Aayla Secura. Before “graduating” from the Jedi Academy, she was Quinlan Vos’s Padawan (but that isn’t why I like her). In fact, she and Quin were promoted to Knight and Master respectively, at the same time.

I like Aayla because she’s a Twi’lek who isn’t a stupid dancing girl. She kicks ass and, in fact, kicked Aurra Sing’s ass, who I can’t stand. Aurra’s pretty cool looking in a Goth (but cooler) sort of way, but she’s a total, total psycho. In fact, the “real” version (played by an actress) isn’t even as scary looking as the comics version. But I have to admit, she has a great hair color.

In the comics where it flashbacks to when Aayla was still Quin’s Padawan, she looked very much like Mission Vao from Knights of the Old Republic (KotOR). The weird thing is, adult Aayla is blue. But as a youngster she was like, turquoise-colored, more like Mission.

In the upcoming Republic #71, to be released in November, people have speculated that Quin will be killed off. In the above link, it says: “Vos is finally captured and broght [sic] to justice for his crimes.”

However, just because he’s captured doesn’t mean he’ll be killed. After all, the Jedi honor life and only kill if it’s unavoidable. Had Depa Billaba regained her faculties, she would have gone to trial, but I doubt the Council would have executed her. Perhaps she could have been redeemed. Maybe the same will happen with Quin. I hope.

Quinlan Vos. Because he’s a bad-ass Jedi — more so than Mace Windu, even. Or, what the hell? More so than Shaft (“John Shaft” ). I can totally picture Quin parking his Mobquet Flare-S swoop bike (he doesn’t have a swoop in Republic but he should) in a prominent spot on the Jedi Temple’s landing platform, then swaggering into the Temple, dressed not in Jedi robes, but in his Guardian armor. Then the theme from Shaft plays in the background (this is the Temple, after all, so this could be a Force occurrence): *funky guitar riff — wicka-wicka-wank, wicka-wicka-wicka-wank* Mace – “You see Master Vos is a bad mother — (Yoda – shut your mouth).” So, can ya dig it?

[audio:http://bloggochicago.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/Shaft.mp3]

He walks the fine line between light side (LS) and dark side (DS), which is a great struggle to watch/read. This dichotomy makes the character more than 2-D, and perhaps more believable. Jedi are not infallible, and his characterization really shows this. In addition, I like the added dimension John Ostrander provides by having Quin basically deluding himself into thinking that he hasn’t gone DS, that he’s still working undercover. He’s a brooder, and in many ways that I won’t go into right now, a Byronic hero. I like Byronic heroes. And, OMG, he’s sooooo hot. I mean, for a comic book character. Is that weird? I’m turning into a fangirl, I think, which seems a bit silly for someone my age, but so what? What do I care? The guy’s hot, what do you want? Jan Duursema’s a great artist. Besides, he reminds me very much of the “bad boys” I used to date back when I dressed like Khaleen Hentz — hot pants, fishnets, all that.