Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Star Wars Invasion: Rescues #4 of 6
Dark Horse Comics
Taylor, Wilson & Dzioba
This issue of Rescues splits the story into two distinct parts where one is decidedly more interesting than the other. While all four key characters, the Galfridian family, are interesting and have been built up over a number of issues we don't get that complete maximization here. Instead we get somewhat of a back story on one in particular that adds depth but when dealing with some of the characters in the present time period we get somewhat of empty dialogue and almost lifeless motions. I enjoyed some of this comic very much and I think in a collected edition the flaws won't be as noticeable but in this singular issue they stand out.
King Caled lay dying, betrayed by his aide, who was really a Vong, when Finn comes to his rescue with the Solo twins. Finn and his father share some moments together. Finn gets to hear the back story about his mother, Nina. The origin of Nina, and in some ways of Caled, is a very interesting one that is definitely an eye opener for this series.
Nina, in the present, is the strong and defiant force that is controlling the Vong ship. In the origin we get a glimpse as to how she arrived at this character point. Some of the nuggets we learn include that Nina is the step-mother of Finn and Kaye and that she was a former slave. She also had no problem committing murder even after she was freed by Caled. This added so much to the character and in a compelling manner.
This part of the comic book even benefited both Caled and Finn. Caled showed more of the qualities of what made him a strong leader in the past and the present. Finn also shows some growth in this issue as he begins to understand how to sort through his anger and how to deal with the pain that the Vong have inflicted on his family and this people.
The comic book felt very hollow in the scenes where the attack is taking place, led by Kaye, and the interaction between Kaye and Nina. I'm glad this plot thread was visited in this issue to keep the fire warm, but it seems like the issue may have been best served sticking with Finn and his father.
The artwork is tremendous. I generally enjoy when flashbacks are done in a different style which this issue does not do. What I liked about the depiction here was that the art was able to de-age the characters very well without changing their features (beard, hair length). I think the issue was complimented tremendously by the art in this issue.
Rescues continues to be a very good story arc. This issue has some very good elements and some odd ones, but overall this is a good read. I do wish there were more core characters in the issue, but as we've seen in the letters page this is a good about Finn and his family and not the Skywalkers. Nevertheless this is a solid comic book.
3 out of 5 Geek Goggles
