Star Wars: Rebellion #16

September 6, 2008

Star Wars: Rebellion #16 (Dark Horse Comics/Lucas Books)
By Rob Williams, Dustin Weaver & Dan Scott

The third leg of the all-Star Wars “Vector” crossover concludes this issue. Ancient Jdei Knight Celeste Morne, trapped in suspended animation for thousands of years after being posessed by a Sith artifact, has been stranded on an isolated moon for the 20 years since Darth Vader woke her up. Now she faces a group of rebels, including a young Luke Skywalker, who has never met another Jedi besides the late Obi-Wan Kenobi. Celeste, driven mad by her isolation, attacks Luke, while the spirit of the Sith Karness Muur sees in Luke a potential new host… and if not him, his companion Princess Leia. Although the first section of “Vector” was kind of dull, the middle section in Dark Times and now this title have been much better. Celeste works well as a sympathetic character, even as she’s become a genuine threat to young Luke. Luke, meanwhile, is torn between fighting for his life and hoping to learn more of the Jedi from this mysterious woman. I’m anxious to see how the story will lead into the last four chapters in Star Wars: Legacy. Dustin Weaver‘s art is good, evoking the actors but still telling the story well, and Dan Scott gives us a nice cover. “Vector” started slowly, but it’s gotten better as the year progresses.
Rating: 3.5/5

S.H.I.E.L.D. #3

August 27, 2010

Title: The Theory of Eternal Life

Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Art: Dustin Weaver
Colorist: Christina Strain with Justin Ponsor
Letterer: Todd Klein
Cover: Gerald Parel & Dustin Weaver
Editor: Nick Lowe
Publisher: Marvel Comics

This issue delves deeper into the mystery of the High Council of Shield, the hidden society that seems to have been steering the major events in the Marvel Universe for thousands of years. This issue we see Isaac Newton’s machinations, a surprise visit from one the biggest names in the Marvel U, a kind of squicky dalliance with the Deviants, and a declaration of villainy.

This title is simply insane. It’s flying all over the place, throwing all kinds of chunks of Marvel continuity, real history and conspiracy theory history into a pot and mixing them into something that’s totally ludicrous, but undeniably engrossing. Jonathan Hickman is bringing more and wilder ideas to the table than anybody else writing mainstream comics right now, and between this title and Fantastic Four, he’s easily poised to become one of Marvel’s most consistently awesome writers. I haven’t got the slightest idea where he’s planning to take this comic book, but I really don’t care. He’s got me along for the ride, no questions asked.

Also in the “awesome” category is Dustin Weaver’s art. While is isn’t strictly your standard superhero fare, it’s not so far off the grid as to look like it won’t fit in the Marvel Universe either. It has a sort of weird steampunk vibe to it, which is perfect for a book like this one, which seems poised to put Leonardo DaVinci and Isaac Newton against each other while Galactus bops around in the background.

As crazy as this comic book is, I can’t help but love it. Hickman is a mad genius.

Rating: 8/10