Villanova supplies good detail when it comes to IG-88, and even though he’s a set of red lights and odd shapes, there’s a key scene where you actually feel for the droid. Whenever blasters or lightsabers are on the page the book brightens, but for the most part, the brown rust and darker tones are visualized well through color. The art by Vilanova and colors by Antonio Fabela are fantastic. Barnes has done a lot to elevate IG-88, giving Charles Soule plenty to work with in Crimson Reign. The story ties into the War of the Bounty Hunters event, but for the most part, it picks up IG-88 where we last left him, and then sends him on his way into the eventual Crimson Dawn series, Star Wars: Crimson Reign. This issue recaps a lot for casual readers. He would never admit or agree to that - in fact, he’d probably blow my brains out for saying it - but it’s part of his charm to see how he’s more human than most droids while rejecting that idea completely. You begin to read in between the lines and see he’s not just a pile of scrap and code, but a creature that has wants and maybe even dreams. It’s impressive how the narrative pulls out the personality and psychosis of IG-88 through the captions and dialogue. Avoiding the turn in the story that comes as a shock, Barnes further explores the narrative from IG-88’s perspective in the second half. This helps add perspective when IG-88 is eventually put back together. His perspective gives the narrative an almost religious angle, as if IG-88 is more than just metal and parts, but something even bigger. We soon learn the narration is coming from a formidable mechanic, but also a person very much in awe of IG-88. Even after facing Darth Vader back in June. It’s especially different for IG-88, as Barnes and Vilanova show the droid has died a few times and always comes back. Listen to the latest episode of our Star Wars podcast, Talkin' Tauntauns!

Ig88 star wars bounty hunters