Star Wars #22 (April 13): This issue is like reading military history: it should be exciting, but it's pretty dry. That said, Soule manages to move the various parties into different positions than they were at the start of the issue, so hopefully that'll pay off next issue.
In exchange for the Alliance sourcing its supplies through Crimson Dawn, Qi'ra sets a trap for Zahra and her fleet. She gives Zahra the Rebellion's Second Division's location and promises Leia that Zahra will be there. (She also informs Leia that it's the last remaining Division, which stings, obviously.) Qi'ra is definitely showing her cards more than she usually does, Zahra is too smart to believe that Qi'ra is trying to help.
Speaking of Zahra, I love that Soule makes her brutally competent (as opposed to most of her Imperial colleagues). Zahra realizes immediately that Starlight Squadron is trying to distract her so that the Pathfinders can break into Tarkin's Will to rescue Shara. Soule also highlights how similar Poe is to Kes. If he had just waited a little longer, Leia would've been able to incorporate his rescue attempt into her plans to take out Zahra. As Leia says, he's going to get people killed (just like his son). That outcome becomes more likely when the Tarkin's Will jumps the hyperspace, leaving behind Starlight Squadron and, thus, the Pathfinders' ride.
Despite being pretty dry, Soule has efficiently put everyone in the same place for what I imagine is going to be a pretty fun series of issues.
Star Wars: Darth Vader #22 (April 13): This issue is extremely difficult to follow. We've got so many double- and triple-crossing actors that it's virtually impossible to tell why anyone is doing anything.
As far as I can tell, Vader "joins" Crimson Dawn simply to get the Dawn to take out Romodi and vice versa. That said, I still don't know why he'd want to take out Romodi, given that he seems to be the Empire's only competent officer other than Zahra. Moreover, I don't get why Sabé would simply hand over her command to Vader. I get that he makes a compelling case that he can get the monsters to kill each other. But, he himself is the monster, particularly where both Crimson Dawn and Sabé are concerned. Maybe Sabé isn't privy to Qi'ra's goal of taking out the Sith, but it still seems a stretch that she'd ever view Vader as trustworthy.
I'm also over Ochi, honestly. I get that Ochi is in it for the power, but what does Sabé think is going to happen after the Dawn and Romodi eliminate each other? The Empire is really going to impose order?
Captain America #0 (April 20): This issue is beautiful: de Iulis is perfection here.
The story is also great, as Sam and Steve rush to foil yet another Zola scheme. Onyebuchi, Lanzing, and Kelly make it clear that the threat - Zola's rocket turning everyone into zolosauruses - is real (if ridiculous), but Sam and Steve's biggest challenge is listening to a ranting Zola. I loved Sam simply responding, "Yup, that America" when Zola asks if he really wants to save an America that commits [a long list of crimes].
I'm excited that Marvel has decided not to make us choose between Sam and Steve, giving us series for each one. I'm all for it.
Dark Beach #1 (April 20): Ruíz-Unger does a solid job hooking you into both the immediate and larger stories that he's telling.
It's pretty clear that Gordo is more than just a guy taking surreptitious crime-scene photos for his journalist friend. It's also clear that he's stumbled upon a crime that connects to the series' mythos, namely that for some reason Earth removed itself from the Sun's orbit because it was killing humanity.
I'm not sure where Ruíz-Unger is going with that overarching story, but given the beatdown that Gordo gets for sticking his nose into the murder it's clear that someone is invested in keeping it a secret.
Also Read: X-Men #10
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