Star Wars: War of the Bounty Hunters #3
WAR OF THE BOUNTY HUNTERS
PART III
“THE CRIMSON BLADE”
Boba Fett claimed the bounty on notorious smuggler and rebel officer Han Solo.
But Solo was stolen from Fett by CRIMSON DAWN and their leader, QI’RA!
Fett’s battled bounty hunters and criminals from Nar Shaddaa to Tatooine to make it to Qi’ra’s auction. Now DARTH VADER is the latest to claim Solo as rightfully his….
Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: David Messina, Luke Ross
Letterer: Travis Lanham
Colorist: Guru-eFX, Neeraj Menon
Cover artist: Steve McNiven
Publication date: August 18, 2021
Pages: 25
Imagine the collective butt-clenching as Darth Vader enters the room flanked by two Death Troopers. That, along with shocked gasps and the wheezing of Vader’s iron lung might just be the sounds you hear upon his entrance as the third issue of War of the Bounty Hunters kicks off in dramatic style as Boba Fett watches from an alcove, Lando, Leia and Chewbacca stood behind him. Of course, he’s not the only interested party; Qi’ra is our host, while Aphra and Sana Starros are keeping their heads down as Fett and Chewie square off. All very tense, but the focus is very much on Vader and Jabba the Hutt, the later making it known that he has paid for the errant Corellian and intends on taking him back to Tatooine. As ever, Vader lays down the reality of the situation in his implacable manner, and as Jabba questions the dark lords claim that everything in the sector belongs to the Emperor Fett and Chewie get into it, the bounty hunter turning his flamethrower on the wookiee as he is physically overpowered. Lando sorrowfully sacrifices another cape to put out the flames and Fett and the rebels agree to stay out of each others way as Jabba demures to Vader, leaving the Vermillion.
And then we get to the most mind-blowing moment of War of the Bounty Hunters so far, as Qi’ra requests the million credit payment for Solo, which Vader dismisses as ridiculous, leading to Qi’ra goading the cheapness of the Empire and suddenly they are fighting, her Teras Kasi serving her well until Vader gets the upper hand. Her quick thinking fends him off as Fett sets his sights on Vader, opting not to shoot as he suddenly remembers the dark lords powers.
By now Vader is in a rage, hurling Qi’ra against the carbonite block of Solo and lacing into the assorted gangsters until he pauses, sensing Luke Skywalker, now in orbit of Jekara in his X-Wing. Speaking over a secure line, Vader informs Luke he must face him, or Solo will die. It’s an indelible moment, Vader raising his lightsaber as if to cleave Solo in half, and that’s where we leave the issue.
Once again – no surprises here – writer Charles Soule and artists David Messina and Luke Ross smash it out of the park, the pacing and stylistic choices just right, and while other crossover issues very much retell what we’ve read here they do so in a way that focuses on that titles main characters, which only embellishes what we have read here. So far War of the Bounty Hunters has been a satisfying endevour; let’s hope that continues.
Product Search
