Star Wars: Legacy #28

September 27, 2008

Star Wars: Legacy #28 (Dark Horse Comics)
By John Ostrander, Jan Duursema & Travis Charest

The Vector crossover begins its final leg as Cade Skywalker and his ragtag crew prepare for their gambit to overthrow Darth Krayt. As the journey continues, they run across the drifting vessel of Celeste Morne, a Jedi who has spent 3000 years bonded to an artifact possessed by the spirit of a Sith lord. Knowing of the Skywalker legacy through encounters with Luke and Darth Vader, Celeste’s encounter with Cade takes a surprisingly different turn. While the sections of this story in Dark Times and Rebellion were both pretty good, they also felt somewhat inconsequential i terms of those books’ overall story. Here, however, with the whole future of the Star Wars universe available to play with, it doesn’t feel at all impossible that John Ostrander would take advantage of this crossover to make some lasting changes to the Legacy status quo. Really good issue.
Rating: 8/10

Star Wars: Legacy #27

August 30, 2008

Star Wars: Legacy #27 (Dark Horse Comics)
By John Ostrander & Omar Francia

Here’s a cool little standalone issue. Darth Krayt, lord of the Sith, is suffering from the Yuuzhan Vong coral implants inside his body. To try to save him, Darth Wyrlok attempts to delve the lost Sith knowledge of a master called Darth Andeddu, who found a way to animate his own body even after death. Andeddu doesn’t consider Krayt and Wyrlok worthy of his knowledge, though, and Wyrlok beings an intense battle for the life of his master. The Sith of Star Wars: Legacy are all really intriguing characters, and John Ostrander‘s decision to spotlight them this month makes for one of the best issues of this title since its inception. Although none of these characters are heroes, Wyrlok does manage to become a more sympathetic character, a character you can (almost) root for in his battle against Andeddu. Omar Francias artwork is fantastic — cool-looking aliens, nasty zombie Sith, an awesome painted cover. The whole package is extremely well put-together. If you’re a Star Wars fan, again, this is a book that stands on its own. Go ahead and check it out.
Rating: 8/10

Star Wars: Rebellion #16

September 6, 2008

Star Wars: Rebellion #16 (Dark Horse Comics/Lucas Books)
By Rob Williams, Dustin Weaver & Dan Scott

The third leg of the all-Star Wars “Vector” crossover concludes this issue. Ancient Jdei Knight Celeste Morne, trapped in suspended animation for thousands of years after being posessed by a Sith artifact, has been stranded on an isolated moon for the 20 years since Darth Vader woke her up. Now she faces a group of rebels, including a young Luke Skywalker, who has never met another Jedi besides the late Obi-Wan Kenobi. Celeste, driven mad by her isolation, attacks Luke, while the spirit of the Sith Karness Muur sees in Luke a potential new host… and if not him, his companion Princess Leia. Although the first section of “Vector” was kind of dull, the middle section in Dark Times and now this title have been much better. Celeste works well as a sympathetic character, even as she’s become a genuine threat to young Luke. Luke, meanwhile, is torn between fighting for his life and hoping to learn more of the Jedi from this mysterious woman. I’m anxious to see how the story will lead into the last four chapters in Star Wars: Legacy. Dustin Weaver‘s art is good, evoking the actors but still telling the story well, and Dan Scott gives us a nice cover. “Vector” started slowly, but it’s gotten better as the year progresses.
Rating: 3.5/5

Star Wars: Legacy #25

June 20, 2008

Star Wars: Legacy #25 (Dark Horse Comics)
By John Ostrander, Jan Duursema & Sean Cooke

In “The Hidden Temple,” Cade Skywalker and his merry band of rogues are pulled out of a well-earned vacation to respond to the atrocities commited against the Mon Calimari. Cade’s mission has become to destroy the Sith, but the Jedi he encounters this issue, surprisingly, may not agree with his methods. By the time of Legacy, the force-users have been split into three factions: the Jedi, the Sith, and the Imperial Knights. While the Jedi and the Imperials are ostensibly allies in the battle against the Sith, Cade’s rage against the Sith doesn’t seem to give him a place in any camp. The idea of the Imperial Knights is intriguing to me, and they haven’t really been explored very much in this series thus far, so it’s nice to see them getting a little more face time. Equally nice is seeing more of Cade’s rejected Jedi past — obviously an integral facet for the character, but one that still holds many secrets. Jan Duursema‘s artwork is as awesome as ever. Ostrander and Duursema have both been involved in some of the all-time best Star Wars comics, and having them together makes this the best being published currently.
Rating: 8/10

PVP (2003 Series) #15

March 19, 2005

Quick Rating: Very Good

Francis embarks on a quest to make the greatest fan film of all time!

Writer: Scott Kurtz
Art: Scott Kurtz
Full Frontal Nerdity Back-Up: Aaron Williams
Cover Art: Scott Kurtz
Publisher: Image Comics

This issue of PVP marks the last issue in the current format of the book – Kurtz has announced that starting with next issue the comic will feature new long-form stories in addition to the reprints of the web comics, plus the comic will switch from “landscape” binding (staples at the top) to traditional side binding. And I’m happy about both of those changes. But to wrap up the current format, Kurtz couldn’t have picked two better PVP stories.

The first story in the issue is a takeoff on the real Batman: Dead End fan film that made the rounds of the Internet last summer and took the world of comicdom by storm. When Francis sees the film, which features Batman fighting an Alien, he comes up with a brainstorm: make the ultimate fan film. Batman, Star Wars, Star Trek and Indiana Jones are thrown together as he suits his friends up in costume and sets out to violate any number of copyrights in the quest of total geekdom.

I loved this storyline when it showed up on PVP Online and I love it even more in its collected edition. Francis is living every comic geek’s dream – to make a crossover movie with characters and ideas from a dozen different sources, and it’s as much fun to watch him try to make the film as it ever would have been to watch the movie itself.

The second storyline is a bit smaller, a bit more personal, and a lot sweeter. Francis rejects the idea of taking Marcy to the school dance, but is torn with jealousy when she decides to go with his arch-rival Teezo instead. What follows is your standard teenage angst romantic comedy, with Jade trying to get Marcy ready for the dance, Francis plotting ways to win her back, and Skull walking around in drag. Because it’s funny, that’s why.

This is probably the strongest issue of the regular comic yet, with two of the best stories – one that’s unparalleled in pure geekdom and one that’s surprisingly emotional and touching. Put ‘em together and you’ve got a really strong comic to do out on before the new PVP debuts next month.

Rating: 8/10

Recent Reviews: June 8 Releases

As you may or may not know, in addition to the tons of reviews I post here at the Back Issue Bin, I also write reviews of new comics over at CX Pulp.com. I thought I would start making it a habit to link BIB readers over to those other recent reviews on Tuesdays… y’know… when I remember. And have time. And feel like it.

Anyhoo, here are the comics released on June 8 that I’ve reviewed over at CX. These links (as well as all of my CX reviews) can be found right here on the archive page as well.

• Doctor Who: A Fairytale Life #3
• Donald Duck #367
• Echo #30
• Fear Itself: Fearsome Four #1
• Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #1
• Green Lantern Movie Prequel: Kilowog #1
• Green Lantern Movie Prequel: Tomar-Re #1
• Love and Capes: Ever After #5
• Morning Glories #10
• Space Warped #1
• Supergirl #64

Star Wars: Legacy #24

May 23, 2008

Star Wars: Legacy #2 (Dark Horse Comics)
John Ostrander, Jan Duursema, Brad Anderson
In part two of “Loyalties,” Cade Skywalker and his crew are taking a wel-earned rest at Rawk’s Nest, but news of the destruction of Mon Calamari by Darth Krayt shakes them from their seclusion. Cade ponders a desperate plan, one that causes great dismay amongst two of his ancestors who just keep popping in to give unwanted advice. One of my favorite things about this title is how we see Luke Skywalker — in ghost-form — taking on the mentor role to the most unwilling would-be Jedi he’s ever encountered. Luke as a teacher is certainly nothing new in the Expanded Universe, but the dynamic he shares with Cade is a unique one. With the destruction of Mon Calamari, Ostrander has drastically raised the stakes in this title as well. Cade has always fought against his family, his history, his… well… his legacy, but it seems clear that he’ll have to choose a path soon. But in a future where the lines aren’t as cut and dried as good or evil, Jedi or Sith, we’re seeing a Star Wars Universe that’s just as intriguing and exciting as the first one we were introduced to in 1977.

Rating: 8/10

Star Wars: Legacy #21

March 15, 2008

Star Wars: Legacy #21 (Dark Horse Comics)
By John Ostrander, Omar Francia & Douglas Wheatley

I wasn’t really a big fan of last issue, the first part of “Indomitable,” but part two really blew me away. Eight years ago, Admiral Stazi led a small army of Alliance ships away from the surrender to the Empire. Now, the remnants of the Alliance are ready to stage a last stand in the docking ring orbiting the Mon Calamari planet. This is a really effective battle sequence, and it turns Stazi from a sort of sad, reclusive figure to a powerful, admirable one. I wasn’t happy for the focus to be taken off of Cade’s story, but now I’m quite happy to see where Stazi’s tale will take him, and how it will dovetail in with the main story of the series. Well done, Ostrander — you won me over.
Rating: 9/10

Star Wars: Legacy #20

March 7, 2008

Star Wars: Legacy #20 (Dark Horse Comics)
By John Ostrander, Omar Francia & Douglas Wheatley

The tale of Cade Skywalker is set aside temporarily in this new story arc, “Indomitable,” which features the final desperate remnant of the Galactic Alliance continuing to flee the Sith-controlled Empire. As they lick their wounds at the space station-ring of the planet Mon Calamari, Darth Azard plots his next move. Considering the high energy of the last story arc, this one feels a little slow by comparison. The stuff we have here isn’t bad, but the political stuff does drag a little bit, and most of the action is implied or done away with in a quick flashback. It reminds me a bit of the Prequel movies in that respect — people don’t come to Star Wars looking for a political story. We want thrilling heroics. I can handle a little talking heads, but if we don’t get back to Cade and company soon, this book may get frustrating.
Rating: 7/10

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic #25

February 2, 2008

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic #25 (Dark Horse Comics)
By John Jackson Miller, Scott Hepburn & Travis Charest

“Vector,” the year-long even crossing over into all four ongoing Star Wars comics, begins this issue with the blind prophet Q’Anilia having a vision of Zayne Carrick with three mysterious figures (who aren’t mysterious at all to fans of the franchise). Zayne is hiding the the Undercity of Taris, where an ancient Sith weapon may be hidden. Zayne isn’t particularly concerned about the weapon, though — he’s too focused on simply staying alive. Out of the four Star Wars titles, this is the one that’s never quite worked for me, and this is no different. I’m just not really into the characters, and if this book wasn’t laying groundwork for the rest of the “Vector” crossover, I wouldn’t have bothered with it. It’s not bad really — and in fact, the artwork is very good. I just have no connection here.
Rating: 6/10