I bought this in its single comic book issues, but I chosen this TPB edition to be able of making a better overall review.
This TAs varied as good!
I bought this in its single comic book issues, but I chosen this TPB edition to be able of making a better overall review.
This TPB edition collects “Star Wars” #33-37.
This comic book run is set after the events of “Star Wars IV: A New Hope” but before the events of “Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back”.
Creative Team:
Writers: Jason Aaron & Dash Aaron
Illustrators: Salvador Larroca & Andrea Sorrentino
STAR WARS SPOTLIGHTS
It’s not unusual en long comic book series that some time to time, between storyarcs, the creative teams take the chance to tell some stand-alone stories that they want to tell but they can’t be extended to 6 issues (the usual lenght of TPBs). Also, they can do a TPB made of stand-alone tales…
…and this one is precisely that.
And what better than using each issue of this TPB to spotlight a different character or characters?
First, you’ll have an adventure with Luke and Leia, stranded in an aquatic world, while escaping from Imperial patrols!
In the second tale, Sana Starros, a mysterious acquaintance of Han Solo, calls for assistance of another old mate, Lando Calrissian, to make one heck of scam, walking in a risky thin line between space pirates, Imperial officers and even Jabba the Hutt!
In the third story, your favorite scoundrel, Han Solo, along with Chewie, onboard in the Millenium Falcon, are sent in a perilous mission, taking a Rebel prisoner, Grakkus the Hutt, which keeps a secret, crucial for the survival of the Rebel Alliance!
Then, at the fourth tale, R2-D2 going solo to save the metallic butt of C-3PO, whom is prisoner on a Imperial Destroyer, which non other than Darth Vader is onboard!
Finally, it’s the turn of the bad guys to have a spotlight and it’s with the cunning SCAR Squadron proving why they’re the most dangerous Stormtrooper special forces squad in the Empire…
…and in the same issue, you have access to some pages of the Journals of old Ben Kenobi while dealing with Tusken Raiders.
Well, fellow readers in the Force, you know the drill by now, if you have been reading my reviews about StI still like it, but it could be better!
Well, fellow readers in the Force, you know the drill by now, if you have been reading my reviews about Star Wars film novelizations, but if not, and you have fall in the carbonite complex, therefore, not having watched the film from this novelization was made, well, stop reading, since I’ll do some spoilers. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
LOVE AT FIRST FORCE
Well, good ol’ Georgie is a business genius, and certainly quite good in many film aspects, but developing a love story isn’t between his skills…
…I can understand that young Anakin had a huge crush on Padme, come on! She’s Natalie Portman! And she didn’t change a bit in 10 years (never told but I have to assume that people from Naboo aged quite slowly), so what started as a cute chlid crush, evolved into an almost out of control crush…
…BUT PADME???!!!
Last time, she saw Anakin, he was a small tender innocent kid, but she only needed a glimpse of him, already grown up and her Naboonian female hormones started to shake up!
I know that it’s not an easy task to present a believable romance in the big screen since true love needs time, and you have time against you in a movie, especially if it’s not a romance film per se, but a sci-fi action movie with some romance elements on it.
Therefore, I think they should play with the angle that the movie didn’t start right away from the previous one ended, in fact, 10 years later, sooooo, they could employ the moving yellow words at the beginning of the film, and explain that Anakin had been personal bodyguard of Padme for at least 6 months, and Jedi-Kapow! You can read (literally!) between lines that Anakin and Padme have been close for a fair amount of time and they fell in love during that time.
WORST ACCOUNTING EVER
I am an accountant, so maybe I am a geek with an unique vision about the thing with the Clone Army…
…that mysterious Sifo-Dyas paid to the people in Kamino to raise a vast Clone Army. You can bet that it wasn’t any cheap…
…and the Jedi Council never notice that they didn’t have a good amount of their money anymore in their arcs???!
Also, Yoda, Mace Windu and Obi-Wan Kenobi, didn’t have a single clue about how the heck the Kaminoans claimed to be paid by the Jedi to make the Clone Army, but they didn’t hesitate a second to take them and put them into a “slave-like” service for the Republic (good thing that “slavery” didn’t exist in the Republic anymore!).
And nobody followed the money involved!!!
Not all battles are won with lightsabers. They only to track the accounting books.
What the heck they were doing in the Jedi Council? Only looking “cool” in their seats?! They are the leader of the Jedi Order, so they should at least one time per year to check their finances.
Why taking such extremes like Order 66? Palpatine only needed an Audit Intervention and the whole Jedi Council could end in jail for money embezzlement! And if their funds weren’t used in that (Darth Sidious and Darth Plagueis could take the money from other part), still the Jedi could be charged for property (the clones) misappropiation.
And in any case, if the Jedi have so much money…
…couldn’t they pay for the freedom of poor Shmee Skywalker, only to avoid some mental stress to Anakin, and he could stay in the safe side of the Force?!
WORST SHAPE-SHIFTER EVER
Mmh…
…why the heck, you create a Shape-Shifter Bounty Hunter, but she keeps her original outfit?! Even more ridiculous, wearing a veil in her helmet, why a veil to hide her face if she can change it?!
Yes, it’s more believable that she only change her physical body and not also her clothes, but this is where you have to avoid falling into too realism…
“Oooh! How odd, I was just chasing a female bounty hunter with your exact clothes, but nope, you have to be another person, since your face is different, yeah.” Geez!!!
JANGO & DOOKU
Jango Fett and Count Dooku must be the best things in the movie…
Jango Fett, since he has a cool Mandalorian armor, and ANYBODY is cool with a Mandalorian armor. And while he wasn’t that effective against Jedis, well, anybody without Force powers isn’t that effective against Jedis, but just watch how many Jedis has survive against true Siths, and you realize that poor Jango wasn’t that bad really.
About Count Dooku, sure, he’s a pale replacement of Darth Maul (even if he was Dracula before, no offense), but Dooku’s best moment is when he tells openly to Obi-Wan what is really going on, that a Dark Lord of the Sith is controlling the Republic, and dang Obi-Wan didn’t believe him!
This is the comic book issue #4 of the event “Doomsday Clock” that it will be a maxiseries of 12 issues.
Creative Team:
WThe clock stops for nobody!
This is the comic book issue #4 of the event “Doomsday Clock” that it will be a maxiseries of 12 issues.
Creative Team:
Writer: Geoff Johns
Illustrator: Gary Frank
THE SECRET ORIGIN OF THE NEW RORSCHACH
Since the beginning of Doomsday Clock, one of the mysteries was…
…who is the new Rorschach?
And believe it or not (but I think that if you’re reading the maxiseries, you will believe me), once a key piece of information was shown…
…I deduced the only possible answer to that mystery and happily I was correct (don’t worry I won’t spoil it), but also I think that it was too easy and if you have read the original Watchmen graphic novel, that honestly it’s required reading to understand what’s cooking here.
The new Rorschach was tricked by The Batman (that honestly I think that it was odd, taking in account that Batman is supposed to be working in “The Button” case for months, so I think that it could be logical to be less cynical about the information that the new Rorschach revealed to him), and now while he’s waiting for the next move…
…the readers can enjoy to the revelation in flashbacks of who and how, this new Rorschach came to be…
…with a priceless guest star, proving that Geoff Johns is doing his homework and definitely is working hard to present a superb story to be worthy of being a sequel to Watchmen.
And while it seems that the new Rorschach’s companions from the Watchmen parallel dimension aren’t doing anything to help him out…
…a new player (who also knows who is, but it’s not that I am that clever, I just read the right event in another comic book title) is making contact with the new Rorschach, leading to new twists in this story....more
This is the comic book issue #7 of the event “Batman: White Knight”, which it will be a miniseries of 8 issues.
Creative TeamGTO: Fast and Furious!
This is the comic book issue #7 of the event “Batman: White Knight”, which it will be a miniseries of 8 issues.
Creative Team:
Writer & Illustrator: Sean Murphy
Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth
Letterer: Todd Klein
THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE!!!
Batman: White Knight isn’t only one of the most relevant comic book miniseries to read, specially if you’re fan of Batman, but also I’ve noticed that this is a “passing the torch” moment…
…since in many media projects about Batman, on films, TV and comic books, it was usual, and not all rare, that creative teams were inspired by Batman ‘66 TV series, since almost all of the members of those creative teams grew out in an era, similar to mine, and we as kids, that was the Batman (nevermind campiness) that blew out our minds…
…but sooner or later, new creative teams that grew out in newer eras, it was logical that would “take the torch” to write new stories about Batman, and the next generation is logical that its introduction to the character and his world were Batman ‘89 and Batman: The Animated Series, and while Sean Murphy still keep some elements of Batman ‘66 and even adding newer stuff like The Dark Knight trilogy…
…you have to appreciate that the strongest creative inspirations are Batman ‘89 and Batman: TAS, and while they were already mature material, Sean Murphy took that wonderful adaptations to the next step, updating them to current audiences, just like the creative teams of old did it with Batman ‘66…
…keeping what every new creative team, in any media, have done with Batman since its creation, back then in 1939,…
…adapting the Dark Knight and its world to fit in the social mood of each generation.
The Dark Knight keeps falling in good hands to keep rising again!
Long Live the Batman!
EVERYTHING IS ACCORDING TO PLAN
Don’t get mistaken, Sean Murphy has a plan with this outstanding mini-series and if you have any doubt, just read the seventh issue…
…and you’ll happily realize that nothing has been by chance, there is an hidden order in this mayhem unleashed over Gotham City, masterfully planned by Sean Murphy.
The Batman shows that while Jack Napier is The Joker, he is in control of all the rest of the cards in the deck.
However, don’t dismiss so quickly to good ol’ Jack, since his insidious alter ego have a hidden card about a critical part of Batman’s past in his never-ending war on crime, involving a fellow fallen soldier, that I have no doubt that it will provoke a powerful impact in a very possible sequel miniseries in what DC Comics is already refering as “Murphyverse”, proving the instant success of this awesome comic book miniseries.
Gotham City is under attack by Marian Crews who evolved into something more powerful, cunning and resourceful than Jack would ever thought conceivable out of a “Harley Quinn rip-off”, that while she won’t able to cast a shadow, in the past, over the original Harley Quinn aka Dr. Harleen Quinzel…
…it’s clear as ice that she is shading a big darkness over Jack Napier…
…who is losing control of himself due the stress of this unexpected opponent…
…and definitely The Joker wants to get out and play!
Batman, Jack, Harleen, Marian…
…who will have the last laugh in this sick game about power over Gotham City?
During the Original Trilogy of Star Wars, we find out a detail here and another there, about wHere come the prequels!
JEDI AND SITH MEET AGAIN!
During the Original Trilogy of Star Wars, we find out a detail here and another there, about what happened to the Republic and the rise of the Empire.
Of course, those little details, matter not much, since after all, good ol’ Georgie wrote what he wanted in the prequels, not matter if they were contradictory with the previous released information in the original trilogy.
For thousand years, peace had prevailed in the galaxy and the Republic was protected by the Jedi Order…
…but the Sith hadn’t dissapeared as people think and a masterplan was about to be applied with the goals of turning the Republic into an Empire and the destruction of the Jedi Order…
…and everything began in the little planet of Naboo and a commercial blockade…
…along with a small detour to the planet of Tatooine.
Sooo, from here on, I will do some specific comments and explain differences between the movie and book, so if you haven’t watch the film, be warned of keeping reading on…
Qui Gon-Jin rules! He’s the best Jedi ever. Period.
However, I think that the whole trouble of being stranded in Tatooine could be managed better (but of course, we wouldn’t have Star Wars, so maybe it wasn’t shortsight, but things that should happen in benefit of the story), since they need a spare part to fix their Nubian cruiser and the Republic money wasn’t good in Tatooine…
…but hey! The Nubian ship is almost peachy-keen shape but the hyperdrive system, so…
…why not sell the dang Nubian ship, and buying some less fancy cruiser instead, even it was smart to change of vehicle to avoid being followed, they only needed a cruiser big enough for two Jedis, a queen, her cohorts, a security captain and the pilots…
…and they could avoid requiring the help of certain kid that years later would become kinda some little trouble to the Jedi Order.
Moreover, while Qui Gon-Jin couldn’t do his Mind Trick on Watto, it seemed that Watto did something to Qui Gon-Jin since Watto told him that nobody else had that kind of Nubian spare parts and he believed him, since he didn’t try with any other store, hey! Who knows? Maybe there was some other business alien with that kind of spare parts and even accepting Republic money, but of course, why distrust someone so trustworthy like good ol’ Watto?! Geez!
It’s curious that the Senate is dealing with a trouble of a commercial blockade at Naboo, and their “brilliant impartial” solution is deposing the current Supreme Chancellor and naming a new one that he’s from Naboo!
And it’s absurd that when Naboo is facing an invasion, it’s sent only two Jedis, aaaaah!... …but when everything was solved and there is a party with music and food, the whole dang Jedi Council travel there! Geez!
SO WHAT’S DIFFERENT HERE ANYWAY?
The story didn’t began on the book on Naboo, but you have two chapters introducing little Anakin and his life as slave at Tatooine, the construction of C-3PO, including a revealing incident where he tries to heal a wounder Tusken Raider and he ponders about what he could do if somebody would hurt his mother. Also, it’s told the previous Pod Racing where Anakin “saved most of Watto’s pod”. There is an aditional scene showing the natural kindness of Anakin, when he invited Qui-Gon Jin and Padme, some food in a street tent, even when the very Anakin isn’t able to buy some for him.
Padme has a last name, Naberrie, which is contradictory of the way that she’s referred in Episode II.
Anakin tells Padme that he’ll marry her in the future, and while Padme didn’t take it seriously since he’s just a kid, he tells her that he won’t be a boy forever.
Obi-Wan Kenobi relationship was quite damaged for a while in the narrative when Qui-Gon Jin insisted of teaching Anakin and all that that involved.
Darth Maul has a lot more dialogue in the novel than in the movie.
There is a detailed account about what happened with the Sith Order and how Darth Bane changed all with his Rule of Two.
Yoda was against of teaching Anakin (and most likely Mace Windu was against too) but the rest of the Jedi Council voted in favor.
This was the edition that I actually read for the Original Trilogy, but I did separate reviews of each Episode contained The Force is strong here!
This was the edition that I actually read for the Original Trilogy, but I did separate reviews of each Episode contained here.
I did review of each Episode (IV, V & VI) featured here in this edition, just look for the separate novelization of each Star Wars movie of the Original trilogy, and you'll be able to read about my thoughts on each Episode, along with the differences found on each of those said Episodes in comparison with the theatrical films.
I have bought the Omnibus edition with the three original “Star Wars” movie novelizations but I’ve chosen thiThe Original Trilogy comes to an end!
I have bought the Omnibus edition with the three original “Star Wars” movie novelizations but I’ve chosen this edition to make a better focused review of each single book.
So, once again, if you haven't watched this movie due being frozen in carbonite for 40 years or so, then don't read any further since there are spoilers ahead! Don't say that I didn't warn you, Rebel Scum!
ANOTHER DEATH STAR…REALLY?!
Thanks to Rogue One, we now know that the Empire didn’t do on purpose the fabrication mistake leading to the destruction of the first Death Star…
…but after losing that humongous mobile station, drastically reducing the financial resources of the Galactic Empire, one thought that they should invest in ANYTHING else but…
…another blasted Death Star!!!
Geez!!!
Especially when the Emperor Palpatine didn’t wait until it would be totally finished, at least in its outside armored plates to avoid any incursión of fightercraft in the eventuality of losing the protection of the energy shield (that obviously precisely happened).
I admire Palpatine since he’s one of the very few villains that has been allowed to win and keep in control of the Empire for like 20 years, not much fiction villains are able to enjoy such long victory time without any sensible intervention of heroes. But, it’s sadly unbelievable to see that at the end of his successful period in command of the galaxy, he was “forced” (by good ol’ Georgie’s script) to come up with an uninspired plan of making a second Death Star, instead of choosing something else more ingenious and useful, like a whole fleet of Super Star Destroyers.
And to make it more indignantly, there are the Ewoks, it’s not like I hate them per se, they’re cute alright, but I still can’t believe that a bunch of space care bears were able to defeat in ground combat to a whole Imperial Stormtroopers’ detachment. I’m sure that those Ewoks should think that the Rebel Alliance were a pack of fools, since they were battling the Empire for 23 years without success and the Ewoks “beat” the Empire in an afternoon.
Geez!!!
SO WHAT’S DIFFERENT HERE ANYWAY?
I have to admit that while Return of the Jedi novelizations have several relevant additional scenes, like…
…Luke Skywalker making his new lightsaber at Obi-Wan’s house.
…Jabba is a lot more disgusting and meaner to poor Leia during her slave time.
…Ewoks were a lot more difficult to convince them to help the Rebels.
…you can read about the whole inner conflict on Darth Vader’s mind between his loyalty to the Emperor and the option of helping Luke.
…Palpatine is able to learn that Yoda was Luke’s second teacher of his Jedi training.
…the Second Death Star was seconds away of destroying Endor’s moon.
And as you can guess, always there are odd comments that they are contradictory with the whole Star Wars story, taking in account how the Prequel Trilogy was developed…
…Obi-Wan’s force spirit tells Luke that Owen Lars was his brother (what?!) and that her mom, in other words, Padmé Amidala, died when Luke and Leia were four years old (dang!).
…Palpatine’s backstory is told in detail, but due the Prequel trilogy, and even if you may indulge me with the existence of some (now “legends” (non-canonical)) novels like Darth Plagueis (that it should be titled Darth Sidious, since it was more developed the life of Palpatine than Plagueis), you may guess that many of those details became contradictory....more
This is the comic book issue #6 of the event “Batman: White Knight”, which it will be a miniseries of 8 issues.
Creative TeamThe Dark Knight falls!
This is the comic book issue #6 of the event “Batman: White Knight”, which it will be a miniseries of 8 issues.
Creative Team:
Writer & Illustrator: Sean Murphy
Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth
Letterer: Todd Klein
WANTED: BATMAN
I’ve thought about this moment for decades. Wondered what I’d do if I ever got to see you like this. All broken and vulnerable… … …oh god… …what have I done…?
Commisioner James Gordon had it. The Batman is no longer a vigilante. Now the Dark Knight is considered a super-criminal and therefore, he should be arrested by any means necessary…
…and Nightwing may get just the thing needed to get the job done!
It’s the greatest moment for Jack Napier, but…
…even now, The Batman must be respected, must be protected…
…since Jack has no quarrel with anyone under the hood…
…even arrested and confined to Arkham Asylum…
…The Batman’s true identity must be remained concealed…
…since Jack’s nemesis isn’t the whoever mortal under the cloak…
…Jack’s enemy is something too big…
…Jack’s opponent is The Batman.
However, Gotham City would be hardly any safer even if the Dark Knight falls…
…since Marian Crews (formerly Harley Quinn wannabe) have very COLD plans for Gotham…
…and those plans were hidden in the very Wayne Manor since WWII!!!
Batgirl and Dr. Harleen Quinzel, both want to safe any sanity remained in the minds of The Batman and Jack Napier, but…
This is the comic book issue #5 of the event “Batman: White Knight”, which it will be a miniseries of 8 issues.
Creative Team:
WrGTO is on the case!
This is the comic book issue #5 of the event “Batman: White Knight”, which it will be a miniseries of 8 issues.
Creative Team:
Writer & Illustrator: Sean Murphy
Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth
Letterer: Todd Klein
A VERY SECRET ROOM
…maybe if you two weren’t so stubborn… …you’d realize how similar you’ve become.
There is a war in Gotham City…
…in one side, there is Jack Napier, formerly known as The Joker, reformed, certified sane, and willing to do what’s necessary to make a better, safer Gotham,…
…in the other side, there is The Batman, obsessed, recklessly violent, and too much eager to do what’s necessary to prove that Joker shouldn’t be trusted…
…and in the middle there is the citizens of Gotham, suffering the consequences of this epic conflict. However, hardly, Jack and Batsy are the only ones playing a hand in this dangerous card game…
…Dr. Harleen Quinzel, formerly known as Harley Quinn, smart, resourceful, and willing to do what’s necessary to avoid that those two fellows would kill each other…
…Marian Crews, formerly a second Harley Quinn wannabe, quick-learner, loose-cannon, and willing to what’s necessary to keep the havok unleashed on Gotham, and what better joke like doing it using insidious plans by Jack along with dark secrets from Wayne Family, kept in a room that nobody, not even Bruce Wayne knew about it?
GTO, the new special enforcer unit of GCPD, is beginning fine in its new mission to keep safe the streets, but the problem is that The Batman isn’t willing to share the responsibility for the safety of Gotham with anyone, not matter if Nightwing and Batgirl are in the new joint task force.
I have bought the Omnibus edition with the three original “Star Wars” movie novelizations but I’ve chosen this edition to Star Wars at its best!!!
I have bought the Omnibus edition with the three original “Star Wars” movie novelizations but I’ve chosen this edition to make a better focused review of each single book.
ONCE PERFECT, THERE IS LITTLE TO ADD
It wasn’t a surprise that there are few relevant additions to this novelization, since you have to admit that Empire Strikes Back is Star Wars at its best and even good ol’ Georgie couldn’t add much to the Special Edition of the film, just a couple of CGI brief scenes, to justify the existence of a special edition of that superb film.
However, certainly there are some changes here and there in the novelization, since it’s normal that during actually making the film, there are last minute modifications or special effects troubles and the assigned writer isn’t informed on time to make the adjustment on the prose novelization as well.
Sooo…
…once again, if you passed the last 40 years or so, frozen in carbonite, and you hadn’t watched the film, please be warned that you may find some spoilers ahead…
…the novelization started already on Hoth with Luke and Han, instead on space with the Imperial Starfleet. And there are A LOT of more wampas in the novelization than the just one in the film, actually Echo Base is attacked by wampas!
…a big difference is that Hobbie (one Rogue Squadron fighter pilot) crashes his snowspeeder against General Veers’ AT-AT, killing all there.
…believe it or not, Yoda is blue!!! I guess that if X-Wings’ blue stripes on A New Hope couldn’t work with the blue screens, the same colorful trouble risen again with the muppet of the old Jedi Master, so at the film they had to changed it to green. And by the way, on Dagobah, it’s mentioned that Vader’s lightsaber is blue, instead of iconic red! I guess that blue is favorite color of George Lucas and it must be a bummer (for him) having to change the blue stuff in his films due fx limitations of the time.
…Han and Leia could kiss alright at the Millenium Falcon! Oh, yeah! BUT there isn’t “I know” at Cloud City, aaaaah bummer (but I knew that it wouldn’t be since that iconic quote was Harrison Ford’s brilliant improvisation while filming the scene).
…The Ugnaughts are wiser in the novelization and they didn’t argue with Chewie. I always wondered if those ugly dwarfish aliens had some kind of deathwish, looking for a fight with a wookie!
…Luke’s rescue by the Millenium Falcon is a lot more daring and risky!
Plus, some other minor stuff, here and there, pretty much this is it, and as you can see, there were like changes due fx troubles or scenes ended cut at the editing room, than actually any real valuable addition to the prose novelization.
Still, if you are reading the Star Wars novelizations, certainly you can’t miss this one, once you’re on that!
This run is different than the previous with the same title, also by Marvel Comics, moreover it’s set in a different time period too. Vader rises!
This run is different than the previous with the same title, also by Marvel Comics, moreover it’s set in a different time period too. This run is set right after the end of “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith”.
Creative Team:
Writer: Charles Soule
Illustrator: Giuseppe Camuncoli
WANTED: LIGHTSABER
This is a good run, but I felt quite better the previous run by Gillen & Larroca, set between Episodes IV & V.
Now, Darth Vader is right after Episode III, inside of a strange armor and without lightsaber.
Therefore, you’ll witness the path of the new Dark Lord of the Sith, testing and making adjustment to his armor, along with the challenge of finding a new lightsaber, that in the Sith Way it shouldn’t be given but…
…TAKEN from a beaten enemy, and then the Kyber Crystal should be corrupted with feelings of anger and pain until making it…
…BLEED, and got its crimson tone.
Of course, the Order 66 is giving some trouble to the young Sith since there aren’t many live Jedi left…
…and while it’s not said clearly, I think that Vader doesn’t want to get a lightsaber from a Jedi that went into hiding after the Order 66, since what worthy can be to beat a coward Jedi that it’s saving his/her butt in a hole? But, thankfully there is an old Jedi custom that when an active Jedi finds troublesome to be part of the Jedi order, they can opt to go into seclusion and they can’t interfere anymore in any matter of the Jedi Order…
…and if the Jedi went into seclusion before the Order 66, it’s another matter, it was a choice, and also it’s recorded on the Jedi Archives, the whereabouts of the secluded Jedi.
And what better if the chosen Jedi wasn’t a puny diplomat but a true fighter?!
However, Emperor Palpatine doesn’t trust blindly in the abilities of his new apprentice, especially since he isn’t the same man than before, barely a man actually, and Palpatine knows that any single Jedi out there still alive is a dangerous threat to his new Empire, so…
…the INQUISITORS come in scene! Loyal enforcers of the Dark Lord of the Sith!
I have bought the Omnibus edition with the three original “Star Wars” movie novelizations but I’ve chosen this edition to mEverything, here begun!
I have bought the Omnibus edition with the three original “Star Wars” movie novelizations but I’ve chosen this edition to make a better focused review of each single book.
A LONG TIME AGO…
This is the novelization of that movie that a long time ago changed the way that Hollywood does films, maybe you have heard about it (unless of course, you have been frozen in carbonite for more than 40 years), since there is the far far away chance that you have never watched the movie, but definitely you must have heard about it!
Star Wars
It was known just like that, Star Wars, at the beginning, but with the incoming of the rest of movies, TV series, novels, comics, etc... soon enough, it turned to be known as Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.
But hey! Episode Four?! Then why am I beginning with the fourth episode in the series?!
Because it’s Star Wars…
…changing everything, even the way to tell stories (not to mention of re-inventing how the speciall effects would be done from then on).
And nowadays (2018) is more alive than ever!
OK, now, if you are of those frozen in carbonite and never having watched the movie, I warned you of NOT keep reading since there will be some kind of spoilers…
WHAT’S DIFFERENT IN THE BOOK THAN THE MOVIE?
Well, first of all, no, George Lucas didn’t write the book (and to have balance in the Force, no, Gene Roddenberry didn’t write Star Trek: The Motion Picture novelization neither), but what both books have in common is that they shared the same “ghost writer” (and no, it wasn’t a Force ghost!), Alan Dean Foster, known novelist, popular writer of novelizations, and a staple name in sci-fi literature.
But don’t make a revolution about it, since it’s obvious that good ol’ Georgie indeed made the script (after several drafts, at least four official ones, and maybe more unofficials), so Alan Dean Foster made the “translation” of the crude screenplay to a prose novel format, and I can tell you that it was a really good work, nothing to envy from any other prose novel out there.
So, what’s new in the prose novelization that there wasn’t in the movie (counting the Special Editions’ additions)?
Well, nothing much that relevant, I can mention the infamous scenes of Luke watching from ground with (some absurdly good) binoculars the space battle between Leia’s ship and Vader’s Imperial Destroyer; along with Luke’s conversation about it with his Tatooine’s young pals, including Biggs Darklighter.
Oh, and a cool comment by the X-Wing Leader saying that he flew along with Luke’s daddy (wink, wink), so he trusted that Luke must be as good as fighter pilot.
And that’s pretty much it,…
…BUT WAIT!!!
Also, Foster could correct some wide-known mistakes or polemic topics, like…
…C-3PO commenting that the Princess wouldn’t be able to escape this time and later saying that he didn’t know who was the girl in the hologram, now in the prose novel the reference is done about the ship’s captain that he would be the one not able to escape this time.
…droids weren’t allow to get aboard escape pods, so there is now logical that those good ol’ Imperial officers couldn’t conceive that any other kind of intelligent form were in what it seemed like an accidentally ejected escape pod.
…Darth Vader is mentioned as a Dark Lord of the Sith, while in the original movies, the term was never used, and it was untile the prequel trilogy that the term was widely coined.
…General Kenobi weren’t in direct service of Leia’s father, but the Old Republic.
…Han Solo shot first, oh yeah!
…Tarkin didn’t bother to go over to Dantooine, since even if it would be a real active Rebel Base, it would be too far away of the main space routes to serve as an effective visual testimony of the Death Star’s power to infuse fear in the Core Worlds of the Galactic Empire, so Alderaan was going to be the intended target not matter what.
…Han Solo argues how the heck Leia would be able to pay her rescue if she wasn’t rich anymore (lacking of a planet).
…Chewie got his medal, oh yeah!
And many other things, here and there.
Of course, also there are things that they are STILL WRONG due changes during the making of the movie, while good ol’ Alan was far far away, typing his novelization at home, like…
…it’s said that Leia’s consular ship was warned to stay away of the space sector where the Imperial Starfleet was dealing with the Rebel Spies (true, this is something rather new due Rogue One, but still I mention it, since it’s like an “obligation” of not respecting previous continuity, canon or not).
…there is an odd paragrah indicating that Darth Vader has been in service of more than one emperor, and while Palpatine is mentioned, it’s not said that he’s a Sith too.
…old Ben Kenobi doesn’t remember of being owner of astromech droids (poor R4-P17 and R4-G9 must be twisting of indignation in their graves (yes, I know, it was a prequel thing, but still)), and even there is problematic comment indicating that R2-D2 model is “too modern” for having being already in service during the old Clone Wars.
…more than a mistake, it’s quite odd that in the prose novelization, the scene of the Death Star firing against Alderaan isn’t developed, so you have to read “between lines” to understand that fact. Even Obi-Wan Kenobi didn’t feel in the Force the sudden death of all those billions of Alderaanians.
…the climax of the lightsaber battle between Obi-wan Kenobi and Darth Vader is too much vague and you can’t get what really happened at the end of it.
…the stuff made by the Red Team in the movie, it’s done in the book by the Blue Team (besides the thing with Rogue One, this was a forced change while filming the movie, since the blue screen was troublesome to work with X-Wing maquettes painted with blue stripes). The Gold Team is referenced as simple Yellow, Also there is mention of a Green Team.
I bought some of the comic book issues of this storyline, but I wasn’t able to get the ones from “Doctor Aphra” title. I’ve chosScreamin’ goooood!
I bought some of the comic book issues of this storyline, but I wasn’t able to get the ones from “Doctor Aphra” title. I’ve chosen this TPB edition to make a better overall review.
The story is set after the events of “Star Wars IV: A New Hope” but before the events of “Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back”. This TPB edition contains from the titles of “Star Wars: Screaming Citadel” #1 (one-shot), “Star Wars” #31-32 and “Star Wars: Doctor Aphra” #7-8 in its new Marvel Canonic run.
Creative Team:
Writers: Keiron Gillen & Jason Aaron
Illustrators: Marco Checchetto, Salvador Larroca & Andrea Broccardo
CROSSOVER IS STRONG IN THIS ONE!
In the spirit of previous crossovers like Vader Down, which tied the titles of Star Wars with the first run of Darth Vader, now it’s up to Star Wars to share a storyline with Doctor Aphra, publishing a one-shot to serve as introduction to the crossover storyline (in the same as with Vader Down).
The artists on the introductory one-shot and the regular Star Wars titles were quite awesome. It was on Doctor Aphra that while it was kinda an improvement compared with the previous artist responsible of the issues from #1 to #6, Broccardo, the new artist, still was kinda pale compared with Larroca and even Checchetto.
MAY THE SCREAMING BE WITH YOU!!!
Luke has a problem.
Aphra has a problem.
And maybe, just maybe, both can solve each other problem.
Luke wants to learn to use the Force but lacks of a teacher.
Aphra wants to actívate the IA crystal (with the memory imprint of an ancient Jedi-like master) that got from her previous adventure.
And providence may give both a chance…
…since the annual event of the Queen of Ktath’atn is about to happen!
The absolute ruler of the Citadel of Ktath’atn (that it can be translated as Screaming Citadel) makes a yearly party for one night only where if somebody can bring her an organic oddity, she will concede whatever they want.
So, the mischief plan of Dr. Aphra is present Luke Skywalker to the queen (being a Jedi after the massive purge is certainly an oddity nowadays in the galaxy) and for that ask for the activation of the ancient crystal that since it encloses the memories of a Jedi-like master, it could teach to Luke what he still lacks about the Force.
And everybody wins! Right?
Well, nothing is that easy and simple when Dr. Aphra is involved!
Not matter that Luke knows how risky is to trust in Aprha, he agrees to the plan since he doesn’t have much other options to find a Jedi teacher (if only he knows about certain little green guy at Dagobah).
Luke aboards the Ark Angel II, along with Dr. Aprha, 0-0-0 (Triple Zero), BT-1 (Bee-tee One) and Black Krrsantan, obviously without telling anything to his Rebel companions…
…but soon enough Princess Leia, Han Solo and Sana (an old acquaintance of Han’s) found out that Luke left with Aphra,...
...and Sana guess that it’s too coincidental that all this mess happened just in the day of the annual event of the Queen of Ktath’atn (that I found odd that Leia didn’t know anything about that queen and her yearly party, and she keeps asking questions about it to Sana, after all, Leia was the Princess of Alderaan, maybe she wouldn’t be interested to attend before, but she should hear about that royalty-related event).
What nobody knows is that the beautiful and enigmatic Queen of Ktath’atn possess a secret so dangerous that even the Empire woud get nervous if word would goes out.
Our favorite rebel scum against an insidious queen and…
It’s highly recommended to watch the TV episode “The Conscience of the King” from “Star Trek: The OrigiThe sequel to “The Conscience of the King”!
It’s highly recommended to watch the TV episode “The Conscience of the King” from “Star Trek: The Original Series.
And if you like this novel, I can suggest to check "Star Trek: Discovery - Drastic Measures" by Dayton Ward, since it's a prequel related to Kodos, the Executioner.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE DAUGHTER
A young James T. Kirk was spared to be part of the 4,000 people murdered in Tarsus IV due an insane drastic measure taken by the Governor Adrian Kodos to deal with an unexpected hunger crisis due an out-of-control fungus plague in all food crops, reserves and even processors, since it was thought that Starfleet wouldn’t be able to arrive with supplies on time.
But James Kirk not only was spared but also he was able to look the face of the mysterious and seclusive, newly appointed governor, Kodos, along with other kids and inhabitants, where Thomas Leighton was a close friend of Kirk, and Kevin Riley, there were quite a few, but all were able to indentify Kodos if necessary, but since Kodos was declared dead after the Starfleet manhunt organized against the mad governor, that seemed not necessary…
…but was it Kodos really dead?
Year later of the traumatic event, James T. Kirk became Captain of the USS Enterprise, Thomas Leighton, a medical doctor in the Planet Q, and Kevin Riley, a Starfleet officer at the USS Enterprise under command of Kirk.
But the doubt about that Kodos was really dead surged again…
…and the murders surged again.
Kodos found a cruel twist of poetic justice and his daughter, Lenore Karidian, interned in a Federation psychiatric facility.
Now, years later of that second event about Kodos, right after the rocky maiden voyage of the USS Enterprise – NCC-1701-A dealing with the rogue Vulcan, Sybok, half-brother of Spock,…
…Captain James T. Kirk is assigned to assist Federation Ambassador Kevin Riley to mediate peace conferences between Pavak and Oyolo, two worlds in the same solar system, non-Federation but both asked the arbitration of the UFP to find a way to end a war between those two worlds.
In the middle of the Federation relief workers, there is a woman named “Lyla Kassidy” but…
…she isn’t other than Lenore Karidian!
And the murders surged again!
SCI-FI DETECTIVE TALE
This is a great Star Trek story since not only a sci-fi tale but also a detective novel since Captain James T. Kirk has murders performed in his own vessel and he needs to solve them as soon as possible if there is any chance to find a longing peace between Pavak and Oyolo.
Of course, you have to keep in mind that this is above all a Star Trek novel so…
…the who and how won’t be so easy to deduce.
The USS Enterprise-A crew is exploited in a good way where everybody has a moment to shine, Sulu and Uhura are maybe the less used, but even they have their fair share of spotlight in the narrative.
Spock and Scotty are in an away mission related to the peace talks, and they will have to deal with an insidious operation related to the murders aboard the Enterprise-A.
Meanwhile, Chekov as Security Chief is under pressure to conduct an investigation in the middle of a volatile diplomatic situation, along with the assistance of Dr. McCoy in the medical affairs of the murders and Kirk, as responsible of everything happened on his starship.
During the narrative you have priceless comments about iconic moments at the The Original Series, and even some amusing glimpses of the following The Undiscovered Country film.
The surviving diplomats, Kevin Riley, and obviously Lenore Karidian, everyone can be a suspect, and everyone could have an angle of benefit to the murders…
…but the whole peace future of an entire solar system is in the balance!...more
It’s recommended to watch the TV episode “The Conscience of the King” from “Star Trek: The Original SeriAn untold story in Star Trek finally told!
It’s recommended to watch the TV episode “The Conscience of the King” from “Star Trek: The Original Series.
A DARK MOMENT FINALLY TOLD
While most Trekkers (or Trekkies) are familiriazed with popular villains like Khan Noonien Singh or the Borg Queen (massively exposed thanks to theatrical films), sometimes, other villains like Kodos the Executioner isn´t remembered not matter that he was responsible of the mass murder of 4,000 humans in a single night…
…meet the Tarsus Crisis!
The story of this novel is based on the events developed in the TV episode “The Conscience of the King” of Star Trek: The Original Series, where it’s told about a crisis suffered in the past of the life of James T. Kirk, but several details of that said crisis weren’t totally explained…
…and here you are finally able to read about them!
Using two of the main characters of the new Star Trek: Discovery, Gabriel Lorca and Philippa Georgiou, set 10 years before of the beginning of the mentioned new TV series. You’ll get cool cameos of a young James T. Kirk and Captain Robert April, where it’s confirmed that Star Trek: Discovery is set in the original timeline, and not in the newer Kelvin Timline (Abramsverse), since it’s confirmed that George Kirk is still alive and serving duty at Starfleet.
TO EAT OR NOT TO EAT
Tarsus IV, was a human colony, with 2,000 inhabitants, boldly living far away from the core of the Federation, but still part of it. However, when another colony established in other world which suffered a cataclysmic disaster, the Federation needs to relocate 6,000 people to Tarsus IV, and while several scientific studies were done to avoid any incompability with the resources taken from the doomed planet, and even without knowing for certain if that was even a factor…
…the true thing was that Tarsus IV was suffering of a devastating fungus plague which was contaminating all crops in Tarsus IV, along with food storages and food processors, and it was imminent that the whole population will suffer from hunger…
…obviously the Federation and Starfleet will do everything at their dispossal to senda aid, but…
…Tarsus IV was just too far away, even for 23rd Century Warp Technology, and it seemed that the few food supplies without contamination won’t be able to cover the whole population at Tarsus IV, before the first Starfleet vessels would arrive there…
…but maybe it would suffice to cover HALF the population!
WANTED: KODOS THE EXECUTIONER
The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
The human civilization reached an utopian status in the future…
…but that was done thanks to eradicate diseases and famine…
…so, when a plague and hunger returned…
…old dark habits are back too…
…especially if the true government is disolved and a new governor rises offering a…
…final solution.
Lt. Cmdr. Gabriel Lorca is in command of the Starfleet Outpost in Tarsus IV, and suddenly is under attack by the very people that he was supposed to assist…
…Cmdr. Philippa Georgiou is waiting for her next starship assignment, so she is temporarily posted in the USS Narbonne, a colony support vessel, where Capt. Aurobindo Korrapati is determined to reach Tarsus IV the sooner as possible…
…Lorca and Georgiou soon will know about the insidious massacre in Tarsus IV…
…to unite efforts to hunt down the monster in human skin responsible of something that was supposed to be unthinkable in a Federation colony.
However, Kodos is one of the more cunning criminals that Starfleet has ever faced, since if his very first act was giving the order to kill 4,000 people…
…which will be his next acts?!
Finally, one of the darkest moments in Federation history is told in detail.
This is a special re-print, under the “DC Comics Essentials” label, of the comic book issue “Batman” #655.
Creative Team:Holy unknown sons, Batman!
This is a special re-print, under the “DC Comics Essentials” label, of the comic book issue “Batman” #655.
Creative Team:
Writer: Grant Morrison
Illustrator: Andy Kubert
ENTER: DAMIAN WAYNE
DC Comics Essentials is a special DC publication that each time it’s chosen a character and they re-print the #1 comic book issues of iconic storylines of that character that in this ocassion was Batman (back then 2014 (but until now I got this issue and I still haven’t the TPB, so I thought that it was a good idea to buy this one in particular)), also you have in the issue, a list of DC Comics Essentials readings for Batman and DC Universe too, along with 25 Top List of DC Comics Essentials Graphic Novels.
Damian Wayne is one of the most known “new” characters in DC Comics and certainly he has been always matter of polemic between those who like him (like me) and those whom don’t like him.
Like I said, I like him, I don’t know if it’s a justification or not, but in my defense (not as if I’d need the approval of anybody to like any character, thank you very much) I “met” the character not through this introductory storyline (while, obviously I have heard about him, through articles and fellow comic book readers) but…
…actually thanks to the run of Batman & Robin where Bruce Wayne was “dead” (actually lost in time, geez!) and therefore Dick Grayson, after the Battle of the Mantle, took the Batman persona, keeping Damian Wayne as his Robin. So, since their interaction was more like “brothers” than “dad and son”, I enjoyed how Damian was helping (without being conscious) to keep focused to Dick, in a role that Grayson wasn’t comfortable with, since one thing is being a Robin, even Nightwing, and totally other being Batman.
Anyway…
…in this introductory issue, you have Bruce Wayne that Alfred is warning him that the thin line that separates the playboy millionaire and the grimm vigilante is dissapearing and obviously is the Batman one that it’s winning the tide, BUT the public “created image” of Bruce Wayne is relevant to avoid anybody to guess that Bruce Wayne and Batman are one and the same (without adding the need of “Bruce Wayne” to keep a teeny weeny bit a little sane the mind of him).
Meanwhile, Talia al Ghul has insidious plans against Batman, involving Kirk Langstrom and his “Man-Bat formula”, along with a shadowy glimpse making the introduction of the infamous Damian Wayne to the readers (still not yet to Bruce Wayne in this first issue of the stoyline).
Batman AND Bruce Wayne’s lives wouldn’t be the same anymore!...more
This is a special reprint, under the label of “True Believers”, of “X-Men” #30.
Creative Team:
Writer: Fabian You’re cordially invited to read this!
This is a special reprint, under the label of “True Believers”, of “X-Men” #30.
Creative Team:
Writer: Fabian Nicieza
Illustrator: Andy Kubert & Matt Ryan
THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST…
True Believers is a special Marvel publication that each time it’s chosen a character and they re-print many of the most iconic comic book issues of that character and in tie-in with the Phoenix Resurrection event, Jean Grey aka Phoenix logically resulted the chosen character this time.
It’s kinda a curious feeling to read this nowadays (2018) when you know how resulted the lives of Scott Summers aka Cyclops and Jean Grey aka Phoenix after this beautiful wedding.
It’s kinda sad since it’s undeniable that Scott Summers and Jean Grey are of those “perfect couples” in popular culture. I like a lot Emma Frost and she generated a different but still interesting to read, relationship with Scott, while it lasted too.
However, Scott & Jean were like Buffy & Angel, Rachel & Ross, Lois & Clark, Han & Leia, Reed & Susan, Eleven & Mike, Tris & Four; that you know that all they had their own troubles (which relationship doesn’t?) and even there were break-ups and they tried with other people, some got together again, some didn’t, but even the very point that I didn’t need to use last names with each couple (with the understanding that you’d be familiarized with the material) is that the unión of those two first names on each couple have become so perfect that you doesn’t need last name to know for certain about which couple I am talking about on each case; of course there are some exception where curiously enough due their unique kind of relationships, they’ve been identified through their last last names like Mulder & Scully or Riker & Troi,…
…and it’s that many of us are in love with the concept of that perfect couple that once they’d tie the knot, they would be happily ever after…
…sadly, life doesn’t work like that in many cases, and due that art must imitate life (yes, I’m aware that I am getting backwards) since not matter if there are fictional aspects in narratives like mutants (as in this particular example), you need an anchor of reality, of normal stuff, on any kind of story to be able of sympathize with it…
…and in this case, we have a wedding.
A wonderful wedding, where the super-hero stuff is kept at bay to give way to all those details and moments that people experience always in the day of the wedding.
Not only members of the main X-Men team were there, but also members of the Government-sanctioned X-Force, along with other mutants with strong ties to the happy couple, all of them, not matter if there were bloodties or not, indeed…
…family.
And certainly, it’s not everyday that you have in a wedding, two offspring of the to-be-married couple, already grown-ups, while the couple are still young (Rachel Summers and Cable (that besides of being from the future, they are from two different timelines, if I’m not mistaken!).
This is a special reprint, part of the “True Believers” title.
Creative Team:
Writer: Mary Jo Duffy
IllustratPhoenix rises in an alternate dimension!
This is a special reprint, part of the “True Believers” title.
Creative Team:
Writer: Mary Jo Duffy
Illustrator: Jerry Bingham
BEWARE THE PHOENIX!
True Believers is a special Marvel publication that each time it’s chosen a character and they re-print many of the most iconic comic book issues of that character and in tie-in with the Phoenix Resurrection event, Jean Grey aka Phoenix logically resulted the chosen character this time (actually I bought some other True Believers issues too and I’ll review them in following days).
What if? was an awesome title of Marvel that some years ago, they were publishing astonishing tales exploring what could happened if some iconic moments of Marvel Universe would resulted in a different way and therefore, the events after that change would evolve in a whole new way. What if? was so successful and well received by fans that even some of those storyline that weren’t canon at first, later they were taken by creative team looking for ideas for their titles, resulting to become canon some of them.
In this issue, it’s explored what could happened if Jean Grey aka Phoenix hadn’t died while saving the X-Men on their return from space after their first encounter with the Shi’ar Empire.
Therefore, in this alternate dimension tale, Phoenix survived the impact and she remained as a member of the X-Men but without powers, and also with a change in her usual personalitiy, due the Shi’ar medical experimentation to avoid the threat of the Phoenix Force to the universe.
Hardly a spoiler, you can bet that Jean Grey won’t remain powerless for much time, and here, you’ll read about what shocking aftermath would result of that.
You may think that so what with this? If Jean Great returned after all, later in X-Men titles,..
…Aaaah!
But timing is everything!…
…and you’ll be witness of how disastrous could be if she wouldn’t died (at least for some time) but remain very much alive in that particular moment of X-Men history.
This is one-shot comic book, serving as tie-in to “Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi”, set after of “Star Wars: EpiThe first visit to Crait!
This is one-shot comic book, serving as tie-in to “Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi”, set after of “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” but before of “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back”.
Creative Team:
Writers: Ben Acker & Ben Blacker
Illustrator: Mike Mayhew
VISIT CRAIT! IT’S CHEAP!
In this one-shot comic book, you get the first visit by the Rebel Alliance to the planet Crait which is a key scenario in the film of Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi.
The Rebels have just blow up the fearsome Death Star but in the process their base in Yavin 4 got compromised and now they are in urgent need to look for a new world to settle their operations.
Princess Leia exposed some options for the new place of the Rebel base to Mon Mothma but each option is objected, so at the end Leia commented about Crait, a former mining planet that Trusk Berinato (an acquaintance of Bail Organa but with dubious trust), but since there aren’t any other options at the table, reluctantly Mon Motham authorized a survey mission to Leia…
…who assembled her team with Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca and Wedge Antilles, along with a small contingent of Rebel soldiers too.
While Luke isn’t thrilled to go to a desert-like planet (too much like Tattoine), it’s undeniable that he possess the technical knowledge to evaluate the real chances to settle a new Rebel base at Crait, so Leia put him in field command of the mission (while Leia kept a general supervision of the mission, serving as direct contact to talk to Trusk Berinato).
A canonical tale set in the era of the classic movie trilogy and also serving as a tie-in of the newest (2017) episode in the sequel movie trilogy.
This is the comic book issue #3 of the event “Doomsday Clock” that it will be a maxiseries of 12 issues.
Creative Team:
Writer: GeoffWorlds collide!
This is the comic book issue #3 of the event “Doomsday Clock” that it will be a maxiseries of 12 issues.
Creative Team:
Writer: Geoff Johns
Illustrator: Gary Frank
THE PLOT THICKENS
I am aware of too many comic book fans that think that it’s heresy to read a sequel to Watchmen not written by Alan Moore, and I have to admit that I was between those at first, but luckily I gave it a chance to the maxiseries, and trust me, you won’t find a better fan of Alan Moore in my country (Costa Rica), I have read a LOT of Moore’s material (just check my “Read List” on my Goodreads profile) and even when I was giving a chance to Doomsday Clock, I guess that at the bottom of my mind, I was sure that this new maxiseries won’t be as good as the original one…
…well, I am not so sure anymore.
Let’s not fight over if this new maxiseries would be better than the revered Watchmen, since even in my own very personal humble opinion about Moore’s work, I think that V for Vendetta is his truly opera prima, bute ven considering that this new maxiseries would accomplish the preposterous effort of placing side by side with the still considered the best comic book story ever, along with being a sequel to that very storyline not done by the original creative team…
…well, it’s obvious that it has be too far-fetched.
However, in this third issue, Geoff Johns is showing that he did his homework, he read the original material, but even more crucial, he watched and understood how Alan Moore delivered it to the readers, how the original writer set the many different pieces, here and there,…
…and more important, without falling into a poor copy, but honestly presenting a truly inspired and respectful sequel, totally worthy to be read and enjoyed.
Because Watchmen never was only about a shattered super-hero team, but the storytelling was enforced by separated prose material, delivered it along with each chapter that it was as relevant as the narrative exposed in a graphic way. And Geoff Johns understood that and he’s plotting his own prose material that it’s delightful to read.
Alan Moore will remain as my number one comic book writer, but certainly I am honestly pleased to find that Geoff Johns isn’t just doing a commercial approach just to sell comic books and make money, but definitely a real work of smart writing, adding new interesting characters to the lore of Watchmen.
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