Star Wars #62-67: The Scourging Of Shu-Torun

THE SCOURGING OF SHU-TORUN

Written by Kieron Gillen
Penciled by Angel Unzueta and Andrea Broccardo
Published in issues #62-67
March 6 to June 19, 2019

   Fresh off the events of the Escape (56-61), Kieron Gillen pens his final Star Wars masterpiece for Marvel and lucky for us, it's one of the best arcs I've read this year. Princess Leia and the rebels have been teasing some kind of retribution against Queen Trios for awhile now, and since Gillen's leaving the title was no secret, you kind of expected he'd save the best for last. This is the Nerdiest Kid You Know's review of Star Wars #62-67: The Scourging Of Shu-Torun.

Leia means business, yo.

   Since Gillen got his Star Wars start in the pages of Darth Vader, Shu-Torun has been a long standing subject you had to know he'd revisit. The mining planet's Vader appointed ruler Queen Trios was once seen as one of Leia's allies, but since her double crossing of the rebels at the battle of Mon Cala, they'd always sought revenge. This time her plan included recruiting a shape shifting actor name Tunga, the Rogue One famous Partisans - plus their leader Benthic, and an engineer named Meorti. 

The gang's all here.

   At a party, Tunga shapeshits into an ore-duke and is able to scan Trios' eye. With that retina scan, Leia is able to lower the shields surrounding the planet and it's powerful centerpiece, the Spike. Luke Skywalker and Benthic are able to enter it via the Millennium Falcon, but Benthic's hatred of the Empire and what they did to Jedha leads him to try and destroy the planet completely.

"Check out this rad earring, your majesty... NO, NO... YOU HAVE TO REEEEALLLY LOOK AT IT!..."

   Eventually Trios is able to catch up to Leia and they finally get the duel we've been waiting for about 15 issues for. Apparently the princess is some kind of ninja master as well, and is able to mortally wound the Queen when they all suddenly realize the Spike is going to explode. Although down below he surface, Luke and eventually Leia was able to change Benthic's mind but it was too late. The mining rich planet is done for.

Sorry but I have to kill you.

   With revenge in hand for her fleet's destruction, Leia and the rebels are able to escape. Meanwhile, Commander Kanchar is forced to explain to Vader his failure to kill the fab four, which of course leads to his execution since the sith lord wants his children kept alive. With that, and of course along with a tearful note on his departure, Kieron Gillen's last Star Wars arc draws to a close.

Ok, everyone gather around this really convenient shot of us getting on the Falcon.

   So with some final thoughts on this story, I'm going to miss Gillen's attention to detail. Since way back in issue #38 when he came to this title, his stories have been nothing less than impressive. Using characters introduced in not only the original trilogy, he also created far more that seamlessly fit the Star Wars canon. I know that Marvel has had a long relationship with Lucasfilm since way before Disney owned both of them, but it's so awesome to see this title allowed to flourish with the same attention to quality that they've had together since 1977. With Marvel vets Greg Pak and Phil Noto set to inherit the series next month, I have no doubt they'll be able to keep the quality up - and can't wait to see what they have in store for that galaxy far, far away. I give the Scourging of Shu-Torun a well deserved 10/10.

If you like this review, check out my video of it HERE.

You can also buy my physical copy of this book below:
Star Wars #62
Star Wars #63
Star Wars #64
Star Wars #65
Star Wars #66
Star Wars #67

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