Before I get to my spoilers-filled review, below are my favorite covers from the bazillion that Disney / Marvel Comics issued for this book. That’s the regular cover and the Top 10 variant covers.
A lot of the covers have been collated at our friends at Rebelscum.com.
“Skywalker Strikes” (30 pages)
Story by: Jason Aaron
Pencils by: John Cassady
Colors by: Laura Martin
Letters by: Chris Eliopoulos
Cover by: John Cassady & Laura Martin
[note: way too many variants exist for this issue!! 100+ by last count]
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $4.99
The Force re-awakens!!! After years of dreaming, hoping, praying, wishing, the reacquisition of one of pop culture’s hugest markers has become reality. Marvel has regained the rights (thanks to parent company Disney along with Lucasfilm) to continue the saga of the Rebel Alliance on the small page in serialized format.
Disclaimer: I’m not a huge Star Wars fan. Not in the least. There! I said it!! I fancy Star Trek all the way!!! *gasp* The nerve! The horror! Oh, get over it!
The book opens just like the movies actually did. Black background with blue & gold lettering. Things pick up right where the second movie left off. Victory belongs to the Rebels. The Death Star is toast. They now feel emboldened to keep fighting the good fight against the Evil Empire to free the entire galaxy from their tyrant reach.
Fade-in: a ship is approaching the planetoid Cymoon 1. A trade is about to occur. An emissary on behalf of Jabba the Hut has been sent. It is none other than Han Solo, swashbuckler to the stars!! Han, being the snarky guy he is, fires off some missives about his identity and his intent. Things seem to start off well until a ‘bot scans him confirming his affiliation to Jabba and the bounty on his head: 50,000 creds. Han is about to explain but the Overseer isn’t interested. It’s time to get down to business. Talk about a Hail Mary save and buzzkill simultaneously. A sniper has set his sights on Han. On the next page that turns out to be good old, loveable, adorable Chewie. He’s at the ready to take down the Stormtrooopers at the first sign of trouble.
Han’s “bodyguards” happen to be the two L’s of the equation: Luke and Leia. Leia whispers that the ruse is going swimmingly. C3PO chimes in his glee and provides brief exposition before broadcasting his positive vibe. As he voices this, the trio (along with R2D2) enter the weapons facility. Han tries to strut his stuff mentioning that he schooled Jabba in the art of tough bartering but the Overseer shuts him down. There will be no bargaining. The Negotiator will lay out the terms that are to be accepted without question. Materials will be taken. Payment will be given. End of story.
Han retorts by saying the Empire reeks of desperation to ask for an envoy of The Hut to have dealings with them. He ribs the Overseer even more by mentioning the destruction of the Death Star and calling for a need to replenish resources. The Overseer plays it cool. He asks that Han and his entourage wait within a shielded room for the Negotiator. Han wasn’t born yesterday. He wants to wait outside on the factory floor. The Overseer rhetorically questions such folly. Han reminds him there is no room for negotiations. As he drops Artoo’s name, the droid leaks fluid which in essence is used to shock the shock troops. The deception has been dropped. Han asks for the location of the power core and identifies his band as the Rebels. As the Overseer spews bravado over their assured doom, Artoo points his taser at him for incentive in providing info. I love how Leia is the one who gets to clock him. There’s something about strong women that gets me going @_@ Off they go!
Humour characterizes Han and Threepio’s convo. Han lovingly (or is that crankily) insults the droid whereas 3PO takes things too literally and expresses dismay at the unfair shake given to the Millennium Falcon. For now, he and the ship are safe hiding in plain sight within the giant trash compactor. 3PO gets the best line of all when he tells the gang: “May the Force be with you.” To reassure himself and the others, he adds “May the Force be with us all.” As Han and Leia prepare to shut down the main core, Luke is asked to be on the lookout for Stormtroopers. Luke uses his Jedi training to access his enhanced senses. As he begins, he hears a cry for help. Numerous slaves are found caged. Luke is disgusted at the lie given by the Overseer. There is life on Cymoon 1. The master jailer appears with whip in hand. Luke tries to bluff his way out of the situation but to no avail. The standoff barely lasts since the hand is quicker than the eye. Luke nicely slices off the jailer’s hand with his signature lightsaber and frees the slaves.
Meanwhile…the sabotage of the power core is a success. T minus ten minutes. Leia has a full-on heart-to-heart with the ersatz pirate. She expresses her gratitude and questions his altruism. Nothing wrong with that. Han downplays it all and is spared a tough response by Luke’s arrival with the slaves in tow. Luke asserts to Leia that they will not be left behind. Han easily agrees and it seems like all is going according to plan until Chewie reports that a ship is landing. Han is curious. A Stormtrooper states that The Negotiator has arrived. Uh-oh!!
Through Chewie’s same-sounding speech we learn that it is none other than Darth Vader!! Leia goes all bloodthirsty and orders Chewbacca to shoot on sight. Chewie complies. The villain wouldn’t be of the caliber that he is if he weren’t able to detect danger. That’s exactly what happens as Vader senses the laser shots. He deflects them easily. He then raises several patsies that take the brunt of the ‘bullets’. With a wave of his hand, Vader makes the tower that served as Chewie’s vantage point collapse. Vader is aware of the Wookie and realizes The Rebels are close by. He senses Han’s presence. His blood boils since Han was the one that destroyed his colossal warship.
It’s all over now. Horns blare. An announcement is made stating the rebel ‘invasion’. Plus, there’s another snag. The Millennium Falcon is immobile due to scavengers picking apart its exterior. Han commands 3PO to get out of the ship and use the blaster. 3PO looks at the gun and contemplates. Leia chews out Han since she thinks they’re trapped. She’s got some gall!! She ordered Chewie to shoot at Vader and now she has a hissy fit since she pretty much messed up things and got them in their current predicament. Han replies that they don’t need to run from the troopers. They can walk by using Imperial Walkers!! Leia is doubtful of Han’s driving skills but he assures her it’s feasible.
Luke roams through dimly lit corridors. A voice begins to speak to him. Luke assumes it can only be Obi Wan Kenobi. Luke tells the voice that Vader is near and that he will avenge Ben death’s as well as his father’s death. The voice ominously tells Luke to listen carefully and to run. Cut to final scene: imminent face-off.
Cue the music. Fade to black. End credits.
Man, oh man!! Despite not being a follower of this franchise, I’ll openly admit this was quite a fun read. I have watched all six movies but I never felt that burning passion that others do. I had to research a bit to validate some things. My memory is fuzzy but I had a sneaky suspicion that this takes place between the ‘real’ first and second movies (A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back). Confirmed. The last page made it even more pertinent since Luke doesn’t realize that he’s literally facing his biological father.
Jason Aaron can add screenwriter to his credentials. As far as I’m concerned, it felt like George Lucas scripted this himself. I dare say that Jason stays true to the characters and plot and easily passes off as Mr. Lucas. Even though the title of the story is “Skywalker Strikes”, the real star of this issue is Han freakin’ Solo, dude!! I personally don’t know the author but I’ll bet my bottom dollar that Jason is showing himself through Han. There’s an acerbic, roguish quality to the protagonist that fits him to a tee.
John Cassady is right at home here. In his entire career, his art completely compliments these characters. They seem to be EXACTLY like their cinematic counterparts. I easily found myself thinking that I was watching an extended version of the first movie rather than looking at the coloured panels. His work is crisp, clean, clear. Great use of space and no unnecessary extra details in the background. Although Mr. Cassady has been slow and/or late many times in the past, he was stellar here. I hope he stays on as regular artist and keeps the juices flowing.
Laura Martin, nice to meet you! Yet again, not a name that pops up on my radar. That’s perfectly fine since I learn so much with every weekly review. I’m glad to see that her work has been quite extensive at Marvel focusing mainly on Avengers and X-Men books. Her colours flush out each of the cast so distinctly that they are unmistakable in their appearance.
Chris Eliopoulos really flexed his muscles here. The narrative intro as well as the logo: enough said.
One can’t hear it enough: “MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU!!”
For comfort and joy: “MAY THE FORCE BE WITH US ALL!!”
