Star Wars #68-75: Rebels and Rogues

REBELS AND ROGUES

Written by Greg Pak
Pencils by Phil Noto
Published July-November 2019

So look, all of you will do this. We'll be back here doing NOTHING!

   Somewhere in the Outer Rim, General Rieekan plans the rebels next big mission.  Luke Skywalker will use his stellar piloting skills to lure some imperials from the Inner Rim. Han Solo and Princess Leia will send some misleading messages from Boss Carpo’s planet to throw off the Empire, and Chewbacca and CP30 will try to lure imperial soldiers to a planet called K-43 and blow it up.

Don't worry. It's all going to go according to plan.

  They all begin their respective missions but of course there’s trouble from the jump. Chewie and Threepio find some rock-like creatures on K-43 making blowing it up in question. Han and Leia discover Dar Champion, the advocate champion of Lanz Carpo and Leia’s former boyfriend, and Luke's diversion leads him right into a fellow force hucking drifter named Warba.

There goes young Luke - falling for anything.

   On K-43, Chewie and 3P0 flee but are later compelled to return to remove the detonators. Unfortunately the Empire has now taken some interest in the planet. With some quick thinking, the droid manages to make allies of the rock folk - and they're going to need it. Darth Vader himself decides that the rock people will help him in putting an end to the rebellion.

"Wait, I made this droid.." - Darth Vader, 3653 BBY

   On Sergia, Warba tells Luke she's skilled in the Jedi arts - though she uses them for the wrong purposes. Still she agrees to help him infiltrate the imperial camps but continues to be interested in basically just stealing his lightsaber. Instead, they end up stealing a huge chunk of imperial payroll credits and Luke learns yet another lesson in trust.

Oh Warba. You!!

   Meanwhile Han and Leia fall into Dar's trap. Trying to talk him into allowing them to send the messages, Han ends up kidnapped by Boss Carpo and then used as a bartering chip to force Leia, Dar and Han to kill an Imperial governor. They agree to do so but are soon informed by 3P0 that Vader is with them on the rock planet. And speaking of, his efforts to completely take charge of the rock people aren't going to plan. He ends up engaged in a fight with Chewbacca.

The fight we never got to see in the movies.

   Back on Sergia, Warba continues to try and steal Luke's sword but in the end he convinces her to help him. They hijack a speeder and take out an imperial ship.. and it's all in time for one big showdown on K-43. Han, Leia and Dar arrive on the planet just as Luke does. With all of them fighting Darth Vader together, he fights back but is eventually able to retreat. With the planet about to explode, the rock people return the Millennium Falcon while Luke returns to his X-Wing, but is met by Vader for one last showdown.

"Wait - fighting a Jedi in pools of lava. Something about this seems like a bad idea..." - Darth Vader, 3653 BBY

   Luckily, the explosion sends everyone scattering from the planet's surface. Vader is saved by his crew and they jump to light speed. Warba returns to the fight to save Luke one more time, and the crew is all back together again. Because sometimes what else do you ever have or need - when you have friends.

The gang's all here!

   And so, with that, Greg Pak's run on Star Wars comes to an end. But really, it comes at a good time. We get Charles Soule back to bring us his masterful Star Wars stories like he has in the past, and get to lend Greg to other tales to tell in the Marvel universe. The only thing I hope for in the future? Is there anyway we can tell a good jedi story without it having to be 8 or 9 parts? You want to talk about a tough story to write a summary for? But in the end, I guess it was worth it. I give this one an 8/10.

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 #68 (SOLD)
Star Wars #69 (SOLD)
Star Wars #70
Star Wars #71
Star Wars #72 (SOLD)
Star Wars #73 (SOLD)
Star Wars #74 (SOLD)
Star Wars #75 (SOLD)

Like comics? Check out my ebay wares HERE

Follow me at facebook, twitter, or instagram as well.

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #8-10

BRING ON THE BAD GUYS

Written by Saladin Ahmed
Penciled by Javier Garron
Published July - Sept 2019

Who dat - Who dere?

   Miles awakes to find he’s been taken hostage, and as the situation begins to settle in, realizes he’s in big trouble. Over and over he’s subjected to various feats of strength, but always finds himself back under the watchful eye of the Assessor.
Eventually he gains enough momentum to break free but even then he learns yet another painful lesson.

Aw - more lies?!

   Meanwhile, Uncle Aaron has a rather tempestuous reunion with his brother and sister in law, aka Miles’ very concerned parents. He explains that he thinks he saw Miles essentially get kidnapped. With Jefferson Davis’ SHIELD resume and Aaron in league with expert weaponeer Ceres, he dons his Prowler suit and they break in to where Miles is being held.

Should have taken an elavator.

   Together they fight their way down to the lowest level and before long find their exhausted son and nephew. Freeing him, it’s up to the two brothers to fight their way back topside. Back safe in his mothers’ arms, Miles begins the long road to recuperation as Miles and Aaron celebrate a job well done.

Thanks for the help, my criminal brother.

   Months later, his parents knock on his bedroom door to wish him a happy birthday. Between a long father-son talk and even his best friend Ganke coming over, Miles is feeling the love. Unfortunately they’re interrupted by the original Spider-Man, who between birthday wishes explains to Miles that Brooklyn’s own Spidey is needed at ESU’s Engineering campus. Swinging his way back, he’s discovers why pretty quickly. A rather familiar green monster attacks him but Miles’ has a hard time placing the beast...

Wait, I know that guy!

   Before long, he realizes it’s the Green Goblin but he doesn’t know how. Either way, he’s soon crushed by a gigantic supervilian known as Ultimatum - who also recognizes Miles and bounds away with the goblin in tow. Back home, Miles finally rings in his birthday with his family and Ganke - while Ultimatum meets up with Mayor Wilson Fisk. As they discuss we learn just how tight the Kingpin is with his old friend... Miles Morales? Wow - that’s a shock. But what does it mean? We’ll have to wait to find out as this issue comes to an end.

I mean, it doesn't really LOOK like Miles...

   So life gets crazy but then back to normal for our favorite alt-universe webhead. One of the things I still love about this book is that you can jump into it almost at anytime and not be too removed by what Ahmed is trying to tell us. It’s always a rich story and Garron’s pencils are still as sharp as ever. I really like where this one  is headed, and I give it an 8/10.

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

You can also buy my physical copy of this book below:

Miles Morales #8
Miles Morales #9
Miles Morales #10

Like comics? Check out my ebay wares HERE

Follow me at facebook, twitter, or instagram as well.