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Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron
Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron, Vol. 2: The Phantom Affair
The Battle of Endor was never fought -- it was just so much Alliance propaganda. At least, that's the lie being spread by the Ante-Endor Association. But Wedge Antilles and his Rogue Squadron comrades know the truth. They were at Endor when so many gave their lives to destroy the second Death Star. And so, for those lost friends, this is a battle they will not lose.
117 pages, Paperback
First published November 26, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 18, 2022
Star Wars Legends Project #305
Background: The Phantom Affair was published in 4 issues Feb-May of 1996. It is the second story arc of the Rogue Squadron run. It was written by Michael A. Stackpole and Darko Macan and drawn by Edvin Biuković and John Nadeau (issues #7-8 only). Stackpole is the author of a number of novels, comics issues, and short stories, mostly pertaining to the pilots of Rogue Squadron. Macan has written a handful of other Star Wars comics, including Jedi vs. Sith and Vader's Quest. Biukovic only has one other Star Wars credit, but Nadeau worked on over a dozen issues of Rogue Squadron, along with several other things.
The Phantom Affair takes place 2 months after the Battle of Endor, 4 years after the Battle of Yavin. The main characters are Wedge Antilles, Tycho Celchu, Wes Janson, and the rest of Rogue Squadron, along with Mirax Terrik. The story takes place on and around Mrlsst.
Summary: The brilliant alien Mrlssi have developed a new cloaking device, and the Alliance dispatches Rogue Squadron to negotiate for it. But the Empire has sent their own delegation, led by the man who murdered Wedge Antilles's parents. Wedge knows he'll have to control his emotions if he wants the mission to succeed, but the planet's internal politics are highly volatile: A pro-Imperial group claims that the Battle of Endor never happened, there are rumors that the ghost of a legendary Jedi has returned, and before long, one of the Rogues is framed for a crime, resulting in Wedge's imprisonment. As the situation rapidly deteriorates, Rogue Squadron will have to pull together like never before if they want to get out alive.
Review: I'm a sucker for Wedge's backstory, and Loka Hask is a fun villain, so this adventure gets off to a strong start. There's a LOT going on, and most of these ideas are good ones, but it ends up feeling a bit overstuffed. I really appreciate how sophisticated and thought-through the plotting of this is compared to a lot of comic stories. It could have been as straightforward as it first appears, and that would have been fine, but the extra twists and turns both make it way more interesting and make it feel more real. Overall, this is another very serviceable entry in the series, but most of Rogues still feel a bit underdeveloped and aren't given as much to do as I'd like.
B-
Background: The Phantom Affair was published in 4 issues Feb-May of 1996. It is the second story arc of the Rogue Squadron run. It was written by Michael A. Stackpole and Darko Macan and drawn by Edvin Biuković and John Nadeau (issues #7-8 only). Stackpole is the author of a number of novels, comics issues, and short stories, mostly pertaining to the pilots of Rogue Squadron. Macan has written a handful of other Star Wars comics, including Jedi vs. Sith and Vader's Quest. Biukovic only has one other Star Wars credit, but Nadeau worked on over a dozen issues of Rogue Squadron, along with several other things.
The Phantom Affair takes place 2 months after the Battle of Endor, 4 years after the Battle of Yavin. The main characters are Wedge Antilles, Tycho Celchu, Wes Janson, and the rest of Rogue Squadron, along with Mirax Terrik. The story takes place on and around Mrlsst.
Summary: The brilliant alien Mrlssi have developed a new cloaking device, and the Alliance dispatches Rogue Squadron to negotiate for it. But the Empire has sent their own delegation, led by the man who murdered Wedge Antilles's parents. Wedge knows he'll have to control his emotions if he wants the mission to succeed, but the planet's internal politics are highly volatile: A pro-Imperial group claims that the Battle of Endor never happened, there are rumors that the ghost of a legendary Jedi has returned, and before long, one of the Rogues is framed for a crime, resulting in Wedge's imprisonment. As the situation rapidly deteriorates, Rogue Squadron will have to pull together like never before if they want to get out alive.
Review: I'm a sucker for Wedge's backstory, and Loka Hask is a fun villain, so this adventure gets off to a strong start. There's a LOT going on, and most of these ideas are good ones, but it ends up feeling a bit overstuffed. I really appreciate how sophisticated and thought-through the plotting of this is compared to a lot of comic stories. It could have been as straightforward as it first appears, and that would have been fine, but the extra twists and turns both make it way more interesting and make it feel more real. Overall, this is another very serviceable entry in the series, but most of Rogues still feel a bit underdeveloped and aren't given as much to do as I'd like.
B-
May 15, 2025
I'd have been more familiar with Stackpole's Rogue Squadron had I read the novels I owned previously.
Alas, I did not though I have read the graphic novel "Reqiuem..." instead so I have some knowledge of Wedge's crew and a great preceding book this is, better than the above mentioned book story-wise at least. The art wasn't too my liking which is odd because I really like Gary Erskine's work. Perhaps I'm just not a fan of this one of his? A deeper dive into his comic works is needed.
Wedge and co are not the cautious hands they become in Mercy Kill (the only X-Wing novel I have read to date) so seeing them younger and more ready for a rumble is refreshing.
Alas, I did not though I have read the graphic novel "Reqiuem..." instead so I have some knowledge of Wedge's crew and a great preceding book this is, better than the above mentioned book story-wise at least. The art wasn't too my liking which is odd because I really like Gary Erskine's work. Perhaps I'm just not a fan of this one of his? A deeper dive into his comic works is needed.
Wedge and co are not the cautious hands they become in Mercy Kill (the only X-Wing novel I have read to date) so seeing them younger and more ready for a rumble is refreshing.
April 13, 2020
Rushed and flawed story yet engaging the whole time. More people should read these alongside the novel series, even for small things like Tycho meeting Mirax.
A few things I couldn't even find on Wookiepedia:
1 - Why did wedge outbid the imperials if he knew it were fake?
2 - How did Falken know Elscol's husband?
3 - What was Falken's relationship with the fallen Jedi?
A few things I couldn't even find on Wookiepedia:
1 - Why did wedge outbid the imperials if he knew it were fake?
2 - How did Falken know Elscol's husband?
3 - What was Falken's relationship with the fallen Jedi?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2020
Unlike the new Star Wars stuff coming out now the timeline makes perfect sense: a few weeks after the battle of Endor. The team took a bit to come together, but once the characters were established it was entertaining. Good story with some good action and a bit of humor. Even though Lucas ended up disavowing the expanded universe stories they were still fun.
June 20, 2023
I liked this volume much better than Vol. 1. The squadron winds up on the planet Mrlsst to talk about obtaining the phantom ship. What actually does happen is Antilles past catches up to him and there are a lot of secrets on this planet... some good and some bad. The artwork was great as well as the story. Looking forward to the next adventure!
October 6, 2017
i could not under stand the words they said i had to rely on the pictures.
November 7, 2019
An enjoyable Star Wars adventure that focuses on some of the minor characters from the films as well as a whole bunch of new ones. Despite their differences, the fighter-pilot team feel like a real family and are enjoyable to watch. The action is few and far between, but wonderfully depicted when it is all going down.
What was also refreshing was that not all the aliens in the background are the usual repeats from the films. Yes, there are some familiar ones such as the Twi'leks and Ithorians, but there are many others that don't have an action figure or trading card. The artwork was also pretty good. It did help that, apart from Wedge, none of the other characters were really seen on screen so there was no need to be 'photo-realistic.'
What was also refreshing was that not all the aliens in the background are the usual repeats from the films. Yes, there are some familiar ones such as the Twi'leks and Ithorians, but there are many others that don't have an action figure or trading card. The artwork was also pretty good. It did help that, apart from Wedge, none of the other characters were really seen on screen so there was no need to be 'photo-realistic.'
August 20, 2013
An awesome Star Wars story with humor, good characterization, and a solid and interesting plot. Doesn't feel straightforward or like you've read this sort of story a million times before. I was engaged and kept turning the page to see what happens next; there was never a dull moment. Overall I really liked it.
If I had to say something it lacked it was a little difficult to follow at times, but it doesn't take a genius to re-read a few pages to orient yourself in the book.
If I had to say something it lacked it was a little difficult to follow at times, but it doesn't take a genius to re-read a few pages to orient yourself in the book.
February 5, 2023
Probably more 2 1/2 stars, really, but I'll let the nostalgia factor bump it up to a 3. The art is decent, and if you don't think about it too much, the story flows all right. (I do think it's a bit over complicated for a short graphic novel (originally comic book arc).) It does introduce (I think?) some of Wedge's history (at least in Legends continuity).
July 30, 2017
I thought the book flowed really nice from start to finish, it was a really good read it's nice to read expanded universe books and graphic novels if you get a chance to read this it's well worth it, you won't be disappointed.
January 17, 2008
2nd in the series, pretty good.
June 22, 2010
A great story and great art work; this plot comes back in the later X-Wing book series.
June 11, 2012
Strip u kojem je Darko Macan stvorio lika Koyi Komad, koja je postala dio Rogue Squadrona. :)
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews