Star Wars #39

THE ASHES OF JEDHA pt II

Written by Kieron Gillen
Penciled by Salvador Larroca
Cover by David Marquez
Published Nov 15 2017

   Han, Leia, and Luke are masked before Bethnic, the now leader of Saw Gerrera's separatist Partisan movement. Han asks their hoods be removed and Bethnic asks why the rebels came to dying Jedha. Leia explains they want to better equip the partisans to fight the Empire. Ubin Des then introduces the trio and Leia tells him there must never be another Alderran or Jedha incident. After more posturing, Han gets testy and Bethnic finally backs down, willing to discuss their arrangement.
   Aboard a nearby cruiser, Commander Kanchar talks with Trios, giving Saw Gerrera some underhand compliments before inspecting a new mining tool. He declares that Jedha is now a prohibited moon to help cut down on the confusion between civilian and rebel. Back on the planet, Luke and his new friends tour the bombed out city remnants and getting near the remains of the ancient Jedi Temple. They openly criticize Bethnics separatists when suddenly, they discover Stormtroopers incinerating civilians. Before they can plan an attack, Luke springs into action with his light saber in hand. Cutting through the wall of a hut, he's able to attack from behind. As his contemporaries try to calm him down, his eyes glow yellow... in a super creepy Sith kinda way.
   Back aboard the Imperial ship, Trios lets Kanchar drop the mining drill and he apparently thinks its really cool for some reason. While on the planet's surface, Luke talks to Bethnic with renewed commitment to what's at stake. He shows him the newly landed drill thing and tells him it's time to blow it up. Han tells him destroying expensive Imperial equipment just happens to be he and Luke's specialty. How that happens, and no doubt the empire's response will have to wait though, as this issue is left to be continued.
   While they kind of teased it last issue, it's so awesome to see what the Star Wars comics can do that expensive movies can't. The subtle links between Rogue One and the original trilogy abound but what this book can continue to bridge is just that much cooler. Marvel's partnership with Lucasfilm gets stronger and takes advantage of telling more and more stories, even going above and beyond. This title is better than the older Star Wars books in the 80's could have ever dreamed of, and it shows. I give this issue a solid 10/10.

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