Star Wars Adventures #19 Review

Writers: Cavan Scott, Nickolas Brokenshire

Artist: Mauricet, Nickolas Brokenshire

Letterer: Tom B. Long

Publisher: IDW

This issue of Adventures is the second installment of a trilogy of prequel-focused stories, continuing here with a Clone Wars-based story about Obi-Wan and Rex. Those two characters have never had very much interaction before despite being primary characters of a six season TV series, so it was nice to get a story with the two of them playing off each other.
 

It’s a fine little story about the duo fighting on the planet Horain when they accidentally cause a malfunction in a battle droid, turning it to their side. The droid, nicknamed Bats, reminds me of other classic friendly battle droids like Roger and Bones. Considering where he ends up in the story, I would enjoy seeing him again in another story down the line, though I don’t think it’s likely to happen.
 

I didn’t enjoy the issue’s backup story quite as much. Also focused on a battle droid, it chronicles what befalls Q5-7070 after he’s left behind on Opop Hibbedit and forced to deal with the natives of the planet. It isn’t a very memorable story and it isn’t really anything I haven’t seen before, even in other Star Wars stories.
 

Maurice’s art for the primary story is solid, I’ve mostly enjoyed his work on Adventures save a couple of odd faces. I didn’t really care for Brokenshire’s art style for the backup, especially the bookends with Emil, who was borderline unrecognizable. I wasn’t a fan of the monster alien designs on Opop Hibbedit either, they (and other parts of the story) reminded me of old Clone Wars Adventures stories that I had similar feelings towards.

Overall, the issue has a solid, if not groundbreaking, primary story and a less-than-great backup story. I’m excited for the next issue featuring a primary story about Anakin and Yoda as well as apparently a backup story about Barriss Offee. I was surprised that Barriss would be chosen for a backup, considering her arc in this era, but there’s a lot of potential there and I’m looking forward to seeing what they do with her.