Before I was a comic reader, I was a Star Wars fan. As such, the idea of a new comic that adheres solely to the continuity present in the first movie has a lot going for it — particularly high expectations, especially when Brian Wood is involved. How does it fare when pitted against my scrutinizing fanboy eyes?
Written by Brian Wood
Illustrated by Carlos D’AndaThis is Star Wars as you remember it . . . and as you have never seen it before! We’re taking you back to those heady, adventure-filled days following the destruction of the Death Star–when the Empire ruled, the Rebels were on the run, and the galaxy was a dangerous place where anything might happen!
From this first issue, it seems likely that the most interesting and exciting character of Brian Wood’s “Star Wars” run will be Leia Organa. While cosplay enthusiasts who dress as Leia in her revealing slave outfit from Return of the Jedi — or, more specifically, the men who objectify them — may have inadvertently caused the public image of Alderaan’s princess to be yet another damsel in distress, Leia is anything but. Sure, the second act of A New Hope begins as a standard rescue mission, Luke and Han soon find out Leia is just as ready to shoot a blaster as either of them — after all, she is a leading figure in the rebellion. Wood’s portrayal of the franchise’s leading lady reflects this, particularly when we see Leia and an Imperial fighter make landfall. Wood’s Leia neither spurns nor revels in violence: she does what must be done, when it must be done, and without hesitation. Of the lead trio of her, Luke, and Han, Leia is undoubtedly the one who is a soldier through and through, and Wood recognizes that and displays her as such. The lack of strong female leads is a common and reasonable complaint when it comes to mainstream properties, but Wood is here to remind us that one of the best has been right under our noses the entire time.
As Wood has mentioned in interviews leading up to this debut, one of the challenging things regarding this ongoing’s placement in the Star Wars chronology is how different some of the characters involved are. When it comes to the movies alone, Luke and Han experienced the most character development in the second and third movies; at the end of the first film, the two characters had changed very little from when we first met them. Wood avoids writing his characters with an image of who they will become: his Luke is not a wise, heroic figure, but a naive rookie who just so happened to make a one-in-a-million shot. Less is seen of his Solo, but the bit of on-panel time that Han has make it clear that this smuggler is not a “good guy” yet. While they might not be exactly what the reader’s mental image of the iconic characters look and sound like yet, Wood’s attention to voice makes sure that these are undoubtedly Luke and Han, as opposed to new characters inhabiting the same skin. As well as being an interesting departure from what we are used to from the Star Wars EU, the decision to use the early Luke and Han is also one that will cause a variety of natural conflicts.
Aside from Wood’s signature great character work, there is still plenty to like about this first issue. While space opera is an area we have not, to my knowledge, seen Brian Wood working in, but you wouldn’t know it; all the right beats are hit, and the tone is right on. Space opera like Star Wars straddles the boundary between science fiction and fantasy, and Wood’s first issue makes sure not to stride too the realm of “hard” sci-fi. As of yet, though, the plot is a bit murky. Leia and Mon Mothma’s shadow council makes a sort of sense in terms of continuity — why else are we just now hearing about these important missions from the core cast’s early years — but the presentation of the situation comes off as vague (though that’s probably more due to the first issue curse). The issue’s other, more noticeable fault is its abrupt final page, which could perhaps have used another page or been cut entirely, but this is a small blemish on an otherwise well-written issue.
Continued belowDC fans may recognize Carlos D’Anda’s art from the Arkham Asylum franchise, but while Star Wars may be something sharply different, this artist still performs admirably. Like Wood, D’Anda deserves recognition for his tonal accuracy to the original trilogy; the galaxy as depicted by D’Anda reflects not the sleek, overly polished setting of the prequel trilogy, but the rough-around-the-edges look of the first three movies. There’s more to it than tonal faith, though — D’Anda is a sharp illustrator whose pages are smooth to read and a joy to look at. While the opening scene in space starts out a bit ambiguous in regards to whether Leia and co. are cruising or merely floating, the scene bursts into movement the moment Imperial fighters arrive. Remember, kids: vehicles are difficult to effectively use in sequential art whether they’re real or not, but D’Anda knows exactly how to use different angles and placement to avoid this roadblock. Don’t let the Alex Ross cover fool you — the interiors of this book are pretty highly stylized, and that’s for the better. D’Anda’s style contributes to his grasp on facial expression, his facility with storytelling, and his overall solid sense of composition. A #1 of a book merely titled “Star Wars” is the place to be seen, and D’Anda is making sure everyone notices.
You know the Star Wars canon is in a weird place when a back to basics approach is considered ambitious, but… well, here we are. Brian Wood and Carlos D’Anda have more than earned the right to have a #1 out there simply titled “Star Wars,” with equal amounts of nuanced writing, well-composed art, and respect toward the source material. Whatever the fate of this book, considering the recent re-licensing, you can be sure I will stick with it until the end.
Final Verdict: 8.8 – Buy it — especially considering it is $2.99 and comes with a free download code!
