An exciting read that is sure to please any Star Wars fan! 
 In the previous volume, Luke Skywalker finds Ben Kenobi's journal on Tatooine; and Princess Leia and Han Solo are caught by none other than Han Solo's wife(!?) with Imperial Death Troopers hot on their trail. Now, Luke must find out what secrets Ben's journal may unlock in order to continue on his path of becoming a Jedi; Leia, on the other hand, needs to decide whether she should slap or shoot Han for not telling her about his wife! Oh, Han! Always the troublemaker! 
 Star Wars, Vol. 2: Showdown on the Smuggler's Moon goes back to a time when Ben Kenobi was much younger on the planet of Tatooine. I never really thought about what Ben did on Tatooine or even why he was there. This chapter answers all of these questions and more. We also catch an insightful glimpse of Luke as a young boy. 
 Luke as a boy and as an adult certainly lives up to the name of Skywalker. There actually is a part in the book where Luke leaps 100 yards into the air to grab a thief holding onto an aircraft. The thief asks, "How did you jump so...You're insane," and Luke simply states, "No. I'm a Skywalker." This is easily the best line in the novel. I never really thought of the name Skywalker as anything other than a name, but the name fits. Quite literally, Luke can traverse through the sky. 
 I also had no idea what a bad ass Chewbacca is in hand-to-hand combat. He can rip droids apart with his bare hands and hold up a man with one arm. The fight scenes with Chewie are amazing, and I strongly recommend this book for those scenes alone. 
 I also can't fail to mention how funny R2-D2 and C-3PO are in this book. R2-D2 of course sneaks around looking all cute and brave in his pursuit to save Luke. There is just something about him that screams adorable. Then we have C-3PO who perfectly balances the traits of fear and courage. It intrigues me. Sometimes C-3PO panics and frets, "We're doomed!" Other times, he saunters right into a nefarious cantina with 50 bounty hunters and gangsters all looking like they are going to kill him, and he acts like it's a pleasant walk in the park. I suppose C-3PO is a bit naive and unobservant to his surroundings. One can easily attribute this to idiocy, but perhaps there is some underlying bravery in his programming. After all, C-3PO plays the role of communications specialist, translator, negotiator, and diplomat. One needs quite the fearless personality to exhibit these traits. Regardless how you look at it, C-3PO helps bring humor into the story, which is part of what makes Star Wars so enjoyable. 
 Last but not least, Grakkus the Hutt is incredible! All Star Wars fans know Jabba the Hutt, the disgusting, vile creature with his grotesque body and propensity for enslaving women in order to fulfill his sexual desires. However, here we have Grakkus the Hutt, who also loves money and big torture sessions, but he is a bit more intriguing in my opinion. Grakkus has an obsession with all things Jedi. This is perfect for Luke, who is trying to get all the information he can on becoming a Jedi, but don't think Grakkus is going to give up this information. Grakkus has other plans, such as having Luke battle a giant monster in a coliseum. What better way to make tons of money than by selling tickets to the death of the last Jedi! 
 All in all, I loved Showdown on the Smuggler's Moon. This volume brings in all the great attributes of Star Wars, including its lore, intrigue, excitement, and lovable characters. I can't read the rest of the series, and find out what happens next!