Scan barcode
A review by jaredkwheeler
The Warrior Princess by Michael A. Stackpole
3.0
Star Wars Legends Project #309
Background: The Warrior Princess, released in November of 1998, collects issues #13-16 originally published Oct 1996-Feb 1997. It is the fourth 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 [a:Scott Tolson|6040189|Scott Tolson|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], and drawn by [a:John Nadeau|17736|John Nadeau|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]. Stackpole, of course, wrote or co-wrote this whole series (in addition to many other things), but this seems to be Tolson's only Star Wars credit. Nadeau run of drawing Rogue Squadron comics continues here.
The Warrior Princess takes place 7 months after the Battle of Endor, just over 4.5 years after the Battle of Yavin. The main characters are Wedge, Tycho, Wes, and the rest of Rogue Squadron, particularly Isplourrdacartha Estillo (more commonly known as Plourr Ilo). The story takes place on Eiattu 6.
Summary: A long time ago, a princess left her world behind and joined the Rebellion to fight the Empire and restore peace and justice to the galaxy. The similarities between this princess and the one you're thinking of end there. Plourr Ilo is a hard-charging, two-fisted starfighter jockey with Rogue Squadron . . . and she is also, it turns out, the lost heir to the throne of Eiattu 6. Playing princess is the last thing Plourr wants, but if she can't or won't take up the mantle of leading her homeworld, the Empire will be happy to step in in her place.
Review: I read this entire story before noticing the obvious parallels between Plourr and the legends surrounding Anastasia Romanov. It's a cool source of inspiration (and with a far happier outcome than her real-life counterpart), and probably should have been more obvious to me than it was. But also it's good that it isn't belabored by the writers. The story delivers more of what I've come to expect and enjoy from this series: some good action, particularly dogfights, and a cleverly-plotted series of events that unfolds naturally but not predictably, with some great twists thrown in.
Aside from that, this wasn't my favorite story arc. Plourr is a fine side-character, but not that interesting as a central character. Her personal struggle with being reluctant to leave her pilot days behind and take up the duty of leadership felt tiresome and a bit cliché. It's not a character arc I find interesting, and it can make the character seem shallow and whiny. Still, overall this is somewhat redeemed by plenty of other interesting developments and a compelling antagonist. Neither a high point nor a low point.
B-
Background: The Warrior Princess, released in November of 1998, collects issues #13-16 originally published Oct 1996-Feb 1997. It is the fourth 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 [a:Scott Tolson|6040189|Scott Tolson|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], and drawn by [a:John Nadeau|17736|John Nadeau|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]. Stackpole, of course, wrote or co-wrote this whole series (in addition to many other things), but this seems to be Tolson's only Star Wars credit. Nadeau run of drawing Rogue Squadron comics continues here.
The Warrior Princess takes place 7 months after the Battle of Endor, just over 4.5 years after the Battle of Yavin. The main characters are Wedge, Tycho, Wes, and the rest of Rogue Squadron, particularly Isplourrdacartha Estillo (more commonly known as Plourr Ilo). The story takes place on Eiattu 6.
Summary: A long time ago, a princess left her world behind and joined the Rebellion to fight the Empire and restore peace and justice to the galaxy. The similarities between this princess and the one you're thinking of end there. Plourr Ilo is a hard-charging, two-fisted starfighter jockey with Rogue Squadron . . . and she is also, it turns out, the lost heir to the throne of Eiattu 6. Playing princess is the last thing Plourr wants, but if she can't or won't take up the mantle of leading her homeworld, the Empire will be happy to step in in her place.
Review: I read this entire story before noticing the obvious parallels between Plourr and the legends surrounding Anastasia Romanov. It's a cool source of inspiration (and with a far happier outcome than her real-life counterpart), and probably should have been more obvious to me than it was. But also it's good that it isn't belabored by the writers. The story delivers more of what I've come to expect and enjoy from this series: some good action, particularly dogfights, and a cleverly-plotted series of events that unfolds naturally but not predictably, with some great twists thrown in.
Aside from that, this wasn't my favorite story arc. Plourr is a fine side-character, but not that interesting as a central character. Her personal struggle with being reluctant to leave her pilot days behind and take up the duty of leadership felt tiresome and a bit cliché. It's not a character arc I find interesting, and it can make the character seem shallow and whiny. Still, overall this is somewhat redeemed by plenty of other interesting developments and a compelling antagonist. Neither a high point nor a low point.
B-