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jaredkwheeler's review
3.0
Star Wars Legends Project #313
Background: Masquerade was released in June of 2000, and it collects issues #28-31 originally published Mar-Jul 1998. It is the eighth Rogue Squadron story arc. It was written by [a:Michael A. Stackpole|17739|Michael A. Stackpole|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1207602690p2/17739.jpg] and drawn by [a:Drew Johnson|73350|Drew Johnson|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]. Stackpole continues as the main writer for the entire series. Johnson continues his brief run begun in the previous issue.
Masquerade takes place 11 months after the Battle of Endor, just shy of 5 years after the Battle of Yavin. The main characters are Baron Fel, Wedge, Tycho, Wes, and the rest of Rogue Squadron, as well as Han, Leia, Chewie, Winter, Sate Pestage, Ysanne Isard, etc. The story takes place on Coruscant, Axxila, and Eiattu 6.
Summary: As he feels the noose of Ysanne Isard's coup plot tightening around his neck, Imperial leader Sate Pestage seeks a bargain with the New Republic for his life. But both parties must move carefully or neither will get what they want. While Pestage meets in secret with Princess Leia, Winter, posing as Leia, stages a diversion for Isard's benefit. Rogue Squadron is tasked with aiding both operations, but things go sideways when Winter's mission runs into unforeseen trouble and Isard draws the right conclusions for the wrong reasons. Now, with the stakes as high as they've ever been and their forces split, the Rogues must snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, or lose big.
Review: I had high hopes for this story, because it's been building for awhile, all of the characters have been developed, and the stars are aligned for something really epic. All of the elements are there, but the effect is significantly stymied, mostly because of the art, though perhaps a bit because of the writing. There is a point partway through this comic where I got completely lost as to what was happening with which characters, to the point where I closed the book and started hunting around online to find out whether some pages were missing from the edition I was reading. And that's probably a writing issue, but I don't think it would have mattered if so many characters weren't drawn without any distinguishing characteristics. They all look so similar that I couldn't tell them apart. It's a shame, because as I said, there's a lot to love about this story and everything that's gone into building to it. Maybe I'm just extraordinarily thick, and this won't be an issue for anyone else. But it was a problem for me.
B-
Background: Masquerade was released in June of 2000, and it collects issues #28-31 originally published Mar-Jul 1998. It is the eighth Rogue Squadron story arc. It was written by [a:Michael A. Stackpole|17739|Michael A. Stackpole|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1207602690p2/17739.jpg] and drawn by [a:Drew Johnson|73350|Drew Johnson|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]. Stackpole continues as the main writer for the entire series. Johnson continues his brief run begun in the previous issue.
Masquerade takes place 11 months after the Battle of Endor, just shy of 5 years after the Battle of Yavin. The main characters are Baron Fel, Wedge, Tycho, Wes, and the rest of Rogue Squadron, as well as Han, Leia, Chewie, Winter, Sate Pestage, Ysanne Isard, etc. The story takes place on Coruscant, Axxila, and Eiattu 6.
Summary: As he feels the noose of Ysanne Isard's coup plot tightening around his neck, Imperial leader Sate Pestage seeks a bargain with the New Republic for his life. But both parties must move carefully or neither will get what they want. While Pestage meets in secret with Princess Leia, Winter, posing as Leia, stages a diversion for Isard's benefit. Rogue Squadron is tasked with aiding both operations, but things go sideways when Winter's mission runs into unforeseen trouble and Isard draws the right conclusions for the wrong reasons. Now, with the stakes as high as they've ever been and their forces split, the Rogues must snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, or lose big.
Review: I had high hopes for this story, because it's been building for awhile, all of the characters have been developed, and the stars are aligned for something really epic. All of the elements are there, but the effect is significantly stymied, mostly because of the art, though perhaps a bit because of the writing. There is a point partway through this comic where I got completely lost as to what was happening with which characters, to the point where I closed the book and started hunting around online to find out whether some pages were missing from the edition I was reading. And that's probably a writing issue, but I don't think it would have mattered if so many characters weren't drawn without any distinguishing characteristics. They all look so similar that I couldn't tell them apart. It's a shame, because as I said, there's a lot to love about this story and everything that's gone into building to it. Maybe I'm just extraordinarily thick, and this won't be an issue for anyone else. But it was a problem for me.
B-
wyrmbergmalcolm's review
4.0
Finally the series has developed a better continuity between books. The pilots and characters involved are the same for the rest of the series, makes life a lot easier.
There's some intrigue regarding the loyalty of Soontir Fel, an interesting relationship developing between two species who habitually despise each other and a case of mistaken identity. There's quite a lot packed into this volume which, I feel, largely pays off.
I had fun reading this one and found the artwork to be on par with the series as a whole.
There's some intrigue regarding the loyalty of Soontir Fel, an interesting relationship developing between two species who habitually despise each other and a case of mistaken identity. There's quite a lot packed into this volume which, I feel, largely pays off.
I had fun reading this one and found the artwork to be on par with the series as a whole.
depizan's review
3.0
Let's call it 3 1/2 stars. The art was mixed - sometimes it wasn't bad, other times, it wasn't good, but the story had a nice mix of political intrigue and action. There were some good character moments - conversations between Han and Fel, Leia struggling with the difficulties of not being able to end the Empire in one move and free the galaxy, Tycho and Winter's continuing relationship, and Nrin and Ibtisam's friendship.
This and the first half of Blood and Honor are the best of this series. I just wish the rest of the series had been as good.
This and the first half of Blood and Honor are the best of this series. I just wish the rest of the series had been as good.
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