Star Wars: Darth Vader #14 (July 21): Unlike "Star Wars: Doctor Aphra" #12, this tie-in issue really does what it's supposed to do, digging into the background of events that we're seeing in the main title.
The issue begins with Pak detailing Administrator Moore's activities after the Emperor demotes her to Sub-Administrator due to her failure to kill Vader. Moore is humiliated with her assignment pre-screening the Emperor's decisions, though, through this role, she learns about Crimson Dawn's auction of Han Solo and, more importantly, Han's connection to Luke Skywalker. Later, she reviews Vader's armor specifications (and mind-wipes the Grand Vizier when he stumbles upon her doing so) and passes this information via surrogates to IG-88.
As we saw last issue, Moore then assembles her council of traitors. However, they're all outraged when they discover their fellows there, as she let each one think that s/he was meeting with Moore alone. Their anger at her risking their lives is justified when Vader appears. They initially flee though rally to Moore's side when she disables Vader's armor just like IG-88 did. Vader recovers quickly, though, and Ochi chastises Moore for thinking that Vader wouldn't have fixed that vulnerability after IG-88 exploited it. Moore saves her bacon by offering to attend the auction in Vader's place, explaining why she appears as the Empire's agent in "Star Wars: War of the Bounty Hunters" #2. As she explains, she's more than happy to facilitate a meeting between Skywalker and Vader, since Luke is the only threat to Vader.
Of course, Vader has another card up his sleeve. Ochi reveals that Bokku the Hutt bid against Moore for Han because Vader wanted to humiliate both of them, Moore in the Emperor's eyes and Bokku in Jabba's. With Vader's arrival, Ochi sums up the dynamic nicely: Moore was right when she told her council of traitors that they could defeat Vader if they united against him; Vader is just obviously never going to let that happen.
Again, this issue explains two of the more curious twists in "Star Wars: War of the Bounty Hunters #2:" Moore bidding for Han on the Emperor's behalf and Bokku acting against Jabba. I have a feeling neither of them are long for this world.
Star Wars: War of the Bounty Hunters - Jabba the Hutt #1 (July 21): This issue is excellent. I consider it a must-read.
First, I have to complement the art. Other than the most recent "Star Wars: War of the Bounty Hunters" issue, I've been generally happy with Star Wars series' art. That said, Robertson and Delgado handling the present day and Pizzari and Marchisio handling the flashback sequences are excellent pairings. Any Star Wars series would be lucky to have them, even if I liked Roberston and Delgado the best.
In terms of the story, Deva Lompop is an excellent character. The crosses and double-crosses that she, Boba Fett, and Jabba all engineer here is exactly what I thought I'd see in "Star Wars: Bounty Hunters." Although I'm happy with that title, I'd love to see Justina Ireland get her hands on it after this issue. She doesn't just nail the sort of plot developments that we see here, but Deva's banter with Boba Fett is a joy to read. Like "Star Wars: Darth Vader" #14, Ireland also answers an important question here, showing us that Deva betrays Jabba on her hunt for Boba Fett by giving Crimson Dawn Han's location first.
All in all, anyone reading "War of the Bounty Hunters" should definitely pick up this issue.
Star Wars #15 (July 28): This issue isn't really part of the "Star Wars: War of the Bounty Hunters" event. Instead, it focuses on Starlight Squadron's successful attempt to rescue what's left of the Eleventh Division. As they approach where they think the Eleventh Division may be, L'ulo notes the Rebellion's fighter's disillusionment, observing that the Empire feels two wins from wiping out the Rebellion and that the Rebellion could really use a win. Although exploding a dormant volcano under an Imperial Star Destroyer conveniently parked over said volcano is pretty absurd, it does give the Rebellion said win: not only do they reconnect with the Eleventh Division, but it turns out Mon Mothma is with them.
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