Comics Poe Dameron #14-19: Legend Lost & Annual #1 (6/7 released)

I wanted to see a planet-hopping search for Lor San Tekka. Go to Hosra, perhaps. Meet the mysterious Force-wielding "Advisers" that may still be there.
But nope. The series has completely forgotten that angle.

 

I'm glad they dropped the Lor San Tekka plot. I didn't want the whole series to be in service of a somewhat minor plot detail of TFA. Now Soule is doing a better job of building up the characters and exploring the relationship between the FO and the resistance.

I actually was way behind on this series and caught up today. One thing that has struck me is the quality of the art. Noto is a great artist, but he never felt like the right fit for Soule's scripts. Unzueta is doing a great job as a replacement. I thought his work was a bit awkward and "computer-y" in Shattered Empire and Avengers: Standoff, but I'm loving his work on this title. The characters look realistic while also having natural posture and expressions. A lot of artists struggle to pull all that off at once. I also thought Nik Virella did a great job on the annual, which was a surprise since her work on All-New Wolverine (particularly her first few issues) was kinda rough. It's nice to see artists grow and adapt to different types of settings.

 

A different plot is all fine and dandy, but then why did they introduce the LST plot in the first place if they were just going to drop it like that?

 

I think the answer was, "They didn't think people would want to read the series."

It happened in TFA too. They originally intended just to kill him off.

Poe has this weird quality where the people producing the movies and spin-off media which star him think people won't like him when he's probably the second most likable character in the new trilogy.

 

It's such a shame that Poe will probably be shafted yet again (in terms of screen time) in TLJ in favour of OP Rey and Finn.....hell even Rose will probably get more focus than our overlooked leader of black squadron

 

The search for LST had to be dealt with in some way during the series. Leia tells Poe he needs to search for LST in Before The Awakening and obviously TFA starts with Poe talking to him. Those dots needed to be connected. Though I'm not sure why Soule decided to spend so much time on that plot point only to drop it unceremoniously. Maybe he felt like it wasn't working that well or he just wanted to spend more time on Terex.

 

I finished reading Legends Lost and I liked it. The art is some of the best and I really enjoyed the story. This is precisely what I want to see from this Poe series - lots of space action.

 

Thought the War Stories arc, which concluded today, was great. Of course, there's always that problem where the heroes make it look too easy (and I do think this story could have benefited from more issues and have been more drawn out) but Poe is definitely my favourite ongoing.

 

Just finished issue 19. Volume 3 was very entertaining and really picked things up quite a bit. With Tekka appearing on the cover of the next issue it looks like they are getting close to the Jakku storyline. Who would like this next volume to be the final one? I personally am ready for this series to wrap up. Has definitely picked up as of late but there with the story basically going nowhere for about 15 issues it really took most of the momentum out of the series.

Definitely wouldn't mind having more stories about Black Squadron in the future (perhaps after Ep. IX is out and we know the full story of the ST) but I think it is time to end this particular series. Replace it with a series related more to TLJ.

 

I wouldn't be surprise we get a continuation of some Rebels characters in an ongoing series debuting in April or an ongoing series to tie-in with the next Star Wars TV show as Poe comes to a close. And possibly they're thinking instead of releasing 2 HC collections, there's just going to be a direct omnibus release.

 

I would not like this series to end and be replaced. Pilots and ships are my favourite aspects of the Star Wars theme, and I'm enjoying it a lot for that reason. Apart from the Phasma mini, it's also the only series set in the ST period. Selfishly speaking, removing this series will take all of that away and I'm not convinced I would get a replacement that caters to the kind of fan I am.

Further, the cast of characters in this one are all new (Leia is thankfully only tangentally involved) and being in a virtually unexplored time period, where they can develop both the Republic, the Resistance and the First Order, it has so much potential and room for growth. Those are some big shoes to fill. Angel and Noto need to stay on too.

 

Given that this series has already made a lot of Before the Awakening references, who wants to bet that...

Spoiler

the "First Order light cruiser" we've seen a few times now is intended to be a Dissident-class light cruiser?

Is there someone who can ask on Twitter if that was the authorial intent there?

 

Good catch. I've just asked Charles Soule, but he doesn't answer often--from what I know. We'll see!

 

Terrific issue once again. It looks like this series is coming to a close and I will definitely miss it.

I'm also glad they got away from the search for Lor San Tekka...maybe the series much more interesting.

 

I would be happy if they replaced this with another ST era book but there's 3 ongoings now (Darth Vader, Star Wars and Aphra) plus whatever Marvel mini is putting out. They tend to keep the line at 3 ongoings and a mini, however, it has gone to 4 ongoings and a mini when Aphra hit.

 

Which does make me wonder if they decided to increase the output when they announced the new Vader series. We'll have to see. Star Wars is still doing great under Marvel so I wouldn't see much reason to cutting down the number of books they are putting out. This past month they had four Star Wars books in the top 15. It is by far the most steady franchise Marvel has sales wise.

 

I wouldn't mind seeing this series end, not because I don't like Poe, but because I feel like the series is dragging on a bit. I also wouldn't mind seeing more Black Squadron stories in the future though.

 

Rey and Poe didn't even have a scene together. No thank you for taking care of my droid, no scene together at Finn's bedside, saying I'll watch over him. Nothing. So disappointing.

 

I'm like 90 percent sure that's just because he originally died. I suspect that's also why his trench run is one part of the movie where it totally rehashes ANH - because Poe needed something to do in a relative hurry in the climax.

 

Still can't understand that!

Apologies on the below I left it spoilered as it really doesn't involve the comic just the movie and would otherwise delete it but feel I'll need a reminder to avoid repeating this!

Spoiler

Keep Poe with them then he recognises the Falcon, the TIEs destroy the Quadjumper thinking it the only operational ship, cue race through the Jakku graveyard finally losing their pursuers so Poe contacts Han he arrives to pick them up.
Going off course is what causes his debtors to jump at the chance to call in their debt and they flee aboard the Falcon to the nearest "safe" harbour which is Takodana to finish repairs.
Han calls Leia from there, Kylo familiar with his father knows where he probably went ambushes them and captures Rey but is forced to flee as Leia, her escort and a sortie led by Poe drives them off.
Han & co pursue Kylo and when SKB jumps into the system both ships crash-land.
Rey escapes no idiotic force display as it isn't necessary we know she's awesome ok!
They join up and with Finn's help shut down the shield so they can escape offworld.

What I'd like to find out is did they blow up Hosnian Prime to leave the Republic in the hands of their Loyalist Senators because THAT reveal would improve TFA immensely!

Sorry about that needed to get that off my chest!

 

I wouldn't be surprised to find that:

Spoiler

The First Order destroyed the NR Senate on Hosnian Prime, including all the Senators that had covertly backed them. Why? They had served their purpose and as they had already betrayed one master, there is no telling when they would turn on the First Order and with Starkiller Base operational, what need of them was there?

 

Spoiler

Ever since I read Bloodline, I've been utterly certain that Carise Sindian died on Hosnian Prime.

 

I hope she did.

 

This issue was fine thought I kinda feel like this arc wrapped up to quickly and neatly. Still some good Jess scenes so I can't complain to much

 

Spoiler

The interview with Charles Soule on the Marvel site about Poe Dameron says that the new story arc is a 6-parter (takes us to #25), and does suggest that it's the final arc of the series, leading into The Force Awakens and finding Lor San Tekka.

A shame if so - the series has finally hit its stride in terms of story and artwork. Would be nice to get future Poe and Black Squadron stories - incorporating some of the other pilots we saw in TFA, Ello Asty, Niv Lek, Bastian, Yolo Ziff, Furillo, and of course Nien Nunb.