Comic Review: The Bad Batch - Rogue Agents #3 – Clones vs Clones!
The rivalry between the Bad Batch and their rogue clone counterparts heats up.
By
Dark Horse Comics/Youtin Illustration
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Writer: Michael Moreci
Artist: Reese Hannigan
Colors: Michael Atiyeh
Publisher summary:
As the Bad Batch closes in on the scientist they've been searching for, their adversaries make a tempting offer. Is it too good to be true? Meanwhile, another deadly (and all too familiar) enemy trains their sights on Clone Force 99…
Dark Horse Comics
Why it matters: For everyone who didn’t want the Bad Batch to end, now it doesn’t have to!
Key moments:
Bait and Switch: The Bad Batch pull off some great trickery in their fight against the rogue clones, proving once again that being brothers is even more important than their other skills.
A Clone’s Purpose: While the rogues are set up as the antagonists of this adventure, a flashback sheds some light on their motivations. Clone agency is always an interesting topic, and this is another compelling angle of the debate.
Old Foes: We saw her in hologram in issue #2, but Aurra Sing finally joins the fight! She and the Batch have beef from the Ghost Agents miniseries - it’s time to settle it.
Dark Horse Comics
The big picture: It almost gets tiring saying this with every issue, but I’ll put it out there again: This is just like watching an episode of the TV show. Michael Moreci so perfectly captures these characters, and the story beats feel right out of an episode of Star Wars animation. There’s great action throughout, and the fight ends with Tech and Crosshair pulling off one of their most exciting feats yet.
While the adventure is a fun one as always, this issue shines with its character work. The rogue clones are given a backstory and point of view that almost has you rooting for them. However, the Bad Batch reminds us that paving your own path is not the same thing as being noble. It’s a topic that’s surprisingly deep for an all-ages comic. Like the show this comic spins out of, it’s a perfect mix of fun and thoughtful.
If Dark Horse wants to keep publishing these “adventure of the week” type miniseries, I’ll be first in line every Wednesday.
Our rating: Incredible
What’s next: Sadly, there is only one more issue of Rogue Agents left. Issue #4 in comic shops on June 17.
For a deeper discussion of this issue, be sure to check out this week’s episode of The Cosmic Force podcast!
Oz Davis is a co-host of The Cosmic Force and Bounty Hunt at Youtini. He's kept up with every Canon release since 2014 and has a particular soft spot for lesser-known books like "Servants of the Empire." As part of Youtini's "Dad Batch," he's also developed an affinity for the multitude of Star Wars children's books, and he's always looking to expand his collection.
