Star Wars: The Last Command Review

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(More customer reviews)The comic adaptations of 'Heir to the Empire' and 'Dark Force Rising' tackled the problem of adapting a 400-page novel into a 160-page comic quite well, and 'The Last Command' does it better than even those two. While the adaptations does run into inevitale problems (like in explaining Delta Source) Baron has done a truly admirable job.
First off, the art. The late Eddie Buikovic's second and last art job in the world of SW comics is even better than his one with 'The Phantom Affair'. The detail is incredibly, with gorgeous views of Coruscant, Mount Tantiss, and even Hijarna. The characters are all done very well, also. The movie cast looks just like they did on the screen and original characters like Pellaeon, Mara, Karrde, Ferrier, and so forth are done better here than in the other two adaptations. The one qualm I have with the art is that the coloring switched halfway through. Pamela Rambo's watercolor-type style worked better in the 'Dark Force Rising' adaptation, but its just doesn't fit well with Buikovic's style. Thankfully, the second half is done by Dan Brown, whose style resembles 'The Phantom Affair's masterful colorist, Dave Nestelle.
My one qualm with the art is that it's not always faithful to the 'real' SW universe. Craft like Chariot LAVs, the Golan IIIs at Bilbringi, and Ferrier's DP20 gunship don't look a thing like they 'actually' do. I'm willing to overlook it, still, because Buikovic's art made the adaptation of 'The Last Command'
That said, its a very well done adaptation that retains the spirit of the novel itself and created a gorgeous, almost cinematic, feel to it as well. Highly reccomended.

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Luke Skywalker and his companions fight an evil army of Clones and a kidnapping plot against Han and Leia's newborn twins.

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Star Wars: Heir to the Empire (Dark Horse Collection) Review

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(More customer reviews)Although there are a few very trivial flaws in "Heir to the Empire" they are easily overlooked and do not take away from any of the enjoyment contained within. I can say with all honesty and not a little relief that Timothy Zahn did a far better job than any of the low-brow attempts at a worthwhile novel about our beloved Star Wars heroes than such amateurs such as Kevin J. Anderson and Steve Perry. Basically, it takes place five years after "Return of the Jedi" and Luke is just starting to feel comfortable in his role as the galaxy's only known Jedi. Han and Leia are married and expecting twins while struggling to build a new Republic in their home in the Imperial Palace on Coruscant. The Empire is considerably weakened and withering away, but it still holds some surprises for our blossoming New Republic. Strutting upon the stage is a new antagonist almost worthy of being Darth Vader's equal. A blue skinned red eyed member of the Chiss species named Grand Admiral Thrawn, the last of the Empire's Grand Admirals, has taken the Empire into his own hands in an attempt to revive the Empire and bring it back into its former power. He is a brilliant military strategist and super-genius, able to glean merely from a culture's art its military strategies and psychological traits. Although, Zahn never bothers to explain exactly how he does this, I feel that this would certainly qualify one to be an extraordinary genius among geniuses. Okay, Thrawn is quite honestly a much better "bad guy" than the ludicrously ridiculous Hutt (a Hutt that would fit much better in an episode of Looney Tunes) that Kevin J. Anderson dreamed up in "Dark Saber" however, Zahn doesn't quite make him as fascinating as Darth Vader, but after Vader anyone would seem fairly anticlimatic. And an insane dark Jedi by the name of C'baoth is bent on capturing Luke and Leia (with her unborn twins) for his own corrupt reasons. A great plot with all our favorite characters, as well as an interesting trip to Kashyyyk with Chewbacca, even though his child and wife is disappointingly never mentioned, all combine to make a great read replete with space fights, political intrigue, and new characters.

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Star Wars: Dark Force Rising TPB Review

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(More customer reviews)For starters, I read the novel version of this Star Wars story prior to the graphic novel when I was still in college. Fortunately, it's safe to say that I wasn't disappointed in any way. SW: Dark Force Rising was one of my favorite books in the SW mythos and it still is up to now. It features the classic SW characters fans have loved throughout the years of their existence. The book also features some of the really cunning newcomers, which rival that of Darth Vader's infamous exploits. Although I'm sure right now there are better books out there (i.e., Shadows of the Empire, Episode I: Phantom Menace, etc.) Dark Force Rising is an exceptional read and serves as the best intermediary book in Timothy Zahn's Star Wars trilogy.
I admit the Dark Horse Comics adaptation have some faults in them that tends to 'lessen' the depth and impact of the characters as well as put to vagueness the tactical intelligence of the villains originally depicted in the novels, but we can't squarely put the blame on the creative team's shoulders. I know they did their best to cram 400-plus pages of written material into a 144-page graphic album format. In fact they did quite an impressive job despite certain art flaws and story sequence gaps. Dark Horse has managed to give itself some of the much needed credit by telling a very good story for readers (average and avid alike) to be permanently hooked to the Star Wars mythos.
A cool graphic novel to collect if you're the 'completist' type. Though the graphic novel is a real eye candy, I only give it four stars for the little details the creative team failed to put in. Otherwise the book is a good read and well worth your hard-earned cash. But, if you have a better alternative, look for other Star Wars graphic novels instead.

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Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy Review

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(More customer reviews)A bit of a history lesson here is necessary for the uninitiated. Odds are that there will be few (uninitiated) here, given that most drawn to this review will have working familiarity with the subject matter, but I'll supply a few details from memory anyhow. Call it posterity. Once the lights in the theatre went out on STAR WARS: EPISODE 6: RETURN OF THE JEDI, serious Star Wars enthusiasts had no idea when (or even if) they'd be treated to another adventure in their most favorite cinematic universe. The original trilogy had come to its close with mild controversy (Ewoks? Really, George? Were they necessary?) with some fanfare -- after seriously amping up the stakes in THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK -- and 1983 seemed to bring an end to the continuing adventures of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, and the rest of the gang.
Then, in 1992, science fiction novelist Timothy Zahn's new trilogy of Star Wars tales began, and it reminded Star Wars fans everywhere of the latent potential still lingering like a welcome disturbance in the Force in that galaxy far, far away. Over the course of the next few years, Zahn did as Lucas had done with the original trilogy, amping up the stakes just a little bit at each crazy turn, whetting fandom's appetite for even more visits to these distant worlds ... and the good folks at Dark Horse Comics were all too happy to oblige. Eventually, Dark Horse stumbled onto the brilliant idea to adapt Zahn's books; these novels had, after all, earned a special place in the hearts of most Star Wars fans, so much so that most consider these outings as unofficial Episodes 7, 8, and 9, picking up the events of Luke & company nearly a decade after JEDI ended.
Dark Horse completed three miniseries adaptations -- each with six issues, each miniseries focusing on one of Zahn's novels -- ultimately and inevitably re-releasing each of these three miniseries in trade paperback forms, and now Dark Horse Books has finally put them all together in one grand spanking adventure. At over 400 pages, STAR WARS: THE THRAWN TRILOGY is the ultimate fan package, returning Star Wars fans to the excitement they felt with each passing chapter of Zahn's massive adventure. It's not a light undertaking in the slightest: these comics go to great lengths to capture the details of the books, bringing many new characters, worlds, ships, and situations that, honestly, fit like a glove in Lucas's fantastic universe.
In a nutshell, the New Republic has grown to encompass many worlds, but elements of the Empire -- namely, several surviving ships, bases, and one nasty Grand Admiral Thrawn -- have come across data that indicates the Emperor held a few tricks up his sleeve even in death. A hidden Dark Jedi Master ... ship cloaking technology ... and a mountain fortress complete with cloning cylinders mean that the return of the Empire has always remained a virtually galactic heartbeat away, leaving Adm. Thrawn to hatch his plan to return the forces of evil to reign in the galaxy. Standing in his way? The usual suspects of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Lando Calrissian, and they each have special roles to play, alongside a growing legion of smugglers and Rebel fighter pilots ...
Read closely, and you'll find it hard to believe that the theatres were dark with new cinematic Star Wars adventures for two decades!
Zahn weaves his tale with several new faces and even some new twists on the ol' ones, and he brings an adult, dramatic, treacherous sensibility to bare on every development. THE THRAWN TRILOGY is a massive undertaking -- wouldn't it be great to get three more Star Wars stories up on the silver screen -- and, while it might not be to everyone's liking, it certainly tickled mosts fancies when so little else was happening in this universe. While some of the events feel a bit rushed toward the end of the collection, this is one story worth visiting again and again, not only for nostalgia but also because it's great to have Star Wars making all of us feel like a kid again.
May the Force be with you. Always.

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