Bounty Hunters #7 Review
Author: Ethan Sacks
Artist: Paolo Villanelli
Colorist: Arif Prianto
Letterer: Travis Lanham
Publisher: Marvel Entertainment
Oh hey, a bounty hunter travelling with a kid his mentor told him to take care of! That's a new concept in Star Wars!.. ok that's pretty clearly sarcasm, but that was a big reason I couldn't really get into the previous issues in this second arc of Bounty Hunters. I've had a bit of a love-hate relationship with the series overall, always thinking it had amazing art and potential, but falling short storytelling-wise. Luckily, this issue seems to be going in the right direction in fixing those issues.
For those who forgot or haven't been keeping up with the series, our protagonist Beilert Valance is stuck taking care of Cadeliah, the heir to two crime syndicates and target of dozens of bounty hunters. Like my sarcastic intro implied, this is remarkably similar to the basic plot of The Mandalorian, where Din Djarin is stuck taking care of the Child while being pursued by bounty hunters and the Empire. This issue does a good job of starting to take the story in a different direction, which is very welcome, but I'll get to that later. Last issue, Valance was injured while being pursued by Zuckuss and 4-LOM, famous hunters from Empire Strikes Back. This issue picks up directly after, as Valance arrives at a familiar Rebel base..
The Rebel base on Lowik was first introduced in Target: Vader, a mini-series that preceded this series. Unlike the first few issues, which were filled with non-stop unfamiliar locations and unfamiliar characters, this issue is very grounded in ones we do know, and it's all the better for it. There aren't really any new characters to keep track of, and it actually feels like it has stakes, since Valance isn't just rescued by some random Rebel, but... his ex! We've seen several flashbacks now about Yura, so we already have some emotional connection to her.
So unlike with the Nakano Lash arc, I personally felt a lot more invested in this whole subplot. I didn't want 4-LOM and Zuckuss to do anything to Yura and these Rebels! And luckily, they didn't. Valance struck a deal with them so that Yura and the Rebels would have a headstart in escaping. But not only did he save Yura, he also saved Cadeliah... by placing her in Yura's care. This is the best part of the issue. It finally departs from the same trope The Mandalorian was doing, and it works really well. Valance knows the bounty hunting life is no place for Cadeliah, and gives her to someone who can actually take care of her.
The last panel of Valance with his face in his hands as he flies away from Lowik alone genuinely hit me in the feels a bit. So... yeah, I really liked this issue. The series is finally starting to find it's footing, and I hope that doesn't change next issue! I didn't mention the art or lettering much in this review because it was stellar as always, that's been the most consistent part of this series. I think this series has a real chance to stand out among the current Star Wars ongoings... as long as it doesn't go back to copying from The Mandalorian. Read this issue!!
Artist: Paolo Villanelli
Colorist: Arif Prianto
Letterer: Travis Lanham
Publisher: Marvel Entertainment
Oh hey, a bounty hunter travelling with a kid his mentor told him to take care of! That's a new concept in Star Wars!.. ok that's pretty clearly sarcasm, but that was a big reason I couldn't really get into the previous issues in this second arc of Bounty Hunters. I've had a bit of a love-hate relationship with the series overall, always thinking it had amazing art and potential, but falling short storytelling-wise. Luckily, this issue seems to be going in the right direction in fixing those issues.
For those who forgot or haven't been keeping up with the series, our protagonist Beilert Valance is stuck taking care of Cadeliah, the heir to two crime syndicates and target of dozens of bounty hunters. Like my sarcastic intro implied, this is remarkably similar to the basic plot of The Mandalorian, where Din Djarin is stuck taking care of the Child while being pursued by bounty hunters and the Empire. This issue does a good job of starting to take the story in a different direction, which is very welcome, but I'll get to that later. Last issue, Valance was injured while being pursued by Zuckuss and 4-LOM, famous hunters from Empire Strikes Back. This issue picks up directly after, as Valance arrives at a familiar Rebel base..
The Rebel base on Lowik was first introduced in Target: Vader, a mini-series that preceded this series. Unlike the first few issues, which were filled with non-stop unfamiliar locations and unfamiliar characters, this issue is very grounded in ones we do know, and it's all the better for it. There aren't really any new characters to keep track of, and it actually feels like it has stakes, since Valance isn't just rescued by some random Rebel, but... his ex! We've seen several flashbacks now about Yura, so we already have some emotional connection to her.
So unlike with the Nakano Lash arc, I personally felt a lot more invested in this whole subplot. I didn't want 4-LOM and Zuckuss to do anything to Yura and these Rebels! And luckily, they didn't. Valance struck a deal with them so that Yura and the Rebels would have a headstart in escaping. But not only did he save Yura, he also saved Cadeliah... by placing her in Yura's care. This is the best part of the issue. It finally departs from the same trope The Mandalorian was doing, and it works really well. Valance knows the bounty hunting life is no place for Cadeliah, and gives her to someone who can actually take care of her.
The last panel of Valance with his face in his hands as he flies away from Lowik alone genuinely hit me in the feels a bit. So... yeah, I really liked this issue. The series is finally starting to find it's footing, and I hope that doesn't change next issue! I didn't mention the art or lettering much in this review because it was stellar as always, that's been the most consistent part of this series. I think this series has a real chance to stand out among the current Star Wars ongoings... as long as it doesn't go back to copying from The Mandalorian. Read this issue!!
A Look Inside
