Star Wars (2020) #20 - Comic Review

While on his personal quest to become a Jedi, Luke Skywalker has come across a relic of the Jedi Order in a holocron. Star Wars (2020) #20 finds Luke attempting to learn from the Jedi recorded within, though he’s frustrated to learn that the teachings come from Master Yoda who had already learned all he could from, or so he thought. While listening to the same lessons he had already learned, Yoda mentions the Living Sea of Gazian. Luke then travels to Gazian, lands his X-Wing, and is immediately swallowed up by a sea of spores that litter the planet. Within them he meets an old and wise Jedi Master of the High Republic known as Elzar Mann. Just how Mann is here and able to talk to Luke is just one of the many mysterious and philosophical aspects of this living planet to be discovered!

I’m going to be honest, Star Wars (2020) #20 doesn’t deliver much in the way of plot moving story. However, if you are a fan of the weirder aspects of the Force, the High Republic, the philosophical discussion of what the Jedi and the Force are, or all of the above then this is the issue for you! Writer Charles Soule absolutely breaks down the meaning of what it is to be a being able to commune with the Force. He also helps Luke on his quest of self discovery by letting Elzar Mann explain the thought process of the Jedi during the High Republic era about what it means to be a Jedi, something that I think Luke really needs after being taught by Jedi of the now failed order. It’s a beautiful and thought provoking piece of Star Wars that might be one of my favorite stories out there right now.

The visual artistic team for Star Wars (2020) #20 does a fantastic job exploring the weird and fascinating nature of this issue. Taking place mostly in a vision-like state, artist Marco Castiello, colorist Rachelle Rosenberg, and letterer VC’s Clayton Cowles do a fantastic job keeping up with the constantly changing, occasionally trippy story beats to really explore the vibes that are going on within the story. Rosenberg’s colors are the real standout here, especially anything involving what is shown of Gazian.

The main cover art for Star Wars (2020) #20 is done by artists Carlo Pagulayan, Jason Paz and Rain Beredo and depicts a wonderful rendition of Luke Skywalker, looking almost straight out of the Original Trilogy, viewing Yoda through a Holocron on a desert planet. The first of three variant covers is another stellar Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary cover from Chris Sprouse, Karl Story, and Neeraj Menon, this time of Qi’ra and Beckett from Solo: A Star Wars Story. John Tyler Christopher is also back with another action figure variant with the Ewok known as Warok. And last, but not least, is the duo of Marc Laming and Neeraj Menon showing Luke Skywalker trying to fight off the Living Sea of Gazian!

Star Wars (2020) #20 may not push the plot very far, but it is a fascinating and wonderful piece of philosophy based around the Jedi, the Force, and one’s own personal journey. Fans of those kinds of tales, or just fans who like the weird ways the Force can work in the galaxy, should absolutely get this issue immediately! So fire up your X-Wing and whoosh on down to your local comic shop to pick up an issue today!