Star Wars Legends Project #72

Background:

Republic: Outlander was released in 6 issues from June to November 1999, with the trade paperback coming out in April 2001. It was written by Timothy Truman and drawn by Tom Raney, Rod Pereira, Rick Leonardi, and Al Rio. Truman has written many issues in the Republic series and a ton of Conan comics. Raney is better known for his Marvel work. Pereira did parts of the first and third issues of Outlander. Leonardi did the 2nd and 4th issues and has worked for both Marvel and DC. Rio did the 5th and 6th issues and has a varied resume in comics. Outlander is set shortly after the Battle of Naboo, 32 years before the Battle of Yavin, and follows Jedi Ki-Adi-Mundi on his first mission after joining the Jedi Council. Most of the story takes place on Tatooine, with appearances by Aurra Sing, Jabba, and Gardulla.

Summary:

On Tatooine, the Tusken Raiders have united under a new leader and are attacking settlements. Weapons dealers are flocking to the planet, and war seems imminent. The Tusken leader has a lightsaber that belonged to a missing Jedi. The Jedi Council sends Ki-Adi-Mundi to deal with the situation, but he faces many challenges, including Tusken war bands, Krayt Dragons, scheming Hutts, and bounty hunters.

Review:

My expectations for this comic were low, but they were largely unfounded. The creative team did a great job. Ki is better drawn and has a more likable personality, although there are some inconsistencies. The artwork is spectacular, with great attention to detail and a cinematic feel at times. The storytelling is the real strength, with well-placed twists and turns and fun monologues. There are some oddities that are inconsistent with other Star Wars details, but the rest of the story is so good that it doesn't matter. It's a complete tale that leaves me excited to read the next storyline. B+

**Original Article**: The book is very interesting. It tells a story about a brave boy. The boy faces many difficulties but never gives up.

**Expanded Article**: The book is truly very interesting.

It vividly tells a captivating story about a remarkably brave boy.

This boy finds himself in numerous challenging situations where he has to confront many difficulties.

However, his unwavering spirit and determination shine through as he never once gives up.

Despite the odds stacked against him, he continues to persevere and strive forward.

The story not only showcases the boy's courage but also serves as an inspiration to readers, teaching them the importance of perseverance and never losing hope in the face of adversity.

Overall, it is a wonderful book that leaves a lasting impression on the hearts and minds of its readers.

A long-missing Jedi Master, Sharad Hett, has unexpectedly resurfaced on the desolate planet of Tatooine. However, he has emerged not as the noble Jedi he once was, but as a fearsome Tuscan war leader. He has been leading raids on cities, causing chaos and death wherever he goes.

The Jedi Council is deeply concerned about Sharad Hett's transformation. They wonder if he has truly succumbed to the dark side of the Force. To find out the truth, they dispatch Ki-Adi Mundi, a respected Jedi Knight, to Tatooine to investigate.

Ki-Adi Mundi arrives on Tatooine and begins his search for Sharad Hett. He encounters many challenges along the way, including hostile Tuscan Raiders and the harsh desert environment. But he is determined to uncover the truth and bring Sharad Hett back to the light, if possible.

As Ki-Adi Mundi delves deeper into his investigation, he discovers that there may be more to Sharad Hett's story than meets the eye. Will he be able to solve the mystery and save his former comrade from the clutches of the dark side? Only time will tell.

A rather forgettable Star Wars story indeed. For what seems like the 100,000th time, a Jedi has to journey to Tatooine. Jabba, that backstabbing worm, and a bounty hunter are both after the Jedi. The story follows the formula and ticks all the boxes of the typical Star Wars roles. Jedi? Check. Sandstorm? Check. Poorly conceived plan to kill the Jedi? Sand people? Weirdly speaks Yoda? Check, check, and check.

All the technology closely resembles what we see in the films, perhaps to a fault. It feels rigid, and in a world where the storyline emphasizes people being stuck and having to adapt and improvise, the tech rarely reflects this. For the greedy and power-hungry Hutts, there's little indication that they've fought or risked for anything new lately.

There isn't a single interesting character. Whenever someone shows some hidden depth, like a personal flaw or something that goes against the grain of the Jedi code, the plot simply abandons it and never brings it up again.

The artwork, however, is done to a consistently good standard. It's clear that the people behind it care about the SW universe; this wasn't just another paycheck for them.

By all means, if you own a full Storm Trooper costume, you might enjoy reading this. But it's not a good introduction for anyone new to the Star Wars universe. There's nothing gripping about it, and it lacks hooks.

I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who wouldn't seek it out to read anyway. It was readable, but it could have been different enough to be remarkable. Sadly, it wasn't, and with so many excellent science fiction stories and unforgettable graphic novels out there, it's easy to give a book like this a miss.

I really liked this arc!

It offers us Tusken Jedi, which is extremely unique and, as far as I'm concerned, has never been seen before.

The exploration of the Tuskens in general was truly fascinating.

We got to see a different side of them, not just as the often-maligned and misunderstood desert dwellers.

The idea of a Tusken becoming a Jedi adds a whole new layer of depth and complexity to the Star Wars universe.

It makes you wonder about the potential that lies within every being, regardless of their background or species.

This arc has opened up new possibilities and has me eagerly anticipating what comes next for these Tusken Jedi and the overall story.

It's a refreshing and exciting addition to the Star Wars canon.

Star Wars Reads Day II

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Star Wars Reads Day II was more of a missed opportunity than anything else. The concept of a Tusken Raider who is also a Jedi is truly a great one. It has the potential to bring a whole new dimension to the Star Wars universe. However, sadly, the story seems to focus elsewhere. Instead, what we are presented with is a rather standard narrative of Ki-Adi-Mundi attempting to persuade Sharad Hett to come back to the Jedi Order. Sharad Hett, on the other hand, is content with just being a Tusken Raider and living his life on Tatooine. Then, the Hutts make an appearance, and Aurra Sing shows up as well. Aurra Sing, in particular, is the poster child for missed opportunities. In the end, the whole story just becomes a jumbled mush, lacking a clear focus and direction.

I suppose it might be a little unfair to condemn a book from 2001 in 2013. But I read this after going through John Jackson Miller's novel "Kenobi," which is also set on Tatooine and features Tusken Raiders. After reading "Kenobi," I was really hoping that we would have been able to witness more of the life among the Tuskens. This book, unfortunately, failed to deliver on that front.

This is an excellent TPB that takes you on a deeper exploration of the time frame between Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones.

Here, a member of the Jedi Council has to embark on a mission to find a long lost Jedi while also conducting an investigation.

For those who have a keen interest in more lore regarding the Tusken Raiders, also known as the Sandpeople of Tatooine, this TPB is a must-check.

The artwork within it is truly top-notch, adding a great visual appeal to the story.

Moreover, the story flows seamlessly, keeping you engaged from start to finish.

It is highly recommended for all Star Wars fans who are looking for an exciting and immersive adventure set in the Star Wars universe.

Whether you are a die-hard fan or just someone who enjoys a good story, this TPB is sure to satisfy your cravings.

So, don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to delve deeper into the rich and fascinating world of Star Wars.

Pick up this TPB today and let the adventure begin!

December 13, 2019:

I didn't realize the first two times I read this series that most of it was published before AotC came out. This new knowledge definitely gives it a new perspective. The comics repeatedly state that it's common for Jedi to return to their home planets and stay in contact with their birth families. However, this seems more like a plain mistake rather than a conflicting truth to be retconned, as it's contradicted by later and more definitive material. This in turn casts some doubt on its overall portrayal of the Jedi. In terms of consistency, tossing this whole thing out of canon might seem like a parsimonious solution.

As an individual story, this volume is better than the previous one. Hett is a solid character, with some similarities to Anakin but also his own mysteries. He makes a more interesting foil for Ki. What should, and to some extent does, elevate this volume above most similar stories is the adoption of the Tusken perspective. Hett, as an outsider, has only a partial understanding of it, but it still gives us a more positive and intimate view than before. It's good, although it relies a fair bit on colonialist tropes that aren't always the best, and it doesn't explore their POV deeply enough to overcome them. The biggest benefit is that it presents Hett's apparent darkness in the context of a specific culture and environment, rather than in abstract terms of morality and personal virtue. This is something SW has almost never done, and it's definitely an enticing aspect.

Unfortunately, the actual story is undermined by its short scope and clumsy telling. Shatterpoint basically does the same thing, so it would be kind of redundant. This is really a novel-length story compressed into 6 comic issues. Hett doesn't get enough development; there are too few choices, confrontations, and experiences, and too much reliance on exposition. Ki is as much of a gormless lump as he was in the previous volume. At one point, Hett says, "I was wondering why they sent you and not Qui-Gon," and I thought, "wow, yeah, this would be better with Qui-Gon, wouldn't it." But of course, it really comes down to the writing. I can imagine a bad Qui-Gon story here and a good Ki-Adi Mundi story. Anyway, it also suffers from the same issue as the first (and third) volume: everything is wrapped up in a clumsy criminal conspiracy that isn't particularly intriguing and also removes any trace of moral complexity in the situation. The way this story ends, freeing A'Sharad from his community on Tatooine so he can go be a Jedi, echoes Luke hopping on the Millenial Falcon with barely a glance at Beru and Owen, but it feels even more hollow since Hett's world was so much more singular and intense, and so much more distinct from Galactic High Culture or whatever. The way this series changes up protagonists feels clever and enjoyable in the long run (in retrospect), but to do that without sacrificing all its chances for emotional impact, it needs to dig deeper into the POV of each one before moving on. This should be a far more powerful moment than it is.

August 21, 2017 - 3 stars: The art takes a step up toward a normal standard of competency from this volume onward; it's still nothing terribly impressive or interesting, but not distractingly weird.

This is where the pieces start to come together for the longer-term arcs that Ostrander et al are creating in Republic and beyond to Legacy. The cast of mythic characters - the Jedi and Aurra Sing mostly - feel pretty solid so far. That's exciting, but in the moment, this story itself isn't all that great. The whole "Heart of Darkness" thing with Hett resolves too quickly to mean much, and the Tusken culture bit would have been a lot cooler if they hadn't just crashed it into a Hutt army and never looked back. I like the way these comic arcs build and weave through each other, but a lot of the component stories feel mistreated by the constrained length here.

This six-issue story arc builds slowly, gradually leading up to the one thing that we truly desire to see - Aurra Sing fighting Jedi.

However, when we finally reach the last issue, we are only treated to about 10 pages of this highly anticipated encounter.

That's it. It's rather disappointing, to be honest. It feels as if all the build-up was for naught, and we are left with a relatively short and somewhat underwhelming conclusion.

It's enough to make one want to snooze. The story had so much potential, but it seems to have fallen short in delivering the exciting and action-packed showdown that we were hoping for.

Perhaps in future installments, the creators will learn from this and give us a more satisfying and engaging experience.

This is a very good story indeed. It beautifully builds upon the previous Star Wars Republic comic, taking the narrative to new heights.

The action scenes are simply great, filled with excitement and energy that keep the readers on the edge of their seats. The characters are well-developed and engaging, each with their own unique personalities and motives.

The writing is excellent, with a smooth flow and vivid descriptions that bring the story to life. The overall story is tightly-bound, with no loose ends or plot holes, making it a truly satisfying read.

I particularly enjoyed the final action setpiece. It was not only entertaining but also had a sense of grandeur and spectacle that made it a fitting conclusion to the story.

I found myself blazed through this story pretty quickly, unable to put it down until I reached the end. It's a must-read for any Star Wars fan or anyone who enjoys a good adventure story.

Pretty average.

Perhaps even below that.

Less than average I'd say.

Aurra Sing is kinda cool, though.

She has this certain charm that sets her apart from the rest.

Her appearance is unique, with her long hair and distinctive clothing.

She also has some interesting skills and abilities that make her a formidable opponent.

However, when it comes to the overall story or the other characters, it's just not that great.

The plot seems a bit lacking and the characters don't have much depth.

It's a shame really, because Aurra Sing has the potential to be a really great character if she was given more to work with.

But as it stands, it's just a pretty average experience.

Pretty much just a prequel era pot-boiler.

It's a story that doesn't really stand out as something truly remarkable. I could take or leave it. On one hand, it's not bad. It has Aurra Sing and does a decent job of fleshing her out, giving us a bit more depth to her character. Additionally, it introduces Asharad Hett, the Tusken Jedi who later becomes Dart Krayt. Sorry for the spoilers. However, I'm not overly interested in his character. And I'm rather on the fence about whether Star Wars Legacy should be considered part of my personal canon.

This is a topic that could be discussed another day. But generally speaking, anything from the New Jedi Order (NJO) or later, as long as it respected what came before, I could potentially accept. For example, if Episode 7 had Jacen, Jaina, and Anakin Solo, and everything from the Expanded Universe (EU) up to the start of NJO was considered canon, while Vector Prime and beyond was not, I could live with that.

Anyways, "Outlander" is okay if you're simply looking for a quick read that takes place during the Episode 1 era. It won't blow your mind, but it can provide some entertainment if that's what you're after.