Randy Stradley

Randy Stradley and Davidé Fabbri’s Star Wars: Jedi Council: Acts of War collects all four issues of the Dark Horse comic series of the same name. The story, set 33 years before the Battle of Yavin and just prior to the events of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, focuses on a Jedi taskforce under Mace Windu’s leadership facing the threat of the Yinchorri, a species encroaching on others’ territory that possesses immunity to Force mind-control and cortosis shields. Unbeknownst to the Jedi, the Yinchorri act with the hidden support of Darth Sidious, whose apprentice, Darth Maul, wishes he could join in the fray rather than observe from the sidelines. Stradley and Fabbri’s story features some great character development for Mace Windu, Plo Koon, and others, while introducing charismatic Jedi Master Micah Giiett and offering a glimpse of Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi prior to the events of Episode I. It helps to add context to the events prior to the prequel films while personalizing some of the lesser-known Jedi in advance of Episode II. Stradley introduced a minor character, Soon Bayts, in this story as a joke on editor Sue Rostoni, who would add the title “Master” before any Jedi’s name. Bayts appeared one final time in the limited series, Star Wars: Obsession, in which writer Haden Blackman finally displayed his name as Master Bayts. Though this story is no longer considered canon, elements of the plot recall part of the premise of the new High Republic series, particularly in its focus on lesser-known Jedi.… (more)

A nice quick read that takes place right after the Clone Wars as the Emperor and Darth Vader are consolidating power. One of the last Jedi and his captain survive one of the last stands of the Separatists. Yes, the Jedi was fighting for the Separatists, having been forced to seek their help with the clones turn on him due to Order 66. The captain's wife and daughter are taken as prisoners and to be sold as slaves, and it is up to the Jedi and him to try to find them. In the meantime, we have Vader coming more into his role as Dark Lord of the Sith and the Emperor's enforcer. Slowly for him, certain realities are starting to sink in. If some of the Darth Vader stuff seems familiar, some of it does come out of Luceno's novel Dark Lord Rising. Personally, I found the Vader parts compelling, but then again, I read the novel too, which I did enjoy. The main story was pretty good, though it seemed to run a bit fast at the end, as if the author was trying to wrap it up nicely at the end, so to speak. Anyhow, this is the first volume of a series, and I will probably seek out others since I do like reading Star Wars material, especially when it takes place in smaller settings and stories like this one. The book is a nice, quick read, but at times, I did wish it had a bit more depth.… (more)