Star Wars: Invasion – Rescues #2 Review

Star Wars: Invasion – Rescues #2

Similar to Legacy’s review I’m going to offer a rundown on Invasion. This series takes place during the epic 19 book saga that was the New Jedi Order. The galaxy is being invaded by the Yuuzhan Vong, a race of creatures that can not touch the Force. On the planet Artorias we find the Galfridian family on the verge of the invasion. Young Finn is chosen by Luke Skywalker to receive Jedi training on the world of Yavin 4, while his mom and sister, Nina and Kaye, have been taken prisoner by the Vong. Finn’s father King Caled is left behind on Artorias and begins a rebellion to take over the planet from the Yuuzhan Vong. Over the course of the first arc we learn that Dulak, Caled’s trusted advisor, is really a Yuuzhan Vong in desguise!! Now in Rescues Finn is racing back home to save his father, while his sister and mother are trying to rescue other victims of the Yuuzhan Vong invasion.

The issue opens up in deep space and we get a beautiful glimpse of a Yuuzhan Vong Yammosk, the Vong’s war coordinator creation. The Yammosk is trying to communicate with the stolen ship that Nina and Kaye have commandeered. We get to see the struggle between Nina as she attempts to keep her ship out of the hands of the Yuuzhan Vong and as she’s doing this Kaye has her own battle to take care. It seems Captain Ogden from the New Republic forces doesn’t agree with Kaye that they should attempt a rescue of the people taken by the Vong. Luckily Commander Blysma agrees that such an attempt should be made.

We catch up with Finn and Jacen and Jaina Solo, the twin children of Han and Leia, as they race for Artorias. The banter between Finn and the Solos is beautifully done here and we start to see Finn come into his own as he comes up with a plan to make it past the Yuuzhan Vong on his home planet. Finn reveals that his people built a base underwater and that if they crash the ship into the water they should be able to reach the cave that leads to the base.

Just as they think everything is going great they are attacked by Grutchins, Vong creations that tear ships apart. In a bold move Finn decides to attack the Grutchins directly on the ship’s hull. Taking his own lightsaber and Jaina’s Finn makes his way to the top of the ship.

On the surface of Dibrook Kaye begins to set her rescue mission in to place when she is countermanded by Captain Ogden. Realizing that what Ogden is proposing will lead to the deaths of many New Republic forces, Kaye takes charge of the situation and orders her friend/protector Arbeloa to tie up the good Captain and the New Republic forces make their way in to danger.

Meanwhile on Dibrook Tsalok, Finn’s sworn enemy, meets with the Master Shaper; he needs to see her prisoner, a captured Jedi. Whether the Jedi wants to or not he will help Tsalok in finding young Finn for him.

Over the planet Artorias we finally get into the battle with Finn as he faces the Grutchins attacking his ship. With the help of his trusty droid Prowl he is able to keep the grutchins away long enough for Jaina to convincingly “crash” their ship. Once landed Finn takes over the controls so he can pilot them to the cave entrance. Finn and the Solo twins make their way to the base and learn that his father is still alive. Although he is with Dulac!!

On the final page we see Caled and Dulac and we learn that Dulac spared Caled because he had earned his respect, but the time has come for Caled to meet his maker as Dulac sheds the Ooglith masker that makes him look human!!

What I liked: Tom Taylor knows how to write a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat and Colin Wilson has made this era of Star Wars his own. What we only got to read about in the novels is brought to life on the pages. His characters are easily recognizable and his Yuuzhan Vong are beautifully freakish in looks. Tom has done in excellent job in handling characters like the Solo twins and keeping them true to how they were in the novels. Jaina really is a good pilot and Jacen, well Jacen is Jacen