Written by Charles Soule
Art by Steve McNiven, Luke Ross
Published by Marvel Comics
Finally!
After multiple preludes, we’re getting to the meat of the story; the fight to possess the carbonized block of Han Solo.
What I’ve learned is that I have a love/hate relationship with this series.
Honestly, I’m down on the characterizations of the main characters of Star Wars.
Especially this series’ star: Boba Fett.
He talks too much.
Way too much.
The very thing that makes Boba Fett, Boba Fett, his bad-ass aura, is ripped away when I read his standard comic book character dialogue.
Every time he utters a cringe worthy line, I can’t help but recall 1984’s G.I. Joe #21. Not a single word of dialogue written. Yet, we all felt every thought.
In my head, I’m constantly re-writing Boba Fett to reflect the Bounty Hunter I know, fear and respect.
Setting that enormously egregious hang up aside, the story expands exponentially, in a good way, and ends in a climax that I feel I should have guessed issues ago, but am glad I hadn’t, because it was truly…
Perfect.
To clarify, the ending was perfect.
The ride to get there was not.
What I liked about the ride is that the entity who stole carbonized Han Solo from Boba Fett has a personal stake in him. They are also very powerful and a threat to the Hutt’s crime syndicate. This causes logical ripples in the fabric of the galactic status quo.
I also enjoyed the recap, reminding us of all the story threads that are about to come crashing together. Well done and to the point.
What I didn’t like is how Han Solo is portrayed as some type of glue that unites the galaxy.
Han Solo’s important, but not that important. He’s important to his friends, past and present. The grandiose sentiment implied here takes away from the intimate bonds Han Solo has made throughout his life.
And to the entity that stole him.
I’m also thrown by Jabba the Hutt placing the bounty on Boba Fett.
That’s simply out of character. Jabba didn’t get to where he is by being rash, disrespecting his most reliable heavy. It made for some exciting moments and clearly upped the stakes, but Jabba was the wrong character to initiate the bounty.
What would have made sense is if Han’s new owner initiated the bounty.
With the reveal of the thief of carbonized Han Solo, War of the Bounty Hunters kicks into hyperdrive. Well worth the wait.
And although I’ll be continuing to rewrite Boba’s dialogue as I read along, I am now undeniably hooked.
