Strong foundations
It should be noted right away that Operation Starlight is a very solid title, firmly embedded in the Star Wars universe . Feel that screenwriter Charles Soule is great at the subject and that his stories well fill the gaps in the original film trilogy. We get a direct continuation of the previous volume of the series. Commander Ellian Zahna receives a task from Darth Vader to track down and get rid of the rebel survivors after the battle for Hoth known to us from the Empire . By the way, she plans her personal revenge on Princess Leia. Luke Skywalker, Wedge Antilles and Shara Bey embark on one of the greatest space battles in the entire Star Wars franchise, and the Rebel Commander forms the eponymous elite pilot unit, Starlight. There are quite a lot of events for a not-too-extensive volume, but the creators managed to neatly keep the pace of the action. There was also a balance between showing us heroes we already know well and creating a completely new axis of the series. I would like to point out right away, however, that the drawings are a pain in this comic book. Unfortunately, sometimes the only thing that determines the identity of a given character is their outfit, as their facial features do not resemble her at all …
Imperial Officer vs. Jedi
The album consists of two separate stories. The first is fully dedicated to the imperial commander, Ellian Zahra. She has a personal relationship with Princess Leia Organa. We get a great story full of references to the original movie trilogy. We will meet Great Moff Tarkin here, experience the destruction of the first Death Star, so we can feel that the story we are reading is actually related to the prototype. The moments when we view the galactic conflict from the perspective of the Empire will also be a real treat for fans. Commander Zahra herself is also a fascinating character who fits perfectly into the universe. The well-defined development of the officer under Tarkin’s watchful eye laid a good foundation for the villain that this comic series needs. What’s more, in one of the last scenes she can successfully fight Luke Skywalker himself! I can’t wait to see which way her story will move.
The dark side of the Rebellion
The second story in the volume, from which the title of the entire publication is derived, tells about the Rebels’ search for a new way to encrypt messages. One of the main roles here is played by the well-known protocol droid C-3PO. Lobot, a cyborg who is also a friend of Lando Calrissian, is also important here. The famous smuggler is quite important for the plot, because he has to show his ability to sacrifice and show his loyalty to the Resistance. Here we also have the opportunity to see with our own eyes the darker side of the Rebel Alliance, for which the life of the individual is not important. Interesting points in this story are the episodes on Coruscant, which has now become the capital of the Galactic Empire, and a brief performance by the parents of Poe Dameron’s latest films. However, it will be a bit hard for fans of the saga to swallow Lea Organa’s behavior, who without blinking an eye sacrifices Lobot for the sake of a higher cause. This is not such a ruthless princess we know from movies.
Fighting in Outer Space
The comic book culminates in a space battle, in which the title Starlight squadron plays a key role. The spectacular and monumental clash, however, does not make much strategic sense for me, despite my long reflections. There is also an attack by spy probes, which was hard to expect. Nevertheless, the clash is very well illustrated and keeps the reader in suspense. The ending also promises a large twist in the next volumes. Now just wait!
Little like this Leia …
Despite the fact that the story itself is quite hackneyed, I really liked it. We meet a completely new villain – a fanatical imperial commander, hunting Princess Leia. We also read a bit about Tarkin’s past, see exciting duels, and watch one of the greatest space battles in the entire saga. The only thing I can fault is the little logic in the actions of the Rebel forces and the drawings.
