Robbie Thompson

I used to follow Star Wars comics while these were published by Dark Horse and had a break after Marvel took over again. Reason was very simple - stories I liked were moved to non-canon and there was a rewrite of entire history (I still cannot understand why but ..... OK I guess).

Being one that read Timothy Zahn's novels, X-Wing books, Jedi Academy novels (I know, but hey I liked them), Yuuzhang Vong stories, Chis Ascendancy, Dark Empire and especially Clone Wars, Legacy and Old Republic era novels and comics (and that wonderful arc of Jedi origins in Force Wars) you can guess I was not a fan of this big restart (maaaan, I do not, repeat, do not like this word). Purely time-wise this was too much of a set-back for me to get reacquainted with the universe I enjoyed.

Few books I especially liked from this era were Crimson Empire, Darth Maul versus Black Sun cartel, Fett?Rep.Commando stories and Knights of the Old Republic/Legacy. These were stories of people with special skills but more on the martial arts/military skills end (think "Kiss of the Dragon" with Jet Li) not magicians per se (even Maul is battling the Black Sun using sheer deadliness of his lightsaber wielding skills while in KOTOR/Legacy main group of protagonists were ever present smugglers and bounty hunters). Every story was about mercenaries and hired guns battling insurmountable odds - for cause of honor, revenge or just pure business. So, yes very much like old cowboy and samurai/knight movies and books.

With above said this book was very enjoyable to me. Main story is about bunch of mercenaries sent against the Vader - job financed by mysterious group that made a mistake of doing business with Rebellion so they found themselves on the Imperial radar. In the background of this story we witness various events/backstories permeated with numerous twists and betrayals (because lets be honest there was never even a hint of possible success of main plot). I especially liked the unstoppable Valance Beilert, man of great will-power who in terms of pure determination is not that far away from John Wick. Some readers compare him with Punisher but in my opinion he is not trigger happy destroyer nor is he suicidal as Frank Castle (their losses cannot be even compared, Frank having unfortunate lead here). Valance is honor bind (although he would not admit this in the open) and - it seems to me - in constant quest for penance for his actions in the past (of which we only get some glimpses). He is more willing to use his brains than pure concentrated fire power to corner his enemies and if he can make them kill themselves in the process he is more than OK with that (think more in terms of Equalizer).

All in all rather fast paced action story that whet my appetite to read more about Valance and his fellow mercenaries in the Bounty Hunters series.

Recommended to fans of old fashion Star Wars action adventure.… (altro)