REVIEW: ‘Star Wars’ Issue #5

Reading Time: 3 minutes

After a five-month hiatus due to COVID-19 halting publishing at Marvel Comics, Star Wars makes the jump back to comic-book shelves at light speed with Star Wars #5.  Taking place shortly after the event of The Empire Strikes Back, the Star Wars canon comic series takes readers through our heroes trying to cope with the darkness spreading through the Rebellion. Leading fans through this journey are Star Wars comic writer staple Charles Soule, artist Jesús Saiz, colorists Arif Prianto and Dan Brown, and letterer Clayton Cowles. Rounding out the team for Star Wars #5 is cover artist R.B. Silva.

Star Wars #4 saw Leia, Lando, and Luke make a return to Cloud City to tackle various issues. Leia investigated the carbon freezing facility, Lando searched for his longtime companion, and Luke searched for his lightsaber that he lost during his battle with Darth Vader. Luke’s search ended being a failure but through his reconnection to the Force, Luke experienced a vision of a hooded woman calling him too far off-planet intermixed with eventual events in his future. Moved by the vision, Luke decides to search for the woman and put the lightsaber behind him for now.

Star Wars #5 opens with Luke Skywalker boasting about his abilities and exploits at the Battle of Yavin in a cantina. Or at least, someone posing as Luke Skywalker. The imposter is quickly met by Darth Vader who is clearly searching for his son and does not take kindly to those falsely claiming the Skywalker name. Despite being a Luke focused issue, Darth Vader making an appearance early on may lead to more foreshadowing of the Dark Lord’s quest to find his son.

Following the panels with Darth Vader, Luke and his trusty droid R2-D2 find the planet from his vision. The duo land on a planet filled with oceans and red landmasses called Serelia which is given a charming beauty by artist Saiz. Our heroes immediately run into the hooded woman Luke saw on Cloud City. Luke comes on a tad bit strong expressing that he believes the Force sent him to meet her and asks her if she is a Jedi. The woman immediately flees on a boat leaving Luke and R2-D2 to give chase.

Their chase over the ocean ends on island strong with the Force. Luke tracks the woman into a cave and if Star Wars has taught fans anything over the years is that nothing good happens in caves. Luke and R2-D2 set off traps as soon as they enter the mouth of the cave giving more mystery to who this woman is. Luke must traverse the cave alone and without a lightsaber in hopes of finding answers to his vision from a woman that Force is intent on him meeting.

Writer Soule tells a fast-paced story. There are no real lulls in Star Wars #5 which led me to blow through the issue quickly and want to know what was next. The way that the issue almost certainly assures that there is certainly much more than meets the eye with this woman and I am eager to know more about her. Even during a time period where much is known about The Orginal Trilogy, Soule is expanding the lore in a way that feels necessary to Luke’s development as a Jedi.

Overall, Star Wars #5 gives the reader the start to a solo Luke arc that looks to pay off big in the end. Previous issues of this series were jam-packed our heroes which coupled with Soule action-packed writing style left me wanting more time with each character. Star Wars #5 is certainly the change of the pace the series needed.

Star Wars #5 is available everywhere comics are sold now.