Comic Info
Comic Name: Star Wars (Marvel Volume 2)
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Jorge Molina/Chris Eliopoulos
# of Issues: 6
Release Date: 2017
Star Wars #20
Reprints Star Wars (2) #20-25 (August 2016-January 2017). Luke, Han, Leia, and Sana set out to free the planet Tureen VII from an Empire blockade and the best hope could come in the form of a Star Destroyer called the Harbinger…but the Scar Squad led by Kreel has different plans for the Rebels. Plus, Obi-wan Kenobi recalls protecting Luke and his family from Black Krrsantan.
Written by Jason Aaron, Star Wars Volume 4: Last Flight of the Harbinger follows Star Wars Volume 3: Rebel Jail in the Marvel Comics relaunch of the series. The collection features a stand-alone Obi-wan story featuring art by Mike Mayhew and the four part “Last Flight of the Harbinger” illustrated by Jorge Molina with a short story by Chris Eliopoulos to remember R2-D2 performer Kenny Baker. The issues are also collected in Star Wars—Volume 2.
Star Wars has the habit of repeating itself (how many times has a Death Star-esque base been blown up?) and getting bogged down. Marvel’s takeover of the series freed up a lot of time, angered some people by eliminating most of the extended universe, and sought to streamline the stories. Star Wars 4: Last Flight of the Harbinger seems to have both the good and the bad aspects of Star Wars.
The story feels oddly familiar. A planet is blocked and a group is trying to break the blockade to free the people. It is the basic plot of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, but this time it is Rebels trying to free the planet from an Empire blockade. It isn’t quite the same, but there are aspects that are close enough that the basic plot seems just close enough.
Star Wars #21
The story is a basic bait and switch type of plan with the Rebels commandeering a Star Destroyer to break the blockade…kind of like they did by stealing the codes to the transport ship in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi but on a much larger scale. It works as a whole but I sometimes feel that they should try for more original storylines, and if this is an in canon based story, it makes me question why the Empire wasn’t prepared for this in Return of the Jedi…it is a sticky slope that writers threaten to fall down if they tweak too much with the storytelling.
I do like the Obi-Wan stand-alone stories that have been populating Star Wars. I would like to see more characters explored and more origins given. It could destabilize the story if there are too many side jaunts in the overall Star Wars comic, but also making a Marvel version of Star Wars Tales probably would just lead to cancellation.
Star Wars 4: Last Flight of the Harbinger is a solid story that is in danger of falling into too many writing traps by being confined to the Star Wars films (specifically being stuck between Star Wars and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back). I question how long this series can go in this period of time and when and if they’ll jump to the period between Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. Star Wars 4: Last Flight of the Harbinger was followed by Star Wars 5: Yoda’s Secret War.
Related Links:
Star Wars 1: Skywalker Strikes
