Droid Talk
Written by: Charles Soule
Art: Angel Unzueta
Colors: Arif Prianto
Publisher: Marvel
Publication Date: 20 June 2018
The last few issues in this series have formed an arc detailing the unseen events of the attack on Starkiller base. It is an interesting take on things as the events are depicted via discussion between Rey, Poe, and Finn in the Falcon on the way out of Crait directly after the events of The Last Jedi. This issue opens in a strange fashion, let's find out why!
Well, it is so bizarre to see the opening two-thirds of this issue play out. That's because it is entirely told through dialogue boxes and art. The dialogue boxes are color-coded orange and blue, and it is only later (for those who hadn't already guessed from the clues) that we are listening to (reading) a conversation between R2-D2 and BB-8. The latter is relaying the details of the events of the attack on Starkiller base and filling in some little bits and pieces about the attack. I have to say that while Soule's writing on this series is usually strong I didn't really care too much for the strange droid conversation technique adopted here. Interestingly after the droid exchanges, there are interesting chunks of saga narrative in this issue around the evacuation from D'Qar at the start of The Last Jedi. Importantly we get some very clear information on where Snap Wexley and Black Squadron are during The Last Jedi, which is likely to be the source of the Resistance resources in Episode IX. I personally find it quite remarkable that a comic book is the source of such an important narrative point in the saga, but it does make the case for reading the comics.
The art is great as always. The Marvel adaptation of The Force Awakens was roundly criticized for its art and writing, which is perhaps a bit harsh - a lot of the difficulties in my view was with the coloring of those issues. That said, it is nice to see a stunning rendition of the attack on Starkiller base. It's also nice to see Han Solo again - I did like him in The Force Awakens, and if you're gonna go then go while taking out a Death Star on steroids. Special mention for the beautiful Phil Noto cover.
Bits and Pieces:
This was a very odd issue. It was pretty good, but I'm not sure if Soule was actually able to pull off the droid conversation between R2 and BB-8. Leaving aside how odd it was, I don't think it matched up with the personality I have established for these two droids in my head! That aside though there was some really interesting little nuggets of Star Wars narrative material in here. This is the type of material that should have been in The Last Jedi, but we get it in a comic book. An odd choice, but in terms of this comic books it is a good thing, and an incentive to read.
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