Han Solo & Chewbacca #4 - Comic Review

Han Solo & Chewbacca so far has focused mainly on the human side of the duo. My concerns of this title being off balance were allayed this week as Chewbacca comes roaring onto center stage. Issue 3 left off with Black Krrsantan charging in to bust up the heist which he pretty much succeeds in doing. Han’s maybe daddy Ovan is stunned and out cold, and after a blaster fight with Chewbacca, Krrsantan escapes with Solo.

The Millennium Falcon follows Solo to the planetoid Mollo Tanka, the vacation spot of choice for Augustus Graves, whose building Solo’s crew had just stolen the urn from on Antillion. Ovan’s dealing with a mysterious health issue (which feels ominously foreshadowing) so Chewie goes it alone to get his best friend back. With bodies in his wake, Chewbacca charges to Han’s rescue and thus commences an epic, no holds barred, Wookiee battle between Krrsantan and Chewie. The pals are reunited and manage to escape only to find that the Falcon is nowhere to be seen.

The creative team seem to be having a literal blast with Han Solo & Chewbacca #4 with shootouts, explosions and Wookiee fist fights. Almost half of the dialogue is completely in untranslated Shyriiwook and as silly as that is, it actually forces the reader to rely on the imagery more to determine what’s going on. The fact that this all works in such a fun way while keeping the plot lines moving says a lot about the talents of writer Marc Guggenheim, artist David Messina, colorist Alex Sinclair, and letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna. Messina in particular deserves tons of praise for his depiction of the Chewie and Krrsantan fight, it’s as in-your-face and awesome as you’d imagine (and will make anyone’s inner 12-year-old happy). Plus, a cover by Phil Noto featuring Krrsantan in all his gruesome glory makes issue 4 a must-have.

With lingering mysteries, a twist-filled plot and action sequences aplenty, Han Solo & Chewbacca is shaping up to be one of the flat out funnest Star Wars titles of the year. Issue 4 is on sale now, be sure to grab a copy!