Book Description: In a time after the events of Episode I - The Phantom Menace, half of the Jedi High Council travel to the exotic world of Malastare to negotiate a peace treaty between two of that planets warring factions. But the whole affair is being manipulated by a secret, third party out to assassinate the Jedi! Add in the fact that Malastare is one of the few planets to allow the dangerous sport of Pod-Racing and you can be sure that the Jedi are in for some extreme action! This story features many familiar characters from The Phantom Menace and continues the ongoing adventures that bridge the gap between Episodes I & II!
Again and again- an above average TPB Emissaries to Malastare was an above average graphic novel. The binding and artwork were good, but the story had some minor flaws. The story is a conflict is going on between two races and the Jedi Council sends 6 representitives to hold talks for peace. The Council sends Mace Windu, Yaddle, Plo Koon (who finally talks,and what he has to say is cool), Even Piell, Ki-Adi-Mundi, and A'sharad Hett. An immediate flaw is Even Piell. On several pages his name is Evan Piell, and on other he is called Even Piell. This TPB was saved by its ending, however. There is a short at the back of the book about Mace Windu (joined by Depa Billaba) going to Nar Shadda to stop a Hutt smuggling operation at the Circus Horrificus. This graphic novel had excellent references. Quinlan Vos was shown, as was Villie, and Malakili was shown at his job (Malakili was the Rancor-Keeper at Jabba's Palace- Episode 6). Finally, ETM had great binding. Overall, a good buy. Not required, but still very good.
Deserves a second look, now that the saga is complete As has been noted in other reviews, there is a split in the book's narrative that, at first glance, makes the story seem somewhat disconnected. In fact, what appears to be the case is that the five issues collected here are actually a trilogy (set on Malastare) and duology (set on Nar Shaddaa). Though the two stories do have some common elements, and namely a common enemy, they're really two separate stories, instead of a single five-part adventure. Dark Horse does readers no favors by putting the cover art in five consecutive pages at the end of the book. It would help readers a great deal if they would instead present the storylines with their covers intact so as to make clear where one book ends and the next begins. We'd then come a lot closer to experiencing the books as the serialized adventures they were originally meant to be.
This fact makes the title of the collected volume a little misleading. Indeed, the volume is really misnamed. It almost would've been better to have simply called the work, "Jedi Emissaries", "A Failure of Diplomacy", or in some other way to have de-emphasized the whole Malastare angle. It's kinda hard to justify the current title, given that the last 64 pages don't take place on Malastare at all.
Likewise, my other frustration with the book is that the author's wrongly place the book "shortly before the Battle of Naboo"--which clearly cannot be the case. Anakin is seen as living in the Jedi Temple, fully wearing the standard padawan "uniform", which he only gets after the Battle of Naboo.
These doubts aside, there's a lot here to admire. The art, though not on a par with the higher echelon of DC, Marvel, and independent illustrators, is certainly on the higher end of Dark Horse's contributions to the STAR WARS franchise. It's not the best stuff they've ever put out, but it's closer to the best than not. Those used to the more conceptual, stylized art in, say, SANDMAN, BATMAN: YEAR ONE, or KINGDOM COME, will find the work here more reminiscent of "special" issues of "ordinary" comic books. And that's really what they are. EMISSARIES is from the first half of the second year of Dark Horse's main STAR WARS title. It's the beginning of the better art that would come to dominate much of Dark Horse's monthly output.
The two storylines--that of the diplomatic mission to Malastare and the police action on Nar Shada--effectively demonstrate the differing styles of Jedi, and there's a deft mixture of high action, solid Jedi philosophy, Sith manipulation, and appropriate comedy.
What's most intriguing to me, however, is the care with which the writers take with the franchise. It's important to remember that this book pre-dates the release of Episode II. Yet it feels like it could have been written today. Though the return of Sebulba is most obviously relating the book to Episode I, the Tusken padawan character deftly foreshadows Anakin's development in Episodes II and III, and also amplifies Dark Horse's own previous storylines. More than that, relationships described herein, like that between Mace and his ex-padawan Depa, would later surface in novels like SHATTERPOINT. Now that the film saga is complete, and the prequel-era expanded universe is much better-developed, it's fascinating to see how well-integrated even these early Dark Horse efforts are into entire universe.
Indeed, I would argue that this book is, in a way that's not typical with most comics, perhaps more relevant today than it was on first publication.
Nice art but disconnected unsatisfying story After having read the excellent Crimson Empire books, I wanted another taste of Star Wars graphic novels, and when glancing at it in the store, I was impressed by the nice action and artwork. I saw the story had lots to do with Mace Windu, and wanted to read it.
I brought the book home and started reading. The book has two barely related stories, one about an attempt at making peace (which six members (half) of the Jedi Council fail to accomplish) and the second which ends unsatisfyingly with a "perhaps the chancellor can exert enough influence on Nal Hutta to shut this place down."
The art is very nice, and a few scenes are interesting, but overall, a very unsatisfying book. I left the book on a table and reached for it a day later before realizing "oh yeah--I'd already finished it"--the story is that unmemorable.
Do yourself a favor and try the Crimson Empire books instead.
Witty and wild, this doesn't disappoint Emissaries to Malastare is actually challenging to rate. Its high page count is more like two separate stories; though interconnected, the second different but for its loose relation to the first. The quality of the first fades very noticeably past the midpoint, but with shabbier fare out there this won't disappoint.
And with the Dark Woman starting off the comic with a quick duel against young A'Sharad, there's no need to hide that smile---anymore than why my fascination of this character can be explained. Perhaps it's her sharp tongue and haunting prowess, or the way she disappears in thin air. More likely it's her sharper looks.
The quality of art is smooth and commendable, though not of Twilight's exemplary performance. Malastare is a world with enough diversity for creative opportunity, and with the methane mists of a Podracer circuit parallelling a consular summit, it was well done indeed. But when the business on Malastare ends midway, as does the level of art. The investigation on Nar Shadda has shoddy art quality, unforgivable with the standards now available. A den of smuggler inequity Nar Shadda may be, the art doesn't need to be as badly done as unpicturesque the polluted environment may be.
Dialogue came in a fashionable bag: stylish for all seasons. With half the Jedi Council there to broker a peace accord, you can expect diplomatic etiquette polished to a mirror. The devious players spoke devious, the sybarites their own way.
The world is Dug populated but Gran dominated. Adding Lannik terrorists to the party and you get duplicitous danger swirled with traitorous betrayal. Selbulba is back along with his other Podracer faces, and with the twin-headed race commentators mouthing good humour you have yourself an enjoyable read.
You'll be treated to some nice touches here, from a half-headed Hutt and Villie the shifty Devaronian to revisiting the Smuggler's Moon, where continuity from Dark Empire was faithfully preserved. The Fode-Beed team was hilarious with their advertiser endorsements.
The focus started off with Master Piell and his Lannik ties to the summit, yet A'Sharad and Ki-Adi-Mundi wants their screen time too. Once Malastare is done, Mace Windu and Depa Billaba become the spotlight, thus making this seem more like two tales rather than one encompassing one.
Overall, this is one comic that cannot be missed out on for those seeking both a fun and delightful read.
Now this is Podracing!.. Comic book story and art combined This is a review of the Dark horse comic called STAR WAR: REPUBLIC - EMISSARIES TO MALASTARE, issues #13 to 18, also known as STAR WARS: ONGOING, VOLUME 3. What ever its name is I am reviewing ISBN: 1569715159 TPB issued august, 2001. It continues the story presented in OUTLANDER following Hett's son as a trainee at the Jedi Temple in Coruscant (or do we now call it corussaunt). Dark horse has placed this comic on its timeline as happening before TPM but the cover says it takes place just after.
This is where Dark horse turns a corner for me with this comic. Most of the art is of 4 star quality. The story is 3.5 stars, so I have to round up to a 4.
Got to thank Dark horse for it's individual pictures of the key characters and names. This is something that is sometimes missing, and when missing it can get confusing, guessing who is who.
The story is interesting. Seems three creatures are from Malastare, Dugs (Sebulba and Podracing are from Malastare). Jedi Even Piell (same race as Yoda?) is from Malastare. The Gran are from Malastare. We also learn that Adi Gallia is of Corellia. The Dugs are slaves on Malastare. Six Jedi go to Malastare to help negotiate a treaty but everything seems to be a trap. The negotiation were timed to take place at the same time as the galaxies biggest Podrace. There is lots of action and the art and inks are very good.
Word of caution. As of the new production procedures that create great looking comics, the binding quality has dropped off seriously. My comics seem to just fall apart with minor handling. This is not a problem I had experienced in the past. You must never touch your comic or open it if you wish to avoid damage to the binding.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
