Broken Frontier

The years between Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back were filled with danger and adventure, particularly for those who got close to a band of Rebels fated for destiny.

After years of Star Wars stories from Dark Horse, fans have been treated to Dark Empire, Clone Wars and everything in between and beyond. This series returns to the series’ roots and plants itself firmly in the time period of the original trilogy. Of course, it would be hard to create dramatic tension for familiar characters like Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo – after all, fans already know that Luke, Leia, Han, and the others go on to more fateful adventures. Star Wars: Rebellion therefore turns things on their head by focusing on new characters who find themselves caught up in the lives and fates of those famous Rebels.

In this initial issue, spinning out of the previous Star Wars: Empire series, readers are once again introduced to Lt. Janek Sunber, a loyal and professional Imperial officer. He also happens to be the young man Luke Skywalker called "Tank" and friend growing up on Tatooine. Knowing that both Luke and Biggs joined the Rebellion begins to have an effect on Sunber. Will he end up helping Luke and the Rebels or destroy them?

The series starts out with an interesting choice. Sunber passionately believes in what he and the Empire are doing. He honestly believes that his actions will provide peace and stability and he considers the Rebels painfully misguided for making his job harder. The doubts that enter his mind end up focused with an almost manic intensity on Luke. As the reader is drawn into this conflicted young man we can see that his path can only have one of two outcomes – triumph or tragedy. Which will it be?

The art for this series is an interesting departure. Badeaux’s pencils are soft and dreamy in just the right places. He manages to produce a really high level of detail as well that captures the look and feel of the original movies but with a sense of immediacy as well. There is also a big boost from Wil Glass’ color work; it shifts chameleon-like from warm to moody to harsh and cold.

I will admit that, even as a Star Wars fan, I have been a little put-off by the seeming glut of material that has come out of the Star Wars universe. Dozens of prose novels, dozens of comic book titles, and now one more added to the list? Rebellion, however, managed to catch and hold my attention by going back to the thing I always loved about the movies – people who might seem to be merely cogs in the giant wheel end up possibly holding the fate of the universe in their hand.