‘Buffy’ flashback: ‘Tales of the Vampires’ (2003-04) and ‘Angels We Have Seen on High’ (2002) (Comic book reviews)
Often when a comic book series ends, that final issue will sit in its slot on the racks for a long time afterward, since there is no next issue to replace it. My enduring memory of “Tales of the Vampires” (December 2003-April 2004) is seeing Issue 5 on the rack for a year or so.
‘Star Wars’ flashback: The prequel trilogy adaptations (1999-2005) (Comic book reviews)
I feel the “Star Wars” prequel films get a little more stagey and theatrical – or to be harsher, a little sloppier — as they go along, but the comic adaptations are the opposite: They get progressively better. “Episode I: The Phantom Menace” (1999) is a flat retelling, “Episode II: Attack of the Clones” (2002) has vibrant art but
‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘X-Wing Rogue Squadron’ special issues (1995-2005) (Comic book reviews)
If you’ve devoured Michael Stackpole’s 35-issue “X-Wing Rogue Squadron” comics series but are a completest who wants to gather up all the ancillary stories, you’ll want to check out “X-Wing Rogue Squadron” No. 1/2 (1997), “X-Wing Rogue Squadron Special” (1995) and the three-issue “X-Wing Rogue Leader” (2005).
‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘Chewbacca’ (2000) (Comic book review)
Although the propaganda in conjunction with Disney’s “Star Wars” reboot would have us believe that the Expanded Universe was licensed fan fiction, the reality is that readers saw EU stories as being the true continuation of the saga. As such, we were hit hard by the death of Chewbacca – which was approved by George
‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘Jedi Quest’ (2001) (Comic book review)
Lucasfilm arguably dropped the ball in telling Anakin’s story between Episodes I and II, when he aged from 9 to 19. From 1999 through May 2002, only two adult novels (“Rogue Planet” and “The Approaching Storm”) told of his exploits, along with one junior novel, Jude Watson’s “Jedi Quest: Path to Truth” (2001), which was
‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘Republic’ Issues 0-12 and ‘Aurra’s Song’ (1998-2000) (Comic book reviews)
As with the first series simply titled “Star Wars” (Marvel’s, from 1977-86), the second series by that name (Dark Horse’s, from 1998-2006) also gets off to a slow start. (To avoid confusion, I’ll call this series “Star Wars: Republic,” although that title didn’t appear on the cover until Issue 46.) But to be fair, Jan Strnad, the
‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘Episode I: The Phantom Menace Adventures’ (1999) (Comic book review)
“Episode I: The Phantom Menace Adventures” has a solid concept: Like the bonus chapters in Terry Brooks’ novelization, these five issues (“Anakin Skywalker,” “Obi-Wan Kenobi,” “Qui-Gon Jinn,” “Queen Amidala” and the Wizard No. ½ special) should give us bonus scenes from “Episode I” that flesh out the story and provide character insights. However, the execution falls
‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘Jabba the Hutt,’ ‘The Jabba Tape’ and ‘This Crumb for Hire’ (1995-98) (Comic book reviews)
In its nearly quarter-century as the home of “Star Wars,” Dark Horse often gave fans what they clamored for (see “Boba Fett” or “Darth Maul” or the Royal Guard-centered “Crimson Empire”). In other cases, the company showed remarkable audacity. I doubt many people were demanding “Jabba the Hutt” comics. But fairly early in Dark Horse’s tenure we
‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘River of Chaos’ (1995) (Comic book review)
Princess Leia has enjoyed the spotlight this year as the new “Star Wars” ongoing comic series and the novel “Razor’s Edge” have explored her exploits in the early days of the Rebellion. All of this calls to mind a 1995 story that trod similar ground: The four-issue Dark Horse comic series “River of Chaos.”
‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘X-Wing Rogue Squadron’ Issues 25-35 (1997-98) (Comic book reviews)
The “X-Wing Rogue Squadron” comic series closes out its run by delving into one of the most popular EU characters, Baron Soontir Fel, who was introduced in the previous arc, “In the Empire’s Service.” The Imperial-turned-Rebel fighter ace serves as a springboard for discussions about defecting from the Empire to the Rebellion. Because he is Wedge’s brother-in-law, he also