Princess Leia #1

Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Terry Dodson

When the first three Star Wars comics were initially announced, I actually didn’t feel any excitement for Princess Leia. She doesn’t really appeal to me the way Darth Vader or a Star Wars book by Jason Aaron does so I didn’t add her solo title to my pull list. Until last week. Marvel’s Star Wars comics have been of such quality that I can’t resist any, even if I don’t love the premise. Despite some issues, Princess Leia strives on introducing an important story while showcasing great characterizations.  
 

When we discovered  the new Star Wars books would take place between Episodes IV and V, some people were skeptical. Why explore ground between two films when you could go beyond the first trilogy? Right off the bat, Princess Leia's new solo-book solidifies itself as an important part of Star Wars continuity. The aftermath of Alderaan's destruction was never thoroughly explored in the films and that's what Leia's solo book does.  
 

I didn't really know what a princess Leia book would be about and the story Mark Waid is telling is the ideal tale for Leia. I was always skeptical about Leia leading a book but this is a story that only she can lead. Waid brings up interesting questions about what a princess is without a world and what her role in conserving the culture is.  
 

Through this great story premise, Waid is able to characterize Leia very well. He writes the princess with the strength we know her for and a great ambition that shows her dedication to her people. Though, Waid doesn't rely entirely on Leia to drive the narrative forward. Halfway through this issue, we are introduced to an awesome x-wing pilot and surviving Alderaanian, Evaan.  
 

Evaan resents Leia for her stoic demeanour but also tries to formally respect her in honor of the Alderaanian people. This relationship was by far the standout of this issue. Once Leia and Evaan met, the quality of the storytelling was upped quite a bit. Their chemistry is very strong and Waid is adeptly able to write their developing friendship. This pair emphasized the Alderaanian aspect of this story together and made the story better to read. And where he left this issue off, Waid shows that this series will fortunately be focusing on its strengths in further issues rather than its flaws.  
 

Because yes, there were a few flaws. First off, I had a major problem with an awkward Luke/Leia exchange at the beginning of this issue. Neither characters felt like themselves in that scenes which is strange because Waid proved that he is very capable at writing Leia throughout the rest of this issue. The situation was awkward and Waid made us feel the same as the characters, unfortunately. This is a major problem because it gave off a rough first impression for this book. It was the first interactions that Waid wrote and it turned me off to reading the rest of the issue right away. 
 

Another issue I had with Princess Leia is that it didn't scream Star Wars to me. Jason Aaron makes his book feel like Star Wars by embracing the tone and Kieron Gillen writes such a strong Vader that he wraps you into this universe. Mark writes Leia well, but nothing made me feel like it was an extension of watching a Star Wars movie. Hopefully Waid will fully embrace what we love about Star Wars in the future and recreate the magic of the movies and new Marvel comics.     
 

In terms of visuals, the new Star Wars line has been nothing short of phenomenal. Cassaday brings dynamic and beautiful art, while Lorraca brings a mind-blowing rendition of Darth Vader to the table. Unfortunately, Terry Dodson just doesn't hold up in comparison to these two. He isn't able to recreate the feeling of Star Wars with his cartoony pencils and none of his designs are that impressive. I don't dislike his art, I simply feel quite indifferent towards it. He doesn't hurt the comic all that much but he certainly doesn't bolster it.  
 

Marvel's Star Wars line has been nothing short of fantastic and though Princess Leia may not live up to standards, it's still quite a strong comic. Waid mostly strives on a strong and relevant plot that substantially picked up in the second half of this issue. And through the end, he convinced me that this mini-series will be worth it in the long-haul because he's putting aside what didn't work and bringing what did to the forefront.