Star Wars Republic Comics - SW Force 4 Continuity

Dark Horse comics was finally unleased in 1999 before The Phantom Menaces The comics, eventually named Star Wars Republic, expanded on characters that would appear in the movies and the elements that would lead to from right before The Phantom Menace to just after Order 66.

Review:

The stories in this series give a good view of the horrors the Jedi went through in the Clone Wars. Things Anakin went through also suggest why he would have such a desperate desire to control death, and why he hates being helpless against it when it comes to those he cares about.

The characters, new and old, are well-rounded with strengths, weaknesses and twisting paths to the future, to make them real page turners. It was challenging to wait for them to come out when re-released, wondering what would happen next. Fortunately, one can now get the stories in graphic novels, which usually have the complete arcs in them. The artwork was terrific, detailed and dynamic and really helped make the characters and sell the story.

Introduction to an Old Republic

Ki-Adi-Mundi, the Jedi Council member, benefited greatly from being the first from the Phantom Menace to as the premier in the comics. Early concept photos and art had people mocking him as a ‘cone head’ from old TV shows, instead of a serious character. We got a glimpse of early Jedi training and some surprising hints of the Republic’s relationships with non member worlds.

After Ki-Adi Mundi’s two arcs, we also got adventures with Mace Windu, Depa Billaba, Plo Koon, Yaddle, and Evan Piell. All members of the Jedi Council who we met in the movies.

New characters introduced included Aurra Sing, including a bit where the story is told from her point of view. This character is glimpsed during the podrace in The Phantom Menace. Asharad Hett is a tusken Jedi, a fascinating concept in a well told arc with Ki.

Quinlan Vos is based on a character glimpsed in the Mos Espa background. A Jedi with a slightly darker history, his story has an intriguing twist of losing his memory. His padawan Aayla Secura, is also missing, and both she and Vos will prove themselves so well in the comics that Aayla appears on-screen in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, while Vos gets a mention. Quinlan has some similarities to Anakin, in knowing his kin, coming with baggage to the Order and skirting perilously close to the Dark Side, will he turn?

We of course also get some of Anakin and Obi-Wan, in the years when they are Master and Apprentice starting from right before the war til near the end. Their relationships with the other Jedi get some time too, which is refreshing. It is particularly nice to see Anakin with his fellow padawans, and how his strengths and weakness’s mesh and clash with theirs.

The first part of the series begins before the Clone Wars. It interconnects and interweaves with Jedi Council, Acts of War comic arc, which came before and also flashes back to previous events.

The series finally gets the name ‘Republic’ officially added right before the Clone Wars. A dramatic arc with Anakin and Obi-Wan protecting a senator, while the Senate Guards investigate a murder. There is a twist: the guard’s family is involved, and the vote could be the difference between triggering systems to leave the Republic! The Senate Guard and family will have future appearances in the series.

Republic: The Clone Wars

The Comic series gets down and out on the harshness of war as Quinlan Vos goes undercover to infiltrate Dooku’s inner circle, Anakin and Obi-Wan tangle with new threats such as Dooku’s allies Asajj Ventress and Durge, who are involved in biological weapons and murder of Jedi. Quinlan’s mission will send him to the danger of sliding to the dark side. Anakin and Obi-Wan will be separated due to the horrors of an unwinnable conflict on Jabiim.

Important to note: Jedi One shot comic arcs are directly involved in some of these stories, particularly ones featuring Quinlan Vos and Aayla – more on that below.

Attack of the Clones comic adaptation is separate. Republic picks up again right after Order 66.

The series doesn’t take a break when it gets to fall of the Jedi Order. As the betrayal goes down, the comic series focuses on those characters which have survived thus far, that didn’t get any visible screentime.

Rise of Darth Vader is the first set during and immediately after Order 66. (Not to be confused with Dark Lord, Rise of Darth Vader by James Luceno novel!)

It kicks off with a return to the last story before The Clone Wars: Sagoro Autem, former Senate Guard, who also has some adventures within the war. His adventures since then have given him have led him through prison, war, and a commission in a Republic turned Imperial navy. Now, he and those who have similar beliefs such as Jace Dallin and Jan Dodonna, meet the new face of the Emperor, and his new right hand man!

Star Wars Republic: Jedi are on the Run!

Quinlan, Tholme, Traa Saa are all featured. Jace Dallin represents those who must face this change in leadership who had loyalty to the Jedi.

New Jedi will be introduced, that will become recurring characters in the Dark Times series after Star Wars Republic wraps up.

Newly introduced Recurring Characters in Star Wars Republic:

Quinlan Vos – Kiffar Jedi
Aayla Secura – Twilek Jedi
Asharad Hett – Tusken Jedi
Aurra Sing AKA Nashtah, the Jedi killer
Asajj Ventress – Dooku’s acolyte
Durge – gen dai bounty hunter
Tholme – Human Jedi Master
The Dark Woman AKA Anya Kuro – Jedi
Traa Saa – Neti Jedi Master
Sagoro Autem (senate guard)
Alpha – first Arc trooper
Viento – Senator
Jace Dallin – Republic Navy officer
Villie – devaronian gambler and mercenary.

Introduced at the end of Order 66

Jedi Master Kai Hudorra
Padawan Noirah Nah
Jedi Dass Jennir
Bomo Greenbark (nausorian, former separatist of Plympto)

Three of these characters will star in the Dark Times series

Star Wars Republic Lore and Continuity

Star Wars Republic and it’s Ties to other Comics

Vector is a major crossover story arc that involves 4 comic eras, including Republic comics. It begins in the Knights of the Old Republic, continues after Dark Times into Empire then Rebellion, and finally ends in the Legacy era.

Jedi Council Acts of War: this sets up for what happens in the series, including Ki-Adi-Mundi coming into the Council.

The Diath family is mentioned, including Sidrona Diath, from Tales of the Jedi comics and the Tales of the Jedi Companion by West End Games. Two of the Jedi are named Diath and part of the family line.

Classic Marvel Comics introduced the ‘Wheel’ space station and Senator Grayshade, both appear in these stories.

Jedi One shots. These include Yoda, Shaak Ti, Aayla Secura, Mace Windu, and Dooku. These events directly interweave with the series. The Dooku one has as much to do with Quinlan Vos as with Dooku (possibly more) and I’d call it a critical point in his story. There was originally to be a Barriss Offee story, but it didn’t fit the character and was rewritten to fit the main Republic arc, “Show of Force”

The Star Wars Free Comic Day shorts, including one untitled with Anakin and Obi-Wan, set between events in Obsession comic arc and Labyrinth of Evil by James Luceno.

Obsession 5 comic arc – This wraps up the Durge and Asajj Ventress storyline near the end of the war.

Legacy series – Some surviving Jedi appear or are mentioned in Legacy comics, having returned to join the order founded by Luke Skywalker.

Quinlan Vos comes up in a Star Wars Tales comic, but it’s considered an Infinities story.

Star Wars Republic and Connections to the Books

Jedi Quest: The School of Fear by Jude Watson – Reymet Autem, son of Sagora Autem, attends the school being investigated.

Dark Force Rising by Timothy Zahn – The disaster the destroyed the ecosystem of Honoghr happens in the Clone Wars.

Revenge of the Sith by Matthew Stover references several events in the series. The movie itself does include mention of Quinlan Vos’s battle on Boz Pity, which is a complete story arc in the comics.

Star Wars Republic Tie Ins to Video Games

Asajj Ventress’s origin story which names here a Ratattaki is directly responsible for the playable race in Star Wars the Old Republic.

Durge’s species also appears in Star Wars the Old Republic, notably on quests on Nar Shaddaa.

TV and the Movies

Clone Wars 2003 Microseries – Durge and Asajj Ventress appear. Aayla Secura also appears.

Episode 2 the Attack of the Clones the Movie – Aayla Secura on screen for the first time. She was first introduced in the Star Wars Republic comics.

Episode 3 Revenge of the Sith the Movie – Quinlan Vos and his commands at Saleucami and Boz Pity are mentioned. Aayla’s death is seen onscreen. (The attack on Vos in Order 66 was in an early script. The last arc of Star Wars Republic fairly well matches the brief description, but took his actual fate farther.)

Both Dark Horse and Marvel have re-released them in Omnibuses.