Star Wars (2020) #29
A LITTLE BREAK
Although the heroes of the Rebel Alliance have made progress toward their goal of liberating the galaxy, much work remains to be done to defeat the Empire.
Still reeling from the fragmentation of the Alliance Fleet, the rebels have yet to recover Captain Han Solo or to address Crimson Dawn’s revelation of a second Death Star under construction.
With all of the recent turmoil and the battles that lie ahead, Amilyn Holdo thinks it’s time for the heroes to recharge away from the struggles of the Galactic Civil War….
Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Ramon Rosanas
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Colorist: Rachelle Rosenberg
Cover artist: E.M. Gist
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Publication date: November 2, 2022
There’s a lot to be said for taking a break in the Star Wars galaxy. While the war rages on all around them, to see the characters of Amilyn Holdo and Leia Organa – both more than familiar with the luxuries of an opulent life – relaxing by a pool, drink in hand may seem odd. Pulling back the ‘camera’ we find they are joined by Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, Lobot and Lando Calrissian (admittedly the one character who we’re never surprised to see relaxing with a drink in his hand) and factor in a winning run of sabacc hands for Lando, an annoyed Chewbacca losing his footing and plunging into the water while Luke reads Jedi texts and you have intriguing opening pages to a fascinating 29th issue of the main Star Wars title.
We’re on the tourist planet of Spira in the Lytton sector of the Core Worlds as Amilyn explains to Leia why they are there. Contacts with Crimson Dawn have dried up, and while Holdo is keen to ensure Leia doesn’t burn herself out and takes a break, however brief it might be, we cut away to an auction as a High Republic era Nihil Strikeship is going under the hammer for 25,000 credits. Holdo and Leia, cleverly disguised to protect their galactically infamous faces, are in the crowd and Holdo is bidding hard for the vessel, despite her main competitor being the curator of the Imperial Museum of Coruscant. Amilyn makes it clear that their target is the Nihil vessel, a unique ship that could help them find the lost Kezarat convoy, loaded with Tibanna gas and Coaxium vital to the Rebellion. Leia asks Luke to help with their bidding success by using a Jedi Mind trick, but Lando quickly tells them to stop for fear of their ploy being successful in the short term but causing trouble in the long term should they be discovered. The curator wins the bid, but our Rebel heroes soon find the Strikeship and enter into a frantic firefight with Stormtroopers protecting it before Holdo leads them inside.
Entering the ship, Holdo reveals that they don’t actually need the ship, but the Nihil Path Engine within, and Holdo explains the history of the Nihils unique starfaring technology and the hope that all the leads and myths would come together to find an answer. It doesn’t, but Leia is more than forgiving, appreciating her friends attempts to find a solution until a wing of TIE Fighters attack and in old school Star Wars style they attempt to escape the gravity well of Spira and jump to hyperspace. They succeed, but Holdo claims she hasn’t done anything and suddenly they are in No-Space, above what could well be the abandoned Great Hall of the Nihil.
Charles Soule continues folding in elements from across the Star Wars story as we head towards Return of the Jedi, but this addition – the key villains of Phase One of The High Republic – is likely the most unexpected. In the past these nods to other areas of the saga have felt somewhat forced, but here it works a treat as a logical answer to a potential problem, while giving the story a decidedly old school Marvel feel. The art by Ramon Rosanas is very pleasing to the eye, as is the cover by E. M. Gist, but once again it’s the accurate rendition of our lead heroes that catches the attention and leaves you hungry for more. Yep, there’s a lot to be said for taking a break in the Star Wars galaxy….
