the Return of the Jedi one-shot run three for three; let’s hope Empire is as enjoyable as this has been.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Houser, Jody (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 34 Pages - 06/07/2023 (Publication Date) - Marvel (Publisher)
