Star Wars: Poe Dameron 1: Black Squadron

Comic Info

Star Wars: Poe Dameron #1 Variant

Reprints Star Wars:  Poe Dameron #1-6 (June 2016-November 2016).  Poe Dameron and Black Squadron have their marching orders:  Find Lor San Tekka before the First Order!  With very few leads to go on, Black Squadron has their work cut out for them, and Agent Terex of the First Order is hot on their trail.  As they lead the way across the galaxy, Poe learns a dangerous fact…a traitor might be lurking in Black Squadron that could destroy the mission just as it is beginning!

Written by Charles Soule, Star Wars:  Poe Dameron Volume 1:  Black Squadron is a Marvel Comics Star Wars spin-off title.  The collection features art by Phil Noto and a back-up story called “SaBBotage” from Star Wars:  Poe Dameron #1 by written and illustrated Chris Eliopoulos.

When Marvel regained control of Star Wars, I was excited.  I didn’t find anything particularly wrong with Dark Horse’s adaptations, but I felt they were tired and lacked energy.  With the canonized stories paired with the new Star Wars films, Marvel started pumping out title after title.  Star Wars:  Poe Dameron feels like a classic Star Wars story, but it also feels a bit unnecessary.

Star Wars: Poe Dameron #4 Variant

One of the great things about the relaunch was the ability to keep up with Star Wars as they released it, but Marvel started adding more and more titles.  Poe Dameron was a fun character from Star Wars:  The Force Awakens, but a continuing series about Poe and Black Squadron feels a bit unnecessary.  If I was going to read a Star Wars comic, it would probably be the core title or Darth Vader…not about a random pilot.  It isn’t helped by a story plays out in rather typical form.

There is nothing wrong with the story, and I like Phil Noto’s art.  It also feels like it could be a limited series.  The ultimate realization of Poe’s quest to find Lor San Tekka is realized in Star Wars:  The Force Awakens so to keep you coming back to Star Wars:  Poe Dameron is a challenge.  A spy among Black Squadron is a continuing theme, but it kind of feels like that this could have been one of Marvel’s limited Star Wars series.

Star Wars:  Poe Dameron is a rather average entry in the new Star Wars series.  You won’t be displeased by the story, but it also won’t “wow” you with deep insight and plot revelations.  It is beneficial to be able to expand upon the characters being introduced in the new trilogy between the films, and Poe is getting his due in that sense.  Star Wars:  Poe Dameron 1:  Black Squadron is followed by Star Wars:  Poe Dameron 2:  The Gathering Storm (which skips Poe Dameron #7 for the third collection).