Star Wars Adventures: Ransom & My Space Dark Horse Presents Vol. 3 - Graphic Novel Review

The essence of popular art balances between the known and the unknown. With the inset of two “Star Wars” volumes that bridge the balance between the narrative, the aspect of canon continues to structure while the My Space Dark Horse compilation shows a dexterity of diversity which shows new abilities while also the inherent shortcomings of certain others which is how one truly can differentiate the exceptional from the merely standard.Star Wars Adventures: Princess Leia & The Royal Ransom This Dark Horse quick read gives the aspect of the continuing romance of Han & Leia before it was seen in “Empire Strikes Back”. Granted hindsight allows for some interesting plays and other things you couldn't see. Chewie ends up playing, to great comic effect, the lousy uncle who tries to keep the kids to stop fighting long enough to get the job done and make up. Here like always, Leia gets stuck aboard the Millenium Falcon (she probably likes to put herself in these situations) where they have to get some info back to the Alliance. In true form, Han gets sidetracked in doing a little side job for some spending money. They end up in the middle of a kidnapping bounty involving another princess. The thing is that this girl eventually likes Han and wants to marry him. The quips after they find her in an electronics drum are priceless and plays up the fact of why Leia likes Han: it's because he's a goof with a bit of charm.My Space Dark Horse Presents Vol. 3 The aspect of an anthology of would-be artists that are getting some of their elements shown compared with the elements of established writer/artists is an interesting exercise although the best work does for sure bubbles to the top. Beginning with “Murderous Intent”, the inflection of an almost "Sanctuary" based tale, shows that the genre is beginning to catch up with those it seeks. “I See The Devil In My Sleep” fares better because it is purely psychological. A man thinks he is seeing ghosts. We think he might be sane but it turns out that he's not. “The Creepys” plays like a mix between the trailers for “Grindhouse” and “Creepshow” in a sick but slightly humorous way that is brought to bear later. “The Cleaners: Body Colony” is one of the better stories in the volume because of its almost floral connection to “Andromeda Strain”. Its structure follows more of a “Twilight Zone”motif.“The Stain” is more reflexive in terms of the writer but, as a result, seems more convoluted. The essence of bringing work home with you is an essence of being but nonetheless one that has been created time and time before. “Emily The Strange” works with poetry and although it seems to speak to a certain theoretical area of the population, it comes off as too pretentious here. “Om Nom Nom” is the continuation of “The Creepys” story with a chicanerous young woman thinking she can rip off a harmless old invalid. Turns out the old girl is a mass murderer who is just waiting for the chance. The boyfriend ends up in the freezer and the girl gets conched in the head. It happens. “Previously Possessed” is a piece about a dress which is cursed but the story is indominantly dumb. “The Nightmare Of A Wine Hobo” is equally as weak simply because of its overabundance of metaphors. “Hunger For Knowledge” tries to use a different color palette but its insistance and reflexiveness of a dragon killed for a girl being a car is a bit overplayed. “Saccards” which follows the trails of a Ronin Rabbit has its odes to Kurosawa for sure but lacks a great perception in spite of its “Kill Bill” inventiveness in the vision of its lead character. “Beanworld” shows that the anthology is losing steam because even as it tries to create something intensive, it loses the character in the over complication of its personalities. “The Couch Fort” by The Mysterious Actor is simply sheer self indulgence underwhelming in the sheer “inside” nature of what it is showing.“One Dollar Genius” has a great humor in a Weird Al sort of way simply because it turns the aspect of a couple bears in Nike suits going to Taco Bell for some food into an inherent exercise on the meaning of life. In the end, it seems, all that is needed is a good bowel movement. President Carter and Kenny star in “The Best Job In The Whole World” which has everything to do with ice cream but nothing to do with running the country. "Nothing Nice To Say" follows the progress of “Getting Hip” but the reality is that Joey Ramone's ghost can't tell you how cool you are, you just have to find out for yourself. “The K Chronicles” is another short blip that has no relevance to anyone except the writer himself which is unfortunately something we all deal with at one time or another. “Steak & Kidney Punch” seems to be working towards a punchline which vindicates its lead character but never gets there. “Robro” has a good aesthetic working for it that rivals some elements of Gorillaz but its involvement of a standard robot going all psycho for an android female and then blowing stuff up is just bad storytelling. “Mister X In Slumberland”, like the man who commits a murder and can't wake up, works because it exists in the predilection of a dream state yet it is narrated by a woman whom the character examined lost.“Serenity: The Other Half” shows River (played by Terminator's Summer Lau in the series) helping the team at least get even on the deal. The Captain isn't very pleased but he knows better than to hedge his bets. At least “Castle” is doing well so Nathan Fillion can be happy. “Harmony Bites” is a little too inside for Hollywood but would probably make a good "Outer Limits" episode simply because the party girl retains some of her attitude despite being able to sire other vampires. It helps that her weak friend is a demon who likes to knit. “Vampy Cat” has Joss Whedon's name on it but it basically plays like "Shin Chan" where the cat goes nuts and bites people. “I'm Moist” has a kid who thinks he is different becoming a drip because his dad brings home a humidifier that was made in the Soviet Union.Like all anthologies there are some good and some bad. Here the aspects of “A Devil Never Sleeps” and “Slumberland” stand out because the rest of the other stories play unconnected or undeniably distracted.