Book Description

Winner of the coveted Eisner Award! Carl Seltz is a suburban insurance investigator, a loving husband, and devoted father. Nixon is a berserk, homicidal tax collector racking up mind-boggling body counts in a diseased urban slaughterhouse. Unit Four is the ultimate robot killing machine -- and the last hope of the future's enslaved mechanical servants. And they're all the same psychotic entity. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Hard Boiled......."The Graphic Novel"
Frank Darrow's artwork is worth the total price alone!! Frank Millers story is mind-boggeling, and deffinately not for children. I rate this book more that 5 stars easy!!!! If you are open minded with things of an adult nature and crave the ultra-violence, your bookshelf is not complete with out Frank Miller and Geof Darrow's graphic novel....."Hard Boiled"

Geof Darrow is a Master Artist
Ok, so the story is nothing new for anyone familiar with frank Miller. But it's alright. better than Sin City, anyway. But all of that is beside the point. Get HARD BOILED for Darrow's artwork! Seriously, this guy's stuff should be hanging in the art museums instead of a bunch of dead French guys and the occasional Italian. For get the classics, Darrow is where it's at.

Oh, don't buy this for your kids. it's for adults. This is over the top powerviolence not for the weak-hearted. this is beautiful and fun. To the person who said it's dangerous and would inspire kids to go on killing sprees, please, for the love of God, stop thinking in PC terms and form rational opinions of your own! This IS art! it has merit and is truly breathtaking.

lol
It has be my first Frank MIller's book, so I feel strange in writing about it now.
There was no internet at home when Iì've bought it at the newsstand on the road, so I just listended my eyes :))
It's a great and sad story, really over exposed, but you have to read till the end and read it again.
Great, really great!

Yet another well-done Miller slugfest.
Frank Miller is very good at making The Last Comic Book (after which comics can finally move on to a post-Kirby era); he keeps doing it over and over again. First the Daredevil run, then The Dark Knight Returns, then Sin City, then 300, and now this: an intentionally ridiculous sci-fi techno-thriller (in the mainstream cinema, "Terminator," "The Matrix," sense) starring a man who thinks he has a perfectly normal life, but then it turns out he's only programmed to think that, etc., right up to the nonsensical revelation (you'll plotz when you find out why he was created), predictable climax (I guessed it correctly after one glance at the cover!), and signature Miller letdown ending (Batman doesn't die, Marv gets into Roark's fortress pretty goddamn easily after all that, and...?). I would love it for its sheer audacity (pushing the tired "post-apocalyptic sex-based society" idea to its limits, killing extras by the truckload without so much as a fare-thee-well, writing ridiculous movie-star ["Come and get it, you bum..."]/funnybook ["oof!"/"ag!"/"oof!"/"oof!"/"nef!"/"hah!"/"oof!"/"hah!"/"oof!"/yaa" is from an actual sequence] dialog, giving all the women, including the female robots, gorgeous bodies), If Miller hadn't created so MANY comics exactly this one. (Waiting now for "DK2.")

Geoff Darrow, however, really gets a chance to show off his technical abilities in this story. In fact, this entire book can be considered an excercise for Darrow. His anatomy and perspective is wonderful (at least when you compare it to most mainstream "artists") and he can draw post-apocalyptic crowd scenes and bloody robots (with skin hanging off, torn clothes, eyeballs hanging out of metallic sockets) like, um, no one else. The colors are OK, although I find myself wishing Darrow had done them (they were assemblylined by a fellow named John Workman). They feel a little subdued, slowing down the pace.

Overall, this is a nice 20-minute read to flip through at the library or bookstore. It might make a nice gift for your teenage nephew who likes video games and "The Matrix." -YAKOV.

I LIKE IT BUT IT IS OUT OF CONTROL
This book is most notable for the extremely detailed art by Darrow. Miller lets the story go out of control and though I think the wackiness is intentional, it still is a little much. ... Read more

Book Description

Darth Vader wants Luke Skywalker -- alive. Prince Xizor, the largest trader in the galaxy, wants Skywalker dead. And Skywalker, along with Leia, Chewbacca, and the droids, have a goal of their own: rescue Han Solo. But Solo has been encased in carbonite and taken by the most notorious mercenary in the galaxy, Boba Fett, who intends to deliver him to Jabba the Hutt. It's a clash of good against evil, of right against wrong, and it comes to a head in the Shadows of the Empire . . . Featuring all your favorite characters from the Star Wars motion picture trilogy and a score of new ones, Shadows of the Empire is everything a Star Wars fan could hope for. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Excellent novel. Definetly worthy of Star Wars universe
This book deals with all that happens between "Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi." One of the main charactures is Prince Xixor. He seems to be another of the Emperor's cronies. Like Darth Vader. Han Solo is frozen in carbonite. Leia and Luke are trying to find him and bring him back to "the land of the living." Anyone who enjoys watching the movies and reading the books should read this book without delay.

Many will read this and not put it down until they're done!
All right, Star Wars fans! You waited for the story of what REALLY happened between the Movies (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi) and now you got it! Wondering "How did Luke all of a sudden become a Jedi Knight in Return of the Jedi?"? Or maybe "When did the second Death Star start?"? Well, here it is! And if you liked the game... You'll LOVE the book! Han Solo is frozen in Carbonite... Luke Skywalker is becoming a Jedi... And the Empire has the alliance in their grasp! What will happen? The suspense is endless. The battles in this book go into so much detail, you'd swear you were actually there! Pick it up... YOU WON'T PUT IT DOWN! The best Star Wars book to date! Experience Shadows of the Empire!

Luke takes out Vader Enemy
This is a review of Shadow of the Empire which is available as a hard cover book of 340 (ISBN 0553574132) pages, a comic (isbn 1569711836), a novelization of 176 pages (isbn 044013036) and audio cassette (isbn 0553100890). This story tales places between ESB and ROTJ. I always felt it was one of the more important stories of the Expanded Universe given that Xizor became an action figure as did Dash Render and his ship (Outrider). The whole gang is in this one even Han, though is encased in carbonite. We get Vader, the emperor, Fett, Guri, Boosk, 4-Lom, Jabba, Zuckuss and Wedge along with the regular gang of heroes.

Apparently Dark horse did have available any pictures of Lando or Leia because the artists did a lousy job of drawing them. Most of the time Luke was OK, but sometimes he looked like Jessica Lynch. They did do a great job drawing Fett, Vader and dash however.

Everyone is searching for Han, but he has not be taken directly to Jabba. Xizor has risen to lead Black Sun which has thrived since Darth Maul wiped out the old leadership. His newest ambition is to replace Vader as #2 in the empire. Xizor orders Luke killed knowing that Vader wants him alive. Then Xizor captured Leia.

This is one of my favorite of all the EU stories. Steve Perry has created a new and exciting Journey. The novel is 4 stars and the comic is 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. Considering that Dark horse released this in 1997 before some of their awesome new production techniques, this is a very well done comic. The abridged audio cassette is good quality, but at on 2 ½ hours to much is cut.

Not too bad
As with so much of Star Wars, you pretty much have to read the book it ties into to get it all. The effort on LucasFilm's part was overall admirable, although the problem remains when you have large numbersof people who don't read both genres of comic book and novel.

The highlights here are the scenes with Boba Fett and the bounty hunters. The main character material seems almost as filler tie-ins and even the art seems to lax a bit in those categories.

The pencils are good for the most part, while the coloring tends to vary. I've not too fond of Cary Porter's coloring, as it tends to be unrealisting and not dramatic at times. Once again, these flaws tend to be more visible in the 'main-character' plotline.

Buy it if you want some nice Bounty Hunter interaction and the like.

Intersting filler-in for the novel
Whereas the Shadows of the Empire novel was focused on the normal character, the Rebels and Vader and the new Xizor, the comic's point of view is mainly that of the scum of the galaxy, the bounty hunters and Jabba and his goons. That is where it makes its biggest mistake -- it can't stand alone.

It's laudible that they tried to give an alternate perspective in the comic so fans wouldn't feel like they were just rereading the novel, but on the other hand it doesn't make sense unless you've read the book. Characters just show up and aren't explained, and events that are quite big in the story can't be emphasized enough in the comic due to space restraints. It would have been a much better idea to instead of paralleling the novel, to adapt it entirely to comic form, plus add the bounty hunter stuff.

The art was mixed. The droids, Fett, Vader and most of the bounty hunters looked good, but the more humaniform characters looked messed up and unrecognizable. Leia and Lando in particular looked bad, Dash was strange, and Xizor looked horrible; he wasn't even consistent from panel to panel.

Fortunately, the locations were pretty good, but where this comic shined were the spacefights, dogfights which would do a Rogue Squadron comic proud. There was some interesting use of tactics, all the ships were drawn very well, and the lighting effects and engine glow were very good.

Fett was another problem in this book. He talked too much. We already know he's one of those silent but deadly guys; why authors feel the need to have him give corny one-liners, talk to himself and gloat to his enemies is beyond me. The dialogue throughout the comic was decent, but there were quite a few corny or unecessary lines.

A last note -- this comic was released before it was quite established exactly what bothans looked like, so they are kind of messed up looking.

As a companion for the novel, this comic worked fine, but as a stand-alone piece, it is below par. If you like Star Wars, or if you're a big Shadows fan, then I recommend this one. If not, don't bother. ... Read more

Book Description

Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace is the seminal tale of the Star Wars mythos, unlocking the history and events that laid the foundation for the Rebel Alliance`s epic struggle against the Empire as chronicled in the original Star Wars film trilogy. Featuring familiar characters as never before seen and introducing new players destined to become Star Wars icons, Episode I is a must-see film experience, and this comics adaptation is a must-read for all Star Wars enthusiasts. Adapted by Henry Gilroy from the original screenplay by master filmmaker George Lucas and illustrated by Rodolfo Damaggio and comics legend Al Williamson. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Artful Jedi Knights
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace translates quite well, from feature film, to comic book. Despite the fact that, the movie had its share of problems, from a story standpoint. Not to mention, very static direction by George Lucas, the Dark Horse Graphic Novel still manages to come out on top.

THE STORY: Writer Henry Gilroy (who would also go on to adapt Attack Of The Clones) makes good use of a limited amount of space. He successfully takes the film's script, gives readers an edited version of it, without making it seem edited. It never seems rushed and none of the scope of the film is lost in the process. Adapting a film for the comics is never easy, but in Gilroy's hands it would seem that way.

THE ART: The team of Rodolfo Damaggio, and Star Wars Comics' veteran Al Williamsom are great together. Their work creates a visual feast, and is at times, stunning. It's very detailed, for the most part, with very few exceptions. The charcters and situations mirror their cinema counterparts to a tee. The artwork is a major reason to own this in first place--it's that good. My favorite artwork in the book is the depiction of the climactic lightsaber duel between Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Sith Darth Maul

As a bonus the 112 page book includes a cover gallery of the artwork of cover illustrator of Hugh Flemming, who worked on all four single issue covers, for the newstand version of the story. The graphic novel trade paperback is recommended

An excellant comic book- graphic novel fans should enjoy it
The graphic novelization of Episode I is very well done- the storyline is good, and the artwork is great. My only complaint is the change of artwork styles at the end. The lightsabers are writen very true-to-life during most of the comic book. During the final battle, however, the blades suddenly become rods of pure color. The white center to the lightsaber blade is gone. This gives the most exciting part of the movie a cheap look. Other than that, it's a good read.

Easy to read, beautifully illustrated comic
This is a review of Episode 1 TPM Dark horse comic. This comic can never replace the imagery created by the movie. Produced in may, 1999 this TPB comic uses reproduction techniques that create a visually beautiful comic.

The main reason I bought the comic version of a movie is that it gives me book with pictures to read with my children that tell a story that will hold their attention. This comic succeeds on that level. But the comic is an abridged version of the movie, and may not be your cup of tea.
The artwork is about average (3.5 stars of 5). The black page background provides richness to the look. Flemings cover art is 4 of 5.

The binding on THIS comic is superior. One of my frustrations with dark horse is the extremely poor quality of their new binding of TPB's. Dark Horse went to the bother of upgrading their artwork, pencils and inking, yet they are producing comics that fall apart in your hands! This comic was made in Canada. The new comics are now made in China. It is a darn shame because just as they start producing some truly awesome looking comics, they seriously diminish the quality of the binding.

Awesome Graphic Novel!
This book is the graphic novel (comic book) of The Phantom Menace. It's a great book and I've read it thousands of times. The illustrations are great and and no characters are out of place. I think that the authors did a great job with Qui-Gon Jinn especially. And all of the other characters were great. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Star Wars. This is definently a Star Wars book to add to your collection.

Pick up the novel instead...
First, let me say that I am not a comic book expert. I haven't read that many recently, so I don't have a wealth of knowledge to compare this graphic novel against

That being said, I still feel able to judge the Graphic Novel for Star Wars: Episode One against my general Star Wars knowledge. Jar Jar haters will be pleased that his role was reduced a little, and that he doesn't come off as goofy as he does in the movie.

This is graphic novel is fairly true to the spirit of the movie. In places, the dialogue has been shortened, or a scene shortened, but for the most part, the book covers the movie.

However, there are places that if you did not know the story from the movie, you might get a little lost. For instance, the battle between the Gungans and the Droid Army. All of a sudden, the droid infantry just shows up with no real explanation that they were deployed from the troop carriers.

In other places, the novel fails to capture the drama, adventure, or feel of the movie. This is most apparent during the Pod Race. None of the speed, danger, or implications of the race are apparent. If this weren't a novelization of a movie, one would have to wonder why it was even included.

Overall, it is still a fun read, and a nice visual reference to the movie. Some additional narrative comments between panels to direct the action would have made up for some of the deficiencies, and the art could have been more inspiring. It'll stay in my collection as a reference, but it probably won't be reread much. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Some 4,000 years before Leia bared her midriff in Jabba's palace, another Force-sensitive woman was doing the same for the good of the plot line: Jedi prodigy and lightsaber-wielding Nomi Sunrider, one of the featured Knights in this two-story collection from Dark Horse's quality Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi miniseries. Sunrider begins her training reluctantly, both to avenge the death of her Jedi hubby at the hands of Bogga the Hutt's minions and to realize her enormous potential in the art of "Jedi Battle Meditation." The other story in this volume also involves Battle Meditation, which Jedi Master Arca uses to save the hides of his young charges Ulic Qel-Droma and friends, who are sent to forge a peace between the beastmaster warlords and walled-city defenders on war-torn Onderon.

With plenty of twists, tons of action, and monsters and bad guys at every turn, these two stories are fully worth checking out, although purists be warned: the Ulic tale especially tends more toward the Jedi-as-superhero school of storytelling. It's saberin' time! --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (8)

SEEMS THERE ARE 3 COMICS USING THE SAME COVER
Anyone confused? Darkhorse has a comic called TALES OF THE JEDI THE COLLECTION that takes place 4,000 years before NH. The ISBN is 1569710203 published aug 1994. Dark horse does indicate that they published Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi - Knights of the Old Republic TPB on Oct 1994, but do not indicated an ISBN. I think that all 3 of these are the same comic. This comic is not to be found on amazon.

Then we have Knights of the Old Republic (Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi, Volume One) by Tom Veitch, Chris Gossett, Janine Johnston (Illustrator), David Roach (Illustrator) ISBN 1569710201 RELEASED BY Dark Horse Oct, 1995 with the same cover.

They also have Star Wars - Tales of the Jedi: Knights of the Old Republic (Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi) by Tom Veitch, Chris Gosset, Dennis Rodier released by titan books May, 2000 with the same cover under ISBN 1840231726 It seems to be the same comic described by amazon here and called KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC, TALES OF THE JEDI 1 THRU 5 with the same cover art and a different ISBN.

I am reviewing a comic called Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi - The collection published by Dark Horse August, 1994 as a TPB compiliation, ISBN: 1569710201. These stories are revealed on Jedi Holocrons recovered by Luke Skywalker. Made in Canada the binding is excellent.
Story 1 - Ulic Qel-Droma and the Beast Wars of Onderon. 51 pages, OK story with some good fights, the artwork is the comic-strip quality used throughout most of the 80's and 90's.

Story 2 - The Saga of Nomi Sunrider. 69 pages, the story of Nomi and her daughter, artwork is cheesy and uninspired.
Either way, they are all probably the same, with a title change. Dark horse published this comic in aug 1994, 3 years before its two comics TPB's that take place 5,000 years before NH. I think you should Skip the first 2 on the Timeline and just start here. While the art work is a C the coloring is a C TO D and looks more like the early 80's art and coloring offerings, the 2 stories here is pretty good. The Stories of Ulic Qel-Droma and Nomi Sunrider are worth a read.

An engaging storyline, but not a visual delight
It rains, it snows, I still say Ulic Qel-Droma and Kir Kanos look the same. And looks belie Knights of the Old Republic, vanguard in the Tales of the Jedi series that it is. This is actually two different stories: the Onderon arc, and the Ambria part, starring bald-headed Nomi. Considering the next installment, the elusive to find Freedon Nadd Uprising continues the Onderon storyline, they should have included it as well.

This is a time when the Republic is still growing, still exploring the stars for new worlds, still ripe for adventure. When Onderon requests Jedi meditation to resolve its internal strife, acclaimed Jedi Master Arca Jeth dispatches his three apprentices to end the civil strife. What they find is dark side mayhem and a 400-year-old Sith spirit, dead but not quite digested.

The art quality is a sample of what you'll put up with in TOTJ: horrible. Comics now, dominated by the ever-popular Republic series, have never looked better; and despite how art technology back then isn't up to today's standards, console yourself that at least this is better than that dreadful so-called art of Dark Empire.

Illustrations aren't so bad. It's just that things look cluttered and messy. But that's the theme, what things were like four millenniums ago: patchy apparel, bizarre starships that look more Transformer toy than space vehicle, ancient-style architecture. Though why lightsabers of that era were drawn with a shimmer glow rather than simple straight lines is a mystery.

Dialogue is nothing to applaud. Reader beware---we're dumb, so we need to be reminded of every character's full name every second appearance. It's enough to put you off the entire series.

It was Jedi Master Jeth that hooked me in. I admit it, purchasing this vanguard of the series merely from an online preview I saw. The aging Arkanian just looked so haunting, so ominous, I knew it would be worth it.

And worth getting despite the awful art quality it is. The plot moves along swiftly, and readers will eventually get used to the fact that the Jedi of this era can talk to animals, perform unusual feats, and bumble around like all good Jedi. I say this because Jeth's fortuitous arrival is all that saves the day, who then reprimands them for not sensing the dark side around them. Which then looks odd for old Jeth, when the students counter he never taught them how to repel it.

More disturbing is Onderon's moon. If it orbits so close that their atmospheres periodically brush, allowing the moon's hostile fauna to migrate to Onderon, how doesn't it succumb to gravity and drop into the planet as well?

Well? That sure heck needed explaining. And if that doesn't raise the cynical brow, then the implausibility of a Jedi character affixing a droid arm in place of his severed limb no probs surely will.

Ah well. It gets worse with the second section, Nomi Sunrider---and so does the art. The art quality is so dirty, so filthy, it's simply shocking. WHY is Sunrider's head half-bald. It's unsightly, ugly, and yes, red-heads have less hair than all other colours, but this was bad!

Beast Jedi Master Thon is a curious fellow, and about all that makes this story more so some tasty features. Like the brief flash of Jedi history, showing the origin of the Sith; and bizarre starships, hollowed out of kilometre-long space insects. Otherwise, you'll be wondering why the art was so poor, why Sunrider is severely balding, or how her late husband can pop in as a Jedi spirit when only wimpy apprentice.

Overall, KOTOR introduces you to the main players and places of the series and is interesting and creative enough to well warrant a purchase.

Not bad. Not bad at all.
This graphic novel provides a decent way to kill an hour and a half or so, and for those interested in the Star Wars Mythos and universe this book has added value in expanding on earlier generations of jedi.

For those of you who have played the superb XBOX RPG - 'Knights of the Old Republic,' it is interesting to note similar story elements found in that game within this 1995 book. For example - Battle Meditation, construction of lightsabers with crystals, etc. The artwork is decent and the story flows at a nice pace. All together a snappy read but not quite a classic.

Feel, don't think. Use your instincts.
Unreal. Amazing. Jedi!!!
And so, with a few bucks to burn, I picked up this holy tome all those years ago. I was fascinated. Never before have I cared about a set of characters so much, save for Han and Chewie. This sets the stage for the next four volumes. The main characters here are Ulic Qel-Droma, Jedi Knight, and Nomi Sunrider, who inadvertently follows the path of the Jedi. Their paths interconnect eventually, and the story unfolds. This a rare set of comics that can actually be classified as a saga. Later volumes introduce Exar Kun, a name you may know from Kevin J. Anderson's Jedi Academy trilogy.

A good introduction
Knights of the Old Republic is the first story published in the Tales of the Jedi storyline. Written by Tom Veitch, the guy who also did the Dark Empire comics, the characters and situations herein are pretty much taken from the backstory he created for his prior Star Wars jaunt. Overall this is a pretty good comic, and it paves the path for what will be one of the most exciting epics in Dark Horse's Star Wars publishing run. Knights of the Old Republic is not one story, but two that will tie together in later Tales of the Jedi books. The art is a mixed bag (more on that later), but the stories told are vintage Star Wars.

The first chapter, 'Ulic Qel-Droma and the Beast Wars of Onderon,' tells the story of several young Jedi given their first task by their Master - a diplomatic/peacekeeping mission to a world that is petitioning to join the Republic. Ulic Qel-Droma is a rash, brash Jedi who despite his impulsiveness is a skilled Jedi and strong in the Force. His companions are his brother Cay and the Twi'lek Tott Doneeta, neither of whom are as good with a lightsaber as Ulic, but both of whom are more cautious. There are no real surprises in this story - there is of course the obligatory brush with the Dark Side and lots of fight scenes, but it does serve very well to introduce these characters, their skills and personalities. Chris Gossett's art is very good here, but the coloring seems somewhat dull.

The second chapter, 'The Saga of Nomi Sunrider,' is a much better story even if the art stinks. Nomi is a Force-sensitive woman who is too timid to be a Jedi, although her husband, Andur, has followed that path. While they are en route to deliver some adegan crystals to Andur's future master, some thugs who want the expensive crystals kill Andur. Nomi, without thinking, takes Andur's lightsaber, kills the thugs, and then proceeds to deliver the crystals to Master Thon. For months she is reluctant to learn the ways of the Force, and absolutely refuses to touch a lightsaber, but when the Hutt whose hoodlums she killed shows up looking for vengeance, she has no choice but to take up arms. This story was much more enjoyable than Ulic's, and all around much better. The art, however, is pretty weak and ugly.

While these stories are not terribly exciting as standalones, when looked at in the context of the rest of the series they are a worthy introductory chapter with lots of lightsaber fights, a few new Force techniques, brash students, wise masters, cruel enemies, and decent artwork. Recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

A perfect blend of humor and drama, Y: THE LAST MAN – ONE SMALL STEP is a fascinating tale of catastrophe and consequences. After a mysterious occurrence instantaneously killed every male human on Earth, twenty-something escape artist Yorick Brown suddenly found himself as the last man alive on a planet inhabited solely by females. But when Yorick and his secret service bodyguard learn of a Russian spaceship with two healthy males on board, they quickly journey to its projected landing site in Kansas to see if the rumor is true. Now as Yorick and Agent 355 wait to see if the cosmonauts will survive their return to Earth’s atmosphere, a zealous faction of the Israeli military attempt to kidnap the last man for their own nefarious purposes. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

No drop-off in quality from the first two volumes
"One Small Step," the third volume of Y: The Last Man loses no momentum from the previous two volumes, "Unmanned" and "Cycles." In fact, I'd say it picks up steam. Now that I've become accustomed to the characters, I care more about them and find their perilous adventures more gripping than ever.

"One Small Step" contains two stories, the primary one being the title story. Yorick, Agent 355 and Dr. Mann travel through Missouri to Kansas and seek to help two more potential male survivors of the plaque to arrive safely on Earth from orbit. All males of all species on Earth died in the plague, but it didn't extend to those males OFF the planet. The International Space Station houses two male and one female astronaut, all of whom are dangerously close to suffocating in the failing life support of the station. They have to evacuate the station and find out whether they can survive now that several months have gone by since the plague.

Thrown into the mix are the Israeli soldiers, led by their stoic Colonel, whose motives have been unclear until this story. Suffice it to say that old scores die hard.

Brian Vaughn builds the tension slowly with several events threatening to collide explosively. The violent colonel, an endangered Yorick, and the fate of the astronauts all hangs in the balance. I found myself flying through the climactic pages of this story, eager to find out what was going to happen.

You really have to read the first two volumes before you move on to this one. There's too much back story you'll miss. But it's worth the time. This is one of the best comics to come out in the past several years and is not to be missed!

Absolutely stunning!
After reading the first two "Y the Last Man" books I was eagerly awaiting the release of this one. I was not dissapointed! The first 6 chapters of this book wrap up the storyline of the male astronauts introduced at the end of book 2 and the final two chapers provide a hilarious interlude from the main story of the book. Everything overall is great! The art is detailed and clear. The coloring and inking is also excellent. If you have never read a graphic novel before read "Y the Last Man" books 1 and 2 first, then be sure to read this one! ... Read more

Book Description

In the depths of galactic space, a foolish and arrogant young Jedi awakes an ancient, deadly power. This seductive evil will lead him down a path that will make him a Dark Lord of the Sith, and his darkling power will make the very galaxies tremble. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Electric, explosive, and definitly worthy of buying.
This comic is filled with exciting adventures, and action-packed scenes, this is a must reader in the star wars universe, and the scenes with Exar Kun, the evil Dark Lord of the Sith is great. I recommend this comic to all fans.

I THINK I CAN
I am reviewing Tales of the Jedi Dark Lords of the Sith, ISBN: 1569710953 A TPB comic published Feb 1996 covering individuals issues 1 through 6 of the Dark Horse comic series Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi - Dark Lords of the Sith written by Tom Veitch and KJA. It has the same Hugh Fleming cover as the comic shown in Amazon as Titan books ISBN 1840231297 published nov 1999.

The Art and coloring are still the older style and get about 2.5. the story, as Tom Veitch tells us is intended to reflect what was revealed in Holocrons that are discovered 1,000's of years later. In particular, they foreshadow what happens to Luke Skywalker in dark empire. This is an intense and serious contribution to the star wars Galaxy, and my version is over 100 pages. I think it is worthwhile, and I did like it better the second time I read it, especially if you later read the Jedi Academy Book Trilogy by Kevin J Anderson, I Jedi and Dark Empire by Dark Horse.

There is also an audio tape version of this comic that is a complete dramatization, rather than just a reading; I am reviewing Audio book ISBN: 1565111990 - In short, the dramatization format can be hard to follow at times, but I thought that overall they did a good job - 3 stars.

Greatest Star Wars comic ever...
Except issue 6. I think Kevin Anderson wrote this one, with the corny lines "HE HAS A SITH AMULET! THEY'RE DEADLY!" and "I wonder who that man is? I feel like I will learn much from him!" and "Dace is dead! I told him." The Jedi in the final issue seem to be Supermen, unfallable. The story shows a young Jedi turn to the Dark Side because of the death of his master and another Jedi, Exar Kun turn to the Dark Side because he was just plain dumb. No really, he was. His Jedi Master told him not to go looking into The Sith because he is too young. Maybe he should have listened to the crab Master, I mean he IS A MASTER right? The art is good, except for issue 6. I don't know what happened, but issue 6 can not be part of the series. It is just awful, awful writing and art. The lightsabers are blue sticks. Seriously, they put NO effect into them at all. The coloring is poor on everything too. When it shows lasers or effects, its just 2 colors and not a variety of colors.

Turn to the dark side!!
I like this book. I like the way the evil sith spreads across the galaxy and threatens the existance of the old republic. I like how John Sygan performs the voice of Ulic Qel-droma. I like how Exer-kun resurrects the dark lords of the sith. I love the dark side. Both in human nature and in Star Wars. This book is very cool. The audio drama is also cool. This book is highly recommended to all future Star Wars fans. This is Kevin J. Anderson at his best. Turn to the dark side.

Best of the Series
This is the Tales of the Jedi story arc at an early stage, and in my opinion its best. The writing, while not great, is steady and constant. The art by Chris Gosset also helped make the comic, and his prescence in the last issue is sorely missed. The story is pretty good, especially for one that mishmeshes as much as this does. They do form an interesting parallel nonetheless, one enhanced by Goesset's artwork.

As I said, this is probably the strongest of the TotJ series. Its storyline is the best defined by far, and Gosset's art is very effective. The follow-up is a bit dissapointing, as is the rest of the series in my opinion. Still ,its a nice history lesson and a view into the ancient Jedi. Reccomended. ... Read more

Book Description

In the 21st century, the once-glittering Neo-Tokyo lies in ruins, leveled in minutes by the infinite power of the child psychic giant, Akira. Now a wasteland of rubble and anarchy, the Great Tokyo Empire rises, a ragtag group of zealots and crazies who worship and fear Akira and his mad prime minister, Tetsuo, an angry teen with immense powers of his own -- and equally immense twisted ambitions. The planet at large is not taking the threat lying down, however, and the might of the world is ready to take on the Empire, but will technology's most advanced weaponry be enough to destroy Akira -- and is Tetsuo an ever greater threat? The fifth chapter in a sweeping epic of over 2000 pages, Akira vol. 5 is the penultimate act of a mind-blowing graphic-novel masterpiece of awe-inspiring imagination and gut-wrenching power, and the inspiration for the classic Akira animated film. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The Preparations Begin For The Final Battle....
With the Psychic powerhouse Akira awakened, the mad Tetsuo becoming more and more powerful by the moment, and the World super-powers massing their fleets just outside of Japan, could things possibly get any worse for the citizens of the ruined Neo-Tokyo? Well.....yeah! Tetsuo is becoming SO powerful, his body is starting to mutate....in some pretty gross ways.

On the flip side, Kaneda, presumed dead, returns, and he has some really great scenes with Kei. Chiyoko and The Colonel also get a chance to shine, and we get some insight into the mind of Lady Miyako. Otomo's art is still great, and the amout of detail he puts into each panel is staggering; It's almost criminal to read the story too fast. You don't want to risk missing ANY of his spectacular linework.

Akira 5 will certainly have you awaiting the final chapter with great anticipation.

THE FINAL BATTLE IS IN SITE!
Well, here we are: One issue away from the last issue.
This is quiet possible the best one in the serias so far. Number 5 is almost completely dedicated to character development. I say "almost" because the issue is bassically our heroes preparing themselves for the final battle and tying up loose ends. The renioun between Kaneada and Kie in the beginning of the issue is heart warming; I especially liked how Kiesuke got in there!:)

Truth be told, there isn't as much action as there was in the others, but who cares? With phenomual character development and story telling, this issue kicks! And Besides, there is a completely PERFECT action sequence early on, which is done very very very VERY well. (For those curious, it involves Kie and the Colonol taking on a bunch of the empire's gun crazy citizens led by the guy in the glasses (I knew he'd come back!) Kaneada and Kiesuke also come in the knick of time on motorcycles)
Another maine character is reintroduced here, and I like him. Remember Joker, the huge and tough looking leader of the Clown gang? When we last saw him in Number One, it looked like he was a goner: after all, a motorcycle tire smashed into his face. But suddenly, he pops up in this one, with a huge tire mark on his face! (I nearly busted a gut when I saw that.) Joker, as said before, is a technical whiz, providing Kaneada and his sidekick Kiesuke with TONS of guns, motorcylces, and equipment. Many chuckles occur when Kaneada and Joker CONSTANTLY argue, often stopping at words and using their fists instead, and poor Kiesuke tries to be the mediator between the two.
Also back for laughs is that nicotine-addicted-doctor, who can basically do anything but will only do it if you get him a ciggarrette ("Do this, Do that! THEN WHAT?And I can't even get a... cigarrette!")

A deleightful issue. I still think that the fight sequence between Kie and Tetuo (GREAT effect with the fighter pilot dangling out of the jet like he was being cruicified) could've been done a tiny bit better. I mean, I liked how the frantic admiral was in the background, ordering his men to "FIR EVERYTHING WE'VE GOT!" at them, but I wish it had been a little longer. But, it WAS choregraphed nicely, and I still love it, but I just wish it had been a tiny bit longer.

All in all, a great set-up to the final battle. Bravo, Katsuhiro Otomo! Well done!

Humongous!!!
Things just keep getting better and better with this story. Tetsuo finds his power manipulates its way out of his body, Kei undergoes massive psychological 'renewal' and Kaneda returns from his 'astral' disappearance. The plot thickens as the U.S. army mingles in the mission to destroy the highly unstable Tetsuo and Akira. Can't wait for the conclusion.
For those of you who have interest in such matters, Kei gets HALF-NEKKID in this one!!!

Amazing
This is not only the longest volume in the series so far, it is also the the best and most pivotal. Characters both new and old are revisited, and IMMENSE character development is undertaken. Since Tetsuo is the main focal point for this volume, the story lets the reader see yet another side to him (as well as a rather grotesque sequence in which his fake arm takes over his body). Also, shockingly enough, Kaneda and Kei *ACTUALLY SHOW FEELINGS FOR ONE ANOTHER*!! And as if THAT wasn't enough, Kaneda's ol' pal Joker shows up again. He's changed sides, however, and reveals that he's a technical whiz, which will undoubtedly come in very handy.

But enough rambling about that. The action is top-notch (as always), as the armies of the world are crouched, muscles tensed, ready to spring at a moment's notice. Kaneda has amassed a small army of his own, and they have already taken the offensive against Tetsuo. Kei undergoes psychic training by the last survivors of the Project, and is preparing to challenge the teenage time bomb herself. The cliffhanger ending shows that the dominoes are set up, needing only the hand to push the first to start the show.

And I know it's going to be a spectacular display.

Greatest Story Ever
Could I give this six stars? When I was 13 I saw AKIRA in my local theater. Needless to say I was blown away and hooked for life. Imagine my surprise when, years later I found out about the manga! For anyone who has seen the movie but not read the manga you are missing out on about 80% of the story (The movie was condensed from over 2000 pages). The manga answers all the questions left from the movie and adds so much more to the story. The artwork is better than the movie even though the book is in black and white. The story and art crackle off of the pages like electricity. Otomo has such an amazing style that he has ruined other comics for me. Nothing quite compares to his mix of technical and human drawing prowess and his storytelling is second to none.
In book 5, the special forces, american Navy, and various cult groups are all after the power of AKIRA even as Tetsuo's power continues to grow. Kaneda, Kei, and the Colonel play bigger roles in book 5, but the real star here is Tetsuo. His powers are immense and the destruction he causes is beyond belief. I wont spoil it for you but beleive me its amazing.
The most enduring quailty of AKIRA for me is the fact that the movies and manga require your attention. This isnt a thrown together story where nothing really holds up, if you think there are plot holes you havent figured the story out. Its expertly crafted by Otoma-san and never strays from his vision. The story of AKIRA is excellence of the highest caliber. I love everything about AKIRA and this book is a testament to that.

This is just my opinion and I happen to be a BIG AKIRA freak. I have the McFarlane toys, three versions of the movie, and even a back up DVD which has never been opened just in case. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Very good
This graphic novel is a collection of some fifteen (if I counted correctly) stories set in the Star Wars universe. These stories range from the silly to the fascinating, while the artwork ranges from the simplistic to the sublime. My personal favorite was Incident at Horn Station, in which an unnamed Jedi frees a world from the grip of a murderous tyrant.

Overall, I thought that this was very good book, one that I highly recommend to any Star Wars fan.

enjoyable read with my son
At 224 this is a large comic. Since Dark horse has had trouble producing comics with good binding I was concerned about this offering. The one I have is OK, but these were made in china, where the binding problems exist. The older ones made in Canada were OK.

It was fun to read some of these with my son. For most people I think they will consider these to be 2 to 3 stars in quality, I'll round up to 3 since my son enjoyed them.

16 tales of struggle and intrigue
The first story Extinction, is almost worth the purchase price by itself. We Mara Jade, the Emperor, Vader and a tremendous, 15 page light saber fight.

The second story takes us back to Qui-Gon and Obiwan shortly before QGs death.

The pencils very in quality from 2 stars for some stories, to 3.5 for others. The inking varies from 2 stars to 4. None of the artwork is exceptional. The strength of the book is that there are stories that will interest you, and passable artwork. To bad that the fact that different artists were assembled into one book of stories din't produce a higher quality product due to the competition along! It didn't seem to. By the looks of it, some were trying to complete their work faster, not better.

At 224 this is a large comic. Since Dark horse has had trouble producing comics with good binding I was concerned about this offering. The one I have is OK, but these were made in china, where the binding problems exist. The older ones made in Canada were OK.

It was fun to read some of these with my son. For most people I think they will consider these to be 2 to 3 stars in quality, I'll round up to 3 since my son enjoyed them.

A great read for any Star Wars fan!
If anything, this first volume is even more entertaining than Volume 2. The spoofs are funny, the serious stories deep and interesting, and overall it stays true to the spirit of Star Wars. My favorite was probably the one detailing Darth Vader's conflict with the Dark Woman, but I could find something awesome about every story in this volume. This is a comic book, but it's well put together and durable, so it gets a definite five stars from me. Good for all ages.

Something For Every Star Wars Fan!
Even the most jaded fan will love this collection! The stories range from poignant to absurd (but funny!), and the Darth Vader/Dark Woman tale by Ron Marz is required reading. A top-notch collection that every SW fan should have. ... Read more

Book Description

When the plan to rescue Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt falls apart, Princess Leia, Lando Calrissian, and Chewbacca embark on another rescue mission that puts them into direct conflict with Boba Fett. Meanwhile, Luke's late arrival on Dagobah ends with him being captured by Darth Vader and the Emperor, just as the second Death Star is about to go on-line! Will the return of the Jedi become the end of the Jedi? The surprising climax is as exciting as that of the film on which it is based, but different from anything Star Wars fans have seen before! ... Read more

Book Description

Han Solo soars again--in this awesome trilogy of his extraordinary exploits. Ride with him as he rides to the rescue, narrowly escapes certain death, and foils evil in its ruthelss tracks!
... Read more

Reviews (28)

A great set of Star Wars stories....
These classic Star Wars stories are great. They are easy to get into. All three start out in the middle of something, which is the way that the movies in the Star Wars trilogy started out. In addition, they contain two of my favorite characters from the Star Wars Universe: Han Solo and Chewbacca.

The writing is great and is easy to get into. Like Zahn did for all the characters in the Heir to the Empire trilogy, Brian Daley gets every little bit of Han Solo's character traits. It is fun to read about Han Solo's adventures before A New Hope. Most of the stories take place in a new area of the Star Wars universe: The Corporate Sector. This provides a very interesting backdrop for the duo's adventures. Watch out for how Han treats the droids Bollux and Max differently from Threepio and Artoo.

This collection is a great read, and if you are a fast reader, you can read one story a sitting. Read it at all costs. ****1/2 stars (out of *****)

Everybody loves Han!
If you are curious about what Han Solo was like before he enters the scene in A New Hope, these are the books for you. They are filled with action that keeps you interested from beginning to end.

I read these books immediately after reading The Lando Calrissian Adventures, and I have to say that these are MUCH better. Han and Chewie seem exactly as I would have pictured them during that time period. A. C. Crispin references these books in the 3rd book of her Han Solo Trilogy entitled Rebel Dawn. That's what motivated me to read Daley's books, and I have to say that if you want to learn about Han's past, her books are much better.

Another Time and Another Place.
Long before Timothy Zahn wrote the the book that started the Star Wars book craze (HEIR TO THE EMPIRE), long before fans knew anything about the Star Wars Expanded Universe, before THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and RETURN OF THE JEDI, and just a few years after the release of STAR WARS, Brian Daley wrote a trilogy of books dealing with some of Han Solo's escapades several years before STAR WARS. The books were some of the first and at the time very few items items that people could buy to learn more about two of their favorite Star Wars characters: Han Solo and Chewbacca. These books: HAN SOLO AT STAR' END; HAN SOLO'S REVENGE; and HAN SOLO AND THE LOST LEGACY were eventually collected together and sold in one volume as THE HAN SOLO ADVENTURES. These stories take place a few years before STAR WARS and are rarely mentioned in the Star Wars canon. The bad guys aren't Stormtroopers from the Empire, but are soldiers of the Corporate Sector (the real reason behind this is because Lucas didn't have things figured out yet and didn't want anyone tinkering with the Stormtroopers from STAR WARS; you can't really blame him, I mean THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK hadn't even been made, yet). The Corporate Sector isn't mentioned very often in the new books, either. But it is on the maps and every once in awhile there are references to some of the things that take place in THE HAN SOLO ADVENTURES.

In HAN SOLO AT STAR'S END, Han and Chewie track down an infamous ship rebuilder for a reward and because they need some repairs. Their quest ends up leading them to the prison planet of the Authority known as Stars' End.

In HAN SOLO'S REVENGE, Han discovers that some special cargo he was supposed to transport turns out to be a group of slaves. Han hates slavery and anyone caught transporting slaves can receive an instant death sentence. Han forms a plan to foil the slavers and free the slaves. Once accomplished, he sets out to get revenge on the people who set him up.

Finally, in HAN SOLO AND THE LOST LEGACY, Han and Chewie set out to a legendary treasure planet. But there's a bounty on Han's head and once he and Chewie arrive, the Millennium Falcon is stolen and they find themselves being tracked and hunted by a group of assassins and killer droids. Never tell this man the odds.

THE HAN SOLO ADVENTURES aren't deep and don't add much characterization to what we know about Han Solo. Yet, like the dime novels of long ago, the books are fun to read and are full of action. They're worth owning for anyone interested in classic Star Wars history, anyone who likes Han Solo, and anyone who is tired of reading the usual Star Wars novels that are currently available.

A History Lesson
This book fills in some of the background for Han Solo (along with The Han Solo Trilogy). I would recommend these books for a Han Solo fan. Otherwise they do not really have that big a bearing on other books (altough there are a few passing remarks in other books that do pertain to these).

Han and chewy in the corpoate sector
These three novels were actually written in 1979 and 1980, long before the Zahn trilogy kicked of what we now know as the EU Expanded Universe. Daley also did the radio dramatizations of the original movie trilogy. Daley also created the corporate sector. Note that almost nothing is ever written about the Corp Sector, but there it is on the NJO maps of the galaxy. Also, AC Crispen wrote his Han Solo trilogy in a manner that accommodates Han and Chewy's trip to the CS.

I have placed this trilogy on the timeline at -4.9 BNH, taking place between The Hutts Gambit and Rebel Dawn (books 2 and 3 of the HST).
These are the first known non-Lucas novels of the SW universe. I am not sure whether they actually pre-date the SW comic strips, but surely Daley is the real father of the EU. If you are a Han Solo fan, this trilogy is a must addition to you library. My copy is the june 1992 edition found at a garage sale. ... Read more

Book Description

For 25 years, fans have wondered about the Clone Wars. With the release of Episode II, audiences witnessed the events that started that epic conflict. Starting this year, LucasBooks is chronicling these historic events through comics, adult novels, middle grade fiction, audio books, short stories, and more - revealing the all-important events that occur between Episodes II and III in preparation for the latter's release in 2005. This volume collects the first issues of Dark Horse's ongoing Star Wars: Republic comic book that chronicle the Clone Wars, starting with issue #50. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

5 Stories providing key details about the Clone Wars.
This is a review of Dark horse TPB Star wars Clone Wars Volume 1 The Defense of Kamino (CW-DOK) and other tales. It collects Republic series 49 and 50 plus Jedi Mace Windu. It takes place 1 TO 3 months after the battle of Geonosis but before the excellent novel SHATTERPOINT, year -21 BNH on the timeline.

It was amazing to read this comic jus a couple days after finishing Shatterpoint. The coordination between Dark horse and Del Rey is a thrilling thing. After the hideous results of NJO the whole Expanded universe prequel effort is spine chillingly amazing!

Story one Sacrific. This story takes place 1 month after the battle of Geonosis and is another glorious effort from the team of Ostrander and Duursema. This story includes Zenex, who is of the same race as Xizor, future head of black sun. We also see Aalya Secura as a jedi after her trials and tribulations earlier and her master Quinlan Vos, a favorite of my son and I. The story and artwork are superior. The decision as to coloring is puzzling, as it seems to mute and darken the whole visual effect. And why color the light sabers in predominant white with only a hue of color around the energy blade? Dooku and our buddy Sidious are of course in this story.

Story 2 The Defense of Kamino is broken up into 3 tales.

Tales A. Brothers in Arms. Good story with impressive artwork and awesome coloring. The coloring is still done as if in a dark atmosphere, but the inker Parsons was created a richer for satisfying visual look than we saw in story one. The pencil work by Duursema is awesome as usual, and the drawings of Ben and Anakin are perfect.

Tale B Jango's Legacy is very good, but I have one negative comment. Duursema must not have given Thompson the pictures of what Ben and Anakin look like because he didn't do a very good job. Stephen, you got to be more careful when drawing someone that everyone knows. Good job otherwise.

Tales C. No End in Sight. This has an awesome space battle that is a visual marvel on all levels.

Story 3. Schism. Features Windu and is another masterful job by Ostrander - Duursema and Parsons.

ONE OF MY PET PEEVES HAS BEEN THE BINDING PROBLEMS WITH THE COMICS MADE IN CHINA. THIS ONE HAS SEEN SOME ABUSE ALREADY AND IT IS NOT FALLING APART IN MY HANDS.

This story here ties into the movies and other comic so well and, with only minor complaints, is a visual marvel, is it OK to mention the enemy?, that I am awarding this comic SOMETHING I RARELY DO... 5 STARS.

Excellent artwork, good stories, definitely worth getting
I highly recommend this trade paperback collection. It contains some of the best Star Wars comics to come out in a long time.

As mentioned above, it contains Star Wars: Republic #49 and #50 (a double issue), as well as Jedi: Mace Windu (which was also a double issue). These were the first Clone Wars comics that Dark Horse published.

The artwork is really outstanding. Star Wars fans are really in for a treat thanks to Jan Duuresma, an exceptional artist who draws the characters really well, and also delivers exciting, dynamic action sequences. The coloring is also very good in these issues.

The stories are set after Attack of the Clones, which is great because we are seeing the Clone Wars unfold in real time. The consequences of the Battle of Geonosis are being seen throughout the galaxy. As Count Dooku said, "This battle is far from over. This is just the beginning."

The characters are handled well. Anakin and Obi-Wan make appearances, and Mace Windu gets the spotlight as he tries to deal with Jedi Knights who have had it with the Republic. In addition, the new female Dark Jedi, Asajj Ventress, appears in this collection. She will be appearing in the upcoming Clone Wars cartoon. You also get to see the first appearance of the ARC troopers, a new version of the clones.

This is a great beginning to the Clone Wars and I look forward to future installments. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A worthy sequel to a fascinating graphic novel
As with the first "Y: The Last Man" book, both the art and storyline continue to be very good in "Cycles." The plot is extremely engaging with lots of interesting characters who continue to be developed as the series is progressing. Because the story hinges on a number of mysteries being revealed in the course of the book, I won't go into any spoilers here. Suffice to say, if you liked the first book, you won't be disappointed with the sequel. The dialogue is very clever and natural sounding - no stilted phrasing here. The book's action-packed pacing continues and remains riveting, with no dull moments in the book. Pia Guerra's artwork is extremely good, and I'd almost recommend the book solely on the art, if the storyline itself wasn't so engaging.

I really get the feeling that there's a much larger story that has yet to be revealed and I can't wait to see how things turn out. "Y: The Last Man" has an extremely thought-provoking plot that really makes you wonder how society/civilization would restructure itself (if it even could) if almost all the males of the species died.

I've just purchased the third graphic novel in the series because I liked this one so much.. The second book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger and I can't wait to see how it's resolved - and obviously, I can't wait to discover what the cause of the whole catastrophe was.

This is a man's world
"Y the Last Man" is consistently an excellent comic, and I think that along with 100 Bullets, it's Vertigo Comics' next big thing. The setting of "Cycles" is the world after a disease has killed all male mammals from the unborn to grown humans and animals. The only known surviving males are Yorick brown, struggling escape artist, and his pet monkey Ampersand.

"Cycles" goes on to show more reactions to a world without men and how society restructures itself. At the start; we find that pretty much all pilots are dead now and our protagonists are trying to barter their way onto a train to get to California. This sets up Brian Vaughan's clever, charming dialogue. For the most part, the dialogue is all perfect, it is often funny, when that's what Vaughan wants; or it can show a more serious side.

Pia Guerra's art is very good, it reminds me of the artwork in "Preacher". Not to say that Y the Last Man is as objectionable as Preacher is to some, but the style and facial detail reminds of Steve Dillon's work in "Preacher". Also, "Cycles" comes with like 8 pages of Guerra's sketches in the back, which are nice. My favorites are early pencil drawings of Yorick's bodyguard Agent 355, it's interesting to see how different the final product is.

I reccomend "Cycles" highly based on the great story as well as the spiffy artwork, It's short, although the next trade paperback "One Small Step" is supposed to come out very soon which means we can all get our fix of Y the Last Man.

Best of the series so far
Y The Last Man has been a great look at a post-apocalyptic world with no men. Vaughan's cute, down-to-earth dialogue and easy-to-follow pacing combined with Guerra's clean-cut art make it very digestable while still having depth. The series hit a real high-point in this collection, with new characters entering, a new mystery and an explosive climax. And there's also the gigantic ending...

The journey begins
In this, the second volume of Y: The Last Man, Yorick, Dr. Mann and 355 begin to make their way across the U.S. to reach California and a research facility that may have clues about the plague. They're sidetracked after they're forced to "disembark" a train in the midwest.

What follows is a little more "Twilight Zone" than "Omega Man" and that's a good thing. Writer Brian Vaughan shows us he can switch gears and tell a different type of story without derailing the main plotline. The town of Marrisville, Ohio has a secret and Yorick and his motley crew are unwittingly caught up in it when the denizens of the town help them out. Marrisville's residents have a dark past which has been partially exorcised by the plague that killed all men...or has it?

Yorick's sister, Hero, and her Amazon sisters aren't far behind, another plotline that comes to a head in this installment of Y.

This story's not as strong as "Y: The Last Man--Unmanned," but it does a good job of continuing the story presented in the first installment and clarifying some of the themes that will apparently dominate this series.

Yorick is very much an "innocent abroad," not just a sole survivor but also an outcast, a pariah, and maybe an unlikely savior. "Cycles" was entertaining and thought provoking and I look forward to the next volume in the series, "One Small Step," due out in March 2004. The title should give you some clue as to what the story's about. Hmm. What goes up, orbits the Earth and must eventually come down?

The plot thickens ...
This is the second story arc in the adventures of Yorick. He is literally the last man on Earth - all other men died in a second of mysterious causes. The story, which seems to be the ultimate male fantasy, is really a thriller boarding on horror. It's not a dream - it's a nightmare!
There are women, who consider the death of men to be the will of Mother Earth, and so they'll do anything to get the planet rid of the last one, then there are Israeli commandos, and ... oh, no, I won't spoil it for you!
Considering the premise, the tone of the story itself is surprisingly realistic, and the dialogue is superb.
This story is better in the collected form - this is the way to read Y, and not to read a chapter once a mounth.
Compaired to the first story arc, this one is less dramatic, but mostly because it deals with a smaller cast and scale.
There are talks of "Y - The Last Man" movie. I, personally, think it's too early to make a movie, 'cause the series has just started. And it shouldn't be a movie - a series of movies, or better a TV series. ... Read more

Book Description

Star Wars Tales Volume 5 features an astonishing variety of stories featuring Boba Fett, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Darth Maul, and more! This substantial volume includes a Chewbacca story gorgeously illustrated by Cary Nord (Conan), Haden Blackman's unbelievable Han Solo tale, Scott Kurtz's parody of The Breakfast Club, and the "all-indie issue" - featuring many of the best independent comics creators in the business! ... Read more

Book Description

Star Wars Tales Volume 2 contains thrilling stories that you won’t see anywhere else featuring Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Lando Calrissian, the Jedi Council, Yoda, C-3P0, and many more! Tales has explored every corner of the Star Wars galaxy and continues to take you beyond with non-continuity stories from some of the hottest creators around! Collected for the first time into one prestigous volume, Star Wars Tales Volume 2 is sure to delight fans both young and old! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

2.5 STAR ROUNDED TO 3
This is the least of the first 3 volumes of SW Tales July 20, 2003

At 224 pages and given Dark horse poor binding technics of late be careful anything this big. My copy was OK. The stories and artwork in this compilation is not up the quality of other Dark Horse comic TPB offering lately.

This is the least of the first 3 volumes of SW Tales
This collection of 21 stories has some of the worst pencil artwork produced by Darkhorse in the last 3 years. The stories were readable, but a comic is a visual form first and formost, and this one is has many poorly done and some horrendously done art. Some of the art seems like it is trying recapture the style of the 1970s and 1980s comic strips. Please don't retro back to that era intentionally! Especially since the art and inking of comics has moved forward into some awesome creations in the last several years.

At 224 pages and given Dark horse poor binding technics of late be careful anything this big. My copy was OK. The stories and artwork in this compilation is not up the quality of other Dark Horse comic TPB offering lately.

Good, though not the best
While rather pricey, this collection of short stories is quite charming, and well worth the money, if you're a true die-hard fan, and/or are into comics in particular. I never have been, (into comics, that is) but this caught my eye one day at the last minute in the bookstore, so I picked it up just for the heck of it. And I have to say, that I enjoyed it quite a bit as a whole. Some of the spoofs were really silly, (as in, not worthy of Star Wars) but most everything else was great, the story detailing Padme's first boyfriend was sweet, and the one about Darth Vader and Threepio almost had me in tears. So, I'd recommend this one to anyone with a reasonable amount of EU experience, and a good sense of humor. Good for all ages.

This particular graphic book is a good example of why this s
This is the second large collection of tales that has been put together for readers. It is not the equal of the first volume, which not only does not justify your time; it does not justify your money. There are a few pages of great graphics and one story that while badly told revealed a part of a main characters past few would have guessed at.

The balance of the book is filled with parodies that are as pointless as stories as they are pathetically drawn. At its worst the graphics are reduced to geometric shapes characteristic of a young child. In the pursuit of revenue everything seems to have been deemed worthy for publication. This is unfair to all fans but especially to younger fans that are expected to come up with the nearly twenty dollars these books demand. I see more and more kids reading these on the floor of bookstores, and for those who do, they are giving as much attention as this volume is worth both in terms of entertainment and what it should cost.

More creamy goodness!
Star Wars. Ever since I've had coherent thought, I've known Lucas' universe. These tales are a series of entertaining yarns that is worth buying just for the Pulp Fiction spoof. I'd advise casual fans to read something like "Heir to the Empire" by Timothy Zahn, but you hardcore Star Wars fans will get all the in-jokes and cross references in these stories. Check these out! ... Read more

Book Description

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away... The events and players are very familiar but something isn't quite right. Luke Skywalker valiantly attacks the Death Star, fires his torpedoes - and they miss their mark! Welcome to a Star Wars you never imagined, a Star Wars shattered, a Star Wars where the possibilities are ENDLESS! Dark Horse Comics is proud to introduce Star Wars: Infinities - A New Hope, the first in a series of non-continuity Star Wars stories which are sure to delight Star Wars fans of all ages.Taking off from the end of events in the movie Star Wars: A New Hope, Infinities readers will follow Luke, Han, Leia, Threepio, and Artoo on a journey every bit as action-packed and fantastic as the original Star Wars trilogy. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Parallel Star Wars
I used to be a regular reader of Dark Horse's Star Wars comic books, but my interest in them has dropped off quite dramatically over the past couple of years. It's mainly due to there being far too many of them for any mere mortal to be able to follow without losing his mind! Thank God I never got into collecting 'X-Men' comics...

Anyway, thanks to this Star Wars funnybook glut, nowadays I only read the ones that really stand out and/or grab my attention. This particular entry, 'Infinities', an alternate-timeline 'Star Wars' story, looked promising. Although alternate-reality plots aren't particularly new to the sci-fi genre (especially 'Star Trek') or comic books, this was the first time to my recollection that the Star Wars universe has attempted this oft-tried gimmick.

The story, starting with Luke failing to destroy the Death Star, is fairly easy to follow, and features several interesting new takes on the many famous moments from the classic film trilogy, as well as a few brief bits from Episode I. I wasn't too hip to t