The Last Command #5 (of 6)

Story: Mike Baron (adapted from Timothy Zahn)
Pencils: Edvin Biukovic
Inks: Eric Shanower
Colors: Dan Brown
Editor: Bob Cooper and Peet Janes

The rebels on Wayland discover other inhabitants there. The struggle for power continues between Thrawn and C'Baoth. Karrde leaves Coruscant with Leia to help their friends. Reviewed 04/05/97 Story It's issue #17 of 18 and I'm running out of new ways to describe the ever consistent great work Baron has done in adapting these novels to comic form. As a rule, a movie made from a novel is inferior to the book it's based upon. This comic series is one of those rare exceptions where the adaptation does not disappoint fans of the original work. Naturally, one must play to the strengths of the medium. Complexities of politics, master planning and inner struggles take a smaller role here, but the action and sweeping visuals are brought to life in ways that entrench the story even further into Star Wars lore. I was again struck by the ability to tell the story in abbreviated form without the hint of feeling like anything was being left out. At the same time, my memories turned to the climactic ending and realized that there's still a whole lot of story left to jam into a single issue. I don't know how they'll do it... but I look forward to seeing it (even if it is two months from now). Art I've said it before, but the undying attention to detail of Biukovic/Shanower makes every page a work of art worthy of framing. The accuracy of the technology and the vibrant life of the biology once again caused me to reread the book five or six times. (Not to mention the beautiful coloring and effects.) Among the many details I enjoyed this time around: a cantina with as many stories as Mos Eisley (plus Gonk), the wonderful design of the four-armed Psadans, a Mara Jade that captures her spirit, Coruscant in the morning, the overhead shot of Karrde in his chair, and most of all... the best drawn non- freeze-frame rendering of Carrie Fisher I've ever seen. There is a danger that HTTE may lose its spot as the best art in Star Wars comic series in history. Conclusions If you don't normally read comics, you should be reading this series. There is little more a person can ask from an issue other than maybe having his name spread all over the lettercol. (Oh, wait... it has that too! :) 10/10.
"EnsViews" are copyright ? 1997-8 by Paul Ens. They are posted to rec.arts.sf.starwars.misc, emailed to Dark Horse Comics and archived on theForce.net. With the exception of Dark Horse Comics Inc, they may not be reprinted without permission. Titles, Cover images, Dark Horse Comics, and the Dark Horse logo are trademarks of Dark Horse Comics Inc. and its respective Licensors.