Let me start with a reminder that this entry contains spoilers from Star Wars Legacy issues 0-6.





There are a lot of things to consider when reading this series. The events in the Legacy of Force novels and a galaxy where Luke Skywalker exists only in the force are just two considerations. These considerations are after thoughts, when I read the comics my thoughts are with what is happening on the pages. There are only three novels to the Legacy of the Force series and lot more to read. I am not going to judge comics based on what I think will happen between the Legacy novels and the comics. Well not yet anyway.

I enjoy Legacy, in fact I think as comics go, it is great. In recent years we have seen many comic book writers with different styles. One style is adding really deep conversations. These comics have panel after panel of heroes talking, and talking, and that's right, more talking. The artists draw slight changes and little jesters to create some movement. What happened to the old days, where heroes could sort through their conversations while taking down the bad guys? We do not see this in Legacy the conversations are well balanced with action.

The back-story of Legacy is familiar, Sith against Jedi - check, Jedi scattered and few - check, Sith against the Empire - opps that's new. With the Alliance in the shadows, it's the Empire's turn to run the galaxy. The intro for issue #1 says it's a "benign" empire lead by Roan Fel - a Jedi.

OK where was I, right armor clad Sith bad guy - check, hope rests in someone named Skywalker - check, young hero symbolizes despair of current dark times - opps again. Cade Skywalker survives the attack on the Jedi academy. The whole thing is a condensed version of what happens emotionally to Anakin in TPM and AOTC. Take one dead family member, add a dash of the dark side, mix with young powerful force user, and what do you get? A bitter young adult with trust issues who is also the hope for peace in the galaxy.

Now back to familiar stuff - father figure takes young hero under his wing and shows him his destiny - darn it!!! Let's do this the easy way - have you ever wondered if Luke cracked under the pressure of his destiny? Did you ever want to see the empire as the good guys? Do you want an army of Sith that take their fashion sense from Darth Maul? Do you like Kir Kanos and the Royal Guard? Do you like characters that remind you of Firefly? If you answer yes to these questions, then go ahead and pick up Legacy.

I like Legacy, but parts of it do not agree with me, and its just me and my personal feelings:

Luke the friendly ghost
Luke Skywalker appears as a force ghost to bring Cade around from despair. Now this means Luke is dead, but it's 100 years in the future, I can accept it, I do not like it but I can accept it. What bothers me is Cade argues with Luke like a kid in need of a time out. I know Cade has been through a lot, but in issue #3 it seems the Skywalker legacy is about being young, blond and whiny, not a symbol of hope. Personally I wish they built up the appearance of Luke as a force ghost, let Luke wait until Cade gets through his terrible 2s. At least by the end of issue #6 Cade is ready to take a stand.

The new X-wing
It's a drastic change in design. To me the X-wing screams Star Wars - like light sabers, Darth Vader, and Yoda - the X-wing is just awesome. I say streamline it - add a vent here an extra torpedo tube, maybe change the color, but keep it pretty much the same. The forward mounted cockpit and long twin engines do not work.

NO DROIDS!!! Come on we need some droids!

NO Mandolorians!!! Come on we need Mandolorians!

Things I really like:

Shado Vao
A Twi'lek Jedi with a double-bladed light saber, he has a tendency to smile in the face of danger. Hey everyone is cooler with a double-bladed light saber.

Imperial Knights
Loyal to the emperor, these Jedi have their routes in the royal guard. They have silver light sabers and red armor. These warriors are just plain cool, Kir Kanos fan?

Darth Krayt
Cold, powerful, mysterious, and smart - take a little bit of Darth Vader, Darth Bane, and Darth Sidious and you have a really cool bad guy.

Darth Talon
Too bad Darth Maul split in TPM, these two would make a really cute couple.

Storm Troopers
Legacy is about more than the legacy of the Skywalkers. The Storm Troopers have their own legacy - follow the throne or the man who fills it? They get their own tale in issue #4, and its really good.

The crew of the Mynock
A ship that looks like a beefed up imperial shuttle with a 3 man crew, Cade, Jariah Syn, and Deliah Blue. They remind me of Serenity - they are a family, but a dysfunctional family.

Long term wish list
Spin off series for the Imperial Knights, Shado, Storm Troopers, and Darth Talon.

Anakin, Luke, Obi-wan, and Yoda hold an intervention for Cade Skywalker. Lay off the death sticks man!

Super star artist Jim Lee steps in for 20 or so issues (keep dreaming Bly!).

Mike Grell writes Darth Talon series (dreams some more).

Frank Miller writes Imperial Knight Series (Bly are you still dreaming?).