"Star Wars Adventures (2020-) #1"

 "Star Wars Adventures (2020-) #1"

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For a 1st issue of the "Star Wars Adventures" run re-launch, this one could have been better. The stories were fine they just weren't epically amazing or anything. And, it turns out that "Tales from Wild Space" has been replaced with "Tales of Villainy" and presumably some form of "Tales of Heroism." If this issue is any indication of what's to come, these "Tales of" will be rehashes of stories we already know which I find to be a huge let down. There's only so many retellings of the movies I can read before I feel over-saturated. I want new and original content, something that "Tales from Wild Space" provided in spades!! A bummer for sure, but I know I'll enjoy it all regardless.

"The Obstacle Course, Part 1" written by Michael Moreci, illustrated by Ilias Kyriazis and Charlie Kirchoff

The main story takes place between Last Jedi and Rise of Skywalker as evidenced by Finn and Poe's clothing. The tale was about an obstacle course Finn and Poe had set up on Noaxson, an Outer Rim moon, to get Rey fighting ready for finally joining them on missions--a sentiment expressed quite clearly at the beginning of Rise of Skywalker. The course is rickety and a bit frightening for even Rey but she accepts their underhanded gift with grace. 

Unfortunately, she hits a few bumps along the route and even falls into the den of a Quarren pirate named Algron who has a lot of henchman ready and eager to turn over the scavenger to Kylo Ren (see below). And while she's battling the pirate den with the help of BB-8, Finn and Poe run into some trouble of their own!

 I liked the inclusion of a new pirate, interesting that he's a Quarren just like Kragan Gorr from the "Resistance" TV show, and his henchman were of all different sorts of species which was rewarding to see. 

My only gripe with this story so far (this was part 1 of 2) is that it echoed so many motives and sentiments from Rise of Skywalker that it didn't feel like a unique perspective at all. Finn has a feeling and is determined to go after Rey because he thinks she's in trouble. Poe is exasperated by this. Finn and Poe are both anxious to get Rey all trained up so she can fly missions with them. And Rey is ever training without an end in sight. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE Rise of Skywalker, but I want these "Star Wars Adventures" stories to be fun, different, and give us wholly new tales that abound with canon connections--that is what the first run of this series was so good at doing. This is just the first issue though so I'll give it the benefit of the doubt.

"Tales of Villainy: Invasion of Echo Base" written and illustrated by Nick Brokenshire

This was pretty much a beat-for-beat retelling of Vader's invasion of Hoth from Empire Strikes Back. There were two additions: 1) Vader seeing the bacta tank and reflecting back to his experience in such a device after being saved from death on Mustafar (I will say this was awesome!! See below.) and 2) a Wampa devouring one of the snowtroopers when a trio of them opens the wrong door. Other than that we had familiar dialogue and action that added nothing to what we already know. I'm definitely leery of these "Tales of" moving forward just because "Tales from Wild Space" was so epically fantastic. But again, I'll give it the benefit of the doubt and wait and see.

Oh, and there was a panel of bada** Luke walking away from a downed AT-AT with lightsaber ablaze that would make any fanboy jump for joy...definitely not my cup of tea...

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So, a lackluster start to what should have been a bang up, blow out intro to the new run. Oh well, not everything can be spectacular...