Product Description: Showcasing key characters from Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, this exciting collection expands the story from the international film blockbuster, exposing key events from the epic tale not shown on screen. Join Queen Amidala, Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Anakin Skywalker, along with a top-flight creative cast in this essential piece of the Episode I mythos. Also includes the hard-to-find Episode I The Phantom Menace #1/2, previously available only from Wizard magazine.
Amazon.com Review: This Dark Horse compilation pulls together some of the formerly top-secret files of Project Smellhound, the snickering code name that series editor Peet Janes gave to all of DH's Phantom Menace-related comics (à la Blue Harvest). The Episode I Adventures flesh out background on four of the film's main characters--Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, Amidala, and Anakin--in four separate one-shots, all concurrent to the movie but sometimes catching action that the camera "missed." All four stories revolve around Anakin in some way (for better or for worse), but the quality of the writing and art keeps the series on fairly solid footing. Of particular note are the dancing lightsabers of Martin Egeland (Adrenalynn) and the always slick stylings of Robert Teranishi (Xena, Star Wars Tales). A nice bonus: Adventures also includes the ancillary short stories first released in the premium Wizard Episode I #1/2 issue. --Paul Hughes
Richly made graphic story that adds detail to Episode 1 This is review of the Dark horse TPB comic Episode I Adventures ISBN 1569714436 published march 2000 and printed in Canada.
Here is who will like this comic... Did you like the movie? Did you read the novelization for more? Do you like the Graphic Novel aspect presented by a well done comic book? If you answered yes to all 3, you will probably grade this at 4 to 5 stars.
SWE1 Adventures is a little like the Journal series where the original SW movie was retold from the point of view of 3 of the main characters. This comic is 4 stories told from the perspective of a single character and a final conclusionary story.
This is a beautifully produced comic using recent technical improvement, but still made in Canada, so the binding is real good. In fact, My son has had me reading this comic to him a frequently and it is taking some physical abuse, and holding up to that abuse. I have been so disappointing with the binding of the TPB's since sending the manufacture to China.
Story 1 - Anakin is excellent in every way... story, pencils, inking and coloring 3.5 stars.
Story 2 - Amadala did not have that richness of visual appeal nor attention to detail by the pencil artist. The saving grace is that the story is OK. This is not a story my son asks me to read - 3 stars.
Story 3 - Qui-Gon Jinn - good story, good production - 3.5 stars.
Story 4 - Obi-Wan Kenobi - Best story, very rich coloring and inking, good pencils 5 stars!
Story 5 - Adventures - a sort of a wrap-up story which is the least interesting of the 5, but is one of the most visually interesting works - 3 stars.
The obi-wan story is worth the price of admission all by itself so I am rounding up and giving this comic 4 stars and a solid recommendation.
A Pleasant Surprise I was really not looking forward to reading these stories, but as when they came out collected I picked them up, but I really didn't have very high hopes. And then I read them. It was quite a pleasant surprise. This is not one story, but rather 4 stories which take place during the events of The Phantom Menace, as well as the little Episode 1 #1/2 which is kind of silly.
The Anakin story was the best of the lot. Taking place (immediately) before the Jedi land on Tatooine, it shows us Anakin's idealism, his dreams, and a glimpse of his life and friends. The art, while not spectacular, also fits his story very nicely.
Next came Queen Amidala's tale. Taking place right before the podrace, it is similar to one of the levels of the TPM game. A component of Anakin's pod is stolen, so Amidala and Jar Jar take off to retrieve it. The art wasn't very interesting, not bad, but not good, and the whole story is pointless and doesn't really fit into the whole. There are a few neat character interactions here, but not much.
Next come Qui-Gon. The art was the best of the lot, done by Robert Teranishi of "Union" fame. It portrays Watto's double crossing of Qui-Gon as he tries to collect on the parts he needs and Anakin's freedom, and it also includes the scene cut out of the movie where Anakin beats up the Rodian kid. Plus, it has interesting dialogue which sounded right.
Last came Obi-Wan, which was the most dissapointing of the bunch. The art was okay, but the story, written by the guy who did the comic adaptation of the film, was essentially Obi-Wan recapping the entire movie to Yoda, and once in a while a little commentary by Yoda on Obi's performance.
And then came the 1/2 issue. It had little segments by each of the four writer/illustrators of the main stories. The Anakin bit isn't real interesting, but the assassination plot ties into the "Emissaries to Malastare" plotline. The Qui-gon basically just is a little epilogue to the existing story, Obi-Wan is found reflecting on Ani's admirable Jedi traits, and the Queen gets to know Jar Jar a little better on the way to Coruscant.
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