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handoftheemperor94's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
lumberjill314's review against another edition
3.0
3.5. it's my first comic book, so it took a bit to get used to. It was strange to me that there were no transitions, to the point I thought I was missing pages, but I guess not. By the end I was enjoying itb will enough!
jaredkwheeler's review against another edition
5.0
Star Wars Legends Project #302
Background: Mara Jade: By the Emperor's Hand, released in September of 1999, collects issues #0-6 originally published Jul 1998-Feb 1999. The series was co-written by [a:Timothy Zahn|12479|Timothy Zahn|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1215545810p2/12479.jpg] and [a:Michael A. Stackpole|17739|Michael A. Stackpole|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1207602690p2/17739.jpg] with art by [a:Carlos Ezquerra|54919|Carlos Ezquerra|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1424129868p2/54919.jpg]. Zahn is, of course, best known for his nearly 20 extremely successful Star Wars novels across both the Legends and Canon continuities, though he has also written several short stories and a few comics. Stackpole has written nearly 10 Star Wars novels plus a few short stories and comics. Aside from one other short comic story, this is Ezquerra's only Star Wars credit.
By the Emperor's Hand takes place mostly during and shortly after Return of the Jedi, 4 years after the Battle of Yavin. The main character is Mara Jade. There are major appearances by the Emperor, Darth Vader, and Ysanne Isard. Most of the story takes place on Coruscant, Svivren, and Qiaxx.
Summary: Mara Jade is the Emperor's Hand, a secret, highly-skilled assassin who operates as a personal extension of the Emperor's will, and she has never failed a mission . . . until the Emperor sends her to infiltrate Jabba the Hutt's palace on Tatooine and kill Luke Skywalker. Stung by her first failure, Mara embarks on her next objective, to take down a crime lord who seeks to rebuild Black Sun's criminal empire, scattered by the recent death of Prince Xizor. But everything she understands about the galaxy and her place in it is about to be upended . . .
Review: Zahn and Stackpole are, hands down, the two best storytellers in the Expanded Universe, and when they collaborate . . . fireworks. Zahn's characters are some of the most beloved in the EU, and there's always a built-in audience for stories about them. But there have been a few stories featuring Mara Jade that felt a bit forced . . . mainly with how many times she almost meets Luke Skywalker before she actually meets him. But I didn't get that feeling here.
This is a perfect origin story for her character that establishes how she gets from the person we see in some of Zahn's prequel works about her, to the person she is when readers first met her in the Thrawn trilogy. But what makes it really successful is that it isn't just an origin story. It also functions completely as a stand-alone adventure. I'm hesitant to say more about it because I don't want to spoil the pleasures of the various twists and turns that the story takes. Nothing that happens is a particularly surprising revelation, but it's really enjoyable to watch how the story unfolds. My one criticism is that I didn't care much for the artwork, particularly the way Mara is drawn, or for the colors. They were fine. They just didn't quite live up to the story that Zahn and Stackpole told. But this one's still a must.
A
Background: Mara Jade: By the Emperor's Hand, released in September of 1999, collects issues #0-6 originally published Jul 1998-Feb 1999. The series was co-written by [a:Timothy Zahn|12479|Timothy Zahn|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1215545810p2/12479.jpg] and [a:Michael A. Stackpole|17739|Michael A. Stackpole|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1207602690p2/17739.jpg] with art by [a:Carlos Ezquerra|54919|Carlos Ezquerra|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1424129868p2/54919.jpg]. Zahn is, of course, best known for his nearly 20 extremely successful Star Wars novels across both the Legends and Canon continuities, though he has also written several short stories and a few comics. Stackpole has written nearly 10 Star Wars novels plus a few short stories and comics. Aside from one other short comic story, this is Ezquerra's only Star Wars credit.
By the Emperor's Hand takes place mostly during and shortly after Return of the Jedi, 4 years after the Battle of Yavin. The main character is Mara Jade. There are major appearances by the Emperor, Darth Vader, and Ysanne Isard. Most of the story takes place on Coruscant, Svivren, and Qiaxx.
Summary: Mara Jade is the Emperor's Hand, a secret, highly-skilled assassin who operates as a personal extension of the Emperor's will, and she has never failed a mission . . . until the Emperor sends her to infiltrate Jabba the Hutt's palace on Tatooine and kill Luke Skywalker. Stung by her first failure, Mara embarks on her next objective, to take down a crime lord who seeks to rebuild Black Sun's criminal empire, scattered by the recent death of Prince Xizor. But everything she understands about the galaxy and her place in it is about to be upended . . .
Review: Zahn and Stackpole are, hands down, the two best storytellers in the Expanded Universe, and when they collaborate . . . fireworks. Zahn's characters are some of the most beloved in the EU, and there's always a built-in audience for stories about them. But there have been a few stories featuring Mara Jade that felt a bit forced . . . mainly with how many times she almost meets Luke Skywalker before she actually meets him. But I didn't get that feeling here.
This is a perfect origin story for her character that establishes how she gets from the person we see in some of Zahn's prequel works about her, to the person she is when readers first met her in the Thrawn trilogy. But what makes it really successful is that it isn't just an origin story. It also functions completely as a stand-alone adventure. I'm hesitant to say more about it because I don't want to spoil the pleasures of the various twists and turns that the story takes. Nothing that happens is a particularly surprising revelation, but it's really enjoyable to watch how the story unfolds. My one criticism is that I didn't care much for the artwork, particularly the way Mara is drawn, or for the colors. They were fine. They just didn't quite live up to the story that Zahn and Stackpole told. But this one's still a must.
A
coventrythompson_929's review
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.25
kellylynnthomas's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best stories about Mara Jade out there. And yes, since you asked, I do happen to dress up as Mara Jade and go to Star Wars conventions. Signed by Tim Zahn at Celebration VI!
ofclumsywords's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A great graphic novel shedding some light on who Mara Jade was before we meet her in Heir to the Empire and learn more of her past. The reader gets to see Mara as the Emperor's Hand conducting a mission and communicating with the Emperor in a way that was only described in the books. We also get to see the lead up to what she was doing before and during Return of the Jedi and how the Emperor's death effected her. Mara Jade is such a great character and it was fun to see something dedicated specifically to her and get deeper into her inner thoughts and how she goes about her missions and how skilled she was at being the Emperor's Hand.
fandom4ever's review
adventurous
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
5.0
Mara Jade, one of the best EU characters created. This comic shows the story of just before and after the death of the Emperor when Mara’s whole life turns upside down and she receives the ultimate final order “You will kill Luke Skywalker.”
After Palpatine’s death, Mara is held captive by the director of Imperial Intelligence, Ysanne Isard, as a possible threat to the Empire. Eventually escaping, she discovers a job she had done was not actually finished and sets about putting things right; while finding her Force powers have severely diminished.
Throughout this comic, you see Mara as one who truly believed in her work and service to the Empire and to Palpatine; she was removing threats to the peace and security of the galaxy. She also saw how the Rebels caused death and destruction wherever they went in the gunfights that inevitably ensued with Imperial forces, oftentimes innocent civilians caught in the middle.
This is a good comic with appealing artwork. The only thing I was left wishing was seeing how Mara eventually ended up with Talon Karrde.
wyrmbergmalcolm's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good character piece on Mara Jade, a character whose usual appearance in the Star Wars series is all about hating Luke and wanting to kill Luke. This was a refreshing change from that and it showed how efficient, resourceful and dangerous she can be (when not trying to kill Luke). This was quite a long story for a graphic novel, but it had a lot to say and showed quite a lot of the character of Mara Jade the person as opposed to Mara Jade the weapon. Although the story doesn't really affect the main story-line, it does touch upon several aspects of the films and Expanded Universe which gave it an authentic feel. In the end, it was an enjoyable tale of a strong, lightsaber-wielding female just trying to find her place in the galaxy... another thing Disney have stolen and butchered horribly.
The artwork was okay, nothing particularly special but didn't hurt the eyes either.
The artwork was okay, nothing particularly special but didn't hurt the eyes either.
jediprincess's review
adventurous
mysterious
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? It's complicated
3.0