Poe Dameron #31 Review

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Black Squadron reunites in Poe Dameron #31 as the spark that will burn down the First Order catches fire in the final issue of the series.

This article contains plot details for Poe Dameron #31.

Poe Dameron #31

 Writer: Charles Soule | Artist: Angel Unzueta | Colorist: Arif Prianto | Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna | Cover Artist: Phil Noto | Assistant Editor: Tom Groneman | Editor: Mark Paniccia

Poe has a different command and leadership philosophy than General Organa. That much was obvious from The Last Jedi. Where Leia thinks long term, Poe dwells in the now. When there was an opportunity to destroy a First Order dreadnought, he took it. The long-term consequences were out of sight and out of my mind. Leia, on the other hand, has led the Rebellion, the Republic, and now the Resistance (reborn as the Rebellion) through multiple crises. She knows that a small victory in the short-term might come at the cost of the war in the long-term. However, there is room for their philosophy to overlap, and the ideals come to a head in Poe Dameron #31, the final issue of the series.

The Hot Shot Pilot

Poe is first and foremost a pilot and a soldier. He and his fellow pilots live by the mantra of “no one gets left behind.” Therefore, when he receives a distressing message from Jess Pava, he wants action. Black Squadron’s mission is in jeopardy, and they are in danger. Those pilots are his comrades in arms and friends. They survived the attack on Starkiller Base together. Poe declares that “There is no decision to make, General. Black Squadron is the Resistance.”

The General

Leia doesn’t have the luxury of diving head first into action. She admits to Poe that she wants Black Squadron back. However, besides them, the Resistance is down to a dozen people on the Millennium Falcon. Therefore, how can she justify risking the entire Resistance to save four pilots? She must think long-term. As she puts it, “If I make one mistake, it’s all over.” Everything must be perfect.

The Solution and Compromise

Poe finally finds the solution. He acknowledges that Leia wants him to lead. Then he admits that leadership requires making the tough decisions. He responds to Leia’s argument that she must rally the galaxy against impossible odds for the third time that this is how she does it. If the Resistance won’t abandon four pilots, then they certainly wouldn’t abandon any system to the tyranny of the First Order. In other words, they won’t just tell the galaxy who they are, they will show them.

Leia relents to this argument. In fact, she promotes Poe back to Commander. However, she tells Poe he’ll have to find another way to ride to the rescue.

The Rescue

Things aren’t going well for Black Squadron on Ikkrukk at the Battle of Grail City. In the sky, Snap and Karé fight overwhelming odds against countless TIE fighters. On the ground, Jess and Suralinda press on through injuries in the hopes of restoring Grail City’s defenses. Things get bleak. Jess and Suralinda are cornered. Karé takes a glancing blow to her X-Wing and is facing certain death during an attack run on a Star Destroyer. Then Poe arrives. He saves Karé by destroying the cannon taking aim at her just in time.

It is a fairly predictable rescue. However, for a moment there, at least his reviewer thought Karé was about to die. After all, she isn’t in the movies. Soule has subtly teased her death as a possibility over several issues. Snap and Karé often pondered how much time they had given they were fighting in a war. Therefore, when a cannon on the First Order Star Destroyer had Karé lined up for a killing shot, it seemed very plausible she was about to die.

Poe is flying a starfighter not previously seen in any Star Wars comic. Since the Resistance didn’t have any more starfighters, he borrowed one from Grakkus the Hutt, who owed them for a past rescue.

Black Squadron Reunited

Once Poe arrives, Black Squadron works together, restores the planetary defense system, and takes down the First Order Star Destroyer. Their mission is a success. Grist, Ikkrukk’s leader, pledges that the First Order will find no home on Ikkrukk and that they will do whatever they can in support of the Resistance. Black Squadron accomplished their mission in that they acquired at least one minor ally for the Resistance.

Concluding Thoughts on Poe Dameron #31

Poe Dameron #31 brings the series to a conclusion. Poe concludes this issue and the series with the observation that the key to winning the war is not about any particular Jedi or soldier. It isn’t about saving the galaxy. No winning the war is “about saving your galaxy.” In other words, do what you can to change the galaxy within your reach and make it a better place. If everyone did that, they would win, they just need to show the galaxy to do it.

Poe Dameron is a great series. Charles Soule did a phenomenal job illustrating the life of the Resistance and the days of the Cold War with the First Order prior to the events of The Force Awakens. The last six issue of the series were the first content that took Star Wars fans beyond the events of The Last Jedi. As of the moment, there isn’t any announced content coming that fills the space between The Last Jedi and Episode IX. Poe Dameron is the only clue Star Wars fans have as to what happens next. Now there is a long wait.

Poe’s pursuit of Lor San Tekka, the rivalry with Agent Terrex, and his battles with Commander Mallarus were pure comic goodness with a Star Wars flare. Poe built up his own little rogue’s gallery over the course of the series. Although it is disappointing to see it end, it is understandable why it did. This post-The Last Jed era of Star Wars is still a mystery, and the Star Wars creators will likely leave it that way until closer to Episode IX’s release. Fortunately, Star Wars fans can still enjoy Charles Soule’s excellent work on the Darth Vader series.