Star Wars Adventures (2019 Free Comic Book Day Edition)

This 2019 Free Comic Book Day offering features a scary story starring Han Solo and Chewbacca. Only it's not the real Han Solo. I don't care that this is a comic book. But the version of Han illustrated in this book is the Alden Ehrenreich Solo origin film version. The only (acceptable) version of Han Solo is Harrison Ford. Plain and simple. There is no substitute. 

Now one thing added to the appeal of this book is that this is a Tales From Vader's Castle story. Since 2018, Star Wars fans have been delighted by an annual all-ages horror themed anthology set in the Star Wars Universe. It's become a new Halloween tradition. However, there's no such thing as Halloween in Star Wars. That doesn't matter as it still makes for a fun October time read. 

Compared to other Vader's Castle stories, this one isn't really that scary. Probably because this was a Free Comic Book Day offering. Mistress Lina and her droid Crater, who are the story's narrators, make a return appearance from the 2018 debut of Tales From Vader's Castle. As they explore Vader's home, Lina recalls an early adventure from Han and Chewbacca's early days involving a heist as a droid museum. 

This story sets up the framework for prospective fans to pick up the trade paperback which collected the first series. There was a Han Solo ghost story in the first anthology. I double-checked. This story is not a reprint of that issue as writer Cavan Scott managed to have both versions of Solo (the true and the reboot impostor) in the same story. There's no Harrison Ford in this book.

Featuring art by Derek Charm, this issue has a certain charm to it; even if it doesn't feature MY Han Solo. Loved the closing panel! And the back cover by Francesco Francavilla, featuring the imposing visage of Lord Vader overlooking his Mustafar is just breathtaking. Oh, how I would love to have a print of it to hang in my office!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Star Wars Adventures: Tales of Vader's Castle #5

The last issue finally has an appearance from the Dark Lord of the Sith. 

I wasn't such a big fan of this issue as the loose ends got tied up just a little too neat and clean for my taste. I understand that this is an all-ages book. But even though the Star Wars films are rated PG but honestly, they're all-ages friendly. And yet characters die and stuff. 

Yes, characters die in this horror anthology mini-series. But those who survive and such- it was just too Disney of a result. 

Speaking of Disney, the more the House of Mouse controls the Star Wars universe, the more convinced I am that Darth Vader is secretly working for the Rebel Alliance. Such a great menacing character when done by Lucas. But now as a Disney character, he's making too many 'oh, shucks' mistakes. I'm willing to put down $20 that one day, under Disney's control, we're going to find out Anakin Skywalker never really turned to the Dark Side of the Force. Instead, he went as a double agent to bring Palpatine down once and for all.

A great series that creeped me out. If only the final issue was up to the other four issues' standards.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars. 

Star Wars Adventures: Tales From Vader's Castle #4

Cavan Scott does it again! I didn't think it was possible; but Scott manages to make a truly eerie Ewoks story. And it's not one that's all cute and aimed at youngsters. 

In this issue, woklings are being kidnapped from the main Ewok village. Is it their arch enemies, the villainous Duloks? You'll just have to read it to see!

Man, what a great, creepy ending! Yes, Cavan Scott does a great job staying out of schmaltzy territory. But the real star is guest artist, Robert Hack (Archie Horror)! His renderings was so classic and yet so spooky looking!

I'm gonna say it folks; I want an Ewoks miniseries by Robert Hack! Oh and Cavan Scott! Both of them! I think it will be amazing and it will make up for those horrid Ewoks films from Disney that aired on ABC.

OKAY- maybe nothing can make up for those travesties...

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Star Wars Adventures: Tales From Vader's Castle #3

I didn't think it was possible. But writer Cavan Scott found a way to bring together both the Alden Ehrenreich Han Solo with the Harrison Ford Han Solo without resorting to time travel or jumps in time as this issue progresses. 

We do have a jump in time as the rebels who crashed on Mustafar enter the Imperial compound, unawares that it's really Vader's Citadel. Their adventure has been what has framed all of these spooky stories from across the Star Wars universe. 

This series debuted over the month of October of last year. While I was on top of issues 1 and 2, for some reason or another I got distracted and forgot to catch up on the rest if this horror themed mini until now.

Derek Charm continues to amaze with his framing sequences. Corin Howell's (Bat-Mite) style was very clean and similar to Charm's. It was nearly seamless. 

Originally thinking this was a Ehrenreich tale and not a Ford tale originally put me off. But in reality, this is a Solo story! I'd really love to expound more on this but it would ruin the great plot twist. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Tales From Vader's Castle #1/ Halloween ComicFest 2018 Week 2 (Family Comic Friday)

Welcome to Family Comic Friday. Here we explore kid friendly titles that the whole family can enjoy. This week we look at IDW’s 5-issue miniseries Star Wars Adventures: Tales From Vader’s Castle. This weekly mini is a month-long countdown to Halloween with spooky tales from all realms of the Star Wars franchise.

Then we continue our month-long look at the Halloween Comicfest mini comics that will be given away for free on October 27th in a comic book store near you. This week we will preview a few pages from Rocky and Bullwinkle Adventures. But first…

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…

Star Wars Adventures: Tales From Vader’s Castle #2
Written by Cavan Scott
Art by Derek Charm with Kelley Jones
Published by IDW Publishing

When a Rebellion ship crash lands on the lava planet of Mustafar, the crew must decide whether to venture to the nearest Imperial outpost for help or burn alive inside the wreckage. As the ship’s crew debates their actions, survivors recount spooky tales from their travels across the war torn galaxy. In this week’s issue, a battle between Obi-Wan Kenobi, Count Dooku and what can only be described as a were-mynock.

I started on this series too late last week to cover it for that edition of Family Comic Friday. (For that issue’s review, click here.) But since Tales From Vader’s Castle is a 5-week long miniseries, I had a second chance to feature this horror-themed title. Several publishers are taking advantage of the fact that Halloween falls on a Wednesday this year. DC is doing a crossover with Wonder Woman and Justice League Dark. Marvel is doing another series of What If…

However, with both of those titles, the ratings are listed for teens and older readers. Tales From Vader’s Castle is all-ages fun. Last week was an old fashioned ghost story. This week it’s a monster mash. Next week promises to have Han and Chewie running afoul of a witch.

I love that Disney and Lucasfilm have found a way to tie in Halloween with Star Wars thanks to this clever miniseries. This isn’t the first time Star Wars delved into all-ages scares. In the late 90s, a number of chapter books were published under the series title ‘Galaxy of Fear.’ But the series was not published as a Halloween miniseries.

I also like how IDW is covering all of the realms of the Star Wars franchise. For example, next week’s issue features the Solo Story version of Chewbacca and Han Solo. All of the stories are written by Cavan Scott (Doctor Who and the Supremacy of the Cybermen) and framing artwork by regular Star Wars Adventures series artist Derek Charm. The featured stories are pencilled by some of the best horror-masters in the industry such as Robert Hack and Charles Paul Wilson, III.

This week’s featured artist is Kelley Scott. Scott has done a number of horror-themed works such as the Invisible Man miniseries Batman: Unseen and a scraped Len Wein opener published in the Swamp Thing Winter Special. Kelley Scott has a kind of style that is like looking in a funhouse mirror. The features are slightly distorted and it makes for creepier looking characters.

Using Count Dooku for a monster tale was brilliant. Count Dooku was portrayed by the late Christopher Lee. Many don’t realize that next to Bela Lugosi, Lee was considered the definitive actor to play Count Dracula. Kelley Jones does an amazing job rendering the late actor as Dooku in this tale that was surely inspired by Dracula and Wolfman films from the past century.

Some scenes in this issue may be too intense for young readers. But if your household is already watching Star Wars, Tales From Vader’s Castle is a great way to countdown to All Hallow’s Eve. I would have liked for this series to have been hosted by the Dark Lord himself, Darth Vader. This series is named after him after all. But otherwise, this has been a series fun of seasonally fun scares.

Issue #2 debuted in stores and digital platforms on Wednesday, October 10, 2018. Issue #3 drops on October 17th.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Rocky and Bullwinkle Adventures #1 (Halloween ComicFest 2018 mini comic)
Publisher: American Mythology
Rated: All Ages
Price: Free and comes in 25-issue mini packs for $4.99 each
Date: October 27, 2018
Code: JUL180055

Hey Rocky, watch me pull a rabbit outta my hat. Presto! This Halloween we are celebrating the return of Rocky & Bullwinkle to cartoons in the new Amazon Prime animated series. To help introduce new generations of fans and readers to everyone's favorite Wossamotta U graduate, we're giving you the Halloween treats with a fantastic mini comic featuring classic adventures of the whole R&B gang - Rocky, Boris, Natacha, Dudley Do-Right, Peabody & Sherman, and moose-about-town, Bullwinkle!

This review was concurrently posted on Outrightgeekery.com.

Star Wars Adventures: Tales from Vader's Castle #1

The long rumored and highly anticipated Star Wars horror anthology series is finally here! Star Wars Adventures: Tales from Vader's Castle offers all-ages frights from all corners of the Star Wars galaxy. This 5-week long miniseries stars some of your favorite characters including Luke Skywalker, Obi-WAN, and of course the Dark Lord himself, Darth Vader.

Issue #1 features the crew of The Ghost from Star Wars: Rebels. The story starts off with a Rebellion ship having crash landed on Mustafar. As the ship slowly melts in the magma of the molten planet, the crew debate whether to bake themselves to death or put the crew at the mercy of the Imperial forces awaiting outside.

It's here that we finally get to Kanan, Hera and Chopper's story. One of the marooned crew regurgitates a spooky encounter Chopper once experienced. During a rescue mission, the crew of The Ghost not only saves the damaged ship's pilot but manage to pick up an actual ghost as well!

This was an acceptable opening chapter. But I felt that the ending of the Kanan story wasn't finished. This isn't a spoiler, but I speculate that the events recounted in this issue is going to continue throughout the remaining 4 issues of this anthology series.

If that turns out to be the case, my rating of writer Cavan Scott might actually increase when issue #5 drops on Halloween day.

The art for this book was amazing. It's by Derek Charm, who draws Star Wars Adventures in an old school animated series style that I love. Francesco Francavilla (Archie Horror various) is doing a series of 5 special covers for this miniseries. I had to see all 5 covers in order to figure out the Easter Egg hidden in plain view. And I felt so much like a dummy when I finally saw it!

I realize that All Hallows Eve doesn't exist in the Star Wars universe. However I am excited that Disney and IDW Publishing finally figured out a way to incorporate Halloween into my favorite movie franchise. As with many miniseries, the premier issue is just a merely a teaser of what's to come. This opening round wasn't perfect but it was perfect enough to have me coming back for round two next week.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

This review was originally published on Friday, October 5th, 2018 on Outrightgeekery.com.