‘Star Wars: Rebel Heist’ Review

“Star Wars: Rebel Heist” trade paperback. Matt Kindt and Marco Castiello. Dark Horse Comics, 2014 (9 out of 10)

 

With all the hullabaloo (first time ever using that word in my life) about Star Wars publishing, the canonization of new material and the Legendization of old, I’ve been pretty much on the fence. I’m fine with the Zahn novels not being canon, and Mara Jade’s disappearance into the Force, and with Chewbacca not having a small moon dropped on him. I still have the stories I read and loved. With the shift in comic publishing from Dark Horse to Marvel, I felt a near-compulsion to pick up the last stories and arcs that Dark Horse put out, to finish out my time with them. 

 

Rebel Heist Cover

 

In some ways, it feels like Dark Horse went out on a high note; 2014’s “Star Wars: Rebel Heist” is a story that’s like a love letter to the original trilogy, and the heroes at the heart of it. It’s from author Matt Kindt, best known for “MIND MGMT,” with art by Marco Castiello. The story is told from the perspective of Rebellion recruits and agents, who each have meetings with Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Luke Skywalker. They’ve heard the legendary status of these heroes, but are underwhelmed when they meet them. I mean, these guys took on Darth Vader and won. They destroyed the Death Star. They put up with C-3PO. But when you meet them? They’re ordinary people.

 

Twilek spy meeting Princess Leia

 

The “Heist” part comes in with the Rebel Alliance’s need to acquire something that will be needed in upcoming battles, a worthy MacGuffin for the story. There’s some slick espionage at play, some good “Star Wars”-worthy action, and enough suspense to make this a page-turner. With all that said, the real story is in the interactions between the new characters and the trio of heroes at the center of the original trilogy. Their perception of these giants is pierced, then crushed, then rebuilt in new ways, and in so doing, ours is as well. 

 

The art is good, with better likenesses than many of the comics out there, with better settings, starships, and aliens as well. It won’t be anything that will change your life, but it’s good enough that it tells the story instead of interfering with it. 

 

Han Solo saving a new rebel

 

With the transfer of the comic publishing from Dark Horse to Marvel Comics, some fans have felt a sense of loss. Those stories aren’t canon, and that well-established EU has disappeared. This story, contained within a few days between “A New Hope” and “The Empire Strikes Back,” is one that never needed to be canon to be a great story. If you’re looking for a new perspective on Luke, Leia, and Han, seeing them through different eyes is a fun way to do it.