Han Solo & Chewbacca #2 - Comic Review

Han Solo & Chewbacca is back with The Crystal Run Part 2, issue #2 of Marvel’s ongoing series. March’s premiere issue ended with the bombshell reunion of Han and his (alleged) father, Ovan. Never one to fall for a scam, Solo remains cautious of Ovan, though he does recruit him to join the job he, Greedo and Chewbacca are on for Jabba the Hutt. A job that’s turning out not to be as straightforward as they once thought. Meanwhile, Marshal Buck Vancto still has his sights set on Solo’s capture after his escapades on Galator III. After a threat-filled conversation with Bib Fortuna on Mos Espa, Jabba’s job will get done and so will Vancto’s.

Solo’s heist is fully underway, including the familiar tactic of dressing up as the security to gain access (never gets old). It’s an emotional job for Han as he can’t help but be drawn to his memories of his father, or lack of one, while growing up on Corellia (there’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it reference to Solo: A Star Wars Story here, a fun addition). Ovan seems to have all the right answers to explain his reentry into Solo’s life, even giving him a holo projector containing a memory of their time together. After some slick quick thinking, the crew gain entry to their target only to discover that their job is anything but over.

Writer Marc Guggenheim excellently balances action and heart in Han Solo & Chewbacca #2. Giving Han a foil in his alleged father makes this not just a straightforward caper—it also gives readers a glimpse into the heart of this smuggler, a heart that isn’t as cold as he wants others to believe. Additionally, the B plot of Solo being the target of Marshal Buck Vancto creates the perfect amount of tension for a fun comic book experience.

Once again artist David Messina has captured Harrison Ford as Han Solo to a tee, with a few panels in particular capturing his classic facial reactions to perfection. Never before have I thought of a comic book artist as a performance artist, but I can’t think of any other way to describe Messina’s work of Ford as Solo—it’s a thrilling experience for those of us nostalgically familiar with this character. The entire artistic team, including colorist Alex Sinclair and letterer Joe Caramagna, all work to tell this story in a visually impacting way while never being a distraction. Phil Noto similarly captures Solo’s essence in a confrontation with Greedo on this issue’s cover.

Han Solo & Chewbacca #2, with its emotional twist on a Star Wars caper, is out on comic book shelves today, so race like a smuggler to grab your copy today!