Star Wars: Han Solo – Imperial Cadet #1-#3 Review

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”16957″ img_size=”607×314″ alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]Even though it felt like the movie that no one asked for, I enjoyed Solo: A Star Wars Story quite a bit. One thing I did not care for was how they skipped over his years in the Empire and just went to how he deserted. With Imperial Cadet, Marvel aims to tell that story in a planned five issue miniseries. This will be covering issues 1-3.

Beginning with events even earlier than those in Solo, Imperial Cadet #1 sets the stage for Qi’ra and Han’s desire to get off Corellia and how they came to work for Lady Proxima. Then it recaps a few events from the beginning of the movie to catch up those who may not have seen it. Finally, we arrive at the Imperial Naval Academy in Carida and see Han’s desire to be a Tie Fighter pilot. Much to his dismay, he must undergo basic training first. Robbie Thompson attempts to write-in that arrogant humor Han is known so well for, but it mostly falls flat. If you’ve watched any Army movie with basic training in it, you’ve already seen this issue without knowing it. All the tropes and clichés are there, but as it’s setting up the series, we’ll let it slide for now. The issue ends with Han stealing a Tie Fighter and eventually crashing it.

The second issue opens with Han in the brig and being told the only reason he hasn’t been executed yet is because of the flashes of brilliance he showed in flying the Tie Fighter. He is given more opportunities as a pilot and returns to his troop to find he isn’t the best pilot there. On a mission to disable a shield, he notices one of the other cadets is in trouble and is going to crash and the future smuggler with a heart of gold must do what it is he does and acts. He saves the fellow cadet, but the mission doesn’t go quite to plan and the whole platoon gets thrown into the brig.

The final issue of this set begins to feel like the Han we all know as he and his fellow cadets are demoted for insubordination and they get a little R&R at a casino. As this detour wasn’t authorized by the Empire, the entire platoon is considered AWOL. After some scheming, they find a way back in and thought his commander views him as a failure on almost every level, she respects what he did for the rest of his platoon. With the bonding between Han and his fellow cadets seemingly concluded, it’s time to get to the real fighting in issues 4-5.

Han Solo – Imperial Cadet #1 was released on November 7, 2018 by Marvel Comics

Han Solo – Imperial Cadet #2 was released on December 12, 2018 by Marvel Comics

Han Solo – Imperial Cadet #3 was released on January 2, 2019 by Marvel Comics[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Mike Kerns

Mike is a Booktuber and the host of Mike’s Book Reviews.

A Constant Reader and Stephen King superfan, he declares himself a movie quotes expert and will fight you if you say anything negative about Frank Herbert’s Dune.

You can reach Mike via Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.