Issues # 1-4 Written by Greg Rucka.
Issues # 1-4 Art by Marco Checchetto; Angel Unzueta; Emilio Laiso; Andres Mossa; & VC’s Jose Caramagna.
Collection Cover Art by Phil Noto.
SUMMARY:
Released in 2015 by Marvel Comics, this 124-page trade paperback reprints the same-named 2015 four-issue mini-series.
Set in the closing moments of Return of The Jedi, amidst the Death Star II shootout, Rebel pilot Lt. Shera Bey aids Luke Skywalker’s borrowed Imperial shuttle escape back to Endor. On planet Endor, Shera’s husband, Sgt. Kes Cameron is among General Han Solo’s commandoes in their effort to disable the Death Star’s outer force field defense system.
Having briefly reunited on planet Endor, Shera and Kes continue their Rebellion commitment in thwarting the Empire’s still-potent remnants. As Han Solo’s shuttle pilot, an undercover Shera helps his commando squad take down Endor’s last remaining Imperial outpost. Deciphered Imperial messaging indicated that the Empire now intends to attack multiple planets simultaneously in vengeance. While Han, Chewbacca, and Kes are involved in leading multiple counterstrikes, Shera becomes Leia’s pilot in her diplomatic return to planet Naboo.
As the Empire bombards Naboo with catastrophic weather-altering technology, it’s up to Leia, Shera, and an unexpected third pilot to mount a vastly outmatched counterattack against a Star Destroyer and its TIE Fighter squadron. Their only chance is whether or not the Rebellion fleet can reach Naboo in time to save the planet from destruction. A parallel between the Han/Leia romance and the Damerons’ young marriage is conveyed.
Shera and Kes contemplate the quiet future they should commit to, along with her father and their young son, Poe. Recruited by Luke Skywalker, Shera accompanies the Jedi Knight on his personal extraction mission to planet Vetine. It appears that the Imperials are holding on to a Jedi relic that Luke desperately wants to recover without Rebel reinforcements. A hint of Kes and Shera’s imminent future is revealed.
Note: This title is also available digitally and in hardcover.
REVIEW:
It’s really a glorified hodgepodge. Aside from Marvel/Disney’s slick production values, the content of Shattered Empire is relatively good, but it isn’t a must-have. Specifically, writer Greg Rucka, with a terrific art team, conjures up a sufficiently appealing premise for an episodic mini-sequel to Return of The Jedi.
It’s a shame, though, that plot elements of Shattered Empire couldn’t have been extended out to six issues vs. the conventional four-issue industry standard. That way, there could have been more time spent with the franchise’s original characters, as opposed to playing supporting roles for Shera Bey and Kes Dameron.
If anything, the four-part Shattered Empire offers a good read for Star Wars fans for most age groups, in terms of setting up Poe Dameron’s future link to The Force Awakens. Besides introducing Poe Dameron’s parents convincingly, Rucka’s conveyance of Han and Leia’s leadership during their own separate missions is well-constructed. The final issue shifting to Luke Skywalker’s personal side trip (which conveniently includes Shara Bey), however, is more of an obvious plot tack-on than it should be.
As for this title’s additional padding, Princess Leia # 1 and Marvel’s original Star Wars # 1 supply just enough to attain a respectable page count. Serving best as a welcome library find, Star Wars: Shattered Empire, at least, offers a kid-friendly escape back into a galaxy far, far away.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
The full-page cover precedes each issue. The cover artists are: Phil Noto (Issue # 1) and Marco Checcheto (Issues # 2-4). Splitting pages are variant cover reprints. For Issue # 1, the variant cover artists are: 1. Francesco Francavilla; 2. Checchetto; and 3. Pasqual Ferry & Chris Sotomayor. Issue # 2’s variant artist is Kris Anka. Issue # 3’s variant artist is Mike Deodato. Sarah Pichelli & Paul Mounts are the variant artists for Issue # 4.
The opener for the 2015 Princess Leia mini-series is then presented afterwards. The issue’s creative team consists of writer Mark Waid; artists Terry and Rachel Dodson (who also supply the full-page cover); colorist Jordie Bellaire; & VC’s Joe Caramagna on letters.
Set immediately after Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope, Princess Leia recruits an embittered Rebel female pilot (and fellow survivor from Alderaan) for an unauthorized excursion to Naboo. Defying General Dodonna’s orders to stay put (given there’s an Imperial bounty out on her), Leia gambles that her pilot can out-maneuver Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles, whose X-Wings are in an interception pursuit.
Between Mark Waid’s likable scripting and the Dodsons’ sufficient visuals (still, their cover image surpasses the average interior artwork), Princess Leia # 1 makes for a nice read. Waid smartly plays up Leia’s often icy exterior for some insightful scenes with Luke (briefly), General Dodonna, and a newly introduced Rebel pilot, Evaan. While this single-issue ‘teaser’ isn’t a must-read, Waid and the Dodsons make it easy enough to visual the familiar actors playing out the dialogue.
From out of Marvel’s archives is the first issue of its original 1977 Star Wars comic book adaptation. The creative team consists of writer Roy Thomas; artist Howard Chaykin; and letterer Jim Novak. The uncredited cover art team is Chaykin and Tom Palmer.
Though its artwork seems primitive today, this first issue’s plotting reasonably follows George Lucas’ script. Including the film’s deleted Luke and Biggs sequence at Anchorhead on Tatooine, Thomas nimbly conveys the movie’s iconic dialogue in comic book form. This Thomas/Chaykin collaboration, in that sense, makes for a decent blast from the past.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 5½ Stars
