Review: ‘The Rise of Skywalker’ #2 Is a Solid Adaptation With Nothing New To Offer

The Rise of Skywalker #2 arrived last week to an exceptionally quiet reception. Once again, this issue is a passable comic adaptation of the film with basically nothing in it to write home about. In its defense, most screen-to-comic adaptations are not going to wow you. And why should they? It’s a story we know and know well. The purpose of the exercise is to see the narrative in a new medium and, if it’s done particularly well, perhaps glean some new and surprising contextual details that weren’t privy to the audience in the story’s original form.

 

 

Unfortunately, so far for The Rise of Skywalker, we haven’t learned anything new. I was somewhat critical of the writing in the first issue, bemoaning the predictable inner monologue of Rey and Kylo Ren. However, in a departure from that first issue, issue two provides almost no new inner monologue, in fact there is almost nothing new from the film at all. I find myself with nothing to critique, but nothing to praise either. It’s a cut and dry adaptation that will probably just leave you wanting to put on the movie instead. And hey, maybe that’s the goal! In which case, mission accomplished.

 

We kick off the issue right in the thick of things with Rey crippling Ren’s TIE Silencer and then reaching to stop Chewie’s abduction on the First Order transport. The suspense is built well over the two and half pages the scene spans, but the effect of the explosion is somewhat neutered on the final page. I would have liked to see the explosion and Rey’s reaction get a bit more space and oomph with it being such an iconic scene in the film.

 

 

At this point, right in line with the film, the narrative begins to move at a breakneck pace. We’re on Kijimi, we meet Zorii, we wipe C-3PO’s memory, and then we’re sneaking onto Kylo Ren’s cruiser and rescuing Chewie. Whether or not you like the speed of the narrative, both writer and artist (Houser and Sliney, respectively) did a great job of matching the pace of the movie.

 

Will Sliney also put together some really nice pages in this issue. In particular, I enjoyed the layout of the page that depicts C-3PO’s moment of decision before getting his memory wiped in order to translate the information off of the Sith dagger. It’s a busy page that balances the weight of the scene against the harried, time-is-of-the-essence pacing in the film by drawing the eye toward C-3PO in the center, reminding the reader of the stakes and giving C-3PO agency.

 

 

Once the crew is on Ren’s Star Destroyer, The Steadfast, Sliney and colorist, Guru-eFX, continue to put together nicely finessed comparisons of Rey and Kylo Ren, depicting both their connection and their contrast while still seamlessly telling the story. The coloring is a bit on the nose at times with the focus on light versus dark, but it works. This is Star Wars, after all.

 

This issue ends on another cliffhanger with Finn, Poe, and Chewie at gunpoint from First Order Troopers. The next issue of The Rise of Skywalker will take us to Kef Bir in search of the Sith wayfinder and will include some heavier story beats, bold action and intricate backdrops. I remain hopeful that we’re in for a worthwhile adaptation installment. Stick with me, friends.

 

Rating: 5/10