Going Rogue
Written by: Jody Houser
Art by Emilio Laiso, Oscar Bazaldua, Rachelle Rosenberg and Clayton Cowles
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: April 5, 2017
Okay, I wasn't the biggest fan of Rogue One when I saw it in the theaters, so it may seem like an odd choice for me to review this comic adaptation. Actually, I wasn't going to, but since seeing the movie, I have had this nagging feeling that maybe I was a little too harsh on the movie. I still think that it's one of those things that was better to think (and dream) about than actually see on the screen, but that's just me. Maybe it's a large burden to bear, but I am actually leaving it up to Jody Houser and crew to show me the light and make me appreciate Rogue One more after reading this adaptation. So, did the first issue send me down the path of appreciation? Let's find out...
The issue opens on Lah'mu as we see a very quick moving version of the opening of the movie. Jody Houser does a good job here showing the reader that this will not be a word for word adaptation of the movie and while it threw me off a bit at first, once I got used to this new pace, I grew to like it quite a lot.
Houser continues showing us what's in store when we go off to Eadu for the second scene. Here is where we see cargo pilot, Bodhi, and his interaction with Galen that led to his defection. It's about doing what's right even in a world gone wrong and it really does give way more character to Bodhi right off the bat. It's also the first scene (which I hope there are many more) that I wish was in the actual movie.
Continuing on that theme, we go off to see Jyn (or Liaa still) in the Imperial Labor Camp on Wobani. This scene obviously progresses to her rescue/escape, but the new bits we get here show how important that rescue really was to her.
We then get to see Casian Andor's introduction on the Ring of Kafrene and there isn't much in the way of anything new here which means I still hate him so much. Yea, that's an aside and something I really don't think Jody Houser will be able to change no matter how much new information she gives us. I am a Casian hater to the end!
After her rescue, Jyn and Casian are on Yavin IV talking with Mon Mothma and we get the groundwork of the upcoming mission...seek out Saw Gerrera, authenticate Bodhi's story of a Planet Killer and find Galen Erso. Of course, we know we will get so much more and even here, we see a quick scene with Bail Organa and Mon Mothma that shows she still has faith in what's good.
The issue ends with Jyn, Casian and K2-S0 blasting off to Jedha while Imperial plans to wipe it clean are already underway. While it's hard to have any earth shattering cliffhangers in a book like this, we do end with two of the best characters in the movie about to enter the adventure.
I have to admit, I liked what we got here. It is a very quick moving issue and Jody Houser does a good job of getting us through what we already know while spending some more time on the new material. My major problem with the film was it's lack of characterization and it appears that what was left on the cutting room floor might have fixed that a bit so I am really looking forward to see what's next.
The art in this issue was okay overall, but that's because it took a big step backwards after a strong start. The character models suffered the most and where they were spot on to begin with, they really fell off quickly. Going forward, I hope we get art more like the beginning of this issue.
Bits and Pieces:
I was wary going into this adaptation after the subpar Force Awakens book, but Jody Houser won me over quickly. This issue speeds through the known to shed light on the new material and the bits we get here really flesh out the story. The art was okay, but this is all about the story and there is enough new material here to interest fans of the movie and those who thought something was missing from the film.
7.5/10
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