The Star Wars #8 Review


With this mini-series coming to an end, does it go out on a high note? Read on to find out.

The official description from Dark Horse:

Annikin Starkiller fights Darth Vader and Prince Valorum to save Princess Leia! Luke Skywalker and the Wookiees attack the Empire’s Space Fortress! This is the final battle! It’s like nothing you’ve seen before, but it’s all Star Wars!

The Star Wars 8_Preview PageRight from the beginning I’ve been enamored with the high quality offerings presented by this creative team, especially as they attempt to adapt something that was never meant for prime time. Once again they take what we’re familiar with and work within their own version in a way that never diminish what fans adore about the original mythos. They simply craft a tale that represents a rushed but competent re-examination of what we know with a hint of originality and sizable helping of hokiness.

J. W. Rinzler knows how to spin a compelling adventure without selling off the innate mechanics of an already worthwhile odyssey. He’s taken the talked about but never publicly shared rough-draft, with some very different interpretations of classic characters, and made it into something that’s interesting. From Jedi General Luke Skywalker to Darth Vader there’s a lot to absorb but as we close this eighth issue I can’t help but feel like that the ultimate outcome of this arc was a bit rushed. Even so the bulk of plot gets serviced enough to not disappoint as Wookies pilot ships and a few key moments get revisited.

If I walked into a comic shop and met someone who had never heard of this series the first thing I would point to is the stellar art by Mike Mayhew. This talent had a tremendous responsibility to re-imagine key figures and places while injecting just enough of his own vision to make it work. And just to add a proper amount of seasoning we’re given a cinematic display full of realistic renditions that are at times jaw dropping. Add in the colors by Rain Beredo and this is easily one of the best looking volumes to come out of Dark Horse Comics.

The Star Wars #8 is a solid close to what’s been an entertaining ride. It carries with it some negative tendencies, but through the force of others the creative team manages to keep their literary journey in-check as we reach the final panels. Recommended.

OUR RATING
8
  • + J. W. Rinzler continues to chart a solid odyssey.
  • + Visual work by Mike Mayhew is a key selling point.
  • + The comic certainly carries some worthwhile events.
  • - Due to the page count this last chapter feels rushed...

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