Star Wars: Tales from the Death Star is a new graphic novel that will be released by Dark Horse Comics on October 17th. The publisher provided me and advance copy for review.

The book features five short stories, all from writer Cavan Scott, set on the Death Star — one of the most recognizable ships in the vast Star Wars universe. Each story is told from the perspective of a different character with some tie to the Death Star. The stories range in tone, but they all provide a unique and fascinating look at this seminal location with stunning visuals from a cadre of all-star comic book artists: Soo Lee, Vincenzo Riccardi, Fico Ossio, Ingo Römling, and Juan Samu.

One of the things that sets Star Wars: Tales from the Death Star apart from other Star Wars comic adaptations is its focus on the everyday lives of the people who live, work, and are held prisoner on the Death Star. Scott’s quickly introduce these characters which enables readers to instantly make connections thus allowing tension to build and stakes to raise without things feeling inconsequential.

Like the tone of the stories themselves, the art by individual artists, along with colors by Sebastian Cheng and Candice Han, gives each story a distinct look and visual identity. One of the highlights for me was Vincenzo Riccardi’s take on the story, “The Creature from the Trash Compactor.” Panels jump from the page with a detailed and brilliant sense of chaos that perfectly complemented the suspenseful tale of a mysterious horror lurking in the dark. Riccardi also wows with several full-page panels, including one featuring a zoomed-out view of the titular Death Star.

Overall, Star Wars: Tales from the Death Star is a must-read for any Star Wars fan, especially those with a soft spot for the Empire. It's a fresh and exciting take on the Death Star, and it features some of the most unique art in Star Wars comics that I've seen in a long time.

Rating: 8.5/10