The Star Wars series really feels like it's moving to a different phase here after the run from Jason Aaron. I enjoyed a lot of what Aaron did with it and I don't make comparisons between writers, but what Gillen is doing is bringing some of the more serious and "mature" side of things to the main book. I'm sure there'll be swashbuckling fun at times as we see with the Aphra series, but the opening salvo here is one that brings the Rogue One events into the mainline series and how it all blends together, being a new piece that Leia can talk about and has experience and understanding with now that she's lost Alderaan as well. With the team in place here and a lot of really interesting areas to mine, I'm excited for what's next and this issue affirms that excitement in a big way. Read Full Review

The comic kick starts a new creative team and dives into Star Wars lore in a way that has me excited to see what comes next. It stands to answer some questions and also layer on more history in a world that's rich with excitement. Read Full Review

An intriguing first chapter, with several highs and lows from the contributors. Another installment will change how I feel about this issue, but on it's own it's acceptable Star Wars fare. Read Full Review

Star Wars #38 is the first part of "The Ashes of Jedha" arc and a great starting point for new readers! Read Full Review

Anyway, I think this comic is exploring some interesting ideas and concepts, and I think there are a lot of questions worth answering about Jedha and Gerreras partisans, even if the Imperial side of the plot seems a bit lacking. And, certainly, for first time readers of the Star Wars comics, you couldnt ask for a better or more understandable introduction. Read Full Review

The arc is off to a good start, with nice pacing, good character work, and wonderful artwork. Just what we need to get us hyped for The Last Jedi. Read Full Review

The attempts to add relevance to Rogue One (as if it needs any more) are appreciated but there's nothing truly magnificent to look at so far in Gillen's first issue. On top of that, Salvador Larroca is officially the element that's keeping this book from true greatness. This would be a perfectly serviceable book with just a little less photorealism. Read Full Review

Though somewhat slow I'm on board for what Gillen and Larroca have in store for readers. The story weaves into Rogue One very well. Read Full Review

It's hard to imagine a writer better suited to take the reins of this series than Kieron Gillen. Gillen's experience on books like Darth Vader and Doctor Aphra serves him well as he picks up the story of the Luke, Han and Leia and ties their journey into the events of Rogue One. Unfortunately, while the series' narrative has a newfound momentum, it's visual problems are largely unchanged. It's continually frustrating that this series can no longer meet the high standard of art it achieved in its first year. Read Full Review

With a brand new story kicking off and seeing how Luke, Leia and Han deal with the aftermath of the events of Rogue One is going to be interesting. While Rogue One helped set up the events of A New Hope, it's nice to see some new stories from these original characters. Read Full Review

While not as a big a triumph as Darth Vader felt from the outset, Gillen nails the most important building block with his handling of the core trio of Han, Luke, and Leia, as they travel to Jedha (or what's left of it after the events of Rogue One) in their search for a new base, while the Empire are there in search of kyber crystals. Read Full Review

OK, now Rogue One just got a LOT more chilling, knowing the full extent of what Tarkin did to Jedha. Gillen's writing shines in this issue, with all the "celebrity" characters hitting the right beats and the newly-created characters being mostly well-rounded. The new Commander and his regal assistant came swinging out of the box to prove they're as much a threat as a Vader or Thrawn, though the "you have failed me" trope is kinda getting a bit worn from overuse.

Larroca's art is hit-or miss. His backgrounds are lush, and that shattered Jedha is properly terrifying and awe-inspiring. His faces, however, veer too much into the "uncanny valley" -- many of the faces look TOO photorealistic, almost rotoscoped (for lack of a better term), especially the faces of harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill. This effect also hits the Commander in the otherwise nice splash panel introducing him. The problem is the faces just don't gel with the rest of the artwork and it almost seems like Larroca drew the bodies then digitally manipulated photos and drew over them lightly to get the faces. It's not bad, per se, but it is jarring enough to draw me out of the story. more