"Star Wars Adventures (2020-) #2" by Michael Moreci and Sam Maggs

"Star Wars Adventures (2020-) #2" 

Unfortunately, this was another lackluster entry into the new "Star Wars Adventures" line. It is only issue #2 so fingers crossed things pick up from here. My biggest disappointment is the lack of canon connections in the stories. That's what the previous "Star Wars Adventures" line excelled at so immensely!! These feel like insular stories with no real connections to anything else. Don't get me wrong, the art is still super cute and the stories are still fun to read. The overall effect just wasn't spectacular. 

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"The Obstacle Course, Part 2" written by Michael Moreci, illustrated by Ilias Kyriazis and Charlie Kirchoff

Here we get the second half of "The Obstacle Course" which started in issue #1. This comic largely consisted of action whereby Rey totally annihilates the pirate gang that kidnaps her (see one of the creepiest pirates below, kinda looks like the Joker). Not to be outdone, Finn and Poe do some damage of their own as well. A beautiful image from this comic was of Rey, standing on a rock, reaching out to the Force to re-capture the staff she had just flung at one of the pirates. It really is an epic panel (see below). There's also a panel of Rey doing a somersault through the air which is pretty sweet (see below).

The obstacle course that Finn and Poe made is long forgotten until the very end of the story when Finn asks, "was our obstacle course too hard? Because I thought it was pretty great." Poe adds, "Jedi-worthy. That's how I'd describe it. I mean, I'm sure General Organa sets some good ones up for you too, but--" Rey responds with, "Let's just say yours was...different. But, you know what? From now on...I think it's best if we leave the Jedi training to Master Leia." Poor Finn and Poe...they're only trying to help the best they know how!

With so much action in this story, there really wasn't much meat to speak of. I don't know what would have made it better, but it just needed something...

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"Follow and Lead" written by Sam Maggs, illustrated by Davide Tinto and Rebecca Nalty

This story was told mostly in voice-over courtesy of Kylo Ren. It focused on a planet the First Order was occupying and cowing into submission...a planet that meets a terrible end. There's one protestor in the story who really irks Kylo by proclaiming that there are worse things than death, including being ruled over by a tyrannical regime like the First Order. Kylo doesn't kill the woman...he sets fire to the entire planet instead...(see below--top: planet before destruction, bottom: planet after destruction)

There is one funny bit when an officer welcomes Kylo to the planet and holds out a datapad, saying, "your speech has been prepared, my team and I made sure to include many metaphors and allusions culturally relevant to the people." HA!! As if Kylo gives a rat's behind about cultural appropriateness. Crazy, crazy officer. He of course gets dismissed out of hand and Kylo, later when he's in front of the planet's people, crushes the datapad completely.

And there's one thing I'm a tad confused on. In the narration by Kylo, he seems to question whether or not he really wants to be Supreme Leader...but doesn't mention what else he would rather be doing and still acts scary and intense and hateful. Odd...

A sad and essentially gruesome story with no real plot except death and destruction. 

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Maybe I'm asking too much but I think what it is that I want out of these stories is a morality lesson, something to give the tales a backbone and true depth. Most of the previous "Star Wars Adventures" stories had morality lessons, had something you could learn and grow from--perfect for the child audience these are aimed at. Oh well, like I said this is only issue #2 so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!!