The Mandalorian #3 - Comic Review

Chapter 3 of The Mandalorian, both the live action series and the comic book adaptation, are titled The Sin. Deborah Chow made her Star Wars directorial debut when this episode aired in December 2019, and it remains one of the series’ most well reviewed episodes. Chapter 3 includes foundational narrative elements like Mando’s relationship with the Child and the lore of his Mandalorian sect that are continuing to drive this character’s story even as Season 3 approaches. The Child, or Baby Yoda as so many of us lovingly refer to him, might have elicited squeals of delight due to his cuteness after chapters 1 and 2, but Chapter 3 starts to unveil his quirks that make viewers and readers love him even more. Like Star Wars stories have been telling audiences for decades, it’s less about our circumstances and more about our choices, and the Mandalorian makes choices in this chapter that will shape him forever.

Writer Rodney Barnes and his creative compatriots—penciler Georges Jeanty, inker Karl Story, colorist Rachelle Rosenberg, and letterer Joe Caramagna—handle all of the story and action elements of The Mandalorian #3 both delicately and beautifully. I’d even argue that the philosophical beats that underline Chapter 3 are even more evident in this form. As a comic book, readers are able to soak in pages at their leisure, versus the pace established by a director of a TV series. Barnes continues to utilize this form to his advantage; the sins taking place in Chapter 3 (the imperially forged beskar, Mando breaking guild protocols to rescue the Child) are even more pronounced, and make a different kind of impact on readers when told as a comic book. All of this would be moot if it weren’t for the way this series is presented visually. Jeanty, Story and Rosenberg continue to take well known visuals and present them in a fresh and exciting way. Plus, their splash page showing numerous Mandalorians coming to Mando’s aid is a stunner and a series highlight thus far.

The Mandalorian #3 has numerous covers for collectors to salivate over. David Baldeón and Israel Silva’s main cover gives off Manga vibes as it presents Mando in mid-fight using his new whistling birds. Ryan Stegman similarly drew inspiration from the action of this issue with his variant cover, while Georges Jeanty chose a tender moment on board the Razor Crest between Mando and the Child for his.

It would be a sin not to pick up The Mandalorian #3, grab a copy from your local comic book retailer today!