Comic Review: Star Wars (2020) #45

Issue forty-three was an incredible comic, one of the best that we have ever seen. It has still been in my thoughts two months later. Last issue was a very different sort of comic, one that started to look at the trial of Lando. While it would be impossible to have another issue so intense, so vital to the development of the characters and just simply jaw-dropping, the arc of Lando has already had its moments. To see how the Rebellion cannot agree with itself, how there are factions within it, some just trying to win the fight and play the short game, while others are taking a much longer view of the situation, it’s all fascinating. We know how this ends – or at least we sort of do. We know Lando will stay with the Rebellion, we know he will become trusted, and we know he will be made general. All that’s left for us to do is to sit back and enjoy the – slightly bumpy – ride! The talented Charles Soule is (of course) masterminding the whole thing and he is joined by fantastic artist Madibek Musabekov. After the ending of the previous issue, with Mon Mothma been taken, I wonder where this will all lead.

Issue forty-four was almost comical in parts. It was a welcome break from the intensity of the previous arc. This issue, the tone is much darker, you can feel the dread that is going around the Rebellion. Mon Mothma is crucial to the Rebellion. This is obvious to any fan, yet to see Leia, Ackbar and Madine discussing it, going through the risks, how it could end the Rebellion, it actually hits home. Mothma is the Rebellion. It is easy watching the ‘adventures of Luke Skywalker’ to sometimes forget that the Rebellion is there because of Mothma. Luke may have blown up the Death Star, but it is Mothma who keeps the whole thing running. What I really like is seeing the procedures that are in place, that the crews, pilots, and captains have all trained to do. Although losing Mothma is a shock, it is something that has been thought about. For an organisation like the Rebellion, to survive as long as they have, of course it’s been thought about. And I love seeing how that gets implemented.

Which leads me straight onto the artwork of Musabekov. I have always loved his work but this issue, it felt like he’d hit a new high! The procedures for separating the fleet were illustrated beautifully. The one panel that I just stared at was where the x-wing is coming to dock onto the capital ship; it was stunning. That should have been the pinnacle, but the capturing of the emotions of the characters in this comic really impressed me too. Madine and Ackbar in particular are really well drawn, you can feel the hate emanating from Madine. Then (yes, there is even more), the flashback scenes to The Empire Strikes Back were fantastic. Again, it’s the emotions of the characters, particularly Han Solo when Leia first meets Lando. Exquisite!  Musabekov has really done a superb job this issue.

The flashback scenes. Illustrated beautifully and a clever way for Soule to remind readers that although we trust Lando (because we’ve seen Episode VI), Leia does have cause for concern. We know that Lando’s betrayal of Han is the blip, the part that doesn’t ring true to his character. For Leia, his turning on the Empire to help her and Chewie is the exception, not the rule. I think it can be easy to forget this as we know so much about this character. The flashback allows Soule to send urge we know that Leia doesn’t have this knowledge, this familiarity with the character. She only has the few months she has known him to base her judgement on. When something like this occurs, it makes her question everything she thought she knew about him, particularly when that trust has been hard fought after everything that happened with Han. It’s hard to understand how Leia is going to be able to see that any other way. Trust is very hard to rebuild, and Lando has broken her trust. Not just once but twice. There are some clues left by Soule about how this might happen, but for someone like Leia, will this really be enough. Isn’t the saying ‘once bitten, twice shy?’ I don’t see Leia trusting Lando so quickly again.

Soule has always been incredible at utilising everyone from the Original Trilogy correctly. Artoo is always there to save the day for Luke, droids in general are never forgotten and there’s key character moments that just scream Star Wars. For this issue, it’s Chewbacca. Lando needs someone he can trust and of course, it’s the Wookiee. He knows that Chewie will do the right thing, that Chewie will trust Lando enough to help the Rebellion. Irvin Kershner knew that in The Empire Strikes Back, he needed those small character moments that really add depth, so does Soule. There is almost a throwaway line from Lando, who is replying to Chewie, saying I know you’re not going to get me out. It is so small it can almost be glanced over. Yet for me, this is why Soule is such a good Star Wars writer. It’s a small comment but shows that Chewie is always honourable. Even if Lando is his friend, he will always do the right thing. He would never help Lando escape. Chewbacca is what Lando wants to be but is so tangled up, that it always goes amiss. I love that Soule puts that moment in, it makes me appreciate Chewie even more.

This is again a different pacing, a different tone, to the last few issues. It is dark, it is full of anxiety, and it shows just how damaging losing Mon Mothma can be. With flashbacks, character moments and stunning artwork, it is like I said at the start; sit back and enjoy the ride. We know Mothma will be fine, we know Lando will be set free, we know Leia will trust him again. Yet it’s the moments leading up to it, the doubts Leia has, the procedures the Rebels have in place if the worst happens, the simple honour of Chewbacca, that just makes reading this issue so pleasurable. I’m sure I am sounding like a broken record, but if you’re a fan of the original films, this issue, this arc, this series, it’s absolutely for you.