The Mandalorian #5
CHAPTER 5: THE GUNSLINGER
In need of a place to hide with the Child, Mando chose the backwater planet Sorgan. During his time on the planet, he met ex-Rebel soldier Cara Dune as well as a tribe of villagers in desperate need of help against a band of violent raiders.
After fighting off the raiders and protecting the village, the Child was still almost taken out by another bounty hunter.
Now Mando must continue his journey through space to keep the Child safe….
Writer: Rodney Barnes
Penciller: Georges Jeanty
Inker: Dexter Vines
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Colorist: Rachelle Rosenberg
Cover artist: Stephanie Hans
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Publication date: November 2, 2022
Opening with a title page laying out the latest state of play regarding the location of Din Djarin and the Child, we dive into the fifth issue of The Mandalorian, now into the back half of the season as we motor our way towards season 2. Once again with vivid art by Georges Jeanty, we’re in the Razor Crest with Mando and the Child as a bounty hunter chases them down, outwitted by Mando and destroyed as the Mandalorian swings the Crest towards Tatooine, a thrilling location given the full A New Hope treatment as we’re treated to the most McQuarrie of landings as we first meet Peli Motto. In her inimitable style she agrees a price as Mando heads into Mos Eisley, entering Chalmuns cantina and meeting the enthusiastic Toro Calican.
It’s here we first hear about the elite mercenary Fennec Shand, and watch as Calican plays the role of the eager and cocky rookiee, agreeing to meet Djarin as they blast out into the Dune Sea on speeder bikes, meeting and communicating with Tuskens as they find a dead bounty hunter hooked onto a Dewback and encounter Shand as her sniper rifle pings against the beskar of Djarin’s armour. The plan to take down Shand plays out as it did in the episode, the flare distracting as they apprehend Shand, Calican blasting her while shackled as he tries to take in Mando for the higher bounty and reputation and failing.
As with the episode, we finish with the prone body of Shand, the feet of who we now know to be Boba Fett walking towards her. It’s a polarising chapter of the show, Calican being less than popular while the return to Tatooine – in its time a unique treat, now a common occurance – a nostalgia-fulled look at the past. While the art team arguably deliver their best chapter adaptation of the series so far, this is still a faithful run through the episode, one that could really use the nowadays out of fashion narration boxes to explain who the new characters are, and where the action is taking place. With those in place, the opportunity to deliver information pertinent to the story would be available, giving the comic an edge and a reason to exist beyond a verbatim skim through the episode. Non-essential but far from unwelcome addition to the Marvel Star Wars library.
