Star Wars: Ahsoka #1 - Marvel Comics

STAR WARS: AHSOKA No. 1, September 2024

Announced in February 2024 as “Ahsoka's first-ever solo Marvel Comics series”, Rodney Barnes’ script for this adaption of the live-action Disney+ show certainly doesn’t seem to attract any new fans to George Lucas’ legendary science fiction franchise. In fact, unless the reader already has a considerable knowledge of “the beloved” Star Wars: Clone Wars animated television programme, as well the “various characters from the Star Wars Rebels animated series”, then this thirty-page periodical’s plot is going to contain all manner of fresh faces, motivations, relationships, missions and allegiances.

Happily however, for those bibliophiles ‘in the know’, or at least willing to withstand the bombardment of new people, places and perplexing backstories thrown at them, the ‘truly honoured’ American author’s book definitely contains plenty of intrigue, high-octane chase sequences and explosive entertainment – most notably “fan-favourite” Tano’s attempt to locate a star map which may lead her to Imperial Grand Admiral Thrawn’s last known location; “It was a stronghold for the witches of Dathomir thousands of years ago.” 

Furthermore, there’s plenty of mystery surrounding the despicable Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati, who appear as deadly a pair of Force-users as a New Republic captain would ever want to face. Indeed, the female Togruta’s investigation into the origins of this death-dealing duo and the reason for them freeing the unpleasant Morgan Elsbeth is arguably just as gripping as the publication’s aforementioned central plot surrounding Mitth'raw'nuruodo’s whereabouts; especially once the Mark IV architect droid Huyang starts analysing the film footage of their attack upon Hayle's spacecraft and reveals one of the cloaked malcontents to be a survivor of the Great Jedi Purge.

Also well worthy of praise are penciller Steven Cummings, inker Wayne Faucher, and colourist Rachelle Rosenberg, who together rather impressively eek out every little visual nuance their sheet space will allow in an effort to replicate the fifty-four minute storyline’s runtime on the small screen. This effort could easily have bogged down their audience in endless dialogue and stilted action sequences. But for the majority of this comic, the trio appear at the top of their game, and only seem to encounter some pacing problems towards the issue's end when the disagreeably head-strong Sabine Wren quickly bests some of Hati’s robot troopers.

The regular cover art of "STAR WARS: AHSOKA" #1 by David Nakayama