Captain Phasma #2 Review

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Captain Phasma maintains anonymity while hunting Lieutenant Rivas in Captain Phasma #2.

This article contains plot details for Captain Phasma #2.

Captain Phasma #2

Writer: Kelly Thompson | Artist: Marco Checchetto | Colorist: Andres Mossa | Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles | Cover: Paul Renaud | Assistant Editor: Heather Antos | Editor: Jordan D. White

Having survived the destruction of Starkiller Base in Captain Phasma #1, Phasma now seeks preservation of her name and reputation. Although forced to lower the base’s shields at blasterpoint, she was responsible for allowing the Resistance an opportunity to destroy the First Order’s primary weapon. Fortunately for her, her transgression is known by only one person. Lieutenant Sol Rivas escaped Starkiller Base in a TIE Fighter. Phasma began her pursuit of Rivas with the aid of TN-3465 and a BB unit (resembling BB-9E). Her hunt continues in Captain Phasma #2 on a remote world.

Luprora

The hunt brings Phasma and TN-3465 to Luprora. Both Phasma’s and Rivas’s TIE Fighters needed repairs and neither were capable of hyperspace travel. Phasma and TN-3465 quickly determine Rivas abandoned his TIE. An abandoned, nearby village provides Phasma and TN-3465 the opportunity to don disguises. Shortly thereafter, they meet the planet’s inhabitants.

The Lupr’or people colonized this world after escaping their home world. Once they arrived, they destroyed their technology. Unfortunately, the planet then experienced some form of climate change. The seas rose and the tides eliminated much of their farmland. Now they are few on this world and beset upon by sea monsters and “another population” that comes from the sea.

Luprora seems like a potential metaphor or symbol of climate change in our own world. Whether that was Thompson’s intent is unclear. The final verdict relies on future issues of the series.

Regardless of any symbolic meaning for Luprora, the planet reminds Phasma of another world she once knew. Presumably, Phasma speaks of Parnassos. Delilah S. Dawson introduced readers to Phasma’s post-apocalyptic homeworld in Phasma. It too experienced a disaster that diminished the population and destroyed the food. Similar to the village on the shores of the rising tides of Luprora, Phasma’s clay, the Scyre, lived near the ocean on Parnassos. Phasma hated her homeworld, and she feels similarly about Luprora.

Phasma’s and TN-3465’s Identities

Before Phasma and TN-3465 venture far from the first village they discover, Phasma insists they change clothes. The abandoned huts of the village supply disguises. Phasma apparently conceals her appearance from TN-3465. She exchanges her armor for that gear of some mercenary or bounty hunter she found in the village. Although readers see her helmet placed on a table, they never see Phasma’s face. Furthermore, it appears TN-3465 never saw it either. Considering how Phasma jealously guards the secrecy of her appearance (see Phasma), readers may wonder if TN-3465’s life is at risk if she did see Phasma’s face.

Phasma isn’t the only one with a surprise attached to her identity. TN-3465 is a woman. Thompson did very well with this reveal. Up until the moment TN-3465’s unarmored appearance is revealed, TN-3465 was either addressed by her number or as “Pilot.” Under the armor she was indistinguishable as a man or a woman. The reveal of her gender is without any fanfare, but given the dominance of males as stormtroopers in much of Star Wars media, it is still a somewhat surprising reveal. However, the presentation is very matter of fact.

The contrast in TN-3465’s appearance is striking. In her First Order armor, her gender is indistinguishable. In the clothes she found on Luprora, she appears much more feminine. This is an interesting statement. To their credit, gender is immaterial to the First Order. However, they apparently mute the identity of their warriors from their names to genders. Phasma stands out because she has a name.

The Fate of the Hunt

After a battle with an enormous sea creature, Phasma and TN-3465 encounter the Lupr’or people. During their conversation, Jair’I, leader of the Lupr’or people, confirms that Rivas, “their friend” as Jair’I understands him, was taken by the R’ora. Exactly what the R’ora is remains uncertain. However, Jair’I says Rivas will be dead soon. Despite that, Phasma states Rivas is her responsibility, and he cannot be left as a loose end. It is a wise move on her part. Such loose ends have a way of reemerging. Considering “R’ora” is the second half of the planet name Luprora, there might be an obvious but evasive clue as to the other population’s identity.

Concluding Thoughts on Captain Phasma #2

Captain Phasma #2 is another compelling issue in this series. Phasma proves a capable and ferocious warrior once again. Checchetto’s art combined with Andres Mossa’s coloring gives Luprora a gloomy forbidding look. It appears desolate. Thompson has expertly crafted a tale of the hunt. While the previous issue was a methodical report on the destruction of Starkiller Base as told through Phasma’s perception to protect her identity, this story differs. Phasma secures TN-3465’s assistance through her command and careful manipulation of the truth. Regardless, Phasma remains a cold blooded hunter. Rivas might be better off dead at the hands of the R’ora.