Star Wars #1

Over the years both Marvel Comics and Dark Horse Comics have released a plethora of forgettable and mediocre Star Wars comics. Over the past couple of years however Dark Horse had found a way to recapture a bit of the old Star Wars magic with a series set shortly after the destruction of the first Death Star featuring the struggling rebellion's battles against the evil Galactic Empire. Sadly cut short due the Star Wars rights returning to Marvel, a new adventure begins (with an insane amount of variant covers) as Marvel tries their own hand at classic tales featuring Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, and the droids you most assuredly are looking for.

Writer Jason Aaron offers an issue highlighted by Chewbacca's attempt to kill Darth Vader with a sniper rifle while his rebel pals break into a Imperial Weapons Factory. I mostly enjoy John Cassaday's art but he struggles getting the right look of the characters in several panels that aren't close-ups. I thought it was an interesting choice to draw Vader like he appeared in the old Marvel issues (with his mask occasionally stretched) which gave me a hit of nostalgia but also felt a bit wrong.

Star Wars #1 is a solid first issue that didn't wow me and certainly left me with some concerns. It's clear Aaron struggled with trying to get the entire group their own moments rather than allow them to happen naturally in the story foreshadowing the rather unbelievable concept of C-3P0 action star. The characters are familiar but removing nostalgia from the equation they aren't yet fully-formed in this universe quite yet. The writing is solid, but why blow your wad so early and force a Luke/Vader confrontation in the very first issue?! Worth a look.

[Marvel, $4.99]