Star Wars #19 Review: Back in the Falcon

With the marriage-arrangement disaster that was Arrochar wrapped up in Star Wars #18, issue #19 is free to head down a new path, starting a story about an old friend of Princess Leia Organa who has become a deep cover operative for the Rebel Alliance. It’s still too early to tell whether the path will be worth it, but it seems like it will at least be a quick trip. The story begun in Star Wars #19 must be wrapping up in issue #20 because we get a “To Be Concluded” at the end of this issue.     Brian Wood makes a choice to focus on the core four characters of the Rebel Alliance in Star Wars #19: Leia, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Chewbacca. They set out on a trip in the Millennium Falcon to rescue Seren Song, the aforementioned old friend of Leia. She is currently trapped on the junkyard planet of Lothro Minor, trailed by a droid bounty hunter, when she sends a distress signal to Leia. Seren decides to leave Lothro Minor, causing the Falcon to come under fire of the droid and for the Rebels at the end of this issue to wonder where Seren has gone.   That’s essentially the entirety of Star Wars #19, which is relatively light on action. That might sound like a bad thing, but there is enough character exploration that makes this issue still feel worthwhile. Leia seems to harbor an enormous amount of guilt over the failed mission on Arrochar, which has strained her ties with Han. Luke, on the other hand, freed from the whiny jealousy he displayed on Arrochar, plays the role of sympathetic listener to Leia. She wants to find Seren, to some degree because of what Seren represents: a possible success, an ally who was not lost, and the promise of valuable intel on the Empire.     That this is a “talky” issue rather than an action one doesn’t exactly suit illustrator Carlos D’Anda’s strengths. His work is best when showing sleek ships and action, and the best visual moments in Star Wars #19 come in the initial sequence when Seren is being trailed by the droid (who is distinctively drawn by D’Anda). Where D’Anda isn’t quite as effective is in the “acting” done by characters’ faces when they are conversing. There are some effective moments, especially with the weariness shown by Leia, but there are other times where it feels like something is missing in the emotional moments of this issue.     It is an interesting decision to take four of the classic and beloved characters of Star Wars lore and throw them together on a mission while also introducing two new characters. Perhaps this adventure can get Wood to wring some more vitality out of Han, who has been rather dull in the most recent arcs of this series. It would also be good to see Luke start to develop the confidence that he shows in Episode V. What this issue reveals about Seren Song is not exceptionally fascinating but a deep cover operative in the Empire is a promising background, so she may start to deliver some interesting elements in Star Wars #20.