Here we find Lando Calrissian, in big doodoo and for some reason only able to repeatedly offer the phrase ‘ It’s not my fault‘ as explanation for his predicament. Understandably, both Leia and Chewbacca are missing Solo (a bittersweet scene, given the recent passing of Peter Mayhew) but are diverted from their flight to Tatooine to the nearby world of Arkanis, on the Corellian Run. We’re beyond The Empire Strikes Back, traversing the year to the events of Return of the Jedi and learn that, as in the old EU, Leia has replaced the Ubese bounty hunter Boushh with a plan to enter Jabba’s palace and rescue Han Solo. We know she can fight – the Death Star chasm blaster fight as Luke prepares the grappling hook, battling stormtroopers on Bespin as Han is stolen away by Boba Fett, throttling Jabba the Hutt with her chain – but highlighting her brawn above her brain does her a disservice, and ‘Princess Scoundrel’ regrettably falls into that trap. She’s highly trained in these combats skills – given her upbringing and training as a Princess of Alderaan, the life of privilege given to her by Bail and Breha Organa and years on the front lines – but when stories place the focus on these more tactile elements ahead of her diplomatic skills and quickness of mind – the talents which we admire in her so much – she slides further and further away from the Leia we grew up with. Written by Greg Pak with attractive art by Chris Spouse, Karl Story, Will Sliney and Marc Deering, Age of Rebellion: Princess Leia shows the strength of character and force of will that Leia displayed for decades on the big screen, but presents it as secondary to portraying her out-shooting and out-fighting all other characters. They fought for each other – and with each other – loved as sisters, brothers, husbands, wives and uncles, and we all knew who the boss was (and it wasn’t the cocky corellian, the wise old wookiee, the fussy protocol droid and his stubby counterpart or the wanna be farmboy Jedi). Why send in Han Solo to negotiate with the enemy if you had a strong-willed skilled orator like Leia Organa on your team, task Chewbacca with taking out a squad of Stormtroopers with a lightsaber when Luke could do it, or expect Threepio to fly the Kessel Run. One of the many strengths of the original trilogy characters was not only their ability to work together as a team but also their understanding of each others skill sets.

Star wars age of rebellion comics