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jaredkwheeler's review against another edition
4.0
Star Wars Legends Project #269
Background: Chewbacca and the Slavers of the Shadowlands was published in August 2011, the sixth (and last) in the Star Wars Adventures series of graphic novellas. It was written by [a:Chris Cerasi|4041864|Chris Cerasi|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] with art by [a:Jennifer Meyer|1594593|Jennifer Meyer|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]. Cerasi wrote a smattering of miscellaneous Star Wars works, but was more prominent in his role as the LucasBooks editor for all Dark Horse Star Wars comics. This is Meyer's only Star Wars credit.
Chewbacca and the Slavers of the Shadowlands has a framing story set 6 months after the Battle of Yavin, but the main story is a flashback that takes place 185 years earlier, when Chewbacca is a young Wookiee. Han Solo and Princess Leia appear in the framing story, but of course Chewbacca is the main character throughout, along with a number of one-off characters. The main story is set on Kashyyyk.
Summary: While travelling aboard the Millennium Falcon, Chewbacca reminisces about a formative experience he had as a young Wookiee on Kashyyyk. Jealous and anxious to prove himself after a friend is first to experience a formative rite of passage, Chewbacca leads a number of other young Wookiees on a reckless expedition into the treacherous Shadowlands of Kashyyyk, and finds himself facing challenges and consequences that will haunt him for the rest of his life.
Review: This is a very well-plotted story for the length we have to work with. I like the way the framing device establishes a context for why Chewie is the character that he is when we know him during this period of his life. The art is great and does a really good job of distinguishing the various young Wookiee characters from each other, and they make it easy to quickly become invested in the story. We know that Chewbacca survives this experience, but nothing about the others, and that makes the stakes feel very real.
It does feel like the tone is a little uneven at various points in the story. Some really intense stuff happens that will likely be a lot for a younger audience, but at the same time most of this is clearly aimed at that same audience. The villains in particular, while clearly evil, are pretty cartoonish (even by the standards of being drawn in a comic. Still, overall this is a quick and enjoyable read, and a must for Chewie fans.
B
Background: Chewbacca and the Slavers of the Shadowlands was published in August 2011, the sixth (and last) in the Star Wars Adventures series of graphic novellas. It was written by [a:Chris Cerasi|4041864|Chris Cerasi|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] with art by [a:Jennifer Meyer|1594593|Jennifer Meyer|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]. Cerasi wrote a smattering of miscellaneous Star Wars works, but was more prominent in his role as the LucasBooks editor for all Dark Horse Star Wars comics. This is Meyer's only Star Wars credit.
Chewbacca and the Slavers of the Shadowlands has a framing story set 6 months after the Battle of Yavin, but the main story is a flashback that takes place 185 years earlier, when Chewbacca is a young Wookiee. Han Solo and Princess Leia appear in the framing story, but of course Chewbacca is the main character throughout, along with a number of one-off characters. The main story is set on Kashyyyk.
Summary: While travelling aboard the Millennium Falcon, Chewbacca reminisces about a formative experience he had as a young Wookiee on Kashyyyk. Jealous and anxious to prove himself after a friend is first to experience a formative rite of passage, Chewbacca leads a number of other young Wookiees on a reckless expedition into the treacherous Shadowlands of Kashyyyk, and finds himself facing challenges and consequences that will haunt him for the rest of his life.
Review: This is a very well-plotted story for the length we have to work with. I like the way the framing device establishes a context for why Chewie is the character that he is when we know him during this period of his life. The art is great and does a really good job of distinguishing the various young Wookiee characters from each other, and they make it easy to quickly become invested in the story. We know that Chewbacca survives this experience, but nothing about the others, and that makes the stakes feel very real.
It does feel like the tone is a little uneven at various points in the story. Some really intense stuff happens that will likely be a lot for a younger audience, but at the same time most of this is clearly aimed at that same audience. The villains in particular, while clearly evil, are pretty cartoonish (even by the standards of being drawn in a comic. Still, overall this is a quick and enjoyable read, and a must for Chewie fans.
B
tom_23's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
this books cute but it doesn’t hold up to my memories of it as an 8 year old, which is unsurprising. i’m getting baby’s first emotionally impactful story. also baarrak really got fridged. it’s fine.
imalwayswrite's review against another edition
3.0
I always love backstories and although the framework takes place 6 months after the Battle of Yavin, the actual story, being retold by Chewbacca, takes place during the Old Republic era when he was a teenager. The story itself is OK but the artwork is really good. I love that the artist is a woman.
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