Another entry into this unexplored chapter of the intergalactic epic has arrived, but should fans even consider picking it up?  Read on to find out.

The official description from Dark Horse:

The fearsome Rakata have invaded the Tython system, and war rages on every world. With Forcesabers in hand, the Je’daii have aligned themselves with unlikely generals: Daegen Lok, the mad Je’daii, and the stranger, the Force Hound Xesh—one the devil they know, the other the wild card they don’t!

It’s all been leading to this heart-pounding point, as our heroes come face to face with villains that might just be too much for them to handle.  The creative team absolutely delivers on every level as an overabundance of text never hinders an action packed experience that’s sure to attract anyone with some force sensitive abilities.

John Ostrander pens the script, and the long standing author who’s dabbled with this specific galaxy before, proves his prowess within the confines of these pages.  It’s a release that has its share of imperfections but for the most part the talent does a brilliant job painting the heroes and villains while maintaining the speed and ferocity that a war requires.  There’s a lot of action to be found, but trust me when I say its well deserved.  With all that said there were a couple sequences that turned out to be chock-full of tertiary elements that may be necessary to the plot but ultimately took me out of the initial journey.

The art by Jan Duursema is where this saga shines.  Superbly detailed and expertly rendered panels complete and highlight the quality of an already worthwhile purchase.  From the characters to the varied locale there’s a lot to love here.  On more than one occasion I found myself irrevocably drawn in by the life like work, as an abundance of pencil strokes guide the audience through battle.  In short: enjoy the story but stare long and hard at the pretty pictures.

Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi — Force War #1 is an addition that sets things off in the right direction. Highly recommended.

4.5/5