After years of this version of the enduring space opera not seeing the light of day, do we really need to visit this rendition of the galaxy?  Read on to find out.

The official description from Dark Horse:

Before Star Wars, there was The Star Wars! This is the authorized adaptation of George Lucas’s rough-draft screenplay of what would eventually become a motion picture that would change the world.

Annikin Starkiller is the hero . . . Luke Skywalker is a wizened Jedi general . . . Han Solo is a big green alien . . . and the Sith . . . Well, the Sith are still the bad guys. High adventure and derring-do from longer ago, in a galaxy even further away!

Call me a blasphemer but when I heard about this idea I was instantly sold.  There’s nothing wrong with the current iteration of the now classic saga, but it’s been beaten up a bit.  So when it became apparent how fresh this version could be, I was excited, and the opening issue did not disappoint.

J. W. Rinzler takes on a rather complicated task as he uses the original interpretation of this universe to build a narrative around the now dwindling Jedi-Bandu.  In short: he succeeds in building some magnanimous events but there are some stumbles along the way.  I found several portions of the text to be well thought out but quite a few elements felt forced.  Despite that the characterizations within are strong and compelling, so much so that we all should be willing to forgive any hiccups here and there.

The art by Mike Mayhew is, in a word, beautiful.  He takes what we know and love about the traditional mythology and warps it.  By implementing accepted designs from all the layers of the cannon and using an overwhelmingly soft palette we see a re-imagining that’s worthy of a galaxy far, far away.  Exquisite panels birth something that should easily garner the attention of any discerning fanboys or fangirls who are looking for a bold romp.

The Star Wars #1 is a beginning that’s sure to be a treasure for even the most critical reader.  Recommended.

4/5