Star Wars: Knight Errant

[Swordmaster]

In a time when the Republic is just a small, bright spot in the galaxy, and multiple Sith lords control the majority of space, the Jedi Order still sends agents of peace to defend the weak and uphold its values of justice.
Kerra Holt is a newly knighted Jedi on her very first mission for the Republic. She is returning to Sith space, in a part of the galaxy where she was born and originally encountered the evil lords. Although her Jedi training has prepared her for much, the realities of life in enemy territory are anything but expected.

Taken from Wookiepedia, clearly.

***
Is anyone else reading this? It's by John Jackson Miller, writer of the excellent Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic comic series, as well as the Lost Tribe of the Sith e-books. It's only four issues in, but so far it's capturing the period of time very well which, as a huge fan of the whole Star Wars universe, I appreciate.



Also, JJM has written a novel that takes place after the first mini-series, and even though I'm only about 70 pages in, it's very good as well. Kerra's an interesting protagonist, very different from Miller's last, Zayne Carrick, and the Sith Lords Odion and Daiman, respectively, are memorable in their own right. Especially Daiman, who takes a Sith philosophy of solipsism to a whole new level.

I heartily recommend it to any fan of Star Wars.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I'm reading it. It's been quite good, as was Miller's previous Star Wars work, the Knights of the Old Republic ongoing.

 

[sandwraith]

Sadly, fans of JJM's KoToR will find the tone of the book vastly different. I got Issue 4 today and while I like Kerra's no nonsense approach to her "mission", the tone of the book is pretty grim and lacks the flair and color of other Star Wars titles.

I think Daiman is pretty cool though. A Sith with a God-Complex to beat all God-Complexes.

 

[Swordmaster]

The tone should be different, I think, because KOTOR started before the Mandalorian Wars, while Knight Errant takes place during one of the darkest era's in the Star Wars history.

Really, I'd be complaining if they were too similar, personally.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

It's kind of crazy that Knight Errant takes place almost 2,000 years after the Knights of the Old Republic era, yet it's still considered part of the Old Republic era. Makes you realize how insanely huge the Star Wars EU is.

 

[sandwraith]

It is huge. And mostly debatable. Prior to the KOTOR games, the "Old Republic" referred mainly to the period before the Empire I think. I could be wrong but I think its simply a generalization. Or there could have been several Old Republics just as there were several Empires.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I totally prefer the Old Republic era to the movies' era at this point. It's so much better, with the Sith still fresh in people's minds, the Mandalorians still a whole people rather than scattered mercs, the Jedi a faction of warring internal politics and gray morality, etc. I love it.

 

[Swordmaster]

Pre-Ruusan Reformation Jedi were definitely more interesting than post-Ruusan Reformation Jedi. They had Lord Hoth, which is a win in ever way possible.

 

[sandwraith]

As much as I love SW, I tend to pass on the extensive (and rather complicated) history of the Jedi. My entry point to the Expanded Universe was Stackpole's X-Wing novels which I read solely to follow Wedge Antilles and not his Gary Stu (Corran Horn).

I followed The New Jedi Order religiously up until they killed Anakin (Solo) and my interest and respect in the EU. I passed on the Dark Swarm stuff and read enough of Legacy to know that Jacen was a *****ebag all along. I'm kinda...sorta...halfway...reading Fate of the Jedi. It's a bit hit and miss for me. The focus on Jaina seems unnatural to me especially when back in NJO, Greg Keyes was pushing for Anakin to be a leader.

That said, the EU has been extremely unkind to Han Solo. His best friend dead, his good son killed fighting the good fight, his lousy son killed by his sister...Must suck to be Han in Star Wars right now. In Legacy (the comic) do the Solos ever resurface?

 

[Ipodman]

Off topic but still Star Wars... I picked up Darth vader and the Lost Command, and it's a pretty good first issue (by my standards of course). Knight Errand sounds cool enough...

 

[sandwraith]

I was aiming to pick that up but the Lunar New Year is in full swing in my neck of the woods. Are we seeing Stormtroopers or are we still stuck at Clone Troopers?

 

[Swordmaster]

As much as I love SW, I tend to pass on the extensive (and rather complicated) history of the Jedi. My entry point to the Expanded Universe was Stackpole's X-Wing novels which I read solely to follow Wedge Antilles and not his Gary Stu (Corran Horn).

I followed The New Jedi Order religiously up until they killed Anakin (Solo) and my interest and respect in the EU. I passed on the Dark Swarm stuff and read enough of Legacy to know that Jacen was a *****ebag all along. I'm kinda...sorta...halfway...reading Fate of the Jedi. It's a bit hit and miss for me. The focus on Jaina seems unnatural to me especially when back in NJO, Greg Keyes was pushing for Anakin to be a leader.

That said, the EU has been extremely unkind to Han Solo. His best friend dead, his good son killed fighting the good fight, his lousy son killed by his sister...Must suck to be Han in Star Wars right now. In Legacy (the comic) do the Solos ever resurface?

Spoiler

Not yet, and it's unlikely, seeing as the only Solo child left is Jaina, and it looks like she marries Jagged Fel, who becomes the new Imperial Emperor, and continues the Fel line. One of my few complaints with the comic

 

[sandwraith]

That sucks. I hope they make a comeback. Some long-lost Solo or two.

I wish I could write for Star Wars. Any little contribution to the Expanded Universe. It would be cool.

 

[DarKush]

I'm reading it, but not loving it yet. I picked up the novel but the beginning's a little slow to get into for me.

I like the artwork for the most part. I also like Daiman and his philosophy. It makes sense for a Sith to take that kind of thinking to the extremes he does. Odion isn't bad either, though a bit more standard. However, his approach is a counter to Daiman's.

The tone is much different from KOTOR. I should welcome that, but it I haven't fully been pulled into it. I do think Kerra has potential and it's good to have a female lead in a Star Wars comic book series for once.

 

[sandwraith]

The biggest blow to this project is the length. As a 5-issue mini series, there isn't much expansion JJM can do in the comic medium. I think he's trying to expand his writing repatoire by fleshing out the character in prose form. I hope it works out for him but I've always felt his style of writing works better with illustrative aid.

 

[Swordmaster]

This is more Dark Horse's new approach to Star Wars. Instead of doing ongoings, they're releasing the stories in arcs, it's what they're doing with Invasion as well.

Kinda annoying, to be perfectly honest.

 

[sandwraith]

I never read Invasion. Is it good? I know it focuses on a Royal family on a Vong-infested world. I like the Jo Chen covers though. I go crazy for Jo Chen stuff.

Is it because Star Wars ongoings have poor readership numbers? I wouldn't think so. I'm sure Legacy and KOTOR had some solid numbers going. Maybe they went a little crazy with the Clone Wars stuff though.

 

[Swordmaster]

Invasion is very good, though it's only the mother and daughter on a Vong worldship, while the son is training to be a Jedi under Luke and is friends with Jacen, Jaina, and Anakin. The King is, I believe, forming a resistance on his world.

As for the reason as to their sales, I have no idea. I know JJM ended KOTOR when he wanted to, but for Legacy, John Ostander and Jan Duursema weren't planning to end it when they did/are.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I bought The Old Republic's trade. I'm not interested in the game, but I'm kind of fiending for Old Republic-era stuff lately and I can't seem to find the Tales of the Jedi Omnibuses anywhere, so I picked up TOR on a whim. I'm gonna read it anyway, but I'm just curious about others' opinions: is it any good or did I waste my money?

 

[sandwraith]

I think it should be good artwise. The storyline might feel a little cliche.

But hey, its got a Shan so it can't be all that bad.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Oooh, really? Didn't think it'd tie in to that extent. I thought The Old Republic took place like 2000 years after Knights of the Old Republic...

 

[Swordmaster]

The Old Republic takes place only 300 years after. 2000 years after KOTOR would bring you into the Darth Bane timeframe.

Also, Amazon has the Tales of the Jedi omnibuses pretty cheap.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I know, but I have an issue with being home for deliveries. The issue is that I'm not, so I have to go through a bunch of hassles to pick the thing up and stuff. I'm checking stores around town first, but so far I've only found the second omnibus, which is useless without the first.

 

[Swordmaster]

Huh, Amazon just tends to leave them on my doorstep. Odd.

 

[sandwraith]

I'm with Corp on this one. I tend to try getting stuff from a shop first before resorting to the internet. Something about Cashless-transactions leaves me worried. I'm stone-age that way.