The Mandalorian comic series started out so well, but unfortunately this issue highlights a major problem with the pacing. Trying to pack in all the elements from a full episode into a single issue, even a super sized one, is unrealistic. This episode should have been split into at least two large sized issues to allow room for the characters, interactions and battles to breath.
This issue begins as the episode does with Mando arriving to Ran’s space dock where he is quickly hired to free a prisoner. He’s introduced to Ran’s other mercenaries including Mayfield, Burg, Zero and Xi’an. Mando is informed that they are breaking the prisoner out of New Republic custody and is not pleased. Mayfield spends the entire journey trying to get under Mando’s skin including discovering Grogu.
They arrive at the prison where Mando makes quick work of the droid guards. They run into Davan a New Republic guard and Xi’an kills him but activated a tracking beacon. They free Xi’an’s brother Qin. The team throws Mando into the cell although he quickly escapes and takes all of them out besides Qin. He returns Qin to Ran but leaves the New Republic tracker behind. Even as Ran tries to destroy Mando’s departing ship the New Republic arrives to stop him.
This is a really tough episode to adapt and writer Rodney Barnes and artist George Jeanty do their best to hit all the beats. But this issue feels very plot driven rather than truly giving us a feel for the characters and action which made the series so worthwhile. The opening with the Razor Crest and the conversation on the ship are well done but the remainder of the issue just flies by at the expense of tone and pacing. Hopefully this series can allow for more episodes to be spread across multiple issue rather than losing what makes this series so special.
Writing: 2.5 of 5 stars
Art: 3.2 of 5 stars
Colors: 2.9 of 5 stars
Overall: 2.8 of 5 stars
Writer: Rodney Barnes
Art: George Jeanty
Inks: Karl Story and Wayne Faucher
Colors: Rachelle Rosenberg
Publisher: Marvel Comics