Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

As part of the 20th Anniversary re-tooling of the Star Wars series, Dark Horse Comics started publishing Knights of the Old Republic in 2006. The series takes place eight years prior to the video game of the same name—about four thousand years before the Battle of Yavin—about a young padawan by the name of Zayne Carrick trying to clear his name and become a Jedi Knight.

At this point in the Star Wars timeline, the Jedi Council is a big part of society, and getting into the Council provides political power to those willing to abuse it. One such newly entered member, Lucien Draay, is part of a group called the Convenant—bad guys trying to work the system—and the information that Zayne has would destroy all of Lucien’s plans for good. In trying to find the truth, Zayne stumbles upon a Sith weapon testing ground and takes inventory for evidence against the Covenant.

The script is by John Jackson Miller and while it’s not a very compelling story, it still captures the attention of the reader, and once again shows just how corrupted people can become. Zayne is able to help out a culture through his own innocence and righteousness and while that’s not how the real world works it certainly doesn’t stop a person from believing in the good in people.

Official Thorn rating: 4 elephants

Star Wars: Legacy

130 years after the Battle of Yavin finds the Star Wars universe balanced by Luke Skywalker’s work, but being overthrown by a newly created Sith order. The series features Cade Skywalker, descendent of Luke, a trained Jedi who has abandoned the order and become somewhat of a space pirate. John Ostrander writes the Legacy series, and his ability to bring the force to life again gives the comic a true Star Wars feel.

Cade Skywalker is still learning about his abilities and his past and is seen by both the Sith and the Jedi Knights as a threat—both to the galaxy and to himself. He views the Force as a tool for his own personal use, much like the Sith do, but he seeks revenge on the Sith for the death of his father. He is a character clouded in his judgment and a perfect anti-hero for the next saga of the Star Wars series.

Hidden Temple explores the different factions trying to gain control of the universe—from the scattered Jedi’s to the de-throned Roan Fel to the Sith—each party finds themselves in a struggle of loyalty in every comic, leaving tons of room for twists and turns in the storyline. Legacy has taken the many volumes of history and made the future into a place where each character has multiple layers and many storylines just waiting to be explored.

Official Thorn rating: 4 elephants