Concluding the first new-canon comic tale set between episodes VI and VII of Star Wars! As the Empire Shatters around them, Rebel heroes fight for a better tomorrow!

With the conclusion of Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens – Shattered Empire #4, a four issue miniseries, it shouldn’t be a surprise that writer Greg Rucka has not only given us our first look at the Star Wars universe post Return of the Jedi, but also a female lead in Shara Bey that’s worthy of more adventurous tales. If anything, my biggest problem with the series and comic is that it’s too short!

In the first three issues I wasn’t quite sure whose story this series was, but with this final issue, it’s clear it’s Shara Bey’s as she must decide what she wants her future to be, as the Rebel Alliance is figuring out what a future without Imperial rule looks like. Does she choose to continue fighting? Does she settle down with her husband and her kid Poe (that’d be Poe Dameron who will be in The Force Awakens for those keeping score)? Should she feel guilty about walking away? The story at its essence is about the duty of a solider versus the duty of a parent. We get a well rounded character who is more than action and more than her family.

With a pretty deep story, it also has all the fun hits of Star Wars. It’s not realistic that the Empire quickly crumbles, there’d be pockets of resistance. There’d be a contingency plan. Rucka gives us a realistic take in that all, but in the four issues it’s quick hits and every event could be an entire arc unto themselves.

We also get a possible hint as to Luke’s role in future movies as he finally shows up in this fourth issue for an interesting mission.

All of it together makes me want more, and gets more more excited for the next film.

Marco Checchetto provides the art which beautifully captures the Star Wars world, as well as some things we haven’t necessarily seen before. It all fits seamlessly into the visual story we’ve already seen.

Four issues!? I want more! And I especially want more Rucka/Checchetto Star Wars. I’ve been pretty reserved as far as my excitement for what’s to come, but with this first glimpse of a post Jedi world, I’m getting more excited, and much less nervous. It’s been almost 30 years since Jedi wrapped, but reading this series, it’s like no time has been missed. I finished reading this fourth issue only wanting to read more.

Story: Greg Rucka Art: Marco Checchetto
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy