Comic Book Journal

Star Wars comics have been in operation roughly as long as the movies, first published by Marvel Comics during the time of the original trilogy’s debut, and then offering refreshing glimpses into the expanded universe after Dark Horse Comics set up shop and took over the franchise.

However, the Expanded Universe doesn’t run on comics alone, and in addition to the often Lucas-saunctioned fan film creations, books both literary and comics stretch from 25,000 years before the original Star Wars trilogy all the way to 100 years after.

Unfortunately, the books and the comics don’t cross paths nearly enough in my opinion. The books move faster and faster, adding on years and years to our favorite characters, while the comics seem more apt at development within the comfortable monthly time frame.

Below is a list for the best ideas from the books which haven’t recieved any or nearly enough play in the comics.

10. Yuuzhan Vong - Okay, these guys already got a lot of play in the John Ostrander-written comic Star Wars: Legacy (not a History Channel documentary). But they really should have gotten more comic book play after the Chewbacca mini-series, a post-mortem look at our favorite Wookie, who ultimately sacrificed himself against the then-worlds-conquering Vong. The villainous Vong are religious extremist with a penchant for bio-terrorism. The problem is exploration of their culture is best explored visually. The books throw so much terminology with so little descriptions that sometimes its hard to remember exactly what these things look like. Also, only a few benign Vong show up over the course of The New Jedi Order - only to disappear into the background.

9. Lowbacca - Here’s a fresh caveat straight from comics: if you’re going to kill a well-known hero off, you better have someone to replace him or her, even if that someone is the Punisher. And you can bet your blaster that applies to Chewbacca. The loveable Wookie may have bit it during The New Jedi Order, but to date, neither Dark Horse nor Del Rey has done much as of late to develop Chewie’s nephew Lowbacca. C’mon guys, he’s a Jedi and a Wookie! That’s just all kinds of cool waiting to happen! Though the books did well to introduce and distinguish him within the Jedi Academy, he’s dropped off the radar as of late. Honestly, there’s really one last thing Lowie needs to do - take his uncle’s place in the Millennium Falcon. Han was understandably admant about allowing Lowbacca to do so, but if audiences were to latch onto him in the comics as they have done in the books, I think this is one place the passing of the torch would be appreciated.

8. HK-47 - This isn’t actually someone who apppeared in the books, but rather, someone who appeared in the video games and desperately requires a comic book appearance. Probably the best part of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, HK here is the Deadpool of droids, loyally requesting to exterminate “meat bags” on his Master’s behalf. One of most popular figures for gamers, HK-47 has an usually long lifespan for droid, stretching in some form or another from the Old Republic through the original trilogy. Its clear bits and pieces of his escapades will continue to be fleshed out in the video games, but let’s speed up the process a bit - given him a comic series or two. Team him up with IG-88 or Boba Fett and you’ve got a hit on your hands.

7. Ben Skywalker - Basically, its Lowbacca all over again. The Expanded Universe is moving so quickly that some characters seem to be getting the shaft, namely this little guy - the son of Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade. He’s a major character in the mythology, but with Luke Skywalker moving closer and closer to over-the-hill, and Ostrander’s Star Wars: Legacy centering around another descendant named Cade Skywalker, this guy seems to be the missing link between the two. This isn’t to say Ben is blatantly ignored - he plays a large role in the ongoing Star Wars: Legacy of the Force novels. But seeing as how he kicked major Sith butt in the non-canonical Star Wars Tales, it seems a given he should keep on appearing in the comics. Of course, there is a minor possibility that Ben could be the engimatic Darth Krayt - the Sith plaguing Cade all along in Legacy is rumored to be someone we know - but come on, how lame will that sound? “Cade . . . Cade . . . I am your GREAT-GREAT-GRAND-father!”

6. Anakin Solo - If ever there was a character who desperately needed a comic book mini-series, it was definitely Anakin Solo. Not to be confused with his whiney prequel counterpart, Anakin Solo, youngest son of Leia and Han Solo, died basically because George Lucas feared two Anakins in completely different time periods would cause confusion. Anakin Solo was in many ways the perfect reinvention of his flawed grandfather, and in fact, whiney farmboy uncle. Smart, stubborn and self-sacraficing, Anakin Solo is one character who deserves a bigger mention, especially in comics. Considering Chewbacca died saving this kid, you would think more stories would be written about him. But far too often, Anakin is relegated to dreams, shadows and starship and AI names. He’s far too quickly becoming both the forgotten and fallen hero, and comics are certainly one way to change that.

5. Dash Rendar - Okay, first off, who’s going to say “No” to a guy named Dash Rendar? That’s probably the hands-down coolest moniker since Han Solo. Dash Rendar is the main focus of Shadows of the Empire - probably the best Star Wars development of the 90’s (which certainly wasn’t Greedo shooting first) - a fresh perspective to the time between Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. The character already appeared in comic form in the comic tie-in of the same name, but it is probably best remembered, like HK-47, for his video game appearance in the Nintendo 64 game. Surviving supposed death in the ending of Shadows, Rendar has appeared sporadically since then, with a sparse mention in New Jedi Order being his most recent impact. But with a fresh perspective needed on the Star Wars saga, Rendar is certainly the go-to-guy in this field. Much like Ghost Rider demonstrated at the box office, 90’s characters can have quite a pull with audiences, and Rendar is one to consider in revitalizing the franchise both before and after the original trilogy.

4.Young Jedi Knights - With Lowbacca, Ben Skywalker and Anakin Solo already ranking in the Top 10, this was a given. The Jedi Academy is given most detail in the Young Jedi Knights series by Kevin J. Anderson. The books focused on the Jedi education of Jacen and Jania Solo, twin children of Han and Leia, as well as their frequent interaction with a variety of famous Star Wars figures, ranging from the remnants of the Empire to bounty hunters. Though Young Jedi Knights was a stellar series, the remainder of the Solo children’s youth and subsequent adulthood should have been covered in the comics, as the The New Jedi Order and Star Wars: Legacy of the Force showed the twins getting progressively older and older in between books. If the current trend continues, they’ll be middle aged by the time the series ends (assuming they’re still alive. Things are particularly bleak for one Solo child). Though all three aformentioned series do an admirable job depicting and developing Jacen and Jania, the twin’s contrasting duality as well as their wide variety of classmates requires a visual depiction here. Plus, the slower timeframe allowed by comics lets readers actually enjoy watching the characters grow up over the course of years - instead of aging them drastically over in a span of months!

3. Star Wars Infinities - As was the case for Ultimates to Marvel, Star Wars Infinities is a comic book solution for a galaxy growing steadily too cold and distant. The original comic book series centered around alternate realities within the original trilogy - what if Luke hadn’t destroyed the Death Star, what if Luke died on Hoth or what if the plan to rescue Han Solo fell apart? I think Infinites will probably be re-organized to deal with What If’s surronding the prequels, but I think there are plenty of other uses for Infinities as well. The most interesting, I think, is a revamp of Expanded Universe, using similar characters in alternate format ala Ultimates. Of course this is all just idle speculation on my part, but one of the things I liked so much about the Ultimate line was it gave readers an alternative when things went poorly in regular continunity. Given how dark things are getting in both Legacies and Legacy of the Force, I think this is a viable option.

2. The Fett Clan - Boba Fett is like the Wolverine of Star Wars: deadly, mysterious and insanely popular. But Boba Fett’s own family tree is just as ripe for comic book adaptaion. Boba Fett’s daughter, Ailyn Vel, was born in the space between Episode III and IV. Ailyn spent her life tracking her father, and even wore Fett’s armor for a time. Sadly, by the time Fett started looking for her in the current Legacy of the Force books, it was too late, and she was killed during an interogation by Jacen Solo (see what I mean by bleak?) However, Bloodlines ends with Boba Fett reunited with Ailyn Vel’s conspirator - her own daughter Mirta Gev, making her Fett’s grand-daughter. Since Boba Fett is last seen settling down, it seems unlikely that the pair will resurface, at least in Legacies of the Force. Doesn’t this prevent the perfect lead-in for a comic book series? Boba Fett, already probably the most popular Star Wars figure in comicdom, trains and passes the torch to his scrappy granddaughter, leading to the birth of a completely new bounty hunter? Given all the strife and terror going on in the galaxy right now, there’s plenty of story to cover, and possibly a mention of the Fett Clan’s ultimate fate in Ostrander’s Legacies would seal the deal. In other terms, think of it like Million Dollar Baby meets Stephanie Plum - a touching yet hilarious account of a bad-ass bounty hunter’s own legacy.

1. 501st Legion - This Legion of infamous Stormtroopers has been around since the beginning, but the group first caught my attention in Timothy Zahn’s Survivor’s Quest, when a fire team of the Empire’s best were dispatch to back up Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade in a mission to a space station. This is the great thing about the 501st and about the Stormtroopers in general - they appear as both allies and adversaries. The 501st - dubbed Vader’s Fist - have appeared throughout the movies, comics and books, but these guys (in the end, girls) need a series of their own, one that walks from one end of the Star Wars mythos (The Clone Wars) to the other (the current Legacies). Think of it as an in-cannon Star Wars Tales with a rotating cast of comic’s Who’s Who penning the monthly adventures of the 501st in a different era each time. One story arc could find them alongside Obi Wan Kenobi in the Clone Wars, another by Thrawn and yet another by Emperor Fel. There’s plenty of fresh territory to include, such as the interaction between clones and human Stormtroopers, the inclusion of females and aliens to the ranks, and the eventual team-up between the New Republic and the Imperial Remnant in face of common enemies. George Lucas really surprised me in “Attack of the Clones” - by making the clones themselves, well, really cool. Now its time to take it to the next level - and give the Stormies their due.