Written by Charles Soule
Art by Ramon Rosanas
Published by Marvel Comics
This week’s issue of War of The Bounty Hunters is another infuriating installment because it’s got just as much truly fantastic material as it’s got head scratchingly bad.
Once again, we’re taking a step back from main events and getting everyone caught up to Darth Vader’s surprise arrival at Crimson Dawn’s carbonite frozen Han Solo auction party.
This time, it’s Luke Skywalker’s adventure.
We accompany Luke and Wedge Antillies leading a small X-Wing squadron, with one A-Wing, on a rescue mission to a planet under siege by Imperial Forces.
Great stories always work when their core is a personal one. I was genuinely engaged when a new and believable complication to Luke’s struggle to become a Jedi was explored towards the end of this issue.
Unfortunately, it felt out of place tonally with the noise going on around it.
This is a major failing of the story.
What we got was a messy, over-expostioned rescue mission that couldn’t figure out what the actual theme was.
The artwork is top notch. The straightforward images and framing feels so much like Star Wars, I get all warm and fuzzy. Loved the design of Imperial Admiral Kalaxo as well.
I also really liked the tie into The High Republic series. But then, of course, writer Charles Soule did write the novel Light of the Jedi, which kick-started the entire The High Republic series.
The pivotal battle tactic here is a great one.
The problem is that the storytellers made the classic blunder of underestimating their audience. We’re given a key clue early on as to conditions on the surface of the planet, so when a key character says, “I’ve got an idea,” we the audience know exactly what he’s trying to do.
Sadly, valuable storytelling time is wasted watching our heroes try to work out this obvious plot point instead of using this objective to ratchet up the story’s tension.
The result of this tactic is superb, though.
The payoff to this mission is equally superb and ties in beautifully with Return of the Jedi. Fan service I’ll take every day of the week and twice on Sundays.
Afterwards, Luke skedaddles to meet up with Leia, Chewie and Lando where we last left them; bumping into Boba Fett at Crimson Dawn’s carbonite frozen Han Solo auction party.
Comms jammed, Luke desperately tries to tell his friend what they are about to find out; that Darth Vader’s arrival is imminent.
All the pieces on the board are moving closer and closer together. A turning point is upon War of the Bounty Hunters.
Let’s hope the anticipation pays off.
