The planet Aquilae is under attack. The Evil Empire has decided to bypass diplomatic talks and to take the planet by force. To do so, the Emperor orders the Space Fortress commanded by the Sith Knight, Darth Vader, to attack the planet.
In the attack, the King is killed, leaving General Skywalker in command until Princess Leia, the new ruler of Aquilae, can be retrieved from the University, where she studies. However, there are Imperial sympathizers in the ranks of King's royal advisors and they've clandestinely arranged an illegal surrender of the planet. With the threat of arrest for treason, the general must stand down. But he's not going to go quietly.
The attack on Aquilae plays out like the climatic battle of Yavin in Episode IV. So the level of action and adventure in this issue rises in leaps and bounds, considering how boring the opening chapter was.
We're introduced to the prototypes of R2-D2 and C-3PO. (Their names are phonetically spelled out and henceforth will only be referred to as 'the droids'.) The droids turn out to be property of the Empire, housed aboard the Space Fortress. As Aquilae fighters begin their assault on the fortress, they will take that legendary escape pod and crash into the desert landscape below. Let me just say, it's really weird having the Galaxy's most beloved astromech droid speaking basic language instead of binary beeps and boops.
Let me talk about the art before I close. It's amazing. Mike Mayhew is the artist and he's got such an amazing touch of realism. I also think that he's trying to make some of the characters look like actors who potentially could have been cast back in 1977. Not the major characters, as they're based on the McQuarrie sketches. But I swear one of the Imperial officers who advise Darth Vader of the attack on Aquilae is Rene Auberjonois from Benson!
A much better second act. Things are starting to gel a bit more. Lots more action! Very little diplomacy and no, it's not because of the death of the leader of Aquilae and a large chunk of his trusted advisors.
Worth Consuming!
Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

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