Star Wars: Doctor Aphra, Vol. 1: Fortune and Fate
by Alyssa Wong; ill. Marika Cresta (Marvel, 2021)
Serviceable archaeological adventure. Aphra seems a fairly overt attempt to create a female Han Solo (with some Indiana Jones thrown in). Her antihero shtick would count for more if everyone else weren’t also double-crossing each other. Nice blend of murk and colour.
Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
dir. George Lucas (2002)
A terribly paced film, the plot a shambling hodgepodge of obscure political machinations, forced-peril action scenes too cluttered to offer any real tension, and through Padmé and Anakin perhaps the least convincing romance in the history of cinema. Visually slick, but soulless.
Star Wars Vol. 3: War of the Bounty Hunters
by Charles Soule; ill. Ramon Rosanas (Marvel, 2021)
![Graphic novel cover: “Star Wars Vol. 3: War of the Bounty Hunters” by Charles Soule; ill. Ramon Rosanas (Marvel, 2021) [ISBN: 9781302920807]](https://www.derelictspacesheep.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Star-Wars_War-of-the-Bounty-Hunters.jpg)
Several interlocked stories set between Episodes V and VI but rendered somewhat disjointed through tying in with other volumes also titled ‘War of the Bounty Hunters’. Lots of involvement from the core protagonists (decent likenesses). Dark, busy artwork. Passable as a standalone.
The Madalorian, Season 1
(Disney+, 2019)
Cinematic-level production. The story is straightforward yet bolstered by the trademark Star Wars attention to background detail. The support cast is compelling and likewise the titular Mandalorian—remarkably so, as he remains masked throughout while protecting an alien baby who doesn’t speak!
Star Wars: Skywalker Strikes
by Jason Aaron; ill. John Cassaday (Marvel, 2015)
A direct continuation from A New Hope, featuring all the major players and the same blend of banter, spectacle, SF backdrop and genuinely exciting adventure. The illustrations are glossy with a tendency towards imperial grey and space black. Plenty of action scenes.
Return of the Jedi Annual
by Archie Goodwin (Marvel, 1983)
A 62-page graphic novelisation, drawn with moody backgrounds and an occasionally lurid palette. The story is a bit rushed once it reaches Endor, but for the most part this is an exciting, faithful retelling and a boon prior to home media release.
Star Wars Holiday Special
dir. Steve Binder (1978)
Christmas programming is traditionally stultifying but there remains a whole generation of youngsters who never recovered from this feature-length Star Wars variety-show-cum-amateur-theatre-production fever dream. Unfathomable in conception, execrable in execution; just all-round unendurable (save the 10-minute Captain Kremmen-style animation introducing Boba Fett).
Star Wars: Dark Disciple
by Christie Golden (Lucas Books, 2015); audiobook read by Marc Thompson (Penguin Random House Audio, 2015)
Golden’s epic, refreshingly linear and focussed dark-side narrative suffers from gargantuan plot holes, and is cheapened in the audiobook by an ever-present soundscape and stock effects that force drama down the listener’s throat (likewise Thompson’s ‘telling it to a 6-year-old’ reading style).
Star Wars: Leia – Princess of Alderaan
by Claudia Gray (Lucasfilm, 2017)
Gray does a remarkable job plotting a story for 16-year-old Leia that stands on its own merits, offers a credible backstory, contains plenty of surprises, yet still fits in perfectly with everything the character will become. An easy but quite captivating read.
Star Wars: Resistance Reborn
by Rebecca Roanhorse (Century, 2019)
A fairly dour effort serving to highlight the sorry plight of the Resistance and its once-celebrated heroes after The Last Jedi, yet offering little of the escapism upon which the Star Wars films are founded. Winshur Bratt is an ordeal too many.