This series tells the story of Princess Leia starting from the Yavin IV medal ceremony that concludes Episode IV. Leia finds herself without anything to do and learns that the Empire has a 10 million credit bounty on her head.While the rest of the Rebellion is scrambling to evacuate Yavin IV, she encounters a female X-Wing pilot Evaan __. The two decide to go on a self-appointed mission to save the remained Alderaanians before the Empire hunts them down in an act of retribution.
The artwork is excellent and each panel is framed in an interesting way that makes it easy to follow. I just wish the writing was stronger. This comic book should be called Princess Leia: The Mockingjay. It is heavily derivative of that series. I just can't buy it that Leia would abandon the Rebellion to fulfill her own self-centered mission with a Thelma & Louise style adventure.
In the second issue we have a flashback scene of a young Leia skipping language class to do training in hand-to-hand combat, much to the chagrin of Bail Organa. This is to set-up her confrontation later in the issue with a besalisk (such as Dexter Jettster from Episode II) body guard whom she takes out without much trouble. So if issue #1 was her as the Mockingjay, issue #2 is her as Black Widow. I mean, she head-butts this creature without any harm to herself but knocks him unconscious. Yes, she may be tapping into the Force to help her but that is not Princess Leia.
We never see her in hand-to-hand combat *ever* in the films. It seems that this book is desperate to re-make Leia into the 21st Century feminist ideal. But her strength truly resides in her emotional control and leadership. While Luke is falling apart with the death of Ben, whom he hardly knew prior to the events of Episode IV, Leia is carrying on the fight despite the loss of her entire planet. She has a level of emotional maturity far beyond anyone else. Her strength is also in her selflessness and dedication. This is what makes her strong, not her being a secret agent/ninja/assassin.
The story flaw in the second issue is that, despite Lord Junn's betrayal to have Leia and other Aleraanians killed, she asks to take his pleasure ship instead. I just don't think she would be so naive to think he would not have some method to track her or find some way to get the Empire on her tail.
For me the best parts of this story are seeing what remains of the Alderaanians. Pareece and her sequestered singing group who perform on Naboo are very interesting characters. It ends with the surprise that the sister of Tace, one of the members of the singing group, is actually an Imperial agent. Dun-dun-DUN!
GOOD:
- Learning about the remnants of the people and culture of Alderaan
- Having flashbacks to Leia in her youth
BAD:
- A bad story premise that does not fit the character of Leia
- Unrealistic portrayal of Leia as an elite warrior
- Unbelievable story elements
I'd rate this series 2.0 / 5.0 so far.
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