Star Wars: Poe Dameron Vol. 5-The Spark and the Fire collects issues 26-31 of Star Wars: Poe Dameron written by Charles Soule with art by Angel Unzueta and Annual 2 written by Jody Houser with art by Andrea Broccardo. It was released on December 4, 2018.
Synopsis
Torture buddies!
Jim Henson’s Resistance Babies: Poe, Finn, and Rey convene onboard the Millennium Falcon in the aftermath of the Battle of Crait. Poe meets Rey for the first time and finally tells Finn the story of how he survived their X-wing crash on Jakku. He was thrown clear. That’s how. It’s not complicated. He tells how he was able to get off planet and return to the base in time for the skirmish on Takodona. He got a ride. That’s how. It’s not complicated. He also explains the absence of the rest of Black Squadron during the evacuation of D’Qar. Prior to the First Order’s arrival Leia sends them off to reach out to potential allies. At that moment Poe receives a transmitted recording from Jess detailing their activities: At their first stop, Pastoria, they are greeted by the planet’s king who claims to be a supporter of Leia and the Resistance. However, he manipulates them into attacking a political rival and then tells them that he is smart enough to know that it is the First Order he should be negotiating with. On to Ikkrukk, where their arrival is greeted by a distress call; the planet is under attack by a First Order star destroyer; their defensive weapons have been taken offline by FO sympathizers and their shield will only hold for so long. Jess and Suralinda are brought inside the shield in an effort to retake control of the weapons while Snap and Kare keep enemy TIE’s occupied in the air. The last thing Poe sees is Suralinda wounded and Jess cornered. He convinces Leia to let him go help. In the meantime, Jess and Suralinda overpower their enemies, the weapons come back online and the FO ship is destroyed. The Resistance has scored another hit against the First Order and secured an ally in the fights to come.
Review
A nice moment between Chewie and Leia
Although it was supposed to end at number 25, Star Wars: Poe Dameron got a 6 issue extension and Charles Soule puts it to good use by giving us our first look at what happened after the credits rolled on The Last Jedi. Understandably, our peek is limited. Poe and Rey exchange some nice banter, with Poe at one point declaring the two “torture buddies” when she tells him about her own capture and interrogation by Kylo Ren. Poe answers Finn’s burning questions about how he got off Jakku and how the Resistance went from destroying the First Order’s super-weapon to having to evacuate their base. After their little conference breaks up, there is a scene where Rey has 3PO translate something from one of the ancient Jedi texts for her. We also see Leia and Chewbacca together in the cockpit before Nein Nunb comes in to co-pilot the ship with Chewie; and there is an extended conversation between Artoo and BB-8 wherein BB relates the attack on Starkiller base. All in all, some very nice little moments; no earth shattering revelations, but a lot of genuine feeling. Contemplation of the past gives way to higher stakes when Poe gets Jess’s transmission and he must bear witness as his friends put their lives on the line and he is forced to be a mere spectator. Not an easy position for a man of action like Poe Dameron; you can really sense his swirl of emotions as each new message comes in and he wonders whether or not it will end with the death of his comrades. The series ends, as it should, with Poe reunited with the rest of Black Squadron. They celebrate their victory, even as the pain of previous defeat still lingers. There’s a callback to a theme from the previous storyline as Poe remarks, “It’s not about saving the galaxy. It’s about saving your galaxy. The one within your reach. You choose right over wrong. When it’s dark, you try to bring some light”.
3PO interrupts what was actually a really good conversation between R2 and BB.
A comic series focusing on Poe Dameron and taking place only a year prior to TFA may not have been on a lot of people’s wish-list; but in the hands of skilled writer Charles Soule, what we got was an action packed, charming, funny, tragic, thoughtful, and sometimes weird look into the life of the Resistance’s best pilot and those closest to him. Soule, with his words, and Noto/Unzueta, with their images, successfully convey the charm that Oscar Isaac seemingly effortlessly brought to the screen. There is growth for Poe as he experiences betrayal and loss; and with Leia’s prodding, strives to be more than just a great pilot. Poe’s comrades in Black Squadron get some thoughtful character development; and even though she is mostly limited to a supporting role, Leia Organa really gets some time to shine. Quite possibly the best thing about this series, though, was giving Poe a recurring antagonist in the form of Terex. The conflict between the two of them leads to growth and change for both, something that would not have been possible had Poe simply faced off against the nameless hordes of the First Order, or established characters like Phasma or Hux.
Notes
Black Squadron reunited.
Annual 2 tells a story unrelated to the book’s main tale. It’s not bad storywise, and features an appearance from Han and Chewie; but the art, in particular the depictions of Leia and Poe, are just awful.
The ship that Poe uses to go meet up with Black Squadron on Ikkrukk was a loaner from Grakkus the Hutt, Poe says he is basically the only person taking calls from the Resistance any more. That’s sad. We don’t actually see Grakkus in this story, the transaction occurs “off-screen”.
There are some continuity discrepancies between this comic’s depictions of what happens to Poe during and after the crash on Jakku and what is depicted in the film’s novelization.
The line from the Jedi text that C-3PO translates for Rey is: “The Force is light, the Force is dark. Jedi choose the light, for all it reveals.” One suspects that 3PO was lying about being able to translate the text and just paraphrasing something from a fortune cookie he once read.
Comic Pack Wish List:
The FO sympathizers on Ikkrukk wear these cloth masks that drape over their heads and remind me of Cobra Commander’s second outfit, they’d be cool. I’d like to see a Jess Pava action figure as well; really, anyone from Black Squadron.
Score:
A very nice epilogue to the series; and, for fans of the ST films, an intriguing look at what happened during unseen moments of TFA and immediately after TLJ. 4 Skulls.
