THE LAST STARFIGHTER #2 (Mad Cave Studios)

Now that the Star League is finally rebuilding the Starfighter Legion they have a big problem on their hands. The problem is that there is someone or something that doesn’t want the legion put back together. They are actively seeking out the recruits and killing them before they can join. Will Alex and Grig figure out a way to put together a new team, or will this enemy force defeat the Starfighters before they can actually get up and running?

The Last Starfighter #2 - Written By Benjamin Raab & Deric A. Hughes – Art By Willi Roberts - Colors By Francesco Segala – Flats By Agnese Pozza – Letters By Rob Jones - Edited By Sarah Brunstad - Published By Mad Cave Studios

Credit: Mad Cave Studios

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

STORY OVERVIEW:

A Ko-Dan Faction named the Blackstars has attacked the planet Kaisu as Centauri and Maggie are trying to pick up the new Kaisuan recruit. The Blackstars are led by a woman named Naxos Ko-Ma aka The Reaper and it appears she has a real problem with the Star League. Alex worries about Maggie who he sent with Centauri to learn recruiting firsthand. On Kaisu the Blackstars attack killing a lot of innocent people including the family of Hanu the Starfighter recruit. Centauri, Maggie, and Hanu barely escape and return to the Star League base on Rylos. There they assemble the new recruits and realize that they are far smaller outfit than they would like. The team is Hanu, Iguo, Breeta, Tyborus Kirak, Xyla, and of course Alex and Grig. But they are actually one more member short as Grig refuses for his son Iguo to fly with the Starfighters. As they start to train in the new ships, the Stingrazors, the shadow of the Blackstars hang over them.

WRITING:

This issue does a strong job of pushing the larger story forward while also giving the series a clear and immediate enemy. Benjamin Raab and Deric A. Hughes use the Blackstars to raise the stakes in a way that feels personal, dangerous, and urgent. Rather than simply introducing them as another enemy force for the Star League to fight, the writers show the damage they are capable of doing right away. Their attack on Kaisu is brutal, and the fact that they are targeting potential Starfighter recruits before the Legion can fully rebuild makes them feel like a threat with a specific plan. That approach gives the story a stronger sense of direction because the danger is not just coming someday in the future. It is already here, cutting down the team before it even has a chance to become whole.

One of the best choices Raab and Hughes make is keeping the Blackstars’ larger motives mostly hidden. Naxos Ko-Ma, also known as The Reaper, immediately comes across as ruthless and committed to destroying any chance of the Starfighters returning, but the issue does not explain everything about her yet. That mystery works in the book’s favor. It gives readers enough information to understand why she is frightening while leaving plenty of questions for future issues. The writers understand that intrigue is just as important as action in a story like this, and by letting the Blackstars remain somewhat in the shadows, they make the conflict feel bigger than a few attacks.

The emotional side of the issue also works well because Alex and Grig are not simply experienced heroes stepping back into action. They are both carrying personal fears that complicate the rebuilding of the Legion. Alex has already survived the Ko-Dan and understands what kind of war the new recruits may be walking into, but his concern for Maggie makes the mission harder for him to separate from his personal life. Sending her out with Centauri was supposed to help her understand the recruiting process, but once the Blackstars attack, Alex is forced to confront how dangerous that decision really was. Grig faces a similar struggle with Iguo. He knows his son has the skill to be one of the strongest new Starfighters, yet that same knowledge makes him afraid to let Iguo fly. Their experience gives them an advantage over the younger recruits, but it also makes them more aware of everything that can go wrong.

Centauri’s behavior adds another compelling layer to the issue. His decision to run during the attack on Kaisu feels completely out of character, which makes Maggie’s confrontation with him one of the more interesting character moments in the issue. Instead of giving readers an easy explanation, the scene creates a new question that hangs over the story. Centauri has always been a larger-than-life figure, so seeing him react in a way that seems fearful, secretive, or defensive suggests there is something deeper going on. When he leaves in anger rather than giving Maggie a real answer, it makes the mystery around him feel like it could become just as important as the conflict with the Blackstars.

Overall, this issue succeeds because it balances action, character conflict, and long-term setup. The Starfighter Legion is technically being rebuilt, but the issue makes it clear that the process will not be clean or easy. The team is smaller than it needs to be, several of the recruits are untested, the Blackstars are already hunting them, and the veterans are struggling with emotional baggage that could weaken the group before the first real mission begins. Raab and Hughes set the table for an exciting series by making the heroes feel vulnerable at the exact moment they need to become strong. That combination of danger, mystery, and personal stakes gives the book plenty of momentum moving forward.

ARTWORK:

The artwork in this issue continues to expand the world of The Last Starfighter and makes the universe feel much larger than what is happening directly in front of the characters. Willi Roberts does a great job giving each planet, station, ship, and location its own personality, which helps the story feel like it is moving through a wide and fully realized sci-fi setting rather than a series of interchangeable backgrounds. Kaisu feels like a place with history and people worth protecting, which makes the Blackstars’ attack hit harder. The Star League base on Rylos has a different energy, giving off the feeling of a military force trying to rebuild while still carrying the weight of everything it has already lost. The ships and technology also help sell the scale of the story, especially the Stingrazors, which feel sleek, dangerous, and exciting enough to make the training scenes stand out.

The character designs are another major strength of the issue because Roberts gives the recruits and villains clear visual identities right away. The Reaper is the standout design because she looks physically intimidating before she even says much, and her presence makes the Blackstars feel more dangerous every time she appears on the page. Her look communicates power, cruelty, and control, which fits the way she dominates the scenes around her. The new recruits also stand apart from one another well. Hanu, Iguo, Breeta, Tyborus Kirak, and Xyla all feel connected to their own worlds and backgrounds, and their designs help readers understand that the new Starfighter Legion is not just a group of pilots but a collection of very different people being pulled together for a shared mission.

The action sequences have a strong sense of movement and impact, especially during the attack on Kaisu. The destruction feels chaotic without becoming confusing, and the larger battles carry the kind of widescreen energy a Last Starfighter story needs. Roberts understands that this universe should feel grand, so the fights are not drawn like small skirmishes. They feel like moments that could change the future of the entire Star League. The panels make the danger clear, but they also keep the adventure side of the series alive. Even when the heroes are outmatched or trying to escape, the artwork keeps the scenes exciting and visually engaging.

Francesco Segala’s colors add a lot to the mood of the issue. The brighter sci-fi elements give the book a sense of adventure and wonder, while the harsher tones during the Blackstars’ attack make those scenes feel more dangerous and dramatic. The color work helps separate the different locations and gives each major moment a distinct atmosphere. The action scenes feel more intense because of the contrast and lighting, while the quieter scenes have enough visual warmth and depth to keep the characters grounded. Segala’s colors do more than make the pages look appealing. They support the emotional direction of the story and help guide the reader through the shifts between mystery, danger, and hope.

CHECK OUT MY REVIEW OF THE LAST STARFIGHTER #1

Final Thoughts:

The Last Starfighter #2 is a strong second issue that builds on the excitement of the premiere while giving the series a sharper sense of danger. The Blackstars make an immediate impact, the new recruits add fresh energy, and the creative team keeps the story moving with plenty of action, mystery, and heart. This issue makes it clear that rebuilding the Starfighter Legion will not be easy, and that is exactly what makes the series so exciting moving forward. If you missed issue one grab a copy, as well as issue two when you are at the shop this week.

FINAL GRADE: 9.5/10

Let me know your thoughts on The Last Starfighter #2 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!