The Prisoner of Bogan now has a lightsaber – can the army he envisioned be far behind? Former Je’daii brothers-in-arms face off in this week’s Star Wars comic: Dawn of the Jedi!
The Je’daii are hunting one of their own, Daegan Lok, who escaped from the prison moon of Bogan with Xesh, the former Force Hound sent as a scout by the Rakatans, and Lok’s plan becomes clear in Issue #4 of ‘The Prisoner of Bogan’ story arc of Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi (DarkHorse.com profile). John Ostrander and Jan Duursema ratchet up the action and the plot as we run towards the final act of the story.
Summary: On the industrial world of Nox, a team of three Je’daii, Hawk Ryo, Rori, and Shae Koda, are on the trail of Daegan Lok and Xesh, and Shae picks out Xesh in the Force. Xesh is accompanying Lok as he recruits four exiled warriors, the top leaders of the late Despot Queen Hadiya, who tried to conquer the Je’daii a decade earlier. Of course, they’re not eager to listen to former Je’daii who killed their queen, but after a little demonstration of his Forcesaber, they’re willing to hear his call to build up an army to force the Je’daii into listening to Lok’s vision of a dark army invading the system (the vision that got him locked away as a prisoner by the Je’daii). Ranger Ryo reaches the meeting place, and after eluding the four’s blasters, gives chase to Lok, while Shae goes after Xesh. Over a chasm, Lok and Ryo have the first Je’daii Forcesaber duel in history, while Lok tries to convince his former friend that the vision they shared is not madness, but the future they must be ready for, before escaping.
Meanwhile, Shae continues to track Xesh, and confronts him in a duel – her swords against his Forcesaber. Oddly, while she feels angrily betrayed by his joining with Lok, he does not want to fight her, and when she is grabbed by a monster from the deep, he dives in after her to save her from death. After giving her mouth to mouth, he takes her prisoner, and escapes with Lok. Sek’nos Rath arrives, being presumed dead, and rendezvouses with Hawk and Rori. Back on Tython, the Kwa holocron shares its history and a dire warning on Xesh’s masters: the Rakata. And then the Je’daii realize that possibly Lok’s vision might not be madness after all…
Review: This issue was outstanding! I feel like we got a great amount of story for the characters that this issue focused on: Lok, Hawk, Xesh, Shae and the team back on Tython researching the holocron. I think cutting down from having too many characters going in different directions in the last issue has paid off – there’s plenty of action, and some new developments in the characters – is Lok really a bad guy, or just a desperate guy who does want to save the galaxy from his nightmare vision? Or will his vision of a dark army turn out to be fulfilled by himself and his army to stop this from happening (in the typical Greek prophecy tragedy)? And Xesh’s feelings towards Shae? What will Trill think when she shows up with Sek’nos? Plus all that history of the Rakata and Kwa. So much good stuff, I can’t believe they crammed it all so neatly into one issue. Top marks for Ostrander and Duursema for story and characters here!
And I think more praise for the artwork. This really was a treat to behold, with so many great characters by Jan Duursema. She has a way with faces, both human and alien, that brings so much expression with scars, hair, shading, and more. The four grizzled warriors look fantastic, and the scenes when Lok and Xesh challenge them fit so well with her Star Wars style – Lok’s determined look (and eye for Shri-Lan) remind me both of Quinlan Vos and Cade Skywalker. Maybe it’s the facial hair? (and Ranger Hawk Ryo also sports it for more badassery) Shae Koda exhibits so much rage, while Xesh’s expressions show his desire not to fight (especially since he claims that he can only fight to the death). Favorite panels? Tough to pick – Hawk’s escape from the four soldiers, and the final warning from the holocron’s master with visions of the Rakata.
And that cover by David Michael Beck: It’s swashbuckleriffic! Daegan Lok reminds me of the Dread Pirate Roberts from The Princess Bride, only evil. Arr! Ranger Hawk Ryo looks determined and badass as well.
Man, what a fantastic issue. Ostrander and Duursema deliver top-notch Star Wars in this issue.