“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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

Rebel Heist brings the main heroes of Star Wars to the forefront through new eyes and this third issue raises the bar on the point-of-view character. Chewbacca is the focus of this issue, and the adventure with Chewie is told from his mission partner, a defected stormtrooper. Spoilers ahead for Rebel Heist #3 (DarkHorse.com profile)!

Each issue of Rebel Heist has brought us a fresh face to serve as the issue narrator, and we’ve seen Han get captured along with a rookie Rebel, Leia sacrifice her freedom so that a veteran agent can hustle an Imperial code to safety, and now we see that mission continue, with that Imperial code (in the form of a stormtrooper with embedded DNA) getting passed to Chewbacca to infiltrate a backwater Imperial stronghold to use the code. At first the trooper views Chewie as a ferocious animal or brute, but eventually recgonizes what drives the sentient Wookiee agent – not the lofty goals of the Rebellion, but loyalty and friendship. And there’s that smell. This all comes from a trooper who once fought Wookiees on Kashyyyk and now has to trust one with his life.

The pairing of Chewbacca with the former stormtrooper is a great way to bring fresh eyes to the iconic Wookiee hero. It is a key reminder of how impressions can change when former enemies are made allies and how dehumanization in wartime can be overwhelmed by close contact and trust. There’s plenty of action in this issue as Chewie has to rescue the trooper from some natives and then has to deal with the local crime boss to get intel to get them to their final goal – the sewers and control rooms of the Imperial base. The two page spread of Chewbacca making his entrance is pretty epic. Big props to writer Matt Kindt, penciller Marco Castiello, inker Dan Parsons, colorist by Gabe Eltaeb, and letterer Mike Heisler for the team effort on that spread. Some good aliens with the introduction of the Gamorrean crime gang, and a bit of humor as well. Both the Matt Kindt and Adam Hughes covers are solid as well.

This series just gets better and better. Can’t wait for the end. Maybe it shouldn’t end so soon? 

Rebel Heist is a new four-part Star Wars comic series, starting today. Told from the point of view of a new Rebel recruit, Rebel Heist #1 (DarkHorse.com profile) gives us a close-up view of Han Solo in action. Spoilers ahead!

Review: The issue starts us off with a chase that as the rookie rebel’s meetup with Han Solo goes south, and the two end up on the run, first on foot, then on speeder bike, then in space. Having been paired with Solo to gain some experience as a rebel recruit, the newbie shares his opinion of Han as he recounts the incident of their escape from the planet and their eventual capture to an interested audience. Using the point of view narrative style, we get some insight into Han’s reputation among the Rebels, as well as a bit of hero worship as Han’s “winging it” style leads them into some close scrapes. There is a bit of a twist at the end, and I won’t give it away, but it is used well.

Matt Kindt (of Mind MGMT) takes his first time writing Star Wars by pumping it full of action, and bringing in a new character gives us a vantage point on the ride — and it feels like we’re in the action, like on Star Tours, thanks to the art (pencils by Marco Castiello, inks by Dan Parsons, colors by Gabe Eltaeb, letters by Michael Heisler).  While the drawing of Han doesn’t quite hit Harrison Ford’s younger face, the action scenes catch his fluidity in motion. My favorite panels include Han and the rookie on the speeder bike, coming toward the viewer, and a shot of Han suddenly grabbing one of his stormtrooper captors. The opening page is good at setting the mood, and a little bit of humor is delivered in a couple of places.

Overall, the plot intrigues me as clearly this is all set-up for the heist. Why else would Han intentionally seek to get captured, though his new partner is oblivious to it.

Covers: Besides the Adam Hughes cover (below), there is also a Matt Kindt variant cover (pictured to the right) and an Adam Hughes ultravariant sketch cover.