Fighting the Empire is no laughing matter.
Much has been said about the plot similarities between The Force Awakens and the original Star Wars. But one element that really set the new film apart from its Original Trilogy predecessors was its stronger, more overt sense of humor. From the moment Poe Dameron greeted Kylo Ren with, "So, who talks first? You talk first?", it was clear that Lucasfilm is taking a page from the Marvel Cinematic Universe playbook. And if Star Wars #23 is any indication, we may start seeing more humor in the comics, as well. It's a good thing humor is one of writer Jason Aaron's specialties.
As poorly executed as the cover is, it actually is a fair representation of the events within. Aaron and artist Jorge Molina pick up with Han, Luke, Leia and the rest as they try to get their pilfered Star Destroyer back into working shape and carry out their larger mission. The stakes are certainly high, with the threat of Sergeant Kreel and his SCAR Troopers looming large. Yet Aaron and Molina balance out that danger with a healthy dose of humor. Much of the humor comes from the perpetually bickering Han and Leia, who literally race each other across the ship to see who deserves to be captain. I can see where some readers might find this material too silly for its own good, but Aaron isn't simply being goofy for the sake of it. There's only so much he can do to explore their blossoming (but unacknowledged) romance given the timeline of this series. Aaron writes Han and Leia as immature schoolchildren because behaving that way allows them to ignore their mutual attraction.
While that's unfolding, Aaron is able to forge a stronger bond between Luke and Sana. Whether that relationship will develop into its own romance remains to be seen, but there's a clear, palpable bond between the two that's clearly worth exploring. And really, anything that keeps Sana n the spotlight is a good thing. We know what the future holds for most of the book's cast. That isn't the case with Sana or Kreel. Speaking of Kreel, while he and his squad have only a small role in this issue, the fact that they appear at all is an improvement over issue #22. In general, Aaron is much better this month about connecting dots and showing how the various pieces of this new conflict fit together.
You also have to wonder if Aaron is amping up the humor factor in this arc in order to best take advantage of Molina's storytelling strengths. Molina has a slightly more cartoonish style than his fellow Star Wars artists, and that really comes into play as Leia and Han feud with each other and Sana cracks wise in the background. There are panels where Molina's work becomes a little too exaggerated (in particular, one really big-eyed depiction of Leia), but for the most part he brings an element of fun and whimsy to the book. And it doesn't hurt that Molina is a whiz with the familiar tech and ship designs of the Star Wars universe. It'll be great to see the SCAR Troopers unleashed against our heroes as the story unfolds.
The Verdict
Star Wars #23 probably won't be every fan's cup of tea. This issue pushes the series in a sillier direction even as it maneuvers Han, Luke and Leia into conflict with the SCAR Troopers. But ultimately, the humor is a clever way of exploring the sexual tension between Han and Leia and making the most of the limitations imposed by the time period.
Editors' Choice
→
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire