One look at the cover to this week’s Star Wars: Ewoks #1 should tell you everything to expect: a true “Caravan of Carnage” as the pissed-off teddy bears unleash their vengeance on the Imperial scum that occupied their world. Of course I’m kidding, none of that actually happens but it’s still a pretty rad cover and “Caravan of Carnage”? That’s just brilliant. What this comic really does, however, is offer another glimpse of a post-ROTJ world (established in last week’s “Star Wars: Battle of Jakku”) while also providing a fresh jumping-on point and setting up a fun story to boot.

Set sometime after the original trilogy, Star Wars: Ewoks explores the lives of the adorable, occasionally blood-thirsty fur-balls that helped the Rebellion win the day. While the Ewoks and Rebels parted as friends, the brief Imperial occupation has divided the community; elders like Chief Chirpa preaches that they should be wary of any future visitors, while the optimistic young Wicket believes they should be welcomed with open arms. Wicket’s hopeful naïveté may be charming but it could be his undoing once his people discover the arrival of an ambitious Imperial officer and his hired mercenaries, whose mission is definitely not a peaceful one.

The Ewoks may be a divisive aspect of the Star Wars mythos, but whether you love ‘em or hate ‘em, there’s plenty to enjoy in this issue. Writer Steve Orlando delivers a story that feels much more grand than its premise, exploring Ewok culture and giving them a voice outside of just growls and “yub-nubs.” While this book successfully stands on its own, it works as a fine companion piece to last week’s “Star Wars: Battle of Jakku”, which kicked off the new era of Marvel’s Star Wars universe. Orlando packs a lot into this one issue without it feeling like too much, even managing to shed some insight into a certain couple’s post-ROTJ adventures.

The art team of Alvaro Lopez and Laura Braga bring their own signature styles to the page, adding personality and emotion to both the world and its characters – no easy feat when the Ewoks themselves aren’t terribly expressive. Antonio Fabela’s coloring fleshes everything out, creating a nice contrast between the dull, mostly monotone shades of an Imperial craft with the lush greens and browns of the Forest Moon. There’s a surprising amount of world-building considering we thought we knew all there was to know about the Forest Moon of Endor, and there are at least a few references that fans of the “Ewoks” cartoon and movies will appreciate. The inclusion of a couple fairly well-known bad guys borders on fan-service but when a story’s this fun, I say sign me up.