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Post by aquagoat on Jun 4, 2018 13:41:51 GMT -5
Lando's characterization, or rather the lack there of, is one of the few flaws of the series for me. He's just so generic, and his addition to the story doesn't add anything other than a box checked off as a connection to the films. And although, as stated before, I don't like the devastators I thought the robotic tie fighters were great. That faceless, autonomous menace of the mechanical Ties really fit with the image of the Empire and are not only a fantastic evolution of what we saw in the original series but also, in hindsight, a great mirror for what we saw in the Prequels. Dark Empire, and especially Dark Empire II, came up with so many cool new ships and weapons (and characters). I personally love the World Devastators - they even look like models the special effects team would make - but the idea they are superior to the Death Star is an odd one. As for Lando, they could have highlighted how he had no choice but to join the rebellion after Cloud City as the Empire would now want his head. So being a rebel general may not have been what Lando wanted. That would have at least added something to his scenes. |
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Post by aquagoat on Jun 4, 2018 13:43:36 GMT -5
Slighty off-topic, but I see there are some Thrawn trilogy fans here - here's something cool I've just come across online - a Brazilian cover for Dark Force Rising.  |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jun 4, 2018 14:02:25 GMT -5
Lando's characterization, or rather the lack there of, is one of the few flaws of the series for me. He's just so generic, and his addition to the story doesn't add anything other than a box checked off as a connection to the films. And although, as stated before, I don't like the devastators I thought the robotic tie fighters were great. That faceless, autonomous menace of the mechanical Ties really fit with the image of the Empire and are not only a fantastic evolution of what we saw in the original series but also, in hindsight, a great mirror for what we saw in the Prequels. Dark Empire, and especially Dark Empire II, came up with so many cool new ships and weapons (and characters). I personally love the World Devastators - they even look like models the special effects team would make - but the idea they are superior to the Death Star is an odd one. As for Lando, they could have highlighted how he had no choice but to join the rebellion after Cloud City as the Empire would now want his head. So being a rebel general may not have been what Lando wanted. That would have at least added something to his scenes. Anything would have added something to his scenes, he could have been a generic Rebel leader and the story wouldn't have been any different. |
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Post by wildfire2099 on Jun 4, 2018 21:57:08 GMT -5
Just thought I'd share.. I found this on the official Disney/Star Wars site. Not super deep, but interesting that they referenced it at all: www.starwars.com/news/how-dark-empire-kickstarted-star-wars-comics-for-a-new-generationAlso of interest, Dark Empire is actually available with Marvel Unlimited (The covers have a Marvel logo in place of the Dark Horse one).. I checked, and it seems just about all the Dark Horse stuff is there... I'm a little surprised they did that. I know the old comics come with the rights and all, but for them to prep them for online is surprising to me. |
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Post by aquagoat on Jun 22, 2018 16:22:24 GMT -5
Star Wars: Dark Empire # 4: Confrontation on the Smuggler’s Moon
Writer: Tom Veitch Art: Cam Kennedy Letters: Tom Klein Cover art: Dave Dorman Plot: Han and Leia’s quest to reach Luke has run into a what could literally be a dead-end – Boba Fett is back, and now Leia is wanted by the Hutts as well after she killed Jabba. Chased by Boba, they travel to the Galactic Core, where Luke, enveloped by the Dark Side, is commanding the Imperial Fleet. Meanwhile, the battle of Mon Calamari continues…
This issue gets straight down to business by bringing everyone's favourite bounty hunter back from the dead - and immediately throwing him into a running gun battle with Han and Leia (and a handful of other ne'er-do-wells). The shoot-out is wonderfully depicted, highlighting Kennedy's ability to add a lot into a frame yet never make it overcrowded, while the hectic pace and back-and-forth banter between our heroes is perfect Star Wars style. Fett's excuse for surviving Return of the Jedi - 'The sarlacc found me somewhat indigestible' - is plausible enough given he's covered in thick body armour; and it was something of a misjudged, slapstick exit anyway, unworthy of one of cinema’s most iconic bad-asses. However, Dark Empire seems to take Fett's comedic exit in RotJ and run with it, turning him into a bit of a clown. During the opening sequence, a completely wayward rocket from Fett knocks a Hutt off its floating vehicle, a sort of giant hoverboard, and our heroes leap on it and fly off. Given that Fett and his fellow bounty hunters are chasing Han and Leia partly because Leia killed Jabba the Hutt, it's quite amusing, but misjudged. Fett haplessly follows Han and Leia throughout the issue. Later on we see his new ship, the very cool and bizarrely shaped Slave II, only seconds before it's wrecked when smashing into the planet Byss' shields. 'Fett, you idiot!' cries his bounty hunter companion. 'This is the last time I work with you!' and suddenly it's more Laurel and Hardy than Star Wars. To be clear, it is funny, but certain to jar with fans' expectations of the character. On the other hand, though - what did Fett ever really do in the original trilogy? Anyway, Leia and Han are picked up by Han's old smuggler mates Ninx and Sala, and their extravagantly named ship the Starlight Intruder, and they head off to find Luke in the Galactic Core. Leia unveils the lightsaber she was given by Vima Da Boda last issue; 'For better or worse,' she tells Han, 'you're married to a Jedi now.' The idea of Leia becoming a fully-fledged laser sword wielding Jedi Knight is an appealing one, but does it undermine her efforts as leader of the Rebellion? Wasn't she already hero enough - and a Princess to boot - commanding the entire Rebel fleet? Princess, rebel leader and Jedi - possibly it overloads the character. However, Dark Empire balances it by moving Leia away from her role as a leader of the Rebellion, making it clear her destiny is as part of the new Jedi family with Luke. Speaking of whom, Leia is hit by a vision of her brother commanding the Imperial fleet, and we're thrown back into the epic Battle of Calamari which began last issue. The World Devastators are hovering up the Alliance fleet, but the good guys hit back with another great new addition to the Star Wars universe, E-Wing fighters. They're sort of X-Wings missing the upper half of the wings, and like the Devastators, fit perfectly into the Star Wars aesthetic. It's easy to imagine them as models built by the special effects team on the original trilogy. Amidst the mayhem, one of the Devastators crashes. Did the E-Wings find a weak spot - or is something strange (and easily guessable) going on? As with last issue, Lando is involved, but really provides nothing more than a familiar face on the frontlines. He doesn't do anything heroic, or even blow anything up. Just over half-way through Dark Empire, we get the panel that sums up the whole story. This would be my pick for Favourite Panel, but it's so vital here it is instead.  Luke has fulfilled his destiny; he has taken his father's place at the Emperor's side, just as Palpatine said he would. And now Leia has taken the position Luke held in Return of the Jedi - while the Emperor encourages her to strike her brother. I talked about this in the previous review, but so I'll simply repeat that it's the perfect progression of the story in a way that no other pseudo (or official) Episode VII has matched. The only problem with this panel is that it's hard to imagine Chewie just standing still as he does here. The Emperor destroys Leia’s lightsaber with a gesture – why didn’t Palpatine do that to Mace or Yoda in Revenge of the Sith? – so she instead tries dropping a heavy object on him with the Force. The Emperor responds with a blast of Force Lightening – while Luke stands and watches, ignoring Leia’s pleas for help, just as Vader (initially) ignored his in the same position. Leia, unconscious, is taken away to begin the Emperor’s training, while Han pushes Luke aside, calling him a traitor. But Luke isn’t in the mood to take that from Han, and – perfectly – the issue ends with Luke holding Han by the throat, just as Vader liked to do to people. There’s some dubious anatomy going on here as Mark Hamill is shorter than Harrison Ford, but it’s worth it for the shocking effect of the imagery. Luke tells Han he has turned to the Dark Side for the sake of the galaxy – while Han threatens to kill him! How’s that for a cliff-hanger? Kennedy's art has been superb throughout the series, but with issue four it somehow goes up another level. His bold use of colour is used equally effectively both for heightening the drama, and to create an abstract, otherworldly feel. Alongside the E-Wings and Slave II, we see the bizarre-looking Imperial Freight complex, towering out the mist, almost HR Geiger-esque; and battle scenes one could look at for hours, picking out all the little details, the exploding ships, the sentry guns spitting lasers, the supremely accurate detailing of the vehicles. Other negatives this issue are really just a few lines of dialogue - Leia calls Han 'darling', hard to imagine - and Han tells her, 'Thanks for letting me add a special touch to your plan, dear,' an ungainly bit of exposition. Whether you enjoy Boba Fett as comic relief is personal taste. And it really should have been called, 'Showdown on the Smuggler's Moon', not 'Confrontation'. Otherwise, a fantastic issue that cranks up the drama, brings Leia to the forefront, features plenty of breatless action, and even sees a limb lopped off with a lightsaber. You don't get any more Star Wars than that. Notable dialogue: ‘Look at you…brother and sister…Jedi. The last of your kind…and I have you both!’ – The Emperor Continuity issues: We see the Emperor’s cloning facility, and it actually does resemble that of the planet Kamino in Attack of the Clones, or vice versa. Favourite panel: A perfect example of Kennedy's work. Clear, cinematic action; surreal colours creating a dreamlike atmosphere; and wonderful world-building with intriguing minor details - who is that character in the bottom corner, what is he carrying, what is he doing? Just like the movies, Dark Empire gives us tantalising hints of a much vaster universe.  Rating: 5/5
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Post by Duragizer on Jun 24, 2018 22:49:42 GMT -5
The Emperor destroys Leia’s lightsaber with a gesture – why didn’t Palpatine do that to Mace or Yoda in Revenge of the Sith? Probably because Lucas isn't as good a writer as Veitch.  |
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Post by brutalis on Jun 25, 2018 7:44:58 GMT -5
Dark Empire delivers the goods in regards to Luke and Leia. The movies fail to advance either of them in any real way while Veitch takes them further into Jedi land and makes it all seem natural. They are more than capable and support each other and both learn and grow as characters increasing their skills and motivations instead of the stagnant kind of simplistic movie characters whose sole purpose is to push the movie plot along.
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Post by aquagoat on Jun 25, 2018 13:30:14 GMT -5
Dark Empire delivers the goods in regards to Luke and Leia. The movies fail to advance either of them in any real way while Veitch takes them further into Jedi land and makes it all seem natural. They are more than capable and support each other and both learn and grow as characters increasing their skills and motivations instead of the stagnant kind of simplistic movie characters whose sole purpose is to push the movie plot along. I agree about Leia - The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi don't advance her as a character at all. There are so many interesting things they could have done with Leia, yet they stick with what's gone before. As for Luke, though I much prefer Dark Empire's version, I thought The Last Jedi's treatment of Luke was great. There have been a lot of complaints, but ultimately Luke was just doing what Ben Kenobi and Yoda did before him - become an elderly hermit in the middle of nowhere who trains the next generation of Jedi. Luke couldn't come back immediately and join the fight again, so the writers had to give him a reason to resist saving the day until the end, when it would be most dramatic. It makes perfect sense in terms of how Star Wars works, and in terms of writing drama. |
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Confessor
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Post by Confessor on Jun 28, 2018 20:35:52 GMT -5
I gots ta gets meself caught up with this thread (he said in his best Popeye voice). Think I'll have to dig out issues 2-3 this weekend.
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Post by aquagoat on Jul 3, 2018 18:24:17 GMT -5
Cool. I will wait for your input before I do issue #5.
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Post by aquagoat on Jul 3, 2018 18:32:25 GMT -5
One thing I forgot to mention in any of the reviews so far is the aliens in Dark Empire. Most modern Star Wars comics use the familiar species from the movies over and over again, but Dark Empire rarely does that, instead creating strange and intriguing new ones. It gives the series a flavour of it's own, and more importantly shows the reader parts of the galaxy we've never seen before. With Dark Empire you really go deeper into the Star Wars universe.
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Confessor
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Post by Confessor on Jul 4, 2018 4:46:51 GMT -5
Cool. I will wait for your input before I do issue #5. Thanks. I'll try to catch up over the next couple of days and post my thoughts. One thing I forgot to mention in any of the reviews so far is the aliens in Dark Empire. Most modern Star Wars comics use the familiar species from the movies over and over again, but Dark Empire rarely does that, instead creating strange and intriguing new ones. It gives the series a flavour of it's own, and more importantly shows the reader parts of the galaxy we've never seen before. With Dark Empire you really go deeper into the Star Wars universe. I know it's a little bit different because the various common species of the SW galacy weren't as established as they were later, but the old Marvel series was very good at giving us different aliens than those we'd seen in the films. |
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Post by aquagoat on Jul 4, 2018 14:21:22 GMT -5
No hurry mate.
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Confessor
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Post by Confessor on Jul 8, 2018 8:55:34 GMT -5
I'm reading issues #2-4 of Dark Empire today, so should have my thoughts up by tomorrow. In the meantime, without wanting to derail the thread, I've just spotted this and have to respond... As for Luke, though I much prefer Dark Empire's version, I thought The Last Jedi's treatment of Luke was great. There have been a lot of complaints, but ultimately Luke was just doing what Ben Kenobi and Yoda did before him - become an elderly hermit in the middle of nowhere who trains the next generation of Jedi. Luke couldn't come back immediately and join the fight again, so the writers had to give him a reason to resist saving the day until the end, when it would be most dramatic. It makes perfect sense in terms of how Star Wars works, and in terms of writing drama. The difference with Obi-Wan and Yoda is that a) they were both fleeing the galaxy wide Imperial purge of the Jedi, and b) in Obi-Wan's case, he was living as a hermit on Tatooine to keep an eye of the great white hope that was Luke Skywalker. Neither of them became embittered hermits by choice, as Luke is shown to have done in TLJ -- in fact, neither Kenobi or Yoda are embittered at all in the original trilogy. Sure, Obi-Wan blamed himself for Anakin's fall to the dark side, but a more pressing issue was that he had to look after the "last hope" for the Jedi. Living as an old hermit on Tatooine was just Kenobi's cover story -- he wasn't actually a hermit. He was just playing one, while he kept an eye on Luke. As such, I think Luke becoming an embittered recluse, bogged down in regret and wanting to die, is very, very different to what Obi-Wan did. Hiding from Order 66 and keeping an eye on the last great hope for the galaxy is not the same as running off to sulk in self-regret, turning your back on the whole galaxy, and just waiting to die, as Luke was shown to have done in TLJ. |
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Post by wildfire2099 on Jul 9, 2018 0:17:16 GMT -5
I actually think Obi-Wan looks more like he was sulking and embittered now that more material has been added with Rebels... I mean, the way it's set up, he basically told everyone to not lose hope and wait for further instructions, then either never followed up, or, worse, knew that people like Ashoka and Kaanan were out there, and that the Empire was hunting down young force sensitives to either brain wash or kill, and just ignored it to play hermit and/or babysit Luke.
In other Star Wars news, I found a three-in-one book club type hardcover of some of the YA books from the early 90s..(by Paul Davids) I remember reading at least one of them, but with no memory of the plot..it should be an interesting read!
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