Brian Wood’s new Star Wars comic is awesome! Set between the events of Episode IV: A New Hope and Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, this book doesn’t seem to just fill in the blanks but tells an exciting story worthy of the Star Wars name that very well could be a movie on its own. The stakes are high, the action is intense, and all of your favorite characters have come back to play.

Issue #5 finds our heroes in dire straits, relying on their quick wits and impressive skills to win the day. I have mentioned this in reviews before, but I love that Wood chose to make Leia the main character of this series instead of Luke or Han. Luke and Han still play a major role in this series and are just as heroic, but this particular tale is really Leia’s story, and she really shines. The other thing I love about this book is that the new villain, Colonel Bircher, is incredibly intelligent. He is a remarkable strategist and a dangerous foe for Leia and the rebels. 

The art by Carlos D’Anda and Gabe Eltaeb is amazing. D’Anda does a great job at capturing the likeness of these famous characters without it feeling like he’s just drawing from photos. He adds his own flavor and style while still keeping them recognizable. The action scenes are just to die for, too. The layout, pacing, and shot composition of the X-wing battles are incredible. Just open the book and look at page one. What a great shot! Plus, I love the color choices Eltaeb has made for the battle scenes, especially the interior of the TIE cockpits, which is a beautiful red.

Issue #5 may just be the best issue of this Star Wars run yet, and that is saying a lot, as this book is astounding. Be sure to pick it up and add it to your pull list if you haven’t already, because you will want to make sure you do not miss a single issue of this amazing series!

5 “S-foils to attack position” out of 5