In Defense of Kamino (Clone Wars Vol. 1)

Last year, I started "graphic novel Sundays"- where I would put aside my 'normal' books each Sunday and read a graphic novel.  I enjoyed so breaking up my reading, and thus look to start that trend anew this year.  First up is the Clone Wars comic series by Dark Horse Comics.

From the Star Wars movies, we know that the Clone Wars began at the end of Episode II and concluded during Episode III.  What happened in between?  An awful lot of battles, intrigue, and adventures, you can bet . . . and Dark Horse took 9 volumes to tell us about them.  The first volume in this Clone Wars comic series and set immediately after Episode II, In Defense of Kamino recounts the following stories.

Sacrifice

The Jedi Quinlan Vos, working under cover in the fringes for years, obtains Separatist military plans and tips off Republic forces to avert catastrophe.  It's a victory for the Republic, but is there more to this than meets the eye?

Rating (art): A-
Rating (story): A-

Brothers in Arms, Jango's Legacy, and No End in Sight

These three stories are interconnected.  The Separatists launch an attack on the cloning facility world of Kamino.  Thanks to Vos' tip, the Republic is ready- with many Jedi (and clones) ready to defend the world at all costs.  Still, odds are overwhelming . . . who will prevail?

Rating (art): B+
Rating (story): B

Schism

There is a schism in the Jedi Order- several members, organized by Master Sora Bulq, have broken from the council and refuse to fight in the Clone Wars.  Mace Windu agrees to meet with them and discuss their objections; meanwhile, Count Dooku's assassin, Asajj Ventress, is secretly dispatched to the meeting with a mission: kill as many Jedi as possible.

Rating (art): A-
Rating (story): A-

Overall

As far as Star Wars graphic novels go, this was enjoyable.  We see from the beginning the machinations of Palpatine, who uses his dual identities to tip off each side in turn and ensure the war continues well into the future.  We also see plausible dissent within Jedi ranks, and the conflict that creates.  The art was good; the dialogue could have been better, but hey, this is Star Wars.

Rating : A-