Issue One to Six:
Brief overview of story...
Set after the events of ANH. Story starts with the Rebels on the offensive, looking for Imperial facilities to attack. Han, using his connections with Jabba, infiltrates the Imperial base with Luke ans Leia dressed in Skiff Guard disguises. Luke discovers the Empire are using slaves in their factory and the story looks at freeing them in their mission. Darth Vader arrives, Leia's anger is perfect as she pleads with anyone to take him out on arrival with a sniper. Vader survives the attack and meets Luke. Luke is pretty pathetic as a Jedi at this point but Han arrives in an AT-AT and attempts to kill Vader. The Imperials prevent the first attack on their base but Luke sets off a reactor core from his speeder bike which destroys the facility. He escapes when the Falcon flies in before Vader closes. Vader begins to wonder about Luke's ability and knows Obi-Wan has faith in him. When they escape we travel to Tatooine. Luke visits Ben's hut, Vader meets Jabba and a subplot is beginning. Boba Fett is tasked to track down Luke and they meet at Ben's hut, Luke never sees Fett due to a flash bomb but Luke knocks Fett out when a metal box hits Fett on the head as they grapple. Han and Leia begin scouting for new planets as the Rebels look for a new base and Leia tries to stop Han from leaving. The arc ends as we meet Han Solo's wife pointing a blaster at Han and Leia and Vader finally hears the word 'Skywalker' from Fett. Luke has Ben's journal retreieved from the hut.
From the start there were some nods to the original movies - Skiff guard disguises, 4LOM appears, a Rancor Keeper type character, AT-AT Walkers, speeder bikes, AT-STs, Jabba's Palace is visited, Mos Eilsey cantina, Fett, and many more.
The Good - Han and C-3PO chemistry is very good, lots of insults traded which work. Luke is not all powerful. He is struggling with 'the force'. Leia is very angry as she should be after Alderaan. Han is struggling with helping the Rebels v a smuggler's life. Vader is very powerful and merciless - using Stormtroopers as shields. I like that Vader takes Luke's saber straight off him. He doesn't know who Luke is and is trying to destroy him psychologically. None of the TFA issues with this battle. The bickering between Han and Leia is funny, especially in the AT-AT - Vader is the one in black lol. I like the idea of Luke visiting Ben's hut on Tatooine as a starting point on his journey to be a Jedi. Ben leaving clues for Luke explains a lot. Fett is given some credibility. I like little things like Tusken Raiders have taken over Ben's hut since he has been missing. I'm glad we're not hit with new character, after new character... only Sana Solo seems to be important at present.
The bad - Leia changes from a good disguise into a white costume which seemed odd. Could she really punch and knock out an Imperial officer? In a short space of time the Rebels have blown up the Death Star and taken out a major weapon's facility - doesn't really seem to gel with me. It irks me a little that the Imperil Commander doesn't deny the Death Star disaster when Han taunts him. This 'Rebel Propoganda' seems to be a central theme at other times. I don't like other characters referring to Ben as 'crazy, wizard etc' sometimes terms like that are overused.
Overall a solid introduction to the new canon and very enjoyable.