The Nagai arc of the current Star Wars comic run is beginning to wrap up with the the Nagai rebellion in full swing on Kaltrais. This seventh issue is action-packed as Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and company arrive on Kaltrais to find the Nagai already in open revolt against the Fenril Consortium and the Zantarrk Gang.
The issue is well paced, with frenetic action from one page to the next and a tense confrontation with one of this story’s big villains. It also continues one of Star Wars‘ familiar lessons, telling us that no matter how many mistakes someone has made, if you continue to show them the light then they will come back to it. An important lesson, and one of Star Wars‘ best.
The action feels suitably dramatic, certainly compared to the climax of the Battle of Jakku miniseries (writer Alex Segura’s previous Star Wars comic run). This immediately feels more important than that as this story has the luxury of not having to ignore a bigger battle that’s happening at the same time. Right now, this feels like the most important thing happening in the galaxy and the story feels weightier for it.
Unfortunately, even with that important distinction, I don’t think it’s one of the more memorable Star Wars comic arcs we’ve ever had. That is okay, but I do struggle to care about the Nagai rebellion a little bit. Perhaps that’s because we spent so little time on Nagi and its people. I can’t think of anything interesting about them and it’s a struggle to care about them beyond hoping for their freedom.
The next issue promises to keep the action going as Reyna Oskure tries one more time to keep her hold on the Nagai and the Fenril Consortium. It seems this will all be wrapped up by then, so hopefully we’re treated to more high octane action.
Spoilers ahead…
ALEX SEGURA (W) • PHIL NOTO (A/C)
While it was nice to see Luke and Jesrit reunite, I did find it a little jarring just how delighted they were to see each other. Perhaps it’s no different than when Poe and Finn reunited at the end of The Force Awakens, but considering they only spent a few hours together in the second issue, to see them greeting each other like they were best friends felt unearned.
We take a brief pause from the action for a conversation between Mon Mothma and Leia. Mon is not happy that her colleague is keeping secrets and making decisions without her, and that’s really the most interesting thing about this conversation. I hope this particular point of tension continues in future issues, as I can imagine that Leia’s experience as a rebel might make her tempted to cut corners in a way that will cause friction against Mon’s desire to follow a more bureaucratic process. It could create some interesting drama down the line.
Our heroes make their way to Prime Minister Almovar and succeed in talking her down. Though Almovar dismisses Luke as a Jedi with “faded powers”, it seems to be his word as a Jedi that the New Republic are stilling willing to come to a peaceful resolution that is what convinces her to stand down. I’m not really sure why Rynn had to be there as she’s not a notable figure in the New Republic (neither is Agent Bastion but I suppose she did cut a path through the Zantarrk Gang), but overall this confrontation made for a nice break from all the chaos outside that room, but keeping the high stakes.
I appreciate that the Prime Minister didn’t try to fight and instead accepted the New Republic’s gracious offer to become allies after everything she’s done. Of course, we know it’s our other main villain who is refusing to back down. Almovar is quite naive when Reyna Oskure arrives after the fighting, believing that the Anzati will simply let her join the New Republic without any consequences. That probably fits her characterization as a spoilt politician.
Almovar didn’t fully understand who she’d made her bed with, and Oskure slashed her face apart as punishment for her betrayal. I should also mention the twist where Agent Bastion discovered that the Zantarrk Gang appear to be made up of Nagai. The reveal that the Nagai slaves’ opressors are members of their own species is a decent twist and complicates matters a little, but it does leave me with some big questions when presumably this is all going to be wrapped up pretty soon. Hopefully Segura is able to carve out enough time to explain why the Nagai would continue to work for the Zantarrk Gang even while the revolt is happening, and hopefully the answer is not simply that they’re too afraid of Reyna Oskure.
Next issue will head to Nagi, where the Nagai rebellion will end. I have to imagine this all ends with the Nagai finally free and Reyna Oskure defeated once more, but hopefully this story arc will end with some classic Star Wars space battles, chaos on the ground and maybe even a lightsaber fight. It would also be nice finally say goodbye to Reyna Oskure for good.
Rating: 7/10
Josh is a huge Star Wars fan, who has spent far too much time wondering if any Star Wars character could defeat Thanos with all the Infinity Stones.
