The Odd Couple
Zayne & Gryph
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Something 'Old', Something New
by DarthDan
It didn?t take a Jedi master to foresee that 2006 would be a cold and lonely year for Star Wars fans. The sixth year of the new century would see the Star Wars saga complete with all six films, leaving the fans feeling bereft with the final chapter of our beloved movies at long last closed. Fortunately, the master seers of Dark Horse foresaw this and planned for an explosive year of Star Wars comics to tantalize and reenergize the despairing fanboy. Their Knights of the Republic comic line was an excellent choice to ignite their salvo in January, with Rebellion and Legacy completing their hard-hitting flotilla in the following months.
Knights of the Old Republic, Commencement (#1-#3 of 6)
Since beginning to collect Star Wars comics shortly after the summer of 2005, the first thing that I look for is the coloring of the panels ? and Michael Atiyeh proves to be a wizard, wielding a vibrant palette that vividly projects the world of Taris and this new cast of characters out from the pages. To be strongly commended is Brian Ching?s solid artwork that easily shoulders the task of being the first to debut our new heroes and villains. Where other artists slack in their consistency from panel to panel, Ching stays on target with capturing the characters? visages in different actions and expression. John Jackson Miller?s script is brilliant with sharp dialogue that hearkens back to the Millenium Falcon?s cockpit banter and warm humor that intermixes wonderfully with the sudden seriousness of this Dark Horse yarn.
Synopsis
On the world of Taris, 3,964 standard years before the Battle of Yavin, padawan learner Zayne Carrick pursues Marn Hierogryph, a two-credit Snivvian conman wanted by the local constabulary for countless annoyances in petty crime. Unwieldy with the Force and cumbersome with a lightsaber, the pitiable padawan is embarrassingly outmaneuvered by the wily con artist throughout the issue. Zayne finally captures Gryph, but is running late for a graduation dinner at the Jedi temple with his fellow padawans. The first issue cliff hangs with Zayne arriving just in time to witness the murder of his friends at the hands of their own masters, including his teacher, Master Lucien.
In the following two issues, Zayne and Gryph become unlikely allies on the run from both the Jedi and the Taris authorities. Relying on one another, their flight takes them into the depths of Taris, where the resourceful Gryph attempts to seek assistance from a kooky old Arkanian junk dealer called ?Camper?, and his protective young virago, Jarael. When the squirrelly mechanic finally realizes who Gryph is, he shoes him away for not having paid for his last services. Jarael, ever protective of Camper, is well aware that the two are on the run and tries to use violence to get them to leave before they can bring trouble with them.
When Camper?s junkyard, the Last Resort, is surrounded by the authorities, the four of them are forced to work together. The wily Arkanian shows his friends that there?s still a few screws in his noggin that are still tight, by revealing the ace up his sleeve that the Last Resort isn?t a junkyard, but is in fact a junky old space transport.
Blasting away into Taris? atmosphere, the reader is left with a feeling of excitement and mystery, as these four characters are thrust together on the run from Jedi in hauntingly unexplained circumstances.
Dark Horse's Knights of the Old Republic showcases fine comic-making talent and an original Star Wars tale that mixes the warmth of characters with the darkness of mysteries. Pick up a copy and experience it for yourself.
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July 2, 2006 
