Star Wars: Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi - Captain Phasma (Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi, #4)

by Kelly Thompson

[inlibrisveritas]

Captain Phasma serves to fill in the puzzling gap of Phasma’s story that is left between Force Awakens and The Last Jedi.

Full disclosure…I’m not fond of retroactively added depth when it comes to multimedia worlds like Star Wars. I find it irritating to have to read a comic for a story that ultimately should have had at least some context within the original media (movie). Phasma’s role in Force Awakens was hyped and almost immediately squandered as she ends up in a trash can (basically)…and people who were looking forward to a female villain on screen (me) were left more than a little disappointed. To see someone who looks and acts badass end up giving in and disappearing for the rest of the movie is disheartening. I suppose this comic aims to fix that In some ways it does, and in others, it feels like it wasn’t enough.

Captain Phasma showcases our chrome baddie’s ability to overcome rather intense circumstances and the cost of what she is willing to do it. It picks up right after the shield goes down (in the movie) and progresses to before The Last Jedi, and Phasma stays busy. It focuses on showing the small chinks in her emotional armor, but also just how hardened she is when it comes to the progression of her goals. I personally love a villain who shows a bit of ruthlessness and Phasma definitely fits the bill. We also get to see a new planet and it’s incredibly harsh eco-system, which is always fun. It also lends to opening up a bit of her backstory, though we get very little of that overall. I expect this is a ploy to get people to buy the full-length novel, Phasma, which is as I said before…annoying.

However, the art is stunning and dynamic and there are so many little details to be had. They definitely have an eye for amazing action sequences and full-page panels.

Overall, it doesn’t feel like a necessary addition to the storyline. Phasma certainly needs the extra detail, but this is a one-shot so much of that detail is still being glossed over. I enjoyed it and I think the art is phenomenal, but I still think our captain deserves better.