When Star Wars premiered in 1977, it was – and still is – recognized as a reflection of many genres. Mythology, religion, and history all claimed a part of the construction of its narrative. So, too, did the American Western. In fact, in Mary Henderson’s book, Star Wars: The Magic of Myth, there is an entire section devoted to Star Wars’ relationship to the Western. While there have been several tips of the hat to the genre, including, most recently, the Disney+ series, The Book of Boba Fett, there has been no true direct reference imagery depicted… until now.
In Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories #3 from Dark Horse Comics, friends Poe and Finn, clad completely in cowboy hats and clothes, find themselves on the Planet Kamil, an agricultural hub. They are on the search for livestock that will serve as food for the Resistance. They are not the only ones on the hunt and are forced to undergo various disguises in comedic situations in order to achieve their mission.
The story, written by Cecil Castellucci, is just plain FUN. It’s an old-fashioned buddy story in the vein of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, as well as a classic Bing Crosby/Bob Hope road movies. It is a wonderful adventure. The art by Andy Duggan is cartoony, which serves the comedic aspect of the story well, and is crisp and clear. The colors are bright and happy which also helps with the overall enjoyment of the story.
It must be noted that this is a very unusual story for the Star Wars universe. It is not often the characters are seen looking for food, especially visiting farms which cultivate animals for edible purposes. Nor have stories shown animals called out as comparable to cows and chickens. It is a very real-world situation.
Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories #3 is fantastic. It’s nice to see the sequel characters in such an enjoyable tale. Definitely worth reading – whether you are a fan of Star Wars or not.
Recommended – 4 out of 4 stars
Creative Team: Cecil Castellucci (writer), Andy Duggan (artist), Megan Huang (cover artist)
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
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