FAMILYFANS Books & Comics

STAR WARS DARK TIMES #4: A Jedi Falls

by Welles Hartley, Mick Harrison, and Douglas Wheatley

(Dark Horse)

Reader Appeal: Youth to Young Adults

Genre: Science Fiction Comic

We’ve come a long way from the cutesy Star Wars: Droids comics that Marvel published in the 1980s. If you’re a Star Wars nerd of any kind, or happen to know one, you’ll know that Dark Horse Comics had breathed new life into the graphical adaptations of the Star Wars universe with a whole slew of series covering everything from ancient past to the ongoing future. And the good news is, these new comics are actually pretty good.

The Dark Times plotline is one I haven’t personally been following, but that’s OK, since the writers saw fit to include an introduction and recap of the previous issue on the first page of each issue. Long story short, the Empire is hunting down the Jedi, and Jedi Master Dass Jenir is doing what he can to avoid them. Along the way, he happens to come upon enslaved aliens and sets about to rescue the daughter of one that he has befriended. The problem is, he can’t free the slaves without blowing his cover (he is on the run, after all), and he can’t think of any way to expedite the process of recovering his friend’s daughter without breaking the Jedi Code (non-aggression and so on). He’s caught between a rock and a hard place. So what’s a Jedi to do?

All in all, this is a pretty cerebral issue. The idea is familiar and is a staple of Star Wars fiction: moral dilemma + Jedi = problems. But, even though it’s familiar grounds, it’s handled pretty well here and you can really understand why Dass Jenir is in such a pickle and why he chooses to do what he does. Even without knowing his back story, it’s easy to grasp the basic conflict that drives this issue, and it’s an interesting and enjoyable story. If you’re in the mood for discussion, you could have a really interesting talk about making tough moral choices based on this comic, all the better because there are no easy answers in this story.

Art is, in my opinion, one of the strengths of the Dark Horse lines, and this comic is no exception. The colors are very atmospheric and the drawings are very detailed and dynamic. The style is a little artsy and sometimes the artist seems to be having a bit too much fund drawing sexy alien women, but the characters look very organic and lifelike, which is admirable in a science fiction comic.

I’m pleased to say that there aren’t too many negatives in this comic, compared to some Dark Horse franchises, and the moral framework of the story is pretty good. However, it can’t be denied that focus of this story is the main character’s willingness of compromise his beliefs and values in ways that seem heartless, self-serving, and callous. His fall is meant to be a bad thing, though, and in fact it’s the moral dilemma that makes this issue so interesting. And even though this story is a familiar one in the Star Wars universe, to be honest, it comes off as more complex and more believable than the fall of Anakin Skywalker in the most recent Star Wars movie. Be aware before you buy this comic for yourself or your kids, though, the violence and sensuality (of some of the characters) is a bit less cartoonish than in some comics.

All in all, this was a pretty good comic. I really think you need to read the whole series to get the most out of it, but it seems to be a pretty solid series. Older readers will get a lot out of the complex conflicts and the beautiful art, but younger readers might not quite be ready for it.

FAMILYFANS RATING: B+

AFTER THE STORY (optional)

If your family members are interested in this comic, then encourage discussion about it afterward. You can use these questions to get started:

• Should Dass Jennir have freed the slaves? Why or why not? Why do you think he chose not the free them, because it was best for them or because he needed to escape?

• Was it OK for Dass Jennir to kill the slaver to save Greenbark’s daughter? Were there any other options he could have taken?

• Is it OK to do things that compromise your beliefs and moral values in order to achieve good ends? Why or why not? What does this comic seem to imply the end result will be?

--MV

Note: All book or comics-related graphics in this column are standard publicity/promotional shots and are owned by their respective publisher.