The fight for Jedha isn't over yet.
Rogue One wound up adding more to the Star Wars mythos than a lot of fans were probably anticipating. Episode IV is only improved by learning about the other Rebel heroes who fought and died so that Luke Skywalker could strike that decisive blow against the Empire. And as new writer Kieron Gillen is proving with his first Star Wars storyline, there's more yet to be gained by exploring the lingering legacy of Jynn Erso and her team.
Gillen is often know for exploring the seedier, more humorous side of the Star Wars franchise with his other books. But here, Gillen crafts a more somber, even poignant script that seems only too appropriate given the Jedha setting. There's plenty of great character work to dig into in this issue. The standout scenes involve Luke and Leia reflecting on the actions of the Rogue One crew. Gillen offers a fascinating glimpse into Leia's mind as she rails against the cowardly Rebel leaders who refused to fight the Empire when the moment came and now reap the rewards of Rogue One's sacrifice.
This arc also stands out because of Gillen's more morally gray approach to the supporting characters. There's a fun clash between Leia's more idealistic band of Rebels and the pragmatic band of Partisan led by Benthic. There's a despondent, defeatist quality to Benthic and his men as they make their final stand on a world that's rapidly circling the drain. Yet they fight on regardless, resulting in a compelling dynamic between these two groups. Gillen also finds great success with his two Imperial villains. Including Queen Trios is proving to be an especially inspired choice as the book establishes the Empire's early efforts to build a second Death Star.
Sadly, this series continues to be held back by the same old storytelling flaws. Salvador Larroca and colorist Guru-eFX craft extremely detail renditions of the classic OT cast, but the photo-realism is too distracting (especially since the non-movie characters lack the finer details of Luke, Leia, etc.). Overall, Guru-eFX's colors seem a somewhat better fit for Larroca's wispy line-work than previous colorist Edgar Delgado, but this series would really benefit from a more naturalistic visual style.
The Verdict
It's a real shame that this series' art quality has been so lackluster in 2017, because in terms of story and characterization, it's everything fans could want in a post-Rogue One comic. Kieron Gillen tempers his usually sardonic approach to the franchise, focusing on the somber aftermath of Jyn Erso's sacrifice and the futile campaign still being waged by the Partisans.
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