IDW PUBLISHING – @IDWPublishing
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
STORY: Scott Beatty
PENCILS: Derek Charm; Jon Sommariva
INKS: Derek Charm; Sean Parsons
COLORS: Derek Charm; Matt Herms
LETTERS: Tom B. Long
EDITORS: Bobby Curnow; Denton J. Tipton
COVER: Derek Charm
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Jon Sommariva
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (November 2018)
“Destroyer Down” Episode I: “Explore” and “The Ghost Ship” Part 1 “There and Then”
Star Wars Adventures is an all-ages Star Wars comic book series from IDW Publishing. The series is geared toward readers ages 7 to 10 and features one and two-part stories that are not steeped in Star Wars continuity. Star Wars Adventures features a rotating cast of characters, and the stories range from settings that take place before Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace all the way up to Star Wars: The Last Jedi (Episode VIII) and beyond.
There have already been two spin-off miniseries, Star Wars Adventures: Forces of Destiny (January 2018) and Star Wars Adventures: Tales from Vader's Castle (October 2018). Each was a five-issue miniseries published weekly. The third spin-off miniseries is entitled, Star Wars Adventures: Destroyer Down. This three-issue comic book miniseries is written by Scott Beatty. The stories are drawn by artist-colorist Derek Charm and the art team of Jon Sommariva (pencils), Sean Parsons (inks), and colorist Matt Herms. Tom B. Long letters the stories.
Star Wars Adventures: Destroyer Down #1 is set before the events depicted in the 2015 film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The first story, “Explore,” opens on Jakku, where the remnants of the Galactic Empire made its last stand.
Legend has it that the shifting sands of Jakku swallowed the Imperial Star Destroyer “Spectral.” It has been lost for two decades and rumors of hauntings and buried treasure have arisen around its legend. Now, an epic sandstorm has revealed the ruins of the Spectral, and the renowned scavenger, Rey, now races to claim whatever lies within. However, salvage and junk boss, Unkar Plutt, and a host of shady types plot to take whatever Rey finds and perhaps, also to harm her.
In the second story, “There and Then,” the Rebel Alliance fighter group, the “Shepherd Squadron,” engages remnants of the Imperial Navy in the last days of the Empire. It is, however, just a prelude to the last days of Spectral.
IDW Publishing declares in its press releases that its Star Wars Adventures comic books and its “Young Adult” titles are “dedicated to bringing the element of FUN back into comic books...” IDW sure has. I cannot think of a young adult or kids' comics title from the publisher that I have read that is not just fun to read, but is also a blast to read.
I could have read Star Wars Adventures: Destroyer Down #1 in one sitting even if it were 100 pages long. I plain love it. Destroyer Down may be better than Tales from Vader's Castle, which got better with each issue and turned out to be pretty damn awesome itself.
I think I have already praised artist Derek Charm Star Wars works to the heavens, but I am also a fan of Jon Sommariva's fantastic Star Wars Adventures art. Both are good storytellers who make wonderful Star Wars comic books that can be enjoyed by comics fans of all ages. Inker Sean Parsons and colorist Matt Herms also shine with their work on Destroyer Down #1, and letterer Tom B. Long delivers his usual stellar work.
With this series, Scott Beatty is showing that he is no slouch next to writers of Star Wars comic books for older readers. He has convinced me that this comic book is the shit, so I am going to recommend that we get down with Star Wars Adventures: Destroyer Down.
9 out of 10
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
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