Star Wars 3: Rebel Jail

Comic Info

Star Wars (2) Annual #1

Reprints Star Wars (2) #15-19 and Annual #1 (March 2016-August 2016).  Doctor Aphra is a prisoner of the Rebels and on a hidden jail called Sunspot Prison, the Rebels hope to break her.  Unfortunately, the jail has been targeted by someone who doesn’t care about breaking Aphra or the other prisoners being held there.  It is someone that only wants to kill and destroy the Imperial rein…and Leia is about to find out that the Rebels’ past is about to come back to haunt them.  Plus, Obi-Wan Kenobi recalls his earliest encounters with Luke and his family.

Written by Jason Aaron and Kieron Gillen, Star Wars Volume 3:  Rebel Jail is part of Marvel Comics’ relaunch of the Star Wars line-up.  Following Star Wars:  Vader Down (which actually occurs after Star Wars Volume 2:  Showdown on the Smuggler’s Moon), the collection features art by Angel Unzueta (Star Wars (2) #16-19), Angel Unzueta (Star Wars (2) Annual #1), and Mike Mayhew (Star Wars (2) #15.  The issues in the collection were also part of Star Wars—Volume 2.

Vader Down was a bit of a snag in the relaunch of Star Wars.  It was really built up and hyped but one of the Star Wars series problems is that it is a prequel to Star Wars:  The Empire Strikes Back and you know that none of the characters are truly in danger.  Star Wars 3:  Rebel Jail does a better time recognizing this, but the story also could use some improvement.

Star Wars (2) #18

I like the set-up of the Star Wars Annual.  The story is tight and despite featuring a new character in Eneb Ray, it felt pretty grounded in the Star Wars universe.  The story has some fun twists and turns and though you know it isn’t going to work out well for Eneb Ray, the outcome still feels like a surprise.

The second story is both a follow-up to the annual and a continuation of the Star Wars story from Vader Down.  The story starts to develop Aphra a bit more in the whole Star Wars Universe (which helps) and in the same time expands Sana’s role while the character seems doomed in many way.  The problem with the story is that it kind of devolves in the middle and the big reveal of who is behind the attack doesn’t necessarily feel in context with what we know about the character.

I do however enjoy the Obi-Wan Kenobi flashbacks.  It is unfortunate that probably not much other than rowdy Sandpeople and the occasional bounty hunter happened on Tatooine.  If they want to keep continuing these “Old Ben” stories, they are going to have to really work to make them fit in context and not feel like it alters the film’s natural storylines.

Star Wars 3:  Rebel Jail continues to be a good run in a series that is consistently good but not necessarily great.  I still find it in many way better than Dark Horse’s series (even if the whole extended universe was negated), but It still needs streamlining and constant monitoring to keep up a standard for storytelling.  Star Wars 3:  Rebel Jail is followed by Star Wars 4:  Last Flight of the Harbinger.

Related Links:

Star Wars 1:  Skywalker Strikes

Star Wars 2:  Showdown on Smuggler’s Moon

Star Wars:  Vader Down

Star Wars 4:  Last Flight of the Harbinger

Star Wars 5:  Yoda’s Secret War