Poe Dameron has been one of the longest-running and best drawn Star Wars series from Marvel Comics. It focuses on a supporting character from the films, Poe, and makes him the main focus. It’s a smart way to flesh out a character that would otherwise always been supporting. Charles Soule has used this character to explore hidden moments with Leia and other popular characters. This week, fans of The Force Awakens better get ready as gaps are filled in the narrative!
So what’s it about?
Read our preview.
Why does this matter?
Many of Marvel’s Star Wars comics have given readers a taste of unknown adventures pre-Episode V or post-Episode III. Poe Dameron however, has given readers a chance to see what it takes as a Rebel to get the job done during and after Episode VI. This week, writer Charles Soule and artist Angel Unzueta are doing something a little different by filling in the gaps we missed during A Force Awakens.
Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?
We miss you Carrie!
This issue does a good job revealing Poe’s communications with Leia that set him on the mission we see him undertaking at the beginning of The Force Awakens. That gives this issue a good starting point for new and old readers alike, and it reminds us Poe was an agent directly reporting to Leia. He’s important people! Soule keeps the recapping of what we know to a minimum and Unzueta’s double-page montage of those events are succinct and clear. This is all told via Poe to Rey and Finn which adds a little color to all of these characters. It’s nice to see them all together too, this takes place on the Millennium Falcon in a brief moment of peace most likely post A Force Awakens.
After these 7 or so pages the story kicks into gear where Finn and Poe were separated. This is where the comic really gets going, revealing how Poe survived the desert of Jakku, and yes, how his excellent flying skills kept him alive too. Soule never loses sight of the chip on Poe’s shoulder, which is reminiscent of Han Solo, only Poe is pure of heart right out of the gate. The story wraps up well, setting the reader up for a new adventure as Poe is hellbent on saving his droid BB-8 whilst in the clutches of Han, Chewie, and the rest at Maz Kanata’s bar. Little character blips add to the experience too, like how we find out Poe had never failed before this mission (coincidentally, failure is a prevalent theme in Star Wars: The Last Jedi).
Unzueta draws a great issue with fantastic likenesses and solid technology and alien races. The moments with Leia may even bring a tear to your eye as they capture the spunk and spirit of the character incredibly.
Just chilling on the Millenium Falcon, nbd.
It can’t be perfect can it?
The only downside is how the first half of this issue more or less recaps what we already know. That’s good for people who haven’t seen The Force Awakens, but then again, why would anyone read this and not have seen that film? I suppose it serves as a way to give this narrative a good beginning, but it still didn’t need so much page time.
There are two or three faces, tops, that don’t look quite right. Unzueta does a good job, don’t get me wrong, but Rey has strange lips in one, and Poe’s nose looks strangely large in another. It’s a minor gripe, but it had to be said.
Is It Good?
I haven’t dabbled in this series much since its inception (I never did care for Poe all that much in general), but this issue strengthens the narrative of The Force Awakens in surprising and exciting ways. Read this book if you want to get more out of The Force Awakens that you didn’t even know was there.
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