The Star Wars #1
Over its thirty plus years of rich history, Star Wars has been watched, loved, loathed, tampered, re-mastered, re-cut, dumbed down, grown up, and even played. It’s a saga known the world over and unarguably the most familiar and successful franchise in the world. So what else can we do with this beast eh? Well, the fine folks over at Dark Horse got together to bring us a very special treat and something both casual fans and die-hards can love.
The Star Wars is the comic adaptation of George Lucas’ first rough-draft. While the spirit of Star Wars is still there, this original vision offers us a new and unexplored galaxy to play in. As a die-hard Star Wars fan myself, it was exciting to see the original story set in an alternative galaxy. Think of it as ‘Star Wars: Earth 2’ and you’ll see what I mean. Luke Skywalker is an adult, Darth Vader has a face, and we are introduced to a new bad-ass Jedi, excuse me , Jedi-Bendu, by the name of Kane Starkiller. Yea, yea, George still isn’t the greatest at names, but c’mon, it was 1974. While the plot seems to mirror episode IV fairly closely, it’s the new changes and characters that make the story fresh and fulfilling. By the end of the issue I was ready for more and I feel like I haven’t been this excited for a new Star Wars property in years and that’s saying a lot.
Mike Mayhew’s art is exquisite and timeless. Each page seems like it has been lifted out of Drew Struzan’s portfolio and Mayhew’s admiration for the famed, hand-drawn posters of yesteryear shows. Mayhew also has an incredible knack for the dramatics. As fists pound and lightsabers swing, one can easily empathize with the characters and follow the plot without even using the script.
The Star Wars #1 is a timeless tale and a refreshing addition to the franchise. Here’s hoping this alternative universe springboards into its own saga. But with the groundwork laid here, it’s safe to assume some wheels are already in motion.
The Star Wars #1
Script: J.W. Rinzler
Art: Mike Mayhew
Colours: Rain Beredo
Lettering: Michael Heisler
Cover(s): Nick Runge, Jan Duursema and Douglas Wheatley
Publisher: Mike Richardson for Dark Horse Comics
The Star Wars is the comic adaptation of George Lucas’ first rough-draft. While the spirit of Star Wars is still there, this original vision offers us a new and unexplored galaxy to play in. As a die-hard Star Wars fan myself, it was exciting to see the original story set in an alternative galaxy. Think of it as ‘Star Wars: Earth 2’ and you’ll see what I mean. Luke Skywalker is an adult, Darth Vader has a face, and we are introduced to a new bad-ass Jedi, excuse me , Jedi-Bendu, by the name of Kane Starkiller. Yea, yea, George still isn’t the greatest at names, but c’mon, it was 1974. While the plot seems to mirror episode IV fairly closely, it’s the new changes and characters that make the story fresh and fulfilling. By the end of the issue I was ready for more and I feel like I haven’t been this excited for a new Star Wars property in years and that’s saying a lot.
Mike Mayhew’s art is exquisite and timeless. Each page seems like it has been lifted out of Drew Struzan’s portfolio and Mayhew’s admiration for the famed, hand-drawn posters of yesteryear shows. Mayhew also has an incredible knack for the dramatics. As fists pound and lightsabers swing, one can easily empathize with the characters and follow the plot without even using the script.
The Star Wars #1 is a timeless tale and a refreshing addition to the franchise. Here’s hoping this alternative universe springboards into its own saga. But with the groundwork laid here, it’s safe to assume some wheels are already in motion.
The Star Wars #1
Script: J.W. Rinzler
Art: Mike Mayhew
Colours: Rain Beredo
Lettering: Michael Heisler
Cover(s): Nick Runge, Jan Duursema and Douglas Wheatley
Publisher: Mike Richardson for Dark Horse Comics
A Look Inside
