"Star Wars #23: Crimson Reign, The Dawn Alliance" by Charles Soule

"Star Wars #23: Crimson Reign, The Dawn Alliance" written by Charles Soule, illustrated by Ramon Rosanas and Rachelle Rosenberg

Well, this issue could have been laid out a LOT better... Instead of letting the action happen and giving us hints so that we understood the details, Commander Zahra has a crazy long monologue about her plan. And the images of the plan/what is happening are interspersed throughout making it difficult to discern what in the world is actually going on in real time. Why would you want to write more words in a comic when you can get by with so many fewer words and let the pictures tell the story?? 

As the issue opens, the Battle of Panisia has begun. We start off with Commander Zahra giving a speech about how outnumbered the Imperials are compared to the Rebel fleet but this woman is determined--"We will not be calling for reinforcements. We will not leap away. We will remain here, and we will fight. We will show these Rebel scum how pathetic they truly are. We will destroy their ships, kill their people, and demonstrate to them the hopelessness of their so-called cause." She even wants to record the battle for posterity! She says, "We will not just defeat the Rebels--we will embarrass them, demoralize them." So this is some fabulous characterization and I love it, but the problem is...the monologue just keeps going and going and going... I don't want to be told what's going to happen!! I want everything to unfold before me. *sigh*

 Basically, the Star Destroyer Tarkin's Will nose dives toward the Rebels on the planet, causing a number of Rebel ships to follow them to prevent the Star Destroyer from taking out those who are planetside. The Tarkin's Will then fires ion cannons at the chasing Rebel ships thus deactivating them and essentially making them bombs falling toward the planet's surface. This then causes other Rebel ships to shoot at the falling Rebel ships to prevent them from causing more destruction. See, it's not fun trying to read through all that. Pictures are way better! 

Kes and Shara FINALLY reunite!! See them embracing below. *heart* The other Pathfinders (Kes's crew) go off to set timed charges in a part of the ship that will bring it to its knees while Kes and Shara, upon the Pathfinders' insistence, head for a hangar bay to escape. Very sadly and seemingly unwarranted, the Pathfinders decide to forego the timed part and blow themselves up with the ship... Geez!! Yes, things were looking bad, but come on...at least give yourselves a chance!

Shara and Kes do make it back to Leia and the remaining Rebel fleet. And the Tarkin's Will crashes to the planet below (see below). But...dun dun dun!!!...Zahra is still alive and calls in on a command channel to challenge Leia to come and get her. I'm kind of excited about this to be honest. AND...Zahra is holding a glowing red sword. Not just a lightsaber, more like a red version of the Dark Saber. I REALLY hope we find out more about that!! See her all bada** below.

Trivia: Shara Bey's cell number is 52577

Overall, this was an unfortunate miss for me. Too much telling and not enough showing. But the set up for next issue is stellar and I CANNOT wait!!

-Marie E. Wilson: @AliaMorgaine