Ricky Church reviews Star Wars #52…
Marvel’s Star Wars has been on fire lately – both in a figurative and literal sense as the ‘Hope Dies’ arc has been shaping up to be the best story in the Star Wars comic in a while as Darth Vader obliterates the Rebels and their new fleet. Kieron Gillen crafts a pretty exciting issue with moments that call back not just to previous arcs in his run on the title, but significant moments in the Star Wars canon.
Most of the issue is devoted to a dogfight between Han Solo and none other than Darth Vader as the Sith Lord tries eliminating the Millennium Falcon once and for all (as well as getting some payback for Han’s role in defeating Vader at the Death Star). It’s a pretty epic chase despite us knowing they both make it out of there, but Gillen is still able to infuse tension into the scene. It only gets better as Han and Chewie realize they’re not just up against any Imperial pilot, but Vader, cranking that tension up to a great degree as you feel Han’s worry when he makes desperate attempts to outmanoeuvre Vader.
The story takes a couple nice dovetails to deliver the unexpected, an apt move when the heroes go up against Star Wars‘ most fearsome villain. Han’s solution and Threepio’s involvement in that plan are pretty ingenious, giving the story nice forward momentum as well as a couple more humourous moments. Though Luke again doesn’t have too big a part to play, he’s finally able to display more of that take charge attitude towards the end of the issue and why he’s such an inspiration to other rebels.
It is in those final moments where the story really kicks into high gear as it reflects on the past and the theme of hope going back to Rogue One. Jyn Erso gets a couple nice name drops if reference to the figurehead she’s become in the rebel movement, but Luke’s final line in the issue is not only a good callback to Rogue One and even past Star Wars stories, but is sure to bring a huge smile to the faces of longtime fans. It’s not even that much of a big win for the Rebels, but given the dourness of the last two issues it at least gives them a fighting chance and Luke taking charge of the battle is just icing on the cake.
Salvador Larroca’s art is much better in this issue. His depiction of the space battle between Han and Vader very well done with clear movements of the ships that is easy to follow. His detail on the ships is also great, especially on the Falcon as every crack, vent or wire is drawn to a painstaking degree. It very much has a cinematic experience as Han tries to lose Vader, whether its just in the vacuum of space or diving headfirst into an explosion and dodging debris. Where Larroca does show some weakness is, again, his facial expressions. Granted, they’re much better in this issue, but there are one or two panels where Han doesn’t quite look like Han. Aside from that though, Luke looks great and Larroca displays the determination on his face quite well. The same goes for the detail shown on Chewie, Threepio and Vader throughout the issue. It is a marked improvement.
Star Wars #52 is another great issue from Gillen that amps up the story and the despair the characters face. The battle between Han and Vader is exciting and well done while the focus on Luke’s role as a hero and the use of hope even in a danger like this is one of the best aspects here. Larroca’s art shows improvement in the characters facial details, though his strengths lie more in the space battles still as he creates some energetic images of the Falcon and other ships. ‘Hope Dies’ continues the anxious thrill of the title and with Luke’s final declaration, the next issue should be just as exciting.
Rating: 9/10
Ricky Church
