Star Wars Forces of Destiny: Leia
Writers: Elsa Charretier & Pierrick Colinet
Artist: Elsa Charretier
Colorist: Sarah Stern
Letterer: Tom B. Long
Publisher: IDW
Review by Frank Lanza
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, Dark Horse comics used to publish Star Wars comics.Then the behemoth that is Disney bought the Star Wars license and Marvel gained the rights to produce these funny books once again. But here I am holding a Star Wars book published by IDW, and my entire world is in upheaval once again. But, I’m not even going to question it, I’m just going to take this little gem of a book and run with it.
Star Wars Forces of Destiny is a new brand that is aimed at a younger audience, mainly kids like my nine-year-old daughter. These books are based on the YouTube animated series of the same name and features all of the great heroines of the Star Wars universe. Star Wars Forces of Destiny: Leia kicks off a five-week run of comics from IDW, with each week featuring a different character and theme.
Now, normally this book would not be something I’d slot for my monthly pull list. But I just took the family to see The Last Jedi, and my daughter once again has Leia and Rey fever, so this was the perfect opportunity for me to fuel her current obsession.
Star Wars Forces of Destiny: Leia takes place in the classic trilogy timeline and tells a story that most likely occurs just before The Empire Strikes Back. Leia, Han, and a surprise appearance by Hera are all on patrol on the icy planet of Hoth, searching for a lost starship that could be carrying valuable parts to bolster the rebel base defenses. The entire story serves as a sometimes not-so-subtle lesson in perseverance, self-confidence and the power of friendship. While the themes were obvious to my adult sensibilities, I didn’t feel the story pandered to its audience no matter the age, and I think if my daughter were to read this book she’d understand the lessons with no problem.
The art is presented in the animated style of the cartoon series, and Charretier’s work shows a very strong Bruce Timm influence, which is a very good thing in case you were wondering. Her layouts are creative and move the reader from panel to panel effortlessly. While her work is not especially high in detail, it stays true to the source material, so it doesn’t really need to be. Stern’s colors are perfect for this animated style, with bold hues and high contrasts on every page. Pro tip: buy the Chrissie Zullo cover, it’s totally adorable.
The writing team of Charretier and Coline surprised me a bit on this one. Admittedly, this is my first exposure to the Forces of Destiny universe and I’m not certain of the exact age group that makes up the intended audience, but the story read as if it were written for a slightly older demographic. At times the story used some vocabulary that I’m not entirely sure my nine year old would know. This is fine, of course, as it’s ok for kids to be challenged by their comics. I remember reading Claremont’s Uncanny X-Men at that age, and I had to have my dictionary at hand to keep up. The story takes a few turns and does end up in a slightly predictable place, but I think it communicates its message of determination and perseverance quite nicely.
Verdict:
Buy it! I’m not giving this verdict for someone like myself. I’m recommending you buy Star Wars Forces of Destiny: Leia for that special little someone in your life that loves Star Wars. The Star Wars universe possesses some of the strongest female characters in all of fiction, so you’ll know if this book is right for them. If they love reading and they love Star Wars, then this first of five books is a perfect jumping-on point.
