Star Wars, Vol. 9: Hope Dies (comic) -Paul's REVIEW

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Title: Star Wars, Vol. 9: Hope Dies
Writer: Kieron Gillen & Cullen Bunn
Artists: Salvador Larocca & GURU-eFX
Release Date: December 24, 2018


Synopsis: A New Hope led here! A secret rebel base. A secret rebel fleet. A chance of victory…but now, Darth Vader has found it. There is no escape. The Empire first strikes back here and now! Can the Millennium Falcon stand alone against the entire Imperial Fleet? Not to mention a TIE Advanced Starfighter with a certain Sith Lord as its pilot?! As the rebels' plans crumble, Princess Leia must discover the cause of this disaster — before it's too late! Her mission leads her aboard Darth Vader's personal Dreadnought…but he always seems to know when his enemies are near. If the Rebellion is to live on, sacrifice is needed…but if hope dies, what survives? Plus: Luke Skywalker and smuggler Sana Starros attend a high-stakes podracing event…but why? Place your bets!

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Review: The volume before this one really disappointed me. I considered not continuing this series and honestly I'm still considering that. But, I just read volumes 9 and 10 and I enjoyed them more than Volume 8.

This volume feels like the third act in almost any Star Wars movie. It's a big ole space battle. The Rebellion has gathered its forces to showcase them before dispersing until the time is right, but things don't go as planned. Shu-Toren and its leader Trios have become a large part of this ongoing series. Sana Starros, another fave original character from the comics, also is back in this volume! There's even an Annual story at the end featuring her...and Luke...and a Sith lightsaber...and POD RACING! 

There are some fun references throughout this volume to other recent Star Wars stories like Rogue One (there are a lot of connections). Rogue Squadron makes its debut!

Leia is at the front of Rebellion in this volume. I'm glad they're putting here at the forefront of the comics. 

There was a weird inconsistency in this volume involving the state of a certain droid's body and it's a big part of the next volume. A few panels show something that isn't consistent with the later story.

This volume was an improvement from the last. I give this book a 3.5/5. I still do not like the art style at all. The photo-realistic drawings are just not good. I enjoyed both the "Shu-Torun Lives" short comic and the Annual's artwork. They just feel more magical and Star Wars-y. There are fun things in the background and all the art within the panels goes together, unlike the art of the rest of the volume.  


--PAUL