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Star Wars: The Stark Hyperspace War by Christian Dalla Vecchia, Davide Fabbri, John Ostrander
jaredkwheeler's review
4.0
Star Wars Legends Project #78
Background: Republic: The Stark Hyperspace War was released in 4 issues from November 2001 to February 2002. The trade paperback came out in November of 2003. It was written by [a:John Ostrander|18810|John Ostrander|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1263038842p2/18810.jpg] and drawn by [a:Davide Fabbri|18808|Davide Fabbri|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]. Ostrander, is a frequent sight as we work our way through the Republic series. Fabbri has a few dozen Star Wars comics to his name, as well, including [b:Star Wars: Hunt for Aurra Sing|359867|Star Wars Hunt for Aurra Sing|Timothy Truman|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1442843907s/359867.jpg|349984] (my review).
The Stark Hyperspace War has a framing story set a few days after [b:Star Wars: Darkness|359842|Star Wars Darkness|John Ostrander|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1442843738s/359842.jpg|349959] (my review), 30 years before the Battle of Yavin, but most of the story takes place 14 years earlier. Most of the Jedi we've seen in the various Republic storylines at least appear here, along with Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, Nute Gunray, and a cousin of Grand Moff Tarkin.
Summary: After the dramatic events of Darkness, a newly-restored Aayla Secura returns to the Jedi Temple from Kiffex with a group of Jedi Masters. As she works to regain her memories and her identity, the other Jedi are reunited with an old friend, a fellow veteran of the Stark Hyperspace War. To pass the time, they recount to Aayla the story of how a coalition of smugglers and pirates nearly got the better of the Republic in open conflict.
Review: The framing device for this story, placing it just after Darkness felt a little weird at first, but I grew to appreciate it. The story plays out like an oral history, with different narrators picking up the story at various points to fill in gaps from their own points-of-view . . . which ends up being pretty cool, actually.
One thing I've finally started to notice about this ongoing series (almost 40 issues in) is how they've gradually been growing their cast of Jedi characters in a very subtle and skillful way. When this series started, I found it a bit tiresome that we keep seeing the same half-dozen members of the Jedi Council pop up over and over again, even though there are supposed to be thousands of Jedi out there. But in groups of one or two, they've expanded that cast of regulars to nearly two dozen at this point, and it's starting to feel pretty substantial as they come and go in various combinations.
This is some of the better character work with the Jedi that I've seen so far this series. They can definitely be a bit one-dimensional and tiresome, and the philosophizing is pretty hit or miss, but here there are some real standouts. I especially liked the Wookiee Jedi, Tyvokka (Plo Koon's former master), and the scenes with the young Quinlan Vos. There's a moment between Quin and his master, Tholme, that plays out beat-for-beat like a scene between Anakin and Obi-Wan in Attack of the Clones, only here the humor works and really sells who they are, how they complement each other, and the depth of their relationship.
The villains are quite a bit less interesting in this, particularly Tarkin who comes across as unnecessarily bnoxious as though in an effort to make the heroes look better. And it's ridiculous for them to have used Nute Gunray in the role they do, and then include a footnote later trying to explain away his claim from The Phantom Menace that he'd had no previous experience with Jedi. Just use a different character. Geez. It was nice, however, to see Qui-Gon in action again. Earlier in the timeline, it seemed like he was overused, but I'd kind of started to miss him. And there is a nice moment of the other Jedi Masters sharing some of their memories of him . . . Gone, but not forgotten.
The reason the conflict was called a "hyperspace war" was interesting and unique, but didn't really seem like it should have worked. Or maybe it just wasn't well explained. Stark was a pretty interesting character as well, though I didn't totally buy where he ended up. Overall, though, this was really enjoyable and worth checking out.
B
Background: Republic: The Stark Hyperspace War was released in 4 issues from November 2001 to February 2002. The trade paperback came out in November of 2003. It was written by [a:John Ostrander|18810|John Ostrander|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1263038842p2/18810.jpg] and drawn by [a:Davide Fabbri|18808|Davide Fabbri|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]. Ostrander, is a frequent sight as we work our way through the Republic series. Fabbri has a few dozen Star Wars comics to his name, as well, including [b:Star Wars: Hunt for Aurra Sing|359867|Star Wars Hunt for Aurra Sing|Timothy Truman|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1442843907s/359867.jpg|349984] (my review).
The Stark Hyperspace War has a framing story set a few days after [b:Star Wars: Darkness|359842|Star Wars Darkness|John Ostrander|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1442843738s/359842.jpg|349959] (my review), 30 years before the Battle of Yavin, but most of the story takes place 14 years earlier. Most of the Jedi we've seen in the various Republic storylines at least appear here, along with Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, Nute Gunray, and a cousin of Grand Moff Tarkin.
Summary: After the dramatic events of Darkness, a newly-restored Aayla Secura returns to the Jedi Temple from Kiffex with a group of Jedi Masters. As she works to regain her memories and her identity, the other Jedi are reunited with an old friend, a fellow veteran of the Stark Hyperspace War. To pass the time, they recount to Aayla the story of how a coalition of smugglers and pirates nearly got the better of the Republic in open conflict.
Review: The framing device for this story, placing it just after Darkness felt a little weird at first, but I grew to appreciate it. The story plays out like an oral history, with different narrators picking up the story at various points to fill in gaps from their own points-of-view . . . which ends up being pretty cool, actually.
One thing I've finally started to notice about this ongoing series (almost 40 issues in) is how they've gradually been growing their cast of Jedi characters in a very subtle and skillful way. When this series started, I found it a bit tiresome that we keep seeing the same half-dozen members of the Jedi Council pop up over and over again, even though there are supposed to be thousands of Jedi out there. But in groups of one or two, they've expanded that cast of regulars to nearly two dozen at this point, and it's starting to feel pretty substantial as they come and go in various combinations.
This is some of the better character work with the Jedi that I've seen so far this series. They can definitely be a bit one-dimensional and tiresome, and the philosophizing is pretty hit or miss, but here there are some real standouts. I especially liked the Wookiee Jedi, Tyvokka (Plo Koon's former master), and the scenes with the young Quinlan Vos. There's a moment between Quin and his master, Tholme, that plays out beat-for-beat like a scene between Anakin and Obi-Wan in Attack of the Clones, only here the humor works and really sells who they are, how they complement each other, and the depth of their relationship.
The villains are quite a bit less interesting in this, particularly Tarkin who comes across as unnecessarily bnoxious as though in an effort to make the heroes look better. And it's ridiculous for them to have used Nute Gunray in the role they do, and then include a footnote later trying to explain away his claim from The Phantom Menace that he'd had no previous experience with Jedi. Just use a different character. Geez. It was nice, however, to see Qui-Gon in action again. Earlier in the timeline, it seemed like he was overused, but I'd kind of started to miss him. And there is a nice moment of the other Jedi Masters sharing some of their memories of him . . . Gone, but not forgotten.
The reason the conflict was called a "hyperspace war" was interesting and unique, but didn't really seem like it should have worked. Or maybe it just wasn't well explained. Stark was a pretty interesting character as well, though I didn't totally buy where he ended up. Overall, though, this was really enjoyable and worth checking out.
B
wyrmbergmalcolm's review
4.0
The biggest thing that stood out for me was the artwork, which was fine, but a lot more cartoonish than other titles in the series. I didn't hate it, it just grated a little. The other thing that bugged me was the storytelling decision to make this a flashback with floating heads of the Jedi as they tell the story. I didn't care for that at all and would have preferred the whole book just set during the time of the event. It also took some of the intrigue out of it because those telling the story clearly survived their ordeal and those not present did not.
The story itself was enjoyable featuring most of my favourite Jedi. There was nothing particularly new or revealing, though it was nice to see Plo Koon's allocation of his chair on the high council.
The story itself was enjoyable featuring most of my favourite Jedi. There was nothing particularly new or revealing, though it was nice to see Plo Koon's allocation of his chair on the high council.
bloodravenlib's review
2.0
Quick impressions.
The description may say this was "another major battle" before the Clone Wars, but honestly, this is not that big a deal. The story was OK, a bit convoluted at times. Art was mostly OK too. A quick read but one you just read and move on.
Full review on my blog later.
The description may say this was "another major battle" before the Clone Wars, but honestly, this is not that big a deal. The story was OK, a bit convoluted at times. Art was mostly OK too. A quick read but one you just read and move on.
Full review on my blog later.
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