The Carrion Plateau!
Creative Staff:
Story: Charles Soule
Art: Ramon Rosanas
Colors: Rachelle Rosenberg
Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles
What They Say:
SHE WILL HAVE REVENGE! COMMANDER ELLIAN ZAHRA has been tasked by the terrifying DARTH VADER with the job of tracking down the remnants of the REBEL FLEET, scattered since the BATTLE OF HOTH. From the bridge of her flagship the TARKIN’S WILL, she hunts the galaxy, eradicating all resistance, her secret goal to destroy LEIA ORGANA. But why such hate for the PRINCESS OF ALDERAAN? The truth – will be REVEALED!
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
With the completion of the opening arc in the post-Empire Strikes Back incarnation of the series, Charles Soule now moves us into the next phase with Tarkin’s Will. Soule continues to be one of my favorite of the comic writers and I’m eager to see his High Republic novel next year. But he also delivers some great stuff here in connecting to the novels in general that really delights. This arc brings in Ramon Rosanas on the art duties and they’re definitely a great addition as we get a largely Imperial based storyline. Rosanas gets to play with Zahara a lot here but also digs into some great locations from the past to highlight her path, making it quite an enjoyable journey.
The premise sets us up for some fleet action as Leia’s fourth fleet is in contact with the seventh fleet and that was with the risk that the Empire would pick it up. That has happened as Zahara has gotten the information quickly but is frustrated that she’s closer to the seventh fleet and has to be responsible by going for the right target even if she wants to go after Leia. All that sets into motion is the flashback sequence that really does delight me. We know that she’s got the connection to Tarkin and that her Star Destroyer is call Tarkin’s Will, but it’s here that we go into her deeper past when Tarkin brought her to his homeworld of Eriadu to take part in the hunt on the Carrion Plateau. The story of the plateau figured heavily into the Tarkin origin novel and what he suffered and survived there and how it shaped and molded to him with what he fought. Bringin her and two others there to test them is definitely who Tarkin is and that Zahara is the only one to survive makes clear why he kept her close and gave her the hard work.
It’s not completely montage material but we do get a good look at some of the things she had done over the years operating for him while going up in rank and prestige. But for every rise there must be a fall and that happens when she doesn’t really understand his commands being literal, namely in bringing back the head of a being leading a new criminal syndicate based on the old Nihil one that caused trouble in the past. Though she takes out a large chunk of it and thinks she kills the leader, Bornium Ro, the truth is more complicated and her lack of full follow-through based on his orders leads her to having a huge fallout with him. Granted, it’s what kept her off the Death Star when Tarkin died but it paints the picture as to why she’s still living and serving in his shadow and holds Leia responsible for the destruction because of her connection with the stolen plans.
In Summary:
There’s a lot to like here in fleshing out Zahara as an Imperial and a character in general as it makes her a better opponent for the Rebels to go up against. It’s not that she’s humanized but rather that you understand the motivations more and can get more out of the encounters and her hopeful eventual loss and destruction. Soule keeps things moving really well for a flashback story and I do wonder of some of the details, such as who the Rebel is that she tortures in the past, and Rosanas is a solid addition to the rotation of artists that gives this book a really good look. As the start of a new storyline, it basically removes the main cast from it entirely and focuses on a single character that makes it all the more engaging because of it going forward.
Grade: B+
Age Rating: 9+
Released By: Marvel Comics via | ComiXology | Kindle
Release Date: October 7th, 2020
MSRP: $4.99
