The Road to Episode Infinity

Sunday, November 3, 2013

DARK TIMES!

Series: Dark Times

Writers: Mick Harrison

Publication Date: 2006 - Present

# of Issues: 31

Era: Rise of the Empire Era

Galaxy Date: 19 BBY*
*Before Battle of Yavin

As I said last week, "Dark Times" is a continuation of Star Wars: Republic. Yet the reader does not need any background knowledge to start reading Dark Times. There is a brand new set of characters and plot lines and I would argue that this is the strongest comic story that I have read so far.

Dark Times takes place immediately after the fall of the Republic. It is, of course, a reference to Obi-Wan Kenobi's line in "A New Hope" in which he said "Before the Dark Times, Before the Empire". Let me assure all of you potential readers that these are indeed Dark Times. Certainly unsafe for any Jedi Knight who, like Obi-Wan and Yoda, have survived the great Jedi Purge. Let's look at some of these characters.

Dass Jennir is one of the most fascinating characters I have seen in the Expanded Universe. After surviving the Purge, Jennir has to figure out what to do with himself. He keeps his Jedi morals, but now has to figure out how to make a living.

Jennir is a slightly more bad-ass version of Alec Guiness' Obi-Wan Kenobi. It's not exactly explained how Obi-Wan was able to survive as a hermit without a steady-income, but Jennir needs to find a job. In the amazing story-arc Blue Harvest, Jennir rolls onto a planet where he has been hired to take down a crime syndicate.

Jennir hates thugs and Blue Harvest plays out like a Clint Eastwood western. There's a prostitution ring, there are sword duels, and at times there is more Tarantino than Star Wars. Needless to say, I could not put down the series.

Another great character is Bomo Greenbark, a Nosaurian. In any other Star Wars comic Bomo would be the alien sidekick who is there for the comic relief. Not so in Dark Times. Bomo is as tragic a character as any that Shakespeare has written, and he is a great example of what Sci-fi can be when the aliens really feel human.

Bomo travels with the crew of the Uhumele, a smuggler transport. Him and the other crew look like something out of Narnia, rather than Star Wars. The crew gets caught up in many adventures, but as the series progresses they lose more and more members to tragedy. We are in the Dark Times, after all.

The last character I wish to examine is Jedi Master K'Kruhk. K'Kruhk is a Whiphid and has appeared on TV, in novels, and in many of the comic series. He is an important figure in the expanded universe and has a cult following among fans. It is because of this fan following that has enabled K'Kruhk, originally a background character, to survive so many brushes with death.

In this series K’Kruhk must find refuge for a group of younglings. When he gives into his anger in the middle of a battle, he must deal with the consequences of his students having witnessed his dark side.

I would recommend this comic to any Star Wars fans, especially fans who prefer the Original Trilogy to the Prequels. Most of the Star Wars media we have seen in the past 15 years seems to resemble the prequels, so something like Dark Times is a breath of fresh air. The themes are more adult and the humor is more geared towards adults.

Dark Times is not about battles and lightsaber duels. There is plenty of action, but the action is based on realistic trials and challenges of a post-war galaxy. This comic deserves five out of five lightsabers!

Next week we examine both the Empire & Rebellion comic series.

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 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 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 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