Writer: Charles Soule
Art: Andres Genolet and Rachelle Rosenberg
Letters: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $3.99
Release Date: October 12th, 2022
Star Wars #28 continues the adventures of Luke, Leia, and the Rebellion in the time period between “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi”. Crimson Dawn agents Melton and Bevelyn, along with their children, are being hunted by the Empire, who’s desperate to annihilate them before they can tell the Rebellion about the Empire’s construction of a second Death Star. It’s up to Luke to go to Coruscant, into the heart of the Empire, and rescue Melton and Bevelyn before Imperial soldiers wipe them out.
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The Story
Star Wars #28 continues Melton and Bevelyn’s story, and much like the last issue, it’s a breath of fresh air to see this married couple and their children, who were living tense but quiet lives working undercover on the second Death Star, suddenly becoming major players in the war between the Rebellion and Empire. What’s also been interesting in this story is how downright useless some of the members of the Rebellion are, ignoring Melton and Bevelyn’s distress calls or just assuming they’re an Imperial trap. Thankfully, Luke yet again comes in to save the day, willing to trust the impressions he’s getting from the Force combined with his own intuition to make a decision to go rescue them.
We get some good scenes between Luke and Hera Syndulla, as well as Luke and Mon Mothma. I love seeing these characters’ stories expanded, as we see more of them and how they impacted the Rebellion. Hera especially is a great character and she’s written well here, I could practically hear her voice from “Rebels” in the dialogue.The second half of the issue is wonderfully and nail-bitingly tense, as Melton and Bevelyn try to hide and stay ahead of the squadron of Imperial soldiers looking for them, and Luke has to bluff his way around Coruscant as an Imperial Officer. You never really fear for Luke, but Melton and Bevelyn are the wildcards of the story, and their scenes are gripping because you really don’t know what’s going to happen to them.
This whole section of the book feels like the best combination of “Star Wars” and “Mission: Impossible”, where stealth, fast-talking, and quick thinking are far more useful than swinging a lightsaber. This is a weird time period of “Star Wars”, where Luke’s stronger in the force, but still far from being a Jedi. And Han Solo, of course, is still a wall decoration in Jabba’s palace. But writer Charles Soule has kept things interesting by finding new story avenues and showing more of the internal workings of the Rebellion. As the series moves closer to “The Return of the Jedi”, it’ll be fun to see how the book takes us up to the events of that film, then into the wide post-“Return of the Jedi” universe of possibilities.
The Art
Andres Genolet’s art on Star Wars #28 is a loose style with panel layouts that keep the flow of the story moving.CHe draws Melton and Bevelyn and their children as normal people, there are no heroic stances, no armor, and not one bulging muscle in sight. Their depiction makes them feel like a genuine family, and you really fear for them as the issue progresses.
Final Thoughts
Star Wars #28 continues the story of Crimson Dawn agents Melton and Bevelyn, as they’re caught in galactic intrigue, regular people becoming major heroes in a war they didn’t start. It’s a wonderful story with moments of anxiety, as it’s never sure if they’ll make it out alive or not. That, along with some great Luke and Hera Syndulla moments, make this another great issue.