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neilrcoulter's review
1.0
This is ridiculous. Given an entire galaxy to play around in, Jason Aaron brings the Star Wars characters back to all the same places from the movies. Most of the story takes place on Tatooine. Seriously: Tatooine. This story takes place between Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back. But Luke confronts Darth Vader; Luke confronts Boba Fett (on Tatooine); Vader confronts Jabba the Hutt (on Tatooine--in his palace and on his sail barge). I don't know how this kind of thing can be allowed by Disney/Lucasfilm. It is completely against the rules for major characters to confront each other between the movies. This is what made the Clone Wars era so weak: when it seems in Revenge of the Sith that Anakin is meeting General Grievous for the first time, but then in the Clone Wars series it seemed like they were fighting epic lightsaber duels every few weeks. It takes away the power of the film, just as comic books like Skywalker Strikes sap the intensity out of the original trilogy.
The writing is terrible. Aaron has taken all the dialogue from Star Wars, written it on little slips of paper, and then rearranged it into a different story. So we see that Ben Kenobi is always "some crazy old wizard" (repetition of this phrase was so comical it reminded me of Yzma from The Emperor's New Groove: "scary as all get-out"), the Millennium Falcon is always a "piece of junk," and so forth. We're treated to multiple scenes of dialogue between Han and Leia that are basically the same conversation they have in the hallways of the Hoth base in The Empire Strikes Back. Luke is desperate to be trained as a Jedi--if only Ben would just appear and tell him exactly where to go. But who is there in the galaxy who could possibly teach Luke? The clunkiness of this as a lead-in to The Empire Strikes Back is painful.
The only real question that this story tries to answer is: how does Vader know Luke's name in The Empire Strikes Back, and why does the Emperor not seem to know as much about Luke? The way Aaron answers this dilemma is interesting, but it would've been so much better if he hadn't used Boba Fett as part of the solution. I especially wish he hadn't allowed Boba Fett to ensnare Luke in exactly the same way that he does in Return of the Jedi. If that confrontation really happened twice, then it makes me wonder how stupid Luke is in Return of the Jedi, that he can't anticipate Fett's moves.
The worst part of this book is the reveal, near the end, that Han Solo. ??? Terrible!
I assume that because "everything is canon" now, Skywalker Strikes is to be accepted as "real" within the Star Wars universe. It's hard to believe. Of the new Marvel series, I've only read this one and Princess Leia, and both are terrible. I wish I could be part of the Star Wars Story Group, and have a chance to work on things like this before they're published.
The writing is terrible. Aaron has taken all the dialogue from Star Wars, written it on little slips of paper, and then rearranged it into a different story. So we see that Ben Kenobi is always "some crazy old wizard" (repetition of this phrase was so comical it reminded me of Yzma from The Emperor's New Groove: "scary as all get-out"), the Millennium Falcon is always a "piece of junk," and so forth. We're treated to multiple scenes of dialogue between Han and Leia that are basically the same conversation they have in the hallways of the Hoth base in The Empire Strikes Back. Luke is desperate to be trained as a Jedi--if only Ben would just appear and tell him exactly where to go. But who is there in the galaxy who could possibly teach Luke? The clunkiness of this as a lead-in to The Empire Strikes Back is painful.
The only real question that this story tries to answer is: how does Vader know Luke's name in The Empire Strikes Back, and why does the Emperor not seem to know as much about Luke? The way Aaron answers this dilemma is interesting, but it would've been so much better if he hadn't used Boba Fett as part of the solution. I especially wish he hadn't allowed Boba Fett to ensnare Luke in exactly the same way that he does in Return of the Jedi. If that confrontation really happened twice, then it makes me wonder how stupid Luke is in Return of the Jedi, that he can't anticipate Fett's moves.
The worst part of this book is the reveal, near the end, that Han Solo
Spoiler
has a wifeI assume that because "everything is canon" now, Skywalker Strikes is to be accepted as "real" within the Star Wars universe. It's hard to believe. Of the new Marvel series, I've only read this one and Princess Leia, and both are terrible. I wish I could be part of the Star Wars Story Group, and have a chance to work on things like this before they're published.
jenny_librarian's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
I didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I did. Some of the details aren’t perfect, but the story’s good and the characters are true to their original depictions.
The art is really close to life too, enough that Leia even looks just like her mother in some panels.
I’m incredibly tired of the « I’m no Jedi » line (they really need to let that one die), but the rest was pretty on point.
I do have to say my favourite part was Vader turning out to be the negotiator. I can’t ignore the irony of Vader using Obi-Wan’s nickname. It’s too perfect. My boy is as unhinged as ever.That cracked window at the end 😂 he’s such a drama queen.
The art is really close to life too, enough that Leia even looks just like her mother in some panels.
I’m incredibly tired of the « I’m no Jedi » line (they really need to let that one die), but the rest was pretty on point.
I do have to say my favourite part was Vader turning out to be the negotiator. I can’t ignore the irony of Vader using Obi-Wan’s nickname. It’s too perfect. My boy is as unhinged as ever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Murder and War
Minor: Slavery and Kidnapping
twilliamson's review
4.0
Aaron picks up the Star Wars universe in the first comic series of the new canon continuity, and as such tries to suture together the adventures of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, and other characters after the events of the first film.
Much of what Aaron provides in this first collection, which spans the first six issues of the series, feels like some classic Star Wars action, but the convenience of his plotting makes the series feel like a whole lot of fan fiction. Because so many canon characters, as well as a few new ones, crop up in these issues, it feels like a constriction of the Star Wars universe more than it does an expansion. Whereas the 1970s comics felt wild because there was no canon to build from other than one original film, this series feels like it is trying too hard to fit into a canon perhaps better left unwritten, and although it was written in 2014 (released in 2015), it feels like its events would spoil much of the novelty of the second Star Wars film.
Indeed, of my biggest gripes with the comic's story is the confrontation between Vader and Luke, which here feels like it lessens the impact of Luke's later confrontation with Vader in Cloud City. Although Aaron is ostensibly filling in gaps in the canon--How did Luke learn to control the Force? How did Vader learn who Luke was before the events of Empire?--it does feel like there's almost too much crammed into what would otherwise feel like two episodes of an ongoing television serial.
All of that contention aside, I can't fault Aaron's enthusiasm for the series, and I do think his characters ring mostly true. He gets the right notes for Han and Leia, especially, even if his Luke is a little underwhelming. He does both Vader and Fett justice, and his Jabba is believable. Cassaday's art is also pretty good, although I am not so sure his inker or colorist do his linework real justice. There's a feeling of stiffness in the ship depictions, as if they're not even drawn from the same visual plane.
All in all, though, I do think that this is a series many Star Wars fans can still enjoy in a totally retconned Star Wars universe. Although I regret the loss of so much of the EU canon, this new canon of comics does inspire some hope that there might be some cool stories told in the future.
Much of what Aaron provides in this first collection, which spans the first six issues of the series, feels like some classic Star Wars action, but the convenience of his plotting makes the series feel like a whole lot of fan fiction. Because so many canon characters, as well as a few new ones, crop up in these issues, it feels like a constriction of the Star Wars universe more than it does an expansion. Whereas the 1970s comics felt wild because there was no canon to build from other than one original film, this series feels like it is trying too hard to fit into a canon perhaps better left unwritten, and although it was written in 2014 (released in 2015), it feels like its events would spoil much of the novelty of the second Star Wars film.
Indeed, of my biggest gripes with the comic's story is the confrontation between Vader and Luke, which here feels like it lessens the impact of Luke's later confrontation with Vader in Cloud City. Although Aaron is ostensibly filling in gaps in the canon--How did Luke learn to control the Force? How did Vader learn who Luke was before the events of Empire?--it does feel like there's almost too much crammed into what would otherwise feel like two episodes of an ongoing television serial.
All of that contention aside, I can't fault Aaron's enthusiasm for the series, and I do think his characters ring mostly true. He gets the right notes for Han and Leia, especially, even if his Luke is a little underwhelming. He does both Vader and Fett justice, and his Jabba is believable. Cassaday's art is also pretty good, although I am not so sure his inker or colorist do his linework real justice. There's a feeling of stiffness in the ship depictions, as if they're not even drawn from the same visual plane.
All in all, though, I do think that this is a series many Star Wars fans can still enjoy in a totally retconned Star Wars universe. Although I regret the loss of so much of the EU canon, this new canon of comics does inspire some hope that there might be some cool stories told in the future.
tsukikomew's review
4.0
This volume follows Luke, Leia, Han, and the crew on a mission between Episode IV and Episode V to cripple the Empire as much as they can. The crew set off for an Imperial weapons manufacturing plant and pose as negotiators. Quickly the meeting goes south when it becomes clear Darth Vader is the negotiator. The group fights back trying to not only escape but to destroy the weapons plant. Luke faces off against Darth Vader while the rest of the team rescues slaves and readies the Falcon to fly again. After their victory Luke sets off alone to go to Tatooine to discover more information about Obi-Wan Kenobi. Luke struggles to view himself as a Jedi since he is completely untrained. He gets the chance to realize his destiny when he fights Boba Fett on Tatooine and emerges victorious leaving with a gift from Obi Wan Kenobi.
The series is a great filler to explain a bit how Episode IV ended and how Episode V was set up. We know Luke had somewhat embraced the Jedi outlook at the beginning of Episode V and knew he needed to seek training. We know the group managed to continue fighting against the Empire before settling a new base on Hoth. We know all this but how they got from point A to point B has been less than clear.
I liked the way the characters were portrayed because they seemed so authentic. You could almost hear the actors reading the lines out. No one seemed drastically altered by time and/or distance from the source material. Everyone was precisely the way they should have been.
The only downside to the story was the whole Han Solo/Leia/Sana storyline. Why they felt the need to shoehorn a love triangle into a series that already had one before we all learned it was creepy and gross, is beyond me. It seems like unnecessary drama that will clearly get hammered out by the end of the series.
I plan to continue the series as I eagerly await Episode VIII to be released in over a year. It's a great way to get back into the swing of things if you've been lacking some "Star Wars" in your life.
The series is a great filler to explain a bit how Episode IV ended and how Episode V was set up. We know Luke had somewhat embraced the Jedi outlook at the beginning of Episode V and knew he needed to seek training. We know the group managed to continue fighting against the Empire before settling a new base on Hoth. We know all this but how they got from point A to point B has been less than clear.
I liked the way the characters were portrayed because they seemed so authentic. You could almost hear the actors reading the lines out. No one seemed drastically altered by time and/or distance from the source material. Everyone was precisely the way they should have been.
The only downside to the story was the whole Han Solo/Leia/Sana storyline. Why they felt the need to shoehorn a love triangle into a series that already had one before we all learned it was creepy and gross, is beyond me. It seems like unnecessary drama that will clearly get hammered out by the end of the series.
I plan to continue the series as I eagerly await Episode VIII to be released in over a year. It's a great way to get back into the swing of things if you've been lacking some "Star Wars" in your life.
charlottewilloughby's review
4.0
Great read
Very good first book, lots of different things going on and different stories. Overall gets left on a cliffhanger which sets up perfectly for the next instalment!
Very good first book, lots of different things going on and different stories. Overall gets left on a cliffhanger which sets up perfectly for the next instalment!
hilaryjsc's review
4.0
Just as satisfying as Princess Leia Vol 1. I love how they answer niggling questions without feeling like they're wandering off to some weird place.
goodbooksgreatgoats's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
charlesc_n's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0