MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel
[This review was originally posted on Patreon. And visit "Star Wars Central" review page here.]
STORY: Greg Pak
PENCILS: Chris Sprouse; Scott Koblish; Stefano Landini
INKS: Karl Story; Marc Deering
COLORS: Tamra Bonvillain
LETTERS: VC's Travis Lanham
EDITOR: Mark Paniccia
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Akira Yoshida a.k.a. C.B. Cebulski
COVER: Terry Dodson with Rachel Dodson
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Chris Sprouse and Karl Story with Neeraj Menon; Mike McKone with Guru eFX; Ralph McQuarrie (Concept Design Variant Artist)
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (August 2019)
Rated T
“Fight or Flight”
Luke Skywalker is one of the most beloved characters in the Star Wars film series. He is my personal favorite. I think that he has the most fascinating character arc in the Star Wars films, although some would argue that Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker does. Luke debuted in the original 1977 Star Wars film, but he appears as an infant in the “prequel trilogy” film, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (also known as Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith).
Marvel Comics is currently publishing a new Star Wars maxi-series project that is comprised of three series: Star Wars: Age of Republic, Star Wars: Age of Rebellion, and Star Wars: Age of Resistance. This project will span 30 issues in total (reportedly), with each issue spotlighting one hero or villain from one of three particular Star Wars eras: Republic (prequel trilogy), Rebellion (original trilogy), and Resistance (sequel trilogy).
Star Wars: Age of Rebellion – Luke Skywalker #1 is a new release in the Age of Rebellion series. It is written by Greg Pak; drawn by Chris Sprouse, Scott Koblish, and Stefano Landini (pencils) and Karl Story and Marc Deering (inks); colored by Tamra Bonvillain, and lettered by Travis Lanham. The story finds Luke Skywalker facing his first temptation from the Sith.
Star Wars: Age of Rebellion – Luke Skywalker #1 (“Fight or Flight”) opens in the galaxy's Outer Rim at the Imperial Refining Platform M36. The Imperial Support Vessel 49AX3 approaches the refinery, but it is actually under Rebel control. One of the rebels involved in this mission is Luke Skywalker. Although the rebels are able to secure desperately needed fuel from the Imperial facility, the ease of the operation makes one rebel major uncomfortable, especially because of Skywalker. Meanwhile, Luke begins to have concerns of his own, unaware of a dark influence from far away.
The few “Age of” Star Wars comic books that I have read have been average, good, and really good. Star Wars: Age of Rebellion – Luke Skywalker #1 is really good. Its central theme of trust is one that would seem to be an obvious one for Star Wars comic books, but has rarely come up in Star Wars comic books that I have read. Here, Greg Pak expertly uses it in this tale of an important rebel mission and of an important moment in the development of Luke Skywalker's personality and in his journey from farm boy to Jedi Knight.
Although there are three artists illustrating this issue, the art looks consistent. When an “Age of” book has to have more than one artist or art team, it seems that editor Mark Paniccia manages to find artists whose work has at least a passing resemblance to one another.
Colorist Tamra Bonvillain and letterer Travis Lanham have been providing excellent work in their respective roles on these AOR titles. They don't disappoint here. I am also not at all disappointed in Star Wars: Age of Rebellion – Luke Skywalker #1. I am even surprised at how much I like it. Perhaps, I like Luke Skywalker so much that am appreciative (maybe even overly-appreciative?) of any even remotely good story starring Luke, my first Star Wars hero.
8 out of 10
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2019 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
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