Star Wars: War Of The Bounty Hunters #2 - Marvel Comics

STAR WARS: WAR OF THE BOUNTY HUNTERS No. 2, September 2021

Proudly proclaimed by “Marvel Worldwide” as “the biggest comic event" of George Lucas' universe, Charles Soule’s storyline for Issue Two of “Star Wars: War Of The Bounty Hunters” surely must have initially excited its 82,460 strong audience considering it featured a no-holds barred brawl between Boba Fett and his arch-rival Bossk. Indeed, the pair’s battle upon “the remote, frozen world of Jekara” is arguably this twenty-page periodical’s greatest highlight – at least until the Dark Lord of the Sith suddenly makes a surprise entrance at the end of Crimson Dawn’s auction for Han Solo’s carbonite-entombed body.

Unhappily though, the sixteen-panel skirmish is also the only action to be seen as this comic predominantly focuses upon the chit-chat, banter and verbal demands of “the galaxy’s most powerful factions”, including representatives from the Empire and the entire Hutt Council. Admittedly, some of this political intrigue and public posturing is reasonably entertaining, especially when an arrogant Administrator Sly Moore’s much-lauded ability to manipulate the minds of others fails quite miserably when used against the likes of Jabba. But it does require the reader to wade through a seemingly endless series of (light) conversational pieces.

Furthermore, the talking simply doesn’t stop, even after the Milwaukee-born writer introduces Doctor Aphra, Princess Leia, Chewbacca and Lando Calrissian to his slow-paced proceedings. Considering the sheer enmity between the Rebels and Fett, many a bibliophile was probably expecting all hell to suddenly be let loose at Lady Qi'ra’s auction. However, all that happens is for the entire cast of characters to forget their own personal squabbles with one another so as to stand in awe at Darth Vader’s unanticipated arrival; “Well, well, well. Let’s see where this goes.”

Possibly just as unenthusiastic about this book’s script as some bookworms might have been, Luke Ross’ layouts disappointingly blow a little hot and cold. The artist does a first-rate job pencilling this mini-series’ notorious bounty hunter and Han Solo’s former lover. Yet sadly, the same cannot be said for many of the sale’s extra-terrestrial bidders, who appear much more roughly drawn. In fact, it’s almost as if the Brazilian illustrator didn’t want to waste too much time sketching the tale’s lesser figures, and subsequently focused all his efforts on the bigger named personalities.

The regular cover art for "STAR WARS: WAR OF THE BOUNTY HUNTERS" #2 by Steve McNiven & Frank D'Armata