REVIEW: ‘Star Wars: Halcyon Legacy,’ Issue #5

Star Wars: Halcyon Legacy #5 is written by Ethan Sacks while Will Sliney provides art, Rachelle Rosenberg colors, Joe Sabino letters, and E.M Gist rounds out the team as the cover artist. This is the final installment in the miniseries, based on the Star Wars: Galatic Starcruiser experience at Walt Disney World which features a main plot and a subplot that expands the lore before the fabled luxury vessel. In the main story, the space pirate Crismon Jack has finally boarded the Halycon, but not before Resistance spy, Shorr Komrrin escaped via escape pod. Unlike other issues in the miniseries, D3-09 does not tell the subplot story. Rather, Halcyon’s regular R’Tess tells a tale featuring infamous bounty hunters, Bossk, T’Gona, 4-LOM, and Zuckuss as well as Doctor Aphra’s T’onga.

Star Wars: Halcyon Legacy #5 picks up right where its predecessor left almost panel for panel. Much to the dismay of Captian Crimison Jack, Shorr Komrrin who has been secretly working for the Resistance has fled the Halcyon in hopes that his departure will save the crew and passangers. While Shorr has spared them from the full wrath of Crimison Jack, it does not protect them from his lackeys as the dreaded pirate chased after Shorr and leaves his own crew to plunder the Halycon. Now it’s up to the passengers of the Halycon to defend themselves.

In the subplot of Star Wars: Halcyon Legacy #5, readers get to see how the passengers, including Shorr’s own granddaughter, Cimina plan to fight back. The determination is all sourced from a story told by R’Tess, a resident guest of the Halycon. In her story nearly 25 years ago, R’Tess and her partner Stolak went on the Halycon with the hope of seeing the Sungrazer Comet. Unknown to R’Tess, Stolak is being hunted by some of the fearest bounty hunters in the galaxy. The questions remain: is Stolak good enough to evade his pursuers and can R’Tess do anything to stop them?

Star Wars: Halcyon Legacy #5 presents a quality bookend to a short tale on the centuries-old Halycon starcruiser. The action-packed panels seem to jump off the page and it’s easy to follow lettering despite the shifting plots. Both the main plot and subplot drive the story nicely to the current storyline being told at the Star Wars: Galatic Starcruiser experience at Walt Disney World.

In the main plot, the First Order grows ever suspicious of Captain Keevan’s famed vessel’s supposed neutrality. The suspicions have led to Lieutenant Croy’s personal interest in the investigation which is a key component of Star Wars: Galatic Starcruiser story. Even in the subplot, R’Tess’s story provides readers with the similar moral decisions Earth guests with have to make during their stay on Halycon. There are also references to other Star Wars stories on the Halycon for readers to take part including Beth Revis’s The Princess and the Scoundrel featuring Leia Organa and Han Solo’s honeymoon.

While it may not be required reading for the average Star Wars comic reader, know that there are plenty of quality stories that are told, including in Star Wars: Halcyon Legacy #5. On its surface, Star Wars: Halcyon Legacy might just seem as the latest merchandise for Disney to sell. However, I think it is more than that. It is a vessel for connection to an experience that is one of a kind that Star Wars: Halcyon Legacy will only enhance for guests. With that said, if you are planning to stay at Star Wars: Galatic Starcruiser, I cannot recommend this series enough. As a former passenger myself, the cast is well aware of the story of Crimson Jack and the Halycon. Mentioning it to Captain Keevan or even Liuetant Croy might yield some surprising results.

While Star Wars: Halcyon Legacy may not gain the notary of its Star Wars comics brethren, it has a special place in my heart. If not for reading the first three issues of the miniseries before attending Star Wars: Galatic Starcruiser, I would have missed out on unique experiences that solidified my love for Star Wars in this medium. Ethan Sacks, Will Sliney, Rachelle Rosenberg, Joe Sabino, and E.M Gist have provided a way for Star Wars fans to connect to the universe unlike ever before. The characters in Star Wars: Halcyon Legacy are ones that they can interact with in their own experience on the Halycon as they too become part of the Halycon Legacy.

Star Wars: Halcyon Legacy #5 is available wherever comics are sold.