MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel
[This review was originally posted on Patreon. And visit the "Star Wars Central" review page here.]
STORY: Tom Taylor
ART: Ramon Rosanas
COLORS: Guru eFX
LETTERS: VC's Travis Lanham
EDITOR: Mark Paniccia
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Akira Yoshida a.k.a. C.B. Cebulski
COVER: Phil Noto
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Giuseppe Camuncoli with Elia Bonetti; Mike McKone with Guru eFX; Glyn Dillon (Concept Design Variant Artist)
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (September 2019)
Rated T
“Infestation”
Finn is one of the new Star Wars characters that appear in the “sequel” film series. Finn debuted in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015). Finn was a stormtrooper of the “First Order,” and he was known as “Designation FN-2187.” Finn was shocked by the cruelty of the First Order that he witnessed on his first mission. He escaped the First Order and eventually joined “the Resistance.”
Marvel Comics is currently publishing a new Star Wars maxi-series project that is comprised of three series: Star Wars: Age of Republic and Star Wars: Age of Rebellion (both of which have been completed, and the new series, 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 Resistance – Finn #1 is the first release in the Age of Resistance series. It is written by Tom Taylor; drawn by Ramon Rosanas; colored by Guru eFX, and lettered by Travis Lanham. This comic book is set before the events depicted in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and offers a look at the origins of Finn's doubts about his life as a stormtrooper.
Star Wars: Age of Resistance – Finn #1 (“Infestation”) opens on “Starkiller Base.” We meet FN-2187, a young First Order stormtrooper. Like his partner, FN-3761, FN-2187 is a janitor, and he has a mop in his hand, even when he meets the mysterious Kylo Ren. His commander, Captain Phasma, orders the two stormtrooper janitors to join a cleaning crew. Upon arrival, however, 2187 and 3761 discover that the members of this cleaning crew are holding weapons instead of mops. There seems to be some kind of pest control issue, but how will that lead FN-2187 to question everything?
I have not read all the “Age of” Star Wars comic books that Marvel Comics have released (as of this writing). I read only two of the Age of Republic titles, but I read five of the Age of Rebellion titles because the “Age of Rebellion,” otherwise known as the “original trilogy” era, is the Star Wars time period I truly love. I have not made up my mind about how much I want to delve into the Age of Resistance comics. I do really like the Resistance's heroic trio of Rey, Finn, and Poe Dameron, but I can't say I care much for characters like Captain Phasma and General Hux.
I like Star Wars: Age of Resistance – Finn #1. Like the Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader entries in this series (or series of series), Finn #1 gives us a look at the development of Star Wars figure's character and personality. Clearly, something had been going on in Finn's mind that led him to take the actions that separated him from the First Order, as seen early in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. You know, there are the makings for a potentially high-quality Star Wars comic book series in Finn's life before his debut in “Episode VII.”
Although I like this story, “Infestation,” it is not anything heavy. Tom Taylor offers something sweet and gentle that does not rock the continuity boat. I like Ramon Rosanas' art, and Guru eFX's color effects, which are nice against the somewhat muted colors. There is also something sweet and gentle in Rosanas' graphical storytelling and in Guru's coloring that makes me like this comic book more than I probably should. As I usually say, letterer Travis Lanham has been providing excellent work on these AOR titles, and continues to do so here.
I can't say that Star Wars: Age of Resistance – Finn #1 will make me read all the Age of Resistance titles, but I like this enough to give all of them at least a cursory glance.
[This comic book includes the text piece, “I'm Gonna Call You Finn,” by Bryan Young.]
7.5 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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