Star Wars Addiction

March 26, 2008

For supposedly being the "biggest Star Wars event of 2008," Dark Horse's Vector series has been decidedly underwhelming, at least through its first two issues, the second of which hits newsstands and comic shops today. Debuting in the pages of the Knights of the Old Republic title, the series will be the first cross-over in Star Wars comics' long history, eventually finding its way through Dark Times, Rebellion and Star Wars: Legacy.

The second issue, also KotoR #26 for those keeping track, finds the mysterious Muur Talisman in the hands of Mandalorian marauders, one of which has delusions of grandeur regarding his ability to fill the void left by the notorious Demagol, a half-mad butcher famous for his experiments on Jedi prisoners-of-war.

As the Talisman works its as-yet-unexplained magic on the Mando crew, Zayne Carrick, Marn 'Gryph' Hierogryph, and Jedi Covenant agent Celeste Morne stow away aboard their ship as they flee the Rakghoul plague sweeping through the streets of the city-planet Taris. The issue ends on a cliff-hangar, of sorts, as Zayne and his mates are treated to an Attack of the Clones-style long shot of a massive military staging area, signifying a new thrust into the core worlds by the rampaging Mando army.

As Star Wars stories go, Vector isn't horrible, and, with ten issues yet to go, may end up being a worthwhile read. However, the title fails spectacularly when measured against the heavy hitting stories ongoing in Dark Horse's other Star Wars books, as the plot, the characters, and the artwork seem amateur in comparison.

John Jackson Miller's script for issue #2 is average at best; he relies on a series of semi-comic vignettes featuring the same Zayne/Gryph banter that we've seen for the past twenty-odd issues of Knights of the Old Republic. Ordinarily this wouldn't be a problem, but it seems as if he's run out of material since the jokes are rarely funny this time around, and the rest of the dialogue consists of variations on 'oh no,' ' uh oh,' and 'let's go.'

Scott Hepburn's artwork doesn't help; he paints the Mandalorians in gaudy candy-colored armor that seems more at home in the Power Rangers universe than a galaxy far, far away, and his faces seem much more cartoonish than the previous issue, to say nothing of the rest of the realistically drawn Dark Horse Star Wars pantheon.

While I'm willing to give the complete Vector story arc the benefit of the doubt until I've read all twelve issues, the first two strike me as more marketing filler than man, twisted and evil. One only has to look at the advertisements for the series to see that the editors are fairly desperate to expand their audience. "No one should miss "Vector," screams the Dark Horse website. "This is Star Wars on its grandest scale-a galaxy-spanning, era-defining, sure-fire hit with fans both casual and hardcore!"

While casual fans may lap it up until they manage to get a hold of a copy of Rebellion, Dark Times, or Legacy, Vector is anything but a sure-fire hit, and is of surprisingly average quality, even for a Star Wars product.


	DarthDan March 26, 2008 Comment 1 Another fine "tell it like it is" review, bud. JediJef March 26, 2008 Comment 2 Well, I hated to write this review, but damn there's just not a lot there, particularly in light of the way they've hyped the thing. I've enjoyed most of Miller's KotoR work up to this point, but the other three books are blowing Vector out of the water right now. iam118 March 26, 2008 Comment 3 yeah so far the first issue has SUCKED. The art is horrible and Zayne and Gryph are back to bumbling idiot status which they'd shed over the progression of the last arc. Hopefully when the big picture is available it will all play out better but I'm beginning to think this series is just going to fall flat on its face and hopefully won't take KOTOR down with it. I'm really disappointed and I hope when this vector crap is over KOTOR goes back to being the awesome series it was. DARK LORD GRIEVOUS March 26, 2008 Comment 4 Damn Jef, your on a reviewing roll. Very nice. MR FETT March 27, 2008 Comment 5 Well I guess I'll have to be the one guy to disagree with you...at least partially. Yes, the plot and story line are somewhat boring. I was hoping to have a little more drama, because let's face it, Zayne abd Gryph are a played out version of Abott and Costello. Enough already. He's greedy, you're a clutz, WE GET IT!!! I'm hoping as the series rolls out we'll see more characters from KOTOR the video game and graphic novels. Vector needs more boom and less comic releif. Now as far as the artwork and colors go I disagree 100% with the exception of the faces of Zayne and Celeste. Definately cartoonish. What you refer to as gaudy candy-colored, I think looks vibrant and striking. I loved the Jango Fett graphic novel "Open Season", and I don't thing the colors or artwork are much off from that. I was in awe seeing that one Mandalorian leader in the red armor, bandoleers,and rifle slung across his back.I think it shows a variety of customized Mandalorian armor. Not every Mandalorian has to wear the grey flight suit with dull colored, blaster speckled, armor plates. It's a nice change from seeing white Imperial stormtroopers and Rebel broken down gear and equipment that looks like it was acquired from a thrift store. But in the end I am hoping the pace picks up. There's not much meaningful dialogue. All things considered, I like it. I'd give it 3 maybee 3 1/2 sabers. but I respect everyones opinion. JediJef March 28, 2008 Comment 6 Its funny, I liked Hepburn's art in Vector #1, and I don't know what changed, but it just rubbed me the wrong way in this issue. To me, Star Wars is all about that lived-in, used parts feel, and so I prefer the broken down equipment and muted colors. I disliked the production design of the prequel films for that reason; it was too Star Trek for me, all austere, spotlessly clean, and sterile. Give me the Millennium Falcon and coats of grime and dust any day. In any event, I hope they can at least pick up the story (or stop hyping it as the second coming, because it clearly isn't, lol). To each his own though, and the art is certainly better than I could do.