This review is for Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi adapted by Archie Goodwin and drawn by Al Williamson, Carlos Garzon, Ron Frenz and Tom Palmer, lettered by Ed King and colored by Sotocolor. It contains complete spoilers, which, after 32 years, should be pretty obvious by now.
Marvel’s reissued Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi graphic novel contains nothing you’ve not read before.
It does, however, explode with brilliant color, shadows and hues, which is why this collection of the 1983-published, four-issue adapation of the film is worth picking up, again. Even if you’ve got the originals. Even if you have it in the original Dark Horse collections. Even if you have it in Marvel’s three-volume Star Wars omnibus that was released this year.
Why? It’s not just for the Adi Granov cover, which is astounding. It’s all about the remastering and oh did Marvel remaster it. Colors fade in old comics, that’s a fact, no matter how well you may preserve your mint copies. Publishing in 1983 is not what is compared with 2015.
That’s evident in the coloring by Sotocolor, which, like previous outings in remastered editions of adaptations of Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope and Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, simply sparkles and makes these old tales brand new again.
The action scenes are crisp and vivid and the characterization of Lando, Leia, Luke, Han and more, are vivacious, recalling the film’s snappy dialogue and roguish sentiment.
Similarly, the battle over Endor explodes with verve in the pages of the hardcover edition, giving us closer detail and insight into the pilots on both sides as they fly, die and, in ultimately, emerge victorious.
For completists, it’s no question this edition is one to get ahold of. For casual readers, it’s a great way to enjoy the original trilogy’s conclusion, too.
For Star Wars fans of all stripes, it’s deserving of a place in the library, whether it’s physical or digital.
My rating: 5 out of 5.
Purchase a copy of Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi here.
Marvel Comics provided a copy of this book for review purposes.
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