Story: Michael A. Stackpole
Script: Mike Baron
Pencils: Allen Nunis
Inks: Andy Mushynsky
Colors: Dave Nestelle
Lettering: Steve Dutro
Cover Art: Dave Dorman
This is the first mini-series of the X-Wing Rogue Squadron comic series. To date, it is not available as a trade papaerback (TPB), and from what I've heard, it most likely never will be. There are reasons for this, most of them good. This was, like I said, the first offering in the XWRS series, and also the weakest.
First, let's say what I think is good about the mini-series. The cover art is just fabulous! I especially love the cover for the first issue. It looks exactly like Wedge. This is also the first meeting between Tycho Celchu and Winter. For the most part, I thought this meeting was well done. One can tell right away from the banter that these two are meant for each other. I also liked some of the interaction between Wedge and Elscol.
I mentioned earlier the high quality of the cover art. Unfortunately, that quality is found nowhere else in the issue. Plourr, Groznik, and perhaps Elscol are the only characters who conform to later pictures/descriptions. Dllr is too tall, Hobbie looks like a typical guy without any Hobbie-like distinctiveness, Wedge's eyes are blue, and Tycho is a bleached-blond. Winter only bore a passing resemblance to Leia. I do have to admit that, although Wes doesn't look too much like he does in later comics, this Wes looks the most like the description of him given in the novels. This one looks almost baby-faced and like one given easily to cheer, whereas otherwise he looks so old and beaten. This depiction of Wes is one that the later artists should have tried to stick with a little more.
There were also major story and continuity problems with this mini-series. Let's start with the R2 units flying the X-wings. In the novels, I know they mention that the R2's can operate the X-wings, enough to move them around in the hangar so the pilot is not needed to move the plane from one end to the other. Somehow, I just don't buy Dllr being able to call the planes over from that far away. I could be wrong on this point, and the R2's may be able to fly them that far, as long as they're not in combat, but it just didn't seem very plausible to me.
Here's some legitimate gripes, however. In issue #1, Wedge comments that their contact is Targeter, and Targeter's female. In issue #2, he tells Elscol that Targeter is their contact, but keeps referring to Targeter as a male. In issue #3, Elscol tells Wedge and the others about her contact, who is a woman named Targeter. Wedge exclaims that they have the same contact. Ok, so Targeter changes gender from issue to issue, and Elscol does not remember Wedge telling her about his contact?
That may be the biggest gripe, but there are other, smaller ones. Tycho, a lieutenant, is promoted to major for one panel in issue #3. Also, it says repeatedly that his fiance from Alderaan was named Mia, but all subsequent works say that her name was Nyiestra. This wouldn't be a big deal, except that Tycho is thinking about how much Winter reminds him of Mia. He could be comparing her with his sister, but I think it'd be weird for a guy who has at least just developed a crush on a woman to compare that woman with his sister. Also, Wes references flying kites on Coruscant, but that's practically impossible since the planet's still in Imperial hands. And when was Alderaan bombed? I thought it was blown to oblivion in one single burst?
Then there are things that I just found annoying. If I see the word "stang" one more time, I'm going to scream. There were a couple of other examples of swearing throuhout this mini-series that just doesn't fit with SW. I was also really getting tired of Elscol bringing up a dead family member every other panel. "Well, you could ask my sister, but she's dead." And why was Hobbie called Derek the entire issue? Was Wedge mad at him or something?
There are a couple of other things I thought were kind of neat with this mini-series, however. They keep referencing a convoy that's supposed to be going to Mrisst/Mrlsst (the spelling varies throughout the mini-series). This is a nice lead-in to The Phantom Affair, which begins with them taking the convoy to Mrlsst. Also, in issue #4, the Moff is looking at a picture of Leia. The Leia in the picture looks like she's wearing bun earmuffs! It made me think of Princess Vespa in the beginning of Spaceballs.
Overall, The Rebel Opposition has subpar artwork, a mediocre plot, and major continuity problems. I'm glad I didn't read this first, or else I seriously would've had to ponder reading later issues of the XWRS series. I recommend having it if only to see Tycho and Winter's first meeting and to round out the XWRS series. Of course, this is coming from a completist. That's also the one reason I think Dark Horse should eventually release The Rebel Opposition as a TPB.
Reviewed March 29, 2000 by Kelly M. Grosskreutz.
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