The Last Jedi #5 Review

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In the penultimate issue of The Last Jedi comic adaptation, Rey confronts Snoke as the Resistance attempts a desperate escape.

This review discusses plot points form The Last Jedi #5.

The Last Jedi #5

Writer: Gary Whitta | Artist: Michael Walsh | Colorist: Mike Spicer | Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham | Cover Artist: Rahzzah | Assistant Editor: Tom Groneman | Editor: Mark Paniccia

The Marvel adaptation of The Last Jedi continues with The Last Jedi #5. Written by Gary Whitta, this issue includes Rey’s confrontation with Snoke and Kylo Ren, the Resistance escape to Craft, Holdo’s sacrifice, and the beginning stage of the First Order’s assault on the Rebel base. Overall, The Last Jedi #5 is a worthy adaptation of the scenes it covers, but it doesn’t offer readers any new material.

A Storyboard Style

The Last Jedi #5 almost seems like a storyboard treatment of the script for the movie. Indeed, many panels capture the same camera angles used in the film. The most notable example is Kylo’s betrayal of Snoke. After Kylo slices Snoke in half, the Skywalker lightsaber floats to Rey, and she raises her hand to catch it while lying at Kylo’s feet. The following scenes capture the essence of the opening moments of Kylo and Rey’s fight with Snoke’s Praetorian guard. The action begins with a distance shot as the two look at each other and silently come to an understanding. Then Rey and Kylo turn and face their attackers with each taking half of the enemy arrayed against them. Readers should recognized all of these shots.

This issue also did well portraying Holdo’s sacrifice. Her observation of the First Order blasting the Rebel transports as they flee to Crait gives way to her ramming the Raddus into the Supremacy. The impact of the two ships on the page successfully captures the artistic portrayal of that scene from the movie. The full page panel almost evokes the silence of the movie.

Action Packed

Of all the issues of the adaptation, The Last Jedi #5 has the most action. To be fair, it also adapts the most intense collection of scenes from the movie. In addition to the previously mentioned scenes, it also includes Rey’s struggle with Kylo for Luke’s lightsaber, Finn and Rose’s near execution, Phasma’s fight with Finn, and the opening shots of the fight between the Resistance and the First Order on Crait.

The Last Jedi #5 does a wonderful job matching the pace and intensity of these scenes from the movie. This lends to the “storyboard” feel of the issue. Plus, very little from the film is sacrificed. In fact the only shots that come to mind immediately are those of BB-8 opening fire on the First Order stormtroopers.

Coloring

The efforts of the colorists in comics are often overlooked. Mike Spencer’s work in The Last Jedi #5 should be noted . His work enhances the art significantly. For instance, take the fight between Kylo Ren and Rey against the Praetorian guard. As the flames destroy the red background covering the throne room viewports, the fight ensues. The red of the background and the Praetorian armor, the orange of the flames, and some of the intense yellows set off nicely against Kylo’s black robes and Rey’s earth tones and blue lightsaber. The overall effect is quite beautiful.

Once they defeat the guards, the backgrounds reveal the dark blue colors of space. A clear change of tone is indicated. Action is replaced by discussion. Cooperation gives way to growing conflict. The fight sequence and Kylo’s appeal to join him are both highlighted by a panel with a white background about three quarters down the page. Rey throws her lightsaber to Kylo during the fight. On the opposite page, at about the same distance down the page, Kylo extends his hand out to Rey. Each reaches out to the other, and it is a great compliment and contrast between the two pages.

Concluding Thoughts on The Last Jedi #5

The Last Jedi #5 continues a worthy adaptation of the film. If there is one criticism, it is that the Battle of Crait is largely covered in two pages. However, with a final issue still to come, that can be expanded upon. This reviewer hopes that the AT-M6 walkers of the First Order receive additional panels in the final issue. Speaking of the final issue, Kylo Ren’s duel with Luke Skywalker awaits. Issue six provides another opportunity for this adaptation to expand upon Luke’s perceptions as the previous issues did. That is something The Last Jedi #5 lacked, but Luke also didn’t appear in this issue. This enhances the opportunity for a dramatic entrance in the final issue.