Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Adaptation Issue 1 Thoughts
"I may not yet be able to sense the Jedi who came before. But I can feel that this place has known the Jedi before me. Of course, I already knew that. Leia told me that Master Luke trained her here, many years ago. She hasn't really told me any details about how it went. And she's never called herself a Jedi. Not that I've heard, anyway. Still, she's the master I have now." Rey Skywalker
The comic adaptation of TROS is off to a nice start. We got some extra scenes and lines that help make the film a lot more cohesive and complete.
I really love how we got the Palpatine message in both the comic and novelization...I still have no idea why they though to put the message in Fortnite of all places. I absolutely love how during the reforging of Kylo Ren's helmet, the artist used images from the Rise of Kylo Ren comic, another comic the artist worked on. It makes The Rise of Skywalker almost akin to a spiritual sequel to that comic and matches the thematic nature of the titles (The Rise of Kylo Ren and the Rise of Skywalker). I appreciate how the novelization and the comic make it clear that Kylo Ren still holds onto his let the past mantra, but based on the Legacy of Vader comic, it seems like he let it cool down to be more focused than wildly destructive.
"The Sith were supposed to be finished. A spectator left to rot in the past. I will finish what my grandfather started. Destroying Palpatine once and for all. I will rule this galaxy…but not by his hand. By my own." Ben Solo/Kylo Ren
I do like how this comic, just like the novelization, adds extra scenes and gives us a bit more insight into the characters' heads. It also helps to ground us and process the information rather than the fast pace of the movie. Even an extra sentence or two does a lot to help make the movie a lot better. I also love how they have a scene with Rose and Leia, considering Rose got unfairly shafted in the movie. The scene with Rey remembering how Finn came to rescue her on Starkiller Base while pondering how family is people who stand by you just makes the comic give the movie a bit more finality to the saga. It's also really nice to see an expansion of how Rey saw the Aki-Aki culture and how it differs from Jakku which again adds to the finality of this saga.
"Dark Science...Cloning. Secrets only the Sith knew. What good is amassing power if death can steal it away?" Beaumont Kin
"I've never seen anything like this. The desert feels like Jakku...no one there knew enough about where they come from to celebrate it. And even now, any victory we've won come with too high a price to--" Rey Skywalker
The parallel art between Rey and Leia is so good, and it furthers how Rey is progressing under Leia's mentorship. It's just like the classic George Lucas line, "It's like poetry...they rhyme." I also like how we get to see when Rey healed the Skywalker Lightsaber's Kyber Crystal.
I like how they heavily imply that Palpatine has been jumping decaying vessels Clones post-RotJ to TROS.
It's amazing to see Shadows of the Sith (one of my top Canon novels) visualization of Luke and Lando (he always maintains amazing drip). I also like how the comic shows that, unlike Luke, Lando interacted with the Aki-Aki rather than isolating himself. It's such a small detail but I love it so much.
Also I appreciate that we got a scene of the Knights of Ren capturing Chewbacca. Not only does the transition between Chewbacca being fine to be captured flow better but it gives the Knights of Ren something to do lol.
I would say when the comic is complete, reading this and the TROS novelization will make the movie a lot more satisfying and cohesive. I can't wait to see what other details they'll add in future issues of this comic.
"Maybe...this is what family really is. The people who don't let you go. The people who run toward danger with you." Rey Skywalker
