Published: May 7, 2025
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Alex Segura
Artist: Phil Noto
Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Cover Artist: Phil Noto
The synopsis;
AN EPIC NEW ADVENTURE BEGINS FOR LUKE, LEIA AND HAN IN THE WAKE OF RETURN OF THE JEDI!
• New York Times best-selling author ALEX SEGURA launches the bold next era of STAR WARS.
• LUKE SKYWALKER must defend the NEW REPUBLIC from a bloodthirsty gang of mercenaries!
• HAN SOLO investigates a deadly underworld mystery — and saves a surprising ally!
• LEIA ORGANA must grapple with a new alliance opposed to the goals of the New Republic!
The review;
Another new start for the flagship comic series that has been with readers since Marve Comics obtained the license back in 2015. We’ve seen stories that have expanded the timeline between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back as well as between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. The latter was written by the incredible Charles Soule and has certainly set a high bar for this next iteration of the series. With all the gaps between movies covered, it’s time to venture into new ground, that of the time after Return of the Jedi. This has largely been left alone, with the odd comic series and book taking place. It does mean there is a vast scope for this series and trying to link it with the sequel trilogy. This also could create some problems as there are some fans who may not want to see these links to the newest trilogy. Also, the old Legends fans, me being one of them, have had this era well mapped out in the old Expanded Universe. We’ve read The Truce at Bakura, Stackpole’s X-Wing series, Dark Empire, the list goes on and on. There are certain expectations from these readers that also needs to be carefully navigated. Soule did a tremendous job during his run of really bringing the feel of the Original Trilogy to the comic series. But is that feel that needs to be struck up here?
What I’m trying to say is that this is perhaps the most difficult era for a writer to walk into. A vast galaxy to explore, a blessing or a curse? Expectations of Legends and new fans, a tight rope to walk? An atmosphere like the originals or the sequels? There are a lot of pit falls that one could find themselves in. Rising to confront these challenges is writer Alex Segura. Most notably for Star Wars fans, he wrote the recent Jakku trilogy of comics (although I’m not going to lie, I’m very eagerly awaiting his Daredevil novel Enemy of my Enemy). Joining him in this journey is artist Phil Noto, who is no stranger to Star Wars comics for many years.
A first issue has to entice your readers, making them realise that this is a series they are going to want to continue to read. It also sets the foundations for the tone of the story that will be told. The direction? I have no idea; Segura could literally go in any direction. In some ways, that makes it even more exciting. So, let’s dive down the rabbit hole… or should that be the mouth of the space slug?
The first thing to take note of in this first issue is that it comes directly after the Jakku trilogy that Segura wrote. You don’t need to know much about those events, Segura sums them up pretty quickly for anyone who hasn’t read them. Suffice to say that the New Republic is not in the best state. And I love that. Much like with the old Legends, just because the Empire was defeated, just because the Emperor was killed, doesn’t mean the galaxy is right for the taking by the New Republic. The story is split into three, focusing on all three of the main characters of the Original Trilogy: Han, Leia and Luke. The latter two are clearly more of the focus here. I have a feeling that might be how Segura plays this for at least the start of this series. Soule very much focused on Luke and Lando, with odd bits of Leia thrown in. Here is the chance for Leia to shine. Having Luke as well means we get to see the Skywalker twins and how they help to rebuild the galaxy their father helped put under Empire control.
The first focus is with Luke. It is great to see Luke flying in his x-wing again. With his squadron, they are mopping up, trying to take down the rise in pirates that is sweeping the galaxy. Luke tries to see confident, and confident he should be. This is how Luke always is (or should be). He is the optimism here and always is throughout the trilogy. He is confident that they can rebuild, that a lot of the hard work and effort has already gone into throwing the shackles of the Empire off. Yet Segura shows us that even look is fed up with losing people. That the general wear of the war is starting to get to him. He can only be pushed so far before he starts to push back. The way he goes straight down to the planet to get intelligence from the group that have attacked his squadron is what we – as readers – want to see. Throw in a flashback of Dagobah and my gosh, I’m in! I want to see what’s going on, I want to know why things aren’t going smoothly for our heroes, I want to see what Luke will do.
On the other side of things, you also have Mon Mothma and Leia, coming at the problems from a political point of view. I love how Segura writes this – Noto complimenting perfectly with his illustrations. Mothma looks tired and weary, you can see that she knows that the war is far from over. With Andor season two in the process of been shown, it’s so easy to know why. Mothma has been fighting this battle for years. I don’t know how Noto does it, possibly by bringing a likeness to Genevieve O’Reilly to the face of Mothma, but you can see those years there, you can feel how drained she is. Leia on the other hand is exactly like Luke – who would guess they are twins! Leia is full of optimism, she has the energy, the passion, to want to get things settled, to finally get to the place of peace that they have fought for for so long. Yet Leia is younger than Mothma, without as much experience, and Segura shows it here. The political stage isn’t boring or bogged down, it is easy to follow and helps the reader to appreciate the story. While in Legends it was remnants of the Empire that Luke, Leia and Han had to deal with, the events of the Jakku trilogy have almost swept that away. It’s other planets and systems that are trying to make a grab in the power vacuum. As a Legends diehard, I will always want to see the Rebels versus the Empire. However, I really appreciate Segura not repeating what was done in Legends (heck, we can read that whenever we want). Instead, he’s pushed the obvious aside to be able to tell us a different story, a story that doesn’t follow that same pattern.
Finally, it’s Han’s side of things. Dressed up like the character is in Solo he is once again reunited with Beilert Valance. Valance has become somewhat of a fan favourite and he is always linked since their academy days with Han. I’m glad to see he hasn’t, in fact, he’s trying to help the New Republic with the Zantarrk gang. A gang I’m sure that will be aiding the political unrest that Leia is having to deal with. This is certainly the side story that will feed into the main. I appreciate that Segura pays testimony to Han and doesn’t completely forget about him. I mean, Luke and Leia could always use more pages to tell their stories.
That just laves the artwork. Noto does a great job capturing the characters, this has always been his forte. I couldn’t quite put my finger on why Luke bothered me so much, he looks just like Mark Hamil. Then I realised, he looks more like A New Hope Luke than Return of the Jedi. However, when you read the character, I can see why Noto did this. Luke is more youthful here, less weighed down by the decisions he must make in Jedi. In essence, Noto has presented us with the character as he is. The Dagobah flashback, a single panel, yet there is so much there. Noto captures it perfectly, even down to the snake in the corner. There are so many good panels in this. When Leia is recapping the struggles and there’s flashbacks to the side of her, to the movement between all three-character arcs on a single page, Noto is able to skillfully illustrate all of these and guide the reader as if they were watching this as moving pictures.
All in all, I’m quietly impressed with this first issue. There is a lot of mystery and a lot of intrigue which does exactly what a first issue should do: make me want to read more. The three storylines will inevitably crossover, but I want to know how, what is the link between them all? What challenges will our heroes have to overcome? This feels like Star Wars. I miss the Empire, but I also appreciate that Segura is striking out from the old Legends and giving us something new. That’s always a little scary for those of us who ‘know’ how we thought the galaxy would turn out, but it is also exciting as we don’t know what will come next. We are flying into the unknown and if this first instalment is anything to go by, it’s in safe hands.
Availability;
Star Wars (2025) is an ongoing series published by Marvel Comics. This issue retails at $4.99 and is available from comiXology and your local comic book store.
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