Tag Han Solo

A Star Wars: Han Solo & Chewbacca #10 Micro-Review – A Jumbled Conclusion

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***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Star Wars Han Solo and Chewbacca 10, cover, March 2023, Phil NotoTITLE: Star Wars: Han Solo & Chewbacca #10
AUTHOR: Marc Guggenheim
ARTISTS:  David Messina, Alex Sinclair (Colorist), Joe Caramagna (Letterer). Cover by Phil Noto. 
RELEASED: March 1, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This issue contains an origin story for the remote that was on the Falcon in the original Star Wars movie. Because that’s something everyone was calling for, right?

We also get the equivalent of a post-credits scene in this issue. Which is kinda neat, but also odd considering Star Wars movies don’t do them.

I wasn’t enamored with this issue. But it brought the “Dead or Alive” story to a reasonable conclusion, albeit a bit of a jumbled one.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

A Star Wars: Han Solo & Chewbacca #9 Micro-Review – Drawn From Life

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Star Wars Han Solo and Chewbacca 9, cover, January 2022, Phil NotoTITLE: Star Wars: Han Solo & Chewbacca #9
AUTHOR: Marc Guggenheim
ARTISTS: David Messina, Alex Sinclair (Colorist), Joe Caramagna (Letterer). Cover by Phil Noto.
RELEASED: January 18, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

David Messina and Alex Sinclair make a great team on this book. I especially enjoy Messina’s renderings of Chewbacca, as he’s got a great handle on the big guy.

I was less impressed with a rendering of Han late in the issue, which is clearly drawn with reference to a still from The Empire Strikes Back. I can’t help it. Stuff like that pulls me right out of an issue.

Still, the series remains fun. It’s near the top of my stack when it comes out.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

A Star Wars: Han Solo & Chewbacca #8 Micro-Review – “Oh Bull@#$%!”

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Star Wars Han Solo and Chewbacca 8, cover, December 2022, Phil NotoTITLE: Star Wars: Han Solo & Chewbacca #8
AUTHOR: Marc Guggenheim
ARTISTS: David Messina, Alex Sinclair (Colorist), Joe Caramagna (Letterer). Cover by Phil Noto.
RELEASED: December 28, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This series continues to deliver on the trademark Star Wars hijinks, action, and adventure. But this issue did contain what I’ll call an “Oh bull@#$%!” moment. Han and Chewie take out about eight Imperial Death Troopers in the space of about one panel. Nice try, but no.

As the cover indicates, Grand Moff Tarkin pops up in this issue. David Messina excels at rendering Peter Cushing’s trademark sunken cheeks.

I also dig the design of the marshal we briefly see in this issue. I assume the design is Messina’s.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

A Star Wars: Han Solo & Chewbacca #7 Micro-Review – A (Quick) Prison Break!

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Star Wars Han Solo and Chewbacca 7, cover, 2022, Phil NotoTITLE: Star Wars: Han Solo & Chewbacca #7
AUTHOR: Marc Guggenheim
ARTISTS: Paul Fry, Alex Sinclair (Colorist), Joe Caramagna (Letterer). Cover by Phil Noto.

RELEASED: November 16, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Han Solo & Chewbacca continues to fire on all cylinders, delivering on the kind of rip-roaring adventures one pictures when they think of Han and Chewie’s pre-A New Hope antics. My biggest complaint is that the two-pronged story with Chewie in prison and Han marooned on a strange planet wraps up too quickly for my taste. But I suppose there’s something to be said for not overstaying your welcome.

Guggenheim, Fry, and this crew even manage to sell me on the inclusion of Ponda Baba and Doctor Evazan in the prison stuff. Well done, gentlemen.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

George Lucas on Star Wars: Threepio’s Humanity vs. Vader’s Humanity

Rob Siebert 1 Comment

***Think what you will about George Lucas, but in terms of Star Wars, it can all be traced back to him. That’s why I always find it so interesting to listen to him talk about it. His creative process, the reason certain decisions were made, and how these movies became the pop cultural staples they are. This space is dedicated to just that. This is “George Lucas on Star Wars.”***

***New around here? Check out Primary Ignition‘s “George Lucas on Star Wars” archive!***

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

C-3PO, Han Solo, Star Wars the Empire Strikes Back

The Scene: After a sarcastic interaction with Han Solo, C-3PO says, “Sometimes I just don’t understand human behavior!”

George Lucas Says (via the “Characters of Star Wars” featurette): “Part of the fun of Threepio is he has no soul. He is programmed to think a particular way and be compassionate, but he doesn’t really know what that means. And sometimes he gets frustrated and sometimes he has very human-like qualities, but they don’t have a central place where he can think independently. Darth Vader, on the other hand, as he becomes more mechanical, he loses more and more of his ability to even think like a human.”

I Say: The notion that Vader is losing his ability to even think like a human being is compelling. In contrast, Threepio is, in many ways, trying to discover his own humanity. There’s an interesting dichotomy there when you consider that Darth Vader built C-3PO. As the movies go on, the human being starts to become less human and more robotic, while the robot starts to gain his humanity.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

A Star Wars: Han Solo & Chewbacca #6 Micro-Review – Firing on All Cylinders

Rob Siebert 1 Comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Star Wars Han Solo and Chewbacca 6, cover, 2022, Phil NotoTITLE: Star Wars: Han Solo & Chewbacca #6
AUTHOR: Marc Guggenheim
ARTISTS: David Messina, Paul Fry, Alex Sinclair (Colorist), Joe Caramagna (Letterer). Cover by Phil Noto.

RELEASED: September 28, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This is the kind of issue I pictured when this series first came out. We’ve got Chewie getting into fights in prison, as a bunch of space pirates race to free the Millennium Falcon from the clutches of the Empire. Meanwhile, Han Solo is presumed dead. (Spoiler: He’s not.)

This book was a slow starter. But it’s firing on all cylinders now. My only complaint? That they felt the need to shoehorn Ponda Baba and Dr. Evazan into this story. They were, of course, in the Mos Eisley Cantina in A New Hope. Lame.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

Astonishing Art: Han and Leia’s Wedding by Geneva Bowers

Rob Siebert 1 Comment

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This weekend I finally started Star Wars: The Princess and the Scoundrel by Beth Revis. The book tells a story which, among various other things, contains Han Solo and Princess Leia’s wedding following the events of Return of the Jedi. I’ve been looking forward to this one. It caps off one hell of a summer for Star Wars books, that’s for sure.

Several days ago, Entertainment Weekly dropped this fun little piece of business. An artistic rendering of Han and Leia’s wedding on Endor, courtesy of Geneva Bowers. It’s got a great storybook quality to it. It wouldn’t necessarily feel out of place mixed in with the Star Wars Little Golden Books my daughter enjoys so much.

I wish Star Wars would do this kind of thing with their books more often. The franchise is so visual in nature, and it makes all the sense in the world. And while we’re at it, more Geneva Bowers Star Wars projects, please and thank you.

Geneva Bowers, Star Wars the Princess and the Scoundrel

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

George Lucas on Star Wars: Lando Calrissian

Rob Siebert 1 Comment

***Think what you will about George Lucas, but in terms of Star Wars, it can all be traced back to him. That’s why I always find it so interesting to listen to him talk about it. His creative process, the reason certain decisions were made, and how these movies became the pop cultural staples they are. This space is dedicated to just that. This is “George Lucas on Star Wars.”***

***New around here? Check out Primary Ignition‘s “George Lucas on Star Wars” archive!***

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Lando Calrissian, Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back

The Scene: Lando Calrissian, Han Solo’s old friend and administrator of Cloud City on Bespin, enters the film.

George Lucas Says (via the Empire Strikes Back commentary track): “Lando Calrissian was created as a character who was a foil to Han, who represents what Han was before he met Luke and Leia in Episode IV. … [Lando] is sort of making the same mistakes that Han would make if Han hadn’t joined the Rebellion and become a little bit more compassionate. He’s the more out for himself kind of character, who has to do what’s practical to keep his life in order. And now Han is trapped in a world between those two. He’s not quite as compassionate and caring as Luke and Leia are. But he’s moved away from where he was, which is where Lando Calrissian is now.”

I Say: I like the idea of someone who’s on an emotional journey meeting someone who’s back at the beginning of a similar journey. It can make for interesting storytelling. That is indeed what we get with Han and Lando in Empire. But I also love that Lando isn’t simply a Han Solo clone. They were able to create character with its own unique vibe and texture. And in the process, Lando became almost as ionic, if not every bit as much, as Han.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

George Lucas on Star Wars: Who Shot First?

Rob Siebert 1 Comment

***Think what you will about George Lucas, but in terms of Star Wars, it can all be traced back to him. That’s why I always find it so interesting to listen to him talk about it. His creative process, the reason certain decisions were made, and how these movies became the pop cultural staples they are. This space is dedicated to just that. This is “George Lucas on Star Wars.”***

***New around here? Check out Primary Ignition‘s “George Lucas on Star Wars” archive!***

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Han Solo, Greedo, Star Wars A New Hope

The Scene: The bounty hunter Greedo confronts Han Solo over money he owes Jabba the Hutt. The two sit at a table.

In the original version of the film, Han shoots Greedo dead under the table.

In all versions following the 1997 Special Edition release, Greedo shoots at Han first and misses, prompting Han to fire back and kill him.

George Lucas Says: “It was always meant that Greedo fired first, and in the [original release] you don’t get that too well. And then there was a discussion about, “Well it’s good that it’s left amorphous and everything.” … In terms of Han’s character and everything, I didn’t like the fact that when he was introduced the first thing he did is just gun somebody down in cold blood. That wasn’t what was meant to be there.”

I Say: Like a lot of (Dare I say most?) Star Wars fans, I’m a “Han shot first” guy, and call BS on the idea that Greedo shot and missed at point blank range. If Greedo was supposed to fire his gun first, then why have the two of them sitting at a table? The notion that Greedo, or anybody, could miss a shot like that is laughable.

What’s more, I’d argue Han gunning someone down in cold blood fits perfectly with what George describes as his character arc. He’s talked at length over the years about how Han Solo starts out very selfish, cold, and out for himself. But through his relationship with Luke and Leia, he gradually starts to become compassionate and care about others. As this is Han at the beginning of that arc, it’s more than fitting for him to kill Greedo to save his own skin.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

A Star Wars: Han Solo & Chewbacca #5 Micro-Review – Consistent Quality

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

star_wars_han_solo_and_chewbacca_5_cover_2022_phil_notoTITLE: Star Wars: Han Solo & Chewbacca #5
AUTHOR: Marc Guggenheim
ARTISTS: David Messina, Alex Sinclair (Colorist), Joe Caramagna (Letterer). Cover by Phil Noto.
RELEASED: August 10, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This isn’t the strongest issue to come out of this series. But five issues in, Guggenheim, Messina, and this team have sold me on their ability to produce a quality monthly title about Han and Chewie. That’s saying something, considering how underwhelmed I was at the beginning.

The friendship between Han and Chewie is the understated emotional core to this book. It’s a buddy action comedy. And that’s how it should be, really.

On the downside, we get a gratuitous appearance from a couple of familiar Mos Eisley Cantina characters. Lame.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.