Reflections on “The Star Wars” Issue 4

Protect the queen at all costs seems to be the rallying cry for issue 4 of “The Star Wars.” And in this case protection means plenty of action, which includes lightsaber fighting and a build up to a confrontation readers have been anticipating.

Plots also abound as “Annikin Starkiller and Luke Skywalker make a desperate stand.” Prince Valorum (a sith knight) has a finalistic approach when dealing with enemies to the empire. As the resistance conspires in one panel of artwork, it is juxtaposed with Valorum’s brutality. That’s what makes this fourth installment shine. The ability to simultaneously reflect a world on the verge of self-destruction, through politics and greed from two completely perspectives, shows a great sense of awareness and empathy in Rinzler’s writing.

What continues to make this series compelling is the strength of the characters and the storyline forces you to continue reading. Whitsun is still a mystery. Whenever Skywalker gives him a directive, he always has a sideways’ glance. Or, Whitsun will have a dramatic pause. He is one of the subtle x-factors in this odyssey. Another is Leia. Although she is now queen, Leia is still very much a teenager. Will she get involved with Annikin? As followers of the traditional film series this should never occur. Still this is a new telling and Rinzler carefully navigates this relationship by having Annikin and Leia seem more like siblings than potential lovers. But, Leia already has two brothers and a Jedi in training may be the best companion for her.

The reverberation of one great sacrifice foreshadows the fear the jedis fight so hard against. In “Dune” the sci-fi series of novels “fear is the mind killer.” In the established Star Wars universe, fear leads to self-destruction, and anyone caught in that caustic wake gets swallowed up and annihilated. For this interpretation, it is yet unknown as to how the role of fear will play a part in Annikin’s life. Or, for that matter the shortsightedness that led to the Jedis’ near extinction. One thing is for sure, no one in this universe will react quite the way you believe.

“The Star Wars” series is a slow build in a good way. Though the swashbuckling and western influences are there, they aren’t prominent. Instead the story is the driving force and remains a core focal point for upcoming issues.

All in all the unfolding story goes on in “Redesigning and Predesigning a Galaxy” where a small band of rebel fighters hang on a wind and a prayer to battle imperial forces.