by Jan Strnad, Anthony Winn, and Robert Jones

Prelude to Rebellion is a six-issue series with a bonus mini story arc in issue #s 4, 5, and 6. Both are biographical accounts of Jedi Council Master Ki-Adi-Mundi, including how he was named to the Jedi High Council and, in the mini-series entitled “Vow of Justice,” how he was discovered to be Force-sensitive as a child.

Prelude and “Vow” describe life and culture on Cerea, Ki’s homeworld. For example, the ratio of men to women is one to twenty, so men, including Ki, have a bond-wife and several honor-wives. Some men will go as far as kidnapping a male child in order to have a son, so one can understand Ki’s father’s relief and reluctance in allowing him to study at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. Once he finishes his trials (approximately 67 BBY), Ki returns as the guardian of peace and justice on Cerea. Only his lightsaber marks his difference from the rest of Cerean security, as he wears the same uniform rather than Jedi robes.

When Prelude begins (33 BBY), Cerea, a world far from the Core, is a non-technological planet, still relying on pack animals as transportation, for instance. Despite Republic representatives’ presentations of the benefits of bringing technology to Cerean society, the planet’s governing body of Elders refuses after a counter-presentation by Ki. As it turns out, one of his daughters is involved in pro-tech rallies. Thus, Prelude also covers themes such as family life, and generation and gender gaps — Ki may be an esteemed Jedi, but that doesn’t mean he’s a great husband or father.

Prelude encompasses the first six issues of the 83-issue Star Wars comic series, Republic. Unfortunately, both the larger and mini-series rely too heavily on narrative rather than dialogue and artwork to tell the stories. The art, particularly for Prelude, more than makes up for this and keeps the action exciting.

by Ron Marz

Just before he’s sent on assignment, Darth Sidious presents Darth Maul with the Sith Infiltrator, a state-of-the-art spaceship complete with hyperdrive, cloaking device, and speederbike stored aboard. Maul is sent to cripple the Black Sun criminal organization, which Sidious warns is a powerful and dangerous operation that stands in the way of his larger designs. Maul proposes annihilating its master and nine vigos, but Sidious disagrees, as Black Sun may prove useful in the future.

The word “vigo,” which Darth Sidious uses to describe Black Sun’s lieutenants (issue 1), is incongruous in the Star Wars universe. “Vigo” conjures images of men in suits with guns, not a number of alien species wielding just as many different weapons. Further, Sidious calls Maul his “tool” (issue 1), and that’s exactly what his apprentice is in this story arc — merely a killing tool, presumably so Sidious doesn’t have to get his own hands dirty.

But despite Sidious’s description of Black Sun as dangerous, composed of one master, nine lieutenants, their bodyguards and other soldiers, as well as his express order not to destroy the entire organization, that’s what Maul does. There are, however, a couple of opponents Maul fights that are surprising in a good way, particularly the Black Sun master and his bodyguard.

The most impressive part of the 4-issue series is the artwork. Well, admittedly, Jan Duursema is my favorite Star Wars comic book artist, so no surprise there.

by Randy Stradley

The Jedi Council we first encounter in The Phantom Menace are introduced in Acts of War. We also meet Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, who along with other Council members and Padawans, pay a visit to the Yinchorri, a violent species admitted to the Republic a mere 20 or so years before this story takes place. They’ve taken advantage of the Republic’s technology: ships, blasters, and especially cortosis ore, fashioning them into shields that can burn out a lightsaber. It’s a suicide mission not just to Yinchorr, but to two other nearby planets in search of the Yinchorri’s command base.

Meanwhile, an army of Yinchorri barge into the Jedi Temple to obliterate the Jedi. This is a nice foreshadowing of what happens in Revenge of the Sith, as Darth Sidious has a background role in the Yinchorri’s attacks, something Yoda senses but not clearly. Thus, readers are introduced not just to the Dark Lord, but to his apprentice, Darth Maul and best of all, to Vilmarh “Villie” Grarhk, a Devaronian who fancies himself a bounty hunter, but will take on any shady mission. Those who only read the novels or watch the movies won’t encounter him again unless they read the Republic comic series.

Mace Windu, coolest Jedi ever, leads the mission to Yinchorr, which isn’t the success he would have liked, but ends as he expected. Strangely, it’s Saesee Tiin who sports the purple lightsaber rather than Windu — weird, especially because this series was released after The Phantom Menace.

Aside from the mix-up in lightsaber colors, the artwork is phenomenal. What else is there to say?

by Tom Veitch

This is more of a summary than a review, so watch out for ***SPOILERS***

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by Tom Veitch

In issues 1 and 2, three young Jedi, brothers Ulic and Cay Qel-Droma and Twi’lek, Tott Doneeta, are given their first mission by their Jedi Master Arca: to bring peace to the war-torn world of Onderon. For centuries, the planet has been divided into two factions: the citizens of the walled city of Iziz and the Beast Riders of Onderon, descendants of criminals cast out of the city fifty years prior. Shortly after the Jedi’s arrival, Princess Galia, the heir of Onderon and daughter of reigning Queen Amanoa, is abducted by Beast Riders. The Qel-Dromas and Doneeta chase after the Outcasts and meet with surprise.

Ulic is described as “headstrong and overconfident,” qualities that may doom the mission. In addition, he’s naive but his intentions are good. Cay and Doneeta are also likeable.

Issues 3 and 5 comprise the story of Nomi Sunrider, the Jedi best known for her skill in Battle Meditation. Though Sunrider has long been sensitive to the Force, she has always shied away from its power, allowing her husband Andur to train as a Jedi and, when old enough, their daughter Vima. However, tragic circumstances transpire that force Sunrider to take up her role as a Jedi, albeit reluctantly. Nomi Sunrider’s story is more suspenseful and less predictable than that of the Qel-Dromas and Doneeta.

In both of these tales, family is involved: the Qel-Droma brothers train together and Andur and Nomi Sunrider are married and have a child. These events take place circa 4000 BBY (before the Battle of Yavin), so when did the Jedi stop allowing familial attachments, and what situation(s) brought about that decision? Perhaps that’ll be answered in one of the later comics in the Tales of the Jedi series. Stay tuned!