"War of the Bounty Hunters #2: The Scoundrel's Ball" by Charles Soule

"War of the Bounty Hunters #2: The Scoundrel's Ball" written by Charles Soule, illustrated by Luke Ross and Neeraj Menon

First off, love the name of this--it's a party leading up to an auction for our favorite scoundrel!...even if the circumstances are terrible... So this mini-series appears to be putting all the pieces together into one giant coherent puzzle. There were repeat scenes from the other series, just this time with a little more detail. The whole issue takes place within the party itself starting before the auction up until Vader enters the room. Dun dun dun! All the comics I've read up until now in this crossover event don't go beyond Vader showing up so I kinda want to steer away from reading the third issue in this mini-series just yet until I've caught up with the other series' issues. You know, I guess there are really two ways to approach this (if you haven't been reading them as they've come out), read the "War of the Bounty Hunters" issue first and then read the other series' issues to fill in the gaps and catch up with their main plotlines OR read the other series' issues first to get the gist of what's going on and then read the "War of the Bounty Hunters" issue to piece everything together. I quite liked accidentally doing the second option.

We start off getting eyes on several of the more well known syndicates, beginning with Black Sun. We learn that Lord Gyuti seems to be the Falleen in charge. Then we move to the Pykes and according to them, the invitation was for a private meeting, meaning that the syndicates didn't know they were attending a party. Maybe I've just been assuming the invitations specify a party...huh.

Then we begin to see characters from the ongoing series that are part of this crossover event. Hurst Romodi!!! (Tarkin's right hand man on the Death Star per Rogue One) He is not happy with the situation of a party for an auction, especially with Han being a "key member of the Rebel Alliance." Sly Moore!! So apparently she's a Force adept and can manipulate political opponents to reveal their secrets according to a trading card (Wookieepedia's source) and she certainly acts like she can use the Force here, "I am touching the minds of these weak-minded fools. There will be no more bids. None but ours." Unfortunately for her, she may be sensitive to the Force, but she's still in for a surprise.

Bokku the Hutt (from the current "Darth Vader" run) is upset that the auction is taking too long to start and Jabba replies with, "It's a party, Bokku. Relax. Have a drink." Then Bokku adds some more information about the invitations that was quite interesting, "The Dawn asked us here to receive an offering...a tribute, which befits our status." I wonder if all the syndicates got the same wording in their invitations, even the lowly syndicates who don't understand how they got there? Also, the wording implies giving the item to the Hutts outright instead of having them pay. I'd be pissed if I were them, but as we know, they keep bidding away with Jabba winning the auction at 1 million credits. In regards to the Hutts so vigorously bidding, Moore makes a very intuitive comment, "The Hutts...apparently...are rather strong-willed." something we already know from even Luke not being able to sway their minds. Maybe she does have some power after all because at first everyone was bidding, but after she reached out with the Force, the only species that was left bidding were the Hutts. 

Qi'ra is one bad b**** or else she has a huge trick up her sleeve. She is reveling in the glory of the party (see below) and once the auction begins says, "Solo is frozen in carbonite. Very stable. Could stay in there--alive--forever. One of you will take him home today, put him on your wall as a trophy, thaw him out and put him to work paying off whatever he owes, or just shoot the bastard. Now...do I hear one hundred thousand credits as a starting bid?" Dang, girl! I knew you were cold but this is next level. And at the beginning of the issue, she says, "I do love a party." reminding me way too much of Dryden.

One old fancily-dressed woman bids 130,000 credits early on and one of her retinue has his hands over his mouth and exclaims, "We can't afford that! What are you doing?" To which the old woman laughably responds, "Relax. We won't win. I just want to be part of this!" Shows you just how successful Qi'ra's ploy is at this point!

So surprise!!! We get more info about the Aphra/Sana situation and who the mysterious man who sounds like a clone is...I was right! It IS Boba Fett! He's not wearing his armor under the cloak but does have it hidden not too far away. He got the cloak from a group who were just about to enter the Vermilion (Crimson Dawn's ship--see below), "got" meaning killed to obtain. Bossk appears, ready to take Fett down and call in the bounty on his head, but Boba Fett just seems invincible at this point (see Bossk without his recently-Boba-amputated legs tied up by the clone below).

As the issue comes to a close, we briefly see Lando, Leia, and Chewie trying to stop Boba Fett in his tracks... WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN?!?!?

Two syndicates I was unfamiliar with were The Rang Clan and The Fromm Gang. After some research, I discovered the following. The Rang Clan is mentioned in a few places in canon, the first being Dark Disciple. The Fromm Gang was talked about in the Smuggler's Guide reference book but not by name until now. Interesting.

I thought this crossover event wasn't going to be my thing, but goodness gracious all the canon connections have me giddy with excitement. I am LOVING this!!! For my next review, I will be taking a look at "Jabba the Hutt #1" as the crossover event continues...