Star Wars: Crimson Reign #3
LADY QI’RA’S ultimate plan to reshape the galaxy continues as we focus on one of her most key operatives – the mysterious SAVA MADELIN SUN, former expert in the DARK SIDE OF THE FORCE, now known only as THE ARCHIVIST.
Qi’ra has given this woman a crucial task and put all the resources of CRIMSON DAWN at her disposal. The Archivist’s search will find answers to mysteries at the very heart of the EMPIRE’S formation…
…and the ultimate fall of THE JEDI ORDER.
Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Steven Cummings
Letterer: Travis Lanham
Colorist: Guru-eFX
Cover artist: Leinil Francis Yu
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Publication date: March 9, 2022
The third issue of Crimson Reign, titled “The Archivist“, follows the format of the previous issues, focusing on one faction within Crimson Dawn’s new task force, assembled to bring down Vader. This one, unsurprisingly, gives us the origin of The Archivist – real name Madelin Sun – and shows us how and why she came to be in Qi’ra’s service.
Much like many second acts, Crimson Reign is broadening the scope of Soule’s Crimson Dawn / Qi’ra trilogy by taking a look into the past to add context, scale and stakes to the story. It’s the same as when we got Kylo Ren’s origin and Luke’s fall in The Last Jedi. It’s adding weight to a story that needed it after the first act, War of the Bounty Hunters, introduced us to this new corner of the galaxy in a somewhat contrived and muddled but entertaining way. It may not move the story forward in leaps and bounds but you have to appreciate how fearless the story is, directly linking Qi’ra and these new characters with a legacy character at a pivotal moment in their timeline.
In typical Soule fashion its chock full of references. Everything from The High Republic and the Prequels to the first Doctor Aphra run gets a nod here. It even goes out of it’s way to address an inconsistency that was highlighted by The Book of Boba Fett. Soule is a master of the lore-tease. Whether it’s baking in his own creations across the timeline like Darth Momin or Chanath Cha or tackling such landmarks as the dark side cave or Vader’s Castle. It’s captivating stuff, though maybe not as jaw dropping as last month’s chat between Luke Skywalker and Elzar Mann in Star Wars #20.
It’s hard to judge Crimson Reign so far as whole as we are getting disparate pieces. Until each part is played out it’s hard to see where this is headed. It may all ultimately be in service to the upcoming third and final act “The Hidden Empire“. Some may find the meandering pace frustrating. I just know that as short stories these issues really work and I’m finding the whole crossover far more successful than War of the Bounty Hunters.
Product Search
