COMIC: Top of the Stack - Star Wars: Agent of the Empire - Iron Eclipse #2 (Review)

Writer: John Ostrander
Artist: Stephane Roux
Cover: Stephane Roux

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Price: $3.50

While the number of books in my reading stack went down this week, the competition for the favorite spot was intensely tougher.

Several publishers brought fantastic issues to the table: Image's INVINCIBLE #87 had Mark making the hard choices and faced with a deadly idea, Marvel's AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #677 found Peter Parker reeling in his social life and Black Cat and Daredevil popping up in his webbed life, and DC's FRANKENSTEIN, AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. #5 had the rogue O.M.A.C. cross paths with Frankenstein in an epic collision.

Any of those titles were great reads that I enjoyed spending time on and worthy of the top spot, but apparently I had a secret agent story itch that needed to be scratched and Dark Horse's STAR WARS: AGENT OF THE EMPIRE - IRON ECLIPSE #2 hit that spot. Agent? Check. Star Wars? Bonus!

Writer John Ostrander is no stranger to the Star Wars Universe or the top of the stack with his long run on Star Wars: Legacy and the Star Wars: Legacy - War mini-series that followed it. This time he is going from the far future stories of Legacy to a time just a few years before the events of A NEW HOPE.

This is the second issue of the mini-series so the protagonist, Jahan Cross, is in the middle of his investigation and that has led him to a party at an Imperial Embassy where the Stark family he is looking for is attending. From there Cross with the help of his droid is at his best, dishing out political small talk, saving a damsel in social distress and seducing the stepmother only to find himself in a dicey situation.

Once I read the name of the book's artist, Stephane Roux, I knew the art was going to be fantastic and it showed immediately with the stylish cover that was totally giving off James Bond 60's vibe. Like his work on last year's ZATANNA ongoing for DC, there is a vibrant smoothness to the art, the characters are distinct and aliens - especially Twi'leks - are drawn quite well.

An interesting premise to a Star Wars mini-series and I definitely think fans should give it a try. You will not be disappointed, an exciting story from start to finish paired with great art and interesting characters. I will be picking up the rest of the issues and hopefully this will be the first of many peeks into the life of Jahan Cross.

Look to buy the STAR WARS: AGENT OF THE EMPIRE - IRON ECLIPSE #2 digital comic on Dark Horse Digital for $1.99

COMIC: Top of the Stack - Star Wars: Legacy - War # 6 (Review)

Writer: John Ostrander
Artist: Jan Duursema
Cover: Jan Duursema

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Price: $3.50

The last week of May brought a sizable stack of comics with over twenty titles in it, a quantity that is quickly becoming the norm when it comes to my reading list. Unfortunately this was also one of those weeks where very few of the comics actually stood out and it was tough going for awhile getting through the titles and finding one worthy for the top of my stack.

If one thing has come out with all these comic reviews I have written it is that I am a sucker for all-ages books and that made MARVEL ADVENTURES SPIDER-MAN #14 with Spider-Man and George Stacy battling Mysterio a contender but in the end it was the climactic showdown between Cade Skywalker and Darth Krayt in STAR WARS: LEGACY - WAR #6 that put the final issue of the mini-series at the top of the stack.

Writer John Ostrander and artist Jan Duursema have been involved with the characters and time in the Star Wars universe for awhile now, being the creative team on the mini-series and having worked together on the ongoing title that preceded it. They have the spirit and style of the book down pat as this mini is more of an extension of the previous ongoing and a fitting wrap up to this era of Star Wars if this is indeed the end.

In this final issue Darth Talon unintentionally leads Cade right to Darth Krayt and the final showdown between the two commences with the attack on Coruscant ongoing. Roan Fel finds his advisors opinions to be unsatisfactory and not loyal leading to a fight between he and Antares Draco. But it is Krayt trying to push Cade to the dark side that is the real climax to the story as the full vision helps guide Cade to his true discovery, his destiny to be a Jedi like his forefathers before him.

Of course not even Cade can go away quietly, deciding that Krayt had infected his body so he needs to plunge himself into the sun as well to truly eradicate any trace of Krayt. It is Cade's family that steps up in the end, Morrigan getting word to the Mynock and the spirit of Luke Skywalker giving sage advice as Cade stands on the precipice.

Having a STAR WARS: LEGACY title to read month in and month out the last few years has been a joy and now I hope that I will find a new Star Wars title to fill the hole that now needs filling. Something I am sure Dark Horse will accomplish with ease looking at the track record of Star Wars titles and my reading of them. Here is to the next adventure in a galaxy far, far away.

COMIC: Top of the Stack - Star Wars: Legacy - War #1 (Review)

Written by John Ostrander
Pencils by Jan Duursema
Cover by Jan Duursema

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Price: $3.50

The week of December fifteenth brought a plethora of big DC books to my stack, along with a few stubborn ducks via BOOM! Studios but it was the return of the characters from the cancelled Dark Horse Comics series, Star Wars: Legacy, in the first of a six issue mini-series, Star Wars: Legacy - War, that climbed to the top of the stack. Veteran comic book scribe John Ostrander reunites with artist Jan Duursema to bring the creative team of the award-winning Star Wars: Legacy series to the next chapter of that universe.

Legacy - War starts from the events in the Legacy finale, Darth Krayt once leader of the One Sith and thought to be dead at the hands of Darth Wyyrlok is alive and the revelation of his return sent ripples through the Force to all Sith ... and Cade Skywalker. Wyyrlok's betrayal has awoken a fiercer attitude from Krayt who immediately sets forth to reclaim his leadership position with his goal to bring the galaxy to war so that the galaxy can experience the pain and rebirth he went through. But opposition forces are gathering, including a newly resolved Cade Skywalker who is determined to follow his destiny and destroy Krayt.

With the creative team from the series back on this mini, the book feels like a continuation more than a new mini-series. Duursema drew a fierce cover with Krayt on it that stands out from other books, and with the interiors Duursema continues to expertly create beautiful panels, especially scenes involving Sith characters. One of the reasons I have been attracted to the Legacy universe is that focus on the Sith, and the many unique designs they come in like the beautiful but deadly Twi'lek Darth Talon.

This first issue sets up the battlefield that the upcoming war is going to take place in and who are the main characters that will be involved in it. I do not know what plans are for the universe after this mini but I always remember feeling like the last issue of Legacy did not feel like a finale and I hope that this mini-series delivers some finality and resolve if this is the last look in on these characters.

Check out Geek Plate's Tumblr for today's Star Wars themed picspam.

COMIC: Top of the Stack - Star Wars: Blood Ties #1 (Review)

Written by Tom Taylor
Art by Chris Scalf
Cover by Chris Scalf

Publisher: Dark Horse
Price: $3.50

This week there were several highly anticipated big name comic books released but it was a mini-series from Dark Horse under the Star Wars brand that rose to the top of the stack. Star Wars: Blood Ties #1 is a mini-series centered around everyone's favorite father/son bounty hunter duo of Jango Fett and Boba Fett. Tom Taylor is the writer of this series as well as another Star Wars title for Dark Horse, Star Wars: Invasion.

This issue starts the tale in the time of the Clone Wars with Jango Fett and his son/young clone, Boba, in tow. We are treated to a dangerous training lesson that Jango teaches Boba before Jango is sent on a mission by Count Dooku that leads to a last page reveal that leaves the reader with questions that seem obvious in hindsight but were never brought up before this issue.

The art and cover is by Chris Scalf, who does a great job of modeling the characters of Jango and Boba after their movie counterparts. I am sure this probably is due to Lucas obtaining likeness rights, but one of the best things about Star Wars is the recognition of its characters from different mediums. I could take a panel with Jango or Boba and easily imagine it coming from the Clone Wars cartoon series.

I normally don't seek out 'villain' focused books but with it being Star Wars and the Fetts more of hitmen than outright villains this was a book I was interested in reading and I am glad I did so. For being ancillary characters in the movies, the Fetts stir a great interest from fans and it is nice to see them getting their own time in the spotlight. This book should do them justice.

Check out Geek Plate's Tumblr for today's Star Wars themed picspam.

CON: Celebration V Highlights (News)

Last weekend down in Orlando, Florida sci-fi geeks from around the world came together at the Orange County Convention Center to enjoy the Star Wars mania at Celebration V.


Here is some of the interesting news events to come out of CV:

--On Thursday, there was the 'Thirty Years Later: A Conversation with the Masters' panel starring George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Lawrence Kasdan, and John Williams as they looked back at the making of Empire Strikes Back.
--The first look of the Droid 2 R2-D2 edition was released just in time for Celebration V.
--Del Rey had a teaser cover on the exhibit floor for the next Fate of the Jedi book, Ascension. And at their panel Del Rey talked about the future of Star Wars books.
--Merchandise for female geeks was well represented at Celebration V with the Her Universe booth.
--During the Main Event with George Lucas, it was announced that the Star Wars series would be coming to Blu-ray in 2011.
--With Knights of the Republic and Legacy coming to an end, Dark Horse held a panel foretelling the future of Star Wars comics.
--For the continuity geeks out there, 'The Dark Side Clouds Everything' Panel talked about The Clone Wars and the continuity around it and how it relates to the existing continuity.
--At CV Hallmark continued its strong support of the Star Wars brand.
--TheForce.net covered the packed Clone Wars Season 3 panel (with video clips).

Check out Geek Plate's Tumblr for today's Star Wars themed picspam.

COMIC: 2010 SDCC News Highlights

Last weekend several industries traveled down to San Diego for a series of panels and interviews for fans that unveiled plans for the following year. Here's some of the interesting COMIC news to come out:

--Five years after Marvel had the Sentry tear apart Carnage in space, Spider-Man foe Carnage is coming back in a mini-series.
--Smallville's iconic heroine, Chloe Sullivan, is finally making her long-awaited debut in DC's comic pages as a character in the Jimmy Olsen co-features in Action Comics.
--Wildstorm bringing several video game titles to ink with tie-ins for Gears of War, God of War and Ratchet and Clank just to name a few.
--The Green Lantern panel shows that area of the DC Universe has never been bigger. Upcoming: Sinestro Secret Origins, a story on Sinestro's yellow ring and a change for Carol Ferris.
--IDW announced that it will publish a four issue anthology series of new Rocketeer stories with painted covers by Alex Ross. The more the better for such an iconic character.
--DC announced an ongoing Static series for 2011, and Justice League #50 features a face-off with the Crime Syndicate.
--Marvel announces 'Avengers 3' and a Tron: The Betrayal graphic novel.
--Winners for the 22nd Annual Eisner Awards.
--DC also talks about a new book, Flash:Speed Force and a new costume for Bruce Wayne in 'Batman Inc'.
--After the success of Mass Effect:Redemption, Dark Horse brings Mass Effect:Evolution.
--Another TV show is being brought to life in comic form. This time around, Zenescope resurrects Charmed.

Check out Geek Plate's Tumblr for today's comic themed picspam.