Star Wars #14 (2020)
WAR OF THE BOUNTY HUNTERS:
SAVE SOLO
Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, and C-3PO return to the Rebel fleet after failing to locate Boba Fett on Nar Shaddaa.
But there is still hope to save their friend Han Solo.
Word has at last reached Princess Leia about just where Fett and Solo can be found….
Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Ramon Rosanas
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Colorist: Rachelle Rosenberg
Cover artist: Carlo Pagulayan, Jason Paz, Rain Beredo
Publication date: June 16, 2021
Pages: 24
When Star Wars hits it on all cylinders there’s a smoothness of storytelling and an ease of description that makes the adventure pop off the page, and issue #14 of Star Wars lands squarely in that spot as Leia is fuelled with determination to rescue Han Solo and formulates a plan to free him at an auction that will see the frozen Corellian sold to the hghest bidder, using information from none other than a young Amilyn Holdo of The Last Jedi fame. Despite her better judgement – and she’s still plenty judgemental for someone with such a cool head – she realises with Crimson Dawn involved that she will need the involvement and knowledge of Lando Calrissian.
Naturally, given the return of Crimson Dawn and the events of Solo: A Star Wars Story Chewie is cautious, and while still on frosty ground with Lando the two agree to work together. Naturally, Lando sees all sides of the equation, and decides to do some ‘side business’, contacting Bib Fortuna to set up a deal that will satisfy the Hutt. Much of the events of the issue take place within the Falcon, and it’s here the characters shine as Lando chips away at the barrier of untrustworthiness that’s been built around him and reiterates just how dangerous Crimson Dawn truly are.
It’s here we learn of Lando’s side gambit as he ejects the ancient droid that held the trawak language and which fried Lobot’s mind a few issues back. Jabba can extract the information and clear Lando’s debt to him, but there’s a terrible twist as the droid pleads for its ‘life’ and pushes the implants back remotely as it drifts away, eventually floating out of range as Lobot returns to his comatose self. It’s a gut-wrenching scene; Lando doing the right thing by Han, while sorting his own business with Jabba which in time – hey, we live in the underworld – would make life easier. Everything’s a hustle, but for Lando to learn this terrible truth too late is just cruel, and perfectly written, drawn and presented.
We end with action as Black Sun drop out of hyperspace right in the Falcon’s flightpath and as the freighter scrapes their hull, a chase between Black Sun fighters and the Falcon ensues, ending as Chewie pilots the Falcon out of a crevice and slams the Falcon into the snow as the huge craft of Crimson Dawn lies ahead. It’s a cracking issue, beautifully drawn and colored by Ramon Rosanas and Rachelle Rosenberg respectively and pitch-perfect character observation from Charles Soule. When this title hits the heights it’s a treat, and this is among the very best, hats off to all.
Star Wars #15 (Renaud Variant Wobh) @ ForbiddenPlanet.com
