Title: Star Wars: Crimson Empire III – Empire Lost (Click to go to the release post)
Writer(s): Mike Richardson (Click to see other books from this writer released on this site)
Review source: Poet Mase (Don't click it, read the review here... )
Review: Star Wars: Crimson Empire III – Empire Lost #2
- With the major players of the latest Crimson Empire series introduced last issue, writers Mike Richardson and Randy Stradley kick their story into gear in the second issue of Empire Lost. The Imperial coalition engages in a two-pronged attack here but can only manage one victory. Plenty of laser bolts fly; however, the book never achieves the crescendo that this series is lacking.
Despite providing more information regarding the forces at play, Richardson and Stradley fail to make the developments of this book compelling. An attack on Leia's family is by no means an original concept in Star Wars' Expanded Universe, and the interactions between Sinn and Leia that follow suffer from stilted exposition and some horrible character chemistry. In general, the dialog is frustrating, as it seems unnatural in its delivery. On the bright side, Empire Lost's cast is broadened in issue #2 to include several characters familiar to fans of Crimson Empire II and the New Jedi Order books, adding layers of possibility to future stories and providing the only real intrigue of the story.
Paul Gulacy's artwork is once again a black eye for the book, with his usual difficulties with figure drawing compounded by poor art direction. Gulacy puts a lot of variety in the perspectives of his images, but he is unable to consistently create a feeling of depth. The proportions of his characters seem to suffer from some of these shot choices, especially when high camera angles are employed. Gulacy also uses a lot of close-ups in this issue, particularly when implying the chaos and motion of battle, but many of the shots are uninformative and poorly composed.
It would be inaccurate to say that this book is filler because it pushes the plot along considerably, but it's also not terribly interesting. Developments like the introduction of zinethium and a tease that Nom Anor will play a role in upcoming issues hold potential; however, I can't see myself beating down the door of my local comic store in anticipation of issue #3.
More info:
- Story; Mike Richardson and Randy Stradley
Script: Mike Richardson
Art by Paul Gulacy
Colors by Michael Bartolo
Cover by Dave Dorman
Publisher: