You might think that after the sobering ending to Dark Times #5, the conclusion to the harrowing 'Path to Nowhere' story arc, Dark Horse comics editors would shine a bit of light on the proceedings in order to kick off the new mini-series known as 'Parallels.'

You'd be wrong.

Issue #6 is every bit as gut-wrenching as the previous five, and shows no signs of lightening the mood as the aptly-named series chronicles the bloody events of Order 66 and its aftermath.

This time, the focus is on Jedi generals K'kruhk and Sian Jiesel, last seen cutting a swath through Separatist forces at the Battle of Saleucami. En route to Mygeeto, the two masters are forced to divert to one of the moons of Bodgen after their transport is attacked by a CIS cruiser in a beautifully rendered engagement by penciller Dave Ross.

Ross' talents are on display again as the masters and their clone trooper escorts arrive at a youngling training facility. There they enjoy a rare, and all-too-brief, bit of domestic tranquility that erupts into startling scenes of carnage as the troopers begin to execute Order 66.

Star Wars comics have a long tradition of handsome visuals, and Dark Times #6 is no exception; in addition to Ross' exquisitely composed frames, colorist Alex Wald vividly captures the violence of the unexpected attack, and the primal fury of K'kruhk's righteous response is a cinematic delight (Zack Howard's poetic cover art provides a teaser, but the real action happens on the inside). You can almost smell the ozone and hear the blaster fire; this is Star Wars art at its finest.

The second half of the comic, presumably a parallel storyline judging by the mini-series title, brings us back to the motley crew of the Uhumele. A smuggler vessel peopled by a diverse array of misfits, cast-offs, and Rebels-in-the-making, the Uhumele comes to the rescue of three of her crew, running for their lives as a squad of clones give chase across the rabble-strewn markets of Pizkoss. The last few pages are an action set piece, and a good one, but little is divulged regarding the reasons for the mayhem. The reader is left with an appropriately breathless cliffhanger as one of the crew is captured, his fate unknown and saved for a future issue.

While the stories are excellent, a single issue seems a woefully small canvas to do both justice, and I found myself re-reading the issue just to be sure of the details that were lost amid the breakneck story pace. While I'd prefer fully fleshed out stories, I'm willing to be patient and see what future issues of Dark Times has in store, as issue #6 definitely whets one's appetite and comes highly recommended.