Star Wars

Brandon Rhea

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Star Wars #1 came out today, launching the new line of Marvel comics. I'll collect more of my thoughts later but I enjoyed it. Some of the dialogue was a little expository but it worked in the sense that they were at least talking while doing things, rather than just standing around or sitting around. The art was really good, and the planet that the characters were on has a great OT look. The characters are all well-utilized, each one providing a necessary function for the Rebels' mission.

There was one thing I'm not sure about yet. Please note, SPOILERS FOLLOW. The only part I'm not sure about is the ending, where Luke comes face to face with Vader. Perhaps I'm just being an OT purist, but I always felt like Empire should've been the first time they came face to face. I mean, it's not like it violates canon or anything, but Empire always seemed like the first confrontation. We only see them face to face, though, so it's entirely possible they don't fight yet - which is what I hope. This comic series, though, is going to show Luke trying to learn more about Anakin, so I suppose this is a pretty decent catalyst for that. If that story works, and this isn't really a fight, then I'll probably be cool with it.

Anyone else get it? Thoughts?
 

Phil

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Getting it this week. Will give me something to read at work.
 

Phil

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So my co worked picked it up for me today.

It was good, pretty much what Brandon said. I can't wait for the Vader series.

Though this and the others are apart of the new canon, right?
 

Brandon Rhea

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Yes. Everything from here on out is canon. There are no new Legends stories.

I'm particularly looking forward to the Princess Leia series.
 

Phil

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I did have a minor complaint on how Vader used his own troops as human shields against their will. Not sure, in everything I have seen with him and Storm Troopers, he never seemed to kill them or treat them badly, as if he had some respect for them unlike officers he loved to strangle. I may be wrong though.
 

Brandon Rhea

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I'm sure he has a respect for the 501st Legion, but I also don't see Vader as particularly caring about volunteers and draftees. Everything and everyone is a tool/a means to an end for Vader at this point im time.
 

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I liked it. These are not the slaves you are looking for, made me smile.
 

Brandon Rhea

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Yeah. I like how he tried to do what Obi-Wan did, but failed. It's a nice bit of subtextual character development, since we know by Jedi​ that he can indeed perform a mind trick.
 

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I really enjoyed it. ^_^ Glad they have the 'big three' (Leia, Han and Luke) all sharing the spotlight with the other members of the gang getting some exposure aswell. Vader looked badass, Leia looked badass and hell, I even liked Luke here. Looking forward to this series. :D
 

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Not sure how i feel about Luke and Vader crossing paths before the films. Wouldn't he sense Luke's force sensitive nature?
 

TwoSidedHeart

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Well he did say "the Force is with this one" in A New Hope. XD
 

Wit

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Yup, Vader already knew about his Force sensitivity by this point.
 

Brandon Rhea

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Wouldn't he be obligated to murder said young adult?

Not necessarily. In "Spark of Rebellion," Vader ordered the Inquisitor to either convert or destroy Force sensitive individuals. I would imagine that the Empire might want to do something a little more special than straight up murder the guy who destroyed the Death Star.straight up murderwith the guy who destroyed the Death Star.

I really enjoyed it. ^_^ Glad they have the 'big three' (Leia, Han and Luke) all sharing the spotlight with the other members of the gang getting some exposure aswell.

Same. This was a very good ensemble story, much like A New Hope.
 

Just Falcon

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I really enjoyed it. Could hear the music start up in my head when I saw that first black page with blue text; seemed like a pretty good sign right off the bat lol. I did notice the bits of super-exposition, but at least they gave most of those to Threepio. I can see him doing that. First comic I've ever actually subscribed to, and it was a good call.


I'm particularly looking forward to the Princess Leia series.

Me too. Mark Waid's been on a roll lately.
 

Brandon Rhea

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I don't know anything about Mark Waid, but I like the idea of a Leia comic. She's a pretty badass character in Episode IV (a little less so in Episode V and especially Episode VI). How she grapples with the destruction of Alderaan and being a princess without a kingdom should be interesting.

My original hope for the comic, though, was some sort of prequel to Episode IV. A few of us have talked about some ideas for that before but the broad strokes, in my mind at least, are that Leia was an aid worker of some sort, helping people throughout the galaxy and really seeing the suffering that the Empire inflicts on people. Bail Organa would be somewhat resistant to commit to all out military rebellion, and to bring the scattered rebel cells into one umbrella, but Leia would be the real driving force in Alderaan becoming a major rebel player, especially once she was in the Imperial Senate.

You could have interesting parallels between Leia and Padmé as well. Padmé, in terms of how she was written (aka poorly, in both the films and The Clone Wars), wasn't a very good politician, but the way I rationalize the character was that her family, which was politically well-to-do, put her up to it. She was an idealist who became queen and, eventually, senator (she only became senator because the new queen asked her to, per Episode II) because it was a life she was pushed towards. She rose to the occasion in some respects, of course, by fighting against a military build up and the continuation of the Clone Wars, but ultimately Padmé's main strength was her ability to inspire those around her, rather than to enact genuine change. Whereas Leia is more of a pragmatist, with an idealist bent of course, who seizes the opportunity to use the last remnants of the Old Republic to further the goals of the Rebellion.

Which would tie in nicely with the series we are going to get; if she pushed Bail into committing to all-out resistance, than she helped paint a target on Alderaan, which would contribute to her feelings in Princess Leia.

Of course, a prequel is unlikely because we'll probably see some of those kinds of elements in Rebels​.
 

Phil

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Just read issue 2. Vader and Luke's encounter went about how I imagined.
 

Brandon Rhea

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Star Wars #2

Star Wars #2 was released yesterday, continuing the story that began in the first issue. The Rebels are fighting to escape from Darth Vader and Imperial forces after an assault on Cymoon 1 that went wrong. It starts off where the last issue ended, with Luke having his first confrontation with Vader. It doesn't last long, as Han brings an AT-AT foot crashing down between them. The Rebels then fight to escape from Weapons Factory Alpha. The assault will end in Star Wars #3 next month.

I liked this issue. Highlights:

  • Vader recognizing his old lightsaber. He doesn't yet know Luke's name, nor does he know that he's the Rebel who destroyed the Death Star, but this is undoubtedly the beginning of him learning who Luke is.
  • Han and Leia's banter continues to be the biggest highlight.
  • The beginning of Luke's character development towards being a Jedi. He's questioning himself. We'll be able to see a clear arc between Episode IV and Episode V within these comics, especially since Marvel has said that Luke will be trying to learn more about Anakin.
  • Darth Vader was a badass.
  • Han denying the existence of the Force even when Vader is using it against him.
Some issues with the comic:

  • Some of the dialogue was super bad. Especially Luke's.
  • The callback dialogue. It's way too on the nose.
  • If you were to watch/read the saga in order for the first time, seeing an AT-AT here would take away from their introduction in Episode V. There are other walkers that could've been used.
  • Still not a fan of Luke and Vader coming face to face already, especially since they clashed lightsabers. It was extremely brief, however, so I'm generally ok with it as long as it doesn't happen a lot. Cloud City should be their first real confrontation.
Overall I enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to the next issue.
 

Brandon Rhea

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Anyone else read Star Wars #3? What did you think of the resolution of the Rebel assault, and the story being set up for Star Wars #4?
 

Phil

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So I finished issue 4. Am I missing something or was that person with the voice activated blaster a new character?

Also I loved the parts with Luke and the one with Vader and Jabba while on his Sail Barge. Also happy to see Vader hates that damn monkey lizard as much as I do.
 
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