Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Empire, Star Wars Tales, New Comics

One new comic for the week:

Punisher: Soviet 1

Garth Ennis writing Punisher = no look purchase. Artist Jacen Burrows is channelling Steve Dillon here, which is hardly a bad thing.  It’s too early to really tell how this is going to differentiate itself from every other Punisher story, but Ennis usually finds a way.

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi 1-4

I got this ages ago for nostalgia purposes, having first read it when I was in elementary school.  It holds up extremely well. Archie Goodwin’s narrative style is bombastic in all the right ways, and while it’s extremely wordy, it’s understandable considering the amount of action that needs to be visually truncated in order for the story to fit in four issues.  

The real star is Al Williamson and his gorgeous art.  It’s detailed and action packed, which maintaining a timeless quality.  Knowing absolutely nothing about him, I did some quick research, and discovered that he’s an old school legend.  This series is certainly proof of his skills.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Major Feels

Star Wars: Empire 1-4

A really fun story by Scott Allie and Ryan Benjamin, where a group of Moffs attempt a coup on the Emperor and Darth Vader.  It fails, of course, but all the intrigue is a blast to read. Benjamin’s great as a Star Wars artist if he doesn’t have to draw normal humans.  And the detail he packs into his ships is impressive too.

Benjamin does a great Emperor.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Pretty good

Star Wars Tales 9, 13

Dark Side shenanigans allow Darth Vader to fight Darth Maul.  I don’t care about the science, I’m totally here for the fight.  It’s a ton of fun, and Rick Leonardi does an okay job with the fight, but I would have liked to see a more accomplished artist tackle the job.

Fun, but the cartoony look detracts from what could have been really badass.

Homage to Frank Miller's Ronin...

...which Rob Liefeld used himself in New Mutants...

...here.

I was prepared to ditch issue 13, a Mace Windu anthology, before I saw the display of talent in the credits - Kagan McLeod, Michael Zulli, and Jerome Opena all lend their skills to the stories, and I can’t bring myself to get rid of their work.  The real star is the final entry, an unexpectedly poignant story showing the emotional consequences of gathering Jedi babies at birth, ripping them away from their families. Nicely done by Jason Hall.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice