Star Wars: Poe Dameron Vol. 3-Legend Lost collects issues 7 and 14-19 of Star Wars: Poe Dameron by Charles Soule and Angel Unzueta. It was published on November 14, 2017.
Synopsis
Poe speaks at L'ulo's funeral
In the aftermath of their last run in with Agent Terex and the First Order, Black Squadron has lost a pilot and Poe Dameron has lost an old family friend. Trusted technician Oddy Muva has been revealed as a traitor and the Resistance is running dangerously low on supplies, especially fuel. Agent Terex finds himself absorbing the cruelty rather than dispensing it when he is fitted with cybernetic implants, enslaved by the First Order, and placed under the authority of Commander Malarus. Black Squadron is given the task of picking up a freighter of recently purchased fuel, but the FO gets there first and rigs the tanker to blow once it slows down after it starts moving. Basically, Poe’s got a “Speed” scenario on his hands. Malarus’s smug satisfaction at having paid homage to one of the greatest action films of the 90’s is dashed by Poe Dameron’s not-at-all smug competence and the teamwork of Black Squadron. Later, Suralinda Javos, a former Republic Navy buddy of Poe’s turned investigative journalist turned Resistance hanger-on is tasked by Leia with getting a story out that might help them secure some funding from an increasingly apathetic New Republic. She, Jess, and Kare find a planet where the First Order is on the verge of massacring a village; but their cover is blown when they intervene. Meanwhile, Poe and Snap have managed to track down Oddy Muva by…going to his house. Again, the FO has gotten there first, told his wife to lie, and made Oddy the bait in a good old-fashioned Poe trap. The trap is sprung and Poe and Snap are captured. Malarus has half of Black Squadron and, full of glee, is on her way to pick up the other half; but Terex, his implants possibly malfunctioning due to having his head slammed into a wall by Malarus, frees Oddy. Oddy frees Poe and Snap, and the ladies of Black Squadron escape their captors with the help of Suralinda’s cam-drones. Once again Malarus is on the receiving end of one of Poe Dameron’s patented buzzkills. Oddy, having commandeered a TIE fighter gloriously dies helping his friends and conveniently spares the Resistance from having to figure out exactly how they would have punished him.
Review
Leia explains the Resistance's dire straits to Suralinda Javos
Poe Dameron Vol. 3 is very much about contrasts, and paralleling the journeys of Poe and Terex. In issue 14, we see Terex in a cell, while at the same time, Poe is grounded. We see them both confronted by their superiors, Poe by Leia and Terex by Phasma; both being prodded to come to an understanding about something before they will be allowed to proceed. Poe is eager to jump back into the cockpit, but Leia needs him to see that he has more to offer the Resistance than his piloting skills. Terex, threatened with execution, tells Phasma that he can still be of use. We see both Leia and Phasma walking away, leaving the two to ponder what their true role is in all of this. Poe returns to Leia with the understanding that the Resistance is bigger than either of them, and that his ability to inspire and lead people is even more important than his exceptional piloting skills. Terex speaks to Phasma again, and tells her that the role of the First Order, like the Empire before it, is to control people who can’t be trusted with their own lives. There must be order (obviously, I mean it’s right there in the name). He says all of this with the firm belief that he should be one of the ones doing the controlling. Phasma agrees that people can’t be trusted with their own lives; but puts Terex in that very category and basically has him turned into a slave. His knowledge is still useful to them; his independence is not. So, the difference between Poe and Terex is also the difference between the Resistance and the First Order; one is about leading and inspiring and the other is about controlling. In the end, the one who seeks to be the master ends up being the slave. In fact, throughout this volume, we see the Resistance doing things the First Order would not: a heartfelt memorial for a lost comrade, buying supplies rather than simply taking them, helping the innocent even at great risk rather than exploiting them. Suralinda Javos knows that the exposure she can bring as a journalist can be a more effective weapon than a blaster because the First Order’s power comes, at this point, from remaining in the shadows. Their malevolence can thrive because it is veiled in secrecy and exists as little more than rumor in the New Republic.
Cmdr. Malarus and Terex
The introduction of some new characters here adds a freshness without taking away from our title character or his original antagonist. Suralinda Javos, as sort of an embedded reporter, offers an outsider’s perspective on the Resistance; and her former life as a New Republic pilot means she can do more than just tag along with the rest of the gang. Commander Malarus steps into the spotlight as the First Order’s primary threat to Black Squadron. She is an imposing, physically intimidating character; given to brute force more than the calculating and rather suave Terex. Once his cybernetics are implanted, Terex does not simply assume the role of a background character, though. He is at Malarus’s side throughout; his matter of fact reports to her about the likelihood of Poe escaping whatever trap she has laid for him and her reactions ranging from chagrin to unrestrained rage are a highlight of the book. Angel Unzueta takes over the art duties from Phil Noto here, and even though it is quite a contrast, it was also a good decision. Phil Noto is a wonderful artist, but I think his very distinctive style is more suited to limited series and cover art (he does continue to do the covers for these issues and the rest of the series).
Notes
Malarus captures Poe and Snap.
Commander Malarus’s appearance was modeled after Brigitte Nielsen’s character, Ludmilla Drago, from Rocky IV. She injects a narcotic into her eye that increases her strength and intelligence and slows her aging (Malarus, not Brigitte).
Suralinda Javos is a Squamatan; as such, she has the ability to shoot acidic venom from her teeth. This is the first appearance/mention of this race. The backstory is that they were enslaved by the Empire and forced to mine the thorilide from their planet. Thorilide was previously mentioned in the novel A New Dawn.
Leia mentions that the Resistance’s list of smuggling contacts was given to her by her husband.
Comic Pack Wish List:
Malarus, Suralinda Javos.
Score:
The series levels out here (not in a bad way) with some solid storytelling, character development, and the kind of world-building back-story that may have been lacking in The Force Awakens. 4 Skulls.
