It's been a while. Things have been crazy, but it looks like I'll have some time to do some serious reading/blogging come winter break in December. Keep your eyes peeled for entries on Death Troopers (which I am happy to discover happens right around the time period I'm in ATM, right around Rebel Dawn) and Imperial Commando: 501st. In the meantime, I managed to pick up two comics for your review-reading pleasure:
Knights of the Old Republic, Volume Seven
3,963 years BBY
Yeah, buddy. I love this series. Though, to be honest, I didn't have high expectations for this particular volume. I was afraid it was going to be just another one of those transitional story arcs where not much happens. I mean, starting a story-arc with the premise to the tune of, '"Free at last from the false charges against him, former Jedi student Zayne Carrick is ready and able to seek his fortune across the galaxy" (back cover synopsis) sounds like John Jackson Miller, quite frankly, ran out of ideas. Well, I wasn't as disappointed as I expected.
For the most part, it was a cut-and-dry transitional storyline. This volume contains three more or less separate adventures. But they were all unusually entertaining. First, Gryph's plan to con several frontier planet investors out of their (probably not so) hard earned cash results in some unexpected consequences. Meh. But what makes it worthwhile is the discovery that Jarael actually has the ability to (***censored***). And Slysk, the Trando pilot, is friggin hilarious in this one. Next, the crew stumbles upon a lost senatorial ship filled with corpses... sound like Death Troopers? Well, it's not, but let's just say the lone diminutive survivor is not as cute and cuddly as he seems. For the sake of not being too much of a spoiler, I will say no more. The last one takes place on what can be best described as the Disney World of gladiatorial arenas. As far as I'm concerned, a Mandalorian (e.g. Rohlan) fighting in a gladiatorial arena pretty much feeds my awesome bug.
In general, the art in the volume was particularly notable for me. As some of you may already know, this comic series is drawn by a wide array of artists, lending several different visual interpretations to the series. One that stood out for me was Dean Zachary's style (the second story), which, for me, is an odd mixture of real and surreal artwork. Bong Dazo (first story) is still my favorite for this series though.
Otherwise, all the revelations made concerning Jarael have certainly left me eagerly anticipating Volume 8 in the Spring and the (*sniff*) final volume later on.
Purge: Seconds To Die (one-shot comic)
Shortly after Episode III, 19 years BBY
My first reaction: Wait..what? Plo Koon!?! Surely Dave Filoni had something to do with this.
My realization soon after: Oh, that's Sha Koon, his niece.
Apparently Sha Koon survived Order 66. And, in a desperate attempt to destroy the Sith, she contacts the Emperor, claiming to want to become his new apprentice. Obviously, the Emperor was not fooled and sent Vader to "test" (code for "dispatch") the young Jedi.
The entire story is told in the final moments of Sha Koon's life (thus the title). I hope that wasn't a spoiler for anyone. I mean, really, did you expect her to win?
My overall opinion: "meh"
John Ostrander has done much better work. As for the art- kind of goofy at times (i.e. the Emperor). But hey, it was only $4. I'm not too upset.
Until Next time, MTFBWY, A
