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_nki_'s review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
jaredkwheeler's review against another edition
2.0
Star Wars Legends Project #110
Background: Clone Wars Adventures, Volume 1 was released in July of 2004. It consists of three stand-alone stories inspired by Cartoon Network's animated Clone Wars series of 2003-2005 (not to be confused with the animated series The Clone Wars, 2008-2014): Blind Force, Heavy Metal Jedi, and Fierce Currents. All three were written by [author:Haden Blackman|16071920], with the first pencilled by [author:Ben Caldwell|20039] and the other two by the [author:Fillbach Brothers|5498466]. Blackman, of course, has an extensive list of Star Wars credits. This is Caldwell's only Star Wars credit, though he has done quite a bit of work for both DC and Marvel, among others. The Fillbachs (Matthew and Shawn) did the art for most of the Clone Wars Adventures stories.
Blind Force is set 5 months after the Battle of Geonosis (22 years before the Battle of Yavin), and features Obi-Wan and Anakin. It takes place on the planet Nivek (and there's no way that's just accidentally "Kevin" spelled backwards). Heavy Metal Jedi takes place on Iktotch around the same time, with Mace Windu and Iktotchi Jedi Master Saesee Tiin. Fierce Currents also takes place around the same time, on Mon Calamari, and stars Kit Fisto.
Summary: In Blind Force, Obi-Wan and Anakin face more trouble than expected when they arrive on a Separatist planet that is shrouded in perpetual darkness, which seems to pose no problem for the hostile native Shadowmen!
In Heavy Metal Jedi, Mace Windu and Saesee Tiin debate the merits of their vastly different lightsaber fighting styles as they bring the battle to the droid army attacking Master Tiin's homeworld.
In Fierce Currents, Kit Fisto hunts for whoever is giving orders to the Separatist-aligned Quarren as they make war on the Republic-aligned Mon Calamari, and makes a surprising discovery.
Review: If you've seen any of the animated Clone Wars series, you pretty much know what you're in for here. Like the first two seasons of that show (which consisted of 3-5 minute episodes), these stories are incredibly brief, almost just little vignettes based on one simple idea and not much more. The art is highly stylized, and you may love it or hate it . . . I don't have particularly strong feelings about it one way or the other. It does the job, and I just got used to it almost immediately and didn't really notice it after that. There is a certain quality to its simplicity that lends itself very well to a certain type of storytelling, and these stories are at their best when they can tap into that.
As to the stories themselves, as I say, they barely qualify as such. Very few of them are actively bad, and some are even pretty good, but most are just forgettable. One thing that I find kind of enjoyable and kind of annoying about them at the same time is how over-the-top they are. There's very little attempt at realism or internal consistency. The words "suspension of disbelief" aren't even in the vocabulary here. There's not question of the absurdity. My favorite of these three, despite its having the worst title, was Heavy Metal Jedi for the interplay and banter between the two Jedi masters, even though it falls prey to the "Jedi defeat entire armies single-handed and with incredible ease" trope that I hate the most about this series. Also, Fierce Currents is mildly interesting as a follow-up to one of the episodes of the TV show. There's not much more to say here.
C-
Background: Clone Wars Adventures, Volume 1 was released in July of 2004. It consists of three stand-alone stories inspired by Cartoon Network's animated Clone Wars series of 2003-2005 (not to be confused with the animated series The Clone Wars, 2008-2014): Blind Force, Heavy Metal Jedi, and Fierce Currents. All three were written by [author:Haden Blackman|16071920], with the first pencilled by [author:Ben Caldwell|20039] and the other two by the [author:Fillbach Brothers|5498466]. Blackman, of course, has an extensive list of Star Wars credits. This is Caldwell's only Star Wars credit, though he has done quite a bit of work for both DC and Marvel, among others. The Fillbachs (Matthew and Shawn) did the art for most of the Clone Wars Adventures stories.
Blind Force is set 5 months after the Battle of Geonosis (22 years before the Battle of Yavin), and features Obi-Wan and Anakin. It takes place on the planet Nivek (and there's no way that's just accidentally "Kevin" spelled backwards). Heavy Metal Jedi takes place on Iktotch around the same time, with Mace Windu and Iktotchi Jedi Master Saesee Tiin. Fierce Currents also takes place around the same time, on Mon Calamari, and stars Kit Fisto.
Summary: In Blind Force, Obi-Wan and Anakin face more trouble than expected when they arrive on a Separatist planet that is shrouded in perpetual darkness, which seems to pose no problem for the hostile native Shadowmen!
In Heavy Metal Jedi, Mace Windu and Saesee Tiin debate the merits of their vastly different lightsaber fighting styles as they bring the battle to the droid army attacking Master Tiin's homeworld.
In Fierce Currents, Kit Fisto hunts for whoever is giving orders to the Separatist-aligned Quarren as they make war on the Republic-aligned Mon Calamari, and makes a surprising discovery.
Review: If you've seen any of the animated Clone Wars series, you pretty much know what you're in for here. Like the first two seasons of that show (which consisted of 3-5 minute episodes), these stories are incredibly brief, almost just little vignettes based on one simple idea and not much more. The art is highly stylized, and you may love it or hate it . . . I don't have particularly strong feelings about it one way or the other. It does the job, and I just got used to it almost immediately and didn't really notice it after that. There is a certain quality to its simplicity that lends itself very well to a certain type of storytelling, and these stories are at their best when they can tap into that.
As to the stories themselves, as I say, they barely qualify as such. Very few of them are actively bad, and some are even pretty good, but most are just forgettable. One thing that I find kind of enjoyable and kind of annoying about them at the same time is how over-the-top they are. There's very little attempt at realism or internal consistency. The words "suspension of disbelief" aren't even in the vocabulary here. There's not question of the absurdity. My favorite of these three, despite its having the worst title, was Heavy Metal Jedi for the interplay and banter between the two Jedi masters, even though it falls prey to the "Jedi defeat entire armies single-handed and with incredible ease" trope that I hate the most about this series. Also, Fierce Currents is mildly interesting as a follow-up to one of the episodes of the TV show. There's not much more to say here.
C-
maireador20's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
markmtz's review against another edition
3.0
This series is inspired by the Cartoon Network’s Clone Wars cartoons. While these stories are really for kids, Star Wars junkies of all ages can read them. Go ahead, I won’t tell anyone. With stories by Haden Blackman and art by Ben Caldwell and the Fillbach brothers.
Published in trade paperback by Dark Horse Comics.
Published in trade paperback by Dark Horse Comics.
crowmaster's review against another edition
4.0
Always wanted to finish this series when I was a kid now that I can finally do so I have become excited to finish.
rivulet027's review against another edition
5.0
Cute! It was nice to get three short action packed stories. The first one is about Anakin and Obi-Wan realizing that they can't always trust their eyes and must rely on the force.
The second is Windu and Tiin working together and comparing methods. Tiin say, "The rapier versus the broadsword. I've heard that argument before."
"But you still prefer the broadsword," Windu says.
"I'm hard-headed. It's my greatest strength," Tiin jokes.
In the end they decide that working together is best.
The third story is Kit centric! He's trying to find the Quarren leader. He finds out that the Quarren are taking telepathic orders. Then he finds some Moappa. When several Moappa form together and attack him he realizes that they are another sentient lifeform sharing the ocean. He escapes and urges the Mon Cala to find a way to share the planet with the Quarren and the Moappa.
The second is Windu and Tiin working together and comparing methods. Tiin say, "The rapier versus the broadsword. I've heard that argument before."
"But you still prefer the broadsword," Windu says.
"I'm hard-headed. It's my greatest strength," Tiin jokes.
In the end they decide that working together is best.
The third story is Kit centric! He's trying to find the Quarren leader. He finds out that the Quarren are taking telepathic orders. Then he finds some Moappa. When several Moappa form together and attack him he realizes that they are another sentient lifeform sharing the ocean. He escapes and urges the Mon Cala to find a way to share the planet with the Quarren and the Moappa.
corncobwebs's review against another edition
A bit difficult, but not impossible, to follow without prior knowledge of the characters. Each story had a clear-cut moral, which I liked, but the book as a whole felt insubstantial. I also wasn't crazy about the artwork - it was very angular, in the same vein as the artwork from Salt Water Taffy. I liked some aspects of the art - like when creatures or objects glowed. That was a cool effect. Overall, though, I was pretty underwhelmed by this book. I would recommend it pretty much strictly to Star Wars fans, not people who are looking for a great comic book to read.
tea_rex_love's review against another edition
5.0
I remember pulling this off the family bookshelf thinking I was just gonna read a few pages (just to see what it was about, of course). No surprise that I completely lost track of time while reading it.
Nine years later and I still lost track of time when I read it.
Two things I enjoyed:
1). Seeing Anakin and Obi-Wan interact as master and apprentice. That isn’t a vibe we get in Dave Filoni’s Clone Wars.
2). I just love and appreciate Mace Windu in general.
However (just like when I was younger) I’m still not a fan of this art style because:
- What the f*ck happened to Anakin’s chin? It doesn’t even look close to Hayden Christensen. Sometimes it’s a butt chin? Sometimes it’s square-ish and sticks out from his face? Who’s responsible for this?
- Obi-Wan looks alright in the design department, but why does he always look super cranky? He looks like a battle-weary dad who hasn’t gotten a full night’s sleep for a week. That actually makes sense now that I think about it.
- They really should’ve worked harder at not making Kit Fisto into Aquaman.
Nine years later and I still lost track of time when I read it.
Two things I enjoyed:
1). Seeing Anakin and Obi-Wan interact as master and apprentice. That isn’t a vibe we get in Dave Filoni’s Clone Wars.
2). I just love and appreciate Mace Windu in general.
However (just like when I was younger) I’m still not a fan of this art style because:
- What the f*ck happened to Anakin’s chin? It doesn’t even look close to Hayden Christensen. Sometimes it’s a butt chin? Sometimes it’s square-ish and sticks out from his face? Who’s responsible for this?
- Obi-Wan looks alright in the design department, but why does he always look super cranky? He looks like a battle-weary dad who hasn’t gotten a full night’s sleep for a week. That actually makes sense now that I think about it.
- They really should’ve worked harder at not making Kit Fisto into Aquaman.
bitacoradesofi's review against another edition
3.0
Aproveche que mi hermano los tiene todos y decidi leerlos. Nunca leí nada de Star wars así q disfrute este. es super corto, me lo termine en 15 minutos mientras viajaba en el colectivo. Me pareció re divertido 😂
jmshirtz's review against another edition
3.0
All three stories were very appropriate for the intended age group (ages 8-12), though just not enough for me. I had hoped for more story, more dialogue, more action, etc. Of the three I enjoyed "Fierce Currents" the best because it was a scene very different from those we've enjoyed in the Star Wars movies: underwater on Mon Calamari!