Category: Star Wars

By various (Dark Horse Books)
ISBN: 978-1-84576-472-2

Dark Horse Comics have held the comics producing section of the Star Wars franchise since 1993, generating thousands of pages of material, much of it excellent, and some not quite. But as I’ve said before, die-hard fans simply aren’t that quality conscious when it comes to their personal obsession, whether it’s comics, the latest batch of action figures, or another film fiasco.

The company’s Omnibus line is a wonderful, economical way to keep the older material in print for such fans by bundling old publications into classy digests (they’re slightly smaller than US comic-books but larger than the standard manga volume, running about 400 full colour pages per book). Tales of the Jedi chronologically collects the various extrapolations set prior to the first film Star Wars IV: A New Hope.

‘The Freedon Nadd Uprising’ is by Tom Veitch, with art by Tony Akins and Dennis Rodier, coloured by Suzanne Bourdages and lettered by Willie Schubert, It’s set about 4000 years prior to the rise of Darth Vader and first appeared as a two-part comic miniseries of the same name in 1994. Set once again set on the Beast World of Onderon (as there’s such close continuity I strongly recommend first reading volume 1 – ISBN: 978-1-84576-471-5 – of this Omnibus series). There’s a resurgence of Sith sorcery on the newly liberated world, and the dispatch of Nomi Sunrider and a small Jedi team to ferret out the contagion leads to the resurrection of a hideous undying evil…

This is followed by ‘Dark Lords of the Sith’ by Veitch, Kevin J. Anderson, Chris Gossett, Mike Barreiro and Jordi Ensign, Pamela Rambo and Schubert. Set one year later this (originally) six issue tale follows the fortunes of the Sith-tainted royal siblings Aleema and Satal Keto as they first steal the throne of the Empress Teta system and then attempt to extend their rule to the rest of the Republic. Initially opposing them, only to fall prey to the Dark Side is the haughty young Jedi Exar Kun. As the war escalates the fallen Ulic Qel-Droma and Kun fall deeper under the sway of the ghost of Sith Lord Freedon Nadd…

As the Republic totters of the brink of darkness and disaster ‘The Sith War’ (by Anderson, Dario Carrasco Jr., Jordi Ensign, Mark Heike, Bill Black and David Jacob Beckett, Rachelle Menase, Rambo and Schubert) opens with all-out galactic war raging. Another six-part epic, this intense thriller concludes the dramas of all the major players in stirring fashion, paving the way for an excellent and much-needed change of pace.

‘Redemption’ (originally a five part miniseries by Anderson, Gossett, Andrew Pepoy, Dave Nestelle and Schubert) is set ten years later, as Vima, daughter of the great Nomi Sunrider hits her rebellious teen years. Ignored by Jedi masters overburdened by the task of rebuilding civilisation, she runs away in search of somebody, anybody, willing to teach her the secrets of The Force.

Hidden on the dangerous Moon of Yavin she finds the fallen Jedi Ulic Qel-Droma…

Rich in their own complex mythology these swashbuckling fantasy tales can be a little hard to follow, but the sheer bravura exuberance is quite intoxicating and makes this book a thoroughly engrossing reading experience. These are comics stories that act as a solid gold entrance into the world of graphic narrative and one we should all exploit to get more people into comics.

Star Wars © 2008 Lucasfilm Ltd. & ™. All Rights Reserved. Used under authorisation. Contents © 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2008 Lucasfilm Ltd.

By various (Dark Horse Books)
ISBN: 978-1-84576-471-5

Dark Horse Comics have held the comics producing section of the Star Wars franchise since 1993, and in that time have produced thousands of pages of material, much of it excellent, some not so much: and most of that the earliest material.

Now, it might be heresy to speak this aloud but dedicated fans aren’t all that quality conscious when it comes to their particular fascination, whether its comics about the Old Republic or the latest batch of action figures, or whatever. And no, I’m not just talking about Star Wars fans now.

The Omnibus line is a brilliant and economical way to keep the poorer material in print for such fans by bundling old publications into classy digests (they’re slightly smaller than US comic-books but larger than the standard manga volume, running about 400 full colour pages per book). Tales of the Jedi chronologically collects the various extrapolations set prior to the first film Star Wars IV: a New Hope.

‘The Golden Age of the Sith’ is by Kevin J. Anderson, Chris Gossett and Stan Woch, with colours by Pamela Rambo and lettered by Sean Konot. It’s set 5000 years prior to the rise of Darth Vader and first appeared as a comic miniseries of the same name issued as #0-5. Odan-Urr is a scholarly Jedi obsessed with historical research unwillingly dispatched to a Star system where the charismatic Empress Teta is trying to unite seven warring planets into a pacified, civilised nation. Running supplies to the combatants are the Daragon family, but the last mission goes wrong leaving their children Jori and Gav in the care of the Hutt who financed the missions.

Years later the siblings are hyperspace explorers still trying to work off the debt when they discover a route to a dark and distant system with a hideous secret. Millennia previously when the Jedi first began many succumbed to the Dark Side of the Force. After a brutal war they were driven from the civilised galaxy and lost to history. Fleeing to the outer reaches of space these dark knights found the decadent world of the Sith, which they promptly conquered. Interbreeding with the natives the Jedi became Sith Lords and after brutal ages of conquest retrenched into complacency.

As Jori and Gav arrive in this lost system two warlords are fighting for the vacant position of supreme leader. But now the warlike Sith have a route back to the civilisation that banished them. Jori is coerced into bringing the wizards back to Republic Space with her brother Gav a hostage slowly succumbing to the seductive Dark Side…

This leads directly into the second tale ‘The Fall of the Sith Empire’ as Odan-Urr and Empress Teta lead the resistance to the Sith assault whist the Republic dithers. Originally released as a five issue miniseries (by Anderson, Dario Carrasco Jr., Mark Heike, Bill Black and David Jacob Beckett, coloured by Ray Murtaugh and lettered by Willie Schubert) this epic war-story concludes the tale originally ended on a classic cliffhanger. Full of intrigue and bombast, both parts of this convoluted tale suffer from rather pedestrian art and predictable plot (although the quality of visuals does improve by the end), but nevertheless tells the long-anticipated tale of the first encounter between the Jedi and the Sith Lords. There’s loads of action, drama and heroic sacrifice and it does provide a solid base for succeeding tales to build on.

It is followed by the saga of Ulic Qel-Droma and the Beast Wars on Onderon from the comic book Tales of the Jedi, which began much closer continuity, eventually collected with the Saga of Nomi Sunrider as Knights of the Old Republic in 1997. Written by Tom Veitch, art by Chris Gossett and Mike Barreiro, coloured by Pamela Rambo and lettered by Willie Schubert, it’s set a thousand years after the events of the Sith War. As three young Jedi are sent to the planet Onderon, a world of hideous monsters permanently besieging a vast city citadel of sentient beings, these young heroes are bursting with overconfidence. Unfortunately all is not as it seems…

One year later: Nomi Sunrider is a wife and mother, who dutifully follows her Jedi husband when he is ordered to report to the Jedi Master Thon in the Stenness system. En route he is murdered by bandits for the Adegan crystals he carries (can’t make lightsabers without crystals, right?). As he dies his spirit tells Nomi she must be a Jedi in his place. This intriguing tale of responsibility is the best work in the whole omnibus as Nomi conquers her fears and reservations in time to aid Ulic Qel-Droma and his fellow Jedi on Onderon, who have fallen foul of a secret infestation of Sith sorcerers.

Powerful and moving, the first chapter of Veitch’s script is ably illustrated by Janine Johnston, who then relinquishes the art chores to the quite superb David Roach, whose lovingly rendered realism adds tremendous factual weight to the proceedings. This is the moment the future quality of the franchise was assured.

Increasingly well produced and featuring scenarios familiar to most readers, these are comics stories that act as a solid gold entrance into the world of graphic narrative and one we should all exploit to get more people into comics

Star Wars © 2007 Lucasfilm Ltd. & ™. All Rights Reserved. Used under authorization. Contents © 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2007 Lucasfilm Ltd.

By Brandon Badeaux, Rob Williams & Michel LaCombe (Dark Horse Books)
ISBN: 978-1-84576-750-1

Set just after the conclusion of the film Star Wars IV: A New Hope, this moody spin-off of the franchise follows the fortunes of Wyl Tarson, general thug and leg-breaker for crime-lord and information broker Raze. One fact the mastermind didn’t have was that Tarson was a secret informant for the ascendant Rebel Alliance. Until now…

Implanting a bomb in Tarson’s brain Raze sends him to the backwater world of Ahakista, forcing him to bring along a team of Rebel operatives. The planet might be a worthless mudball, but the Empire has a big secret hidden there, otherwise why would someone as important as Darth Vader be involved with the petty insurrection of the lower classes against the local aristocracy?

Moreover, has Tarson’s noble resolve lead to disaster? When he recruited his team, he picked Rebel rejects and Alliance outcasts, since he thought that their deaths couldn’t harm the Cause, but now he finds that this is a mission the Rebellion cannot afford to have fail…

Reprinting issues #6-10 of the comicbook Star Wars: Rebellion, written by Brandon Badeaux and Rob Williams with art from Michel LaCombe and painted colour by Wil Glass, this is a tense and highly engaging “Caper” yarn, which rattles along like a freight train and delivers the maximum amount of top-notch thrills and spills. Aimed at a slightly older audience this is nonetheless an accessible and inviting read for fans and new readers alike.

Star Wars © 2007, 2008 Lucasfilm Ltd. & ™. All Rights Reserved.

By John Ostrander & various (Dark Horse Books)
ISBN: 978-1-84576-699-3

The second volume of tales set in the Star Wars universe about 125 years after the events seen in Return of the Jedi, this is the tale of Cade, a disenchanted mercenary thug and the last of the Skywalker bloodline. With the Sith resurgent and the uneasy peace between the New Republic, the remnants of the Empire and the Extra-galactic Yuuzhan Vong in tatters (see Star Wars: Legacy Book 1 Broken, ISBN 1-84576-461-7) the last Skywalker returns at last to the planet where his family were slaughtered in a volume of as-yet unconnected story-strands.

Collecting issues #8, 4, 9, 10 13, 11 and 12 of the Star Wars: Legacy comic, this volume advances the story by filling in background and concentrating on peripheral characters. All stories are written by the excellent John Ostrander, and the edition begins with ‘Allies’ illustrated by Adam DeKraker in which the formidable and traitorous Moff Nyna Calixte realises her plans to replace Emperor Fel with her lover run afoul of the deadly Sith Lords Darth Krayt and Lady Maladi.

This is followed by the superb ‘Noob’ drawn by Travel Foreman, which introduces Anson Trask, a green Stormtrooper joining a crack unit ordered to eradicate Troopers who have switched sides. Dark and powerful, this uses the winning secret weapon of the Star Wars franchise; clever use of a strong genre story – in this instance a terse war tale – wearing science fiction clothing.

‘Trust Issues’ is a two-part tale with art from the legendary Colin Wilson. Rivals Nyna Calixte and Maladi both move to “acquire” the renegade Cade Skywalker, but nobody could have guessed the secret kept by the Imperial agent Morrigan Corde and the effect it would have on the mission… Wilson also applies his wonderful illustrative skills to ‘Ready to Die’ when Lady Maladi makes a seemingly precipitate move to assassinate Emperor Fel, and the book closes with ‘Ghosts’ by Ostrander and long-time collaborator Jan Duursema.

Cade Skywalker escaped the destruction of the new Jedi on Ossus and became a drug-addled mercenary years ago. Now he awakes on that dead planet with the spirits of his ancestors – from Mara Jade to Darth Vader – confronting him. Soon though, very real enemies and allies join them and Cade is forced into a life-altering decision. This psychological essay reveals deep insights into the troubled lead character and advances the greater plot to the point where the main action can begin. But that’s a tale for another book…

This is a mature and meticulously constructed saga tinged with darkness that builds with an epic feel into something quite special. Where many licensed spin-offs are content to coast on the popularity of the major property, Ostrander has crafted a genuine multi-layered saga with the conceptual tools of the Star Wars franchise. This is definitely an epic to follow for any fan of great storytelling…

Star Wars © 2007 Lucasfilm Ltd. & ™. All Rights Reserved.

By Welles Hartley, Mick Harrison, Douglas Wheatley & Ronda Pattison (Dark Horse Books)
ISBN13: 978-1-84576-470-8

The story begins in the aftermath of the evil Palpatine’s victory. Now Emperor, he begins to consolidate his power, both over the galaxy and more importantly over his new disciple Darth Vader. The new Sith Lord is still troubled by guilt and the emotions of his former life as Jedi Anakin Skywalker.

On New Plympto Jedi Master Dass Jennir has survived by joining forces with the Nosaurian Rebels he was fighting before the Old Republic’s Clone Warriors turned on all users of the Force. When the unstoppable Stormtroopers slaughter all the Rebel males and enslave the females and children, Jennir and a single survivor join a motley crew of merchants and attempt to rescue them, but the lengths to which they must go soon have the Jedi on the brink of abandoning his beliefs. And all the while Vader obeys orders and his own doubts begin to fade…

This dark and portentous drama set in the period immediately following the birth of the Empire examines the rise of evil throughout the galaxy but still maintains a taste of the swashbuckler with the introduction of Jennir and his mysterious allies. Nevertheless the bleak star is Darth Vader, and the superb artwork of Douglas Wheatley augmented by the paint and colours of Ronda Pattison perfectly capture the troubled nature of this sulphurous black monster. Also, their facility with non-humanoid characters is simply breathtaking.

Parts of this tale (collecting issues #1-5 of the comic book series Star Wars: Dark Times) have been adapted from the prose novel Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader by James Luceno.

© 2008 Lucasfilm Ltd. & ™. All Rights Reserved.

By John Jackson Miller, Dustin Weaver, Brian Ching & Harvey Tolibao (Dark Horse Books)
ISBN13: 978-1-84576-740-2

Apprentice Jedi Zayne Carrick was framed for a hideous crime by his own teachers, whose visions of the future saw him as a threat to The Republic. On the run from both his ex-masters and the honest authorities the young hero has taken up with a gang of outlaws and outcasts that include an unscrupulous con-man named Gryph, a rogue Mandalorian warrior, Camper, a seemingly senile technical wizard and the hot-and-feisty Bad-Girl Jarael.

In this volume (reprinting issues #13-18 of the comic book series Star Wars: Knights of The Old Republic) the first tale finds the gang trapped on a rural planet in the direct path of a genocidal Mandalorian invasion fleet whilst the next tale – which ends the book on a cliffhanger, so be prepared to wait or be frustrated – sees Jarael take Camper to his homeworld in a desperate attempt to stave off his increasing dementia. Once there she discovers just why he fled in the first place, and in no way coincidentally, a monstrous threat to the entire galaxy.

Magnificently illustrated, these rip-roaring tales of heroic outlawry and derring-do are the perfect antidote to cold, dark, dull winters and a splendid example of a licensed comic done right.

© 2008 Lucasfilm Ltd. & ™. All Rights Reserved.

By John Ostrander & Jan Duursema (Dark Horse Books)
ISBN 1-84576-461-7

When the shattered Empire’s remnants retreated into uncharted space The New Republic became the administrators of the galaxy. Luke Skywalker re-established the Jedi Knights as a peace-keeping force throughout the now peaceful worlds. And then the extra-galactic invaders known as the Yuuzhan Vong attacked.

Their devastating depredations were only finally countered by a desperate alliance of New Republicans and Imperial Remnants. The marauders were eventually defeated and interned on the planet Zonoma Sekot.

Now a new Sith threat has destroyed the fragile alliance and set the galaxy ablaze again. The deadly Darth Krayt re-forged the age-old connection with the Empire and the hard-pressed Jedi are once again losing…

Set about 125 years after the events of the film Return of the Jedi, this is the tale of Cade, a no-good petty thug and the last member of the Skywalker bloodline. As the Dark Side seems to on the verge of a final victory, is this grim, vicious, charismatic thug truly the last, best hope for peace and justice?

John Ostrander and Jan Duursema are Star Wars veterans and extremely accomplished comic creators in their own right, and their darker, edgier, world-weary anti-hero has put a new and welcome sheen of danger and unpredictability on a franchise that has almost become too shiny and comforting. This is a series with great potential and a rip-roaring space-opera yarn. New readers start here…

© 2007 Lucasfilm Ltd. & ™. All Rights Reserved.

By Darko Macan & various (Dark Horse/TitanBooks)
ISBN 1-84023-274-9

There’s nothing to keep the fans hopping like a popular licensed property that co-ordinates its various side-ventures. Still, I suppose it shows that the owners have faith in the fidelity of their fan base. Here’s good example that – luckily for us – still manages to be an excellent example of comic book magic.

In the Star Wars novel (all words, no pictures or sound effects!) Vector Prime, Chewbacca the Wookie was killed. This caused ructions throughout the extended Star Wars community. And unlike comic-books where death is seldom final, the big hairy galoot stayed dead. So Dark Horse were able to produce a delightful four issue miniseries that featured many talented artists illustrating short episodes from the hirsute hero’s life, under the plot device of a memorial tribute with the people who knew him contributing their thoughts and favoured memories.

Despite its downbeat approach the concept is powerfully effective and this collection is a warm and evocative delight. Darko Macan blends loss, heroism, wit, humour and sentiment in a telling way. The art from Brent Anderson & Willie Blyberg, Igor Kordey, Jan Duursema, Dave Gibbons, Dusty Abell & Jim Royal, John Nadeau & Jordi Ensign, Martin Egeland, Kilian Plunkett and Rafael Kayanan although disconcertingly varied in style is uniformly gripping and effective.

All too often these books are about the winning and losing. It’s genuinely nice to see so readable a tale about being left behind.

Star Wars © 2001, 2007 Lucasfilm Ltd. & ™. All Rights Reserved.

 

By John Jackson Miller, Brian Ching & Travel Foreman (Dark Horse Books)
ISBN 1-84576-524-9

Framed for the murder of his fellow student Jedis by his own teachers, Zayne Carrick is on the run with a motley crew of criminals and reprobates. It’s hard enough just staying alive without the added pressure of knowing that his renegade masters are endangering the entire galaxy with their hidden agenda.

The fugitives’ flight takes them to the border of civilised space where the Republic is warring with the super-aggressive Mandalorians just in time to discover a hidden prison lab where captured Jedi Knights are being dissected for the genetic secrets of their powers.

After that there’s a flashback interlude that provides motive and insight into the actions of the Jedi splinter group that framed Carrick and the volume concludes as the renegade gang return to Republic Space only to fall into a trap that exploits the outlaw Padawan’s family.

Fast-paced, frenetic and fun, these romps recapture the swashbuckling dash of the original film, with young heroes and dissolute rogues running full-tilt from overwhelming odds. A great read for fans of the franchise and adventure lovers everywhere.

© 2007 Lucasfilm Ltd. & ™. All Rights Reserved.

 

By Various (Dark Horse Books)
ISBN 1-84023-646-9

The initial outing for the sub-franchise based on the events of the new Star Wars movies – in this specific case Attack of the Clones – reprints issues #49 and 50 of the monthly comic Star Wars: Republic, plus the one-shot Star Wars Jedi: Mace Windu.

Veteran collaborators John Ostrander and Jan Duursema create a tense and gritty slice of space opera in ‘Sacrifice’, as undercover Jedi Quinlan Vos finds himself drawing further and further from the path of Force to protect his imposture as a renegade and disciple of the Separatist leader Count Dooku. The plot concerns the retrieval of some plans that could threaten both sides of the conflict, but is there another agenda? One that would benefit simply by prolonging the war?

Dark and foreboding, this tense thriller serves as an excellent appetiser for the three short tales that follow. ‘Brothers in Arms’ is a rip-roaring war story as Master Ben Kenobi and Anakin lead a spirited rear-guard action that is actually a cunning feint to destroy the forces threatening the strategic world of Kamino. Of course nothing ever really goes to plan in combat, as ably demonstrated by Ostrander and Duursema, assisted by Dan Parsons on inks.

‘Jango’s Legacy’ by writer Haden Blackman and Stephen Thompson and Ray Kryssing is another combat tale as the separatist forces storm the citadel where the Republic’s clone warriors are grown. All hope depends on the untested special batch of clones designated ARC Troopers. Will they live up to expectations or will the undisciplined streak that couldn’t be eradicated from the Jango gene template bring disaster upon them all?

The final short, ‘No End in Sight’, is by Scott Allie, Tomás Giorello and Kryssing; a monumental space battle seen from the side of the Mon Calimari attackers attempting to take Kamino for Count Dooku, which demonstrates that heroism and self-sacrifice are never the exclusive preserve of one side in a war. And all the time the shadowy manipulations of the soon-to-be Emperor Palpatine progress just beyond the notice of the desperately worried Jedi Masters…

The book concludes with Mace Windu on a mission to the planet Lianna to prevent the assassination of an old friend and Jedi Sabre Master, Sora Bulq. En route he rendezvous with Quinlan Vos and among the intelligences shared is the revelation that many Jedi are losing focus, their spirituality increasingly clashing with their new role as soldiers. Brooding and introspective, this drama from Ostrander, Duursema and Parsons is not short on spectacular action even if some of the plot twists aren’t that surprising.

Space Opera buffs and franchise fans alike should be encouraged by the consistent high quality of these comic adventures. These read well with the minimum need for back-story and that’s always a good start for an entertaining time.

© 2003 Lucasfilm Ltd. & ™. All Rights Reserved.