Poe Dameron #7 Review

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In Poe Dameron #7, Poe’s pursuit of Lor San Tekka recesses for a meeting with an old friend.

Warning: this article contains spoilers for Poe Dameron #7.

Poe Dameron #7

Writer: Charles Soule | Artist: Angel Unzueta | Colorist: Frank D’Armata | Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna | Cover Artist: Phil Noto

Summary

Poe Dameron #7 diverts from overriding story to tell a new tale. While taking a break from tracking down Lor San Tekka, Poe catches up with an old ally on Pheryon, a world in the Inner Rim. Suralinda Javos is an investigative reporter, and she claims to have knowledge about a First Order project. In addition, she wants to sell that knowledge to the Resistance. The secret is big enough that the First Order moves to silence her. After enlisting Poe’s aid, ruffians attack the pair. Poe and Suralinda escape on a stormsailer. Eventually, they elude the ruffians and find a cantina to hide in. Unfortunately, the First Order, under the command of Lieutenant Weel, arrives and apprehends the pair.

The First Order underestimates Suralinda’s species’ abilities. She is a Squamatan and she spits acid or venom into the face of Lieutenant Weel while under interrogation and frees herself. Next, she frees Poe, and together the pair escapes First Order custody. Poe then delivers Suralinda to the Resistance Base. There, Suralinda slices the navigation computer on their shuttle to learn that they are on D’Qar. Nearly the entire story had been a ruse in order that Surlinda could acquire the location of the Resistance Base and sell it to her employer, the Galactic Beacon. However, she has a change of heart and declares that she wishes to join the Resistance instead.

The Crux of this Issue

Up to this point, Poe Dameron has told the story of Poe Dameron. More specifically, it has been about Poe in the days before the events of The Force Awakens. He leads Black Squadron. As I have written elsewhere, Black Squadron is a successor to Rogue Squadron from Legends. Poe and his team routinely take on missions that push their skills to the maximum as the pursue the location of Lor San Tekka. This issue is a break from that. Instead, this issue tells the story about how one woman came to make a decision and choose a side.

The Secret Resistance

One of the world building aspects of this issue is the status of the Resistance. First, it is apparent that the Resistance exists to much of the galaxy. When Suralinda states that she believes Poe is with the Resistance, he responds that she is crazy. Therefore, it isn’t common knowledge that anyone is part of the Resistance. Furthermore, Poe questions whether the Resistance even exists. From this, one can deduce that the Resistance is supposed to be a top-secret organization. This is fitting. Claudia Gray’s Bloodline novel makes clear that even the scope of the First Order is unknown to much of the galaxy. So, a Resistance group wouldn’t necessarily make sense, and might provoke a response. It would have to stay secret.

Despite Poe’s denial, Suralinda lays out the facts. First, she notes that Poe hated the First Order. Second, despite his leave of absence from the Republic Navy, Poe still flies an X-Wing. Third, Poe’s family has ties to General Organa. As the widely respected “best pilot in the galaxy” with an “against all odds” attitude, Poe would make an ideal candidate for Organa’s military unit. Suralinda’s investigative skills served her well. Her analysis makes her a credible investigative journalist.

A Change of Careers

Suralinda experiences a crisis of identity. Having served the Republic as a soldier, she left to pursue a journalistic career. However, her stories weren’t selling. As her editor at the Galactic Beacon puts it, the public wants scandal. Therefore, she finds a story her editor wants. She knows a guy. That guy happens to be Poe. It just so happens that she believes Poe is in the Resistance. The location of the Resistance base would sell to the public. To further her career, she decides to find the base. However, she doesn’t anticipate where this journey will lead her.

Suralinda’s Proposition

Suralinda had a choice. Once she knew where D’Qar was, she completed her assignment. She had what her editor at the Galactic Beacon wanted. Therefore, she could have cashed in. However, she makes a different choice. She told Lieutenant Weel earlier that the Empire had ravaged her world of its mineral deposits. Now, her species is scattered.

In addition, Suralinda saw what the First Order can do. They are just another version of the Empire. As a journalist, her job was to find the truth. Then she would let it speak for itself. She found the truth about the First Order. Now, she has chosen a side. She wants to join the Resistance. So, her editor is out a juicy story.

Suralinda Was on to Something

Ironically, Suralinda was on to the First Order. She just didn’t know it. She concocted the story about a First Order project. Suralinda told Poe they were building something. She hired ruffians to pursue her to sell the story to Poe. However, her poking around actually drew the attention of the First Order. Unbeknownst to her, but known by the reader, the First Order was constructing a major base. That base was none other than Starkiller Base. Therefore, the First Order had to find out what she knew. The reality was that she knew nothing. However, her pursuit of a story drove her to the Resistance.

New Artist

Other than the cover, Phil Noto does not provide the art for this issue. Instead, Angel Unzueta takes over the art responsibilities. Unzueta’s art previously appeared in other Star Wars titles including two issues of the Shattered Empire series and Darth Vader Annual #1.

Although I prefer Noto’s style when it comes to illustrating Poe Dameron, Unzueata provides a worthy substitute. His take on Poe is good, but his illustration of Suralinda is outstanding. In addition, his action scenes are clear and easy to follow. Although, the chase scene aboard the stormsailer is unspectacular. The reason for that is most of the chase is simply a conversation between Poe and Suralinda, and the pursuit vessels appear only briefly. The hand-to-hand combat scenes between Poe and Suralinda against the First Order are first rate. In addition, there were some little touches that shined. For instance, the serving droid at the bar in the beginning of the book was the same model as the waitress droid from Attack of the Clones.

Poe Dameron #7 Conclusion

Poe Dameron #7 is an excellent story. Although it features Poe, but the real story is Surlinda. This is a welcome distraction from the pursuit of Lor San Tekka. It is refreshing to know that not everything Poe did as a member of the Resistance was solely towards finding him. I hope Marvel continues to occasionally feature these one-off stories. However, this issue focused on Suralinda’s journey to joining the Resistance.

Suralinda, while not unique, is a new addition to this story. She abandoned the cause for something new. However, what she witnessed brought her back to the cause the Resistance. The way she engineered the encounter with Poe was intelligent. The irony of the truth behind her lie was fantastic. I don’t know whether she will be seen again in Poe Dameron, but I hope so.

Favorite Panel for Poe Dameron #7:

 This issue provided plenty of candidates for favorite panel. First, I considered the panel in which Poe attempts to challenge some of the stormtroopers. He tried to bait one of them into a one-on-one fight. Poe’s moxy was on full display. Next, I contemplated the scene in which Suralinda spits acid in Lieutenant Weel’s face. However, that was a series of panels, all of which were quite good. Plus, it was kind of creepy.

Finally, I decided that what I liked best about this issue was the chemistry between Suralinda and Poe. Suralinda is a former Republic navy officer turned investigator. Poe remains the quick witted, ace pilot of the Resistance. Their panels together are comfortable. They play off each other well. One problem: I couldn’t decide whether I wanted a combat panel or one of the many panels in which they converse. I settled on a combat panel. One scene earlier, Poe and Suralinda were considerably more carefree even though they were pursued by gangsters. Now, they are all business as they take down First Order soldiers.