Purge (Various)

Graphic novels are a very easy way to boost reading totals.  Not that I read them for that reason; I'm just saying that you can burn through one in a good hour or two.

Star Wars: Purge is a collection of four stories, all centered around events immediately following Episode III.  In the movie, Palpatine executes "Order 66," which tells the clone troopers to turn on the Jedi and kill them.  Anakin Skywalker becomes Darth Vader, and aids in hunting down the Jedi.  In this graphic novel, we see the immediate aftermath: as you'd expect, not all Jedi fell during the initial betrayal, and those who survive can be found in various corners of the galaxy.  The survivors may have separate desires- for peace, seclusion, or revenge- but all have one thing in common: Vader wants them dead.  And, in all four stories, Vader tracks down who remains and "takes care of them."

The stories are okay (pretty formulaic), as is the art.  But, this overall time period- these "Dark Times"- are among my favorite in the story arc, so I enjoyed them nevertheless.

Rating: B