Star Wars #18: War of the Bounty Hunters – Collision Course
Recap
After a devastating defeat for Leia, losing Han and watching him presumably perish, the crew of the Millennium Falcon are crestfallen. They have eluded the Empire yet again, but soon a new enemy arrives. Crimson Dawn seems like they are not finished with the saddened rebels quite yet.
Review
The War of the Bounty Hunters is over. Boba Fett has returned to Jabba the Hutt with the elusive Han Solo, still frozen ion carbonite. The Empire has receded and its agents are on to other missions. Luke has also sped away to try and fulfil his destiny to become a new hope, a Jedi Knight. This issue returns focus on Leia and her crew. Leia and Chewie are in mourning, believing Han to be dead. Leia is so distraught that she basically gives up all hope. Lando and Lobot try to figure out their next big move. Threepio tries to help as best as he can. The somber rest doesn’t last long however as Crimson Dawn approaches with a message from Qu’ra. She asks to board the Falcon once more. Leia is skeptical, but Lando knows Qi’ra and encourages the meeting.
What occurs at this meeting is the reveal of Qi’ra’s master plan all along. To paraphrase the Emperor, everything has gone exactly as she has foreseen it, mostly. Qi’ra attempts to convince Leia that she is not an enemy but “a powerful ally,” to one again quote Palpatine. This whole shift and reveal makes this issue truly exceptional. It essentially briefly recounts the entire story of “War of the Bounty Hunters” from Qi’ra’s perspective, as she explains how she was attempting to help Leia all along. It makes for an amazing endcap for the overall “War of the Bounty Hunters series. The event has come full circle, and the audience is invited to see the entire series in a completely different light at the very end. Ultimately this serves to establish Qu’ra as a more sympathetic character, which will become very handy when she helms her own series, “Crimson Reign,” very soon.
This issue has a lot going for it already. Secrets are revealed and hope rekindled. Two amazing Star wars characters meet. An appropriate ending for a multi-series event occurs. Yet this chapter still has another angle of charm. The Marvel Star Wars comics in general have done a great job tying stories to the films. “The War of the Bounty Hunters” is meant to tie The Empire Strikes Back And Return of the Jedi together by taking place between them. This chapter takes it further back by giving readers a glimpse back into the world of the Solo film. Of course Qu’ra was original from that film, and Lando referenced Elthree in the previous issue, but that’s been about it as far as connections to the one-shot Star wars film. This issue gives fans a better glimpse into that film’s settings by showing Qi’ra’s flashback to her and Han as scrumrat kids back on Corellia. This is such an amazing couple of pages which not only allow readers a glimpse into Han’s life before Solo, but the story also gives Leia a glimpse into Han as Qi’ra knew him. Han is the good guy they both always knew he was. On top of that, there is a very sweet moment where Qu’ra and Lando reunite as they remember Elthree.
Final Thoughts
Han is alive! Leia and her gang must now decide how best to recue him from the clutches of the vile gangster, Jabba the Hutt. However before they can formulate a plan, they will need their full crew with Luke and Artoo to help them.
Star Wars #18: Qi’ra’s Plan Revealed
- Writing - 9/109/10
- Storyline - 9/109/10
- Art - 6/106/10
- Color - 6/106/10
- Cover Art - 9/109/10