Steve Long 
Steve takes a detour to Naboo for a rendezvous with Jar Jar Binks in our review of Star Wars: Jar Jar #1.
Who knew we were going to get a comic about Jar Jar?!? I sure didn’t! I’m not sure how this one escaped my notice. And not only did we get a comic book about Jar Jar. It is co-written by the man himself! That’s right, Ahmed Best co-wrote this book with Marc Guggenheim. The story takes place at the start of The Clone Wars, after Jar Jar, as an alternate representative in the Galactic Senate, has proposed the idea of giving Chancellor Palpatine emergency war powers.
Guggenheim, while better known as a television screenwriter and producer, has several comic book credits to his name. Some of those include Green Lantern, The Flash, Punisher, X-Men, and more. He is no stranger to writing Star Wars comics, either. He has done some Age of Republic one-shots, written the 2022 series Han Solo & Chewbacca, and written for the Jedi Knights series.
KIERAN MCKEOWN & LAURA BRAGA
The artwork was done by Kieran McKeown and Laura Braga. McKeown has previously done some work on 2002 A.D. (Judge Dredd), Batman, and Wonder Woman, while Braga has distinguished herself on a ton of comic books, such as Batman, Catwoman, Supergirl, and, as far as Star Wars comics are concerned, she has done work on The High Republic and the Ewoks comic.
Most of the “action” takes place on a planet I don’t think we have heard of previously, called Urubai. Jar Jar is dispatched there under false pretenses. He thinks he is going there to visit an ambassador, but is actually there to meet with a familiar Jedi Knight. Another Ahmed Best character, Kelleren Beq. Beq has requested Jar Jar’s presence to show him the plight of the workers on Urubai and the consequences of Palpatine’s emergency powers.
A DYNAMIC DUO
I think Guggenheim and Best did a good job of maintaining the proper characterization of Jar Jar. He is portrayed as the bumbling, and sometimes very lucky, imbecile that we are all familiar with. The story’s idea is compelling and fits well with the overall canon narrative. I was excited to see Kelleren Beq get some more backstory, and seeing him fight a couple of bounty hunters was fun. I’m glad Marvel is taking these characters who haven’t gotten much love and putting them headfirst into a story. I was also thrilled to see a character we know from other Star Wars media introduced in comics. I’m not going to spoil who it is, but I will say to prepare yourself. It is great.
VERDICT
Overall, the artwork in the book is very solid. Good line work. Good color work. McKeown and Braga have the chops to present this story well, and I hope to see them in more future Star Wars projects. Whether or not you are a fan of Jar Jar, if you are a fan of Star Wars, this is a book you should read. I can’t wait for more of this story.
Steve is a fan of Star Wars, punk rock, comic books, and cats. In addition to writing for Future of the Force, he also sings for punk band Get Fired and hosts the podcast Rebel Rock Radio!
