Written by Ethan Sacks
Illustrated by Paolo Villanelli
Published by Marvel Comics
The mystery of why Nakano Lash betrayed her bounty hunting crew and killed their client; the heir to a galactic crime syndicate comes to light.
I won’t go into spoiler territory, but let’s say it’s Romeo & Juliet with a twist. The reveal instantly absolves Lash of any wrongdoing the reader might have held towards her.
As for the bounty hunters in the galaxy such as Boba Fett, not so much.
The art direction of Paolo Villanelli deserves a lot of credit going back to the first issue. The incident happened off-page, in the middle of a firefight, which let the reader’s imagination run wild. Villanelli made the wait worth it with an emotionally driven visual adding more chaos to an already chaotic situation.
Not only is it a relief, Lash made the decision she made, but Ethan Sacks made it so readers will be happy she did.
Valance finds himself in a pickle as he’s held hostage by another bounty hunter who uses him to find Lash. Sacks provided a great reminder of Valance’s cybernetic state as he’s forced to put on a restraining bolt.
For the uninitiated, the device restricts a droid’s actions when connected to its systems. Valance is more machine than man; however, visually, his appearance suggests otherwise. Valance hates the constraint, but it’s an even more significant blow to his soul since his human mind and essence is still very much intact. Valance hates the Empire for turning him into a machine, and this moment will undoubtedly stoke the flames of that anger.
So far, Boba Fett’s appearances in this series are short but sweet.
The same occurs in this issue, but it comes with the extra caveat that ensures an increased presence. The Mandolorian on Disney + is a popular show, and Fett’s rumored inclusion in season two makes this the right time to feature him.
Now that the big mystery is revealed, the story needs creative strength to stand on its own. If this fourth installment is any indication, I’m confident the creative team can pull it off.
Grade: B+
