}); The Road to Episode Infinity: October 2013

Sunday, October 27, 2013

STAR WARS: REPUBLIC


Series: Republic
Writers:  Various
Publication Date: 1998 - 2006
# of Issues: 83
Era: Rise of the Empire Era
Galaxy Date: 32- 20 BBY* 
*Before Battle of Yavin




This amazing series follows the state of the galaxy from just before the Phantom Menace until just after Revenge of the Sith. It features many characters from the prequels, yet these comics are considerably darker and ultimately more interesting than the prequel films. Originally this series was simply titled, “Star Wars” though it is not the first or last series to carry that title.


The first issue in this series was published in December of 1998, a mere six months before the release of the Phantom Menace. The central character of the comics would change throughout its run, but the first was Ki-Adi-Mundi, Knight of the Old Republic and member of the Jedi Council.

Ki is a pretty good character to follow and he’s a lot more interesting here than he is in the films. He has five wives, even though attachment is forbidden by the Jedi order. Of course the writers of the comic didn’t know this rule because it wasn’t mentioned until Episode II. When Episode II released and the rule became apparent, the writers explained that Ki was allowed to marry, because most Cereans are female- only one male Cerean is born in twenty. Therefore Ki was obligated to help his species procreate.




During the series Ki travels to Tatooine where he meets A’Sharad Hett, a Tusken Raider who has been trained in the Jedi arts by his Tusken father. After the death of A'Shared's father, Ki makes it his mission to train the young man. A’Sharad is an important figure in a later comic series called “Legacy”, but we’ll get to that in future weeks.



In the year 2000, the focus of the comic pulled away from Ki & A’Shared and started to focus on Jedi Knight Quinlan Vos and his apprentice Aayla Secura. Though she eventually appeared in Episodes II & III, it’s important to note that Aayla was a comic character first. She is one of the only Expanded Universe characters to appear in film. Bail Organa might be the only other character to do this, though Bail was created by Lucas and Aayla wasn’t.


Interestingly, Vos also appears in the films. He is based on a background character seen in The Phantom Menace on Tatooine. In the comics he has lost his memory and constantly flirts with the dark side.  Vos & Aayla have many dark & dangerous adventures, but eventually the focus of our story shifts again.


Starting with issue 49 published in the summer of 2003, we turn our attention to heroes Anakin Skywalker & Obi-Wan Kenobi who are now in the middle of the Clone Wars. Star Wars fans basically have their choice when it comes to the Clone Wars. They can watch that silly cartoon which focuses on Battle Droids, Gungans, & Hutt Babies or they can choose these comics, which focus on humans. The comics are dark, gritty, and morally ambiguous. The Jedi constantly question which side of the war they should be fighting on. They are collected in Clone Wars Volumes 1 – 9



The series ends with the fate of Quinlan Vos as Vader is hunting down the Jedi Knights who survived order 66. It’s at this point that Star Wars: Republic doesn’t technically end, but is re-launched as Star Wars: Dark Times. Dark Times #1, if you look close at the fine print, is actually Republic #84. Therefore the story doesn’t end, but continues on even today- But we’ll get to that next week.




Overall, Star Wars: Republic is a strong comic. Many fans would rather read these pages, than to have to relive the prequel films. They take place during the same years in the same galaxy, yet these comics show a galaxy darker, deeper, where the lines of light and dark are blurrier. Therefore, I give this long-running series 4 ½ light sabers out of five!


Next week we look at what could be the greatest Star Wars comic series ever written: Dark Times. Until then, Keep Reading!






Dark Horse Comics
 (
Link)

Dawn of the Jedi  Dawn of the Jedi

Tales of the Jedi Tales of the Jedi

Knights of the Old Republic Knights of the Old Republic

Star Wars: Republic Star Wars: Republic
Dark Times Dark Times
Empire & Rebellion Star Wars: Empire & Star Wars: Rebellion
Brian Wood's Star Wars Brian Wood's Star Wars
Dark Empire Dark Empire
Crimson Empire Crimson Empire
Invasion Invasion
Legacy Vol. 1 Star Wars: Legacy
Vector Star Wars: Vector
Legacy Vol. 2 Legacy Volume 2
Infinities Infinities
The Star Wars The Star Wars

Star Wars Tales Star Wars Tales

Marvel Comics

Original Marvel Comics Original Marvel Comics
Star Wars #108 Star Wars #108
Alan Moore's Star Wars Comics Alan Moore's Star Wars Comics

Han Solos Vs. Space Crocodile Han Solo vs. Crocodile in Space

Marvel's New Star Wars Line Catching Up With Comics

Age of Republic Age of Republic
Age of Rebellion Age of Rebellion
Age of Resistance Age of Resistance

Star Wars #1... Again Star Wars #1... Again
Ewoks in Comics Ewoks in Comis
Who is Doctor Aphra Who Is Doctor Aphra

The Last Jedi Expanded Universe The Last Jedi Expanded Universe
Who is Jaxxon Who Is Jaxxon

IDW Comics
Tales from Vader's Castle Tales from Vader's Castle

Return to Vader's Caslte Return to Vader's Castle

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Knights of the Old Republic


Series: Knights of the Old Republic
Writer:  John Jackson Miller
Publication Date: 2006 - 2012
# of Issues: 55

Era: Old Republic Era
Galaxy Date: 4,000 years BBY 
*Before Battle of Yavin








Zayne
“Knights of the Old Republic” shares its name with two RPG videogames that released in 2003 and 2004. It takes place 30 years before the events of these games during the Mandalorian Wars.

The story follows a Jedi Padawan named Zayne Carrick. Zayne is not a great student, and is not very strong in the force. His fellow students never expected him to be knighted because he was kind of a screw-up and is always running late. Zayne is late- in fact- to his friends knighting ceremony and when he arrives he discovers that his Jedi Master and the other four Masters have murdered his four fellow-padawans.

 




Zayne Carrick represents the Hero’s story flipped upside down. Instead of a heroic Jedi, he is a framed-criminal on the run. Instead of a student betraying a master he is a student betrayed by his master.



Gryph
Zayne's one companion turns out to be a Snivvian black-market dealer named Marn Hierogryph (or Gryph for short). When Zayne was still a Padawan he was trying to do everything he could to arrest Gryph, but now they are partners in crime, trying to prove Zayne’s innocence and making some money on the side.


Included in this series are some fascinating story-arcs filled with planet-hopping, premonitions, space battles, plague outbreaks, and Sith artifacts. And, of course, there are Mandalorians.







Mandalore the Ultimate
(Cassus Fett in backgound)


During the timeframe of the Star Wars films there are few Mandalores left, but 4,000 years earlier we find ourselves are at the height of the Mandalore culture. They are led by Mandalore the Ultimate & his war marshal, Cassus Fett. Their goal - to overthrow the republic. Fett was instrumental in standardizing armor during the war and establishing a cult-like regime. Instead of simply conquering cultures, Fett hoped to also convert them to Mandalorian ways.

Other wonderful Mandalorian characters include Demegol, a horrible scientist trying to unlock the secrets of the force by torturing Jedi. And there is Rohlan Dyre, a Mandalorian deserter who eventually teams up with Zayne & Gryph.



There is plenty of pay-off for those who pay close attention to the mysteries raveled up in this comic series. John Jackson Miller cares deeply for his characters and works meticulously to ensure that not a single loose end remains when the story finishes. My final verdict? Four out of Five Lightsabers!





Dark Horse Comics
 (
Link)

Dawn of the Jedi  Dawn of the Jedi

Tales of the Jedi Tales of the Jedi

Knights of the Old Republic Knights of the Old Republic

Star Wars: Republic Star Wars: Republic
Dark Times Dark Times
Empire & Rebellion Star Wars: Empire & Star Wars: Rebellion
Brian Wood's Star Wars Brian Wood's Star Wars
Dark Empire Dark Empire
Crimson Empire Crimson Empire
Invasion Invasion
Legacy Vol. 1 Star Wars: Legacy
Vector Star Wars: Vector
Legacy Vol. 2 Legacy Volume 2
Infinities Infinities
The Star Wars The Star Wars

Star Wars Tales Star Wars Tales

Marvel Comics

Original Marvel Comics Original Marvel Comics
Star Wars #108 Star Wars #108
Alan Moore's Star Wars Comics Alan Moore's Star Wars Comics

Han Solos Vs. Space Crocodile Han Solo vs. Crocodile in Space

Marvel's New Star Wars Line Catching Up With Comics

Age of Republic Age of Republic
Age of Rebellion Age of Rebellion
Age of Resistance Age of Resistance

Star Wars #1... Again Star Wars #1... Again
Ewoks in Comics Ewoks in Comis
Who is Doctor Aphra Who Is Doctor Aphra

The Last Jedi Expanded Universe The Last Jedi Expanded Universe
Who is Jaxxon Who Is Jaxxon

IDW Comics
Tales from Vader's Castle Tales from Vader's Castle

Return to Vader's Caslte Return to Vader's Castle

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Tales of the Jedi


Series: Tales of the Jedi
Writers:  Tom Veitch 
& Kevin J Anderson
Publication Date: 1993 - 1998
# of Issues: 34

Era: Old Republic Era
Galaxy Date: 4,000 years BBY* 
*Before Battle of Yavin





In the early 90s, writer Tom Vietch pitched an idea to Lucas about the history of the Jedi, the result of which is “Tales of the Jedi”. This was the first material to explore the history of the Star Wars galaxy (and what a rich history it is). Vietch tells the story of The Great Sith War and eventually Kevin J. Anderson took over to finish the story. It is a story rich in history and characters, far too many to be named here. Therefore I shall focus on some of my favorite characters and storylines.



Naomi Sunrider: If Luke Skywalker has a female counterpart hidden within the expanded universe, Naomi Sunrider fits the bill. Like Skywalker, she didn't choose her destiny, but her destiny chose her. Naomi married a Jedi Knight (for in those days Jedi were allowed to marry) but she also witnessed her husband’s death as he was gunned down by gangsters. With her baby daughter, Vima, in her arms, her husband’s force ghost instructed her to pick up his lightsaber and slay the gangsters.


Jedi-Master Thon
Sundrider is further instructed to travel to Ambria and seeks training from Jedi Master Thon. Sound familiar? Never has the story of Luke Skywalker been so well emulated. I have to say that Jedi Master Thon is no ordinary Jedi. He is probably the most unique Jedi in the expanded universe. First of all he is a quadruped (walks on four legs). Can you think of one other sentient being in the galaxy that is a quadruped? I can’t. He’s pretty much a big dinosaur, but with force powers.







So Thon trains Sunrider to be one of the coolest Jedi in the galaxy, and eventually, her daughter Vima Sunrider gets trained as well. Now, I’d argue that the Sunrider’s are probably the main characters of these comics, but if not they are definitely the best. By all rights they should have continued to rule the Expanded Universe for generations. Vima Sunrider would have gone off to star in "The Knights of the Old Republic" video games and could have been one of the most well known EU characters. That’s when tragedy struck.


Vima Sunrider
Someone (Maybe the Jeep Cooperation) threatened to sue Lucasfilm over the name Sunrider. Because of these issues Naomi and Vima can now only be mentioned by first names. There is hope that the Sunrider’s may rise again someday, but until then the characters exist only in the pages of these comics.




 
Exar Kun: In interest of keeping things short, I will only have time to focus on one more character (though by reading these comics you could find dozens of fascinating faces). If Naomi Sunrider emulates Luke Skywalker, Exar Kun emulates Anakin (Although Exar Kun is far cooler).

Kun is a Jedi apprentice who is curious about the forbidden teachings of the dark side. He abandons his master, Vodo-Siosk Baas, and seeks out knowledge of the Sith.

It isn’t long before Kun is seduced by the ghost of Freedon Nad (an ancient Sith) and he eventually reunites with his former master and kills him (sound familiar?)

 


Exar Kun's saber came four years before Phantom Menace
Exar Kun is not only important for this comic series. His ghost returns in Kevin J. Anderson’s Jedi Academy Trilogy and has some long term effects on the future of the galaxy. It is also worth noting that Exar Kun wields a double-bladed lightsaber. This was the first double-bladed saber of the Star Wars universe and it predated Darth Maul’s saber by four years.


Exar Kun’s lightsaber would resurface as an important plot device in the comic series “Knights of the Old Republic” which happens to be the series that I will be reviewing next week. Until then, keep reading!


Final Verdict: 
An epic mythology of heroes and villains. 
Four out of Five Sabers!







Dark Horse Comics
 (
Link)

Dawn of the Jedi  Dawn of the Jedi

Tales of the Jedi Tales of the Jedi

Knights of the Old Republic Knights of the Old Republic

Star Wars: Republic Star Wars: Republic
Dark Times Dark Times
Empire & Rebellion Star Wars: Empire & Star Wars: Rebellion
Brian Wood's Star Wars Brian Wood's Star Wars
Dark Empire Dark Empire
Crimson Empire Crimson Empire
Invasion Invasion
Legacy Vol. 1 Star Wars: Legacy
Vector Star Wars: Vector
Legacy Vol. 2 Legacy Volume 2
Infinities Infinities
The Star Wars The Star Wars

Star Wars Tales Star Wars Tales

Marvel Comics

Original Marvel Comics Original Marvel Comics
Star Wars #108 Star Wars #108
Alan Moore's Star Wars Comics Alan Moore's Star Wars Comics

Han Solos Vs. Space Crocodile Han Solo vs. Crocodile in Space

Marvel's New Star Wars Line Catching Up With Comics

Age of Republic Age of Republic
Age of Rebellion Age of Rebellion
Age of Resistance Age of Resistance

Star Wars #1... Again Star Wars #1... Again
Ewoks in Comics Ewoks in Comis
Who is Doctor Aphra Who Is Doctor Aphra

The Last Jedi Expanded Universe The Last Jedi Expanded Universe
Who is Jaxxon Who Is Jaxxon

IDW Comics
Tales from Vader's Castle Tales from Vader's Castle

Return to Vader's Caslte Return to Vader's Castle