The Good
The best part of this issue is easily Gabe Eltaeb's colors. The vivid display simply brings the awesome science fiction universe to life, and that's an incredible feat. Star Wars has such an engrossing setting and the great visuals throw you right into it. The bright and fitting coloring makes the more exciting scenes feel fluid and makes me feel as if it's actually taking place in a new Star Wars film. Han and Chewie engaging in a firefight with Stormtroopers just feels cinematic and energetic as the blasts hit the ground and the walls around them. I swear you can hear the clunky armor and groan of a Stormtrooper as he's tagged in the helmet and collapses.
What's particularly special about this book is it feels like Star Wars. A kind of ridiculous statement, I know, but Brian Wood manages to duplicate the tone and vibe of the classic films, and that's commendable. Even when we're dealing with light technobabble about the latest model of starfighters, it's still fun because it feels like you're smack dab right in the middle of a new Star Wars film... but you know, not a prequel. No one wants to be there again.
The Bad
Overall I do enjoy Carlos D'Anda's art, but there's a shot here and there where ships and other structures feel slightly organic, almost as if they're creatures with incredibly rough or scaly skin. And while I did love the coloring, there's a moment or two where the use of glares is distracting and felt unnecessary (on Chewbacca's bowcaster, for example).
While the cover implies a focus on Han's adventure, their segment seems like it's only there to provide some mandatory action. Once again the spy is a step ahead of them and this puts them in danger. Except in this case, you don't feel the tension or sense of danger since we know they're going to make it out of this alive. If the enemy perhaps wanted to capture them I could wonder how it'll unfold. Will they be taken into custody and what will happen then? But since the Empire is trying to kill them, it's clear what the outcome will be and there's no real concern for their well-being.
The Verdict
While I wish we could see more of Darth Vader and Han in this issue, Brian Wood still manages to do a solid job juggling all of the cast and focusing on the key part of his tale (the search for the spy, of course). At the end of the day, this is something any and all Star Wars fans should check out. It looks great and plays out like a traditional Star Wars film. The flashback splash page is sure to hit you with a heavy dose of nostalgia and make you want to watch Episode 4 again, too. While this is the third chapter, it can still serve as a jumping on point for new readers as well. There's a thorough recap page as well, so don't miss out on it!