Boba Fett: Enemy of the Empire #1 (of 4) Story: John Wagner Art: Ian Gibson Coloring: Perry McNamee Lettering: Ellie Deville Cover: Ken Kelly Released: 01/27/1999 Reviewed by: JF Boivin (12/26/2006) SUMMARY: Boba Fett is hired by Darth Vader to track down an Imperial colonel of the Lightning Battalion named Abdal Korda. It seems that Korda killed his superior officer after the Icarii campaign on Vestar and was last seen carrying a kneedhide casket in Port-Esta. Boba leaves for Vestar immediately, fully knowing that Vader put a tracer beacon on Slave I but not knowing that he also sent three assassins led by Nevo to kill Fett once he's found the casket. Fett learns from some Lightning Battalion troopers that Korda went insane after he decimated a whole tribe of Icarii and decapited their leader Celestrine. Then he plans on checking out the freighter Port-Esta Queen which is on a return route to Vestar and he suspects had something to do with Korda's escape.

THE STORY

This story takes place sometime before A New Hope and shows the first meeting between Vader and Fett. The background of the Icarii campaign is pretty interesting, but it's obvious what the mysterious casket contains. Let's just say that after hearing that Icarii's limbs still move after being severed and that Korda beheaded their leader, it's just a matter of putting two and two together... Some parts of the story are a bit confusing, and have to be read a second time or read the whole series to be understood. For instance the first five pages in which a stranger arrives at the temple of the Ancient Order of Pessismists on Maryx Minor carrying a casket and mentioning Boba Fett is after him, that must be Korda in the future. But there are no breaks to say that the rest of the story is a sort of flashback. Also, while Fett is interrogating the soldiers in a tavern in Port-Esta, three strangers arrive apparently following Fett and mentioning that they are under orders from Darth Vader. But they are not Nevo's gang. So who are these guys? The story is intriguing, but surprisingly light-toned for a Wagner story. There are some cemedic bits and dialogue, mostly by the Pessismists priests.

THE ART

The art is pretty sketchy and cartoony, and the artist seems to try to emulate Cam Kennedy's style when it comes to Fett's representation. It has its strenghts and weaknesses. The starships are not bad but the Wookiee who attacks Boba looks way too cartoony, better suited for series like Droids which Gibson illustrated. The cover art by Ken Kelly looks amazing.

CONCLUSIONS

This promises to be a fun adventure starring everyone's favorite bounty hunter and his first job for the Dark Lord of the Sith.

Rating: 7 / 10 Recommended