Star Wars: Invasion/Rescues stays strong with this second issue. At times approaching a meaningful theme, other times providing more visceral pleasures, it never fails to entertain. Finn Galfridian and the Solo twins, Jacen and Jaina, head off to save Finn's father, whose planet has succumbed to the Yuuzhan Vong invasion. In the meantime Finn’s mother and sister, Nina and Kaye, along with some New Republic soldiers, head down to that same planet in search of survivors. Lightsabers and nasty bad guys ensue. And check out that cover!

Ultimately, this part of the Invasion/Rescues story is about unity. In order to be effective and powerful, people must work not as individuals but as part of a whole. We see this several times throughout the issue. On the first page, we learn that a brain-like being called the Yammosk unifies all Yuuzhan Vong ships telepathically. This, presumably, is how the species has been so capable of taking over planets on the rim. They are acting in absolute accord with one another. We later see a makeshift New Republic army, working with Kaye and her refugee friends, become stronger by eliminating a factor that was preventing unity among the soldiers. We also see Finn (who, as a burgeoning Jedi, could be said to have great control over himself) defeat a certain swarm of Vong creatures that act outside the control of the Yammosk. The implication of all of this is that those who are successful in their endeavors are those who shun the self in favor of the group. That is why even the three Jedi fare so well. They act not according to their own best interests but in the interests of those around them.

There is plenty of plain fun here, too. Much of the comic consists of Finn in a spacesuit on the outside of the Solo twins’ ship, wielding two lightsabers and tearing his enemies to bits. Spicing things up elsewhere, there is some Yuuzhan Vong torture, and in the end, Dulac, Finn’s father’s friend, reveals himself to be a Vong (something we knew but that Mr. Galfridian did not). The comic ends with “Freaking Continued!” which may be presumptuous but is a sign that writer Tom Taylor is excited about his story. It shows all the way through.

Even the relatively slow parts are kept alive by Colin Wilson’s brilliant penciling. The images of the New Republic soldiers in spacesuits being showered with toxic rain are simultaneously classic and modern, drawing, it seems, from the best aspects of sci-fi aesthetics. The design of the Yuuzhan Vong Tsalok is also awesome, approaching the ferociousness of sci-fi creatures like the Predator. Even the purely functional panels offer something to gaze at at least momentarily. The art alone is almost enough to recommend buying the comic.

So far so good with Invasion/Rescues. The only thing I can say this issue lacks is any sort of consequence for Finn’s running off against the advice of Luke Skywalker, who warned him that he is not ready for such an endeavor. Here he just goes all Jedi badass on some bad guys as if he could handle anything. Granted, though, these particular enemies were weak, and there is still room for his possible over-ambition to play out. Overall, both this issue and issue #1 have done a good job of invoking the sense of adventure in which the Star Wars franchise has its roots.