Weekend Warrior: Star Wars Thrawn #1 review
Welcome to our Weekend Warriors, where we do reviews in a similar way to how we do our Collective Consensus reviews. The staff do a review of one book, that we didn't get the chance to cover during the week. The book would be a one-shot, start of a new series or the start of a new arc, just so that anyone can jump into the book. The multiple reviews allows readers to get a wide range of opinions and the sense of how the book is.
Marvel solicitations: One of the most cunning and ruthless warriors in the history of the Star Wars Universe, Grand Admiral Thrawn is back with a six-issue miniseries about how he became one of the most feared military tacticians in a galaxy far, far away.
Writer: Jody Houser
Artist: Luke Ross
Colorist: Nolan Woodard
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Charles
Novelist Timothy Zahn invented Admiral Thrawn an age and a half ago to give his post-Return-of-the-Jedi Star Wars books an honourable villain. While all of that Expanded Universe stuff got binned a few years back, Zahn was tapped to write a new Thrawn novel last year and slide the galaxy's most sinister Smurf back into Star Wars canon. And now Marvel is adapting that story to comics.
As the comic follows Zahn's novel pretty closely, writer Jody Houser doesn't have to worry about dreaming up fresh plot developments. Instead, she's responsible for the pacing and the tone of the dialogue, and unfortunately, the results are pretty dry. There's a certain stiffness to Luke Ross's art, too. As with most of Marvel's new Star Wars books, this one receives plenty of visual polish, but there aren't a lot of stand-out panels that make a memorable impression.
Taking a second look at this book reminded me that yes, there are two bona fide action scenes in it. They're adrift in a sea of so. Much. Talking! While this introduction does a decent job of familiarizing you with young Thrawn and his new assistant Eli Vanto, the sense of an inferior adaptation - i.e. "I could/should just read this as a novel instead" - is inescapable. This comic is a pretty good ad for Zahn's new novel, but it should have been an ad for the future issues of the comic.
Stephen
I’m huge fan of the original Timothy Zahn Star Wars novels which introduced Thrawn and was curious to see him in the new Star Wars continuity. As far as introduction issues this was pretty good. I did find it somewhat slow but it did capture the slow strategy Thrawn is known for. I wasn’t expecting a fast paced Star Wars tale but feel the issue could’ve used little more action or at least an exciting moment or two. The art was good with nice attention to background detail. Much of the issue takes place in enclosed areas with lots of talking which makes the details important. The reader needs something to admire besides a couple of people talking. I think I’m starting to suffer Star Wars fatigue. The last few series and events haven’t really done anything for me. I’m not sure if creative teams are being limited in what they can write because of the movie universe or if I’ve just been exposed to too much since Disney took over. Either way I will be stepping back from that universe for a much needed break.
Marvel solicitations: One of the most cunning and ruthless warriors in the history of the Star Wars Universe, Grand Admiral Thrawn is back with a six-issue miniseries about how he became one of the most feared military tacticians in a galaxy far, far away.
Writer: Jody Houser
Artist: Luke Ross
Colorist: Nolan Woodard
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Charles
Novelist Timothy Zahn invented Admiral Thrawn an age and a half ago to give his post-Return-of-the-Jedi Star Wars books an honourable villain. While all of that Expanded Universe stuff got binned a few years back, Zahn was tapped to write a new Thrawn novel last year and slide the galaxy's most sinister Smurf back into Star Wars canon. And now Marvel is adapting that story to comics.
As the comic follows Zahn's novel pretty closely, writer Jody Houser doesn't have to worry about dreaming up fresh plot developments. Instead, she's responsible for the pacing and the tone of the dialogue, and unfortunately, the results are pretty dry. There's a certain stiffness to Luke Ross's art, too. As with most of Marvel's new Star Wars books, this one receives plenty of visual polish, but there aren't a lot of stand-out panels that make a memorable impression.
Taking a second look at this book reminded me that yes, there are two bona fide action scenes in it. They're adrift in a sea of so. Much. Talking! While this introduction does a decent job of familiarizing you with young Thrawn and his new assistant Eli Vanto, the sense of an inferior adaptation - i.e. "I could/should just read this as a novel instead" - is inescapable. This comic is a pretty good ad for Zahn's new novel, but it should have been an ad for the future issues of the comic.
Stephen
I’m huge fan of the original Timothy Zahn Star Wars novels which introduced Thrawn and was curious to see him in the new Star Wars continuity. As far as introduction issues this was pretty good. I did find it somewhat slow but it did capture the slow strategy Thrawn is known for. I wasn’t expecting a fast paced Star Wars tale but feel the issue could’ve used little more action or at least an exciting moment or two. The art was good with nice attention to background detail. Much of the issue takes place in enclosed areas with lots of talking which makes the details important. The reader needs something to admire besides a couple of people talking. I think I’m starting to suffer Star Wars fatigue. The last few series and events haven’t really done anything for me. I’m not sure if creative teams are being limited in what they can write because of the movie universe or if I’ve just been exposed to too much since Disney took over. Either way I will be stepping back from that universe for a much needed break.
Summary
Those are all our reviews of Star Wars Thrawn #1! Our writers did like aspects of this issue but thought it could be better. What do you think? Tell us below, on Facebook, or on Twitter!!!
A Look Inside
