And so ends Rookies, or at least the first part of a two-part "pilot."

Monday, Strip 66 -- Barezz doesn't have that high of an opinion of bounty hunters -- which is pretty consistent with how Imperial officers have been depicted in the past. The dark-suited lieutenant is the stormtrooper officer who called off the hunters with the loudhailer a few strips back.

Tuesday, Strip 67 -- The "Old Timer" is the smoking gun, as it were. And the sabacc analogies are a theme that will likely continue throughout the series, something that comes out of setting a story of Ord Mantell and having a gambler as a prime player.

Wednesday, Strip 68 -- A bit of a tease for the next arc, "No Turning Back."

Currently, R:NTB is in the script stage. It's about 16 weeks long, which puts it at about the same length as R:R (which was 14 weeks). I'm taking a month off to get a heads start on the artwork. It's moved off planet, so we get a chance of scenery. There's more action in it, but it's still very strongly character-driven.

For those still scratching their heads about where in the timeline these tales take place, well, if a third Rookies arc gets approved, then it will reveal that it takes place shortly after the desctruction of Alderaan.

That's all till now. See you in about a month with Raal, Sammie, Smiley and Kestrel up their necks in trouble, as usual.

ph