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Star Wars Omnibus Early Victories Trade Paperback (2008).
© Dark Horse Comics

Mania Grade: A
Series Trade: Star Wars
Issue: TPB Collection of Shadow Stalker, Tales from Mos Eisley, Splinter of the Mind's Eye, Vader's Quest and River of Chaos
Authors: George Lucas (Characters), Alan Dean Foster, Darko Macan, Louise Simonson, Ryder Windham, Bruce Jones
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Pages: FC, 336 pages, TPB, 6 x 9
Price: $24.95

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Trade Paperback Review of Star Wars Omnibus Early Victories

By: Robert T. Trate
Review Date: Friday, October 10, 2008

Before the time dark time, before the prequels, there was little left in the world that was new Star Wars. Dark Horse Comics was one of a few outlets that kept the flame alive. They had numerous Star Wars comics published over the years including Droids, Tales of the Jedi and a few novel comic adaptations.

Dark Horse has released several of these series, or short orphaned stories, in their first (and hopefully not last) Star Wars Omnibus Early Victories. In all but one of these stories Star Wars’ main characters are reduced to side players. This has been a deciding factor in whether or not a Star Wars comic book will work. Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher all bring something to their iconic roles. That certain something always plagued Marvel’s Star Wars Comics. What is great about these stories is that Luke, Han and Leia are not the main characters thus allowing the author to create new characters in the Star Wars Universe. These characters enable the reader to better identify with them and understand the story at hand. Gone is the problematic continuity dilemma. Plus there isn’t a reset button after all is said and done.

The first of these stories is “Vader's Quest”. The script is written by Darko Macan with art by Dave Gibbons. The story takes place two months after the Battle of Yavin. It focuses on two different characters. One is the rebel pilot, Jal, who Luke replaced during the attack on the Death Star. Jal deals with his own issues of inadequacy while the new hot shot pilot steals all the thunder he believes should have been his own. The other character in this tale is Mala, a bounty hunter and information dealer who survives Darth Vader’s execution squad after Vader learns that his own son destroyed the Death Star. Mala’s life becomes an obsession for Vader as he hopes to terminate her before the Emperor learns that it was his son who destroyed their most powerful weapon. This story really uses the hindsight of having the original trilogy behind them, whereas the Marvel series (most of the time) lacked that perspective. It’s not Gibbons best work but there are enough iconic images that make you feel you are in that galaxy far, far away.

“River of Chaos” and “Shadow Stalker” are two great stories that deal with either emerging heroes in the rebellion or fallen heroes of the empire. Several different perspectives are seen and the lines between good and evil become blurred. “River of Chaos” is written by Louise Simonson, drawn by June Brigman and takes places six months after the Battle of Yavin. Ranulf, the best Tie Fighter pilot in the galaxy is on a covert mission to find a hidden rebel base. Ranulf discovers that what he has believed all along about the Empire has been tarnished by those that seek out riches for their own personal gain forcing. This forces Ranulf to choose between what believes in and what is right. Princess Leia plays a small part but it is this unlikely hero that makes the “River of Chaos” worth reading.

“Shadow Stalker” by Ryder Windham and art by Nick Choles transpires three years after the Battle of Yavin. The main character at the heart of “Shadow Stalker” is Jix, a Corellian and ex-officer in the Empire who owes Vader a life debt. Jix is neither a Jedi nor force sensitive but has a knack for getting things done. Jix’s mission is to assassinate an Imperial Governor who plans to defect. Jix must make his death look like the Rebels killed him instead so as to serve the Empire’s propaganda machine. Jix learns the truth and discovers that even those that work for the devil can, in the end, still do what is right. This great character was introduced in Steve Perry’s novel The Shadows of the Empire. It is sad that he has so few stories about him.

“Splinter of the Mind's Eye” was originally the very first Star Wars novel after Star Wars Episode 4 A New Hope premiered back in 1977. This translation to a comic book is true to the original story by Foster and has art done by Terry Austin. Luke, Leia and the droids crash on Circarpous 5 on their way to broker a treaty with a world about to join the alliance. Luke and Leia discover an old female Jedi who has been looking for the Kaiburr Crystal. The crystal can enhance a Jedi’s ability. Luke and Leia are both captured by the Imperial Garrison and after recognizing Leia, Lord Vader is summoned. At its heart the story is about Luke dealing with his own personal issues of being the last of the Jedi and protecting Leia. This adaptation is great but it just makes you want to read Foster’s original book even more.

With comic tales from the Star Wars universe published from 1995 to 1999 the Star Wars Omnibus Early Victories is a great trade paperback worth owning. Each story is placed in chronological order based after the Battle of Yavin. This Dark Horse Omnibus is a great window into the universe that we have all come to love and feel the need to be a part of. Even though most of the stories feature Star Wars’ main characters as side players it nonetheless is packed with enough Star Wars to make even the occasional fan love these stories.

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