Poe Dameron #1 Review!

Jondee here at D’Qar,

Oscar Isaac’s Poe Dameron had a hint of his true character as the best pilot in the Resistance in The Force Awakens. There is more him and Black Squadron in this comic book. The prequel novel, Before the Awakening by Greg Rucka, followed Poe as a pilot for the New Republic’s Rapier Squadron along with fellow pilot, Kare Kun. He sees the threat of the First Order and leaves the New Republic to join Leia Organa’s Resistance. The comic book written by Charles Soule, set 30 years after the Battle of Endor, starts with an action scene. Poe is flying his X-Wing through narrow canyons and exploding proximity mines to reach a closing metal door. It flashes back to D’Qar with Leia explaining to Poe that he has to find Lor San Tekka (Max von Sydow’s character) before the First Order gets to her brother Luke. She has him assemble for the first time Black Squadron. This includes Kare, and Snap Wexley (Greg Grunberg played him in TFA), who was introduced as a younger Temmin Wexley in Chuck Wendig’s Aftermath. The other veteran pilot is L’ulo, a Duros who was first appeared in the comic book, Shattered Empire #1 by Greg Rucka and Marco Checchetto. He flew with Poe’s mother, Shara Bey, in the Battle of Endor. There is also Jess Pava (played by Jessica Henwick in TFA), who we first see in The Weapon of a Jedi by Jason Fry in the prelude where she runs into C-3PO to ask about Luke Skywalker. Finally, there is Oddy Muva, a technician who is an Abednedo, the same species with long snout as fellow pilot, Ello Asty.

Oddy has prepped the ships, but feels left behind when Poe says that he will have his chance to fly. L’ulo says his history fighting for the Resistance should grant him the clearance to understand the mission. Kare notes that Snap fought in the Battle of Jakku and he adds that he was 16. This picks up to where Poe barely makes it through the door. It is a circular, underground city with a strange, glowing egg hanging by cables. Poe contacts Snap, but his com link is blasted by a group with blue circles on their foreheads. Black Leader has BB-8 project the hologram of Lor San Tekka whom the others call the Explorer, he had stayed two seasons studying with them. The leader of the group called the Creche is protecting the egg for something she calls, the “Savior Unborn.” BB-8 has found a tracker placed on Poe’s X-Wing and he tries to show the Creche, but they mistake it for a detonator. A brief stand off leads to Poe contacting Black Squadron to warn them about the First Order. He is told that the First Order is already there! This is a good weaving of all of the characters set up in earlier works. Brilliant art by Phil Noto that captures the likeness of the actors without trapping them in photo capture poses. Five Lightsabers out of Five!