Monday, December 1, 2014

Graphic Novel Review: Star Wars - Tag & Bink Were Here



Writer: Kevin Rubio
Art: Lucas Marangon,

Dust Jacket Summary

Officers Tag Greenly and Bink Otauna were minding their own business aboard a familiar, princess-harboring freighter when they suddenly found themselves under siege. Now under attack by the Empire, they will choose life over a noble death and “borrow” the armor off a pair of deceased stormtroopers. Their new disguises might get them off the freighter alive, but they’ll also lead Tag and Bink on an adventure neither could have predicted!

Chock-full of appearances by everyone’s favorite Star Wars characters, Tag & Bink cleverly weaves the pair’s misadventures into the movies themselves. No setting is safe as they traverse the galaxy from the Death Star to the Sarlacc pit to Cloud City to Endor! Thrill as they continue to run afoul of the deadliest (and most ill-tempered) bounty hunter in the galaxy, Boba Fett! Revel in their origin story, which features the cast of the Star Wars prequels!

What I liked

First off, the art (pencils and colors) are completely awesome.  The characters are so well drawn and extremely detailed that it is easy to tell what is happening in each panel.  This adds significantly to the humor of the actual story, as much, if not more, than the actual writing.

The humor is subtle when it needs to be and at times goes over the top.  For me, there were several laugh out loud moments, like when Tag and Bink keep calling Boba Fett “Boo-Boo” or when they were dressed as imperial guards and just walk to behind the elevator (see Return of the Jedi and you what I am talking about).  

They do a brilliant job of inserting Tag and Bink into several key moments of each Star Wars movie without changing the actual story.  Warning though, it will put questions in your head when watching the movies, like where the hell did the Imperial Guards go when Darth Vader and Luke arrived to meet the Emperor?  

One of favorite surprises was the easter eggs inserted in several of panels, like Cylons marching with the Stormtroopers.  On one specific panel, I spent a good amount of time trying to identify each and every robot.  It was like a Where’s Waldo for geeks.              

What I didn’t like 

 As with any comedy, especially for me, some of the humor misses the mark.   

Last word

A highly successful tongue and cheek take on the Star Wars movies that is a blast to look at and to read.  If you love the original Star Wars movies the way I do, then this is a must buy.      

                                                         My Rating

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