The latest tie-in issue to this year’s mega Star Wars crossover, War of the Bounty Hunters, Jabba the Hutt #1 gives us a bit more background detail on a few key players in the fight for the possession of Han Solo’s frozen form. Rather than the action spotlighting Jabba himself – and despite the comic’s title – it instead focuses on the rivalry between two of Jabba’s most dependable Bounty Hunters and his manipulation of them.

Jabba does feature of course – and his manoeuvring of the Bounty Hunters does cause the clashes that take up the bulk of the issue – but most time is spent with us being introduced to Shani Bounty Hunter Deva Lompop, who has an incredibly striking, brilliantly colourful visual design. She’s also a total badass – ruthless and cold, she’s a very compelling character and she makes the issue worthwhile. The story itself is really entertaining with some intriguing twists – and there’s an interesting structure, with flashbacks drawn by Luca Pizzari and the present day action illustrated by Ibraim Roberson (it must be said that the flashback art felt a little rough at times, but Roberson’s present day pencils are superb).

Though it may feel like a bit of a filler issue with yet another diversion from the main story of the crossover, we’re likely to see more of Lompop in the rest of the series – so I’m sure that the importance of the background here is going to reveal itself in the next chapters of the saga.

I am certainly looking forward to seeing more of Deva Lompop in any case. Let’s hope we do – as the War of the Bounty Hunters continues over the next few months.

The rest of my War of the Bounty Hunters reviews can be found here.