Star Wars: Mace Windu (2024) #4
THE RUN
In the time before the fall of the Republic and rise of the Galactic Empire, Jedi Knights are keepers of the peace. Before joining the Jedi Council, one brave Jedi travels the galaxy on a daring mission. He’s known as….
Upon returning from a daring undersea mission, Mace Windu was briefed on a new threat: Smuggler Azita Cruuz has taken a rare, dangerous substance known as coaxium ultra and is looking to sell it to the highest bidder.
After tracking down the young pirate, Mace and Azita began working together to evade the various other smugglers and hunters looking to get their hands on the rare material.
But there are other mysterious figures, watching from the shadows….
Writer: Marc Bernardin
Penciller: George Jeanty
Inker: Dexter Vines
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Colorist: Andrew Dalhouse
Cover artist: Mateus Manhanini
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Release Date: May 15, 2024
Last issue ended with Mace and Azita boxed in by their assailants on Ro Mira, and we open the 4th and final issue with the continuation of that scene as Mace makes it very clear he has no time for this. It seems they want to restart the galaxy, do away with technology and plan to use the coaxium ultra to do it, but when they attack and block Mace’s lightsaber parry with their staff he is shocked. As that attack continues, the other attacker enters the ship, and Azita turns off the lights, using her goggles to see in the dark and take him down while outside Mace gains the upper hand, kicking his assailant to the ground as Azita appears with her own captive, and as they prepare to leave with Mace calling his droid to bring his starfighter the two attackers kneel – they’re preparing for the next attacker, the weaver of dusk, the shroud, and we see a confident looking Devaronian approach. He tells his followers to leave and begins to twirl the staff, entering into a philosophical conversation with Windu about the Force and how to wield it.
Azita fires her blaster at the Devaronian, who blocks the shot and Mace tells her to leave, which she does as his starfighter swoops in. We learn that the Devaronian wants the coaxium ultra, and that he once trained to be a Jedi, but as he continues his rant Mace loses patience and slices the landing struts of the ships to it falls down on the Devaronian, crusing him. He calls to Azita to collect him, but we see his shock as the Devaronian lifts the ship with the Force.
From the skies we see Azita swoop in the starfighter, and she blasts her own ship, destroying it as Mace leaps away from the explosion. She still has the coaxium ultra sample, and we see the wreckage and a hand push out of the twisted metal as Mace and Azita squeeze into the starfighter cockpit and leave Ro Mira.
An odd ending for such an interesting series, it very much feels as if there’s more to come, witht he survival of the Devaronian, the potential usage of the coaxium ultra and Azita who is a vibrant, cheeky and resourceful character. Used correctly, Mace works well in comics, and here – especially in the earlier issues – he is written and drawn to his best effect, and while the ending feels somewhat rushed, introducing a character so powerful he can go toe-to-toe with a character widely regarded as the second most powerful Jedi, this would certainly benefit from a follow up series. Snappy scripting from Marc Bernadin, tight pencils from George Jeanty and some beautiful covers by Mateus Manhanini has made this a very worthwhile mini series that didn’t outstay its welcome and left us curious to see more.
- Bernardin, Marc (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 112 Pages - 08/20/2024 (Publication Date) - Licensed Publishing (Publisher)
