Chewbacca #3 Review

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It’s not wise to upset a wookiee.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Chewbacca #3.

Chewbacca #3

Writer: Gerry Duggan | Artist/Cover Artist: Phil Noto | Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna

It isn’t easy to kill a wookiee. Furthermore, it is unwise not to check your work when making an attempt to kill a wookiee. At the end of issue two of Chewbacca, Chewie and his eager, young sidekick Zarro had successfully infiltrated the evil gangster Jaum’s mines on Andelm IV and rescued the slaves held within. On his way out of the cave, one of Jaum’s minions brought down the entrance on everyone’s favorite walking carpet. Continuing a theme of incompetence, Jaum’s henchman, Tyvak, noted that you “never let the wookiee live,” but failed to check to make sure the wookiee he just tried to kill had actually died.

That mistake looks like it will come back to haunt him. It is no surprise to anyone that Chewbacca survived the cave-in. It is slightly surprising that his only real injuries were that part of the fur on his leg caught on fire, but Zarro was quickly there to snuff it out. This sequence is largely disappointing. Turns out that Chewbacca simply held up the roof. Sure, it is great to know he is strong, but who didn’t know that about wookiees? It would have been preferable to see Chewbacca manage some sort of clever escape.

The cave in of the mine entrance was only the beginning of Chewbacca and the slaves’ problems. The larva that were being harvested for their use in blaster technology have had a chance to escape. In the dark they have the chance to become very dangerous, poisonous beetles. Chewbacca, Zarro, and her father manage to escape from the beetles by walking quickly, carefully not stepping on any beetles, and then running when the beetles begin to swarm. Finally, after gaining some distance, Chewbacca blasts a support and brings down part of the cavern, sealing off the beetles. Zarro’s father laments “that was [their] only way out!” This doesn’t make much sense. The entrance had already been destroyed by Jaum. Furthermore, that area was contaminated with poisonous beetles. It is unclear what hope to escape he had for that passage.

The action turns to the trapped miners debating how and if they can escape. It is clear they are running out of time before the beetles find them. Another danger is that if they dig upwards, some of the gigantic trees might collapse on them. Chewbacca takes matters into his own hands and despite the odds, manages to reach the surface while knocking over a tree that threatened to cause a collapse of the cavern on the miners below.

Freed from danger, Zarro insists on trying to do something about Jaum’s presence on Andelm IV. Her father objects and makes her promise that she isn’t about to run off and join the Rebellion and that she will stay away from the spaceport. Zarro promises both. The next scene predictably takes place at the spaceport. Zarro has brought Chewbacca to meet Syvox, who appears to have some gear that Chewbacca needs.

In the meantime, Jaum is relaxing in a bar with Tyvex. Some of Jaum’s minions bring one of the freed miners to Jaum. It appears that the miner let pride and anger get the best of him. Instead of lying low and perhaps trying to get away from Andelm IV, this miner immediately went to his former homestead and confronted Jaum’s minions. Jaum, predictably, takes no pity on him and after finding out how he escaped, kills the miner with whatever gas is circulating in his breathing apparatus. Jaum then panics and contacts the Empire for support, which is promised to him.

One of the better aspects of this issue and the series overall is the continued world building with respect to Andelm IV. Duggan and Noto do an excellent job as they continue to detail Andelm IV with descriptions of the larva, the mines, and the political and economic climate. The desolation of Andelm IV after Jaum’s mining activities demonstrates that it isn’t just the Empire that is decimating worlds. In the Outer Rim, whether it is Jabba the Hutt or lowlife gangsters like Jaum, criminal syndicates frequently control. Andelm IV is no exception.

Overall, Jaum continues to disappoint as a villain. On the one hand, it is villains like Jaum that make the Emperor, Grand Admiral Thrawn, and Tarkin look so good (even if they are brilliant villains in their own right). Jaum’s shortsightedness and incompetence make Chewbacca’s interference possible. He depletes the value of his mines and holdings at every opportunity by killing his slaves, destroying parts of his mines, and failing to follow through on his actions. One could suppose in a series where the title character is incapable of speech that can be understood by the other characters, a thug of a villain might be the best choice. However, Star Wars has a tradition where the more primitives species defeats the more technologically advanced villains. Just think the Ewoks over the Empire or the Gungans over the Trade Federation. Chewbacca represents the species that the galaxy looks upon as less advanced. While he can still beat the “superior” foes in the form of Jaum and the Empire, Jaum’s actions are hurting that narrative.

As much as Jaum continues to disappoint, Chewbacca continues to shine. The decision not to translate his dialogue was a good one. Noto does a great job conveying Chewbacca’s thoughts through facial expressions. It is clear when Chewie is angry, exhausted, and triumphant based on what the big wookiee is doing. Caramagna’s lettering goes a long way as well.

The stakes are about to be raised as the Empire is getting closer to Andelm IV. How Chewbacca and Zarro will handle that problem is coming up.

Favorite Panel:

Wookiees are known for their growling and snarling amongst other things. After Chewbacca emerges from the mines and topples a tree that threatens to cave in the cavern below him, he emits a loud roar of triumph. It was classic Chewbacca and this issue’s favorite panel.