COMIC REVIEW: FTN reviews Star Wars #5

Written by Brian Wood

Art by Carlos D’Anda

Colors by Gabe Eltaeb

Now this is how I like my Star Wars comics! This issue starts off by pressing down all the way on the gas and never letting up from cover to cover. Now when this book was first announced I knew we wouldn’t be getting any flashy lightsaber duels because Luke doesn’t have the Jedi experience just yet at this point, but one thing we would get is awesome space battles. If you are as much a fan of those battles I am then this is the issue for you! Leia and her two wing mates Wedge and Tess find themselves stuck between a squad of newly built sleek TIE Interceptors and a Star Destroyer. You won’t believe your eyes when you see how they get out of this jam. This had to be one of the most exciting predicaments in this series thus far.

Meanwhile Han and Chewie are stuck on Coruscant, unable to leave as the whole Empire is out looking for Han and the Millennium Falcon. As Han makes a plan to get them off world who should happen to crash the party but Boba Fett himself with Bossk in tow. Luckily Han makes a friend who is willing to help, as long as the price is right.

This is easily my favorite issue of the series so far. Wood has spent the series setting up some ridiculously great plotlines, and in this issue he just cuts loose with action, action and more action. As much as I have loved this series from issue #1, this is the issue I have been waiting for (see how I avoided that Star Wars cliché by using waiting instead of looking?). Wood has shown throughout the series that he knows how to tell a hell of a story, but here he shows off his ability to craft an exciting action piece as well.

D’Anda and Eltaeb make a formidable art duo as well, bringing to life Wood’s searing action packed script with some art that keeps pace with Wood’s writing from panel to panel. With all the booming space action that they laid down art wise, it was actually one simple panel that stood out above the rest, the introduction of Boba Fett. Not only are D’Anda’s lines sharp and crisp, but Eltaeb’s colors on our favorite bounty hunter were so beautiful that I found myself staring at the panel for minutes before moving on with the story.

I can’t say enough how much I love this series, with this issue standing head and shoulders above the four issues that preceded it. Wood, D’Anda and Eltaeb are making a serious case for becoming my favorite comic team. If you are a Star Wars fan, even if you don’t like comics, you are doing yourself a serious disservice if you are not reading this. On a side note, this book has also upped my excitement for Wood’s forthcoming X-Men work for Marvel. He’s been there in the past, but has yet to lay it down for MarvelNOW! If his work there is anything like this then it’s sure to be a bonafide hit.

5 out of 5 nerds

You can follow Christopher on Twitter @AUDone44 as well as The Nerd @nerdfollowing. Also be sure to check out Christopher’s weekly Star Wars podacst The Empire Talks Back where we break down the latest star Wars news and rumors.