Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi — Force War #5 Review

The battle continues but as the cost of war bubbles to the surface, is this really an arc that needs to see completion? Read on to find out.

The official description from Dark Horse:

The alien Rakata are on the brink of opening the Infinity Gate, ready to unleash their Empire on an unsuspecting galaxy! The Je’daii must win this battle—even if it means the end of their order. But how can they attain victory when their greatest hero has joined the enemy?

I’ll freely admit right off the bat that the Dawn of the Jedi franchise has always been a particular interest of mine. It’s an era so far removed from the lineage of the Skywalkers that it feels almost like its own unique myth. But buried within the confines of that we see something more, as the creative team touches on classic tropes without abandoning some essential details.

The end of the arc is brought to a resounding close, as John Ostrander leads the various players to a conflict resolution with the Rakatan Empire. It’s an action packed entry that only has a hefty amount of dialogue in a few select scenes, as the overall comic embraces a quickened pace. Even during some corny bits of text the near death experiences, acts of revenge and a chance at balance act as elements that successfully yield an issue that impressed me from beginning to end.

Jan Duursema does a marvelous job realizing the characters and giving the Je’daii enough of a personality to birth a visual language. It’s a cinematic experience that perfectly fits the festivities especially as Tau fights through an identity crisis. It’s an experience that’s further explored with a striking array of colors done by Wes Dzioba. To sum up: it’s a wonderfully imaginative display that allows this book to stand out.

Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi — Force War #5 completes itself while highlighting a few worthwhile struggles along the way. I absolutely enjoyed the overall experience and as this arc closes out I have no doubt that fans are going to be pleased. Recommended.