"Bounty Hunters #18: Galaxy's Greatest" by Ethan Sacks

"Bounty Hunters #18: Galaxy's Greatest" by Ethan Sacks

This series is still SO good!! And things have become pretty darn crazy with Vader fixing Valance in the last issue--like fixing him to the point that he looks completely human now...unfortunately, we find out that this "fixing" has led to Valance being nearly not human at all. Like his heart has been removed and put in a jar kind of not human, it's hella creepy (see below). Not to mention that because of the work Vader had done on Valance, the bounty hunter now works for the Dark Lord, but not by choice, he doesn't have a choice--if he doesn't do what Vader says, Vader will use the Rebel base coordinates that were stored in Valance's head to annihilate the location...and Cadeliah along with it. I feel so bad for this guy! He has such a good heart, strong values and ideals, and a deep sense of morality. All things that are quite contrary to Vader. What a terribly tragic turn of events for him. And Vader makes sure Valance knows that he is the one with the power in this situation as he rips the bounty hunter apart using his lightsaber and the Force--revealing to Valance just how not human he has become (see below).

I did wonder how "Bounty Hunters" and "Darth Vader" would be able to co-exist with Valance's new employment and it ends up that Ochi of Bestoon will be Valance's direct supervisor so Vader won't have to consistently appear in "Bounty Hunters" after all. But then in "Darth Vader #18" Ochi plays a pretty big role, so I'm not 100% sure how this is all going to play together...

We get some flashbacks from Valance's past on Chorin of the day long ago when he first developed his dream of fighting for the Empire. He accidently meets the Spine Dragon of Anaxes, Captain Tarl Sokoli, who tells him, "It wasn't that long ago that I was a child just like you...on a planet plagued by cruelty like this one. Maybe one day you'll fly a ship into battle, rescuing another world." See the dreamy look in young Valance's eyes below.

Meanwhile, T'Onga and crew are still on their mission to save Cadeliah, but with Valance thought dead, they've lost their best lead and are spoiling for a fight as they wait anxiously in the Carbon Score Cantina on Burnin Konn for something to happen. In a good turn of events for them, a gang of Kerrakk (very insect-like beings, see below) attack the Cantina and T'Onga's crew gets their chance to let off some steam. Even Losha, T'Onga's wife gets involved, killing one of the Kerrakk. Losha is quite proud of herself and even says now that she's tasted the Bounty Hunter life, why would she ever go back to the boring farm the two women lived on. This is much to poor T'Onga's chagrin--in no way, shape, or form did she want to continue her old life. She just wanted to settle down and live a quiet existence. But Losha has tasted blood...and likes the taste...

The ending couple of panels are a huge surprise and even more terrible news for Valance. Turns out the Spine Dragon of Anaxes has become a Crimson Dawn operative within the Empire and he is Valance's first target as Vader's new assassin...DUN DUN DUN!!!!

I can't say I'm looking forward to seeing how Valance fairs as Vader's new assassin just because I'm angry and sad about the situation for him!!! But I'm eager to see if he can figure out a way to get out from under the Dark Lord's thumb...

-Marie E. Wilson a.k.a. @AliaMorgaine