Star Wars: Prelude to Rebellion

`Prelude to Rebellion' is the first story-arc of Dark Horse's ongoing Star Wars series. This book introduces us to Jedi Knight Ki-Adi-Mundi (the conehead on the Jedi Council in `The Phantom Menace'), before he's been raised to the Council. It is an interesting story of political intrigue, corrupt Republican senators, the criminal underworld, and the trials of a Jedi. It is fairly well illustrated, and quite well written too.In the days before The Phantom Menace, the Republic is trying to convince Ki's backwater homeworld of Cerea to become a member. The elders of the planet, including Ki, do not want this change - they like the peaceful, beautiful, idyllic nature of their world. But the youth, of course, see the fancy offworlder technology, and they want it. When Ki's daughter's boyfriend accidentally kills another, the boy goes into hiding in one of the Republic's "Outsider Citadels" on Cerea to hide from local justice. There, Ki's daughter and several of her friends are "befriended" by Ephant Mon, an associate of Jabba the Hutt, and proceed to get into even more trouble. Ki finds himself having to track down his daughter, while dealing with domestic disputes and a world that's tearing itself apart.As I've said, the art in this comic is pretty good -- while I've seen better, I've also seen much worse. The writing and dialogue are fairly crafty and effective, and this book presents an interesting take on the Republics politics that I'd not considered before. There is a fair amount of action - hand to hand, ship to ship, and some lightsaber slaying of some stupid creatures torn out of the movie `Aliens.' Some of the scenes in this book came as close as a Star Wars comic ever has to tearjerker status (not that any has come *that* close). We get to see a little of Ki's background, we are introduced to some semi-interesting new droids, and we finally see a human, fallible Jedi. My biggest gripe about this book is that the beginning is too boring. I often have tried to re-read this comic, only to be dissuaded within a few pages by the slow moving opening. Unfortunately, this "collected edition" fails to collect the special online Issue #0, which had been promised by then-editor Peet Janes, a promise that was reneged because they didn't want to go to the trouble of reformatting it to fit the printed page. :(In addition to the main story, we get a mini-comic entitled `Vow of Justice.' Originally included in the releases of the comics to take up some extra space, this short tells a bit about Ki's youth (which contradicts some of what we learned in the main story), and introduces us to a mysterious Jedi known only as the Dark Woman, a Jedi who we will see more of in future comics. Overall, `Prelude to Rebellion' is a big, satisfying story. Fun to read, and introducing various ideas and concepts to the Star Wars mythos, this is a good addition to your Star Wars library. Recommended.

Okay, I do not normally read SW comic books, as they are now too complex and too tied to the books. I've read the old "classic books" and I treasure my TPM book. Now, finally they've churned out a good one!It follows the Jedi Knight Ki-Adi-Mundi from the planet Cerea, who has some definite differences to other Jedi Knights: for instance, he has multiple wives and daughters. (Some of the scenes make me wonder if that's why some Jedi don't marry) This isn't all that's occupying Ki-Adi's very tall brain--a rebellious bunch are stirring on Cerea, and the treacherous Trade Federation from TPM is included in the mix. Worst of all, his daughter is swept up as well.This particular author managed to create an unusually enjoyable adventure--action and character development (Ki-Adi and his bond-wife and daughter) are balanced very well. The drawings are slightly sub-par, but I'm willing to overlook that as some of the previous comic book stories have been rather grimly drawn.It's not a lost chapter in the SW saga, but it is an enjoyable story that gives you the writer's insight into an important Council member. Wonderful!

Okay, I'm the author, of course I'll give it five stars!Anthony Winn's artwork is great, and I'm proud of this story about the battle between hi-tech and low-tech, especially as it plays out in the heart and mind of Jedi Knight Ki-Adi-Mundi, at war with his own strongly-held beliefs to save his daughter, kidnapped by Jabba the Hutt's minion, Ephant Mon.Jar-Jar Binks does NOT appear in this book.