Star Wars Agent of the Empire: Hard Targets #2 Review

By Diego Chi
November 16, 2012 - 11:16

Star Wars Agent of the Empire follows the exploits of Imperial Intelligence Agent Jahan Cross, the galactic answer to James Bond. John Ostrander launched the series in 2011 filled with espionage, femme fatales, and action galore. Hard Targets is the second arc of the series, taking place a few years before the events of the original Star Wars trilogy.

In Issue #2, Agent Cross is sent to the planet Serenno to oversee the election of an interim leader after the previous Count Dooku had been assassinated-- an assassination Cross carried out. The late Dooku's son was too young to succeed him, thus a regent needed to be selected by the heads of the aristocratic houses. Cross' orders were to ensure Imperial loyalist Rodas Burgen became regent, protecting the interests of the Empire. The heads of the houses held their final meeting aboard the airship Windrunner, but trouble followed them into the skies.

The plot builds through interactions with parties on all sides: Cross' estranged father (head negotiator of the election), Rodas Burgen (Imperial sympathizer), and young Bron Dooku (the heir apparent). Ostrander keenly uses each interaction to not only reveal background information but showcase a feature of Cross' character. Cross displays his devotion to the Empire in his arguments against his own father. He shows his physical prowess by one-handedly disarming Burgen's head of security. Talking to the young Dooku, he reveals a compassionate side. Issue #2 has heavy exposition, but it isn't all dialogue- Ostrander ramps up the action with a surprise attack on the Windrunner and Cross dives right into the fray.

Davidé Fabbri's artwork is standard fare for Dark Horse's Star Wars imprints-- straightforward and not overly detailed. Ostrander's dialogue is carried well with Fabbri's pencils. Fabbri makes distinct mannerisms for each character-- Cross' father wearily bringing a hand to his forehead, Burgen nonchalantly pouring himself a drink while talking about a cold-blooded murder. Fabbri truly shines when he gets the chance to draw Cross in action-- the sequences are fluid and the smart layouts carry the weight of every punch. Wes Dzioba is a fine colorist, although his bright color choices make everything look brand-new when that should not always be the case (like the clothing of a rag-tag pirate group). However, there is a fantastic moment when Dzioba switches hues from pale greys to saturated reds, changing the mood from "tragic" to "bloodbath"-- I can't help but applaud him.

The plot crawls slowly with all the exposition at the beginning but the fun action sequence at the end is a pleasant release. This front-loaded spy-thriller still makes for a solid issue but I hope Ostrander finds a healthy balance in the future installments-- his story deserves it. Will I pick up the next issue? Absolutely.

Rating: 7 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12

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