Comics Discussion - There are Spoilers!!

Malo-ha · Recruiting Councillor Joined: Mar 27, 2004 Posts: 786

This is marked as Spoilers because the ROTS comics are in the store and Republic is throwing out spoilers left and right as it leads up to ROTS.

I’m starting this thread so we can talk about the Star Wars comics. Dark Horse has been doing a great job of bridging the gap between AOTC and ROTS with the Republic series. I’ve put them in issue order and noted which issues are now in trade paperback. If you are not familiar with Dark Horse and its publishing schedule, well lets just say you should consider the publishing dates as fictional as the comics.

The comics are published by Dark Horse Comics www.darkhorse.com/zone.../index.php
I’ll update this as the new issues come out.

EDIT: 05/25 More stuff pushed back.

Defense of Kamino TPB
#49 - 50 (64 page special issue) & Jedi: Mace Windu
Clone Wars TPB Vol. 1 Victories and Sacrifices TPB
#51-53 & Jedi: Shaak Ti
#54 (in TPB Vol #4)
Clone Wars TPB Vol. 3 Last Stand at Jabiim
#55 - 58
Clone Wars TPB Vol. 4 Light and Dark TPB
#54, #63, Jedi: Aayla Secura & Jedi: Dooku
Clone Wars TPB Vol. 5 The Best Blades TPB
#60-62, 64 & Jedi: Yoda
Clone Wars TPB Vol. 6 On the Fields of Battle Due out 07/20/05
#?

#59 Enemy Lines
#65 Show of Force Part 1
#66 Show of Force Part 2
#67
#68 Armor
#69 Dreadnoughts of Rendili Part 1 of 5
#70 Dreadnoughts of Rendili Part 2 of 5
#71 Dreadnoughts of Rendili Part 3 of 5
#72 Trackdown Part 1
#73 Trackdown Part 2
#74 Seige of Saleucami Part 1
#75 Seige of Saleucami Part 2
#76 Seige of Saleucami Part 3 Due out 06/15/05
#77 Last pre-ROTS comic- Due out 07/06/05

A Digest Format comic continues where season 2 of the Cartoon Network’s Clone Wars ended
Clone Wars Adventure Vol. 1 TPB
Clone Wars Adventure Vol. 2 TPB
Clone Wars Adventure Vol. 3 TPB
Obsession Part 1 through 5

Empire TPB Vol. 1 Betrayal
#1 - 4
Empire TPB Vol. 2 Darklighter
*8 - 12 & 15
Empire TPB Vol. 3 Imperial Perspective
#13 - 14 & 16 - 19
Empire TPB Vol. 4 Heart of the Rebellion
SW Valentine One Shot, 5-6 and 20-22

I have no idea if this is in a TPB Vol or not. I couldn’t find it listed in any. Poor little orphan. Sad

#7
Back to the series
#23
#24
#25 - Joe Corroney’s Issue!!!
#26 “General” Skyewalker Part 1
#27 “General” Skyewalker Part 2
#28 Wreckage
#29 In the Shadows of Their Fathers Part 1 of 5
#30 In the Shadows of Their Fathers Part 2 of 5
#31 The Price of Power - Joe Corroney Issue!!!
#32 In the Shadows of Their Fathers Part 3 of 5 Due out 06/29/05
#33 In the Shadows of Their Fathers Part 4 of 5 Due out 07/20/05
#34 In the Shadows of Their Fathers Part 5 of 5 Due out ??

Star Wars Tales - revamped
#21
#22
#23
#24 Due out 06/22/05
Series Cancelled?

General Grevious series
Part 1 of 4
Part 2 of 4
Part 3 of 4 Due out 06/15/05
Part 4 of 4 Due out 07/06/05

Revenge of the Sith comic adaption of the movie
Part 1 through 4
TPB

We seem to be discussing the issues as they come out but feel free to start a discussion on any comic you happento be reading.
What else did you expect? I’m a Librarian!

Malo-ha · Recruiting Councillor Joined: Mar 27, 2004 Posts: 786

I'll start this off. I picked up Republic #68 this week. If you are an Aayla Secura or Quinlan Vos fan you'll want to get this one. Great action, great drawing, Ostrander and Duursema just keep getting better. I like how after Aayla got the SIP you can see it tucked into the back of her belt, nice touch.

The action takes place on Honoghr from the Dark Force Rising in Zahn's Thrawn Trilogy. We get to briefly see the ships battle in the opening page. For those of you who like it when various EU stories get tied together this will make you happy. You also have to wonder if the SIP hadn't been taken would the Noghri have had the information they needed to stop the destruction of their world.

It is told from the point of view of a clone trooper under Aayla's command. Once again the writers are using a clone for a third party point of view. But while holding to the same mind set the rest of the clones this one actually hesitated Aayla when she ordered him not to shoot Quinn. He disagreed with her and he was surprised by it. The clone spends a lot of time musing on armour, both the external kind and the internal.

Beltayn · Jedi Knight Joined: Apr 18, 2004 Posts: 1712

Republic #68 is pretty good. Helmets starting to change a bit (moving to a more... familiar shape). I figure Bly was one of those clone officers who was given the advanced training package, and a bit more free will to make decisions on his own. Eventually, even the regular clones might be able to overcome their mental limitations and become a bit more free-willed. They came from Jango's stock, after all.

One question though- when Aayla and Vos opened the door and released the darts, what exactly was Bly shooting at? the wall trap? it actually looked like he was hitting the side wall instead.

I'm a big fan of SW: Empire. I like the fact that they're all back stories for obscure or unknown characters. #23 is pretty good. Nice twist to the story at the end. Boshek reminds me of a 1950's-early 60's greaser for some reason. Bex is a knockout Twisted Evil

. Her contacts remind me of the guys from 'Harley Davidson & the Marborol Man'

Malo-ha · Recruiting Councillor Joined: Mar 27, 2004 Posts: 786

Quote:

One question though- when Aayla and Vos opened the door and released the darts, what exactly was Bly shooting at? the wall trap? it actually looked like he was hitting the side wall instead.

I couldn't figure that out either. Maybe he was trying to shoot some of the darts so they wouldn't hit Aayla.

For me Empire has been hit or miss. Some are fantastic and some soso. I also like that they are not focusing on the main characters. It allows them to play with things a bit but also to fill things in for us. #23 was good.

Quote:

Boshek reminds me of a 1950's-early 60's greaser for some reason. Bex is a knockout . Her contacts remind me of the guys from 'Harley Davidson & the Marborol Man'

I think it was the greased back hair and pointy sideburns that did it. Laughing

As for the gravity defying Bex, a fanboys dream come true. Unfortunately once again the hero doesn't even take his shirt off. But I did like that at the end where you realize she may just take Boshek up on his offer someday.

But waht was the deal with Boshek talking about the Force? Do you think he could sense it? Or was that just filler?

Beltayn · Jedi Knight Joined: Apr 18, 2004 Posts: 1712

Malo-ha wrote:

But waht was the deal with Boshek talking about the Force? Do you think he could sense it? Or was that just filler?

Good question... IMO, I think that the writer might be setting him up for a one-shot where he gets in touch with his inner Force Razz

For Empire, I was greatly impressed with the Darklighter storyline (8-15), and the Lt. Sunbar three-part story (16-1 Cool

was excellent.

I also like the Infinities stories.. 'what if?' Luke's torpedoes didn't go into the exhaust port? I kinda like the 'alternate history' stories (Civil War, WW2, etc), so this sort of fits right into that concept.

Krash · Jedi Knight Joined: Mar 20, 2004 Posts: 3495

I was skeptical of the whole "infinities" thing at first, too many fanboys out there crying how GL "should have done this..." for my taste. But they did manage to bring out some interesting concepts, things you never got to see in the movies that made you wonder if they really did happen: Palpatine keeping the jedi temple as his "camp david", Imperial Royal guards weilding double-bladed lightsabers, and the "first look" at Boba Fett without his helmet (sporting a close resemblence to Jango Fett)

Vader/Anakin surviving ROTJ and turning to the Rebellion as a "white knight" was one of the best surprises...I can almost see some guy from 501st doing an all white Vader costume (it'd be cool to see)

THe best "change" had to be Vader attacking Yoda on Dagobah, especially the part where Yoda forces Anakin to face jedi spirits from his past (old Obi-Wan, Mace, Qui-Gon) tearing his Vader image away...until only the boy he once was remained.

DonC · Senior Councillor Joined: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 950

Beltayn wrote:

One question though- when Aayla and Vos opened the door and released the darts, what exactly was Bly shooting at? the wall trap? it actually looked like he was hitting the side wall instead.

I have a bad habit of just skimming the artwork; I didn't even notice that the first time. My guess would be he was shooting the dartshooters. Like shooting someone's gun so that can't fire anymore. So, yeah, he was shooting at the wall.

I liked this issue a lot, especially the nods to the novels. I do kind of wish they'd finish up Vos' storyline, though. It's taking forever.

I didn't really like Empire #23, though. Aside from, as Mary put it, the gravity-defing Bex looking out-of-place in a Star Wars comic, this issue just seemed to rush things. Bex and Boshek have known each other how long? Yet they're like soulmates or something? And neither of them was particularly interesting. Boshek, especially, was just derivative of three other Star Wars characters.

Malo-ha · Recruiting Councillor Joined: Mar 27, 2004 Posts: 786

I picked up Empire #24 today part 1 of Idiot's Array featuring Han and Chewie. It looks like it takes place between ANH and ESB, Han volunteers himself and Chewe to go find some badly needed supplies and of course runs into an old friend and then into trouble. He just happens to go to Jib Kopatha's place (the Bothan Vader demanded info from in a previous issue, which I would list if I could find it but I can't because I cleaned my room!! Let that be lesson for you).

It looks like its shaping up to be a classic Han Solo plan ie: "Its not my fault!". I like how they tied in characters from a previous issue of Empire. That issue was so-so but if it was a setup for this then seeing it out of context could be why. The "old friend" is female and as Han says the second best smuggler in the galaxy. Han should know better than to talk cargo when he's buying for the Rebellion but she makes the connection between parts and weapons upgrades and turns him in to pay her debts.

I think she'll turn on Kopatha when he starts to torture Han for info or at least go tell Chewie so he can rescue Han. I want to see Chewie pull someone's arm off during the rescue. They keep talking about Wookies pulling arms off but we never get to see it.

Beltayn · Jedi Knight Joined: Apr 18, 2004 Posts: 1712

Malo-ha wrote:

I want to see Chewie pull someone's arm off during the rescue. They keep talking about Wookies pulling arms off but we never get to see it.

I have an odd feeling that we might have a chance to see Wookies in action (like removing limbs and such) in RoTS, since the powers-that-be seem like they're trying to explain all the references and tie things together.

Empire #24 was a good issue, though. I can't wait for #25 to come out to see what happens (though I think we can figure out that Han & Chewie get out in relatively good health; though I feel Sheel Odala won't make it...just a feeling...)

DonC · Senior Councillor Joined: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 950

I liked the story of Empire #24, but not the art. Getting kidnapped by Empire-friendly mobsters after playing sabacc is something that would happen to Han. And, yes, I suspect Sheel will help rescue Han, but the art just turned me off. Normally I'm a big fan of Jeff Johnson's, too. I loved his work on CrossGen's Way of the Rat and I look forward to his and Ron Marz's samurai comic from Dark Horse, but I think that was the problem. Rat was mostly oriential characters. His samurai comic will be mostly oriential characters. I thihk, because he's been drawing so many oriential characters, it influenced his depiction of Han. There were a couple panels in the book where Han looks almost exactly like Boon Sai Hong, the lead character in Rat. Johnson also had several spacial distortions; panels where Chewie is about 2 feet shorter than normal so he can fit in the frame.

And apparently all Trandoshans wear the same outfit.

And, Mary, each issue of Empire has the time setting listed on the inside front cover. It's in the Empire insignia.

Beltayn · Jedi Knight Joined: Apr 18, 2004 Posts: 1712

I noticed a link between issues #17 & #23 of SW:Empire...

#17: The Juggernaut commander who's vehicle gets swarmed by the aliens and dies during the ill-fated counterattack on Maridun was named 'Captain Bex'

#23: The 'gravity-defying' (I honestly wouldn't go so far as saying that, but they were nicely drawn Cool

) Imperial agent with Boshek was also named 'Captain Bex'

Now, this raises a question; were they related, or is the surname 'Bex' just another one of those extremely common names (like 'Smith')?

DonC · Senior Councillor Joined: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 950

You remembered the name of a character who was in only one page?

Damn....

Anyhoo, I don't know what to make of that. The issues were written by two different writers but set within months of each other. Perhaps his death is what leads her to leave the Empire?

Malo-ha · Recruiting Councillor Joined: Mar 27, 2004 Posts: 786

Republic #69 Dreadnaughts of Rendili part 1 of 5 came out this past Wed. I picked it up today.

I thought it was a very good story. It goes back and forth between Obi-Wan, who is taking a side trip from his mission to discover the status of the Titavian IV an exploration vessel of the Intergalatic Zoological Society that has gone missing and the planet Rendili which has just gone over to the Seperatists. At Rendili is Masters Plo Koon and Tiin, Captain Jan Dodonna and Anakin, whom Plo Koon congratulates on just attaining Knighthood (read Jedi Trial out 10/26 for details.) The Rendili Fleet Commander is Jace Dallin, who was a junior officer in the Stark Hyperspace War (SHW).

The story has lots of action in the best of the traditional SW sense: heroes going from one thing to something worse. I like how much they are tying the SHW characters into this. I wonder who we will see next? There is a brief flashback showing Obi-Wan and Quinn's friendship that I really liked. Quinn's reference to Aalya was great. Although I thought the rancor was a bit over the top, shades of the Witches of Dathomar. I am really looking forward to reading teh next issue.

Quote:

You remembered the name of a character who was in only one page?

Showoff

Beltayn · Jedi Knight Joined: Apr 18, 2004 Posts: 1712

Malo-ha wrote:

Quote:

You remembered the name of a character who was in only one page?

Showoff

I pay attention to little details like that. Just an old background trait Cool

Republic #69 was pretty good. It's interesting to see that the Republic officers are wearing Imperial officer uniforms (including the rank bars); previous issues have shown the Republic Guards shift from the blue-plumed ceremonial armor to the more familiar red (and more streamlined looking) Imperial Guards uniform. Even the Clone armor is making the changes. It'll be interesting to see how many transitions will take place in Episode III (besides the obvious Anakin/Darth Vader switch)

DonC · Senior Councillor Joined: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 950

I liked seeing Obi-Wan and Vos fighting side-by-side but I wish they would have shown Vos' falling out with Dooku.

I am glad Vos appears to be a good guy again, though.

And seeing Anakin on that Star Destroyer-looking bridge was great.