Star Wars: Shattered Empire #2 Review

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Who is the Messenger? What is Operation: Cinder? Read on to discover!

This article contains spoilers for Star Wars: Shattered Empire #2.

Star Wars: Shattered Empire #2

Writer: Greg Rucka | Artists: Marco Checchetto, Angel Unzueta, Emilio Laiso | Colors: Andres Mossa | Cover: Marco Checchetto | Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna

The Imperial Star Destroyer Torment floats in space in the Outer Rim when an Imperial shuttle bearing a messenger arrives. The messenger, who has a uniform similar to an Imperial guard save for the helmet (which is a view screen of sorts) verifies the identity of Captain Duvat, then delivers orders that purport to be from the Emperor himself. Duvat is ordered to commence Operation: Cinder. Meanwhile, in Cawa City on the planet of Sterdic IV, Rebellion Forces engage the Empire. Lieutenant Bey and the rest of her A-Wing squad take down TIE Fighters and an AT-AT during the engagement. Having sustained damage to her craft, Shara lands for repairs and has a discussion with L’ulo, the new Duros leader of Green Squadron. During the conversation, it becomes apparent that Shara has been flying nearly non-stop since the Battle of Endor in an attempt to distract herself while her husband, Kes Dameron, is engaged in missions with Han Solo’s Pathfinder squad. A few days later, Shara reports for duty to Fleet Command at Muster Point: Vengeance. She arrives in time to see Mon Mothma convince Leia to accept a diplomatic mission for which Shara has been assigned as pilot. Leia is returning to the planet of Naboo to ask them to assist in restoring the Senate and establishing a new government. As Queen Soruna is agreeing to Leia’s diplomatic proposal, the Torment arrives and commences climate disruptors as Captain Duvat declares Naboo is to be scoured.

The appearance of the Imperial Messenger was intriguing, but perhaps unnecessary. Checchetto and company did a fantastic job designing the character. The purported message from the Emperor on the helmet was creepy, spooky, eerie, and unsettling. However, in a galaxy that has holo-communications, was this an necessary plot device? To be sure, the Messenger was capable of verifying Duvat’s identity through a blood sample, but could not identity be verified by a retina scan or some other secure method? The appearance of the messenger lends something of a mysterious Sith element to the story, but perhaps that role could have been saved for a more dynamic character.

Of course, the bigger issue with the Messenger is: who sent him, her, or it? The reader knows the Emperor is dead. The opening “crawl” for this issue declares that the Empire still disseminates propaganda. The news of the Emperor’s death has not been shared with everyone in Imperial command. There are several logical reasons for repressing such information. Whoever is controlling what is left of the Empire does not want it to fall into chaos. Other canonical sources have already painted a picture of Imperial factions fighting for control once the news of the Emperor’s death became more accepted. The identity of the new Emperor, or whoever is in control, has not been revealed and is this issue’s biggest unanswered mystery.

There was quite a bit of speculation concerning Kes’s surname of Dameron. Particularly, were Kes and Shara the parents of Poe Dameron, the pilot featured in the upcoming The Force Awakens? Some had speculated that Poe’s conception may have occurred during the events of issue one. However, the mystery has been placed to rest in this issue. Shara and Kes already have a son named Poe at the time of the Battle of Endor. Poe has been in the safe keeping of Shara’s father.

Han Solo’s declaration that the war was not over at the end of the issue one was not really followed up on in this issue. The concluding panel of the previous issue had something of a cliffhanger feel to it as General Solo emerged from the Imperial bunker and declared the was wasn’t over yet. Really? What did you find General Solo? Whatever it was, they didn’t tell us, and unless the news is being saved for a subsequent issue, the assumption must be that he simply discovered that Imperial forces were dug in throughout the galaxy and it was going to take some time to dig them out.

Princess Leia was handled well in this issue. Rucka was careful to take a nod to continuity by mentioning Leia’s earlier trip to Naboo that occurred during the Princess Leia miniseries from earlier this year. Leia was reluctant to take this mission as she had some other duty she felt she was neglecting by doing so. Her exchange with Mon Mothma suggests that the reasons may have been more personal. It is speculation, but perhaps she is concerned about Han Solo as his squad maintains radio silence, so to speak, while conducting Pathfinder Ops. By staying with Fleet Command, she would have a better opportunity to pick up news on his well-being. This may be something that she and Shara will discover they have in common, although each has their own way of dealing with it.

So far, this series succeeds on two fronts. Although it tells a story that is focused on Shara Bey, it also does well to describe the galaxy at large. Shara is many things: an expert pilot, wife, mother, and loyal soldier of the Rebellion. Rucka has told her story well, and made a convincing protagonist out of a character type that does not usually get to be the hero: the wife and mother. That said, other Star Wars stories are taking steps to change that, such as Chuck Wendig’s Aftermath. Despite the focus on Shara, this series still manages to tell the story of the greater galaxy. The reader knows that the Rebellion is still fighting hard against the Empire on multiple fronts and Mon Mothma and the other leaders are working diligently to build a new government. Readers also know that the Empire is actively suppressing information concerning the fate of the Emperor not just from the public, but from the rank and file as well. Plenty of mystery and intrigue abound. This series is a must read for all Star Wars fans.

Favorite Panel:

As with the other Star Wars artists employed by Marvel, Checchetto makes it difficult to pick a single favorite panel on pure artistic merit. They are all good. The ships of the Empire are convincing. The Messenger was foreboding. The battle at Cawa City was gripping and visually exciting. When it comes to facial expressions and emotions, it is hard to beat Checchetto. Even if there was no dialogue, it is obvious when Shara is nervous, surprised, or pleased. Leia’s fatigue, concern, and worry are obvious. A case could be made for nearly any panel in this book as the best. The panel I chose as favorite for this issue is the concluding panel of Shara’s conversation with L’ulo. As Shara’s commanding officer, L’ulo has grown concerned that Shara is perhaps working too hard, and he sniffs out the reason why: her concern for her husband and family. The conversation ends with L’ulo reassuring her that Kes is fine, but that he is worried about her; and therefore, he is going to find some lighter duty for her. The camaraderie in this panel is palpable. It wins panel of the issue.