Continuing an era begun in Knights Of The Old Republic, Volume Three of the graphic novel series based upon The Old Republic (the latest Star Wars MMORPG) takes a glimpse of several individuals caught up in what seems to be the tail end of the new war between the Jedi and the Republic against the Sith and their Empire. The Lost Suns delivers a unique glimpse of the Star Wars galaxy of the era, through the eyes of a wonderfully individual team serving as our heroes and protagonists.
Theron Shan is the primary character we follow through this collected edition, essentially a spy or secret agent, fulfilling a role echoing that of Jahan Cross from another Dark Horse Star Wars series, Agent Of The Empire. This time, however, Theron has an ancestry that rivals that of the Skywalkers – his mother is Satelle Shan, current Grand Master of the Jedi Order; and descended from some of the greatest Jedi of all time: Revan and Bastila Shan.
There is just one problem: he is blind to the Force. Despite his ancestry, Shan is unable to access or use the Force. Caught up in the detriment of the war against the Sith Emperor, Satelle Shan passed care of her infant son to another Jedi Master called Ngani Zho, who was deemed too old for the war. In spite of the boy’s inability to touch the Force, Zho trained Theron in the ways of the Jedi, until they separated during his teenage years.
Star Wars: Episode I Adventures Written by Henry Gilroy, Mark Schultz, Timothy Truman, and Ryder Windham
Art by Chris Chuckry, Steve Crespo, Martin Egeland, George Freeman, Harold Mackinnon, P. Craig Russell, Galen Showman, Howard M. Shum, Lisa Stamp, Robert Teranishi
Cover Art by Hugh Fleming Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: December 21, 2011
Cover Price: $7.99
With the Star Wars 3D Movie logo on the cover of Dark Horse’s Star Wars: Episode I Adventures, it is clear that the comic company (along with many other licensees) is now gearing up for the 3D Re-release of The Phantom Menacescheduled to be released on February 10, 2012. Despite the negative outlook on the prequels by vocal movie fans, I am sure there are some, almost 13 years after its first release, nostalgic enough and looking forward to the 3D screenings — and prequel fans will undoubtedly be excited too. However, this collection of Episode I-related narratives isn’t quite for everyone, although there are some positive elements to the book.
One of my favorite time periods in the Star Wars universe is the Old Republic. The original game for Xbox is one of my all time favorites. It is with this background that I dove into Star Wars: The Old Republic #4.
This issue follows two Jedi spies who are on an Imperial ship. Here we learn what is making it possible for the Empire to build their power weapons and ships so quickly, the Sun Razer. The Sun Razer harvests the energy of the Sun and allows the Empire to use the energy. One of the Jedi ends up having worked on the slave planet that built the prototype, and he is dealing with the guilt of not stopping the Sun Razer from being built.
Students of the Unusual™ comic cover used with permission of 3BoysProductions
The Mercuri Bros.™ comic cover used with permission of Prodigal Son Press