Cap's Comics - Princess Leia #3

Princess Leia and Evaan continue their search for the scattered remnants of Alderaan.  In Princess Leia #3 her quest takes her to Sullust where a enclave of survivors have preserved themselves in an cloister.  But the leader of the survivors questions Leia's motives and her right to rule.  And the survivors may have a dark past.  The action comes to a head as the Empire finds Leia because of a mole in Leia's entourage.  Can Leia save her people and win their loyalty to her cause?

I have been pretty down on Mark Waid's story in the past, mostly wondering if it was exciting enough.  This issue to me was the best and likely is in my top five of the new Star Wars books.  The story is full of action and it moves at a nice brisk pace.  And R2-D2 gets a nice moment to shine on the page as he demonstrates his resourcefulness.  In short, R2-D2 finally gets something enjoyable to do (or as I would say at Welcome to Level Seven he got off the Bus).  And we get to linger on the conflict that the survivors have about Leia.  Is she somehow part of the Empire, she was a member of the Imperial Senate.  And bad things seem to follow her wherever she goes!  Yes, is Princess Leia really our leader?  We also get to contrast this with Evaan who has unquestionable loyalty to the crown, despite the fact she is not really a fan of the Princess.  So action and character combined with fitting art from Terry Dodson and Rachel Dodson really created a strong issue to me.

As Princess Leia #3 ends she knows that the Empire has her in their sites.  And one cannot help but feel tense as we know who the traitor is.  Can Leia uncover the mole and save her people...next month?

Cap's Comics - Princess Leia #2

Mark Waid, Terry Dodson and Rachel Dodson take Princess Leia and Evaan deeper into their mission to save the survivors of Alderaan in Princess Leia #2.  The duo travel to Naboo where a community of survivors have established themselves.  Leia attempts to work with an old friend, Lord Junni, in contacting the Alderaan cell.  The center of the Naboo community is a group of musicians who may not be fully informed of the latest Imperial news.  This is not helped by the fact that Junni's motivations may not be as pure as they seem.  The issue ends with a sense of dread for the reader as the next step in the Princess' journey may be even more hazardous.

I found Princess Leia #2 to be a fine issue.  The story and art seems consistent with what we would expect after the first issue.  And the story has a major Easter egg as Leia travels to the home world of her birth mother.  The setting of Naboo simply creates a familiar atmosphere for the pair, providing a backdrop we know for a new story with a new hero in Evaan.  I will argue that the title does give Waid an opportunity to showcase Leia the graceful leader.

Princess Leia is still not my favorite of the Star Wars Marvel comic line.  But I will still be picking up issue #3 to see how Leia stays a step in front of the Imps while preserving her people 

Cap's Comics - Star Wars: Princess Leia #1

Some days it feels like Star Wars is letting Disney print money.  Star Wars has returned to its original comic home with a vengeance with not one but four titles by the end of April 2015.  March is all about Princess Leia with her title receiving a two issue debut in March.

The story begins at the end of Star Wars (you might call it Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope) as we witness the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Yavin and Princess Leia's reaction to the destruction of her home world.  The reader witnesses the immediate aftermath after the credits as we hear what Leia said or did not say at the medal ceremony.  As the Rebels prepare to run for a new base, everyone has a shared question.  Why is Princess Leia not grieving?  With nothing to do in the retreat, Leia joins forces with a fellow female Rebel, Royalist and Alderaan refuge Evaan in a personal mission to find her people before the Empire can destroy their culture forever.

Of the three Star Wars titles this is my least favorite.  It is Star Wars...so I like it and like it a lot more than many things I read.  But Star Wars and Star Wars: Darth Vader are pretty hard to match.  I have really enjoyed those titles that feel like Star Wars to me.  I have recently been reading other Mark Waid titles, and I found this more interesting than the current Marvel NOW! Daredevil run, which Waid has received acclaim for.  But I have enjoyed his work on S.H.I.E.L.D. much more.  My self-observation has been that when Waid writes a character I am emotionally attached to I react more positively to his writing.  Princess Leia is not as "dear" to me as Han or Luke since I always wanted to be one of them.  I found the artwork by Terry and Rachel Dobson to be softer than the pencils and inks of the other Wars' titles.  Though it may honestly fit the female-led story with the softer lines then the hard lines found in the Vader title.  She is a princess after all.

Is she a princess or a queen?  There is the issue of her actual title addressed in the book.  She is no longer a Senator, as the Senate does not exist.  The title princess is the one most used.  But, and I have never thought about this before, she is a queen.  Evaan calls it!  But will Leia live up to a royal legacy?

Leia and Evaan may be the Star Wars female odd couple.  One is royal, the other a pilot.  One is cultured, the other blunt.  One is diplomatic, one is crafty.  I have a good feeling about this. 

Now Star Wars: Princess Leia #1 is not perfect.  I have a friend with a strong opinion that I understand.  It is neither my favorite Waid title or Star Wars book.  But I do love me some comic book Star Wars and I will be back for issue #2.