Star Wars: Han Solo - Imperial Cadet #3 Review
Writer: Robbie Thompson
Artist: Leonard Kirk
Colorist: Arif Prianto
Publisher: Marvel
Star Wars: Han Solo - Imperial Cadet #3 delves into young Han’s planning and budding camaraderie while in the Imperial Navy Academy on Carida. After floundering in the first two issues, Han is finally gaining his bearings and beginning to wisen up.
Beyond the series premise, this issue has almost nothing to do with any event or reference from the film and delivers a completely original story of Han’s time in the academy. What’s more, it delivers a believable, true-to-character original story of Han’s time in the academy.
Characters have finally picked up more personality traits than the basic “bullies and those who stand up to bullies” separation used to allude to Han’s future allies and foes.
Han feels closer to the original character than he ever has at the Imperial Academy. And this week's plot, while still a little outlandish, is much closer to the sort of scheme you could imagine Han pulling off in his military days. Unlike the last two issues, where Han’s stupidity is usually the driving force of any given scene, it’s a careful heist (delivered in an Ocean’s Eleven flashback style) that lands Han and his fellow cadets on a spacefaring casino.
Not once in this comic does Han ask what a given task has to do with learning to fly. This is an incredible step forward for the series.
The puffy clay faces that marred the first issue and some of the second have been almost entirely replaced with a far superior penciled look in this issue. Faces — especially Han’s — are still wonky and big expressions are almost always odd or unpleasant. Still, the artwork is easier on the eyes this week with some pieces, like the splash that introduces the crew to the casino, even being pretty.
Star Wars: Han Solo - Imperial Cadet #3 is a huge step forward in a series that seemed dead on arrival. Ending with a return to the drudgery of the academy, this issue may stand as a singular high point in the series. But even if it does, it’s a good one-off story from Han’s academy days that suits the classic character and shows his tenacity and unwavering commitment to those he loves.
Artist: Leonard Kirk
Colorist: Arif Prianto
Publisher: Marvel
Star Wars: Han Solo - Imperial Cadet #3 delves into young Han’s planning and budding camaraderie while in the Imperial Navy Academy on Carida. After floundering in the first two issues, Han is finally gaining his bearings and beginning to wisen up.
Beyond the series premise, this issue has almost nothing to do with any event or reference from the film and delivers a completely original story of Han’s time in the academy. What’s more, it delivers a believable, true-to-character original story of Han’s time in the academy.
Characters have finally picked up more personality traits than the basic “bullies and those who stand up to bullies” separation used to allude to Han’s future allies and foes.
Han feels closer to the original character than he ever has at the Imperial Academy. And this week's plot, while still a little outlandish, is much closer to the sort of scheme you could imagine Han pulling off in his military days. Unlike the last two issues, where Han’s stupidity is usually the driving force of any given scene, it’s a careful heist (delivered in an Ocean’s Eleven flashback style) that lands Han and his fellow cadets on a spacefaring casino.
Not once in this comic does Han ask what a given task has to do with learning to fly. This is an incredible step forward for the series.
The puffy clay faces that marred the first issue and some of the second have been almost entirely replaced with a far superior penciled look in this issue. Faces — especially Han’s — are still wonky and big expressions are almost always odd or unpleasant. Still, the artwork is easier on the eyes this week with some pieces, like the splash that introduces the crew to the casino, even being pretty.
Star Wars: Han Solo - Imperial Cadet #3 is a huge step forward in a series that seemed dead on arrival. Ending with a return to the drudgery of the academy, this issue may stand as a singular high point in the series. But even if it does, it’s a good one-off story from Han’s academy days that suits the classic character and shows his tenacity and unwavering commitment to those he loves.
A Look Inside
