I’m mean with the way Disney just been riding the Mandalorian, baby Yoda merch, and how the last Star Wars completely flopped I’m scared for this franchise

I personally a series featuring him would beat the original Star Wars and most of the others.

I joined this wiki about three months ago, and we've gained almost 2,000 pages. How are we able to create pages this fast?

*Slams a huge stack of issues, exhales deeply, and writes down his final will*

So. Today marks the conclusion of *Star Wars (2020)/vol 3*, a run that lasted for nearly five years. Back when *Star Wars (2015)* ended, I made a mega review that compiled my thoughts on each arc. For the 2020 book, I have neither the memory nor the inclination, because I'm frankly less than fond of this run, and I don't expect this review to be met with much warmth. So I'll settle for general thoughts.

Back when it was announced that Marvel was going to delve into the post-ESB period, I was ecstatic. I was very interested in the post-Bespin era back then, and I even wrote a short story about Luke and Vader's inner struggles in that period. I still remember how hyped I was for Luke’s *Age of the Rebellion* issue, and I also didn't care for *Shadows of The Empire*. I was excited to say that least, so I can tell you that writing this review isn't easy for me. However, I will start by talking about things I did like about the run:

-Luke’s development: it seems that Luke is unanimously considered to be the best part of the run, and it's easy to see why. There's a very gradual shift to his character that I appreciate, and Soule largely manages to balance fallibility and heroism in the character. At the start of the run, Luke is deeply hurt, traumatized and vulnerable. He's confused about what he should do, about the truth, and about the way his teachers factor into the Vader mess. But even though he has moments where he despairs and questions, he still keeps pushing through on the Jedi path.

Moments like him defeating the undead Grand Inquisitor, or his first use of the mind trick to avoid conflict and unnecessary bloodshed were among my favorite Luke moments. But I also appreciated stuff like his conversation with Verla, the lessons he learns from the weird mushroom planet (not a Sonic The Hedgehog reference), and the way he comes to terms with the idea that his father isn't beyond saving. It's easy to follow Luke as he goes from a traumatized Padawan to a strong and wise-beyond-his-years young knight. I would've appreciated more struggles with the dark side, and I wouldn't have said no to seeing old Greenie for the first time, but I'm overall happy on the Luke front.

-Some of Leia's struggles: I liked that Leia too has moments of despair and vulnerability, largely because of what happened to Han, and yet she never truly breaks. In true Leia fashion, she keeps putting the rebellion first and remains the capable leader we know her to be. I liked that the penultimate story highlighted the arc of Leia learning to balance love and duty, while reminding her that she isn't one thing. Senator, General, Mother, Wife, Sister…..our Princess is all of those and more.

-Han’s brief appearances: although he isn't truly in the run, I appreciated the Han flashback stories told by Leia and Qi’ra. Soule does a good job with Han as a rogue with a heart of gold.

-Threepio casually flexing on the talky droid was pretty darn cool, and the idea of an extinct language as a basis for the rebellion codes was something I largely liked.

-Anakin and Obi-Wan's story in issue #25 was pretty sweet.

-I liked the way that High Republic Jedi spoke about how the Jedi Order isn't one thing or another, but rather fulfills whatever is needed at a given time.

-The kidnapped Mon Mothma’s conversation with the Merc who captured her was nice.

And now, to the stuff I did NOT like:

-Everything involving Lando: I legitimately found Lando’s storyline atrocious. For starters, he and Chewie go TALK TO JABBA in the first arc. I'm sorry, what? Jabba wants Chewie in chains at this point, and how would Lando infiltrate Jabba's guards if Jabba knows who he is? Then Lando betrays the rebellion, endangering both the people Han cares about AND himself and Lobot, when his primary motive at this point is saving Han. Then he gets put on trial, is nearly executed, gaslights the rebel leaders into letting him go free, and I'm supposed to believe he was made GENERAL a few months/weeks after nearly getting executed for high treason that he confessed to?? And we don't even get the Battle of Tanaab?

Lando needed a simple arc of learning to care for the cause as he climbs the ranks to be a true rebel, just like Han before him. Instead we got a convoluted storyline that doesn't make a lick of sense and doesn't even get him to where he is in *Return of the Jedi*.

-Some of Leia's characterization: Look, Leia is the most pargamtic of our heroes. I welcome that. I don't mind that. But she's not going to tolerate Lando being held at gunpoint while Lobot’s brain is fried. Mind you, she doesn't even apologize or reprimand Dameron for what he did later. And Leia sure as hell won't deliver a lecture about fighting for “justice not vengeance” while leaving an enemy to be EATEN ALIVE when the moral and logical thing to do would be to bring her into custody.

-Soule can't write military fiction to save his own life: Sorry, but no Commander worth their salt would take a highly damaged ship into combat nor would ANYONE be allowed to do that. Also, the rebellion took a heavy hit at Mako-Ta and later at Hoth, but Soule decides to then kill most of the rebellion off-screen, because he can't actually write battles, even though these guys are supposed to bring the Empire to its knees within a year of Endor? And that's without going into how dumb the battle was that fell Zhara's Star Destroyer, in addition to Lando’s entire trial.

-The pacing is bizzare and zigzag-y: Zhara gets built up as the main antagonist, is defeated halfway through the run, and then returns for two issues near the end. She was an edgy, uncharismatic villain who barely did anything. Honestly, Aaron and Gillen did much better when it comes to pacing and connective tissue between the arcs.

-The poor continuity with both *Moving Target* and *Return of the Jedi* itself. Luke isn't supposed to know about the Death Star II until the film.

-Kes Dameron is a c*nt and I won't pretend that he isn't one. I never cared about him or his wife.

I have many other nitpicks, like the terrible crossovers, the way the two milestone issues were handled, issues with the crystal arc, and the excessive connectivity to stuff that didn't make sense for this era, largely Soule's other works. But I'll settle for this. I guess all of this is to say that overall, this was a run that mostly ranged from mediocre to unreadable, with the occasion good issue or arc. I give *Star Wars (2015)* a solid 7.5-8 writing wise (Larroca-titis for the art doesn't count). This run is a 5/10 if I'm feeling generous.

I was never a fan of Charles Soule. I find his characterizations to be questionable, his dialogue to be basic most of the time, and that he tends to rely on false tension and big, bombastic ideas that ultimately don't work and have little to no substance. He doesn't understand that less is more sometimes, especially with an interquel like this one. The final issue pretty much embodies the worst qualities of this book, and is one of the most pointless stories I've ever read.

I was willing to give this run a chance, but sadly it fell short. I largely won't accept it as part of my headcanon, although much of Luke's stuff will make it through with some edits.

Voice of Chancellor Palpatine/Darth Sidious from Star Wars: The Clone Wars film and tv series.

Ian Abercrombie would have been turned 90 today on his birthday. 🥳🎉🎊🎂🎁🎈

🪦 R.I.P.

Ian Abercrombie

September 11, 1934 - January 26, 2012

💐

May The Force Be With Him.

James Earl Jones, the man who gave Darth Vader his voice, has sadly died aged 93. He is one with the Force now and shall never be forgotten. RIP Legend.