Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Writer: J.W. Rinzler
Artist: Mike Mayhew

Release: 7/23/14

One of the taglines for this Hardcover stated: “Before Star Wars, there was The Star Wars.” Some of the characters we all grew up to know and love are there, most are not how they seem on the Big Screen, and some of the characters are gone. To have the chance to read and see how the Trilogy that shaped my childhood imagination spawned from in it is, to me mind blowing. This story is such a departure from what you know Star Wars to be, but at the same time it’s amazing to see what the story started as and where it came from.

This is such a massive trade to take in that it’s proving a difficult feat to review. Being a fan of the movies, well at least Episodes IV-VI, reading where the characters got their start is somewhat strange yet gives a greater appreciation for what eventually came to be our beloved Trilogy. Most of the main characters are there they are just playing different roles then you would expect, and some are of a different race than you would expect. Luke Skywalker isn’t the orphaned boy told stories of his Father by Obi-Wan, instead he is General Skywalker leader of the rebellion protector of the King of Aquilae. He’s a hardened General, older and grizzled by years of combat. Tasked with the job of teaching Annikin the son of Kane Starkiller a Jedi-Bendu that is more machine than man. That alone is a huge departure from Star Wars Annikin is not Luke and Leia’s father in this story, matter of fact Leia is the daughter of the King Skywalker is protecting and eventually becomes the love interest of Annikin, which is similar except by the time Star Wars was released Annikin fell in love with Leia’s mother. General Darth Vader is in the story but he is essentially just the General of the Planet, the “Death Star” as we know it, and not a Sith or trained Jedi. We are introduced to a new character that is a Knight of the Sith Valorum, who eventually turns out to help Annikin rescue Leia from Vader. Han Solo is there but not as you would picture him, instead of being the stuck up, half-witted, scruffy-looking Nerf herder, he is in fact a big green alien, minus the pompous bravado. I could go on and on about the characters and their differences but that kind of just takes away from the experience of reading this trade for yourself. If you are a fan of Star Wars why would you not want to read where the story actually began, see how it evolved into what we have come to love and watch over and over and over and over…

For J.W. Rinzler to take on a task such as this takes guts, to take such a beloved pop culture icon as Star Wars and tell it as it was first written to be, you can go under fire from a lot of die hard fans and fan boys. I say excellent job sir! To read this trade is like reading a History book, you are reading the beginnings to one of the greatest science fiction fantasy series ever told. To see where our beloved characters got their start, to be able to read and realize where different parts were to take place throughout the six episodes we have already seen and to speculate where the next three will take us. To see Luke not as a frail young Jedi but a grizzled General afraid of nothing rocking a fantastic white beard, it’s really a great fan experience. You can tell that Rinzler is a fan himself, I don’t feel like any liberties were taken on his part to embellish or add to the story but after reading you get a sense that this could actually be scrawled in Lucas’ handwriting with various doodles here and there. It truly was an experience reading “The Star Wars” already knowing what it eventually came to be.

Mike Mayhew brings all these characters and variations of the story to life just fantastically. I was reading the extra articles at the end of the story and he actually went back and researched original sketches and designs that never made it into the movies. So that right there gives you an idea the love these creators have for this story and for the mythos that is already there. To be so dedicated as to not make the characters look like what we’ve already seen so not to confuse the two but to go back and find real designs that were never used, dedication. It brings a refreshing take on the characters that makes the story stand on it’s own and separates it from Star Wars. The characters pop off the pages and the sets and designs from the planets and inhabitants to the vehicles and weapons are all fresh and not taken from the movies. Again I say these two creators are definitely fans first and really give fans a glimpse into what could’ve been, but more a glimpse into what Star Wars became. May the Force of Others be with you.

Rating 5/5

This author of this piece was:
Shane Hoffman | @UnbreakableHoff