Star Wars: Clone Wars Volume 9 (Endgame).
March 3rd 2008 21:56
Category: Graphic Novels/Comics
STAR WARS: CLONE WARS VOLUME 9 (ENDGAME).
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Production Team: Scripts – John Ostrander & Welles Hartley, Pencils – Jan Duursema & Douglas Wheatley, Colours – Brad Anderson, Chris Chuckry & Ronda Pattison, Inks – Dan Parsons, Lettering – Michael David Thomas and Cover Art – Tomas Giorello.
Cost: US $17.95
As various battles wage across the galaxy for the very survival of the Galactic Republic, Jedi leading their clone troopers in conflicts against the relentless droid forces of the Separatists there is a sudden issuing of a confidential order from the highest levels of the command chain, an order that is the result of a thousand years of careful plotting and a carefully orchestrated revenge. This single command – ‘Execute Order 66’ is the end to a millennia of conflict between the Jedi and their ancient foes; the Sith. These three simple words uttered by Darth Sidious, the Dark Lord of the Sith and soon to be Emperor of the First Galactic Empire, are all that is needed to end both the Republic and the Jedi Order for once and for all. All across the galaxy as this command is heard by various Clone Commanders, Clone officers and Clone troopers they immediately turn on their Jedi leaders and compatriots and swiftly and surely execute both the command and the Jedi.
The Revenge of the Sith is as brutal as it is swift, yet it is not complete, not exact for even as Order 66 is issued there are those who somehow manage to avoid the final and terminal conclusion that this command brings. Many are not lucky; Stass Allie, Aayla Secura, Ki-adi-mundi and Plo Kloon to name a few, find themselves falling victim to the fire of those that they thought loyal servants of the Republic. Some manage to survive the order; the most famous of those who do avoid termination at the hands of the Clone Troopers are Obi Wan Kenobi and Master Yoda. But there are others who also manage to avoid the Revenge of the Sith, this particular graphic novel is the story of some of those who did avoid the effects of Order 66 and the choices they now make to be able to survive the glorious New Order that has been ushered in under Emperor Palpatine.
Three tales are told within this particular graphic novel, Hidden Enemy, Into the Unknown and Purge. The first of these tales revolves around the actions of Jedi Master Quinlan Vos who I have to admit is personal favourite of mine as he is firstly not your typical Jedi and there is a kind of noir feel to him as well as his tales, even this one. As events open he is on the forest world of Kashyykk, home world to the Wookiees and the latest in a number of battle fields between the forces of the Separatists and the Republic. Large arboreal anthropoids the Wookiees have long been loyal to the Republic and the Galactic Senate and the Jedi Order, thus under the leadership of Master Yoda the Jedi have focused considerable attention to this world, it’s defence is vital. Of course the Republic is quite aware of the real significance of the world to themselves nor are most of the Jedi stationed there, its only after an encounter with Trandoshan slavers, a long time enemy of the Wookiees, that the actual reason why Kashyykk is so vital begins to dawn on them. It seems that the local inhabitants are the possessor of significant navigational knowledge, they known secret ways and means to navigate through hyperspace and enabling them to arrive at their destination quicker than by normal means.
It’s a prize that the Separatists are only to happy to expend considerable effort and manpower on seizing and it’s also something that the Republic don’t want to see fall into enemy hands, the results could be catastrophic. In the end though it all becomes something of a moot point as Order 66 is issued from the Supreme Chancellors offices on Coruscant and all hell literally breaks loose. Despite being taken literally by surprise Master Vos is able to avoid being killed and immediately finds himself alone in the depths of the forests of Kashyykk, alone and being hunted by the very troops that once called him general, not precisely the best of situations or the most pleasant. And anyone who has ever played the computer game Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) can tell you that the forest of Kashyykk are no cake walk even for a Jedi Master especially if the entire forces of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) are out gunning for you.
Hidden Enemy is a resolution of a saga that had already begun; it is the rounding out of the story of Quinlan Vos and the various other key characters that have become associated with him through his career. In contrast the next two tales; Into the Unknown and Purge are setting the stage for a new saga within the Star Wars universe. It is here in the pages of Into the Unknown that the character of Dass Jennir is first introduced; Dass was formerly a Jedi General serving with the GAR forces on the world of New Plympto, the home world of the Nosaurian species. Naturally with the issuing of Order 66 Dass has been forced to flee his own troops as they are intent on eliminating him, Order 66 means that they perceive him to be a traitor to the Republic and someone to be shot on sight along with any other Jedi that might be in the vicinity.
It is said that the force often works in mysterious ways and that sometimes its guidance and messages are not often obvious at first, this is precisely the situation that Dass Jennir finds himself in. It is also a situation that the Bothan Jedi Master Kai Hudorra and Padawan Noirah Na find themselves thrust into, yet it is not through some confrontation with the troopers that hunt them or even through meditation in a quite glade that gives them some insight into how to adapt to the new circumstances that have been thrust upon them. Instead it is witnessing the actions of a solitary Jedi on the steps of the Jedi temple on Coruscant that provides a seeming moment of epiphany, though for Noirah Na the moment is one that is painful but necessary. New paths open up for them yet of the three only Dass Jennir’s path is revealed, and it seems that it is the path the force intends for him to take, it is certainly the one that leads him to becoming a key protagonist in the saga of Dark Times which has been released by Dark Horse comics. As for Master Hudorra and Noirah Na, their paths are unknown, though perhaps they will appear in Dark Times at a later stage, hard to see the future is, always in motion as a certain master once told me.
Purge is the story of Darth Vader’s attempts to track down his one time master Obi Wan Kenobi and visit upon him dreadful vengeance. It is a story of obsession, weakness and further betrayal as well as serving to further cement Darth Vader’s place as the right hand to the Emperor and a Sith Lord. Misguidedly one of the Jedi who has issued a summons for survivors of Order 66 to gather in the Spice Mines of Kessel has done so purposefully to lure Darth Vader to this rendezvous. Master Shadday has leaked information about the gathering to Vader and hinted that Kenobi would also be part of this impromptu meeting, her intent is to bring about a confrontation of Jedi Masters and a newly anointed Sith Lord, she believes that the survivors can prevail and strike fear into the Emperor and bring about the start of the Empire’s downfall. The road to hell is paved with good intentions and this one certainly goes pear shaped very quickly. In the end all that occurs is that the reputation of Darth Vader is only further enhanced along with tales of his mastery of the Dark Side.
But Endgame is only the end of a particular phase within galactic history, the Republic may have been defeated and the Sith triumphant but the light side is never truly diminished as long as people have courage and hope, from such things true greatness can emerge and the darkness can be turned by the subsequent blaze that shines forth out of those who hold true to such conviction. After all the Jedi have been diminished and shattered before, yet time and time again they emerged from the shadows, from defeat and fought the good fight. After all it isn’t for any empty reason that Obi Wan Kenobi tells Luke Skywalker in that seminal film which began this grand saga, all those years ago, “Remember Luke, the Force will be with you always”.
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Production Team: Scripts – John Ostrander & Welles Hartley, Pencils – Jan Duursema & Douglas Wheatley, Colours – Brad Anderson, Chris Chuckry & Ronda Pattison, Inks – Dan Parsons, Lettering – Michael David Thomas and Cover Art – Tomas Giorello.
Cost: US $17.95
As various battles wage across the galaxy for the very survival of the Galactic Republic, Jedi leading their clone troopers in conflicts against the relentless droid forces of the Separatists there is a sudden issuing of a confidential order from the highest levels of the command chain, an order that is the result of a thousand years of careful plotting and a carefully orchestrated revenge. This single command – ‘Execute Order 66’ is the end to a millennia of conflict between the Jedi and their ancient foes; the Sith. These three simple words uttered by Darth Sidious, the Dark Lord of the Sith and soon to be Emperor of the First Galactic Empire, are all that is needed to end both the Republic and the Jedi Order for once and for all. All across the galaxy as this command is heard by various Clone Commanders, Clone officers and Clone troopers they immediately turn on their Jedi leaders and compatriots and swiftly and surely execute both the command and the Jedi.
It’s a prize that the Separatists are only to happy to expend considerable effort and manpower on seizing and it’s also something that the Republic don’t want to see fall into enemy hands, the results could be catastrophic. In the end though it all becomes something of a moot point as Order 66 is issued from the Supreme Chancellors offices on Coruscant and all hell literally breaks loose. Despite being taken literally by surprise Master Vos is able to avoid being killed and immediately finds himself alone in the depths of the forests of Kashyykk, alone and being hunted by the very troops that once called him general, not precisely the best of situations or the most pleasant. And anyone who has ever played the computer game Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) can tell you that the forest of Kashyykk are no cake walk even for a Jedi Master especially if the entire forces of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) are out gunning for you.
Hidden Enemy is a resolution of a saga that had already begun; it is the rounding out of the story of Quinlan Vos and the various other key characters that have become associated with him through his career. In contrast the next two tales; Into the Unknown and Purge are setting the stage for a new saga within the Star Wars universe. It is here in the pages of Into the Unknown that the character of Dass Jennir is first introduced; Dass was formerly a Jedi General serving with the GAR forces on the world of New Plympto, the home world of the Nosaurian species. Naturally with the issuing of Order 66 Dass has been forced to flee his own troops as they are intent on eliminating him, Order 66 means that they perceive him to be a traitor to the Republic and someone to be shot on sight along with any other Jedi that might be in the vicinity.
It is said that the force often works in mysterious ways and that sometimes its guidance and messages are not often obvious at first, this is precisely the situation that Dass Jennir finds himself in. It is also a situation that the Bothan Jedi Master Kai Hudorra and Padawan Noirah Na find themselves thrust into, yet it is not through some confrontation with the troopers that hunt them or even through meditation in a quite glade that gives them some insight into how to adapt to the new circumstances that have been thrust upon them. Instead it is witnessing the actions of a solitary Jedi on the steps of the Jedi temple on Coruscant that provides a seeming moment of epiphany, though for Noirah Na the moment is one that is painful but necessary. New paths open up for them yet of the three only Dass Jennir’s path is revealed, and it seems that it is the path the force intends for him to take, it is certainly the one that leads him to becoming a key protagonist in the saga of Dark Times which has been released by Dark Horse comics. As for Master Hudorra and Noirah Na, their paths are unknown, though perhaps they will appear in Dark Times at a later stage, hard to see the future is, always in motion as a certain master once told me.
Purge is the story of Darth Vader’s attempts to track down his one time master Obi Wan Kenobi and visit upon him dreadful vengeance. It is a story of obsession, weakness and further betrayal as well as serving to further cement Darth Vader’s place as the right hand to the Emperor and a Sith Lord. Misguidedly one of the Jedi who has issued a summons for survivors of Order 66 to gather in the Spice Mines of Kessel has done so purposefully to lure Darth Vader to this rendezvous. Master Shadday has leaked information about the gathering to Vader and hinted that Kenobi would also be part of this impromptu meeting, her intent is to bring about a confrontation of Jedi Masters and a newly anointed Sith Lord, she believes that the survivors can prevail and strike fear into the Emperor and bring about the start of the Empire’s downfall. The road to hell is paved with good intentions and this one certainly goes pear shaped very quickly. In the end all that occurs is that the reputation of Darth Vader is only further enhanced along with tales of his mastery of the Dark Side.
But Endgame is only the end of a particular phase within galactic history, the Republic may have been defeated and the Sith triumphant but the light side is never truly diminished as long as people have courage and hope, from such things true greatness can emerge and the darkness can be turned by the subsequent blaze that shines forth out of those who hold true to such conviction. After all the Jedi have been diminished and shattered before, yet time and time again they emerged from the shadows, from defeat and fought the good fight. After all it isn’t for any empty reason that Obi Wan Kenobi tells Luke Skywalker in that seminal film which began this grand saga, all those years ago, “Remember Luke, the Force will be with you always”.
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