Star Wars #28 Review

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Yoda continues his adventure on a planet of youngling warriors in Star Wars #28.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Star Wars #28. 

Star Wars #28

 Writer: Jason Aaron | Artist: Salvador Larroca | Colorist: Edgar Delgado | Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles | Cover: Stuart Immonen | Assistant Editor: Heather Antos | Editor: Jordan D. White

The Force Infused Planet

In the previous issue, Luke began reading a story of another Jedi Master from Obi-Wan’s journal. Unknown to Luke, that Jedi was Yoda, who once found himself on a perplexing planet. After responding to a call through the Force, Yoda arrived on a world overrun by warrior children. Over the course of his adventures, he learned that this world once contained Force infused mountains. However, the inhabitants of this planet went to war. Over the course of their battles, many of the mountains crumbled. Now, their descendants, the children Yoda encountered, organize into tribes. The Rockhawkers jealously guard the mountain, and the Mudwhackers toil outside. Having met the Mudwhackers, Yoda ventures forth to investigate the mountain its strange Force sensitive rocks. Things go poorly. The Rockhawkers subdue him and send him into the heart of the mountain. Star Wars #28 resumes the story from that point.

Despair

Along his journey, Yoda acquired a companion. This was another off-worlder. Unlike Yoda, he fails to overcome his fears. Yoda ended the last issue somewhat fearful of what lies ahead. However, in this issue, he marches forward. After all, the mountain will not come to them. The off-worlder succumbs to despair. He fears the mountain and its mysteries. Although, it is hard to fault him, and he has good reasons. Nobody ever returned from the mountain. The Rockhawkers send prisoners into the cave every day.

Eventually it becomes too much for the other off-worlder. The mountain has a power. This off-worlder fears the mountain’s ability “to see into him.” Therefore, he goes no further and leaps off the mountain to his doom. Yoda proceeded alone.

Someone Must be an Adult

At the end of the trail up the mountain, Yoda found a cave. After he enters the cave, it almost literally swallows him up. The entrance closes behind him, trapping him inside. He is not alone though. He finds the adults of this world farther inside. They have an interesting story to tell.

The adults fear the children. According to the adults, the children became addicts to the war they started. In addition, it was the children that banished the adults to these caves. However, the adults have no intention of leaving. In the cave, they are safe.

Yoda chastises the adults. They started the war. It doesn’t matter if the children continue it. The parents failed as teachers, guides, and most importantly, as parents. Now, their society is on the brink of extinction. It seems like there must be something more to the conflict. How could the children overpower the adults? One would think the adults were capable of overcoming a children’s revolt. The final piece of the puzzle eludes the story.

A New Mentor for Yoda

Failing to reach an agreement with the adults, Yoda continues his journey. Deeper in the cavern, he eventually finds another child. This child is Garro. After helping the child find sustenance, Yoda requests the child teach him. Yoda desired the knowledge of the “stonepower” and submits to Garro’s teachings.

Yoda is not the only Jedi Garro encounters. At some point in the future, Obi-Wan encountered Garro on Tatooine. Garro confronts Obi-Wan after he observes the Jedi subtly calming a standoff between Greedo, of all people, and a Sullustan. Obi-Wan receives an admonishment that while he may believe his power will last forever, it will fade in time. Garro then instructs Obi-Wan that Tatooine is his “mountain,” and he should “never leave the caves.”

The potential ramifications from this encounter are intriguing. First of course, Garro survives his mission with Yoda and manages to depart that world. Second, what horror must have befallen Garro that he regrets leaving the caves of the mountain? And, how did Garro lose his power? Was it tied to the stones of his world? These mysteries remain for the remainder of the story arc.

A New Course for Luke

Garro displayed a brand on his head to Obi-Wan that Luke recognizes. After his astromech completes repairs, Luke has him verify that it represents a star system. Luke then sets course for that planet, which happens to be the Vagadarr system. He rushes head long to Vagadarr believing it could be the key to his training. With whatever he finds there, he could rescue Threepio and Artoo.

Luke seems incredibly naïve. Also, he completely misses the moral of the story. Although the story is incomplete, Obi-Wan just stated this story contained a lesson. Power fades. Despite this, Luke only sees a source of training and power. No wonder Yoda believes Luke lacks focus when they encounter one another on Dagobah.

The Heart of the Mountain

After Luke’s revelation concerning Vagadarr, the story returns to Yoda. He continues to train with Garro. Something the boy says gives Yoda an epiphany. He feels the stone breathe through the Force. With that knowledge, his ability with the “stonepower” quickly improves. That is not all. He senses the heart of the mountain, and then he realizes they aren’t in a mountain at all. So, if they aren’t in a mountain, where are they? The answer to that question must wait until the next issue.

Conclusion

This issue of Star Wars, like the story arc it is part of, must be thought about to enjoy. It is odd. The classic Star Wars motifs occurred two issues ago when Yoda battled slavers and Luke flew after Artoo in his X-Wing. Since then, Yoda’s adventure departs from classic Star Wars swashbuckling adventure. Instead, Yoda’s story focuses more on morals. He attempts to bring light to the controversy on Vagadarr as a problem-solving technique rather than rely on his lightsaber. Perhaps that is what a Jedi should strive for.

While an interesting story, the success of Star Wars #28 and its predecessors in this story arc depends greatly on the final issue. Aaron has left small clues for the reader, and the final panel teases a major reveal for the next issue. This story needs a great payoff.

Favorite Panel of Star Wars #28

Larroca contributes fabulous art to Star Wars #28. His depictions of Yoda are well done. However, some of the best art arrives with Obi-Wan’s scene on Tatooine. From the surroundings, it appears Obi-Wan was in Mos Eisley when he encountered Garro. Larroca takes advantage of the setting to include many of the alien species that debuted in The Force Awakens and Rogue One in this issue. For instance, there is a Drabatan (Pao from Rogue One) in the corner of one panel. A Gabordin, from The Force Awakens, appears a few panels later. A Nu-Cosian and Ottegan appear in later panels. These aliens from the more recent Star Wars films blend well with the Rodians, Trandoshans, Sullustans, Twi-leks and other classic aliens to blend the entire Star Wars saga. One of these panels was selected to represent them all in acknowledgment.