Star Wars fans are lucky to have an influx of new stories set in and around the timeline of the beloved Knights of the Old Republic (KotOR) video game series. One of these tales is the new comic book mini-series Knights of the Old Republic: War. I was fortunate enough to get my hands on the first issue of the five part series, which chronicles the continuing misadventures of Zayne Carrick, an ex-Jedi who finds himself smack in the middle of the Mandalorian Wars.
While I am somewhat familiar with the setting – eight years before the KotOR video games take place, and almost 4000 years before the Battle of Yavin – I am new to the story of Zayne, a hapless hero. Zayne starred in the Knights of the Old Republic comic series, and I felt a little out of the loop until various characters explain recent events. Much of the dialogue is spent on exposition to fill in the audience on his history and personality, but as a new reader, I appreciated the summary.
Knights of the Old Republic: War kicks off with action, and lots of it. Lightsabers, lasers, and explosions fill the pages. The art easily captures a sense of the frenetic battles as Zayne finds himself an unwilling participant in a conflict he wanted no part in. I always enjoy seeing Jedi in action during the height of their power in the galaxy, and this first issue doesn’t disappoint.
Like George Lucas once described Luke Skywalker, Zayne Carrick has found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time; naturally, he will become a hero.
Image: Dark Horse Comics
Zayne is not remarkably strong in the Force or a fearsome warrior, but his unflinching dedication to doing the right thing makes him a hero worth following. The first issue has captured my interest and I’m curious to see where else the Force will take him on his journey.
Knights of the Old Republic: War #1 will be released on January 11, 2012 by Dark Horse Comics.
Writer: John Jackson Miller
Penciller: Andrea Mutti
Inker: Gigi Baldassini
Colorist: Michael Atiyeh
Cover Artist: Benjamin Carré
A copy of Knights of the Old Republic: War #1 was provided by the publisher for review purposes.
