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clarks_dad's review
4.0
What a compelling story! Knights of the Old Republic is probably one of the more original works in the EU. The story follows Zayne Carrick, a bumbling, clumsy Jedi trainee on Taris and the larger conflict he gets wrapped up in, eventually leading up to the plot of the second Sith War outlined in the KotOR video games and The Old Republic MMO game. There are a lot of twists and turns in this series and I really can't even cover it's premise without giving away huge spoilers. A couple of things though: 1) the dialogue here is top notch, especially coming from reading Tales of the Jedi. It has subtlety and doesn't treat the reader like a struggling 5th grade reader. 2) This story is again centered around prophecy as a plot device, but does so in a much more complex and layered fashion than Tales did. That's not to say that an intelligent reader can't predict exactly where it's going, but, it certainly feels a lot more enjoyable than in previous EU entries.
jaredkwheeler's review
5.0
Star Wars Legends Project #12
Background: Knights of the Old Republic: Commencement was released in seven issues from January to June 2006. The trade paperback was released in November of that year. It was written by [a:John Jackson Miller|20028|John Jackson Miller|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1272316895p2/20028.jpg] and pencilled and inked by [a:Brian Ching|20024|Brian Ching|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66-251a730d696018971ef4a443cdeaae05.jpg] and [a:Travel Foreman|20025|Travel Foreman|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66-251a730d696018971ef4a443cdeaae05.jpg]. Miller is mostly a comics writer, having been heavily involved in the industry for some 20+ years. He began his professional comic writing career with a "Crimson Dynamo" series for Marvel, before going on to write for "Iron Man" as well. He has also written comics for "Indiana Jones" and "Mass Effect." For Star Wars, in addition to writing the entire "Knights of the Old Republic" series, he has also written the ongoing "Knight Errant" comics series, as well as a "Knight Errant" novel, the "Lost Tribe of the Sith" stories, the novel "Kenobi," and a smattering of other things.
Ching did a couple dozen issues of "Knights of the Old Republic" (about half), along with several issues in a handful of other Star Wars series. He has done a great deal of work for Marvel across various titles (Thor, Iron Man, X-Men, Captain America, etc.) as well as some Batman work for DC, and a few other things, like Tomb Raider and Witchblade. Foreman has done only a couple of Star Wars titles, but he ahs done a great deal of work for DC (Batman, Superman) and Marvel (Ms. Marvel, X-Men, Iron Man, Loki, Black Widow, etc.).
Commencement takes place 22 years after the events of [b:Redemption|359884|Redemption (Star Wars Tales of the Jedi, #7)|Kevin J. Anderson|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1174082497s/359884.jpg|350001] (my review here), 3,964 years before the Battle of Yavin. It introduces an all-new cast of characters, and is set during the Mandalorian Wars. The leader of the Mandalorians during this conflict, Mandalore the Ultimate, was seen briefly in [b:The Sith War|390088|The Sith War (Star Wars Tales of the Jedi, #6)|Kevin J. Anderson|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1347608171s/390088.jpg|379701], donning the discarded helmet of his predecessor, Mandalore the Indomitable, who featured heavily in that series. However, he does not appear in Commencement. Dantooine and Coruscant are both referenced, but the action takes place entirely on and around a new planet, Taris.
Summary: Zayne Carrick is the worst Jedi Padawan in his class, maybe even the worst in Jedi history. Clumsy, insecure, and possessing only marginal Force abilities, even his Master regards him as a bit of a joke. Tasked with arresting a small-time Snivvian con-artist named Marn Hierogryph ("Gryph"), Zayne bungles one opportunity after another, but finally gets his man, only to end up late to graduation ceremony where the successful Padawans will finally become full-fledged Jedi Knights. He bursts into the graduation chamber, but his apologies die on his lips when he sees the Jedi Masters standing over the bodies of his fellow apprentices, sabers drawn. Narrowly escaping with his life, Zayne finds himself framed for the murders his Masters committed, a fugitive from the Republic and the entire Jedi Order, and desperate to learn the truth behind the horrifying tragedy he has witnessed.
Review: Well, I tried, but my summary really can't do this story arc proper justice. What a killer hook this is for a series, and how brilliantly executed on almost every level. The art style is eye-popping, a feast for the eyes, and you can almost hear the characters voicing their snappy dialogue. I was already enjoying the humor evident in the opening pages, and the novel concept of a Jedi protagonist who kind of sucks at being a Jedi, but the big reveal at the end of the first issue sucked me in hard. I couldn't put it down. I'm going to blast through this whole series as fast as I can. It took all my will power to come write this review before picking up the next issue.
The story never stops moving, hopping from narrow escape to the next, and always leaving the reader with burning questions as Zayne seeks answers. Central to what really makes this work, though, is Gryph, the good-natured, wise-cracking alien scoundrel who ends up sucked into Zayne's troubles. He had me cracking up several times. Like this exchange: "Maybe your Master's a Bith!" "A Sith?" "Whatever." Or when Gryphy is horrified to see himself listed as an accessory to Zayne's crimes, but not for the reason we might expect: "I'm not an accessory! I am a mastermind!" Classic.
The Jedi Masters are a really cool bunch, as well, particularly Zayne's Master, Lucien. The question of what their motivations are, and just how evil they may be lingers enticingly over the whole comic. A few more new characters round out Zayne's ensemble, but rather than give away any more, I'll just end here with a whole-hearted recommendation and get back to my reading!
A
Background: Knights of the Old Republic: Commencement was released in seven issues from January to June 2006. The trade paperback was released in November of that year. It was written by [a:John Jackson Miller|20028|John Jackson Miller|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1272316895p2/20028.jpg] and pencilled and inked by [a:Brian Ching|20024|Brian Ching|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66-251a730d696018971ef4a443cdeaae05.jpg] and [a:Travel Foreman|20025|Travel Foreman|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66-251a730d696018971ef4a443cdeaae05.jpg]. Miller is mostly a comics writer, having been heavily involved in the industry for some 20+ years. He began his professional comic writing career with a "Crimson Dynamo" series for Marvel, before going on to write for "Iron Man" as well. He has also written comics for "Indiana Jones" and "Mass Effect." For Star Wars, in addition to writing the entire "Knights of the Old Republic" series, he has also written the ongoing "Knight Errant" comics series, as well as a "Knight Errant" novel, the "Lost Tribe of the Sith" stories, the novel "Kenobi," and a smattering of other things.
Ching did a couple dozen issues of "Knights of the Old Republic" (about half), along with several issues in a handful of other Star Wars series. He has done a great deal of work for Marvel across various titles (Thor, Iron Man, X-Men, Captain America, etc.) as well as some Batman work for DC, and a few other things, like Tomb Raider and Witchblade. Foreman has done only a couple of Star Wars titles, but he ahs done a great deal of work for DC (Batman, Superman) and Marvel (Ms. Marvel, X-Men, Iron Man, Loki, Black Widow, etc.).
Commencement takes place 22 years after the events of [b:Redemption|359884|Redemption (Star Wars Tales of the Jedi, #7)|Kevin J. Anderson|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1174082497s/359884.jpg|350001] (my review here), 3,964 years before the Battle of Yavin. It introduces an all-new cast of characters, and is set during the Mandalorian Wars. The leader of the Mandalorians during this conflict, Mandalore the Ultimate, was seen briefly in [b:The Sith War|390088|The Sith War (Star Wars Tales of the Jedi, #6)|Kevin J. Anderson|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1347608171s/390088.jpg|379701], donning the discarded helmet of his predecessor, Mandalore the Indomitable, who featured heavily in that series. However, he does not appear in Commencement. Dantooine and Coruscant are both referenced, but the action takes place entirely on and around a new planet, Taris.
Summary: Zayne Carrick is the worst Jedi Padawan in his class, maybe even the worst in Jedi history. Clumsy, insecure, and possessing only marginal Force abilities, even his Master regards him as a bit of a joke. Tasked with arresting a small-time Snivvian con-artist named Marn Hierogryph ("Gryph"), Zayne bungles one opportunity after another, but finally gets his man, only to end up late to graduation ceremony where the successful Padawans will finally become full-fledged Jedi Knights. He bursts into the graduation chamber, but his apologies die on his lips when he sees the Jedi Masters standing over the bodies of his fellow apprentices, sabers drawn. Narrowly escaping with his life, Zayne finds himself framed for the murders his Masters committed, a fugitive from the Republic and the entire Jedi Order, and desperate to learn the truth behind the horrifying tragedy he has witnessed.
Review: Well, I tried, but my summary really can't do this story arc proper justice. What a killer hook this is for a series, and how brilliantly executed on almost every level. The art style is eye-popping, a feast for the eyes, and you can almost hear the characters voicing their snappy dialogue. I was already enjoying the humor evident in the opening pages, and the novel concept of a Jedi protagonist who kind of sucks at being a Jedi, but the big reveal at the end of the first issue sucked me in hard. I couldn't put it down. I'm going to blast through this whole series as fast as I can. It took all my will power to come write this review before picking up the next issue.
The story never stops moving, hopping from narrow escape to the next, and always leaving the reader with burning questions as Zayne seeks answers. Central to what really makes this work, though, is Gryph, the good-natured, wise-cracking alien scoundrel who ends up sucked into Zayne's troubles. He had me cracking up several times. Like this exchange: "Maybe your Master's a Bith!" "A Sith?" "Whatever." Or when Gryphy is horrified to see himself listed as an accessory to Zayne's crimes, but not for the reason we might expect: "I'm not an accessory! I am a mastermind!" Classic.
The Jedi Masters are a really cool bunch, as well, particularly Zayne's Master, Lucien. The question of what their motivations are, and just how evil they may be lingers enticingly over the whole comic. A few more new characters round out Zayne's ensemble, but rather than give away any more, I'll just end here with a whole-hearted recommendation and get back to my reading!
A
lischa3000's review
4.0
I absolutely loved to follow the epic journey of Zayne Carrick. I simply swallowed the series whole.
febber's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
onewinternight's review
3.0
A charming diversion. This collection of seven comics takes place a few thousand years before the new movies. As a graphic novel, the art was okay. I'be seen a lot better. The story, which follows a young Jedi-in-training is entertaining. Not bad, but not good enough for me to really spend time reviewing.
rltinha's review
4.0
Uma arte muito jóia (com cenários muito bem aproveitados para o embasbaque dos sentidos), uma conspiração Jedi (ainda mais suculenta que uma conspiração Sith), um herói improvável e um cúmplice
incrivelmente mitroso e soberbo. Venham daí as próximas trades.
incrivelmente mitroso e soberbo. Venham daí as próximas trades.
jeoonwoo's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
asphaltmonkey's review
4.0
Crazy premise for the series. It was a bit frustrating when reading, because of the way the storytelling went, but when you finally unravel all the threads and figure out what's going on, it throws you. It's a little draggy at points, but worth the read.
katieb_883's review
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75